Yama Rising

"Old Hell's legacy has existed over a span of several thousand years starting from the Han Dynasty, yet even Hell was never able to discover where this thing comes from. It's definitely not a naturally forming creature, and it bears a symbol, so it must belong to a certain power. However, the second King Yanluo investigated this matter in person, and even he couldn't find anything. All we can be sure of...

He cast a grim gaze toward Qin Ye as he continued, "Is that outside of the surveillance scope of Hell, perhaps in some secluded mountain, perhaps in some area of the sea, there is a power that has existed for close to 2,000 years. They haven't actively attempted to alter the course of history, and they haven't become involved in any political matters. It's as if they're merely observers of history, watching in silence as the world changes around them. This may not be the most apt analogy, but if I had to make an analogy on them, then I can think of one: they're like abstract gods with no substance that have transcended beyond everything."

Whoosh... His Yin energy spread out like a wave around him, and it was so fierce that Lin Han was forced to take a few steps backward. As soon as he caught sight of Zhao Yun, the first thought that arose to him was...

Finally, a worthy opponent for me in the looks department! Our battle will be legendary! 

"Greetings, Lord Qin." Zhao Yun cupped a fist in a respectful salute, and Qin Ye nodded casually in response, but his gaze remained fixed on Peach Blossom this entire time. "Are there any theories on how this thing came to be?"

"The panel of advisors of our Hell has conducted research into this matter before, and they discovered that it's not a Yin spirit, nor is it any type of living being. It can live forever, but it doesn't have the habits of any other living beings, and it runs on Yin energy as its source of energy."

Qin Ye's brows furrowed slightly once again.

By his theory, there had to be some type of connection between the Peach Blossom Spring and Bu Wantian, and the trait that connected them together from the very beginning was immortality.

Similarly, this Peach Blossom was also immortal...

It seemed that everything was pointing toward the Peach Blossom Spring, but there was a thin veil that kept out all prying eyes trying to see the truth.

"Secondly, it only appears in coastal areas. Thirdly, it's able to possess humans."

Zhao Yun sighed before continuing, "The samples of this thing are far too limited, and it only appears at least once every few centuries, so there's no way to gather any useful information about it."

Qin Ye was silent for a moment before suddenly asking, "How many darkfeathers do we currently have?"

"There are 1,200 in total, my Lord."

"Deploy all of them to all parts of the nation with the objective of finding out the origins of Peach Blossom," Qin Ye instructed with a grim expression.

"Yes." Zhao Yun accepted the order with a clasped fist salute, then vanished on the spot.

He didn't need to ask why Qin Ye was so intent on finding out the origins of Peach Blossom. It was clear to anyone that the existence of such a mysterious and ancient organization was most definitely a bad thing. At the very least, Hell had to know the organization's location and be able to control it.

The room fell silent, and after a short while, Lin Han grabbed onto Qin Ye's arm before dragging him outside. "Let's go and have some fun first. It's been ages since we last met, we can't just get down to work right away!"

Qin Ye didn't refuse, and soon, the two of them arrived at a rotisserie.

Kebabs + beer = the ultimate bromance!

"I propose a toast!" Lin Han raised his glass of beer before downing it in one go, and conversation between the two began to flow freely once again. 

Lin Han heaved a reminiscent sigh and said, "Truth be told, back on campus, I really felt like you were an insurmountable peak. All of the students of the Academy of Cultivators are elite individuals from all parts of the nation, so why is it that you were progressing so much faster than everyone else? On top of that, you still had time to write your thesis! In private, everyone was calling you a freak, and only afterward did we figure out what was going on with you."

Hmm? How could I have forgotten? I forgot to show off in front of this noob! 

Qin Ye cleared his throat before asking, "Don't you feel like I've progressed even further in my cultivation."

"I do, what about it?"

"... Don't you feel even the slightest bit envious or frustrated?"

