Chapter 102 A Heartfelt Confession: I care, Jiang Yu, you are my Daoist partner. ...

"Who took him away? A ghost entered the Netherworld and not only didn't stay here to wait for reincarnation, but was also taken away by someone again so easily. Judge, do you think I'm stupid? Or am I so easily fooled that I can be deceived by your words?"

"Young Master Shen, Young Master Shen, I'm telling you the truth. Why would I lie to you here? Ordinary ghosts can't leave the Nine Netherworlds once they arrive, but there's always an exception, right? The Nine Netherworlds have no living beings and don't allow them to enter, but you still came, didn't you?"

His voice trailed off, his eyes darting around nervously. He glanced at Shen Jiuxu with a hint of guilt, and seeing that Shen showed no sign of apologizing, he pursed his lips and added, "One shouldn't go too far, Young Master Shen. If you can come, others certainly can too..."

"So, Your Honor thinks that Mr. Shen is being unreasonable."

The judge immediately flew into a rage and began to "argue his case," confronting Shen Jiuxu, "Anything can happen, can't it? Young Master Shen, I am the judge. Why would I lie to you in front of so many subordinates?"

"Who took him away?"

Shen Jiuxu didn't argue with him anymore, but followed up on what the judge said and asked, "I don't believe that the judge has managed the Nine Netherworlds for so many years, and could just let someone kidnap a ghost so easily. If that's the case, he might as well step down and let a more powerful ghost take over. In my opinion, this old water ghost seems to know quite a lot."

The judge remained silent.

"Wu Er was brought in by someone, and then he was taken away. Is this how you manage the Nine Netherworld? There's no order at all. Anyone can come and go as they please? I was feeling guilty about trespassing in the Nine Netherworld, but now I think it's alright. The Judge won't hold it against me, right?"

His indifferent eyes looked calm, like a refined scholar, but when he spoke, he was aggressive. The judge dared not look at that face or the chilling sword on Shen Jiuxu's body.

“Young Master Shen, you can’t say that. After all, the Nine Netherworld has its own rules, but… but sometimes it… but sometimes it has to learn to be flexible. We should be understanding, right?”

The judge was so busy wiping the sweat from his forehead that he had witnessed the murderous aura Shen Jiuxu had just displayed. Now he was much more careful with his words, afraid that he might accidentally anger someone again, and then there would be no way to deal with it.

"Just tell us who took him away."

"He said his name was Xiang Zhanyi, and I don't know anything else."

"How Wu Er died should be recorded in your Book of Life and Death, right?" Shen Jiuxu had never heard of this name before. He had no way to find out who it was for the time being, but he wanted to find out the truth about Wu Er's death first, so that at least he could prove that it was not Jiang Yu's doing.

"I...I'll investigate for Young Master Shen right away, I'll investigate immediately, and I'll find out the whole story."

The judge glared at him, and Ox-Head and Horse-Face immediately rushed into the hall, carrying a thick Book of Life and Death in their four hands. They stumbled and almost bumped into a pillar.

The two ghosts fought over the book, neither willing to let go first. When the judge grew impatient, he glared at them and snatched the book away, staring at the words on it with his small, narrow eyes for a long time.

“Young Master Shen, look, it’s written in black and white on this paper that he passed away at the hour of Yin on the Ghost Festival, due to the depletion of his spiritual power.”

The judge pointed at the words above, as if afraid that Shen Jiuxu wouldn't see them. He also wanted to get rid of this troublesome guy as soon as possible. Staying here was putting him under increasing pressure, not to mention that this person had ruined his reputation as a judge.

"The hour of Yin?"

"Yes, he passed away at the beginning of Yin hour. However, I remember that he came to Jiuyou much later that day, probably around Shen hour. I wonder if this information will be helpful to you, Young Master Shen? This is really all I know."

The judge was eager for him to leave, even going so far as to bow and scrape, willing to do anything to get him out of there. But Shen Jiuxu wasn't satisfied with his words; instead, he continued, "Who is that Xiang Zhanyi? Where is he now? Does Your Honor know?"

Ox-Head and Horse-Face peeked out from behind the judge, their eyes practically glued to the Book of Life and Death. After being slapped by each of them, they retreated to the back and squeezed together with the old water ghost.

“Young Master Shen, it’s not that I don’t want to tell you, but I can’t find it either. This person isn’t in the Book of Life and Death, just like you aren’t listed here. I’m not omnipotent. Heaven has its own rules, and there’s a will of Heaven in the dark. It can’t be revealed.”

“Young Master Shen, you may not be working in the Nine Netherworld, but my life is inextricably linked to this Book of Life and Death. If the heavens knew about the information I revealed to you today, it would be enough to kill me a hundred times over.”

Seeing how pitiful he looked, and how he forced out a few tears with his cloudy little eyes, Shen Jiuxu didn't ask any more questions. "Thank you for your help today, Judge. If you ever need my help in the future, just let me know."

He should just forget about it!

He would be content as long as this person didn't come over again.

The judge thought to himself, but he still had to say a few more words to save face. He nodded, afraid that Shen Jiuxu might hesitate for even a moment and then not leave, and hurriedly said, "Of course, of course, Young Master Shen, please visit us often in the future—"

May Duoduo live a happy and wonderful life in the human world.

