Chapter 93

Lin Yu watched the approaching spear tip. "Ting He, hold him off."

The scattered demonic energy swiftly gathered and converged before Lin Yu. The spear clashed against the black aura with a piercing screech, and the blade bent and split apart!

"Di Ting." Lin Yu's fingers moved behind her back, and she sent him a telepathic message at the same time. "Give him a push."

"Now?!"

Lin Yu gauged the distance between the Xianzun and the Moon God. As the spear shattered, the enormous impact forced the Moon God to involuntarily lean back a step. Lin Yu seized the moment to undo the binding spell on the Xianzun. "Push!"

The invisible restraints on his body vanished abruptly. Before the Xianzun could register what was happening, a strange force shoved him violently from behind. Caught off guard, a moon-white figure suddenly appeared before his eyes.

The Moon God steadied himself, then sensed someone charging into him from behind, nearly tripping him!

The Moon God turned in astonishment to look at the Xianzun, who had fallen to his knees. "What are you doing?"

Lin Yu looked at Di Ting with disappointment. "I told you to push him, so why did you make him kneel?"

Di Ting looked innocent. "You broke the spell too fast. I didn't react in time..."

Lin Yu: "...Then how did Ting He manage to react in time?"

Di Ting glanced at the annoying black aura flying around in the sky. Ting He sensed someone staring at her and darted over to circle around Di Ting's cheek twice. Even without a physical form, just a mass of black energy, one could tell Ting He was in high spirits.

Di Ting grew even more irritated and made an excuse for himself: "She's just a shadow, and she flies, so of course she's faster than me!"

Lin Yu looked at the Xianzun, who was still kneeling on the ground while clutching a corner of the Moon God's robe.

This was quite awkward, but since Lin Yu wasn't the one in the middle of it, she chose not to say anything further.

The Moon God, for his part, now paid no attention to Lin Yu, the spear, or the demonic energy. His mind was entirely occupied with the Xianzun's sudden kneeling. As the envoy between gods and mortals, the Xianzun was not required to bow to deities—this was an extremely unusual gesture.

The Xianzun himself didn't understand why he had knelt, but since he was already down, he thought it improper to scramble up immediately. He pressed his lips together. "Please, Great Deity, see clearly. She is the Divine Maiden of my Heaven's Mandate Tower, not some specter or demon. I beg you, Great Deity, spare her."

The Moon God's expression turned pensive. When had the envoy of the gods ever knelt to plead for someone?

But today, the Xianzun had already begged him twice—once to save the Divine Maiden by requesting the name slip, and now this, actually prostrating himself in a bow.

He insisted that the Divine Maiden was an impostor, yet the Xianzun, to protect her, was willing to kneel and explain?

All for the sake of a Divine Maiden? Was it really worth going this far?

Of course, it wasn't for a mere Divine Maiden. It was for his own lifespan. He wanted to live, and the Divine Maiden could not die.

The Moon God laughed out loud, then gave a light cough. "You say she's not a demon? Just because you say so?"

"You're truly too easily deceived by these ghostly creatures." The Moon God had no intention of letting this chance to kill Lin Yu slip away. Lin Yu had once destroyed the illusionary realm of the Li Kingdom he had painstakingly crafted. She knew of his shameful past, all the wicked deeds he had committed as a mortal before his Ascension.

Over the past century, all who knew had died, their fates buried alongside his infamous history, deep beneath the yellow earth, never to see the light of day again.

A hundred years was too long—so long that he had almost forgotten. But now, another person who knew his past had appeared. Every time he saw Lin Yu, it was like seeing the pathetic version of himself from a century ago.

That was why he loathed Lin Yu.

He was unwilling to accept his former years. The slaughter of cities, betrayal, the sacrifice of ten thousand people, the sealing of mountains—step by step, he had climbed to become a god revered by all. But in Lin Yu's eyes, he was only the treacherous minister who had usurped power a hundred years ago.

Kill Lin Yu, kill his past, and help Lin Jiyue take her place as the Divine Maiden—that was what he should do now.

He would continue forward, step by step, and no one would stop him.

Lin Yu had to die.

The Moon God ignored the Xianzun's words and turned to face Lin Yu. "A demon is a demon. Something that can't stand the light shouldn't exist in this world."

