Chapter One Hundred and Fifty

Chapter One Hundred and Fifty

The internet was abuzz with the news of the destruction of Jin Guo Shrine, with many applauding and others speculating about the cause.

[From the pictures online, only the shrine was destroyed, the surrounding buildings are intact... Doesn't seem like an earthquake.]

[Maybe the shrine was poorly built, leading to the foundation collapsing.]

[Definitely the retribution for the evil deeds of those people, the heavens couldn't stand it anymore.]

[Right, they must have done too many bad things and are now facing the consequences.]

[Wonder what the official statement will be... Will there be officials committing harakiri, or getting shot in the back?]

[They'll probably just bow in apology, the old bowing craftsman spirit.]

Amidst the heated discussions, the island nation's government quickly issued a statement, contrary to netizens' speculations, claiming it was a premeditated terror attack, even releasing surveillance footage and photos of the suspects.

The surveillance video was blurry, only showing two tall, upright figures, but the enhanced photos revealed typical Asian features.

The island nation's foreign ministry spokesperson spoke righteously: "Based on our investigation, the two suspects are from Huaxia. We have reason to believe this is an act of war by Huaxia, damaging the peace and friendship between our two countries..."

Huaxia's foreign ministry spokesperson responded swiftly: [Jin Guo Shrine is connected to a painful history for Huaxia. As victims of war, we yearn for peace and will never initiate any form of war, but we will not fear war either.]

As usual, the statement was deliberately ambiguous.

A keen netizen translated it: [Jin Guo Shrine should have been burned down long ago. We are the victims, okay? We won't start a war, but if you keep provoking and falsely accusing us, don't be surprised if we really fight back.]

[Foreign ministry rocks! Who said we declared war? It's clearly those people who have been provoking us.]

[I never thought someone would actually fulfill my dream of burning down Jin Guo Shrine. Respect to the two big shots!]

[Wonder how the big shots are planning to return home. I'm from F Province. If they can't get back, I'm willing to row my little fishing boat to pick them up!]

[Thought it was divine justice yesterday, turns out it was patriotic heroes, my apologies for the oversight.]

[Hope the anti-Japanese heroes can safely return home.]

[Hoping for the safe return of the anti-Japanese heroes +1.]

Meanwhile, Shen Wang put down his phone and stretched lazily: "Looks like we've made big news again."

They hadn't left the island nation yet, still lingering near the collapsed shrine. The ruins were now cordoned off, with people constantly moving around and flashes of cameras lighting up frequently.

Yesterday, Shen Wang and Gu Dongting had broken the array inside Jin Guo Shrine, sweeping away the nurtured evil ghosts. After doing all this, they blended into the crowd.

They watched the belatedly arriving police and cultivators endowed with spiritual energy, rummaging through the ruins... Unknowingly, the previously cleared cold and malevolent energy began to emerge again.

This time, however, the malevolent energy wasn’t confined to the shrine but seeped outwards, incessantly spreading, entwining every passerby, and showing signs of further expansion.

Soon after, Shen Wang saw the news of their own wanted status.

The island nation's officials presented a facade of righteousness in front of the cameras, but turned around to release malevolent energy, using the lives of ordinary citizens to nourish it, in a display of sickening hypocrisy.

Gu Dongting looked at Shen Wang, asking, "What do you plan to do?"

Shen Wang didn't answer immediately. After pondering for a few seconds, he slowly said, "They are so obsessed with cultivating malevolence..."

Only evil ghosts can survive in malevolent energy. Why were they still cultivating it when the evil ghosts in the malevolent energy had been eliminated?

This malevolent energy, feeding on the vitality of living people, would spread rapidly without the control of an array, claiming countless lives.

But the island nation's officials didn’t care.

They were indifferent to the lives of their people and the consequences that would follow.

Shen Wang had a hunch that there was an unspeakable secret behind all this.

Unraveling this secret might answer the doubts he'd had for so long.

It didn't take long for Shen Wang to spot the elderly man who had spoken to Abe Yasuhiko earlier, arriving at the scene accompanied by several other grey-haired elders.

These elders, mostly dressed in traditional Japanese attire, were treated with utmost respect by those around them, especially the elder from the Abe family, who seemed to be leading the group.

Energized, Shen Wang quietly followed them with Gu Dongting.

The group, solemn and silent, moved through the ruins, arriving at the site of the grand hall where the spirit tablets had been placed.

