Yama Rising

Buzz…

It was over. Everything was over.

“Nobody en route to becoming the lord of an entire realm should expect the journey to be a smooth-sailing one. Life will always have its ups and downs, just like how one must tide through the bleak, harsh winters in order to see the first fruits of spring once more. Only in dreams can things remain constant and stagnant. And I can assure you that you would never be able to cope with the true functions of being a King Yanluo of Hell in that previous dream-like stupor of yours.”

With that, his body vanished in a cloud of smoke that quickly dissipated into the surroundings, “And with that, it’s about time for me to hand over what I can to my next successor…”

“Light?” One of the Yin spirits gasped as he gazed into the distant sky. A split second later, he screamed at the top of his voice, “Everyone! Everyone, look there!”

“My god… what is this?!” “That’s unbelievable… T-t-there’s actually light in Hell?” “Is that… the sun?” “No! The light appeared to be shrinking back!”

Whoosh! A ring of golden shockwave swept across the entire Ashmound City, followed closely by the faint sounds of indistinct music that emerged from nowhere. Chimes, flutes and even multiple guzheng were playing a soft, lilting tune that spread everywhere throughout the city.

Back in the mortal realm. A soft nethergale swept by, and countless wisps of Yin energy coalesced and took shape. A moment later, Qin Ye stepped out of the cloud of Yin energy and looked towards the gates of Hell.

The mountain of Yin spirits had already vanished without a trace. The previously wide open gates of Hell had been tightly shut, and a figure stood right in front of the closed gates.

It was a man who stood at 1.85m tall. He wore imperial robes, but his robes were adorned with neither the Harken nor the xiezhi unicorn. Rather… it was adorned with the Aurogon, otherwise known as the Torch Dragon.

His robes were tightened around his waist by a yellow belt, and he wore a matching imperial crown on his head. The man was incredibly handsome. His brows were sharp as a knife, and he sported angular, chiseled jawlines. He exuded an air of sharpness and incisiveness about him.

Qin Ye made his way over and slowly sized up the man’s appearances. After a long time, he murmured, “Second King Yanluo of Hell?”

“The Harken is a proud beast. There aren’t many people who can make the Harken willingly bow in respect. So… what brings you here?”

Qin Ye nodded softly, and then glanced at the ruins around him, “Did you do this?”

Even then, there was only one answer to the question.

“This is called Fate.”

Just then, his eyes twitched, and his body moved reflexively. However, his conscious thought soon took over his body’s reflexes, and he forcibly suppressed any movements.

“This is a matter between the King Yanluos of Hell.”

Arthis and the Harken gritted their teeth and remained knelt in place, staring at the scene panning out in front of their eyes with great fear and trepidation. The usually cowardly Qin Ye had rushed forward like a ferocious tiger, punching and striking the Second King Yanluo’s body with all of his might. Although his blows weren’t imbued with the force of his own Yin energy, they could all easily tell that he wasn’t pulling any punches. Three full minutes later, Qin Ye gnashed his teeth and kicked the Second King Yanluo squarely across the chest. With a muffled grunt, the Second King Yanluo stumbled back several steps.

Qin Ye took a deep breath. With the flick of his fingers, his faux Judgment Pen appeared in his hands, and soon transformed into a mighty spear that pointed its tip straight towards the Second King Yanluo.

“And then you can find someone else to replace me! I’ll quit right here, right now!!”

“No matter where I’ve been, nobody has ever dared point a weapon at me.” He placed a single finger on the tip of the spear and gently pushed it aside. Qin Ye mustered all of his force, only to realize to his dismay that it felt as feeble as fighting against the weight of mountains upon mountains. They were clearly of different classes of strength.

The Harken’s eyes twitched. Here was a man who was touted as the strongest across all three realms, and yet he would stoop so low as to apologize to a newly-minted King Yanluo of Hell?

“I don’t want to hear any apologies!” Qin Ye muttered coldly, “I want to know the reason!”

“Why did you have to do this?!”

“What’s that got to do with me?!”

Qin Ye paused abruptly and looked at the Second King Yanluo in shock.

“There are many laws and rules governing the existence of these three realms, yet the ones who truly understand these rules are few and far between. And as far as the Cathayan underworld is concerned, nobody knows these laws and rules better than Ksitigarbha and myself.”

Qin Ye remained silent. He understood that being the King Yanluo of Hell was akin to being the lord of a realm. There were many secrets and mysteries that cannot be disclosed to outsiders. He couldn’t risk transmitting the priceless legacy of Hell through written means.

At the same time, he would also pass onto his successor everything he needed to know about being the next King Yanluo of Hell. Incidentally, the Second King Yanluo was probably the only person who could come and go from the three realms as he so desired.

“I can understand how you’re feeling right now.” The Second King Yanluo looked Qin Ye right in the eye, “But in life, one much first sow the seeds, before he can reap the harvest. If possible, I’d have done it a different way. Unfortunately, time isn’t on my side.”

Qin Ye’s eyes flickered wildly as he picked up on a certain keyword, “Trial?”

“Do you think the uniqueness of your identity automatically qualifies you to become the next King Yanluo of Hell? Granted, it might help smoothen the path, and it might even cause you to become the most unique King Yanluo, but that in itself hardly suffices.”

“No matter how broken Hell might be, it’s still an underworld backed by thousands of years of heritage and legacy. Do you know just how many pairs of eyes are watching you from the heavenly realm with each day that passes? The old ministers of Hell who have all ascended into heaven are listening to every single word you speak and scrutinizing every move you make. I’m here to put you through the trial that all of them have prepared for you. It’s only by passing this trial that you’ll finally be qualified to succeed the throne as the next King Yanluo of Hell.”

“Again, I’m sorry.” He gazed sincerely into Qin Ye’s eyes, “That said, I regret nothing. Everyone has to undergo a period of growth in their lives. A single misstep on your part could potentially result in a calamitous end to the entire nation. We can’t take any chances like this. And neither can Cathay. Therefore, I hope you can understand where we’re coming from as well.”

He knew full well that what the Second King Yanluo had done was all for his own good. But he still couldn’t accept the fact that it had been done.

This was only to be expected. Only a saint could find it in themselves to accept something like that so quickly.

“This is called Fate.” The Second King Yanluo placed it in front of Qin Ye, “Its primary function… is to cause anything that is written down to come to fruition. Its effects are closely intertwined with the strength of its holder. Now, it’s yours.”

Qin Ye responded placidly, “For instance?”

“For instance… the Imperial Palace?”