DT |Chapter 12: Xiyi Part Two

The clear water in the transparent fish tank was almost gone. A mayfly flew in through the window, landing steadily on the calm water with its delicate legs. No one noticed this fish tank, so old it should have been thrown away, or the tiny mayfly that could easily be ignored.

He Bin was already on edge from being tailed by field agents sent by National Security. He carefully closed the window, drew the curtains tightly, and collapsed onto the bed, as if this could give him some space to breathe freely.

The mayfly fluttered its soft wings, and through the glass tank, it could clearly see He Bin taking off the jade gourd from his neck.

He Bin’s mouth moved, chanting an incomprehensible spell. Instantly, a thick black smoke spewed from the gourd’s mouth, spreading a foul stench.

The mayfly pressed close to the glass wall, its compound eyes fixed on the unknown mass emerging from the jade gourd.

When the black smoke completely dissipated, the mayfly leapt up, slipped through the crack of the wooden door, and transformed into human form not far away, sweat beading on its forehead, as it frantically ran towards the outside of Yunhai University.

In the Xiyi Realm of the Middle Yuan Festival, shadows of demons and ghosts stretched for a thousand miles. Sheng Feng finally witnessed the Xiyi Realm, known as the ‘Paradise of Demons and Monsters.’ The festival was celebrated properly, with red lanterns filling the streets and alleys. From the restaurant, it looked like a sea of lights.

Shen Yan found a restaurant, and the black market was shrouded beneath this sea of lights. The sky was a terrifying, murky red, with no clouds in sight. In the distance, the gates of the Underworld stood open, and a dense crowd of ghosts, with their families, poured into the realm. Yet Sheng Feng felt no fear.

It was like the human New Year, with fireworks dazzling, ghosts reuniting, and songs and dances in full swing.

“I never thought I’d celebrate the festival with a living person this year,” Shen Yan said, carrying a jug of wine, casually sitting across from Sheng Feng.

Sheng Feng gazed out the window, watching the sky lanterns rise with the wind from the city tower.

The restaurant Shen Yan found was right in the center of the black market. He was wealthy, directly handing the innkeeper a bag of silver to book the room with the best view.

“Come, try our realm’s specialty,” Shen Yan said, taking out two porcelain cups.

Sheng Feng immediately stopped his hand from pouring the wine: “Did you forget why we’re here? Drinking will mess things up.”

Shen Yan sighed, saying, “Just a little won’t hurt. Captain Sheng might only come here once in a lifetime. How can I not entertain you well? Besides, it’s so lively tonight, the Corpse-Wrapping Array might not even show up.”

Shen Yan’s shameless persistence was well-practiced. Sheng Feng finally couldn’t refuse, took a sip, and instantly felt the burn from his throat to his stomach. This was definitely not ordinary liquor.

He held back his voice, already overwhelmed by the spiciness. He tried to cover it up by eating more peanuts, while Shen Yan seemed used to this kind of wine, having downed three or four cups in no time.

Sheng Feng ignored him, continuing to focus on the bustling market below.

The Xiyi Realm’s black market wasn’t as mysterious as its name suggested. It looked like an ordinary market, except all the buyers and sellers were wrapped tightly, trading under the swaying lanterns.

Sheng Feng’s eyes lit up as he looked at the new things in the Xiyi Realm, clearly interested in them.

“Shall I take you down for a walk? It’s quite boring just sitting here,” Shen Yan suggested, half-lying down.

Sheng Feng decisively shook his head. He didn’t want to alert the enemy. This black market was like a big dye vat; no matter how curious he was, he preferred not to get involved.

As a Ghost King driven to madness, Shen Yan sneered at someone like Sheng Feng, who constantly restrained himself. If he had a choice, he would never work with Sheng Feng.

“Shen Yan, look at that person,” Sheng Feng indicated a strange figure weaving through the crowd of ghosts.

Shen Yan sat up, squinting his eyes. Upon seeing the hunched figure, his pupils contracted slightly, and he murmured, “Corpse-Wrapping Array.”

The Corpse-Wrapping Array’s staff was tightly wrapped in gray cloth. He looked like an old man on the brink of death, but his cloudy eyes vigilantly scanned everyone passing by, his steps faltering.

Hatred filled Shen Yan’s eyes. He was about to move when Sheng Feng stopped him: “Wait, don’t go yet.”

“Captain Sheng, if not now, when? Wait until he finishes shopping and runs away?!” Shen Yan shook off Sheng Feng’s hand and strode down the stairs.

Sheng Feng frowned, pressing his hands against the window frame to look out. He saw that the Corpse-Wrapping Array seemed uninterested in the spirit stone stalls, glancing at other stalls as if searching for something.

Then, Sheng Feng saw Shen Yan walk out of the restaurant, bumping right into the Corpse-Wrapping Array.

The Corpse-Wrapping Array was shocked, retreating repeatedly, trying to hide in the crowd of ghosts. But Shen Yan had already locked onto him, and several rotten-fleshed demon dogs burst from the ground behind him, barking wildly.

In a panic, the Corpse-Wrapping Array tried to pull out his wrapped staff.

