272: The open conspiracy revealed

"Saves time, effort, and worry," Ling Qi summarized, her tone oozing satisfaction at making the best use of everything.

The implication was obvious: with Chen Yu, the White-Haired Loli, acting as both a target and manual labor in the front...

Why would she, Ling Qi, need to wade into the muddy water herself? Wouldn't it be wonderful to sit in the back, strategizing and reaping the benefits?

...Eastern Demon, Floating Island Altar.

The black-robed figure was surrounded by swirling demonic energy, his voice raspy like grinding iron: "The people from the Underworld have hooked up with the Grass Spirit Dogs?"

Below, Ao Ya bowed his head to the ground, the horns on his head glinting coldly. "Yes. After the Underworld Messenger met with Feng Xi, the matter of their defection was settled."

"Hmph, at least the effort wasn't wasted. Those stupid dogs are somewhat useful."

"Your Excellency is wise!"

"The Blood Puppets? You didn't let anything slip, did you?" The black-robed figure's tone suddenly turned cold.

Ao Ya's body stiffened. "The items are buried deep underground. Their demonic aura has merged with the Northern Demon Soil and is now deathly still."

"Unless a god digs three feet deep, it's impossible to discover them. Your Subordinate is willing to guarantee this with my life."

"Your life? It's worthless."

The black-robed figure let out a few sneers and suddenly clenched his fist. "What I want is absolute certainty. Keep a close watch; if anything goes wrong..."

Killing intent surged before he could finish. Sweat broke out on Ao Ya's forehead, and his horns were nearly crushed by the murderous aura.

"Understood. Your Subordinate would never dare to be negligent."

"Good."

"The Underworld has swallowed the bait; it's time for the next move. Notify the 'nails' to stay alert. The good show is just beginning."

"Yes!"

Ao Ya hesitated for a moment and asked, "The Grass Spirit Dogs are just a bunch of farmers. Would the Underworld really take them in so readily? It doesn't seem like their style."

A cold laugh came from under the black robe. "Trash? In some people's eyes, those who can grow specific spiritual plants are treasures. This successor of the Underworld has a massive appetite."

"As for being 'ready,' do you really think it was Feng Xi's cleverness? It was merely beating them at their own game."

Ao Ya's pupils constricted. "They found out?"

"So what if they did?"

The black-robed figure's tone was arrogant. "An overt plot against a covert one! How could the scheme I've laid out be so easily broken?"

"Let them take them in, let them investigate. The more delicious the bait, the deeper the hook sinks. Once they think they have everything under control..."

Boom!

The black-robed figure's demonic power suddenly surged, and the runes on the altar's stone walls flashed wildly. His voice was bone-chillingly cold. "That is when I will drag them, skin and bone, into the Infinite Purgatory."

Ao Ya was pressed down to one knee by the demonic aura, his horns striking the altar and creating sparks. He lowered his head, not daring to look at the black-robed figure's back.

[His Excellency's strength has improved once again.]

...With the trivial matters settled and the pieces placed on the board by all parties, everyone was waiting for the right moment to strike and outmaneuver the others.

Shang Wan Ning briskly dumped the administrative affairs onto the Administrative Office led by Ling Qi and You Yu. Feeling light and carefree, she strolled toward the Bridge of Helplessness, wanting to chat with Sister Meng.

[The Underworld Examination Ling Qi set up is truly brilliant.]

She pondered as she walked, "By selecting a group of practical Ghost Messengers, the operations of the Underworld have become smooth. This way, I won't have to personally labor over everything."

Shang Wan Ning was deep in thought when the sight at the head of the Bridge of Helplessness made her stop.

She didn't see Sister Meng brewing soup. Instead, the newly promoted substitute Lady Meng—Lin Ran—was methodically directing the distribution of soup and checking the registers, busy beyond belief.

Where was Sister Meng?

She was reclining in a large armchair, the waters of the wangchuan water below shimmering with an eerie light. A small side table next to her held melon seeds and tea, and she was listening intently with narrowed eyes.

Standing before her was a female ghost dressed fashionably but with a face full of resentment. She was slapping her thighs and wailing, her voice so shrill it was hard for ghosts to bear.

"Lady Meng, please be the judge! I died such a miserable death!" The female ghost cried out as she took the tea Lin Ran handed her.

However, perhaps because the temperature was too high, she only took a small sip before she couldn't stop sticking out her tongue from the heat. But this didn't dampen her anger; instead, her emotions became even more heated.

"This Old Lady went on a business trip and came home early, originally wanting to give my deadbeat husband a surprise."

"And the result? The bedroom door was locked, and the sounds coming from inside weren't right." The female ghost became more agitated as she spoke, spittle flying everywhere.

"I felt something was wrong right then, so I kicked the door open. And guess what? That damn husband of mine was actually in bed, hugging and kissing a pretty-faced young man."

"When the young man saw me come in, he didn't panic. He even kept his arm around my bastard husband's neck and wailed in a high-pitched voice: 'Hubby~ you quickly explain it to her~'"

The female ghost pinched her fingers in a lady-like gesture to mimic him, while the nearby maids stole several glances at her.

"Those damn dog-men."

"Look at his cowardly appearance, his eyes shifting around just like a mouse seeing a cat, not daring to let out a single fart."

"A useless person like that actually dared to steal a man behind This Old Lady's back." She got angrier as she spoke, her spittle almost hitting the maid's face.

"Then, the 'precious son' I raised for twenty years turned out to be an ungrateful wolf. He came barging in..." The female ghost mimicked her son's actions, pushing the air hard, her soul-body swaying.

"He came up and pushed me aside with such force that my 'Living Soul' almost dissipated. He shouted at me, his own mother: 'You're not allowed to bully A-Zhe!'" She mimicked her son's protective tone, her eyes filled with resentment.

"Then, what did he do? That ungrateful wolf turned around and lunged forward, tightly hugging that pretty-faced, flirtatious young man!!!"

The female ghost clutched her chest, appearing too angry to breathe.

"That young man's behavior... he actually leaned limply into my son's arms and shot me a provocative glance. And This Old Lady's mouse-hearted bastard husband also reached out—not to pull the son away, but to stroke the Male Mistress's hair!"

"These three people were actually right in front of This Old Lady; in the house I worked so hard to buy, on the marriage bed for which I scrimp and save every month to pay off twenty years of blood-and-sweat mortgage."

"Three dog-men huddled together, the bastard husband holding the young man's waist, the ungrateful wolf tightly hugging his neck... such a super melodramatic scene fell right on This Old Lady's head."

The female ghost's soul-body trembled, her fingers gesturing wildly in the air as if trying to puncture the scene.

"At that moment, I just felt my vision go dark. It was as if a giant stone was pressing on my chest, and a metallic taste welled up in my throat... this breath... this breath of extreme resentment... it literally fumed me to death."

She slumped powerlessly onto the ground, slapping the floor tiles and wailing loudly, "Lady Meng, please be the judge. Is there any ghost in this world more wronged than me?"

"When This Old Lady was alive, I worked like an ox for them, and even after death, I have to be disgusted like this. Tell me, shouldn't I turn into a vengeful ghost, go back for revenge, and drag all three of them down to hell to accompany me?"

Meng Jiang's hand cracking melon seeds paused. Without looking up, she slowly spat out a shell.

"Yeah, that is pretty tragic."

She took a sip of tea before looking up. "Forget about taking their lives. Drink the soup, forget the past, and in your next life, reincarnate into a good family and stay far away from such mess."