Chapter 509: Jaunt of a Thousand Ghosts (2)

“T-the preparations a-are complete!” Wang Chenghao gaped for breath as he reported back. But before he could even finish speaking, Qin Ye vanished in a cloud of Yin energy and leapt straight down from the top of the city tower.

That said, he did leave something behind.

“Hang on to that. If anyone disobeys orders, kill them without mercy!” Qin Ye’s parting words boomed in Wang Chenghao’s ears.

Boom! Qin Ye landed right in front of the city walls, where thousands of Yin soldiers were already waiting for him. The Black Armored Troops stood at the very front of the formation, dark and imposing. As soon as Qin Ye descended from the skies, the leader of the troops immediately cupped his hands and greeted respectfully, “King Yanluo, the 8,000 Yin soldiers of Hell have assembled, and we humbly await Your Excellency's instructions.”

“Good.” Qin Ye gritted his teeth, “Gentlemen, I’ve got news. The gates of Hell are opening in the mortal realm, and tens of thousands of Yin spirits are currently swarming towards Martial City from all directions. I’ll need everyone to come with me to the mortal realm to deal with the situation.”

Qin Ye furrowed his brows. Why does everything seem to be an issue today? What should we do? How should I know?!

Neither Arthis nor the Harken had responded to his cries for help. The daolord of the asura might know a thing or two, but Qin Ye would never ask him about something as sensitive as this, even if it meant losing a million Yin spirits back in the mortal realm.

He noticed two figures drifting towards him from the distance. It was Arthis and the daolord of the asura.

Yet Arthis simply glanced at him placidly, “You’re the King Yanluo of Hell.”

“It’s always been the practice for Hell to open the gates of Hell during the three major ghost festivals. Why didn’t it occur to you this time? Or should I say… has it never occurred to you before?”

Arthis grew silent. After a long time, she finally responded, “You don’t need to guide them at all. From the gates of Hell diffuses the Yin energy of Hell. All who detect its presence will naturally be drawn towards it. After all, high-quality Yin energy is like a godsend to them. There’s simply no way these Yin spirits would be able to resist its allure.”

Her explanations eased up the tension in Qin Ye’s heart. He sighed softly with relief, “Do me a favour.”

“I’m going to take the daolord of the asura to the gates of Hell.”

“No! I’d feel even more insecure leaving him here in Hell!” Qin Ye replied resolutely, “I’ll just have him stand right at the gates of Hell and not take a step from it! Only by doing so would I feel assured!”

Arthis was just about to say something when she suddenly pulled back. Then, she simply stared Qin Ye in the eyes, “Are you certain?”

Arthis smile, “Alright.”

Because you might not even get the chance for regret!

“For Hell’s glory!!” The cries of the Yin soldiers resounded in unison.

………………………………………………

Crow Tengu and Black Yaksha stood at the top of the building, carefully scanning the sea of Yin spirits below. Lee Jung-sook was sandwiched right between the two evil ghosts.

Those who straddle both realms are entities rejected by both realms just as much as they are accepted in the same.

“Do you sense it? This is the transition between the Yin and the Yang. Get ready. Hell’s gate will be opening in just half an hour’s time.”

Black Yaksha’s expression was equally grave and somber, “That’s right. Logically speaking, we should already be seeing Yin soldiers patrolling the area. All we were supposed to do was to grab their leader and escape at once. It was part of the escape plan to trigger a riot among the Yin spirits here in Azurewaters City. That will keep their hands full and away from their pursuit of us. After all, the Hungry Ghost Festivals have been celebrated for a long time now, and Hell would never send out any Emissaries stronger than Judges. The odds of escape are reasonably high--…”

Whoosh… A terrifying nethergale picked up out of nowhere, sending their clothes fluttering all about. At once, a chilling sensation permeated every fiber of their beings.

At once, countless images flickered past Crow Tengu’s mind, until it finally paused on the ruins of what appeared to be a construction site. There, he saw a huge pit spanning 10,000 square meters from which dense Yin energy was spewing out, cutting through the interlaced steel rebars above like tofu.

“Hoo… It’s not happening in Azurewaters City!” Crow Tengu stood up abruptly, “Hoo… It’s happening in Martial City!!”

The Buddhist lamp was still lit right now, and it emitted a deep green aura of lustre about it, almost as though it had imprisoned within it countless aggrieved souls. Black Yaksha quickly flew into action, making a series of quick hand seals before clasping his hands together. Within moments, their movement speed surged well beyond that of the speed of sound, and they left afterimages in the wake of their path of travel!

Neither said a word. Lee Jung-sook curled up into a ball, shielding herself from the terrifying wind resistance as they continued to fly at top speed. Soon, a large city appeared on the horizon.

Whoosh… Both Nipponese Emissaries screeched to a halt as they stared at the city with an immeasurably grave expression.

They didn’t have the answers.

“Crow Tengu…” There was a tremor in Black Yaksha’s voice, “We’re soon going to face off against the Emissaries of Hell. Are you afraid?”

Fwoosh!! Just then, a black glow erupted from the ground, so conspicuous that even Crow Tengu and Black Yaksha could see them from miles away.

The Emissaries of Hell had finally arrived!

BOOM!! A geyser of Yin energy shot straight into the sky, before promptly scattering into the surroundings and pouring right back down onto the ground like a shower of rain. However, what descended was nothing like rain. Rather, they were the silhouettes of imposing figures that appeared no different from deities in their own right.

He had never expected a situation like this to occur in the mortal realm during the Hungry Ghost Festival.

These were Yin spirits of an entire city! There were easily more than a hundred thousand of them! The lanterns set down beside them lit up the network of paths and streets in the entire city, filling it with an eerie green hue!

It was a magnificent sight. Every corner of the city was pale and bleak, while the darkness of the peripheries appeared to blend into the darkness across the horizon.

The bottomless abyss was right beneath their feet, but the interlacing steel rebars that used to be situated right over the pit had completely vanished without a trace.

The wheels of Fate had caused everything to come together.

Unfortunately, Qin Ye could tell that this clearly wasn’t the time to mull over these things.

“Yes!!”

Who’s… watching me?

That wasn’t an illusion…

That gaze had triggered the most primal fight-or-flight response in Qin Ye’s body. He was absolutely certain that someone was out there, watching his every move!