"Is that so?" Di Ting spoke softly.

For a moment, the Moon God thought it was Lin Yu who had spoken. He looked at her, but she made no move. Frowning, he wondered if he had misheard.

It was then that the Xianzun remembered Di Ting's presence. He turned to address Di Ting, but unlike the humble tone he used with the Moon God, his voice was noticeably sharper and accusatory.

The Moon God had been misled by the demonic energy into mistaking the Divine Maiden for a demon. Since the explanation wasn't working, they would have to take another path—temporarily protecting the Divine Maiden until the demonic energy dispersed, then clarify matters to the Moon God.

"You want the name slip, don't you? The only leverage you have to threaten me is the Divine Maiden. If anything happens to her, our previous agreement is void." The Xianzun said, "You shouldn't let your only leverage die, should you? If she dies, you get nothing. The Moon God is here, deceived, and won't save her—but he will definitely save me."

The Xianzun was plainly laying out the stakes for Di Ting: if Lin Yu died, Di Ting would lose his leverage and no longer be able to threaten the Xianzun; the name slip matter would be settled once and for all.

Similarly, Di Ting couldn't use the Xianzun's life as a threat, because the Moon God would rescue him. At that point, Di Ting would truly have gotten nothing for all his effort.

Lin Yu glanced at Di Ting, and at the same time, her words reached his ears. "Tell him that your being the Ghost King is Lin Jiyue's request. Lin Jiyue still has use for me. You're to send me to the Underworld as a hostage for her."

Di Ting looked up at the Moon God. "Great Deity Moon God, she truly isn't a demon. You worry too much. The air around here is thick with demonic aura, and her cultivation isn't high enough to protect herself, so she's picked up some demonic taint. Your momentary misjudgment is understandable."

"Once the demonic aura disperses, you can re-examine her identity," Di Ting relayed the words one by one. "For now, you cannot kill her. She is a hostage of my Ghost Realm. I have already discussed this with the Xianzun, and he has agreed. Surely the great Moon God wouldn't go back on his word and bully us Ghost Tribe?"

The Moon God let out a cold snort. Di Ting's words held no water. He had forced the Xianzun to agree under duress while he was in danger. If the Moon God hadn't shown up, Di Ting might have gotten away with his scheme. But now that he was here, he could simply kill Di Ting and the ghost messengers, void everything, and not even bother with the name slip.

The Moon God was about to summon his power when Di Ting's next words made him hold back.

Di Ting smiled. "My master said that the Xianzun of the mortal realm is known for keeping his word. I've already told my master about the name slip. Surely the Xianzun and Great Deity Moon God wouldn't go back on their word and disappoint me for no reason, right?"

"Also, this hostage—my master wants her alive. She's ordered it. That way, your hands stay clean, Great Deity."

The Moon God pondered for a moment. According to Di Ting, Lin Jiyue was currently in the Ghost Realm, waiting for the ghost messengers to deliver the person. Lin Yu falling into Lin Jiyue's hands would certainly not end well. Well, what did it matter who killed Lin Yu? Dead was dead, just a matter of sooner or later.

Since it was clear that Lin Jiyue's subordinate was Di Ting and that she needed him to become the Ghost King, and since the Xianzun had humbly begged for his help, adding a name to the slip wasn't out of the question.

After it was done, not only could the Moon God help Lin Jiyue take control of the Ghost Realm, but the Xianzun would also owe him a favor. As for Lin Yu—if she were to die in the Ghost Realm under mysterious circumstances, it would have nothing to do with him.

"Come, you'll accompany me to the Nine Heavens." The Moon God pointed at Di Ting. Just as the Xianzun sighed in relief, the Moon God added, "You too."

The Xianzun was flattered. The Nine Heavens—the divine realm he had aspired to his entire life. "I..."

He longed to see the Nine Heavens, but he had to refuse.

From their conversation, someone in the Ghost Realm had specifically demanded Lin Yu as a hostage, and that person was now waiting for her. The Moon God didn't care much about Lin Yu's fate.

He needed to rescue Lin Yu before they obtained the name slip, to prevent any further complications.

"I'm old now, and my cultivation has mostly faded. I doubt I can withstand such a toilsome journey between heaven and earth." The Xianzun coughed heavily. "I hope the Great Deity will understand."

