Chapter 110 How could Ke Nian possibly admit his mistake?

On the day Yun Tianjiao emerged from seclusion, two major events occurred in the Ghost Realm.

The first big thing is that Yun Tianqi, who has served ten years in prison, has finally come out of the volcanic hell. However, when he came out, a group of little devils followed behind him, calling him "Mother".

It is said that because of his good temper, good looks, and the aura of a human emperor, he attracted many little ghosts. Some ghost soldiers got along well with him and even asked him to help take care of their unruly children. In this way, word spread, and Yun Tianqi's reputation as a good babysitter became a household name. Before he even left the Volcanic Hell, he was already working as a wet nurse.

As for the second major event, the west hall of the Yama's Palace, which is in charge of judging the dead, suddenly exploded that night. It is said that a formidable ghost descended. At the time, Lord Xiao, who was judging the case, almost burned his official robes, so he was furious. If the ghost hadn't been in a state of near-death, seemingly bored and uninterested in everything, a fight might have broken out.

Upon hearing this news, Yun Tianjiao asked Zhiwei curiously, "Who is this ghost spirit? Why such a grand display?"

Zhiwei sent someone to inquire, and soon the news came back that the ghost was named Shen Hengzhen.

"Shen Hengzhen?" Yun Tianjiao was utterly astonished. "Only ten years... how could he be dead?"

"Would Your Highness like to go and take a look?"

The two had just emerged from seclusion and had originally planned to go pick up Yun Tianqi after hearing that he had completed his sentence. However, Yun Tianjiao thought about it and decisively sidelined his younger brother.

"Now that Yun Tianqi is out, there's nothing to worry about. Just send someone to pick him up. I'm more concerned about Shen Hengzhen's situation and would like to ask what's going on up there."

"Your Highness may go if you wish. As for Yun Tianqi, I will have someone make arrangements." Zhiwei put her arm around Yun Tianjiao's waist, and then, in a sticky and affectionate manner, tried to lower her head to kiss the side of her neck.

The two had spent the last ten years in seclusion, doing nothing but cultivation and that kind of thing, or doing that kind of thing while cultivating. They had long been accustomed to their intimate and willful behavior. Yun Tianjiao had also truly experienced the power of the Desire Ghost. If it weren't for the Ghost Pill protecting him, he would probably have been torn to pieces long ago.

"Hey, now that you're out, you can't just do whatever you want anymore." Yun Tianjiao pressed Zhiwei's face and pushed her away.

Zhiwei was pushed to the side, looking displeased, but she quickly clung to Yun Tianjiao's wrist, "Let me see... Hmm? Your Highness, it seems there are still some undigested ghost energy remnants in your body. Perhaps you should come back with me to seclude yourself for another ten years..."

Yun Tianjiao slightly closed his bright eyes and gave Zhiwei a warning look.

Zhiwei finally calmed down and accompanied Yun Tianjiao to the Yama Palace.

The Yama's Palace was in complete disarray; the once magnificent beams and pillars were peeling, and the judge's pronouncements were in ruins.

The case was also broken, piled up like rubble in the corner, and a large pit was smashed into the stone floor in the center of the hall. Flying pebbles shattered the paper windows, and the candles and statues of various ghost generals in the hall were scattered and broken.

Xiao Yan was counting the files in the cabinet with a dark expression. More than half of them fell out of the cabinet and piled up like a small mountain next to it.

Inside the hall, the ghost soldiers were busy tidying up, but there was one idle person sitting on the ground, leaning against a still intact pillar, lost in thought. He was still wearing the emperor's everyday clothes, with large patches of bright red bloodstains on the front.

"Shen Hengzhen," Yun Tianjiao called out.

Shen Hengzhen finally snapped out of his daze and looked over. The moment he saw the person who had come, a little bit of life returned to his empty eyes.

For Yun Tianjiao, these ten years apart were merely a short period of seclusion, but for Shen Hengzhen, it felt like half a lifetime had passed.

