Chapter 1699: Tricking Two Groups

Zhao Yun had left, and Qin Mengyao had also departed, wandering in a daze with endless tears streaming down her face, her tear-streaked cheeks exceptionally beautiful in their sorrow.

Ah! Ye Chen let out a sigh. This parting was truly heartbreaking.

It was as if fate had played a cruel trick. What should have been a beautiful romance had been completely shattered, leaving behind only pathetic memories.

"You have three days. After three days, I will send you to the Liu Dao Wheel of Reincarnation."

"Understood." Ye Chen bowed respectfully and turned to leave.

He didn't return to Gui Cheng but ascended to Yanluo Hall. Since he would be leaving in three days, he wanted to bid farewell to the judge.

Thinking back, that judge had treated him rather well.

For the umpteenth time, he arrived before Yanluo Hall, gazing at the characters "Yanluo Hall" and falling into a trance, his thoughts drifting.

A year ago, when he first came to this hall, he was just a wandering soul.

He had been randomly assigned to the animal path. Recalling it now still brought a smile to his face. That Book of Life and Death had indeed given him some face.

"Greetings, Ancient Ming General." The guarding ghost kings bowed respectfully.

Ye Chen smiled and rewarded them with several hundred Ming Shi before stepping inside.

As soon as he entered, he saw the judge and the Black and White Impermanence seated in the hall with a table, a plate of peanuts, and a jug of rough wine.

Ye Chen's mouth twitched. The three of them sharing one jug of wine and a plate of peanuts – how frugally were they living? No wages, apparently?

"Oh ho, what a rare visitor!" Seeing Ye Chen enter, the judge glanced over and popped a peanut into his mouth.

"Just dropping by to see if you're still alive." Ye Chen made himself right at home, pulling up a stool and sitting down.

This guy was quite bold. He grabbed the plate of peanuts with one hand, leaving barely any, and stuffed them all into his mouth.

Then, in one gulp, he downed the entire jug of wine.

The judge and the Black and White Impermanence's faces instantly darkened. You rascal, so presumptuous and lacking respect.

"Don't sweat the small stuff." Ye Chen immediately waved it off.

With that, a wine vat appeared to his left, and a sack of peanuts to his right – generous portions, showing his extravagance.

"Come on, let's keep going." Ye Chen set out three large bowls.

"Now you're talking." The judge and the Black and White Impermanence were pleased.

"In three days, I'll be leaving, so today I'm here to say goodbye," Ye Chen said, filling their bowls again.

"No wonder you're being so generous." The three of them sighed in unison.

"Who knows if we'll meet again after you leave? I still remember how green I was when I first came to the Ming Realm."

"In the blink of an eye, you're going, and it feels a bit sad."

Ye Chen spoke with a mix of melancholy, sighing, and emotion.

But the judge and the Impermanence just clinked their cups and drank leisurely, not even listening. You go on with your story; we'll stick to our drinks.

They even added fuel to the fire. Did you wander into the wrong scene, buddy?

Ye Chen's face darkened too, a moment of big awkwardness.

The judge and the Impermanence, however, were amused. They always felt inexplicably happy seeing Ye Chen embarrassed. What can you do? It just made them want to laugh.

But to be serious, the young man in front of them was truly remarkable, having created quite a few myths that left people in awe.

Not to mention anything else, just like the battle at Xiuluo Sea before.

His combat prowess was plain to see. Even after fusing with the ultimate Dao emperor weapon, his power still surpassed that of Yanluo.

He had slain countless enemies, making even these old-timers feel ashamed.

The atmosphere gradually warmed up. Ye Chen's wine was strong, and without using any mystical powers to counteract it, the four of them were soon flushed and boisterous.

The noise of their rowdy chatter echoed through the hall and beyond.

They were all pretty drunk, arms around each other's shoulders, calling one another brothers, and the guarding ghost kings outside couldn't help but perk up their ears.

Sometime later, Ye Chen finally stood up, staggering out of the hall. Before leaving, he tossed them some more money.

Behind him, the judge and the Impermanence quickly sobered up.

Don't say it, but watching Ye Chen's departing figure, they really felt a bit reluctant. Without this lively one around, things would be a lot less fun.

"What a character!" The judge let out a long breath, shaking his head with a smile.

