Xiao Man stood by the River of Suffering, waiting for the ferryman. The river remained eerily silent, a stillness that sent shivers down one's spine, as if countless monsters lurked beneath the quiet, poised to strike their prey.
Moments later, a small boat emerged from the darkness, rowed by Miao Shao, with Wu Huan standing at the prow.
"It is indeed an honor to have the Ghost King himself come to greet me. I am truly flattered," Xiao Man said from the bank, looking at Wu Huan at the front of the boat. "Thank you for your assistance at the Heavenly Sword Sect."
"You went to the Heavenly Sword Sect to help me find the Demon Lord's soul, after all. If I stood by and watched you fall into Yue Tianxia's hands, wouldn't that make me less than a beast?" Wu Huan extended his hand. "Come aboard."
Xiao Man smiled, took Wu Huan's hand, and stepped onto the small boat. "I have come to retrieve the last six souls."
"I know," Wu Huan said calmly. "Let's return to Ghost King City first."
Miao Shao glanced at Xiao Man, then at Wu Huan, opening his mouth as if to speak, but ultimately saying nothing. He simply rowed in silence, the only sound in the quiet being the splash of the oar disturbing the water.
Wu Huan remained at the prow, Xiao Man sat in the middle of the boat. No words were exchanged between them until they reached the shore.
"Xiao, you're still alive!" As soon as they entered Ghost King City, Geng Xin Yu rushed out, circling Xiao Man twice. "Everyone outside is going crazy, saying you infiltrated the Heavenly Sword Sect and destroyed it..."
"Xin Yu!" Wu Huan interrupted Geng Xin Yu. "Xiao Man has traveled a long way and is very tired. She needs to rest."
"Okay," Geng Xin Yu said familiarly, linking arms with Xiao Man. "By the way, I truly admire you for daring to infiltrate the Heavenly Sword Sect alone. You're amazing!"
"I infiltrated with the intention of slipping in and out unnoticed. I never expected to be trapped by the Heavenly Sword Sect's Purgatory Tower," Xiao Man admitted, truly not anticipating that she would be defeated by a tower!
"The Purgatory Tower of the Heavenly Sword Sect can actually identify enemies? That's incredible!" Geng Xin Yu's face was filled with disbelief. A tower that could distinguish between friend and foe was simply unfathomable!
"The Purgatory Tower treats anyone who touches its seal as an enemy," Xiao Man explained. If she hadn't touched the Demon Lord's seal, she wouldn't have been identified as an enemy by the Purgatory Tower and directly taken to the Divine Martial Hall.
"So that's where the problem lay," Geng Xin Yu asked curiously. "What was it like facing a Nascent Soul stage mighty being?"
"What did you feel when you faced him?" Xiao Man nudged Wu Huan with her chin.
Geng Xin Yu's face instantly turned crimson, and she was speechless, simply holding Xiao Man's arm tightly and mechanically following her forward.
It wasn't until Wu Huan had put some distance between them that Geng Xin Yu squeezed Xiao Man's arm. "He asked you what it felt like to face a Nascent Soul stage mighty being, and you teased me instead."
"Wu Huan is also a Nascent Soul stage mighty being. The feeling I had facing Yue Tianxia should be the same as what you feel facing Wu Huan," Xiao Man observed Geng Xin Yu, her tone teasing. "What were you thinking?"
Geng Xin Yu's already red face turned as red as the sunset clouds that stained half the sky: "He… the King wouldn't try to kill me, so how could the feeling be the same?"
"Even if he wouldn't try to kill you, the might of a Nascent Soul stage mighty being cannot be hidden," Xiao Man said slowly. "The first time I met Wu Huan, although he restrained his aura, he gave me a chill down my spine."
"Really?" Geng Xin Yu scratched her head. Every time she saw Wu Huan, her heart raced, and she became flustered. She hadn't felt any other sensation.
Xiao Man pursed her lips and looked at Miao Shao. It was no wonder Geng Xin Yu was so bold, daring to seek Wu Huan's attention without reservation, and yet couldn't perceive Miao Shao's feelings. It turned out she was naturally dense and couldn't sense the invisible pressure emanating from Wu Huan. Sudan Novel Network
"Xin Yu, do you want to leave Ghost King City and explore the outside world?" Xiao Man asked with a smile.
"No," Geng Xin Yu replied without hesitation. "What's so good about the outside? Those people are hypocritical and cunning, constantly trying to harm us. If I went out, wouldn't I be like a lamb thrown to the wolves?"
"Does Wu Huan want to go out?"
"Yes."
"Then I want to go out too," Geng Xin Yu immediately changed her tune upon hearing that Wu Huan wanted to leave. "Wherever the King goes, I go."
"You truly are..." Xiao Man shook her head. "As long as you're happy."
"Right, what are you back for this time?"
"To retrieve something," Xiao Man said slowly after a moment of silence.
"What thing?"
"Xin Yu, stop pestering Miss Xiao with questions. She must have had a difficult journey to the Ghost Domain," Miao Shao pulled Geng Xin Yu away, separating her from Xiao Man. "Let Miss Xiao rest well."
Geng Xin Yu only then realized they had reached the sleeping quarters, and indeed, it was Wu Huan's.
"You live here?"
"She has always lived here. Wasn't it like this last time?" Miao Shao explained. "Miss Xiao, please rest well. Hot water has already been prepared. We won't disturb you. Farewell."
Xiao Man smiled and nodded, watching them leave.
"You're not leaving?"
"This is my sleeping chamber," Wu Huan pushed open the door and entered the room. "Have the three souls been retrieved?"
"The last soul remains. Ah Yu has gone to get it. Once I have retrieved the remaining six souls, I will meet up with him," Xiao Man said unhurriedly. "There is one soul in the forbidden grounds, two souls on the Yellow Springs Road. You need to tell me the whereabouts of the remaining three souls."
"This room has been kept exactly as it was since you left, with not a single item moved. Go wash up and rest for a while. I'll call you for dinner later," Wu Huan said calmly. "After you've rested, I'll take you to retrieve the remaining six souls."
"Alright," Xiao Man walked past Wu Huan and entered the room. Wu Huan then left the room, closing the door thoughtfully behind him.
Miao Shao, after escorting Geng Xin Yu away, returned to report and happened to see Wu Huan coming out.
"Your Majesty, are you ready?"
Wu Huan smiled. "Haven't I been preparing for this day for a very long time? So long that I've almost forgotten that I am merely a shell."
"When do you plan to leave, Your Majesty?"
"Once she has rested, I will leave with her. You will manage the Ghost Domain until His Majesty returns," Wu Huan said softly, his face devoid of any particular expression, as if he were simply saying he was going out for a walk and would be back soon.
"Your Majesty, you can..."
"Don't speak nonsense." Wu Huan patted Miao Shao's shoulder. "When His Majesty returns, remember to assist him well."
"Yes, Your Majesty. Your subordinate will certainly assist His Majesty well," Miao Shao said word for word. "Your subordinate will guard the Ghost Domain, guard Ghost King City, and await the return of Your Majesty and His Majesty."