Yama Rising

Chapter 482: T Minus 16 Days

“Let’s go.” Black Yaksha turned his back and began to head out. The dim light of the museum halls gently illuminated the Black Yaksha’s foreboding figure, causing him to look all the more like a hellish asura.

Lee Jung-sook clutched at her chest as she got to her feet and slowly made her way out. Meanwhile, Black Yaksha gave one final look at the stone tablet, before muttering aloud, “I’d never expected to encounter something as significant as this in this journey. This alone has already made our trip to Cathay worthwhile.”

Black Yaksha remained silent for some time. Then, approximately three minutes later, he turned around muttered coldly, “Ms Lee… is a person who clearly knows what makes a person tick.”

“Do you know what kind of undertones there must have been in order to trigger a political change of dynasty? Even the slightest glimpse of a clue in this regard would enable Nippon to make substantially better preparations against what is to come. The implications of this might even outweigh locating Oda Nobunaga’s whereabouts.”

“Cathay’s Emissaries… haa… are far too powerful…”

“We should know our limits too…”

This time, it was Crow Tengu who grew completely silent. He had a palpably grim expression on his face, and one of his eyes couldn’t stop spinning around as though he were deep in thought. After a minute or so, he murmured softly, “Let’s… wait and see. Haa… I’m still somewhat reluctant to poke at the hornet’s nest and risk stirring the ire of the Emissaries of Hell. After all, this is one of the four top underworlds we’re talking about. Their military might is on a completely different level…”

“Meanwhile, keep a close watch over Lee Jung-sook, especially when I’m not around.”

Crow Tengu nodded firmly in assent.

The Harken lay silently in Limbo.

Countless coincidences had already begun to sprout up around Yanluo Qin, and a terrifying storm was clearly brewing on the horizon. Its role right now was clearly to keep the next King Yanluo of Hell safe as best he could.

“Midnight of the 16th day…” The Harken’s eyes widened.

T minus 16 days.

To think that even I would be involved… Or should I say that it’s finally my turn to be involved? The Harken’s heart skipped a beat, but it soon calmed down once more.

But this time, Fate didn’t write any new names. Instead, four names that were already written, namely Black Yaksha, Crow Tengu, Oda Nobutada and Qin Hui suddenly emitted a glaring red glow, before they unexpectedly came together as though they were being drawn together.

Why?

But alas, Fate was unpredictable.

“Are you ready?” Meanwhile, Oda Nobutada, together with 20 Umamawari horse guards showed up at the entrance to Minister Zhang’s room.

“Then, let’s go.” Oda Nobutada wasn’t one for small talk. Truth be told, he couldn’t care less about escorting Zhang Zeguang back to the mortal realm. However, he had complied because the instructions had come directly from Yanluo Qin himself.

With that, he pulled Zhang Zeguang up onto the back of his horse, and the twenty or so Yin spirits vanished in a bluster of nethergale.

Zhang Zeguang was scared witless by the sight. Fortunately, Oda Nobutada remained as stoic as ever. Without flinching one bit, he turned back and smiled faintly at Zhang Zeguang, “With Ashmound under our control, most of the Yin spirits still lost in Eastmount would already be able to sense the presence of the passageways leading to Hell. Naturally, there’s no longer any need for the Beacon of Light. This is also the quickest way back to the mortal realm. Where’s your destination?”

Oda Nobutada didn’t say another word. He flicked his reins, and his skeleton war horse instantly sped forward towards the Azurewaters City, together with the other Umamawari horse guards that followed closely behind.

Zhang Zeguang looked up, only to see a sprawling barren world ahead of him. It was devoid of all living things, be it the most resilient weed, or the Yin beasts that habitually roamed these lands. Instead, the only thing he could see was a ten-meter wide black vortex that swirled menacingly overhead, almost as though it were a vault to the heavens. Endless netherflames flared up around the edge of the vortex, while traces of auras ostensibly foreign to the netherworld appeared to diffuse from the depths of the vortex.

“Once we head up, we’ll wait for you right outside your house, and escort you back as soon as you’re done. Any questions?”

The only thought on his mind was simply to rush headlong into the vortex!

Zhang Zegaung drew a deep breath, “Will I be safe?”

With that, the twenty or so horses charged straight into the reverse waterfall and got carried with the current straight into the heart of the vortex.

The moon.

His fingers trembled softly, and then he looked down at the ground.

His heart was awash with complex emotions. Ghosts have no tears, yet he still couldn’t help but choke up slightly, “I remember the way. Straight ahead, and then left at the fourth intersection…”

Unfortunately, the only response he got was the sound of a sword being unsheathed from its scabbard.

What’s going on?

What the hell is going on?!!

“Not just any evil ghost… This is one that possesses terrifying Yin energy…” Oda Nobutada tightened his grip around his katana and held it horizontally right in front of his face, “This energy… is even more ferocious than what Lady Arakshasa can muster… It’s the most terrifying Yin energy I’ve encountered in my life! We’re undoubtedly talking about an Infernal Judge, and worst of all… it’s already detected our presence!”

From where?

And then… he saw it. The doors to the museum opened silently.

Just then, a child’s hand peeked out from the darkness hidden behind the museum doors.

That’s right - the child was drifting. He glanced around his surroundings, before finally staring dead on at the entourage of Hell’s troops escorting Zhang Zeguang.

He was anxious to return. After all, he didn’t feel at ease leaving Crow Tengu to guard Lee Jung-sook all by himself.

A murderous intent instantly erupted from the depths of his heart.

No… These are Emissaries of Hell served to me on a silver platter! What luck… if I capture them right now, wouldn’t we be able to elicit some news of the change of dynasty from the horse’s mouth? That said, I wonder if there are any reinforcements lurking in the darkness behind them? Would there perhaps be any Infernal Judges?

This is… a katana!

And if that’s the case…

“Oda Clan…” The child licked his lips and smiled innocently, “I’ve finally found you…”