"Oh dear, my judge, he's gone, finally gone! Please get up now." As soon as Niu Tou saw Shen Jiuxu's figure disappear, he rushed over again, his two thick, raised eyebrows looking somewhat comical on his face.

"Really gone?"

"They're gone, they've gone like a gust of wind, you can raise your head now." Horse-face leaned closer, his voice barely a whisper, "There's really nothing to be afraid of."

"Who said I'm afraid? I just don't want to bother with a little tree spirit. If we were to get serious, do you think I can't beat him?" The judge was all bark and no bite. He suddenly flicked his robe, and the thick, intricate patterns brushed across the ground, leaving a trail of black and red water droplets.

The ox-headed horse and the bull-headed horse exchanged a glance, each seeing the disdain and contempt in the other's eyes, and said in unison, "The judge is absolutely right. The judge is mighty. The judge is omnipotent and invincible."

At this very moment, inside the Fuyou Palace, the calming incense that Shen Jiuxu lit in the morning had burned out, leaving a faint fragrance in the room. Jiang Yu was fast asleep, his small face peeking out from under the covers, like a soft, white cotton doll.

Shen Jiuxu stood outside the door, hesitated for a moment, then pushed the door open and went in. He had just taken a shower in the next room to get rid of the chilling aura of the Nine Netherworlds that clung to his body before coming in.

Seeing that the person was not awake, Shen Jiuxu did not disturb him. He sat alone in the chair by the table and looked at the person on the bed. Jiang Yu had not slept well for the past few days. The dark circles under his eyes were very heavy, like ink that had been smeared.

He reached out to touch him, but eventually withdrew his hand. Jiang Yu was still awake, his beautiful black and white eyes filled with a dazed mist. Perhaps he had guessed that Shen Jiuxu had wanted to touch him, so he took the initiative to put his face in Shen Jiuxu's palm and rubbed it a few times.

Jiang Yu was so well-behaved. Shen Jiuxu liked Jiang Yu very much at this time. He was half-awake, without the sharpness of the daytime or the quietness of his sleep, but he was very obedient to people.

He couldn't resist and kissed the person on the forehead.

Why is it so cold?

Jiang Yu instinctively felt a chill emanating from Shen Jiuxu. It wasn't the superficial cold of ordinary autumn and winter, but a chill that truly emanated from the bones, a chill that wanted to completely envelop a person.

It's like a block of ice that hasn't melted for a long time on a snow-capped mountain.

He reached out his hand and pulled Shen Jiuxu's hand inside, saying, "Come up and sleep with me for a while, the bed is warm."

Just as Jiang Yu had said, Shen Jiuxu's hand was placed on his soft belly. The warm skin against his hand felt like hot soup being brought to someone who was thirsty. Shen Jiuxu felt a sour and swollen feeling in his heart, as if something was about to overflow.

He loved Jiang Yu terribly, so he was willing to do anything for her, and the young man he longed for also protected their love in his own way.

"I'm not sleepy."

Shen Jiuxu said gently, while his other hand touched Jiang Yu's hair. "I found evidence, Jiang Yu. You didn't kill Wu Er. That day was the Ghost Festival. We were together the whole time. You didn't have time to go out at all."

Jiang Yu's hair was very soft and felt great to the touch. He loved it when Jiang Yu lay on top of him with his hair down, his bare back and waist trembling slightly. The beads of sweat on his forehead dripped onto the already wet bedding because of passion. Shen Jiuxu could never get enough of this scene.

What he wanted was a vivid and lively Jiang Yu, a Jiang Yu full of vitality and high spirits, a Jiang Yu who was respected wherever he went.

"Moreover, I asked Dianxing's uncle, and he said that they saw you go and take people away at the end of Chenshi (7-9 AM) that day, but he actually died at the beginning of Yinshi (3-5 AM) because his spiritual energy was exhausted, that is, his life force was drained and he died."

As Shen Jiuxu spoke, he lowered his head to observe Jiang Yu's expression. He hadn't expected Shen Jiuxu to say these things, and he was somewhat dazed. Even after Shen Jiuxu finished speaking, he still hadn't reacted and lay there motionless.

"I don't care about that."

Jiang Yu stubbornly insisted, but a hint of joy was clearly visible between his brows. "I know perfectly well whether I did the things they mentioned or not, and they think that person is me, so it's already destined."

"It can't be changed."

He tilted his body slightly, turning his head towards Shen Jiuxu, and then moved his body so that he could lean against Shen Jiuxu's chest, saying to his lover, "What they think of me is not important, what's important is you, I don't care about their opinions."

“I care, Jiang Yu. You are my Daoist partner. I care about their opinions of you. I care about every word they say. I don’t want you to become the person they talk about. You should never be accused of something you didn’t do.”

Shen Jiuxu spoke earnestly, word by word, as he leaned down to kiss Jiang Yu's lips. "I will let everyone know that you are innocent, that Jiang Yu did nothing wrong, and that he will not do anything wrong."

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Author's note: As expected, inspiration really flows when you're on the night shift! [doge emoji with rose in hand]

Let me add a note:

Yin Shi (3-5 AM)

Shenshi (3-5 PM)

Chen Shi (7-9 AM)