896 14.172 Last Violet Star – Return of Qingyu
In shock at Hei Anjing’s appearance, Devil Baoshi’s eyes grew very wide and formed a large circle. Even if he may have been dreaming or in some sort of delusion, he couldn’t believe what he was witnessing. But, no matter how many times he blinks, the same face and features are still in front of him.
His thoughts had gone disarray. Devil Baoshi’s thoughts, ‘This is impossible! How can he possess the same eye color as his highness Zihao..!? Their aura is awfully similar as well. What the hell is going on!?’
Hei Anjing removed the silencing spell on the young lady as he started asking questions. His smile retains its playful touch and seemingly makes the atmosphere in the area more natural and less awkward. There are even children laughing in the background.
“Well~ you must be Devil Baoshi. Your vessel is a young lady from a small clan in Jin Tiangui Sect. Her name is Cao Roulan. This young lady is quite famous and had too many admirers but some were too obsessed and did a lot of unlikeable things which pushed her to her limits. But... I do not think she was the perfect vessel for a Devil of Gluttony. Why did you choose her?” asked Hei Anjing.
Devil Baoshi was stunned that he almost didn’t hear what Hei Anjing just said. He was dumbfounded by what he was seeing and if not because the man before him emitting death or resentment qi that he would have thought that Ye Zihao was before him.
Even though he had no answer to his confusion, Devil Baoshi had no choice but to answer this man’s question, “Rourou is indeed not suitable to become my vessel but... I had no intention of getting involved with the fight for power where I came from so I had chosen her. The fight for authority in the Infernal Region is even worse than the schemes in the Palace Harem. I am a coward and did it for me to survive.”
“Is that so? To survive, is it? Then why did you help Jin Baihua with his mission and give him my younger sister’s blood? If you didn’t wish to get involved with the war...” asked Hei Anjing.
“Well... I...”
Demon Baoshi was hesitant to admit that they were so underprivileged and had no money for him to feed them. They were given everything they required at the perfect time by Jin Baihua, leaving them with no alternative but to give in to their desires.
.....
This time, Cao Roulan spoke before Hei Anjing, who was silent out of fear when they first saw Chun Hongyun-Jun. She felt, at the very least, that she couldn’t let Devil Baoshi speak for them exclusively. She was responsible for making that choice and assisting Jin Baihua.
Cao Roulan took over the body and said, “Everything was my fault. The requirement of my contract is to feed Baoshi a certain amount of food every single day. But my clan is small and wasn’t wealthy enough to eat that much amount of food every day. It was at that moment that Devil Fennu and his vessel, Jin Baihua approached us for help.”
“They wanted Baoshi to help them get the blood of the only Princess of the Bai Clan in exchange for gold and food that could provide me and Baoshi for years. I swear we didn’t mean to harm her. We just took a bit of her blood!” said Cao Roulan.
Chuckling, Hei Anjing spoke, “I can guess that much. But to think you would jump out to protect your devil, I guess you like him quite a lot. But either way, what you two did cause this war to happen, and need to be punished for it. The Punishment would get you two involved in the war directly and would most likely need to fight against some Devils that your Devil had some relationship with and of course, you still need to enter purgatory for a few years.”
“Either you do that or... perish completely like the Devil of Greed and the Devil of Envy. So~ what do you think your choice is?”
What Cao Roulan heard left her speechless. Even if she was aware that they would face some sort of retribution, a person like her would still feel the fear of Purgatory to be intolerable. Only evil people, like Jin Baihua, are eligible for entry into that realm.
“P-Purgatory? That... That place really... exist?!” exclaimed Cao Roulan.
Hei Anjing grinned and said, “Of course~ little girl. Where do you think souls which don’t deserve to perish ended up? Most sinners who had done the worst had to live there forever and also sinners who wanted to pay for their sinners also stayed there for a certain period of time. Everything is based on karma and merits.”
“Actually you had accumulated enough karma and merits. But you lack a bit of merit to cancel the karma you had caused. When you helped Jin Baihua and his devil get the blood of an Immortal like my younger sister you two accumulated karma that numbers by how many humans had died in the Eastern City when the invasion of the Devil Race happened yet at the same time gained merits when your devil save your human clan and few more bystanders on the way. But those merits are enough to stop you guys from entering Purgatory. At least not enough to reclaim your, Cao Roulan’s sins,” explained Hei Anjing.
Cao Roulan and Devil Baoshi were stunned and speechless as soon as the terms “karma” and “merits” were pronounced. They haven’t encountered anyone who minimizes or has influence over the penalties brought on by karma and merits. Nobody ventured to claim that only a select few Immortals could view such a thing.
In wonder, Cao Roulan asked, “H-How can you... see our karma and merits?”
“What kind of God are you?” asked Devil Baoshi.
Hei Anjing didn’t realize he had neglected to introduce himself till after that. Even though the Devils were aware of his immortality, few people in the Mortal World were aware of his status as the God of Punishment. First of all, all of these named gods reside in the Upper Realm. Who would have thought he would arise out of nowhere in the land of feeble humans?
Plus, who didn’t know the origin of Chun Hongyun-Jun? Just the fact that the King of Devils had called him a son was enough for him to be treated to be one on the same side of the devil race.
