The Great Tang Dynasty, Chang’an City.
A middle-aged man with fair skin and a long beard, his face gentle and kind, arrived at a courtyard.
The middle-aged man looked around, seeing no one nearby.
He quickly reached out to push open a corner gate, slipping inside.
“Sir, please put on the mask and follow me!”
A servant who had been waiting for a long time behind the door bowed slightly, handing a black mask to him.
The middle-aged man took the mask and skillfully put it on, mumbling in a muffled voice.
“What’s the point of all this secrecy, it’s a real hassle!”
The servant didn’t respond to the middle-aged man’s complaint.
The middle-aged man, knowing the servant’s personality, naturally placed his hand on his shoulder.
Led by the servant, they meandered for a quarter of an hour.
Finally, the middle-aged man had his mask removed and was given a mask of the Grim Reaper.
The servant then revealed a secret passage and instructed the middle-aged man to enter.
“Didn’t they say it would be completely silent for the next two years? Why are we being called back so soon?”
The middle-aged man walked through the underground passage, arriving at a hidden room.
Seeing that the tables were almost full, he asked in a deep voice.
Before anyone could respond, the middle-aged man took his seat at the third position on the right.
“Heh, what else could it be, someone must have messed up!”
The person at the head of the table on the left, wearing a Yama mask, sneered.
Hearing the left-hand man’s ridicule, no one dared to speak.
There were a total of ten tables in the room. The two at the head were empty.
There were four tables on each side, and seven people were already seated.
The table at the head on the right was still empty, its owner had yet to arrive.
However, they didn’t have to wait long, a gray-clothed man with a little devil mask walked in.
He didn’t hesitate, walking directly to the first table on the right.
As soon as he sat down, the little devil mask directly launched into a tirade.
“Back then, we formed this alliance to deal with the emperor’s purge.
Now, the emperor, without holding a grudge, is still willing to use us and hasn’t pursued the past.
So, why are you calling us here? Are you planning a rebellion?”
Hearing this, everyone looked towards the Yama mask.
Among the people present, only the Yama mask and the little devil mask knew everyone's identities.
The Yama mask shifted his position, grumbling in an annoyed tone.
“Hmph, it wasn’t me who sent the message, why are you looking at me!”
“It wasn’t you, it wasn’t me, could it be Prince Qi?”
The little devil mask sneered, glancing at the two empty tables at the head of the room with a hint of sarcasm.
Those were the seats of the former Crown Prince Li Jiancheng and Prince Qi Li Yuanji.
However, these two chairs, these two individuals, never sat on them once.
Because when this alliance was formed, Li Er had already eliminated them.
“Hehehe, it seems General Xue still remembers this king!”
Black mist surged, and a figure with a pale complexion but undeniable handsomeness materialized at the head table on the right.
On the left, another figure appeared silently, his face white and emanating an aura of authority.
Instantly, the temperature in the room dropped by three degrees.
Swish!
Everyone present instantly stood up, looking in disbelief at the two who suddenly appeared at the head table.
“Yuanji, don’t be rude!”
The former Crown Prince Li Jiancheng stood up from the left-hand head table and bowed to everyone.
“It’s been a long time, everyone. I offer my respects!”
Everyone looked at each other. Given their status, they naturally knew that ghosts existed in this world.
But ghosts, those who belonged to the underworld, were under the jurisdiction of the Underworld.
If they returned to the mortal realm from the Underworld, it would be a violation of Heaven’s laws.
“Your Highness, your respects are received!”
Facing Li Jiancheng’s bow, everyone naturally didn’t dare to be disrespectful and immediately returned the gesture.
Seeing this, Li Yuanji stood up indignantly and also bowed.
Li Jiancheng then managed a stiff smile and said.
“This time, I’m the one who called you all here. You’ve been working hard to gather incense and offerings for me.
I’m eternally grateful. However, my second brother has discovered this matter.
So, those who need to leave, should leave. Don’t let my second brother find out about our involvement!”
Hearing Li Jiancheng’s words, the middle-aged scholar who had just arrived glanced at everyone.
Unfortunately, the masks prevented him from seeing any changes in their expressions.
“Your Highness, are you back because of this matter?”
The little devil mask looked up, unafraid, and asked.
“Heh, after all, you guys followed me for a while. How could I possibly frame you?”
After saying that, Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji exchanged glances, and black mist erupted once more.
Their figures instantly disappeared.
For a moment, the room was quiet.
After a long time, the Yama mask’s voice, raspy and rough, came out.
“What do you think, what are the two princes’ reasons for returning?”
No one was stupid. They didn’t believe Li Jiancheng’s explanation.
But apart from this matter, Li Jiancheng didn’t say anything else.
“Heh, whatever the reason, it’s none of my business.
From today onwards, I’m quitting this broken alliance.
As a final piece of advice, the emperor’s throne is firmly established. Don’t overstep your bounds!”
Everyone looked at each other speechless, and they all left through different passages one after another.
After a while, black mist surged again.
“Brother, do you think any of them will go to the palace to report?”
“Whether it’s one or a hundred, we’ve already achieved our goal, haven’t we!”
“Hahaha, Big Brother is brilliant!
But Big Brother, how do we deal with the bastard who exposed our incense and offerings?”
“After we finish what the Bodhisattva has entrusted us with, you can do whatever you want!”
At this moment, Chen Fan, completely unaware of the ghost king he had offended in Zhaojia Village, looked at the black smoke rising from the clay kiln with a worried expression and sighed.
“This thing, will it really produce karma?”
“Of course!”
Next to Chen Fan, Nezha was also squatting on the ground with a worried frown.
Chen Fan scratched his head and sighed.
“If that’s the case, we can only accumulate more merit!”