The 1335 protective deity

at I broke out in a cold sweat and my mind went blank. My family has been practicing traditional Chinese medicine for years, and we would rather treat corpse poison and dark miasma than encounter gu p...Birth and death, endlessly revolving, a mystery shrouded in obscurity.

As I was falling, countless images flashed through my mind.

Such a kaleidoscope of images reminded me of so many things I had neglected because of my busy schedule.

I've been too anxious lately, Lin Yanhuan and Chen Yan's situation has left me flustered. Actually, thinking about it now, the fact that they're alive is a blessing in disguise.

Chance... Chance... I just need to follow these scattered copper talisman Buddhas.

There will eventually be a day when the willows turn bright and the road opens up again.

It seems I can actually activate this artifact that has been sealed for years, and Jiang Qiyun's "ace up his sleeve" hidden within it allows me to escape once again.

This peachwood miniature Kongming lock, created to ward off evil spirits, was once used by Jiang Qiyun to connect the Gate of Ten Thousand Ghosts on the large peachwood.

I let the Fox Spirit's apparition reside inside, just now that power was it using a wisp of ghostly energy to pull me down.

The process of falling, it's not long, I used to think it was just a moment, but now it feels somehow... prolonged.

The ghostly fox spirit condensed beside me, its voice soft and tinged with regret: "Though the little Lady is a fairy of the underworld, she is still in her training. Falling into the Ghost Gate like this has depleted much of her protective cultivation…"

That tone of voice sounds like it hurts more than I do.

Jiang Qiyun gave me that small lotus flower in my palm, using it to make the cultivation of good fortune and virtue more concrete. But I've never expected that in such a short time, the lotus would be as white as snow.

I didn't even expect to achieve this in my lifetime, so I've always taken it lightly.

I am very grateful and thankful that my good fortune can protect me when I need it.

A chill wind blew, and suddenly a beam of shimmering white light enveloped me.

It's almost always like this, falling from the sky, landing...landing into who knows where.

If it were the peach blossoms of Dushou Mountain, blanketing the sky, I'd still prioritize self-preservation first, lest I get poked by a branch.

I tried to conjure up a little lotus flower to carry me, but instead, something white and fluffy suddenly came rushing towards me. I couldn't stop in time —

Whoosh…

A flurry of peach blossoms were scattered by my bump, I still have a headache from it, and now this hit has me feeling like I'm in the clouds.

I am sitting in this pile of peach blossoms, the petals layered upon each other like a soft bed.

Two pairs of copper-bell like eyes appeared before me, glaring with rage, their beards bristling and their voices booming like thunder.

"Little Madam! How did you come here!"

“Quickly, summon someone! Go and inform the Emperor… ah no, go and inform General Bai Wuchang!”

I was lifted up by the two Ghost Emperors, Shen Tu and Yu Lei, who presented me with a large團 of flower petals. It took me half a day to recover from the shock.

"Little Empress, are you injured"

"Did you hit your head Oh dear... Because of your special constitution, what should we do about hitting your head"

I rubbed my face and quickly said, "I'm fine, I'm fine, I didn't fall... thank you both for your help."

Shen Tu was furious: “We’ve been taken advantage of! While the Underworld deities can go to the human world with permission, their power is severely limited there. Demons, on the other hand, are confined by boundaries and can’t cross them. But demons who *can* cross realms don’t have their powers diminished…”

Yu Lei sighed and said, "It's all our fault for not protecting her well enough. We let the young lady suffer."

"No, no!" I quickly stood up and waved my hands, bowing deeply. "It's my own shallow cultivation that led to being captured. Thank you both Ghost Emperors for saving me! I wonder if the Seventh Lord is injured And where is Your Majesty"

Shen Tu was still a little sulky, turning his head away and refusing to speak. Yu Lei whispered to me, "Little Empress, the Emperor isn't in the Underworld..."

"Where is he Is he still at that Taoist temple" I was a little panicked. Jiang Qiyun wouldn't still be there, would he

Yulu held me up with both hands and whispered, "Your Majesty, when you were dragged into the crack by that hand, Your Emperor immediately disappeared. We don't know where he went. Only Bai Wu Chang knows!"

"Huh" I blinked.

"Yes, and Bai Wuchang almost immediately vanished as well. After we and Hei Wuchang cleared those little demons, we returned to the underworld straight away. We heard from our subordinate Yin officials that General Bai Wuchang appeared in Xuwu Mountain..."

"Is Na Jiangqiyun also at Xuguishan" I asked hurriedly.

With a solemn expression, Yu Lei shook his head and whispered, "I heard that the Emperor… was taken away by someone after Xuwu Mountain..."

What？！

Taken away!

I was stunned beyond belief. Taken by who Could someone actually take the Underworld God from the underworld!

Yu Le closed his mouth tightly and remained silent. He raised a finger, pointing to—the sky.

Jiang Qiyun is a primordial deity, the chief god of the underworld, and the administrator of the Netherworld. His status and divine position make him appear aloof and cold; even his compassion appears devoid of warmth.

He clearly and acutely knows his divine duty, and will also maintain the balance of yin and yang, and the peace of the underworld; but he is also occasionally capricious.

His capriciousness, sometimes because of me, makes me afraid to add any karma to myself. I have to be careful and cautious everywhere, just like Chongmo said – you woman, you're wooden and dull, utterly boring.

There are reasons for this, as he was favored by the great deities of the upper realm, such as the Three Purities and Six Imperial Ones—those lofty celestial gods. Half of them favored him, which is why he could incite hellfire but also had a great deity dispatch the essence of fire to clean up after him.

Now, only the great gods can take him away.

Three Purity Realm, Utmost Heaven, Purple Micro Palace... I don't know where he is going now.

"What about Bai WuChang Is Qijie in the Underworld" I asked anxiously.

Yùlèi nodded. "Hmm, he should still be at Xūwēi Mountain. Your Highness, please wait a moment..."

He beckoned to the sinister-looking men behind him, who led in a horse with eyes as dark as night. The horse was pulling a small cart covered with a tarpaulin.

I eagerly boarded the carriage, which soared into the sky, flying toward the boundless, shadowy mountains.

The underworld is too vast, so vast that many places I suspect are merely a concept.

I don't know exactly where Xuwei Mountain is. The last time I went was with Jiang Qiyun. Following him in the underworld, my brain, hands, eyes, and legs hardly moved at all.

This carriage was fast, the wind biting my eyes with its chill. Xuwu Mountain is a place of pure yin without yang. This oppressive cold and evil energy pierced through me to the bone.

Perhaps before it was Jiang Qiyun by my side, his aura protecting me. But now I stand alone between the mountains, gazing at the solitary pavilion ahead and the yin officials and ghost messengers parting on either side.

I'm a little lost.

In the gazebo, a slender figure hung in the air.

A pointed hat, a long robe, sleeves so wide they nearly dragged on the ground, and on those sleeves, damage caused by jagged teeth...

"Qī Yé…" I choked out, my voice thick with worry. "Your wound… are you alright"

> and disbelief.But thankfully, no water spirits came. Perhaps it was because Bai Wuchang, the deity who strikes fear into even ghosts, was floating at the front of our boat."Hee hee hee... I'll leave...