Love & Redemption
Chapter 199: Volume 5 Phoenix Flower Blooms - 6 Wuzhiqi (Part 2)

Chapter 199: Volume 5 Phoenix Flower Blooms Chapter 6 Wuzhiqi (Part 2)

The second watch.

************

Xuanji and Tengshe followed the Judge back to Yidu. The scenery there had not changed at all; the Wangchuan River outside the city gate was still dazzlingly vibrant, and the red spider lilies on both banks bloomed fiercely, like a carpet made of fresh blood, stretching far and wide. Xuanji felt both familiar and nostalgic, and couldn’t help but smile.

The Judge smiled and said, "Do you still remember spending your days lingering by the Wangchuan River?"

Xuanji nodded and said, "Hmm, I have an impression. But the thing I’ve been looking for, I still can’t find it, it’s all so vague now."

The Judge said softly, "It’s fate, it’s calamity; it all depends on you. You will eventually find out."

Tengshe listened to their incessant chatter, speaking in riddles, and grew quite impatient, shouting loudly, "Can’t you talk less nonsense? Where is Wuzhiqi? Could he be imprisoned in Yidu?"

His shout startled not just Xuanji and the Judge, but also the little ghosts and Yin Cha by the sides, trembling in fear. The people in Yidu, knowing more, recognized the real identities of Xuanji and Tengshe early on, and those who knew better had already hidden far away; those who accidentally bumped into them, also hurriedly scurried away like rats. A few little ghosts along the road, noticing Xuanji’s gaze lingering on their forehead lumps, found it an extremely bad omen and quietly covered their lumps, bowing their heads to look for places to hide.

The Judge laughed and said, "You’ve been gone for days, and still your influence remains. You’ve really scared these people." He ignored Tengshe’s urgency and led them to a splendidly beautiful pavilion. The soaring roof ridges were like the wings of a phoenix - truly, its lofts streamed down like flowing cinnabar, with layers of emerald terraces, such grand structures unseen in the mortal world.

"I need to report this matter to Emperor Hou Tu for his permission. Otherwise, even I can’t see Wuzhiqi freely. Please come with me."

The crimson door was slowly opened by someone, and the Judge led the two inside. They proceeded through halls and passed chambers, adorned with indescribable splendor. Eventually, even Tengshe was dazed, secretly amazed; he really shouldn’t have underestimated hell. From the outside, it looked just like an ordinary building, but who knew there were so many mysteries inside.

The Judge stopped in front of a door and said, "Would you two follow me inside to meet Emperor Hou Tu?"

Tengshe had never interacted with Emperor Hou Tu, and considering he had descended to the Lower Realm and stirred up trouble in hell to find Wuzhiqi, Emperor Bai would surely scold him for the commotion; Emperor Hou Tu would probably not miss the opportunity to lecture him either. He quickly shook his head, "I’ll just wait outside." He most feared being lectured, especially by those high and mighty types; it’s bothersome whether you listen or not.

The Judge didn’t insist and immediately led Xuanji through the door. It was a small room, with a screen in a corner and several chairs set opposite. Strangely, the wall opposite the chairs was covered from top to bottom with a dark curtain, showing not even a hint of a gap. From the moment Xuanji stepped in, she was fixated on that curtain, sensing that someone very unusual was hidden behind it.

"Your subordinate has seen Emperor Hou Tu," the Judge knelt and saluted towards the curtain, and Xuanji, in a fluster, also had to clasp her fists and bow, a gesture she could never truly kneel for.

A voice came from behind the curtain, neither male nor female but oddly gentle, "Xuanji, you want to see Wuzhiqi?"

Xuanji, hearing her name spoken without even a question, was startled and suddenly remembered that it was Emperor Hou Tu who had given her that name. Thus, she said, "Yes, that’s right. Actually, I don’t really want to see him, but I have a few friends who insist on it..."

Emperor Hou Tu said, "By coincidence, such is the past and present. That day you captured him and then released him rashly, which led to a great sin, sowing the seeds of cause. Today, you’ve journeyed through tribulations to come here, and to meet him again is the result. One cause, one effect, it could only be like this. I grant you permission to see him; you must personally resolve your cause and effect today."

His words, so formally articulated, made Xuanji dizzy. She paused for a long while before asking, "What do you mean by personally resolving? How should I resolve it?"

The Judge, annoyed by her discourtesy, kept giving her meaningful glances, but Xuanji didn’t notice. Emperor Hou Tu didn’t mind and only spoke softly, "Wuzhiqi committed a terrible crime, and should face a millennium of imprisonment. However, the one to end this tribulation and send him to reincarnation can only be you. I have heard that many demons in the mortal world are stirring, attempting to rescue Wuzhiqi and cause further turmoil; unfortunately, everything happens for a reason. Today you are here by the will of heaven."

Now Xuanji finally understood. Whether it was Lize Palace or Buzhou Mountain, the people of Heaven knew about it, but they had refrained from taking action, letting them kill at will, all to wait for some ’cause and effect’. What Liu Yihuan had termed as the unalterable Heaven’s decree, referred to the destiny that ultimately, she must be the one to eradicate Wuzhiqi in the Netherworld. Their shared fate was what they called the Heavenly Dao.

