212: The Lament of the Bridge of Helplessness

Shang Wan Ning patted Jiao Xiao's face. "Good girl, good... doggy."

Jiao Xiao lowered her head, nuzzling the Empress's fingertips with her cheek. "This slave... this slave will offer absolute loyalty to Your Majesty. In this life and the next, I shall never betray you."

"Such a good girl, a sensible answer."

Shang Wan Ning waved her arm lightly. A sharp flash of light streaked past, instantly severing the heavy iron chains binding Jiao Xiao. Losing her support, Jiao Xiao collapsed to the ground.

However, the innate demonic nature of the Yin Flood Dragon allowed her to react quickly. She moved her wrists, which were somewhat stiff from long-term confinement.

Then, she submissively touched her forehead to the Empress's shoe, signaling her obedience to Shang Wan Ning.

She spoke indifferently, "Warden, take her down to treat her wounds. Once she's recovered a bit, send her to You Yu to await orders."

"As you command!"

The Warden quickly lowered his eyes and responded.

Stepping forward quickly, he dragged Jiao Xiao up effortlessly and turned to walk out the door.

As Jiao Xiao was being dragged away, she couldn't help but look back once more at the silently standing Empress.

Her expression was filled with panic that was hard to conceal.

"Your Majesty~ Your Majesty~"

"Be good. I like obedient vicious dogs." Shang Wan Ning beckoned with her finger and gave a charming smile... In the quiet room, You Yu was keeping his eyes tightly shut.

Suddenly, a faint sound of footsteps approached, breaking the silence.

Then, a maid rushed in to report that the Black Horn Iron Prison had sent over a woman from the Demon Race.

You Yu couldn't help but feel curious and temporarily stopped his cultivation.

"A woman from the Demon Race? Interesting!"

Before long, Jiao Xiao's slightly disheveled figure appeared at the entrance of the quiet room.

You Yu raised his eyebrows, his spiritual sense scanning her up and down.

He saw that although Jiao Xiao was heavily injured, her entire body radiated an innate wildness that he couldn't ignore.

Upon seeing You Yu, the Warden immediately bowed respectfully and spoke.

"Greetings, Lord You Yu. By Her Majesty's order, I have brought this Yin Flood Dragon for you to handle."

You Yu stood up and slowly walked a circle around Jiao Xiao, finally stopping in front of her with the corners of his mouth slightly raised.

"Hmm, so this is the demon the Warden brought?"

"Looking at her appearance, she does have quite a bit of wildness." As he spoke, he reached out, wanting to touch the scar on Jiao Xiao's neck.

However, Jiao Xiao instinctively turned her head to avoid him.

You Yu wasn't angry at the sight; he just gave a light chuckle.

"Looking at all these scars, it seems you'll need to recuperate for a few days first."

Jiao Xiao was extremely weak at this moment; she could only barely lift her head and thank him feebly, "Thank you, My Lord."

"No need for thanks. I'm waiting for you to work for the Underworld!"

You Yu called for an attendant and instructed, "Take her down and look after her well. Do not be negligent."

"Yes!"

The attendant took the order and led Jiao Xiao away.

Watching Jiao Xiao's departing back, You Yu thought to himself, "This Yin Flood Dragon definitely hides quite a few little secrets. Her Majesty sending her here certainly isn't as simple as just wanting her to do some manual labor."

...Netherworld, Bridge of Helplessness, Meng Pos Shop.

"By the power of the command seal, I grant thee vitality. The beginning of the Five Elements, the spirit of the Six Jia. Soldiers fight upon command, time moves by the decree... Let the Resentful Puppet be formed."

As Meng Jiang's chant rang out, the spiritual energy within her body instantly went into an uproar.

On the Bridge of Helplessness, ripples appeared on the calm water surface, and a thick surge of resentment gushed upward.

Several clumps of viscous black mud slowly floated up from beneath the bridge, actively intertwining and weaving with the resentment.

As time passed, the black mud and resentment gradually fused, slowly condensing into a massive figure.

Once it had completely taken shape, Lin Ran realized it was actually a Resentful Puppet over eight feet tall, clad in heavy black armor.

Its entire body radiated a chilling resentment, like an undead knight stepped out of a nightmare; just one look was enough to make a living person's hair stand on end.

Lin Ran instinctively retreated several steps, a strong sense of unease rising in her heart.

Relying on her instincts, she clearly realized that the Resentful Puppet before her was by no means benevolent, but an existence filled with danger and ill omens.

*Gulp~*

Lin Ran's throat moved involuntarily as she swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

She never would have imagined that Lord Meng Jiang, who was always known for her gentle personality, could actually create such a ferocious and terrifying resentful object.

At this moment, countless questions flashed through Lin Ran's mind—is this really a Yin God of the Underworld?

Shouldn't the legendary Lord Meng Jiang be a gentle and considerate figure?

Why would she do something that seemed so 'off' now?

Although all of this might be for her own good, if she had to have such a gloomy and terrifying fellow as her bodyguard... just the thought of it felt like it would drain the life out of a 'living person'!

Before Lin Ran could snap out of it, Meng Jiang had already teleported to her side and gently placed a hand on top of her head.

"Don't be afraid. The Resentful Puppet Sister Meng created will never kill its master."

She gave Lin Ran's shoulder a light push, signaling her to step forward and complete the master-recognition ceremony.

"Go ahead, little Ranran!"

"You only need to drip a drop of your Essence Blood into the Resentful Puppet. From then on, it will be loyal to you and protect you."

Meng Jiang encouraged her with a smile.

[What kind of devil's whisper is this? It's just because I was 'ridden' by the Empress a few times. I wake up, and even Lord Meng Jiang's character has changed.]

[This Resentful Puppet is definitely the smell of Lord Meng Jiang's jealousy.]

Lin Ran gritted her teeth and forced herself to walk forward.

The Resentful Puppet's cold aura hit her in the face.

She extended her finger, used her spiritual power to force out a drop of Essence Blood, which drifted onto the Resentful Puppet's brow and merged into it.

Instantly, a flash of red light crossed the Resentful Puppet's originally hollow eyes, and it then knelt on one knee to show submission.

"Resentment One greets the Master."

The heavy stone hanging in Lin Ran's heart finally fell, and she let out a long sigh of relief.

"Sister Meng Jiang, are there any side effects to using the Resentful Puppet?"

"Well, this Resentful Puppet can stay in your energy center. When you want to call it out, you only need to silently chant the word 'Out' in your heart; if you want it to return, just silently chant 'Retract'."

Meng Jiang paused for a moment. "As for side effects, it's not actually a big problem. It's just that every time you use the Resentful Puppet, you need to burn a certain amount of your lifespan."

"Life... Lifespan?!" Lin Ran's heroic face instantly became filled with shock.

As if she had heard the most terrifying thing in the world, she widened her eyes and looked at Meng Jiang in disbelief.

Seeing Lin Ran lose her composure, Meng Jiang couldn't help but laugh out loud and teased, "Hey! It's just consuming a tiny bit of lifespan, it's no big deal."

"Compared to the lifespan you spend singing every night and 'overturning the phoenix and dragon' with Her Majesty, this little bit is nothing at all."

Lin Ran's face suddenly turned bright red, a mix of shame and indignation.

"Living people shouldn't have improper thoughts about gods. Even if that deity is willing, the living person must always pay some price for it!"