Yama Rising

“Take a look at these things… Do you think you’d be able to do them for me?” Qin Ye gazed deeply at the Harken’s back and continued explaining in a deep voice, “These are just some tentative plans of mine. The primary purpose of the grand ceremony is to smoothen the rolling out of our monetary policy. These festivities will give the citizens of Hell a place to spend and a reason to buy--…”

Regret?

These festivities are more symbolic than anything. The establishment of a new system of currency would completely sweep Kong Mo’s name into the annals of history, while the festivity itself would promote the development of culture and heritage, and through that, foster a common identity. This would seal their pledge of allegiance to Hell! There are absolutely no downsides to this, so why would the Harken speak with such a tone of voice? It’s almost as though… he doesn’t find the result satisfactory at all.

As if it could sense Qin Ye’s burning scrutiny, the Harken shrank its entire body as it finally responded, “How are you going to generate your electricity to power these amenities?”

“No.”

Qin Ye coughed dryly, “There’s still a second option. I know that we’ve got no sources of energy right now, but we can still achieve the same ends by manipulating Yin talismans. So…”

Qin Ye gulped nervously, “If you would be so kind--...”

Chat window closed. Again.

Holy shit… you’re actually pulling this move on me?!

“500 pounds.”

With that, Qin Ye left and returned to his own office back in Hell. Yet, even then, he couldn’t help but keep his brows furrowed. There was a niggling sensation in his heart that gave him a bad premonition about what was to come.

In fact, the Harken didn’t even deign to look him in the eye.

“It was all triggered by the mention of the Hungry Ghost Festival. And as soon as I was done talking about that, the Harken immediately reverted back to its original self. Does it know something about the Hungry Ghost Festival that I don’t? Or perhaps… something is supposed to happen at the Hungry Ghost Festival itself?”

Shadowless?

Qin Ye immediately vanished from his office without a trace and reappeared in the mortal realm.

“I’ll see you at Old Street Teahouse in ten minutes’ time. You may attach yourself to any person of your choosing.”

“Fool.” Qin Ye responded coldly, “If that’s truly the case, then how do you think the mortal realm defines the boundaries of all hunting zones and predatory zones? Don’t underestimate the mortal realm. The technology available to mankind is far beyond what you can even begin to fathom.”

With that, Qin Ye departed from his room, called a cab and immediately made his way towards the agreed location. Unbeknownst to him, there was a man dressed in a Cathayan tunic suit who saw everything that had just transpired.

“Target is moving.” The man’s face was as featureless and forgettable as it got - the kind that would easily blend into a crowd of people and vanish without a trace. His voice was also plain and bland, “I’ve checked his schedule and confirmed that there’s nothing fixed in Martial City for him this afternoon. As you’ve instructed, I’ve ensured that there will be no emergency or distress calls relayed to him this afternoon.”

“Yes.” The man nodded, and then twisted a knob on his headset, “Stand down.”

And he wasn’t the only one. There were easily at least a dozen iron sights trained onto Qin Ye’s body just moments ago.

Elsewhere, in an apartment building. This was by no means an office of the Special Investigations Department. Zhou Xianlong’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he propped up his head with interlocked fingers as he stared deeply into the screen in front of him.

The curtains had been completely drawn, and the light in the room was somewhat dim. Six screens hung all around the room, each of which appeared to be connected to various devices and instruments. Anyone would easily mistake this room for a set used for sci-fi movies.

Zhou Xianlong nodded, sighed, and then shut his eyes.

Zhou Xianlong’s voice was soft, but the man in black clearly heard the words spoken. After much hesitation, the man in black remarked, “Leader, all Infernal Judges would generally undergo observation for several years before we fully entrust them with their office. Such high-profile review isn’t uncommon to begin with. After all, Infernal Judges are part of the core forces of the Special Investigation Department, and they’re granted access to the most confidential files. Your caution is not misplaced.”

Zhou Xianlong shut his eyes once more, only to reveal a bitter smile on his face.

Qin Ye used to be an instructor that he favored the most. Yet, by some sick twist of fate, he had now come to tap into the highest authority conferred upon him as a deputy director of the Special Investigations Department in order to conduct an audit of the highest specification on the very same person. The emotions involved… were something he couldn’t accept.

This was a gathering of experts that would ordinarily only be seen in the Special Investigations Department’s annual debrief!

“Leader, they’re both involved in their own assignments right now, and I’m afraid that they’ll only arrive around 15 August, during the Hungry Ghost Festival.”

He gazed deeply at the photograph without saying another word.

“Alert! Alert!”

Zhou Xianlong stood up haughtily and dragged the screen until he came to the location with the coordinates X431Y242. And then, he immediately zoomed in onto the location to get a clearer view of it.

To make matters worse, they had just received confirmation of a report of a Judge-class evil ghost travelling in broad daylight!

Their target - the newly promoted Judge, Qin Ye - alighted from the cab, marched over to the door and entered the teahouse.

There were no additional alerts… The screen continued to flicker, but there weren’t the usual alerts that they received as soon as they picked up a clash between true energy and Yin energy.

And there was no way they couldn’t have sensed each other’s presence!

It was almost as though they were interacting with each other like old friends reunited. The Old Street remained as calm and peaceful as it had always been, yet chillingly so.

Silence.

He paused for a moment, and then bit his lips and stared at Zhou Xianlong’s back as he continued, “That said, the possibility of errors and omissions cannot be ruled out…”

“Yes.”

What the hell are you doing?!

Don’t disappoint me… You were my favourite instructor. I sincerely hope you don’t wrong Cathay…

Clink… He accidentally shattered the teacup in his hand, and everything came crashing to the ground at once. Even then, he simply stared at his own hand with disbelief, almost as though he were numb to all sensation.