"Do you feel... it's getting a bit hot?" Hei Wuchang wiped his forehead, sweat kept seeping out no matter how he wiped.

"It really is." Bai Wuchang loosened his collar.

"Why is my head still spinning?" The judge clutched his head, swaying in place, feeling completely dizzy.

In just three to five seconds, the three of them had faces as red as could be.

That wasn't the main thing, though. More importantly, a strange sensation hit them: a bizarre heat was rising rapidly.

And they suddenly had an overwhelming urge to find a woman and go to bed.

The three exchanged glances, their red faces instantly turning black as coal, as if they had figured out what was going on.

This wasn't just from drinking too much. Damn it, they'd been drugged.

The question was, who did it? Obviously, it was that scoundrel Ye Chen. The wine he brought must have been tampered with.

"Ye Chen, go to hell!" The judge stormed out of the hall.

Hei Wuchang and Bai Wuchang weren't far behind, following suit.

However, the three didn't go after Ye Chen. Instead, each headed to their own residences, back to their homes, to find their own wives.

On Ye Chen's end, he was in high spirits, humming a tune as he went.

Even from a distance, he could still hear the three cursing up a storm.

Not bad. It was him who had spiked the drinks, using a specialty from the first hall, and he'd poured in a whole basin to make sure it was potent.

As for himself, he'd taken a pill beforehand, one he'd specially refined to counter aphrodisiacs – his exclusive formula.

"Clever me." The guy chuckled slyly, looking quite lecherous.

He could already imagine the judge and the Black and White Impermanence with their darkened faces, and the earth-shaking scenes when they got to bed with their wives.

As he walked, he reached the checkpoint of Huangquan Road and, after thinking it over, decided to say goodbye to Meng Po as well.

"Greetings to the Ming General." The guarding ghost kings were very respectful.

"Take this for drinks." Ye Chen handed each of them a storage bag.

The two ghost kings were delighted. Ye Chen had always been good to them, rewarding them generously every visit.

Ye Chen had already entered the checkpoint, stepping onto Huangquan Road one step at a time.

At the head of Naihe Bridge, Meng Po stood quietly, like a statue, dutifully at her post – unlike Chu Ling, who was always snacking on sunflower seeds.

"This junior, Ye Chen, greets the senior." Ye Chen stepped forward and bowed respectfully. He held Meng Po in high regard.

"The world is full of hardships; it's regrettable." Meng Po smiled kindly, her words indicating she already knew about Ye Chen and Chu Ling.

"I've let it go." Ye Chen smiled, calm and without joy or sorrow.

Mentioning Chu Ling no longer brought him pain. Letting go meant truly letting go, though the process had been cruel and tearful.

"Love – it's so hard to fathom." Meng Po couldn't help but sigh.

"This time, this junior is here to say goodbye." Ye Chen chuckled. "And, while I'm at it, to ask for another bowl of Meng Po Soup from you."

Meng Po smiled warmly and waved her hand, producing a bowl of Meng Po Soup.

Ye Chen took the bowl and drank it all in one gulp. The soup of forgetfulness was as bitter as ever, infused with all the world's sufferings.

"Just one bowl; there isn't more." Meng Po took back the bowl.

Ye Chen gave a dry laugh. Meng Po had probably been tricked one too many times. Back in the day, he'd downed over a hundred bowls, which had even drawn the Ten Kings of Yanluo, causing quite the commotion.

"Go on! Set off clean and clear." Meng Po gestured.

Ye Chen said nothing, bowed once more, and gradually walked away.

After leaving Huangquan Road, he still didn't return to Gui Cheng but went to the First Yanluo Hall to drink with the nine great Ming Generals.

Once he left, the nine Ming Generals came tumbling out.

Then, they all scattered to their homes – those with wives went to their wives, and those without headed to the brothels. As long as there were women, things would work out.

Curses echoed through the Ming Realm, specifically calling out Ye Chen by name.

That's right. Ye Chen had given those nine the same special treatment from the first hall, and the effects were fiercely strong, straight to the extreme.

Having pitted two groups, Ye Chen finally settled down.

On the vast expanse of land, he wandered aimlessly. The Ming Realm was immense, vast and boundless, and it might take ten thousand years to traverse it all.

Three days felt incredibly long to him.

He had no attachments left to the Ming Realm. He just wanted to get home quickly – a year felt like ten million years, missing his homeland and its people.