Compared to the last time we met, Shen Hengzhen looked much more haggard, and his aging and vicissitudes were visibly evident. By his age, he was only in his early thirties, but there were already many white hairs at his temples. Although he hadn't grown a beard yet, his chin was covered in a bluish-gray color, clearly indicating that he hadn't taken good care of himself for a long time before his death.

Yun Tianjiao noticed a red line on his neck, from which blood was constantly seeping out, which looked rather shocking.

When a ghost dies, it can choose to appear in the form it took at the time of its death; this is the ghost's true form. However, most ghosts, after arriving in the underworld, will conceal their true form and revert to any stage of their life.

Shen Hengzhen was clearly in his true form at this moment, unkempt and still in a dead state. He noticed Yun Tianjiao staring at his neck, his expression stiffened slightly, and he used his ghostly power to restore himself to his appearance ten years ago, changing his emperor's casual clothes into the official robes he wore when he was Little Lord Shen.

"Your Highness, Princess." He rose and greeted Yun Tianjiao, reverting to his former spirited and dashing self.

Seeing this, Zhiwei, who was standing next to Yun Tianjiao, raised her eyebrows slightly and revealed a meaningful expression. She moved her feet slowly and quietly moved closer to Yun Tianjiao, taking her hand from under her sleeve.

Yun Tianjiao looked down and then looked at Zhiwei with a puzzled expression. She didn't understand why he suddenly took her hand. However, Zhiwei just blinked her beautiful peach blossom eyes at her, which completely captivated her. So she let him hold her hand and ignored him.

How could these little actions escape Shen Hengzhen's eyes? His lowered eyelashes concealed the emotions in his eyes, but they could not hide the direction in which his gaze was focused.

His gaze lingered on their clasped hands for a long time before slowly shifting away.

"Shen Hengzhen, what's wrong with you?"

Shen Hengzhen remained silent for a long time. At this moment, Xiao Yan walked over and handed a dossier to Yun Tianjiao. "Your Highness, please read it yourself. Our God Lord probably looks down on our Underworld. He hasn't said a word since he arrived here."

After Xiao Yan finished speaking, he gave Shen Hengzhen a cold glance.

"Your Majesty?" Yun Tianjiao immediately caught a crucial piece of information. She turned to look at Shen Hengzhen. "You... have regained Ke Nian's memories?"

Shen Hengzhen's expression shifted slightly, and he finally raised his eyes. He looked directly into Yun Tianjiao's eyes, his calm gaze seemingly suppressing some intense emotion. "Your Highness... do you know who I am?"

Yun Tianjiao hesitated for a moment, but ultimately decided not to reveal his identity as Yu Meng. He then shook the dossier in his hand and said, "It's all written here."

What Xiao Yan handed to Yun Tianjiao was Shen Hengzhen's Book of Fate for this lifetime, which recorded his life story in detail. She had only glanced at it briefly before reading it word for word, and naturally she also saw the part about the God of Ke Nian descending to the mortal realm.

Shen Hengzhen's eyes darkened, like a shooting star streaking across the silent night sky, but it only lit up briefly before returning to the stagnant darkness.

By this time, the ghost soldiers had almost finished cleaning up the hall and brought over a new case. The walls and floor were severely damaged and could not be restored immediately, but they could still make do with the case.

"Would you two like to sit in on this case?" Xiao Yan looked at Yun Tianjiao and Zhiwei. Although his tone was questioning, every hair on his head seemed to be telling them to get out. It was clear that he was in a very bad mood.

Before Yun Tianjiao and Zhiwei could reply, an excited voice came from outside the hall: "Me! Me! Me! I want to listen in!"

Upon hearing the commotion from the gossipy din, Yun Tianjiao knew who had arrived. With a hint of helplessness, he looked towards the palace gate and, sure enough, saw Yun Tianqi skipping in, looking as cheerful as if someone was about to give him money.

Xiao Yan originally planned to use the trial as an opportunity to settle personal scores, sentencing Shen Hengzhen to a hard labor sentence to earn money, and also to make up for the damage he had caused to the palace. Therefore, he didn't want Yun Tianjiao and the Ghost King to be there. But unexpectedly, before he could get rid of the two troublemakers, another clueless person showed up.