"Not at all. Isn't this normal for you? What's there to be envious or frustrated over?"

I must look like an idiot expecting you to praise and worship me... Qin Ye quickly changed the subject. There was no point in mentioning things like cultivation to a husky dog. The only things that huskies were interested in were bones and more bones.

"By the way, how's your little squad been going lately?" Qin Ye asked after taking a sip of beer.

"We split up a long time ago." Lin Han lit a cigarette before taking a puff and blowing out a smoke ring. "In the past, supernatural events were quite common, and we were able to earn a lot of money, but ever since the sensors detecting paranormal activity were deactivated, we couldn't get any more jobs. All of those roaming ghosts suddenly seemed to disappear one day, I wonder which idiot got rid of all of them."

... My sincerest apologies for ruining your business, hehehe... 

"By the way." Lin Han suddenly raised his head with a mysterious expression before pulling out his phone and waving it in front of Qin Ye's face. Qin Ye was in the process of chewing on a mouthful of kebabs, and he almost spat out the contents in his mouth!

"What is that?" His lips were trembling as he grabbed the phone before staring at it with a mixture of shock and envy.

The wallpaper on the phone screen depicted a sweet and gentle woman holding a small child.

"What the hell is this?!" Qin Ye's voice immediately spiked up a few octaves. "Don't tell me this is your kid! There's no way! He doesn't look anything like you!"

Dammit! How could this have happened?! 

The most painful feeling in life was losing a race before even reaching the starting line, and this was the exact feeling Qin Ye was experiencing right now!

This fucking idiot... Qin Ye's hands were trembling with rage, and he turned to Lin Han with an extremely malicious expression. It's only been six years, and you already have a kid? And you dare to flaunt your family in front of my face?!

Lin Han downed his glass of beer in one go with a content expression. "Look at your jealous face! If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were in love with me, but I'm sorry, I'm not interested in you."

"She must be blind to have fallen in love with you..." There was nothing that Qin Ye could do, so he set down the phone with tightly gritted teeth. "You have zero redeeming traits aside from your looks!"

The burning envy in his heart spurred him on to make a decision right then and there: it was time to begin setting up a harem!

"You don't know shit! Marrying me is the best decision she's ever made!" Lin Han took back his phone with a satisfied expression. "Let's see what you owe me. We have a wedding gift, a month-old celebration gift[In China, a child turning a month old is traditionally celebrated.], a gift from godfather to godson..."

"Hold on, when did I become your son's godfather?"

"Just now," Lin Han replied in a completely justified manner. "With the bond that we share, what excuse do I need to hang onto your coattails?"

How shameless! And yet... I can't refute him... 

"Why didn't you think about hanging onto my coattails when you guys were chasing me down back then?"

As soon as these words left Qin Ye's mouth, both of them immediately fell silent.

Only after a long while did Lin Han heave a forlorn sigh before filling a glass with beer, then offered it up to Qin Ye with both hands. A rare serious look appeared in his eyes as he said, "This is something that I've always regretted. Even though such a long time has passed, I still have to apologize. None of the people from that Hungry Ghost Festival are here, so I'll apologize on their behalf as well."

Qin Ye shook his head as an amused smile appeared on his face. "What kind of person do you take me for? We all had our own reasons at the time, so everyone's actions were understandable. I can't say that I wasn't disappointed and angry, but that's far from enough to drive a permanent wedge between all of us. Truth be told..."

Qin Ye tapped his beer glass against Lin Han's, then downed his beer in one go before looking up at the ceiling with a reminiscent expression. "The longer I've been in this position, the more I can understand Faculty Head Zhou's decision. It's been six whole years since then..."

He smiled as he refilled his own glass, and he wanted to say something more on the matter, but after opening his mouth a few times, he still wasn't able to find the words.

