The closer they got, the more patrolling ghosts appeared, the more orderly the ranks became, and the stronger their aura grew.
They could even see some spirits dressed in official robes, their auras unfathomable, walking around.
Thanks to Qiqi's talismans and spells, they remained undetected.
Qiqi was clearly familiar with the place. Leading the two people and the tiger, she made several turns and avoided the main patrol routes, arriving at a relatively secluded but still imposing side gate of the main hall.
Above the palace gate hangs a plaque with the three ancient characters "Chacha Si" (察查司).
"This is it! Uncle Lu Pan works here!" Qi Qi whispered, then removed the concealment talismans from the group. Once they were here, hiding would be impolite.
As soon as his figure was revealed, the two halberd-wielding ghost soldiers guarding the side door immediately looked over alertly.
But when their gaze fell on Qiqi, the fierce look on their faces instantly turned into surprise and a hint of... barely perceptible flattery?
"So it's Fairy Qiqi... Fellow Daoist has arrived!" A ghost soldier bowed hurriedly. "May I ask what brings you here so suddenly?"
"Hello, Uncle Ghost Messenger!" Qiqi waved her chubby little hand politely. "Qiqi has come to see Uncle Judge Lu about something. Is he inside?"
"Oh dear, I can't accept being called 'uncle' by you, young fellow. Judge Lu is here, he just finished processing a batch of files. Please come in!"
The ghost soldiers quickly made way, and even curiously peeked at Huo Yuwei and Huo Yusen, who had extraordinary bearing, and Hu Ying, who was full of demonic energy and looked very intimidating, behind Qi Qi.
Stepping into the main hall, the interior space is much more spacious than it appears from the outside.
The high dome is flanked by huge bookshelves piled high with bamboo slips, books, and scrolls.
In the center of the main hall, behind a huge desk, a man dressed in a red official robe, with an ancient face, a long beard, and an imposing presence, was holding a vermilion brush and reviewing thick documents.
He wore a black gauze hat, the wings of which trembled slightly; he was none other than Judge Lu, a famous judge in the Underworld's Investigation Department.
Sensing the movement, Lu Pan looked up, and when he saw Qi Qi running in with her short legs, the serious expression on his face froze.
Then, he slowly forced a stiff smile, put down the vermilion brush in his hand, and stood up.
"So it was you, young Daoist, who dared to enter my Investigation Division without prior notice!"
Lu Pan's voice carried a barely perceptible hint of caution, "Young fellow Daoist, what brings so many people to my Investigation Division? Why aren't you staying?"
"Hello, Uncle Lu!" Qiqi greeted him politely first, and then asked, "Why did Qiqi come? Uncle Lu really doesn't know?"
She should try to reason with them first, since she couldn't just turn the underworld upside down right away.
If they are willing to release Dong-gu, she has no need to take action.
If they're unwilling, then... well, you can't blame her then, right?
Judge Lu's lips twitched, and he tried to feign ignorance, "Young fellow Daoist, this is your first time in the Underworld, and you didn't give me any prior notice. I really..."
“Since Uncle Lu says so, then Qiqi will get straight to the point!” The little girl looked up with an adorable face, but her tone was surprisingly sharp, “Uncle Lu, where did my junior brother Dong Jiu go?”
Upon hearing this, Judge Lu felt as if his heart had instantly died.
Damn it, the little ancestor really came for Dong Jiu.
But right now, Dong Jiu Gui is in the ninth level of the Netherworld Hell, still chained by cold iron chains.
Can he say that?
Obviously not!
If I told you about this little devil, he'd probably turn up all eighteen levels of hell upside down.
Lu Pan's eyes darted around as he pondered what excuse he could come up with to get out of this.
He stroked his long beard, trying to gloss over the matter with an official tone, "Ahem, so... Dong Jiu is actually your junior brother, young fellow Daoist. We're truly from the same family! However, there are tens of thousands of ghost messengers in the underworld, each with their own duties. You suddenly asking me about the whereabouts of one of them, I really don't know how to answer right now, perhaps..."
“Uncle Lu Pan,” Qi Qi interrupted him, her sweet little voice still ringing with childlike delight, but a hint of understanding now shone in her clear eyes. She pointed with her chubby little finger to a rather inconspicuous file wrapped in a special black cover next to the mountain of files in front of Judge Lu. “That file has a ‘little turtle’ mark on it. Uncle Lu Pan probably doesn’t know that’s a special code between me and my junior brother. If Qi Qi isn’t mistaken, it’s a file that records specially imprisoned souls, right? And right now, there’s the aura of Junior Brother Dong Jiu on it.”
"!!!" Judge Lu's heart skipped a beat, realizing he had made a mistake!
How could I forget that this little darling's senses are frighteningly sharp, and his memory is ridiculously good!
It's unbelievable that someone could even spot such a tiny turtle!
Although Huo Yuwei and Huo Yusen were not entirely clear on what had happened, they understood from the situation that the judge of the underworld seemed to be concealing important information about that "East Nine".
Huo Yuwei's eyes darkened slightly. He took half a step forward. Although he didn't speak, the awe-inspiring aura belonging to the Master of the Xuanyuan Sword emanated from him, carrying an invisible pressure.
Huo Yusen quietly adjusted his posture to ensure that he could protect Qiqi in an absolutely safe position immediately should a conflict occur.
Tiger Eagle also let out a low growl, its body filled with demonic energy, and its golden tiger eyes stared at Judge Lu with hostility.
Stared at by a man and a tiger (Huo Yusen's aura was restrained but not to be underestimated), and with Qiqi's "If you don't tell the truth, I'll see for myself" look in her eyes, Judge Lu's forehead was covered in sweat.
He knew all about this little darling's abilities; the last time she came to "visit" the underworld, she almost managed to send all the vengeful spirits in the River of Oblivion to the afterlife.
This caused the performance of the ghost cop in charge of that area to plummet, leaving him with no one to turn to for help.
Although the last time was a thousand years ago.
But this achievement was so remarkable that it remains fresh in their minds.
"This... young fellow Daoist, please let me explain..." Judge Lu tried to make a final effort.
“Uncle Lu Pan,” Qiqi tilted her head, her tone a little aggrieved, but her eyes grew brighter and brighter, as if she had found a fun game, “Do you think Qiqi is too young to be fooled? Master said that children who lie have noses that grow longer! Although Uncle Lu Pan isn’t a child, but… um…”
Her chubby little hands began to form hand seals again, and a gentle yet indescribable golden light gathered at her fingertips.
"No, no, no! Young fellow Daoist! Show mercy!" Judge Lu was terrified when he saw this.
He didn't want to experience being "educated" by this little rascal's magic; that would definitely not be a pleasant experience.
He realized that if he didn't tell the truth today, the investigation office might be demolished.
"I'll talk! I'll talk!"
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