"Hey, which mountain are you from, little demon? Do you know what you're doing?" White Guardian shouted irritably, ruffling his hair. "If you don't step aside, we won't be polite."

Though the life and death of demons aren't under the jurisdiction of the underworld, if they interfere with underworld affairs, they can be executed on the spot.

That is, if the guardians are stronger than the demon.

However, this one looked young, with a scattered demon aura indicating low cultivation.

Earlier, she had the advantage of surprise, but in a fair fight, she would be no match for them.

"This is someone Lord Ling Ji wants to protect. I can't let you take him." The little girl gripped the red silk tightly, standing firmly in front of Mu Bai.

Not knowing his identity before was one thing, but now that she did, she couldn't ignore it.

Lord Ling Ji was her idol, and she couldn't let her idol down!

"Uh... I have a question." Mu Bai peeked out from behind Jin Hong, raising his hand weakly. "The Lord Ling Ji you mentioned, is she the one I'm thinking of?"

"Who else would have given you that scale?" Jin Hong couldn't help rolling her eyes.

But her gaze turned respectful and fervent when it fell on the scale that seemed like gold or jade.

Ah, in the water, she had felt the powerful aura from the scale, thinking it belonged to a water creature. To find out it was her idol's scale, she considered this a close encounter with her idol.

"Go." Black Guardian signaled to White Guardian. "My barrier won't last long. Finish this quickly."

When Jin Hong made her move, he cast a barrier spell. Outsiders couldn't see what was happening inside, but maintaining it drained his power quickly. The bustling surroundings and heavy human presence were disadvantageous.

Most importantly, he felt a powerful aura approaching.

Although the possibility was almost zero, Black Guardian didn't dare bet on that tiny chance.

White Guardian nodded. The two attacked Jin Hong with their weapons. The red silk danced in the air, entwining with chains and a scythe, clashing fiercely with sparks flying.

The chains were heavy, the scythe sharp. The red silk could attack and defend, soft yet firm, depending on the wielder's power.

Jin Hong was just a young fish demon with less than three hundred years of cultivation. She had mostly bullied old turtles in the river, lacking experience and power. After a dozen moves, she couldn't hold on.

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"Miss, you'd better step aside." Mu Bai, though not versed in magic, was an experienced soldier. He could tell at a glance that Jin Hong was at a disadvantage.

"I’m already dead. Going with the guardians is only natural. Don't push yourself."

"Shut up." Jin Hong panted, turning her head angrily. "I said you wouldn't die, so you wouldn't die. They won't take your soul today."

"Hey, little girl, you talk big." Taking advantage of her distraction, White Guardian struck down her weapon, and Black Guardian's chain wrapped around her neck, pulling her to the ground.

"Do you think you're the King of Hell? Saying who lives and who dies?"

White Guardian's tone was full of ridicule, not taking her words seriously.

Such a weak demon, how could she control life and death?

"I said he wouldn't die, so he wouldn't die." Offended by the doubt in her abilities, Jin Hong puffed her cheeks like a frog. "I am a koi."

Koi, a mix of fish and dragon, symbolizes good fortune and long life. Once hunted extensively, their numbers dwindled to one in ten.

While not all koi have the ability to bring luck, it depends on their cultivation and pure bloodline. Jin Hong's bloodline和cultivation was average, but in recent years, human admiration for koi had surged, boosting her abilities.

With human faith adding to her power, her luck-bringing abilities and auspiciousness had greatly increased. Despite her modest cultivation, her focus could make things happen.

Mu Bai, seeing the trembling but determined girl shielding him, grew serious. He changed his initial thoughts.

If a stranger fought so hard to save him, he couldn't let her down.

"I..." Mu Bai opened his mouth but felt a tightness in his throat, a cold powerful force constricting his breath. "Heh, I thought you were someone important. Turns out you're just a little fish demon."

White Guardian's mocking voice carried a chilling coldness from the underworld. "If you had crossed the Dragon Gate, I might reconsider. But now, humph."

White Guardian lifted his head, looking disdainfully at the demon and the ghost. "Black, pull the chain."

Black Guardian didn't respond verbally but pulled the chain, dragging Mu Bai's soul from his body into his grasp.

Jin Hong's hand grabbed only air. Seeing Black and White Guardians binding Mu Bai with other souls, she panicked. "Hey, aren't you afraid Lord Ling Ji will trouble you?"

Their response was cold indifference.

Jin Hong stomped her foot, struggling internally. Then she bit her lip, pulling a white bone from her sleeve and charging at them.

The white bone, ancient and exuding a solemn aura, looked like a last-resort weapon. But before it touched the guardians, a powerful force repelled her.

"Ugh." Jin Hong spat blood, her face pale, looking up at the sky.

The once bright sky had darkened. A black gate floated silently, adorned with skeletons, blood nails, and evil spirits, emitting an oppressive, chilling aura.

Just looking at it, a coldness crept from her feet to her head, freezing her blood and paralyzing her.

"Creak."

The gate slowly opened, releasing dense death energy, crushing Jin Hong's fledgling resistance.

"Let's go." Black Guardian pulled the soul chain, heading towards the gate.

White Guardian, carrying the soul scythe, followed nonchalantly.

One, two, three. Souls entered the gate, leaving behind Mu Bai, who looked back longingly. White Guardian jabbed his back, making him stumble forward.

"What are you looking at? You can't go back. Hurry and reincarnate. You might meet again in the next life."

Mu Bai pursed his lips, giving Jin Hong one last glance, silently mouthing "I'm sorry."

For wasting your effort.

Jin Hong clutched the dirt, biting her lip until it bled. The metallic taste sharpened her tense nerves.

As she despaired, sudden darkness enveloped the space. A massive shadow loomed overhead. Jin Hong instinctively looked up, witnessing the most awe-inspiring sight of her life.

A majestic black dragon coiled in the sky, its glossy scales shimmering in the dim light. Its slender neck, flowing whiskers, and divine eyes exuded arrogance. With a flick of its tail, the dreaded gate dissolved along with the sealed space it created.

Cold dissipated, warmth returned, and light reappeared. Ling Ji, now in human form, descended, carrying a man.

"Lord Ling Ji!" Mu Bai, seeing her, floated over excitedly. "My lord, did you come to save me?"

"And your true form is a dragon. So majestic." Mu Bai, genuinely impressed, cast an envious glance at the man beside Ling Ji.

He had served Ling Ji for years but had never touched her dragon form.

Not fair.

Seeing the man's face clearly, Mu Bai's envy turned to shock. "Captain?!"

Ye Jianghuai, hearing the familiar voice, took a deep breath, suppressing his nausea. He looked towards the sound. "It's you."

Mu Bai nodded eagerly.

Six months ago, he joined the elite Qinglong Squad led by Ye Jianghuai. "Captain, weren't you on a mission?" Seeing his pale face, Mu Bai instinctively reached to help, but his hand passed through.

Mu Bai froze, remembering he was a ghost. He looked at Ling Ji, seeking support like a child who had lost his candy. "Lord Ling Ji."

Ling Ji glanced at him disdainfully. "Never tell anyone you're my follower."

Mu Bai: "Huh?"

Ling Ji: "I can't bear the embarrassment."

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