Chapter 6: A Letter from the Matchmaker

The Ghost Sovereign, who had not walked far, heard Lan Li's fierce roar, yet his steps did not falter, and he left without ever looking back. This was Lan Li's choice, and he had no right to interfere.

At the gates of the underworld, the attendants returned to the official residence with Yan Yunqing. By the time the Ghost Sovereign emerged, the entrance was completely deserted. Before he could dwell on it, the Ghost Sovereign returned directly to the Shura Palace.

Shura Palace.

The atmosphere right outside the gates of the Shura Palace was entirely different. From afar, the Ghost Sovereign spotted a tiny figure standing at the entrance. As he drew closer, the little figure grinned and waved at him. The unspeakable gloom in the Ghost Sovereign's heart vanished in an instant, and the restless red gleam in his eyes faded away. Stepping forward, the Ghost Sovereign scooped up Yan Nianqing and asked, "Did they bully you?"

Hearing this, the Four Monsters and the Black Slave twitched the corners of their mouths and dropped to one knee in unison, saying, "Greetings, Sovereign."

Chi lowered his head and rolled his eyes in speechless frustration. He had thought the child was a pure and gentle little lamb, only to find out he was a wolf in sheep's clothing. With such fickle and changeable temperaments, there was no need to guess—the brat was undoubtedly the Sovereign's own flesh and blood. In just this short while, it had been more exhausting than staying in the Underworld. Alas! How was he supposed to survive the days ahead? Remembering the spectacular moments from moments ago, Chi felt like crying without tears. How could this little bastard be even more of a menace than him? He had actually just been hunted down by four people!

The little brat very obediently wrapped his arms around the Sovereign's neck, buried his face in the Sovereign's shoulder, and aggrievedly piped up, "Yes! They all bullied me!"

Upon hearing this, the Ghost Sovereign cast a glare at the Four Monsters and the Black Slave that was spine-chillingly terrifying, as if he intended to turn them into human swine. Who would have guessed that the little rascal would immediately add, "They all bullied me and wouldn't let me go find Mother!"

The Ghost Sovereign slowly withdrew his gaze, carried Yan Nianqing into the Shura Palace, and commanded, "All of you, follow me inside!"

In the main hall of the Shura Palace, the Ghost Sovereign sat with Yan Nianqing upon the thousand-year-old dark ice throne in the center. One of his fingers tapped rhythmically against the armrest. The sound was crisp and pleasant, yet to the five individuals standing below, every single tap struck clearly and heavily against their hearts. This was the most agonizing kind of torment; the sound of their own heartbeats echoed in their minds like pounding drums, growing louder and louder with every beat.

Cold sweat drenched the backs of all five. Finally, the Ghost Sovereign's thin lips parted slightly. "Has anyone come to pay a visit during these past few days?"

The Black Slave silently stepped forward, cupped his fists, and bowed. "Reporting to the Sovereign, no one has come to visit."

None of those old die-hards came to bother him? The Ghost Sovereign expressionlessly swept his gaze over the five people below. He suddenly sighed, a sigh that made the hearts of everyone present tremble. Chi felt his right eyelid twitching violently, so he hurriedly lowered his head and retreated a few steps, terrified that the Ghost Sovereign would notice him.

Yet the Ghost Sovereign immediately called out to Chi, asking a completely rhetorical question: "Are you familiar with the Underworld?"

Chi wore a mournful expression. Familiar? How could he not be? It was practically becoming his second home, all thanks to the Sovereign's habit of banishing him there every few days. By now, he knew down to the last detail whether the Underworld attendants were married and how many children they had.

Chi's vibrant red robes, which looked fit for a wedding, were somehow worn by him with an aura of utter desolation. Yet in the eyes of the other four, this was a cause for celebration. This old monster Chi never stayed still for a moment; just last time, he had accidentally broken one of the pillars in the hall, almost wreaking havoc across the entire Shura Palace. Fortunately, it was restored to its original state before the Sovereign returned, otherwise the one half-demon and four monsters would have all been forced to suffer punishment.

Chi's dejected demeanor made him look precisely like a spirit beast with its ears drooping. Why did all the miserable chores always fall to him? "Familiar, extremely familiar."

The Ghost Sovereign habitually turned a blind eye to Chi's silent protests. "Familiarity is good. The Underworld has encountered a minor trouble; help me go and inspect which areas are damaged. You may return the moment the Underworld is restored to its original state. Do not even think about running away. Just like before, the moment I sense your aura is no longer in the Underworld, you will spend a little longer in the innermost depths of the final layer next time."

Chi nodded sluggishly, looking completely unmoored in spirit. His body suddenly deflated, sagging until he resembled a thin strip of fabric that drifted aimlessly out the door upon a gust of wind. As the undisputed leader of the Four Monsters, he had actually been reduced to a handyman fixing wreckage. Chi mournfully recalled why he had chosen to follow the Ghost Sovereign in the first place. Ah, he remembered now—it was because he couldn't beat him... Recalling the beginning of this endless nightmare made Chi even more miserable. There was no helping it; he simply couldn't win against him.

