Gods of the Nation: You worship the God of Longevity, I worship the King of Hell!

Chapter 125 You'll Have a Place in the Divine Realm!
"Everyone, get up."

Zhong Kui stroked his beard and waved his hand, turning his gaze to the hall.

"My dear brother, it's been so long! I've missed you terribly."

With a broad smile, Yama stepped forward and grasped Zhong Kui's hand tightly. He then turned and instructed the ghost messengers under his command: "You may all step back now. I need to catch up with the True Lord."

"As ordered!"

Before long, only the two of them remained facing each other in the vast Yama Palace.

With a wave of his hand, Yama conjured up a sandalwood wine table and personally poured Zhong Kui a full cup of fine wine.

"Brother, this is... Azure Flame Wine! Why have you brought out such a fine wine today?"

Zhong Kui looked surprised.

This Azure Flame Wine is extremely rare even in the Underworld.

King Yama laughed loudly, "Brother, what you say is true. We have known each other for hundreds of years. What is a mere Azure Flame Wine to you? Come, let me offer you a toast!"

"Thank you for your kind offer, brother!"

The two raised their glasses, clinked them together, and drank them down in one gulp.

"Speaking of which, when my virtuous brother was harmed by an evil spirit and came to the underworld, it was I who personally presided over the case." King Yama suddenly sighed, recalling the past: "The two of us truly lived up to the old saying—'No fight, no friendship.'"

Zhong Kui looked slightly embarrassed upon hearing this: "Back then, I was reckless and caused a great disturbance in the underworld. When I raised the demon-subduing pestle, I accidentally struck the Heavenly Bell, which startled you, brother."

"Alas, it was this collision that alarmed the Heavenly Court and reached the Jade Emperor's ears." Yama raised his sleeves, clasped his hands, and faced the void: "After learning of this, the Jade Emperor, moved by your chivalrous spirit, bestowed upon you the title of [True Lord of Exorcism]. This is an immense opportunity!"

Looking back, Zhong Kui couldn't help but stroke his beard and smile: "It's all thanks to the Jade Emperor's mercy. Otherwise, given my reckless behavior back then, I'm afraid I would have been thrown into the eighteenth level of hell and suffered the torment of being whipped and having my tongue pulled out."

After saying that, he changed the subject: "Brother, you have specially invited me today, surely you have something important to ask of me? Please speak freely."

Yama's smile faltered slightly, and he looked a little embarrassed: "Brother, take a look at this first."

He turned the case of the Jiangdu Corpse-Dissolving Immortal into a book and handed it to Zhong Kui.

Zhong Kui unrolled the scroll and began to read it carefully, growing increasingly furious: "This human world is truly incorrigible! Every so often, someone dares to use evil magic, attempting to become a ghost immortal, just to preserve their divine consciousness and prolong their lifespan."

King Yama nodded and sneered: "The longest a mortal can live is two hundred and thirty years, and most live only seventy or eighty. To live past one hundred and sixty is already a sign of profound cultivation. In order to survive in this world, there are always those with wicked intentions who attempt to steal the secrets of heaven with evil methods. My good brother, the most wicked thing is the human heart!"

Zhong Kui slammed down his wine cup: "Since you have explained, I understand. Rest assured, once I have investigated the matter, I will give you an explanation in a few days."

"Brother, wait a minute, this matter is not so simple." Yama hurriedly stopped him.

"Oh? Could there be something else going on here?"

"Exactly. The simultaneous appearance of traces of the Corpse-Dissolving Immortal inside and outside Jiangdu City leads me to speculate that the mastermind behind it is probably the work of one person."

However, what enraged me most was that this fiend used the Five Hells Ascension Technique to slaughter them all, even obliterating the souls of the dead.

"What?! It doesn't even spare the souls of the dead?!" Zhong Kui was horrified. "This fiend has fallen into the demonic path!"

King Yama sighed, “That’s precisely why this matter is so difficult. I don’t want to trouble Your Majesty, nor do I want to bother the True Lord of Listening. If we rashly send out a large number of underworld soldiers, I’m afraid we’ll alert the enemy. And to make matters worse, the City God of Jiangdu has recently caused some trouble…”

"I've heard a little about this matter." Zhong Kui was obviously aware that the City God had been executed by the Plague Department. He lowered his voice and said, "I heard that you recently adopted a son in the mortal realm, and his background is extraordinary?"

“Brother, you’re joking. I’m not yet your adopted son; it’s still under consideration.”

Yama straightened his sleeves and said solemnly, "Brother, I will now reveal the whole plan."

The execution of the city god of that prefecture was closely related to this boy.

This child is now the guardian deity of the Plague Department—the Plague Prince.

He also received a divine position in the underworld—General Weiwu Zhengde.

This was the matter that he reported to his elder brother.

But after much thought, I believe the best way to resolve this case is to seek the assistance of the local City God.

But the City God did not get along with him.

I fear this lad may have met with misfortune, so I hope you, my dear brother, will go and escort him to the City God Street.

"I see." Zhong Kui nodded. "Although my magical power is not what it used to be, I am still confident that I can take on a city god."

