My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion-Chapter 871 - 523: The King Yan Behind the Scenes (Triple Extra Combo) (2)

Thinking about it, this aura of Ji Yuan seemed weak, like that of an elderly person on their last breath, but this breath was very long, as if eternally maintaining a dying state, extremely eerie, Chen Yi had never seen such a person.

With Su Hongtao, the host of the feast, saying "Please, let's eat together," there was a chorus of chopsticks lightly tapping the edges of bowls in response. The elders and younger ones began to move their chopsticks, and the maidservants served the wine, the pouring creating a fragrant splash as the banquet commenced.

Not long after the maidservants withdrew, a string note plucked up, and beauties entered the hall to perform.

With a tremor from the three strings behind the screen, several slender women clad in rainbow garments entered the feast dancing, the music rising with their entrance. Ribbons floated across the banquet, and the twelve dance maidens stepped in on the lingering melody.

The strings trembled again, and the women suddenly dispersed like wind brushing willow branches, their steps dancing, wide sleeves flapping, and the room's candlelight was stirred into streaming gold and broken jade; timely, the sound of sheng and flute rose, and the dance formation suddenly changed, with rainbow garments and wide sleeves sweeping across the seats, bringing waves of fragrance.

At the height of the dance, the string music suddenly quickened, all the women bent back deeply, their cloud-like hair almost sweeping the green brick floor, and the seats erupted in applause.

The guests were in a joyous mood, toasting each other.

Suddenly.

Chen Yi frowned, amidst Yun Shang's movements, he saw the tea on the table ripple slightly.

Water ripples spread, the tea froth like a whirlpool, urged by some external force, gradually forming words:

[You are born as a living being with a Yang body, how dare you usurp the position of the City God?]

Chen Yi looked up abruptly and caught sight of the Taoist at a nearby table, whom he had noticed earlier.

The rainbow garments stirred up a gentle breeze, the deep Daoist robe swayed with the wind, and behind him seemed to manifest a Netherworld Judge with eyes like lightning, holding a Jade Tablet, deciding fairness between Yin and Yang.

He stood high above, seemingly wanting to strip Chen Yi layer by layer of his flesh, scrutinizing his soul within.

[Now, by the decree of the King Yan, you are summoned to the mansion to perform your duties; the order of Yin and Yang is the foundation of heaven and earth, do not disorder justice, and you can still claim innocence.]

Chen Yi slowly sipped his tea and grinned at him.

The Taoist's whiskers bristled, his beautiful beard moved slowly, and there was already some anger in his eyes.

Chen Yi finished his tea in one gulp.

"Tsk, found you, this living Yin official." The voice of the Old Saintess sounded at the right moment.

Chen Yi was impassive, knowing that in Yang, there are Yang laws, in Yin, there are Yin regulations; the order of Yin and Yang in the world is like water in wells not interfering with water in rivers, not meddling with each other, this is a common iron law. Taking the position of City God as a living being, it naturally would invite trouble.

But of all times, early or late, why happen in Wuchang City, encountering a inspecting Netherworld Judge?

And this Netherworld Judge was a guest of Su Hongtao?

This was truly too coincidental.

The dance girls took a break from the feast; mid-way through, warm soup was served, with the broth simmering with ham bringing out its freshness.

Kou Jun scooped some crab meat tofu and laughed: "What a crystal world!"

It was initially a chilly spring; the clash of cold air with the heat of the banquet brought up a whitish mist, making the banquet hall appear hazy.

These words, fitting the scene, made the guests respond in agreement, toasting and exchanging cups, lively and bustling. Before long, the dance girls entered again; it was not Lantern Festival, and the White Lotus Sect had troubled the Hu-Guang with chaos, yet in this resplendent hall, the fish and dragons danced overnight.

Chen Yi scooped some soup, drinking with eyes closed; when he looked up again,

A gloomy wind hit his face; suddenly, the seats around were empty as if everyone had left, with no sound on either side, nor were the dance girls visible, a dark hue of the Netherworld veiling his eyes; only the Taoist remained opposite.

But with a changed appearance, deep robe, purple beard, holding a Jade Tablet, he was immediately judging, with eyes like lightning.

And behind him, there were two figures, one black, one white, with inscriptions "Instant Wealth" and "Peace Under Heaven" on their foreheads, blood-red tongues hanging in midair; the Judge lifted his hand again, the hall's floor swirled with dark clouds, and a host of ghost soldiers and messengers from the clouds appeared slowly, filling the hall in a moment.

Chilling air from the Underworld spread out.

"Who are you, to dare usurp the position of City God, secretly release Underworld prisoners, and obstruct the orders of King Yan?"

As a voice like a grand bell resonated through the hall, the clouds swirled, the coldness pierced the bones, and Chen Yi saw those ghost soldiers and messengers pressing forward with their weapons.

This dining hall had suddenly become the office of the Judge.

Under watchful eyes, Chen Yi lowered his head, chuckled, and toyed with the chopsticks in his hand, without a hint of fear, slowly saying:

"You ask who I am, I still want to ask who you are? Playing ghost for no reason here."

The Judge paused, as if hearing something very funny, his whiskers and hair trembled, laughing loudly,

"I am Yin Yijian, Chief Judge of the Investigation Department for a thousand years, inspecting the City Gods for King Yan, verifying and interrogating, supervising officials, crafting a clean and peaceful Yin realm."

His gaze suddenly became sharp,

"I do not know where you, the official thief, came from, not recognizing who is above."

The presence was overwhelming, the chilling air terrifying, surrounding ghost soldiers and messengers with weapons bristling, yet Chen Yi seemed oblivious, continuing to drink soup, head down.

After a moment, he slowly spoke: "Judge Yin, you might eat recklessly, but you can't speak recklessly. I, Chen Yi, have lived a life of goodness and virtue, naturally loyal and filial, modestly courteous, not close to women, observing propriety, skillfully musical, and this is clearly written in my appointment documents, I have this to certify my innocence, how dare you falsely accuse me of being a thief?"

Yin Yijian gave a cold laugh and said, "Countless murders, indulging in pleasures, disregarding rules and decorum, disobeying superior orders, committing adultery with another's wife, which of these is not deserving of hell? And now, you even usurp the position of Yin official, if all crimes counted together, you should be condemned to the eighteenth level of hell immediately."