This time, not only the Ghost Sovereign but everyone else in the hall turned a blind eye to the spectacle. Chi deserved this thoroughly!

The Black Slave quietly ventured a question, "Did something go wrong in the Underworld?"

The Ghost Sovereign replied bluntly, "Indeed, but it has already been resolved. You may all withdraw for now; I still have matters to attend to."

The Black Slave kept his eyes fixed downward in silent obedience and withdrew alongside the remaining three monsters.

***

The Ghost Sovereign carried Yan Nianqing back to his bedchamber, lounging lazily upon the soft cloud-woven chair. With a flick of his mind, he summoned the "Mirror of Water and Moon." Ripples spread across the surface of the mirror, quickly displaying the scene the Ghost Sovereign wished to see.

The mirror showed flying peach blossoms, and the location was unmistakably Old Man Yue's Pavilion of Mutual Longing.

The Ghost Sovereign watched with casual detachment as the old man and the cat demon went about their daily routine, finding it increasingly grating the longer he watched. He hadn't even succeeded in pursuing his own beloved yet, and here this pair was flaunting their affection. With a trace of mild disdain, the Ghost Sovereign continued to watch, his gaze darkening and gradually turning ominous. The cause and effect of this matter were truly as he had anticipated.

Ripples stirred once more upon the mirror's surface, and the scenery shifted abruptly. The image displayed within was none other than the Shura Palace. Seeing the utterly brazen little figure inside the mirror, the Ghost Sovereign let out a soft chuckle.

Understanding dawned upon him. Yan Nianqing was his child, sharing an aura closely akin to his own. It was hardly surprising that the boy could effortlessly establish a connection with the "Mirror of Water and Moon." Perhaps because it was his first time encountering the mirror, Yan Nianqing had found it vastly intriguing and let his guard down, ultimately falling victim to the mirror's reflective backlash.

What the mirror displayed was precisely what Yan Nianqing had been up to in the Shura Palace immediately after the Ghost Sovereign had departed.

Yan Nianqing, who had been staring with an expression of utter solemnity at the "Mirror of Water and Moon," suddenly turned crimson from head to toe. Whirling around, he tried to block the Ghost Sovereign's line of sight with his chubby, round hands, his tone tinged with a mix of embarrassment and annoyance, "Mother, you're not allowed to look!"

Eyes brimming with amusement, the Ghost Sovereign effortlessly caught Yan Nianqing's hands, ruffled his hair, and half-teasingly, half-soothingly urged, "Be good!"

Within the mirror, the little scoundrel could be heard acting outrageously: "Alright, all of you stand straight! From now on, I'm the one calling the shots."

At Yan Nianqing's declaration, the Four Monsters and the Black Slave reacted in various ways. True to form, the Black Slave was the most steady; whatever the young master said went. Just as he would before the Ghost Sovereign, the Black Slave dropped to one knee, pressed his right fist to his chest, and murmured, "Understood."

Chi's phoenix eyes widened like those of a startled cat. He clapped a hand over his mouth with exaggerated gestures to stifle his laughter. Wang remained expressionless, though his gaze softened as he looked at Yan Nianqing, and Liang did the same.

Mei, however, was completely stunned. The young master's chubby little body, round face, and watery large eyes struck a chord deep within her heart. Almost subconsciously, she reached out to pat Yan Nianqing's head. Before her hand could even make contact, she was forcefully bounced backward by a rebounding force. None of the other four had managed to catch what had happened in that instant.

Mei was caught mid-air by the Black Slave. As all five carefully scrutinized Yan Nianqing, they finally noticed the Soul-Devouring Bell hanging at his waist, which appeared to have shrunk somewhat. A heavy silence fell over them all.

To think the Sovereign had actually handed the Soul-Devouring Bell over to the young master! Then again, it was only natural—the child was his own flesh and blood, after all.

Following their line of sight, Yan Nianqing lowered his gaze to the silver bell adorning his person. Understanding flashed in his eyes, accompanied by a wicked, crooked smile. Feigning innocence, he asked, "Well? How is it? Do you elderly folks intend to listen to me or not? If Mother finds out how you've been bullying me, how awful would that be!"

The "elderly folks" found themselves arriving at the exact same conclusion for once: this tormenting little demon!

After a brief, collective deliberation, the elderly group yielded, speaking in unison, "We await the young master's commands."

At this, Yan Nianqing flashed over to sit upon a stone chair in the nearby corridor. Exposing a row of white teeth in an innocent, beaming smile, he pointed a finger at Liang and asked with feigned perplexity, "Uncle, do you happen to like the other uncle standing next to you who looks so much like you?"

Hearing this, Wang jerked his head up to stare at Liang. A trace of fluster broke through his expressionless facade, and the tips of his ears turned pink. Liang, however, maintained his gentle smile, took Wang's slightly sweaty hand into his own, and praised approvingly, "Yes, Young master. You are very clever."