It was Xia Jieye who answered Devil Baoshi’s question, “The God of Punishment and ruler of Underworld and Purgatory.”
“Either way whether you are alive or dead you would be meeting us. The option I am giving you is like a privilege. Like an advance errand before you enter the prison and shortened the period of your punishment. At least the little girl wouldn’t accompany you to Purgatory. You know what’s in there right?” said Hei Anjing.
As they were created by the King of Devils, their inherited memories informed them of purgatory, hence most Devils knew more about it. It is a place of anguish and agony. Until they served out their full sentence or the Lord released them early, those who entered there would never be free to leave or escape.
He understood that this person not only resembled his highness Zihao but also someone who was significant in the Upper Realm since Hei Anjing is the God of Punishment. Even though he didn’t know who was stronger between this man and the Devil of Pride, for the time being, all he can do is obey the Immortal’s instructions.
Devil Baoshi kneeled and said, “What does the Lord want me to do?”
“Don’t worry. Your mission is simple. I want you to capture Jin Baihua and bring him to me. It wouldn’t be only you who would do such a task. I have someone here who will help you do it.” Hei Anjing said.
Cao Roulan and Devil Baoshi were rendered dumbfounded as the Door to the Underworld materialized with a wave of Hei Anjing’s hand. Even for a devil-like Baoshi seeing the door of the underworld is something he hasn’t experienced before. So when he saw the door of the Underworld, he felt like trembling as this door possessed the power to restrain any beings that died. Whether you are a human or not, as long as you didn’t die you cannot go against this door.
The door slowly opens in front of their eyes to reveal guys dressed in black and white robes. It was Hei and Bai, Hei Anjing’s servants who served as his agents in the Underworld.
“It’s been a while, Milord (Master)!” The two greet each other.
Hei Anjing said, “You look good. Handling the Underworld for me you have done well. Have you brought them over for me?”
“Yes, Master. Though there are still a few years before their sentence is done, we got them out of purgatory. One had been able to bear most punishment as for the human soul. We had repaired it in the reincarnation pool as it almost didn’t survive. It turned back into a child’s soul with no memories of the past.”
“Well, that’s fine. Did he agree to my instructions?” asked Hei Anjing.
“He agreed. He was delighted to be remembered before his loved one had turned to dust. Even if the person he loves has turned into a child he can wait for him to grow up. But he wishes to be reborn as a human in their next life.”
“As long as he captures Jin Baihua for me I will pardon them of their remaining sentence and let them enter the Reincarnation Pool to be reborn together as humans.”
Demon Qingyu suddenly arrived holding a little boy. He still has a set of fox-like eyes, fangs, and a tail, and he’s dressed in a blood-red gown that emphasizes his seductive persona as the Devil who governs Desire. This is one of the Devils that Hei Anjing killed when he was looking for his Second Uncle, Xue Yueguang.
Unlike the souls of Jidu and Tanlan who perished under his hand, Hei Anjing didn’t destroy Devil Qingyu’s soul together with Cao Rumin his vessel. For a reason, this Devil didn’t come out to fight it out with him but only showed himself to protect the man he wanted to protect.
He is not an enemy of the human race but his vessel just happened to hate them instead Cao Rumin is Jin Baihua’s only evil friend. They were born as villains as the world fated them to be. You can say that it’s just one of the whims of Hei Anjing as at that time this devil helped him remember his past life as Bai Wuan.
Devil Qingyu paid his respect to Hei Anjing and Xia Jieye. While carrying baby Cao Rumin in his arms he still kneeled before them and paid his respect.
“Qingyu greets Lord Hei and Lord Ye. This humble sinner is at your service.”
Hei Anjing gestured for them to stand up and said, “You heard my words from a while ago right?”
“Yes, my lord. You want us to catch Jin Baihua, the vessel of the Devil of Wrath,” answered Devil Qingyu. “But my lord, Fennu’s strength is only second to the Devil of Pride. I’m afraid only I and Baoshi wouldn’t be enough for it.”
“Worry not. Hei and Bai would help you with it. Though they can’t fully utilize their strength as immortals in this realm, being one of the peak powers is enough.” Hei Anjing said.
The Black and White Impermanence appeared before their master and also bowed their heads in respect.
The Black Impermanence, Hei spoke, “My Lord there is something I wish to report to you about someone.”
“Someone? Who is it?” asked Hei Anjing.
The White Impermanence, Bai answered, “That human friend of Master with the name of Lu Yi had appeared in the Bridge of souls.”
“Lu Wang died!” exclaimed Hei Anjing.
The unexpected shift in the atmosphere around Hei Anjing astonished everyone. The area around the Crimson Cloud suddenly became chilly, with a thin layer of ice covering everything.
It was only when Xia Jieye had appeased him that such a cold and overbearing aura resides. Chun Hongyun-Jun understood his wife’s sudden rage ever since he got back his memories of the past he become more human than the iceberg he is before. Hei Anjing rarely has a friend. That stupid rabbit from before and Lu Yi were just a few of his friends that accepted.
Xia Jieye pats his wife’s back and says, “It’s okay. I’m here.”