Chapter 136: Han Shu’s Whereabouts
“That’s right.” Yuan Jiang nodded gravely. “News from the Netherworld says that King of Youdu, Han Shu, has been missing for quite some time—almost half a year now. The entire Youling Domain is currently without a ruler.”
“That’s impossible!” The old man immediately objected. “The incident in West City, and that gu master’s affair—those happened just a few months ago!” It hadn’t even been half a year yet. That proved that the fake Han Shu had still been active in the Netherworld back then.
“Exactly.” Yuan Jiang’s brows furrowed even tighter, his expression darkening. “My junior brother and I both personally saw that man—his aura and appearance were identical to Han Shu’s. Yet the Netherworld claims that during those six missing months, some underworld functionary may have issued orders in Han Shu’s name, causing all the confusion.”
“So basically…” Yun Jiao’s expression hardened as she concluded coldly, “the imposter escaped, and the Netherworld is just covering it up by making excuses?”
A simple “a subordinate overstepped his authority” was apparently enough to brush everything aside—while not a single real clue about the fake Han Shu was provided.
“As expected of you, Little Martial Niece—you see straight through it.” Yuan Jiang smiled bitterly and nodded, though soon his eyes darkened again. “But the Netherworld is complicated. Though there are seven domains and seven Yamas, each rules their own territory without interfering with the others. Now that Han Shu has had an accident, and since we can’t personally enter the Netherworld to investigate, even if the other Yamas try, they may not uncover the truth.”
Yun Jiao frowned slightly. “Then why not ask the King of the Underworld?” If the second-in-command couldn’t find out, why not go to the first? Wasn’t the King of the Underworld the ultimate authority?
Her question stunned both Yuan Jiang and Wen Qing. They exchanged a glance before Wen Qing explained slowly, “Little Martial Niece, you may not know—the King of the Underworld, though nominally ruler of the Netherworld, is completely different from the Yamas and ghost officials. He never involves himself in daily affairs, appearing only when something threatens the very existence of the realm. Moreover… rumor has it he fell into slumber a thousand years ago, and has yet to awaken.”
“Oh.”