Yun Tianqi was completely oblivious to the cold glare from the Judge. Upon seeing Shen Hengzhen, he grinned broadly, circled around him, and muttered, "Oh my, look who this is! I've been hearing people say that the Emperor above has just died, and I thought I must have misheard. But it really is you!"

As Shen Hengzhen watched Yun Tianqi hopping around in front of him, completely unharmed, his previously gloomy expression softened slightly, and a faint smile even appeared on his lips.

"I am relieved to see you here and to know that Your Majesty is well."

Yun Tianqi froze, his gloating smile vanished, and he stopped making exaggerated expressions. He stood quietly in front of Shen Hengzhen, looked at him for a long time, and finally smiled with relief. Just like when he was young, he nudged Shen Hengzhen hard with his elbow.

"So, being an emperor isn't so easy, is it?"

The pent-up frustration in Shen Hengzhen's heart seemed to finally be released at this moment. He then smiled lightly and said self-deprecatingly, "Things are often easy to look at but difficult to do. There are also many things that are beyond one's control. Being stubborn and self-willed can lead to excess and bad consequences."

After saying that, he looked at Yun Tianjiao, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed to her, "I have not understood the words of advice given by Your Highness the Princess, and I have truly failed to appreciate your painstaking efforts."

"Oh, it's all in the past, why are you being so sentimental? You've been judged by the judge, received your punishment, and atone for your sins. You'll be a hero again. Look at me, I've been through the Volcano Hell, and I'm doing just fine!" Yun Tianqi hooked his arm around Shen Hengzhen's neck and whispered in his ear, "Let me tell you, brother, I've already paved the way for you. If the judge asks you which of the eighteen hells you want to go to, listen to me, choose the Volcano Hell. I know the jailers there, and I can put in a good word for you and make you suffer less."

Just as Yun Tianqi was giving his instructions, Shen Hengzhen suddenly emitted a white light that burned Yun Tianqi, causing him to sting. Startled, Yun Tianqi quickly stepped back and shouted, "My god, what is that?! Shen Hengzhen, why are you glowing?"

Xiao Yan was calculating the losses from rebuilding the palace on his abacus when he noticed Shen Hengzhen's unusual behavior. He looked over and narrowed his eyes. "This is... the power of the gods?" He then looked at Zhiwei in confusion.

Zhiwei chuckled sarcastically, "I think Lord Xiao doesn't need to bother with this case anymore. The gods in heaven have been reincarnated and descended to the mortal realm. After the mortal body dies, it will naturally return to its divine position. It's not up to us, the Netherworld, to judge it."

Since Xiao Yan became a judge, he had never handled a case involving a deity reincarnated as a human, so he was unfamiliar with this situation.

To be precise, since the Heavenly Pillar was severed, no other deity besides Shen Hengzhen has reincarnated and descended to the mortal realm in the past few centuries. The gods have all become pragmatic, busy securing their own ancestral offerings; who has the time to orchestrate a drama of being banished to the mortal world? Maintaining such a system of punishment would also require a considerable expenditure of divine power.

Xiao Yan silently put away the abacus and asked Zhiwei, "Then who will be responsible for the losses to my palace?"

Zhiwei waved his hand and said, "Just submit your expense report and go directly through the Ministry of Revenue."

"Oh." Xiao Yan's expression softened slightly.

He didn't really care whether the case was heard or not, as long as someone was paying him. Seeing that there was nothing more for him to do here, he checked the time on the water clock and headed straight for the Bridge of Helplessness.

To this day, the Ghost King has yet to find him a suitable replacement to serve as Meng Po (the goddess of forgetfulness in Chinese mythology)!

Yun Tianqi was eagerly waiting to see Shen Hengzhen's verdict, and now that the judge had left, he felt extremely resentful.

"That's it? That's it? What about the ten years of hellish torture I endured? What did it all mean?"

Seeing her younger brother's tearful expression, Yun Tianjiao couldn't help but laugh out loud, unaware of the look Shen Hengzhen was giving her.

