Chapter 143: Thrown Out!

The patrolling Underworld Guards were unaccustomed to seeing the Right Protector in such high spirits.

However, the moment Liu Yun arrived at the Palace of the Nether Lord with Shangguan Liqian and spotted the masked Left Protector standing by the entrance, the joy on her face vanished instantly.

Am I not working hard enough? Why is the Nether Lord still seeing the Left Protector!

That woman didn’t even dare to show her face; she was probably an eyesore. Surely the Nether Lord didn’t favor the Left Protector more than her, right?

While Liu Yun was drowning in resentment, Feng Liuli was observing her every move through the eyes of her clone.

Seeing Liu Yun’s joy replaced by such visible sulking, Feng Liuli—seated upon her throne—let out a soft chuckle. She manipulated her clone to step forward, blocking Liu Yun’s path into the hall.

Liu Yun, who already disliked the Left Protector, rested her hand on the hilt of the sword at her waist. Before she could speak, the “Left Protector” in front of her spoke up with an air of smug triumph.

“The Nether Lord has only summoned Miss Shangguan. As for the Right Protector…” The Left Protector paused, appearing to deliberate on how best to provoke her.

Liu Yun couldn’t stand this “petty person in power” act. She let out a cold snort. “Spit it out!”

Inside the hall, the corner of Feng Liuli’s mouth twitched. Nevertheless, she played the role of the Left Protector to the hilt, maintaining her usual arrogant and overbearing tone. “The Nether Lord’s orders: the Right Protector is not to be seen for one month.”

A flash of confusion crossed Liu Yun’s eyes. She instinctively replied, “Hasn’t it already been over a month?”

Seeing that Liu Yun still hadn’t realized where she had gone wrong, Feng Liuli’s temper flared. On the throne, she accidentally snapped off a stone chi-head carving from the armrest.

“Then make it another month,” she commanded coldly through the clone.

Liu Yun looked at the Left Protector, who seemed practically ready to fume with rage. She instinctively took two steps back, yet she still kept her neck stiff as she shouted, “I don’t believe you! I want to ask the Nether Lord personally!”

The “Left Protector” before her sharpened her expression, scolding her. “Impudent! The Right Protector dares to defy the Nether Lord’s decree? Do you wish for a taste of the Blood Pool?”

Liu Yun trembled with rage, yet she truly didn’t dare to defy the Nether Lord’s will.

Spotting Shangguan Liqian, who had yet to enter the hall, Liu Yun acted as if she had found a life-saving straw. Her voice carried a heavy note of pleading. “Miss Shangguan, please, help me ask if the Nether Lord truly refuses to see me.”

Shangguan Liqian, who had been ignored by the two for quite some time, didn’t hesitate much when she heard the plea. She gave a nod. “Fine.”

Since she had guessed that the one who secretly helped her was the Right Protector, she naturally had to return the favor.

Inside the hall, Feng Liuli was nearly driven to laughter by Liu Yun’s blockheadedness.

Can’t she just come in and ask herself? She lacks the courage for even this, and yet before… where did she find the nerve to do those things?

Liu Yun: Blinded by jealousy, muddled by lust…

The sound of the palace doors being pushed open interrupted the complex emotions in Feng Liuli’s eyes. With a long sigh, she sat up straight on her throne—a rare show of formality.

Having learned from her previous experience, Shangguan Liqian kept her head bowed low the moment she entered. She had absolutely no desire to see something she shouldn’t.

Feng Liuli, who had just calmed her heart: “…”

Am I really that terrifying?

“Raise your head!” Feng Liuli commanded coldly, suppressing a stomach full of irritation.

Shangguan Liqian frowned. Realizing she still needed the Nether Lord’s help, she could only compromise and look up.

Seeing the Nether Lord fully and neatly dressed, Shangguan Liqian felt a brief moment of disorientation. After a second of stunned silence, she let out a long sigh of relief in her heart.

Thank goodness she’s wearing clothes. If that jealous woman found out otherwise, there would be hell to pay.

