511: The two "kill-matt" heroes return for an encore.

She opened her eyes and looked at Meng Jiang: "We both know the pain of the Chaos Primordial Spirit Pool. A-Yu's true nature may seem flighty, but she is actually very stubborn deep down. I'm afraid she will try to force her way through."

"That is why someone needs to watch over her." Meng Jiang lowered her head and planted a kiss on Shang Wan Ning's lips. "This servant will handle it with discretion. If she truly reaches her limit, I won't let her act recklessly."

Shang Wan Ning felt a warmth in her heart that dispelled some of her unease, and she tilted her head back to return the kiss. When their lips parted, she rested her forehead lightly against Meng Jiang's, whispering, "Thank you for your hard work, Sister Meng."

"It is my duty." Meng Jiang stood up. "This servant should also go back and prepare. I need to pick up A-Yu early tomorrow morning."

Shang Wan Ning nodded and watched her leave. It wasn't until Sister Meng's back disappeared outside the palace that she withdrew her divine sense and sat alone on the spacious soft couch.

The sky outside had darkened, and "night" had truly descended upon the Underworld. The Nether Lotuses in the lotus pond emitted a faint purple glow, like floating water lanterns.

Shang Wan Ning sat quietly for about two hours. Her aura was as calm as still water, with only her long eyelashes trembling occasionally, betraying a slight ripple in her emotions.

Suddenly, she called out, "Qing Dai."

Qing Dai, who had been waiting outside, entered at the sound of her voice, her steps light and quiet: "Your Majesty."

"Go, summon Black and White Impermanence to see me."

Qing Dai was stunned for a moment: "Now?"

"Now."

"I have questions for them."

"Understood." Qing Dai withdrew to deliver the message.

Shang Wan Ning leaned back against the soft couch again, closing her eyes to rest.

She ran through the various matters in her mind: Star was keeping an eye on Zhulong, Sister Meng was in charge of Chen Yu, and Ox-Head and Horse-Face were training with nuclear weapons in the Ghost Domain... This chess game of the Underworld was slowly closing in.

Black and White Impermanence... She thought of those two Yin Gods who were the first to follow her. Bai Xuan was steady while Hei Jing was flighty, but they had been stuck at the peak of the sixth rank for all these years—about twenty-some years now, if she calculated correctly.

It was time to give them a push as well.

About the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, footsteps were heard outside the warm pavilion.

Qing Dai's voice rang out: "Your Majesty, the two lords, Black and White Impermanence, have arrived."

"Enter."

The bead curtain was lifted.

Two figures stepped into the warm pavilion one after the other.

Shang Wan Ning looked up—(((ﾟʚ ﾟ))) Oh my god!

Then, she fell silent.

Standing in front was Hei Jing.

Today, he wore a short black leather jacket covered in rivets; below was a pair of ripped jeans with large tears at the knees, revealing the pale skin underneath.

On his feet were a pair of heavy riveted Dr. Martens boots, the laces tied crookedly.

The key was his hair.

His waist-length hair was dyed a deep green that was almost black, with a few eye-catching streaks of fluorescent purple at the ends. His hair was permed into exaggerated wool curls, fluffy and messy, like a clump of uncombed seaweed sitting on his head.

His left ear had a row of silver studs, and his right ear hung a dangling skull earring. His face was also painted with heavy smoky makeup, the eyeliner drawn so long it almost reached his temples.

Standing half a step behind him was Bai Xuan.

Bai Xuan wore a white riveted leather jacket of a similar style, and underneath were tight black leather pants that highlighted his straight, slender legs.

His hair was dyed a very light silver-white and styled with hair gel into a standing hedgehog-style mohawk, with a bit of blue glitter sprayed on the tips.

Several metal chains of varying thickness hung around his neck, including a cross, a gear, and even an LED sign that was constantly changing colors.

On it, four fluorescent words scrolled: "Evil Spirits Begone."

As the two of them stood there, the originally elegant and quiet atmosphere of the warm pavilion was instantly shattered into pieces, as if two musicians from some time-warped rock concert had traveled directly there.

Shang Wan Ning stared at them for a full ten seconds, her gaze moving from Hei Jing's dangling skull earring to Bai Xuan's flashing LED sign, and then back to those two heads with their shocking hairstyles.

Finally, she slowly opened her mouth, her tone unreadable: "You two... this look, did you agree to revisit the fashion trends of the early 2000s together?"

Hei Jing bowed, that clump of dark green seaweed hair shaking violently with the movement, his posture lively: "Replying to Your Majesty, this Subordinate was scrolling through short videos of the mortal world recently and found that 'Early Internet Aesthetics' are trending again. So I quickly revisited the classics to keep up with the trend."

He grinned, his teeth looking exceptionally white against the smoky makeup.

Bai Xuan followed with a bow, his mohawk trembling stiffly, though his voice remained steady and formal: "Please forgive us, Your Majesty."

"Hei Jing insisted on dragging this Subordinate along... saying something about being the 'Face of the Underworld' and that our image must be unified and impactful." As he said this, there was no expression on his face, but the flashing "Evil Spirits Begone" sign around his neck seemed particularly unconvincing.

Shang Wan Ning pressed her hand to her forehead.

A familiar, long-lost headache began to throb faintly.

She remembered now.

Many years ago, when she first met Black and White Impermanence in the office, they had this exact same visual disaster of a look: green seaweed hair, mohawks, riveted leather jackets, smoky makeup... Later, after working in the Underworld for a long time, they gradually switched back to formal suits and toned down their appearance. She had almost forgotten they still had this side to them.

Who would have thought that after so many years, despite the changing times and rotating trends, these two jokers would bring it back in its original flavor!!!

"Look, Brother Xuan, Her Majesty still remembers our look." Hei Jing nudged Bai Xuan proudly with his elbow, his dark green curls bouncing happily with the movement.

Bai Xuan looked straight ahead and slapped his hand away expressionlessly: "Stand properly. In front of Her Majesty, where are your manners?" Even though he said this while sporting a glittery mohawk.

Hei Jing curled his lip but still stood up straight properly, though his riveted boots couldn't help but tap the floor lightly.

Looking at this pair of jokers, the corners of Shang Wan Ning's mouth couldn't help but twitch upward. "Forget it." She waved her hand. "Wear whatever you want, as long as it doesn't delay official business."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Hei Jing smiled so widely his eyes were nearly closed, and his earring swung even more joyfully.

Bai Xuan only nodded slightly, his mohawk remaining perfectly still, showing an impressive holding power.

Shang Wan Ning signaled for the two to sit in the sandalwood chairs opposite her.

Black and White Impermanence sat down as told.

Hei Jing practically "slumped" into the chair, then crossed his legs, the tears in his ripped jeans opening even wider; Bai Xuan sat with his back straight, hands placed properly on his knees, even though his leather pants and riveted jacket were completely at odds with such a dignified posture.

"I called you here because I have something to ask." Shang Wan Ning got straight to the point, her expression returning to its usual calmness.

"You two have been stuck at the peak of the sixth rank for over twenty years now, haven't you?"

Bai Xuan: "Replying to Your Majesty, counting from the Mid-Autumn of the Guiwei Year, it has been twenty-three years, seven months, and nine days." He remembered it perfectly.

Hei Jing counted on his fingers, which were covered in black leather finger stalls: "Right, right, right! Brother Xuan remembers so clearly! My last breakthrough was..."

"Get to the point." Bai Xuan turned his head.

Hei Jing shrank his neck and obediently shut his mouth.