Realizing Liang was not going to deny it, Wang stiffened, turned his head away to avoid looking at him, yet failed to pull his hand away from Liang's grasp. As if anticipating this all along, Liang simply tightened his hold on Wang's hand.

Resting his chin in one hand, Yan Nianqing let out a soft "Tch" and protruded his lower lip in mock disappointment. "So it's mutual affection after all. How boring."

With a look of sheer boredom, Yan Nianqing swept his gaze across the group before his eyes lit up. He pointed directly at Chi. "You swing both ways, don't you? Why don't you go plant a kiss on one of those two right now?"

Chi, who had been standing to the side watching the show as if hoping for world chaos, smiled brightly and declared, "As you command."

Putting on the oily expression of a brothel madam, Chi fluttered his fingers in delicate gestures and spoke in a sugary, affected voice, "Let this humble servant take a good look at these two handsome young gentlemen!"

Swaying his hips seductively, Chi minced forward with tiny, delicate steps. First, he made a beeline for Liang. With a gentle breeze-like smile, Liang flicked his wrist, and a flash of red light brought forth several yellow paper talismans into his palm.

Liang excelled at forming arrays using talismans. Startled, Chi retreated a few paces, shot a flirtatious wink at Liang, and wisely changed course. With a wicked grin, he scurried toward Wang. Though Wang was skilled in weaponry, he was no match for Chi in this arena. Before anyone could react, Chi planted a loud, unmistakable "Chu" square on Wang's cheek. Wang froze dead in his tracks. For the first time, Liang's expression darkened completely as the stack of talismans in his hand multiplied manifold, blocking Wang's path. Only a single thought echoed in his mind: he had to permanently dispose of this wretched creature who spent his days fooling around and causing trouble for those around him!

Yan Nianqing laughed gleefully before shifting his gaze to the Black Slave. "My, how rare... To think a mere half-demon holds attachments in his heart? Is that the reason you stay by Mother's side?"

Startled, the Black Slave nodded slowly. *The young master really is... that wicked sense of humor is an exact carbon copy of the Sovereign's!*

Finding the Black Slave's reaction immensely dull, Yan Nianqing unceremoniously rolled his eyes and moved on to his next target. Ah, he had missed one—the elder sister who acted just like a rough brother. Yan Nianqing trotted over to Mei, his eyes reddening and welling up with aggrieved tears as he whispered, "Sister, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that earlier."

Mei, who lacked a certain sharpness of mind, felt ripples of sympathy stir within her. Crouching down, she spoke in soothing, gentle tones, "It's alright, Sister isn't upset. It wasn't your fault." This time, Mei successfully patted Yan Nianqing's soft hair just as she had wished.

A flicker of playful mischief crossed Yan Nianqing's eyes. Leaning close to Mei's ear, he murmured softly, "Hey, Sister! Just now, that other brother said you were boorish, completely devoid of femininity, and no different from a common brute! I certainly don't think so—Sister, you're clearly so pretty!"

In the span of a single breath, Mei glared daggers at Chi, and a massive battle-axe materialized in her hands. She believed Yan Nianqing's words without a shred of doubt, primarily because Chi had spoken precisely like that right in front of her not too long ago.

Casually, Yan Nianqing sauntered back to his stone chair and chuckled, "Alright, listen to my orders now! I command the remaining four of you to hunt down Chi. Anything goes, understood?"

The projection in the "Mirror of Water and Moon" ended there. The Ghost Sovereign narrowed his eyes as he regarded his precious child, never expecting his little Nian'er to possess such an adorable side.

Covering his face with his hands, Yan Nianqing waited in suspense. Hearing no movement from the person beside him, he parted his fingers slightly to peek through. Just in time, he caught sight of the Ghost Sovereign's smiling face. That gentle gaze felt as comforting as the cloud chair he was currently sitting upon. Nervously, Yan Nianqing asked, "Mother, are you not angry with me?" What if Mother ended up hating him because of this?

The Ghost Sovereign shook his head slightly and replied, "How could I be? You did wonderfully—you have quite the flair of your mother in his youth!" *Well, perhaps even slightly more mischievous than I was.*

Surprised and delighted, Yan Nianqing beamed and asked, "Really?"

Helplessly, the Ghost Sovereign extended a finger and gently tapped the tip of the child's nose. "You won't even take your mother's word for it? Naturally, what your mother says is true."

Yan Nianqing threw his arms around the Ghost Sovereign's neck and planted a loud kiss right on his cheek. "Mother is the best!"

The scene of father-and-child harmony did not last long before it was violently disrupted by a flash of red light.

Sensing something approaching from afar, the Ghost Sovereign immediately scooped up Yan Nianqing and sidestepped out of harm's way. Concentrating his focus, the Ghost Sovereign saw that it was actually a strand of red thread, with a special piece of stationery tied to its end.

*Tch, that old man... actually using the celestial realm's red thread of destiny—meant exclusively for binding lovers across thousands of miles—just to deliver a letter. He really is...*

*...doing a fantastic job!*