Chapter Four: The Ill-Fated Lord Yan

Ding Ning’s face shifted rapidly from red to green to pale white. He silently reminded himself: No, he’s my superior, he’s my superior, he’s my superior… But the thought of Lord Yanluo soured his mood. Just recently, he had let Master Wuchang go missing once—how could he possibly let Lord Yanluo discover that?

The Hall of Yanluo.

Yanluo’s hand trembled faintly as he held his brush. He paused in surprise, then set it down. “Guǐdēng…”

Guǐdēng, who had been watching him intently, sighed without a word. “I understand, my lord. Go on.” That he’d lasted this long was already remarkable; if he didn’t retreat for seclusion now, this reign as King Yanluo would soon come to its end.

Guǐdēng looked up again, but Yanluo had already vanished. Even in the gravest crisis, he needed to see that person once more to feel at ease, did he?

“In that case, Master Wuchang, please follow me.”

In a spacious clearing, a massive cauldron stood over a fire, connected by a pipe to a small jar at the other end. The cooked broth was collected there. Underlings fetched water, fanned the flames, added seasonings—everything was managed with orderly efficiency.

A servant from Granny Meng’s staff brought over a bowl. Heiyao examined it closely; the soup looked no different from clear water. Just as he tried to drink, the bowl suddenly shattered with a loud pop.

Startled, Heiyao found himself pulled aside by Yanluo. “This soup is better left untasted.”

This world was truly convenient; in an instant, Heiyao was back in his room, still wrapped in Yanluo’s embrace. He struggled to break free, but after a long, fruitless effort, he gave up.

Yanluo whispered in his ear, “I’ll be away for a few days, handling some affairs. Don’t wander off—promise me…”

Heiyao tried to respond, but his consciousness grew hazy. All he could remember was Yanluo’s deep eyes, shimmering faintly with a sorrow he couldn’t decipher…

Heiyao continued his search for Elder Yan, with Black Servant secretly shadowing him for protection.

At their usual meeting place, Heiyao sat cross-legged and waited for a long time, but Elder Yan never appeared. Dusting off his clothes and preparing to leave, he happened to meet a nearby underling and asked, “Do you know where Elder Yan went?”

The underling waved dismissively. “Oh, you mean that old man? The brand marking him as a slave was almost gone, so he’s been taken to get it renewed, hasn’t he?”

Heiyao was shocked. “Taken? As in, arrested?”

“Well, it’s called being taken, but really, he went willingly. He insisted on staying in the Underworld and refused reincarnation. Back then, only after begging repeatedly did the Elders let him stay here as a servant. So now, well, it’s his own doing, isn’t it? But honestly, the Elders—those people are truly ruthless!”

The underling beckoned Heiyao closer before continuing in a low voice, “You know, that old man stayed here just to wait for his beloved, right? But in reality, the Elders detained both husband and wife, making them both slaves. Their birth dates were extremely rare, and only they could fill those two roles—so the Elders came up with this trick to make them stay willingly.”

Heiyao frowned. “How could they do such a thing?”

“Why not? They’re the Elders, after all. And every bureaucracy has its shadows, doesn’t it? Anyway, I won’t chat with you any longer—this is common knowledge in the Underworld. Judging by your look, you must be new here. Let me give you a word of advice: don’t cross the Elders. Be careful in everything you do!”

Heiyao understood all too well that corruption was inevitable in officialdom, but he hadn’t expected such things to happen even under Yanluo’s rule. Elder Yan had waited for so long, but all his persistence and faith had been doomed from the start, engineered for a hopeless outcome. And yet, Elder Yan still waited with such hope, hanging slips of paper on that one tree…

Heiyao’s heart felt unbearably heavy and stifled.

Maybe—maybe there was a way to resolve this? There had to be. He recalled the archive Yan Nianqing had once taken him to; perhaps there, perhaps in those books, he could find a clue.

Inside the archives, chaos reigned. Heiyao rummaged through piles of books for ages before finding a note about slave marks. To imprint a slave mark required the infernal red lotus fire and refined iron, similar to branding, but the mark was seared into the soul itself. Yet, he found no method to break it.

“Little Hei, what are you searching for? Maybe I can help!”

“You? Really?” Heiyao turned to look at Bailian, skeptical.

Black Servant, seeing Bailian enter, grew uneasy. Sure enough—he could no longer see or hear what was happening inside. What was that fox up to now?

Bailian picked up scattered books, stacking them neatly with a smile. “Of course. Maybe I can help. At the very least, as a prince of the Celestial Fox clan, I know a few things you don’t.”

Heiyao hesitated. “Do you know how to remove a slave mark?”

“A slave mark? You mean Elder Yan’s case, right?”

“You know about that too?”

“Of course. I’ve been in the Underworld long enough to know all its open secrets. So, Little Hei, you want to help?”

Heiyao nodded. “What if I do?”

“Then let’s help! I know a way—and I can even offer you free cover.”

Heiyao felt something was amiss. “That easy?”

Bailian feigned a wounded look, raising his hands in mock surrender. “How can you still doubt me? It’s because I like you, Little Hei!”

He gave a helpless sigh. “Alright, alright. To demonstrate my loyalty, I’ll tell you the method first, and you can decide for yourself, okay? But I have one request—let me help you. I don’t want you getting into trouble!”

Bailian’s earnest tone made Heiyao believe him, at least a little. Bailian continued, “Do you know about the Book of Life and Death in the Underworld?”

Heiyao nodded. “I’ve heard of it, but does it really exist?”

Bailian grew solemn. “Of course it does. It’s currently kept by the Elders. In a copy of the book, there’s a register of slaves. The pen capable of altering the Book of Life and Death is in the hands of Judge Guǐdēng. First, you’ll need to acquire that pen. Then, sneak into the Elders’ archives and erase Elder Yan and his wife’s names from the slave register—their records should be together.”

Heiyao stroked his chin, thinking aloud. “So complicated…I might not survive halfway through this!” Helping others at the expense of himself was not what he wished for.

Bailian smiled wryly. “Which is why I said I’d help you. And besides, we can have someone else help, too.”

“Who?”

“The one who’s always with you—hasn’t he been following you the whole time?” Bailian pointed to an inconspicuous corner outside the window.

Could it be Black Servant? Heiyao became more certain.

At that instant, Black Servant heard them and hurried inside. That damned fox, always playing tricks and weaving spells—so infuriating!

He sent a message with his mind. “You sly fox, what are you up to?”

Bailian snorted, responding in kind. “What could I possibly be up to? Everything you and I do is for his return—on what grounds do you get to stop me? I am now one hundred percent certain of success. If you want to help, then help. If not, just stay out of my way!”

Black Servant was silent for a long moment before replying, “Don’t let me catch you playing any dirty tricks. Otherwise, even for the master’s sake, I can’t promise to leave you in one piece.”