Taishan looked at Yan Jue with a grave expression and uttered the classic line.
"In my life, I've only seen someone as arrogant as you!"
"Now you have," Yan Jue replied coldly.
"What are you waiting for? Kick him out!"
"You..."
...
Although Taishan was unwilling, his entire arm had been almost shattered in the previous battle.
At this moment, he had lost the ability to resist, and leaving was the best option for him.
But he had not forgotten the purpose of his visit.
"Yan Jue, if you have the guts, tell me, what's the deal with that red long sword in your hand? Where is its owner?"
...
Yan Jue said nothing, simply ordering the warriors to ruthlessly drive Taishan away.
"Yan Jue, you'd better tell me, or you won't have any peaceful days in a few days!"
"Yan Jue!"
...
After forcefully sending Taishan out of the Underworld, Tang Xiaomin curiously followed him and asked.
"You've been asking about Yan Jue's sword, what's going on?"
Her intuition told her that a question Taishan was so insistent about must be very important.
Taishan said irritably, "Looking at you, you don't know anything either. This matter has nothing to do with you!"
Hey...
He was still a bit temperamental and unwilling to talk.
But this didn't stump Tang Xiaomin. She took out an unopened bottle of red wine from behind her and dangled it in front of Taishan.
"If you tell me, I'll give you the wine, how about it?"
Taishan hesitated. Tang Xiaomin took out another bottle.
"Two bottles."
...
Everything has its weakness.
Taishan was a heavy drinker, and after tasting red wine once, he became addicted to the flavor and was immediately tempted.
Moreover, the matter of that person was not a secret, so he told Tang Xiaomin the truth.
"The *Shasheng* in Yan Jue's hand is not his own sword. It belongs to the highest commander of the Underworld, Empress Houtu."
"After Houtu disappeared, the Ten Yama Kings each began to rule their own territories."
"Since Yan Jue has Houtu's long sword, Houtu's whereabouts must be related to him."
From the time Tang Xiaomin knew Yan Jue, that *Shasheng*, which emanated a strong killing aura, had been in Yan Jue's hands.
She had always thought it was Yan Jue's own weapon, but now it seemed there was more to it.
Taishan unceremoniously took the two bottles of wine from Tang Xiaomin's hand and said.
"He is indeed arrogant because he has a powerful weapon. But compared to the strength of the highest commander, he is no match at all."
"Even if you can contend with the Eighth Yama King, you are definitely no match for Houtu. Keep being arrogant, you won't be for long. I'll just wait and see your downfall."
Taishan seemed to already envision the future of Tang Xiaomin and Yan Jue.
Tang Xiaomin was ignorant. She thought the Ten Yama Kings were already troublesome enough.
But there was a highest commander behind them. Judging by Taishan's fear, that commander must be very powerful.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have made the Ten Yama Kings bow down to her.
Involuntarily, Tang Xiaomin felt unease and a fear of the unknown.
She hurried back to find Yan Jue and demand an explanation.
"Yan Jue, Taishan just said that *Shasheng* is not your sword. Is that really true?"
A distant memory flashed in Yan Jue's mind.
Years ago, he was a valiant general on the battlefield, undefeated in his life.
But in the end, due to being accused of having too much power, he was bestowed a cup of poisoned wine by the king he served wholeheartedly, and died with resentment.
His resentment was deep. Even in the Underworld, he refused to be controlled.
He was unwilling to repeat the endless cycle of life and death. He resisted, continuously resisted.
To evade the pursuit of the ghost messengers, he fled the Underworld's territory and came to an unknown cave dwelling.
On the stone walls flanking the passage, there were carvings of the Ten Yama Kings.
Further in, he found a long sword radiating a dense killing aura, stuck in a rock crevice.
His first thought was to obtain that sword as a weapon, so he could resist the ghost messengers pursuing him.
So, he stepped forward and forcefully pulled out *Shasheng*.
At that moment, a weak voice echoed.
"Who dares to steal from me when I am weak? You have great audacity."
Yan Jue followed the sound and walked further. Through several layers of curtains, he only saw a blurry figure.
"Forget it. Fate is like this. Struggling for a sword is meaningless now. I have disappeared, and this long sword will also vanish into nothingness. In the end, you will have gained nothing."
Although he didn't recognize the voice, Yan Jue felt a sense of shared suffering with the weak figure.
They were both unfortunate souls who couldn't control their own destinies.
...
Putting away his memories.
Yan Jue explained to Tang Xiaomin, "In the beginning, it truly wasn't mine, but now it is."
"Ah?"
"Yan Jue, you really stole someone's thing." Tang Xiaomin found it hard to believe.
But given Yan Jue's temperament, it was normal for him to do such a thing.
Yan Jue shook his head.
"I didn't steal it, someone gave it to me. If I'm not mistaken, the one who gave me the sword should be the highest commander of the Underworld, Houtu."
"After that brief encounter, I never saw her again. Even the residual soul aura on *Shasheng* has completely disappeared, yet *Shasheng* remains.
"It seems that person should still exist, but for some reason, she hasn't appeared."
Tang Xiaomin listened, utterly confused.
"It's better if she doesn't appear. Taishan said she's quite powerful. If that person came out to take charge, our good days as two rebels would be over."
She closed her eyes and silently prayed that the person would never appear. Su Dan Novel Network
Seeing Tang Xiaomin's worried expression, Yan Jue pulled her into his arms and hugged her, giving her a sense of security.
"Minmin, don't be afraid. Even if the King of Heaven himself came, I would protect you. With me here, no one will dare to touch you."
"But what if... you can't defeat the enemy?"
"If I can't, I'll run away with you, to a secluded place to hide. Then, we'll be together every day."
A passionate love might be unforgettable.
But she didn't want passion; she just wanted ordinary, everlasting love with him.
...
Since the negotiation with Taishan failed, Tang Xiaomin turned her attention to Chu Chen.
After Chu Chen became a prisoner, Tang Xiaomin placed him under house arrest.
She didn't restrict Chu Chen's movements on the streets of the Underworld city, effectively indulging him in food and entertainment.
The life he was living now didn't look like that of a prisoner at all; he was practically a pampered lord.
In a KTV, Chu Chen was holding the microphone, building up emotion, and passionately performing the king's song "A Thousand Reasons for Sadness."
...
The person I loved,
I no longer possess...
Clap clap clap!!!
After the song ended, Tang Xiaomin applauded Chu Chen.
"King Chu, I didn't realize you sing so well. Are you interested in debuting as a star and gaining a large fan base?"