"Then thank you very much, my worthy brother!" King Yama solemnly clasped his hands in thanks.

Zhong Kui waved his hand and said solemnly, "Exorcising demons and monsters is my duty. Now that Jiangdu has suffered this calamity, how could I refuse!"

"Very well! Let me toast you again, my brother!"

The two raised their glasses and drank together.

Seeing that the time was right, Yama offered a sweet treat: "Of course, I won't let my good brother work for nothing."

My dear brother, you may not know, but I, your so-called "adopted son," am already raising funds to build a temple.

After this, I, your brother, may ask him for another divine position.

"At that time, I, your elder brother, will share the incense offerings of this temple with you, my worthy brother!"

"Oh?" Although Zhong Kui's expression remained unchanged, his heart was suddenly filled with turmoil!
He received two major divine duties and also opened a temple.

He could also spare a place in the pantheon.

"It seems that my brother's adopted son is indeed extraordinary."

Zhong Kui hesitated, "Is this... convenient, brother?!"

“Convenient, convenient! To be honest, I originally intended to enjoy the incense offerings at this temple all by myself, but after thinking it over, I felt it was inappropriate. Now I’m doing you a favor, and I hope you won’t take offense.”

As Yama spoke, he changed the subject and sighed, "Speaking of this, I can't help but feel a pang of sadness."

Back in the day, if my brother ranked second in terms of the incense offerings in the underworld, who would rank first?

Who in the world doesn't know the title of "Holy Lord Who Protects the Home"?
Almost every household hangs a portrait of Zhong Kui to ward off evil spirits and protect their home.

Unexpectedly, the Heavenly Court suddenly issued a decree that all deities must be worshipped in temples and that it was forbidden to invite gods privately. As a result, the people removed the portraits of the virtuous brother, and the incense offerings plummeted...

Now, hundreds of years have passed, and I wonder how many people in the world still remember my virtuous brother's reputation.

As your brother, I truly feel sorry for you.

Zhong Kui, however, was quite magnanimous: "Brother, there's no need for that. Establishing a temple to worship is a divine rule and an inevitable trend. How could we possibly control it? It's better this way, allowing us to live a life of leisure and freedom."

Are you truly at ease?

Yama may not say it, but he doesn't believe it.

If He had experienced that level of incense offerings.

Now, the incense offerings have almost completely ceased.

He definitely won't be at ease.

The difference is just too great!

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. I'll trouble you to make this trip, my brother."

King Yama rose, bowed, and called out loudly, "Fan Rusong, Xie Qingyi!"

"My subordinate is here!"

A flash of blue light appeared, and the two women knelt on one knee.

"I have already discussed it with the True Lord, and He will escort Lu Chen there. You two should lead the way quickly, lest we miss the appointed time."

Xie and Fan exchanged a glance, unable to hide their joy: "Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, True Lord!"

"Alright, lead the way!"

"Please, Master!"

But then Zhong Kui transformed into a fiery red cloud, accompanied by loud laughter, and flew out of the Yama King's Palace.

……

Meanwhile, in the president's office in the South Suburb Industrial Park.

Lu Chen flipped through the documents in his hand, unable to hide his surprise: "No, Manager Zeng, I've only been gone for a few hours, and you've already prepared such a detailed plan?"

Across from her, Zeng Rou smiled and said, "President Lu, you flatter me. Actually, I had already been working on this information last night. After all, President Lu has already pointed out the direction. As for the list of branches, it also relies on Luosha's previous activities in various places, so we have conducted background checks on some commercially developed areas."

Now the company wants to expand outwards.

This will actually make good use of the information we've collected.

Lu Chen couldn't help but gasp: "No wonder even Yu Feng praised you for your expertise in teaching affairs; you truly are a capable person!"

"Mr. Lu, you flatter me." Zeng Rou gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled modestly.

"Let's proceed with your plan. I'm afraid I won't be able to handle the company's affairs in the future."

"Understood, General Lu. I will do my utmost," Zeng Rou replied solemnly.

Just as Lu Chen was about to say something more, the Yama Decree on the back of his hand flashed red light.

"Go and do your work first."

"Yes, I am resigning."

Zeng Rou got up and left, closing the door behind her.

Just as the door closed, several figures suddenly flashed into the office.

Xie Qingyi and Fan Rusong made a quiet appearance.

To Lu Chen's surprise, however, a burly man with a red robe fluttering in the wind and a majestic beard stood beside them.

"Who is this?" Lu Chen's pupils contracted slightly, feeling that the other person looked inexplicably familiar.

The burly man was also scrutinizing him closely, his gaze sharp as lightning.

"Hmm, indeed a handsome and distinguished man, with an imposing presence, he is no ordinary person."

The burly man first expressed his sincere admiration, then clasped his hands in a salute: "I am Zhong Kui, greetings from the front!"

"What!? You...no, you...you are Zhong Kui!?"

"Exactly!"

　I'll take a break on Saturday and try to post six updates in 24 hours.

　　I finished the complete story of the Corpse Dissection chapter today, so updates are a bit slow.

　　Sorry.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)