The Moon God was at a loss for words. He knew exactly what the Xianzun was thinking. "Enough talk. Let's go."

With that, he grabbed the Xianzun's sleeve and departed. In the blink of an eye, they were gone. Di Ting looked back at Lin Yu in confusion.

As soon as the Moon God left, the ghost messengers swiftly unbound the loose knots around Lin Yu's wrists. Lin Yu dusted off her hands and glanced toward the fading glow on the horizon. "What are you waiting for? Do you need me to teach you? They're gone—hurry up and chase after them!"

Di Ting slapped his forehead. "Wait for me!"

He turned and soared into the sky, chasing after the fading light. Lin Yu's voice, mingled with the wind, reached his ears clearly.

"Make sure you bring the Book of Life back to me."

...

In the Ghost King's Palace.

Lin Yu lounged casually on the ornate throne. Wisps of demonic energy swirled around her, while the ghost messengers kept their heads down, bustling about.

"Your Eminence, the Book of Life and Death you requested has been retrieved," one of the ghost messengers said cautiously, watching Lin Yu's expression.

The ghost messengers weren't entirely sure who Lin Yu was. For now, she seemed to have multiple identities, but whether they were real or fabricated was unclear. They couldn't settle on what to call her, so after much discussion, they decided on "Your Eminence."

Clearly, Lin Yu wasn't pleased with the title. She opened the Book of Life and Death with her left hand and twirled a vermilion brush in her right, then turned to the ghost messenger who had spoken. "Your Eminence?"

A seemingly inexplicable smile crossed her face. The swirling black aura coalesced into a humanoid form, and Ting He walked over to sit beside Lin Yu.

Actually, it couldn't really be called sitting. Ting He had lost her body, left only with a shadowy wisp of existence. She couldn't touch anything, so she didn't make contact with the chair beside Lin Yu; she sat down on the floor instead, curling up at Lin Yu's feet.

Lin Yu: "Who taught you to call me 'Your Eminence'?"

Ting He nodded. "You should call her 'Master,' like that one."

Ghost messenger: "...?"

Lin Yu raised her hand and swatted at Ting He's forehead, but she didn't touch anything. Her fingertips only met a faint chill as they passed through the shadow.

Ting He laughed and shifted to lean her head on her hand, sitting by Lin Yu's feet. "Her name is Lin Yu. Just call her by name. No need to be so careful—she doesn't kill people."

Lin Yu: ...

Lin Yu said nothing, effectively accepting it. She waved the ghost messengers out, then began flipping through the Book of Life and Death.

The vermilion brush spun between her fingers. Lin Yu couldn't help but muse—last time she'd had nothing when she'd crossed out names from the Book of Life and Death. Now that the Ghost King was dead and she'd helped Di Ting ascend to the throne, her treatment had improved considerably. Not only could she see the Book, but she was even given a brush, and no one stopped her from crossing out whatever names she pleased.

Ting He leaned in close, her shadowy chin resting on Lin Yu's shoulder. "What do you need the Book of Life and Death for? To take revenge on your enemies?"

Lin Yu didn't answer. She picked up the brush and crossed out the name of an official she recognized—a corrupt magistrate notorious for his misdeeds.

Ting He saw this and laughed. "That one's awful—his reputation stinks to high heaven. Did he have a grudge against you?"

Lin Yu turned to the next page. "No."

"But since I'm here anyway, being a hostage is pretty boring. A day up in heaven is a year down here. With them gone, it'll be at least a month or two before they come back. You're just going to sit here and wait with me for a month?"

Since she was already here, wouldn't it be a waste not to look through the Book of Life and Death? She might as well do the mortal officials a favor and rid the world of a few villains.

Ting He sighed. "True, but I'm not staying with you. I might cease to exist by tomorrow. I still have revenge to take."

Lin Yu found it amusing. "I've practically handed you the Book of Life and Death, and you're still thinking about charging into hell for revenge?"

Ting He jumped to her feet. "Right!"

She grew suddenly excited. "Quick, flip ahead! Let me find where those people are. There's no way I'm letting them off!"

Lin Yu was about to do just that when a ghost messenger burst in, looking panicked. Lin Yu looked up. "What's wrong?"

The ghost messenger gasped for breath. "People from Heaven's Mandate Tower are here!"