Chapter 119: The Young Lady Requests Your Presence!

Page 1 of 3

Ling Qiu withdrew his aura and slipped both hands back into his pockets.

He resumed his former indifferent expression.

Going around Xing Mantang, he returned to his original place.

By now, Xing Mantang did not even dare raise his head. His entire body trembled violently, and he could only stare at Ling Qiu’s feet, following them as Ling Qiu moved.

Naturally, he moved on his knees.

Only after Ling Qiu sat down again did Xing Mantang stop. He remained kneeling on the floor, his body prostrate, his forehead pressed hard against the boards. Apart from his faint trembling, he did not dare move an inch.

“Get up. You’re old enough—there’s no need to keep kneeling.”

Ling Qiu had never intended to punish Xing Mantang in the first place.

Judging from some of his words and his attitude, he was clearly a man who adhered strictly to the rules. Why, then, would a spirit official serving in the mortal world have anything to do with refining living humans into corpse puppets?

This was far more serious than merely breaking a rule. As a spirit official, he should have known perfectly well what kind of punishment awaited him in the underworld after death for such a heinous crime.

Therefore…

Ling Qiu suspected there was more to the matter than met the eye.

“I… I wouldn’t dare…”

Xing Mantang was still teetering on the brink of collapse and terror.

The more he thought about it, the more horrifying it seemed…

The transmission of spiritual awareness earlier had made everything clear to him. He now knew that Ling Qiu was the previous King of Hell…

He had never imagined that a seemingly unremarkable young man could possess such a terrifying identity!

The transmission of spiritual awareness was extraordinarily convenient, far more direct and efficient than words. In an instant, it could convey an enormous amount of information.

Ling Qiu could not be bothered with unnecessary explanations, which was why he had used that method just now.

Clearly, it had produced immediate results.

“I told you to get up. So get up.”

Ling Qiu’s voice carried a hint of impatience.

Only then did Xing Mantang rise shakily to his feet. Yet he remained hunched over, his head bowed, both hands held before him, looking every inch a servant.

If anyone else had witnessed this scene, their jaw would have dropped in astonishment.

Xing Mantang was the old master of the Xing family, one of the three great families of Jiangnan Province!

He was a towering figure, respected wherever he went.

And now, he was behaving like this before a mere young man!

“Tell me. Why did you refine living humans into corpse puppets?”

Page 1 of 3

Page 2 of 3

At those words, Xing Mantang instinctively shuddered. After a long moment of hesitation, he said cautiously, “I… I dare not say…”

Ling Qiu glanced at him. “Either speak, or remain beyond redemption forever.”

“I’ll speak! I’ll speak!”

Xing Mantang’s heart trembled. Gritting his teeth, he hurriedly said, “I hope Your Majesty will not take offense. The reason I hesitated just now was that, according to the rules, relaying classified information about a spirit official’s mission to another person would shorten one’s lifespan…”

Ling Qiu’s brow furrowed slightly. “Who established these rules?”

“...My superior… It may have been an Impermanence Envoy… or perhaps the City God…”

“May have been?”

Ling Qiu said, “I dislike evasive answers. Either it is or it isn’t. What do you mean, ‘may have been’?”

Xing Mantang replied with utmost respect, “Your Majesty… The rules governing spirit officials in the mortal world differ in many respects from those of the Underworld…”

He then proceeded to explain the various rules governing spirit officials in the mortal realm.

After listening, Ling Qiu could not help clicking his tongue in wonder. He found the whole arrangement rather interesting.

First, the spirit officials scattered throughout the mortal world did not know one another’s true identities.

Second, every spirit official position was hereditary. That was why Xing Mantang was a ghost constable, while his son, Xing Lunan, was a ghost deputy.

Finally, communication and the transmission of orders among mortal spirit officials were conducted through a certain mark.

At that moment, Xing Mantang tremblingly opened his clothes. A glow appeared on his chest, and the pattern of a tattoo slowly emerged before Ling Qiu’s eyes.

“Oh?”

Ling Qiu glanced at it. “So you’re saying you don’t know who the other spirit officials in the mortal world are?”

“To answer Your Majesty, that is correct.”

A playful smile touched Ling Qiu’s lips.

He had originally intended to use this Constable Xing as a thread to unravel the entire system of spirit officials in the mortal realm.

But now it seemed…

Things would not be that simple.

Still, that was fine. At least it would be interesting. There would be something to do.

“Now tell me. What is this business of refining living humans into corpse puppets?”

Ling Qiu spoke calmly. “Do not bring up any rules. I ask, you answer. It is that simple. Otherwise… weigh it carefully in your own heart. Which is more frightening: your rules, or… me?”

“…”

Xing Mantang was no senile fool. His hesitation earlier had been because, either way, death awaited him.

Anyone would struggle before making such a choice.

But…

A shortened lifespan meant only a slow death.

If he truly angered the King of Hell before him, however… he might die on the spot—and not even have the chance to become a ghost.

Page 2 of 3

Page 3 of 3

“All of this… was ordered by the Southern City God… As for why he needs living corpse puppets, I have no idea… We are only his subordinates. We obey orders and would never dare disobey…”

“The Southern City God?”

Ling Qiu narrowed his eyes, recalling the map the Ksitigarbha King had shown him earlier.

China was divided into five great regions, each governed by one City God.

Presumably, there were five of them: the Eastern, Western, Southern, Northern, and Central City Gods.

This Southern City God…

He should be the one responsible for the southern region.

Ling Qiu stroked his chin.

“Interesting… Refining living humans into corpse puppets is an act that defies the natural order, the work of an evil path. Cultivating as a ghost does not make one evil. Yet a dignified City God actually ordered his subordinates to do such a thing.”

Ling Qiu could not help smiling. “Ksitigarbha, Ksitigarbha… It seems that when you agreed so readily to resurrect me, you intended to use my hand to clean up the mess these mortal officials have made, didn’t you?”

After pondering for a moment, Ling Qiu slowly rose to his feet. Without saying a word, he turned to leave.

Xing Mantang froze, unable to tell what Ling Qiu meant. Then he dropped to his knees with a thud once more.

“Your… Your Majesty… Have you… Have you forgiven me?”

Ling Qiu looked back at him and said indifferently, “In my eyes, there is no question of forgiveness. The only question is whether I wish to destroy you. I never intended to destroy you from the beginning. Otherwise, I would not have needed to enter this residence today. You would already be dead without a grave.”

A shiver ran through Xing Mantang’s entire body. He believed those words without the slightest doubt.

“Then… Your Majesty… Is there… Is there anything else you wish me to do?”

Ling Qiu waved his hand lazily. “I never give people orders. But a sensible person always knows what should be done. So tell me—are you a sensible person?”

“Yes, yes, yes! I understand!”

Xing Mantang was an old man who had survived long enough to become exceedingly shrewd. He nodded repeatedly, his heart finally relaxing as gratitude brought tears to his eyes.

Ling Qiu nodded faintly and was just about to walk out the door when he suddenly turned back.

That single movement nearly scared Xing Mantang to death.

After all, serving beside a ruler was like keeping company with a tiger. Who could know what capricious temperament this inscrutable King of Hell possessed?

Yet when Ling Qiu turned around, he merely tossed out a sentence:

“By the way, I spent all my money on a taxi getting here. Do you have any cash? Lend me some for the trip home. I’ll pay you back later.”

What?

Xing Mantang’s eyes widened. He wondered whether he had misheard.

Hold on…

Your Majesty, you are the exalted King of Hell…

How could the mood change so quickly?