Chapter Three: Neglecting Duty, Tearing His Mouth Apart

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Front Hall
A spirit dressed entirely in black stepped over the silent dust, moving as if floating as he entered.
He slightly bowed his head, his features dark and sharp like a black bowstring, edges carved like blades. His lips curled coldly as he said, “Your Highness, Black Chang has completed all the tasks you assigned.”

At the hall table,
The man lifted his eyes and nodded lightly in response, “Mm, well done. How is the situation at the Demon Palace?”
“Prince Yuheng has dispatched several Immortal Lords to mete out the heavenly thunder tribulation to the demon lords’ offspring who violated the celestial laws. Now, the demon clan’s hatred toward the heavenly clan has surely deepened.”
“No need to mind that. What about the investigation on Weng Ze?”
“He sent word that he hasn’t found any cultivation methods yet but has made some special discoveries.”
“Oh? What kind?” The man’s gaze was clearly intrigued as he looked up.
Black Chang shook his head, “He plans to investigate further and will report back once he has confirmation.”
“Doesn’t matter. After all this time, I’ve waited patiently. Send word: they must search thoroughly—whether it’s Immortal artifacts or medicinal pills. Bring any news back immediately!”
“Yes, Black Chang understands.”

The moment these words fell, the voice of a ghost servant echoed outside the hall.
With the ghost servant’s call, Black Chang’s figure vanished swiftly inside the hall like a wisp of black mist.
“Your Highness, Lady Meng Po has arrived.”
“Let her in.”
“Yes—”

A woman entered lightly, clad in a striking red gauze dress, holding a shaking fan.
Her delicate, fair face was adorned with vivid, rosy makeup, lips red and alluring. “Your Highness—”
The man’s jet-black eyes swept over her coldly, and with a single glance, she ceased her smile and shifted to full respectfulness. “Y-Your Highness, what are your orders?”
“Have you been receiving many spirits lately?”
“W-Why do you say that?” Meng Po’s voice trembled as she hurried to explain, “Meng Po has been working from dawn till dusk these days, exhausted beyond words. No merits, but certainly much hardship.”
“Lies!”
“Uh…” She paused, amused inside but outwardly humble, “Meng Po has never shirked duties; I have earnestly received every soul coming for reincarnation. I wonder where Your Highness heard such rumors, damaging my reputation?”
“No need for hearsay.” His face darkened with pressure. “Were the words from Yuan’er taught by you?”
“I… Meng Po did not.”
“She confessed herself.”
“I…” Meng Po scratched her dark hair in frustration, silently cursing: Poor choice of friends, poor choice of friends indeed!
“Well? Still want to deny it?”
“N-no, Meng Po wouldn’t dare. It’s just… Meng Po told the little prince some amusing tales, and she remembered some.”
“Remembered? Hmph, next time don’t teach her such baseless things.”
“Y-yes, yes…”
“You neglect the real work, but busy yourselves with these frivolous matters.”

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Meng Po lowered her head, listening quietly while nodding repeatedly, “Yes, yes…”
“I do not wish for you to corrupt her.”
“Yes, yes…”
“In the future, unless there is an emergency, do not step into the back hall.”
“Yes, yes…”

…

“Lady Meng Po?”
“Yes, yes…”
“Lady Meng Po?”
“Yes, yes… ah?”

A ghost servant entered, whispering in confusion, “What are you doing? The souls for reincarnation have arrived; you should go see them.”
“Ah? Isn’t Your Highness—” She pointed to the main seat before her, about to say more.

The next moment,
Her body froze.
There was no one in that seat anymore.
The once unapproachable Lord of the Underworld, who had been sitting upright just moments ago, had disappeared without a trace.
He truly lived up to the saying: arrive without a shadow, leave without a trace.

She snorted coldly and turned away.

…

In the pitch-black depths of Hell,
Souls came and went,
Some arriving for reincarnation, others about to be sent off.

At the Naihe Bridge,
Meng Po watched the little ghosts below as they handed out the forgetfulness soup to each soul about to reincarnate.

Suddenly, among the crowd, a pregnant woman screamed as she ran outward, “I refuse to reincarnate! I won’t forget him! No! I want to go back!”

Like fireworks and firecrackers, her cries exploded rapidly in the ears of everyone.

Instantly,
The crowd shouted loudly in unison: “No reincarnation! No reincarnation!”
“We want to go back! Our hungry children are waiting for us! We cannot die! No!”
“I can’t die either, I still want to see my parents one last time!”
“Let us go back! We must not die!”
“I was killed by someone else! I want revenge! Revenge! I cannot die!”
…

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Meng Po curled her red lips into a cold sneer and said, “I am here to ferry you through reincarnation, not to judge your grievances or seek justice.”
“This Meng Po soup, you will drink it whether you want to or not. I do not have the patience to wait for you.”
“Someone, force them to drink it one by one and send them on their way to reincarnation!”
“Yes—”

Not far away,
A woman in white silk dress, pale as snow, leaned against the railing with a smile.
“Lady Meng Po, you are truly formidable.”

She turned her gaze over, surprised, “White Chang? What are you doing here?”
The woman descended the steps, waving her slender hand lightly, “Don’t mention it. My brother was summoned back by the Lord of the Underworld, so naturally, I followed.”
“Never expected that upon returning, I’d see that annoying Su Qin’s face again.”

Life outside was carefree and easy—no one cared or questioned, do as you please, go wherever you want. Occasionally, when encountering a few unruly, disobedient evil spirits, she’d just whip them without hesitation—how satisfying.

But that old Weng Ze sent word that her brother had to return to report his investigation to the Lord of the Underworld, forcing her to give up her plans for wild fun and return obediently.

Returning was one thing, but seeing Su Qin’s pretentious face instantly made her even more irritated.

“Su Qin?” Meng Po frowned lightly, “Isn’t she below? Why come up here?”
White Chang quickly nodded in agreement, “Exactly. She only governs souls from the sixth to eighth layers. What’s she doing here? Hah, probably here for the Lord of the Underworld again.”

Throughout the ghost realm, everyone knew Su Qin’s ambition for promotion.

Tsk tsk, lucky the little prince lost his mother; otherwise, seeing her annoying face every day would surely make him furious.

“Don’t bother with it. Whatever she wants to do isn’t for us to meddle in.”
“That’s true. I just got back; why make trouble for myself? I’d better go see the little prince.”

White Chang turned to leave, her light steps betraying her joy. But just a few steps away, she was called back.

“Wait.”
“What’s up?” she turned with confusion.

Meng Po shook her head, eyes filled with annoyance, “The Lord of the Underworld just scolded me. For now, I’m not to go to the back hall.”
“Why?” White Chang came back, her pure pale face full of anger. “I brought the little prince’s favorite magical artifact back. Why would the Lord scold you and forbid you from going to the back hall?”
“Maybe because the little prince said something upsetting to him in front of the hall, so he’s been taking it out on me. It’s better if we two don’t meet him too often.”
“Why should that be? I haven’t even met him yet.”

Meng Po spoke firmly, “Enough. There will be a time to meet; it’s not urgent now.”
She pursed her lips and snorted proudly, “I don’t know who’s been gossiping in front of the Lord of the Underworld. If I find out, I’ll tear their mouth apart.”
“Go back for now. I still have souls to ferry. When I have time, I’ll come find you.”

White Chang nodded, “Alright. You must come find me. Not seeing the little prince already makes me sad.”
“Mm, go ahead.”
“Okay, I’ll go find my brother.”