At the thought of Luo Wushuang, a look of doting affection surfaced in Shangguan Liqian’s eyes, followed by a wave of deep longing.

They hadn’t seen each other for several months. Was Wushuang doing well?

There is no need to worry about the wedding. Time flows differently in the Nether Realm than in the mortal world; there is still time…

After a brief moment of sentimentality, Shangguan Liqian quickly composed herself. She carefully drew the Colorful Leaf Grass—the item she had braved so many hardships to obtain—from her robes.

Seated upon her throne, Feng Liuli watched the plant in Shangguan Liqian’s hand, a flash of satisfaction crossing her eyes.

It seemed her sister’s sacrifice of enduring a hundred cycles of reincarnation wasn’t in vain. This woman did have a conscience after all.

“Since you have brought the Colorful Leaf Grass, this Sovereign will not go back on her word. I shall ensure that Luo Wushuang’s soul remains unharmed.”

A wave of gratitude washed over Shangguan Liqian’s face. She spoke respectfully, “My deepest thanks to the Nether Lord for your assistance!”

Just as she finished speaking, her knees suddenly went weak. Her body pitched forward, falling straight toward Feng Liuli.

Before her knees could hit the ground, Feng Liuli raised her hand slightly. A wisp of pure Nether energy emerged from her fingertips, halting Shangguan Liqian’s fall mid-air.

“Enough. It is a simple matter; there is no need for such grand gestures.”

Shangguan Liqian frowned. She hadn’t intended to kneel, but her legs had suddenly lost all control.

As Feng Liuli retracted the Nether energy, Shangguan Liqian’s suspicions were confirmed. Slumping weakly to the floor, she looked up at the throne with a bitter smile. “It seems I can no longer control my legs.”

Feng Liuli acted as if she had only just noticed. She glanced at Shangguan’s legs with feigned confusion, then let out a soft sigh.

“Alas… You waded through the River of Forgetfulness and were scorched by Ghost Flames. This is a sign of Vengeful Spirits entering the body. It is quite a troublesome matter to resolve.”

Watching the Nether Lord’s performative hesitation, and thinking of Wushuang’s own “weakness,” Shangguan Liqian had a fairly good guess of what was happening.

This Nether Lord… did she purposely turn me into this?

But why?

Shangguan Liqian furrowed her brows. She wondered if the Nether Lord was dissatisfied with her being with Wushuang and was trying to drive a wedge between them, or if there was another reason…

For example, did she want something? Was there something Shangguan needed to do?

As she pondered, Feng Liuli sighed again and spoke.

“However, when this Sovereign was in the human realm, I heard that there is a high monk at the Rakshasa Ancient Temple who is most skilled in such matters. Perhaps you can try your luck there after you return.”

Rakshasa Ancient Temple? Isn’t that the place Master Yujing mentioned in his letter?

Shangguan Liqian was stunned for a moment, but she quickly realized the truth. Was the Nether Lord using Master Yujing to tell her what she needed to do?

Seeing that Shangguan had understood her intent, Feng Liuli nodded in satisfaction and offered a hollow comfort. “Your legs are not incurable. There is no need to grieve over it.”

With a casual wave of her hand, the injuries Shangguan Liqian had sustained from the Ghost Flames were mostly healed.

This only served to cement Shangguan’s suspicions.

Even though she had vaguely guessed Feng Liuli’s scheme, considering the woman had agreed to heal Wushuang’s soul, Shangguan Liqian still spoke with gratitude. “Thank you for the guidance, Nether Lord!”

Remembering the message the Right Protector had asked her to deliver, Shangguan Liqian quickly added, “Before I entered, the Right Protector asked me to inquire if you truly refuse to see her?”

Upon hearing this, Feng Liuli’s expression instantly turned frigid. “That is a matter between this Sovereign and the Right Protector. It is not your place to ask.”

Having said that, her finger tapped the air a few times, opening a passage between the Nether Realm and the human world. Without another word, she unceremoniously threw the woman out.

Shangguan Liqian: “…”

That shitty attitude is no better than Wushuang’s. No wonder those two are sisters!