Yun Tianqi said unhappily, "Elder sister, aren't you going to speak up for me?!"

"What can we do? Who told you not to be a reincarnation of a god?" Yun Tianjiao was comforted to see his younger brother regain his former liveliness. He then said to Shen Hengzhen, "Young Master Shen should still have some time. Why don't we have a meal together? It can be considered a celebration of Tian Qi's completion of his sentence and a farewell for you."

Shen Hengzhen's gaze kept lingering on Yun Tianjiao's face, as if searching for that familiar figure, but in the end, his gaze was always blocked by Zhiwei.

At this moment, Zhiwei swayed forward slightly, blocking Yun Tianjiao.

Shen Hengzhen came to his senses. The divine light on his body had dissipated, and he looked no different from before. However, his divine aura could not be concealed. He did not want to stay in the Ghost Realm for too long and was about to refuse, but what came out of his mouth was: "Alright, then I will trouble Your Highness the Princess."

Zhiwei ordered a banquet to be held in the palace to entertain Yun Tianqi and Shen Hengzhen.

Yun Tianqi had been tortured in the volcanic hell for years and had hardly eaten anything. Although ghost spirits did not need to eat, he was really craving food. Faced with a table full of delicious food, he exclaimed, "Brother-in-law is the best!"

Zhiwei was initially quite displeased with the arrival of these two people, as they had taken up his time alone with Yun Tianjiao. Although he wasn't exactly sullen, he wasn't particularly enthusiastic either. But upon suddenly hearing the words "brother-in-law," his peach blossom eyes immediately curved into a smile, and he promptly ordered someone to prepare some more of Yun Tianqi's favorite dishes.

Having tasted the sweetness of success, Yun Tianqi called his brother-in-law even more enthusiastically.

Yun Tianjiao felt a little embarrassed, but she didn't stop him. Seeing that Shen Hengzhen had a calm expression and didn't say much, and was just pouring himself a drink, she said, "Shen Hengzhen, you've offended so many gods. It probably won't be easy for you to return to the Heavenly Court this time. Have you considered staying in the Ghost Realm?"

Shen Hengzhen paused slightly in her cup-holding hand, then smiled and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness, but I still have some things to do and must return to the Heavenly Court."

Yun Tianqi interjected, "What are you going to do? You're not going to continue with your so-called plan to destroy gods, are you? Wake up! You yourself are a god, and how could you possibly destroy all the gods in the world?"

Shen Hengzhen nodded and said, "I did get stuck on a rut before, so when I go back this time, I don't want to continue destroying gods. Instead, I want to apologize to the Heavenly Venerable and persuade him to revise the Heavenly Court's laws. Although I won't destroy the gods, I will restrict their freedom to use divine power."

Yun Tianjiao listened with curiosity, "Could you explain in detail how this law should be revised?"

Shen Hengzhen said, “We should follow the example of the human world, use laws to restrain the gods, and evaluate worshippers based on their merits. We should determine which worshippers’ wishes can be fulfilled and which cannot. We should no longer rely solely on the amount of incense offered.”

Yun Tianjiao nodded and looked at Zhiwei: "This is quite similar to the practices of the Ghost Realm nowadays."

Zhiwei said, "Young Master Shen's method sounds good, but it is difficult to implement and is too idealistic."

Shen Hengzhen was determined: "Although it is difficult, someone has to do this. The Heavenly Realm cannot continue to be so chaotic."

After the meal, the three escorted Shen Hengzhen out of the Netherworld. They watched him leave through the gate of the Netherworld and then turned back.

But when Shen Hengzhen reached the boundary marker, he stopped and suddenly turned around to look at Yun Tianjiao's back, shouting, "Yu Meng!"

Yun Tianjiao stopped in his tracks and subconsciously turned his head.

Their eyes met for a moment.

Shen Hengzhen's eyes reddened, and she smiled, murmuring softly to herself, "I knew it was you."

How could he possibly admit his mistake?

Even if he couldn't sense the aura of the Dream Essence on her, how could he mistake her?

But he said nothing more, and his figure faded away in the radiant light, disappearing from the spot.