Sheng Feng didn’t see Shen Yan’s movements clearly. In a flash, he was already standing in front of the Corpse-Wrapping Array, his moves strange and unpredictable. The Corpse-Wrapping Array reacted quickly, their afterimages shifting back and forth, the space beginning to distort intensely, and the crowd of ghosts scattered.

The demon dogs leaped, their sharp teeth piercing one person’s flesh. The space plummeted to the ground, the massive impact seemingly about to shatter the earth. The Corpse-Wrapping Array fell heavily from the air, his staff broken in two, thrown beside him by Shen Yan.

At this moment, armored skeleton soldiers rushed in from all directions, and a merchant with a horse’s head ran down from the red building opposite.

Sheng Feng quickly went downstairs, standing at the restaurant entrance, watching the horse-headed merchant tremblingly bow to Shen Yan, while the skeleton soldiers shackled the Corpse-Wrapping Array lying on the ground.

“First, take this traitor to the water prison,” Shen Yan commanded, his back to Sheng Feng.

Seeing the situation was wrong, Sheng Feng immediately went up to grab Shen Yan: “What do you mean? His crimes in the human world haven’t been paid for yet. He should be handed over to National Security and the Underworld first.”

His sudden appearance startled the skeleton soldiers, who thought he was an accomplice of the Corpse-Wrapping Array seeking revenge, and they immediately raised their iron spears at Sheng Feng.

Shen Yan turned around, waving his hand to signal all soldiers to lower their weapons. His hands and sleeves were covered in blood, and even his pale face had a few drops, his eyes filled with post-slaughter satisfaction.

Sheng Feng was so intimidated by the evil aura emanating from him that he instinctively stepped back half a step.

“Sheng Feng, look at this place. It’s the Avici Hell,” Shen Yan took a step forward, forcing Sheng Feng to step back, “This is not your human world.”

“Take him away!” Shen Yan waved his sleeve, and the skeleton soldiers carried the Corpse-Wrapping Array onto a prison cart, which slowly headed towards the palace hidden in the red mist.

Shen Yan didn’t give Sheng Feng another glance. He shook off the blood on his hands and followed the prison cart, gradually walking away.

“Aren’t you coming back with me?” Sheng Feng called out anxiously, regaining his senses.

No one answered.

The market seemed accustomed to such daily fights. As soon as the prison cart left, the ghosts went back to work, continuing their sales, unaffected by the previous events.

Sheng Feng stood somewhat bewildered among the coming and going evil spirits. When he arrived, Shen Yan only told him the entrance, never mentioning any exit from the Xiyi Realm.

Now, even returning to the human world was a problem.

In contrast to Sheng Feng’s anxiety, Shen Yan returned to the palace with ease, casually washed up, changed clothes, and eagerly went down to the water prison.

The Corpse-Wrapping Array was completely bound by thick iron chains. The soldiers “thoughtfully” placed the broken staff beside him, and a large basin of cold water had already woken him up, blood and dirt clinging to his filthy hair.

“Your Highness, the waist knife is not on him,” the commander whispered to Shen Yan.

After hearing this, Shen Yan walked forward expressionlessly, grabbing the Corpse-Wrapping Array’s collar and lifting him a few inches off the ground. This violent action pulled at the wounds still bleeding on the Corpse-Wrapping Array, causing him to whimper in pain.

“Where’s the knife? Where did you put the waist knife?” Shen Yan said, “You know I never have much patience, Corpse-Wrapping Array.”

The Corpse-Wrapping Array’s breathing tore at his wounds, and he began to laugh, a broken, eerie laughter echoing in the cold water prison.

“What are you laughing at? Is it funny?” Shen Yan asked.

Unexpectedly, the Corpse-Wrapping Array laughed even more, his mouth almost splitting open. He leaned in close to Shen Yan, suddenly stopping his laughter: “Honorable Ghost King, you might as well guess where I’ve put your precious waist knife.”

This action directly ignited Shen Yan’s anger. He fiercely squeezed the Corpse-Wrapping Array’s neck, but the Corpse-Wrapping Array was not afraid, laughing as he said, “Shen Yan, I’ve been your lackey for two thousand years. No one in the Xiyi Realm dares to challenge you. Two thousand years, have you enjoyed being the Ghost King?”

Shen Yan increased the pressure, as if he would snap the Corpse-Wrapping Array’s neck in the next second: “What else do you know?”

The Corpse-Wrapping Array sneered: “You’re too naive. Do you know why you’ve been stuck in this ghostly place for two thousand years? Besides the name ‘Shen Yan,’ everything you know about your past life is what I told you.”

“What exactly are you trying to say?”

The Corpse-Wrapping Array laughed, his hair hanging in front of his face like a ghost crawling out of hell. He said, “I’ve deceived you for two thousand years, and you still believe it. Isn’t it funny, your esteemed Highness?”

Shen Yan, burning with rage, suddenly doubled the force in his hands. There was a “crack” as the Corpse-Wrapping Array’s neck was snapped by him, and the laughter ceased.

Sheng Feng held onto the slim hope that Shen Yan would return, waiting from dusk until late at night, but still saw no sign of Shen Yan. He could only try to retrace his steps from memory.

He wandered through the vast Xiyi Realm, turning here and there, until someone tapped his shoulder, bringing him back to his senses. He realized he had no idea where he had wandered to.