She coldly said, "I no longer know him, what happened in past lives has nothing to do with this life, why should I kill him? You just wait for me to kill him to end this Chapter of cause and effect, so you let those demons wreak havoc in the mortal world, allowing them to kill indiscriminately! How is that reasonable?! I can’t understand it!"

"Xuanji!" the Judge said in a low voice to stop her. Emperor Hou Tu seemed not to blame her for her rudeness, simply saying, "There are millions of reasons in the world, how many can you truly understand? You have this karmic connection with him, otherwise why would you stand before me today? Demons ravaging the mortal world also have their causes and effects; meddling rashly is not a good deed. If you do not resolve this cause and effect today, the situation could develop into something unpredictable in the future. Don’t you want to know the secret of your true identity? Don’t you want your stolen memories back? If you kill him, I will immediately help you understand everything."

"This... this is practically abduction!" Xuanji stared incredulously at the curtain, muttering, "This is too exaggerated, why must it be me who has to kill him... Couldn’t you just send someone else to finish him? Why must you wait for me..."

Emperor Hou Tu did not answer. Xuanji’s thoughts suddenly shifted, and she exclaimed, "Ah! Is it because no one else can kill him except me? That’s why you had to wait for me, right?"

She couldn’t see the expression of Emperor Hou Tu behind the curtain, so she looked at the Judge, who exhibited a mix of panic and shock. She instantly knew she was mostly correct. Her brows furrowed, she said, "I have no grievances with him, I can’t kill him."

Emperor Hou Tu spoke softly, "If it weren’t for him, how would you have ended up in hell? How would the mortal world suffer such calamities? I have said, this is the cause and effect between you two. You don’t need to decide in haste, think it over, then go see Wuzhiqi."

The implication was that if she did not agree to kill him, she wouldn’t be able to see him and would just have to linger in hell. Xuanji thought for a moment and said, "I... have a friend, Zi Hu. She also came to the Netherworld with us, I want to know where she is now."

Emperor Hou Tu chuckled, "She naturally has her own cause and effect to deal with. She is fine, don’t worry."

Xuanji took a deep breath. In fact, she was very curious about Wuzhiqi the demon. She couldn’t remember any past grievances with him, so being abruptly asked to kill him was utterly absurd. But if she refused, she would never leave hell, and her father and mother were definitely still waiting for her at Shaoyang Peak.

Thinking this, she suddenly said, "Fine, I’ll kill him! Although I can’t remember anything now, perhaps seeing him might jog my memory."

Behind the curtain, Emperor Hou Tu seemed to gently laugh. The Judge stood up from the ground and said, "Follow me."

****

After being sucked into the cave by that strange force, Zi Hu felt dizzy, as if she was being dragged through many places, before finally stopping, only to hit a hard object and pass out on the spot.

She woke up amidst a mist of vapor. Opening her eyes and blinking blankly, she looked around. Except for the white mist, she could see nothing. Zi Hu jumped up anxiously and ran a few steps, calling softly, "Xuanji? Lord Tengshe? ...Are you nearby?"

After calling several times with no response, she felt even more terrified, not knowing where she was. Although she was eager to find Wuzhiqi, getting lost and dying for nothing was something truly unbearable.

Though the Netherworld had no day, only eternal night, this place was different. It was bright here, but shrouded in thick white fog, obscuring everything. Zi Hu walked around in the fog, seeing no one around, her courage gradually returned. Eventually, she cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted loudly, "Is anybody there?! What kind of godforsaken place is this?!"

The echo lingered, carrying far away. Suddenly, she heard distant laughter. Like being struck by lightning, Zi Hu leapt up and ran frantically towards the source of the sound.

The white fog gradually dispersed, revealing a small thatched cottage. The wet thatch hung limply, dripping water. The door was ajar, with a vague figure moving inside. Zi Hu smelled an extremely familiar scent, the one she had longed for for a thousand years, unforgettable even in her dreams, unforgettable even in death—

Trembling, she walked over and gently pushed open the door. Inside the small thatched cottage stood a tall man, standing in front of the only copper mirror, trying to tidy his tattered clothes. From head to toe, his limbs were tied with iron chains, eight in total.

But strangely, the chains on his body did not make him appear disheveled; it seemed as if the world’s filthiest disgrace upon him could not make him unlikable.

Zi Hu felt tears welling up, her whole body trembling violently from the overwhelming joy. She opened her mouth, about to softly call out to this man she adored, when suddenly, he turned around quickly, his face marked by a long, blood-red scar, dreadfully ferocious.

His hair was long, casually tied in a braid trailing behind, and though his clothes were ragged, his face and hands were clean. The scar might mar his appearance, but it somehow did not seem so on his face. His well-shaped eyebrows and high nose complemented his dark skin. Indeed, he was a dignified man, carrying a wild and unrestrained aura, yet his smile had a touch of childlike innocence.

This was a man enough to drive women to desperation, to scream, to madness, to the point of wanting to kill him if they could not have him.

Yet now, his face bore a lascivious smile, his eyes shone bright, as if he had abstained for a thousand years and finally smelled a hint of a woman, utterly ravenous. He turned around, his bright eyes gleaming at Zi Hu, and exclaimed excitedly, "Beautiful miss! Are you here to see me?"