This was where Shen Wang had battled the evil ghosts, and the most severely destroyed site, almost unrecognizable from its original form. The spirit tablets were completely consumed by a fierce fire, leaving no chance for salvage.

Seeing this devastation, the elders' expressions changed, and one of them, unable to contain his agitation, muttered, "Damn Huaxia people."

The others echoed the sentiment, cursing, "They come to our land and wreak havoc, it's infuriating!"

"They broke the agreement..."

"After planning for so long, to fail at the final step... Did they discover something?"

This comment seemed to douse the group's anger like cold water, bringing a sudden calm. They exchanged glances, then simultaneously turned to Abe, who had been silent.

Abe, with downcast eyes, gazed at the ruins, remaining silent.

"Impossible," someone objected, "No one from Huaxia alerted us, they couldn't have realized something was amiss."

"Huaxia people are cunning. What if they betrayed us?"

"Even if they betray us, they wouldn't betray the Master."

After these remarks, a silence fell over the group again.

Shen Wang and Gu Dongting quietly listened to their conversation, glancing at each other with understanding in their eyes.

'They' and 'the Master' seemed to be the key.

'They' were likely the traitors and spies within Huaxia, collaborating on the same level with these islanders, though their relationship seemed strained.

'The Master' appeared to be a figure much higher in rank, possibly several levels above.

Observing their expressions, Shen Wang noted the mix of respect, fear, and longing they showed when mentioning 'the Master,' a complex amalgam of emotions reflecting their unspeakable reverence.

"They won't betray the Master, but they could betray us," the elder named Abe finally spoke. The geniality on his face had vanished, replaced by a penetrating, sinister look, "The mission in Huaxia was interrupted by the unexpected emergence of Shen Wang. If they haven't completed their mission and we have..."

The others seemed to have a moment of realization, nodding in agreement, "Exactly, there are limited spots close to the Master. To seize that position, they would definitely turn against us!"

"Damn, those cunning and malicious Huaxia people!"

"A bunch of scoundrels!"

After a round of dirty cursing, their anger subsided somewhat. Being old foxes, they quickly discussed and agreed on their next course of action.

Issuing a warrant for the two Huaxia fugitives who destroyed the shrine and 'negotiating' with Huaxia were secondary.

The primary task at hand was to remedy the trouble caused by the shrine's destruction.

They stepped back, allowing Abe to take the lead. Abe then produced a small brass-colored mirror about the size of a palm, muttering a few words, and soon, the ancient mirror began to shine as if new.

A female ghost in red emerged from the mirror.

Surrounded by an intense aura of ghostly energy, she was evidently a Ghost King at the peak of her power.

Abe spoke, "Miss Tan Rao, the evil ghosts here have been eliminated. Please absorb the malevolent energy of this place."

Shen Wang and Gu Dongting were startled upon hearing this name.

Shen Wang recognized the name from the original text; this was the red-dressed female ghost who became one of Tang Jiu's harem, trailing behind him!

In the original story, this red-dressed ghost was only a minor Ghost King. She was sent to assassinate Tang Jiu but ended up being subdued by him. She then absorbed the Yin energy gathered by Lin Yinyang and devoured the small Ghost Kings he nurtured, eventually breaking through to become a Ghost King.

Afterwards, she became one of Tang Jiu's many consorts, the second strongest among them, solving many problems for him.

Gu Dongting, unfamiliar with the original story but having opposed Tang Jiu in his past life, naturally knew about the women around him, including this female ghost named Tan Rao...

Both Shen Wang and Gu Dongting felt something was amiss.

Among Tang Jiu's harem, there was a saintess from a foreign heretical religion, a female ghost from the island nation, a daughter of the wealthiest man, the foremost female cultivator from the Gu family of Huaxia, and even an empress from a mystical mountain.

Almost every one of them had a notable identity, but upon closer reflection, it seemed these people subtly pointed towards a singular place.

A thought suddenly crossed Shen Wang's mind: among the remaining consorts of the male protagonist, one was the fiancée of the great villain Gu Dongting, a stunningly beautiful superstar with some extraordinary aspects.

But what about his sister, Liu Yue?

A plain policewoman, not even aware of the existence of the metaphysical world... What made her qualified to be part of the 'male lead's' harem?

The red-dressed female ghost named Tan Rao giggled, interrupting Shen Wang's thoughts.

She looked almost identical to a normal human, her voice soft and gentle: "Of course, I can absorb the malevolent energy... but first, let's deal with the two little mice hiding here."

Shen Wang was startled, meeting the pupil-less eyes of the red-dressed ghost.