Yama Rising

Chapter 193: Global Underworld Summit

“You can try.” He locked eyes with the crimson eye in the sky as he muttered placidly.

The eye stared intently at Qin Ye, as though it were attempting to discern whether there was any pretension in his voice. Seconds later, the eye swept a glance across the microcosm of Hell, “With you guys?”

Silence again.

Several moments later, Thanatos finally smiled, “Perhaps we might all have underestimated the depths of Hell’s abilities.”

Qin Ye’s eyes gleamed, while Arthis immediately barked under her breath, “Reject him! All trade envoys and emissaries are unable to enter Cathay without Yanluo’s permission. But as soon as you give the nod, they will likely use their trade envoys and emissaries to start probing about at the true extent of Hell’s barrenness!”

Thanatos laughed like muffled thunder, “Simple… open your border to Khan Tengri Peak. We shall jointly create a ghost city that can house ten thousand Yin spirits in a single year’s time… If you agree, my delegation can arrive in Cathay for further discussion in under a month. I wonder what King Qin thinks of this suggestion?”

“Oh?” Almost as though he didn’t mind it, Thanatos chuckled softly, “Why?”

“Haha…” Thanatos didn’t say much more. Then, it was only when the illusory projection in the air began to fade away that he left his parting words, “Mr Gu was a soul I had wanted to obtain at any cost. Talents like these… have been seized away from us by you far too many times now. It’s about time to repay these debts with interest… You’ve managed to reap his soul… but I hope you’ve got what it takes to keep it in Hell…”

Whoosh… As he vanished, the pressure lifted from Hell instantly, as though it had never existed at all.

Nobody dared to discuss these affairs openly. The Yin spirits slowly rose to their feet once more and began to discuss in whispers. Qin Ye shut his eyes and wiped off the sweat from his forehead as he heaved a long sigh of relief. Then he pressed his hand over his pounding chest as he glanced at Arthis once more, “The global underworld summit? What’s that? Could you please explain it to me?”

Qin Ye’s brows were knitted together so tightly that they could probably squash a mosquito. Moments later, he sighed wistfully and chuckled bitterly, “What’s all this about…”

This was earth.

Like the rest of the world, underworlds had territories and subjects. And just like the rest of the mortal realm, each and every underworld had its own sets of interests and exchanges.

Since he was aware of the territorial boundaries between the underworld, something like this should have occurred to him.

“For instance, it’s not uncommon to hear of systems of gods vanishing completely. Their territory would become unclaimed lands, and the ownership over these lands would shift drastically every decade or so. Whenever that happens, the gods of the underworlds and their representatives would meet for discussions and demonstrate the power of their states. For further instance, there’s also discussions on the evolution of Yin spirit, or the trade lines between the underworlds and the mortal realms, etc… It’s practically everything you can think of, and more. Whenever something extraordinary occurs, you can count on it that there would be a discussion amongst delegations of states.”

Qin Ye made a ‘stop’ gesture. His heart was already on the verge of collapse, and the corners of his lips twitched uncontrollably as he interjected, “Why haven’t I received any notifications on these things? There should at least be some official correspondence with other underworlds, shouldn’t there?”

Qin Ye thought aloud, “And if we don’t respond?”

I guess these are all part of the ‘else’ to consider…

“And if memory serves me well, next year should be the Global Underworld Argosian Arts Festival. When all is said and done, every event like this is an opportunity for the great underworlds to compete in strength. The weak don’t participate. If you want the other underworlds to forgo any inappropriate intentions they have towards Cathay, you’ll have to strengthen your own abilities.”

Doesn’t an arts festival have nothing to do with strength in the first place?

Only Yin spirits who are well fed and strong would be in the mood for the arts. As things are right now, how could Qin Ye possibly interest his citizens in the arts?

Hell is so impoverished that I’m practically on the verge of selling my ass for cash, and you’re talking to me about the arts?!

“And Mr Gu Qing is the most important card we have in our hands right now.”

“Our efforts to seize him back from the clutches of extraterritorial emissaries wouldn’t have been in vain.” She bowed gently and used the most sincere and genuine voice to address Gu Qing, “Mr Gu, welcome to Hell.”

The reconstruction of Hell was an immensely complex project. There were no amenities to speak of as yet. The first priority was to provide everyone with the most basic necessity of lodging.

Gu Qing was a balding old man.

He didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he glanced about his surroundings, taking everything in slowly, before finally turning around and chuckling bitterly, “I… guess I’m really dead.”

“I understand.” Gu Qing suddenly smiled, and then sighed again, “That’s right… This is all part and parcel of the natural laws. I’ve lived for a long time, and I’ve achieved a lot in my time. There’s really nothing to be regretful about. The two of you must be… the fabled Emissaries of Hell?”

Gu Qing stared at Qin Ye suspiciously.

But he knew he couldn’t refuse.

The soul induction platform and Hell’s Gate were the only two structures around, as far as the eyes could see. The rest of the surroundings looked no different from the wilderness.

People.

And they were all idling around under trees, either chatting or resting… Hell reeked of lethargy and inactivity wherever he looked, and it was particularly… simple.

“Mr Gu.” After walking about for approximately ten minutes, Qin Ye smiled and quipped, “I’ve heard of your achievements in the mortal realm. You’ve even participated in the construction projects in Alkebulan cities? I’d like to know what level of urban planning was involved.”

“Tell me more.”

Perhaps it was because he was talking about his profession, but he was ostensibly more outspoken than before. He even raised an eyebrow and started pointing at various places around Hell, “Like here, for example. If we’re to establish a city here, we would have to consider the long-term developmental plans, such as whether there are any natural resources to be tapped on? And if there are no natural resources and no means of developing a thriving tourism industry, the city’s development can only fall back to the light and heavy industries. As far as heavy industries are concerned, we can consider whether there are any mines in the near vicinity. And where light industries are concerned, it would depend entirely on the governmental policies.”

He paused abruptly as soon as he said that. And then, he blinked his eyes blankly then turned to look at Qin Ye with a gasp.

It suddenly dawned on him why the Emissaries of Hell were being so courteous to him.

1. The bird.