A voice resonated in Hui’s head. “Xiao Hui, can you hear me?”

Hui startled. He put a hand on his temple. “Fang Hua, is this you?”

“Mhm. Bai Xue is looking for you.”

“She came to you?” Hui asked, confused. How would she even know about Fang Hua? True, she met my jiangshi back when Fang Hua was little more than a corpse servant, but now that Fang Hua has become the leader of the death cultivator sect, how would Bai Xue know to go to her?

Fang Hua snorted. “Obviously not. She’s been running all over in a panic. I don’t think there’s a single part of the Southern Sect Conference that doesn’t know she’s looking for you. Most people think she’s gone mad, looking for a dead man, but, well, between you and me…”

Did something happen to Bai Xingxue? Hui’s heart raced. He bowed to Si Wang. “Senior, I have to go. Please excuse me.”

Si Wang gave him a look. “Can I stop you?”

Hui looked at him for a second, then nodded. “Ah, Senior has a point.”

With one last glance at the resentment demons, Hui let his body shrivel up, leaving behind a dried skin and a seed. His soul escaped, fleeing back into the Underworld.

Left behind with nothing but the dried remains, Si Wang reached out and caught the skin idly. He touched it, gently manipulating its surface to show the fibers of the plant body. Interesting. This…

Small traces of qi danced to the surface. He leaned in, curious. His eyes widened, and all at once, he threw back his head and laughed. “Zhu Diyu should be pleased!”

Hui opened his eyes in the Underworld for a mere moment. Onward. Whatever’s happening, I can’t waste any time—

He smashed into a flat wall and bounced back, sent flying back into his body. Startled, Hui looked around. What’s going on? Why can’t I escape? Did I miscalculate my route?

“No. I denied you,” Zhu Diyu declared, his voice resonating across the entire Underworld.

Hui frowned and looked around. Maybe if I try again…

“I’m speaking to you, reaper.”

At that, Hui paused. “Eh? Senior is speaking to this small cultivator?”

“Yes.”

Hui quickly bowed. “Apologies, Senior! I never imagined that small cultivator would be worthy of Senior’s attention!”

A moment later, he stiffened. Hold on. That means… that means it’s Zhu Diyu who denied me! If everything happens because of Zhu Diyu’s authority, then… Then there’s no way out for me!

But why? Why now? He furrowed his brows. Is he really that jealous, like Si Wang suggested? If that’s the case, though, why stop me now, and not the first half-dozen times?

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He cleared his throat. “Senior, please let me pass. I’m a small, buglike existence, not worthy of Senior’s pinching. No matter what I do, I’ll remain a buglike, insignificant existence, so please, allow me to return!”

“No,” Zhu Diyu intoned.

“Why not?” Hui asked, frustrated. I’ve asked nicely. There’s no reason to stop me, so why?

Zhu Diyu pointed up. Although he sat on his throne across the Underworld from Hui, Hui could see the motion as clearly as though they sat beside one another. “Look. Already, it’s on the verge of total collapse!”

Hui looked up.

Cracks arced across the roof of the Underworld. Bits of stone fell down, raining dust and pebbles on the earth below. Some of the cracks grew wider as he watched. In the distance, a huge stone hurtled from the sky and plummeted into the ground.

Hui frowned. Huh? It wasn’t that bad the last time I was here.

Zhu Diyu let out a deep sigh. “All this time, I’ve been suppressing it, but with a reaper sneaking in and out without permission, I’ve lost control. There’s nothing that can be done. Until the Underworld heals, I can’t let anyone enter or leave the Underworld, not even to reap souls!”

Hui narrowed his eyes. I smell bullshit. This man is far more powerful than a mere fifth-stage cultivator such as myself. Any damage I did should be as easy to fix as waving a hand for him. And it absolutely wasn’t this deteriorated when I left, nor did it ever deteriorate that fast before! Zhu Diyu has done this intentionally.

Out of jealousy, as Si Wang suggested?

No. No, there was something more. More than jealousy. Si Wang warned me he’d do anything, hold nothing back, to get me to do what he liked. Then, is this, perhaps, the ultimate hostage-taking? Preventing me from going to my children’s side during a crisis by locking me into the Underworld like this?

But what is it that he wants me to do? What is he trying to manipulate me into?

Fang Hua’s voice sounded in his mind again. “Weiheng Hui, hurry. I think your children are in danger.”

Hui wrinkled his nose. Dammit. It doesn’t matter. Whatever Zhu Diyu’s game is, I can’t let my children get kidnapped. He immediately sat down and began to meditate, circulating his qi.

“Are you defying me?” Zhu Diyu asked, his voice dark.

“Small cultivator doesn’t dare!” Hui called back, continuing to prepare himself to break free. I don’t know if I can break through after Zhu Diyu seals off the Underworld, but it’s worth a try.

Besides, I have a few moves up my sleeve, too!

“It looks like you’re defying me,” Zhu Diyu said.

“Eh? Senior must be mistaken. This small cultivator? No, no.” Hui hurtled out of his body and flew toward the ceiling of the Underworld. It’s convenient that Zhu Diyu has created such large cracks in the ceiling for this Xiao Hui to slip through!

Halfway toward the ceiling, he struck an invisible wall. Black lines appeared, laid over one another into a net. The net repelled Hui, sending him flying back into the Underworld.

Hui wrinkled his nose. Figures. It couldn’t be that easy.

Hmm, but why is Zhu Diyu forcing me to fight against this net? Wasn’t he trying to manipulate the reaper into rebelling? I’m rebelling, and now he’s fighting back against me! Is Zhu Diyu just a contrarian?

Unless… what Zhu Diyu wants the most, is for me to break this net.

Could it be? Is this net the Underworld’s equivalent of the Heavenly Net? The Heavenly Net restrains Immortals from entering the mortal realm… is it the same for Zhu Diyu?

But that doesn’t make any sense. Zhu Diyu and the reapers can both enter the mortal realm. True, only the colorless death zone of the mortal realm, but they still can enter it! There might be restrictions on Zhu Diyu entering the mortal realm, but mere restrictions don’t seem like they’d push Zhu Diyu to the point of manipulating myself and the reaper into attempting to break this net. After all, he’s much stronger than us. He could break the net himself.

Hui considered for a moment, then waved his hand. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter! I need to save my children. If I have to break this net, then I’ll break this net!

Gathering all his strength, he drew back his hand, preparing to punch the net.

Far below, Zhu Diyu grinned slowly. He sat forward in his throne, his eyes shining with unmitigated greed. At last. At last!