What he wanted to say was: "Six years is nothing more than the blink of an eye for me. I can understand the reasons behind everyone's actions, so I had forgotten about it long ago. You're still the same Local Bully, and I'm still that Pretty Boy. Otherwise, no one is worthy of a personal visit from King Yanluo. From now on, your family will live long and peaceful lives free from tragedy and disease, that is my promise to you. First and foremost, you are my friend, and secondly, you created memories for me that I think back on and savor for the rest of eternity in my immortal life. Those campus days were truly very precious and pure..."

Of course, there was no need to verbalize these things.

"Indeed, it's been six years..." Lin Han also looked up at the ceiling, and only after a long while did he take a sip of beer with a faint smile. In that instant, Qin Ye was suddenly struck by the feeling that Lin Han had also matured a lot.

Perhaps this would be the only time that they presented themselves to one another in their original forms.

Next time, they would all see what he had truly become after this span of six years.

"Are you really immortal now?" Lin Han asked in a forlorn voice as he filled both of their glasses.

"That's right, so I'll be waiting for you down there."

"I'm truly envious..." Lin Han said with a smile. "Currently, I'm the captain of an investigation team at the Insignia Province's Special Investigations Department. If I get another promotion, I'll be vice-director of the Special Investigations Department branch. Never did I think that I would be able to reach this level. How about you? Where are you right now?"

"The Insignia Province, eh?" Qin Ye's eyes narrowed slightly. "In that case, we should have plenty of time to catch up in the future. The Insignia Province is my territory. If you ever get some spare time, go to the city god to burn some incense, and I can open up a special passageway for you. By the way, what's become of the Academy of Cultivators? The supernatural disasters have subsided, does the academy still exist?"

"Of course, it's currently the go-to academy for cultivation education, during the past few years, it's merged with quite a few sects and religious groups. By the way, are you married yet?"

"... Do you have to ruin the atmosphere like that?"

"... Well, I've actually always been very curious about what happened between you and Ye Xingchen. You didn't dump him, did you? To be fair, he couldn't match me in the looks department, but he was still one of the three most handsome male students of our academy. Not long ago, he was asking about you on Momo, so he's clearly still thinking of you. How could you be so cruel to dump him like that? Tsk tsk tsk... "

"You know, if you really have a death wish, I can take you to my territory right now!"

"Calm down, there's no need to get so worked up! I know you're obsessed with me, but I just don't swing that way. Didn't you see my phone just now? Take a look over here, that's my son!"

The two of them drank until 4 AM.

Qin Ye's alcohol tolerance wasn't that great to begin with, and he finally bade farewell to Lin Han. Seeing as both of them were in the Insignia Province, there would be plenty of time for them to catch up in the future. Upon his departure, Qin Ye shook his own head vigorously, and he felt like he had forgotten something.

What exactly was it?

Qin Ye made his way back to the Special Investigation Department building, and upon seeing the luxury car and the well-dressed bodyguard standing next to it, he was immediately jolted out of his drunken state.

Holy shit! I forgot about Her Excellency, Lee Jung-sook! 

She had been a great friend, coming with him to the central business area, yet he had ditched her here to drink beer with an idiot for several hours!

Holy shit... It looks like stupidity really is contagious! 

Under normal circumstances, shouldn't he have been sipping on cocktails with the exquisite beauty who had accompanied him here? Why was it that he had spent an entire night drinking beer and eating kebabs with a married man?!

"Mr. Qin." Just as he was still reeling from panic, the bodyguard made his way over to him in a respectful manner, then said with a smile, "Madam Lee had some other matters to attend to, so she left early."

"On top of that, she asked me to pass on a message to you..." A slightly awkward look appeared on his face as he spoke. 

Qin Ye worked up his courage and prompted, "It's alright, go ahead, I can handle it..."

"In that case, please pardon my rudeness..." The bodyguard cleared his throat before putting on a stern expression. "You can fuck right off!! Don't contact me within the next three years! If you even so much as set foot in Samsung, I'll have you shot on the spot!!!"