Mo Chuan retracted the translator ghost and then looked at the skeletal sword and skull.
Listening to the old ghost's meaning…
This thing is a divine artifact?
Mo Chuan, wary of the bizarre and malevolent nature of these items, brought them over using the Netherworld Azure Flame after some consideration. (In his Ghost King state, with his raw strength nearing the ninth rank, Mo Chuan could freely use the Azure Flame, no longer confined to mere system skills.)
Even under the terrifying temperature of the Netherworld Azure Flame, the flesh attached to the evil artifacts merely twisted and struggled, refusing to burn away.
Slowly… wisps of roasted meat "fragrance" began to fill the air.
Since he couldn't handle this thing, others likely wouldn't be able to either.
Mo Chuan directly tossed it into the [Avici Hell] and was about to release the Hundred Ghosts from the lantern for the Hundred Ghosts Night Parade when someone spoke from behind, "Benefactor, lay down your butcher's knife, and you shall attain Buddhahood."
Mo Chuan turned his head and saw Zhang Hanshan and He Lanxin, who had been absorbing ghost energy all the way, approaching.
Upon seeing Mo Chuan's appearance, He Lanxin's expression changed drastically – wasn't this Mo Chuan?
She had learned from her teacher that Mo Chuan was the new Ghost King. She had initially expected this Hundred Ghosts Night Parade to be held by some reckless great demon or minor ghost king, but she never imagined it would be Mo Chuan.
Zhang Hanshan spoke with righteous indignation, "Benefactor! You have committed grave sins by creating this human tragedy. If you turn back now, it is still not too late to redeem yourself."
"???"
Mo Chuan was utterly confused – Zhang Hanshan hadn't been such a "virtuous monk" before.
Seeing this fool's act, Mo Chuan immediately understood – he was pretending, like a pig's nose stuffed into a water pipe.
Since he had to come clean to them eventually, Mo Chuan put away the [Avici Hell] and grappling hook, and walked towards Zhang Hanshan.
The Guardian Generals beside him were about to step forward to protect him, but He Lanxin stopped them and whispered, "Zhang Hanshan is fine. Let's watch a joke."
As Zhang Hanshan watched Mo Chuan gradually approach, he began to feel a bit apprehensive:
Why is this guy so strong?! He's at least eighth rank, right?!
No… I can't chicken out… I'm the esper of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva after all.
Ah!!! – Why aren't the Guardian Generals coming to save me yet!!
Finally, when Zhang Hanshan could clearly feel the oppressive death aura, he couldn't help but look up.
He saw Mo Chuan's pair of crimson eyes quietly looking at him.
"Ah! – I'm not afraid of you!!!" Zhang Hanshan struck Mo Chuan's face with his staff.
The sound of metal impact was unusually crisp in the quiet dawn.
As it happened, Zhang Hanshan had triggered his passive skill [Golden Dragon Subdues Demons], so the magical damage had caused a crack in Mo Chuan's mask.
"Zhang Hanshan."
"Huh?"
"Your skin is itching?"
"Huh???"
Mo Chuan gently took off his mask, revealing his true face.
"Huh??? Brother Chuan? Chuan Chuan Chuan?"
"Lay down your butcher's knife, right?! Attain Buddhahood, right?! Turn back to the shore, right?! You don't usually act up, but now you're putting on a show?"
Mo Chuan had only intended to scare Zhang Hanshan a bit, but this guy had hit him with his staff, costing him over 200 health points. Mo Chuan decided not to hold back, gently tapping Zhang Hanshan's head with his knuckles while lecturing him.
"Stop tapping, Brother Chuan, stop tapping! If you keep tapping, I'll be a Buddha soon!"
…
Finally, the Tokyo coup, which lasted four hours, came to an end.
Mo Chuan, with his absolute strength, decisively crushed the forces of Prince Xuande and quickly installed Prince Hongde, the last surviving legitimate heir of the Neon royal family, on the throne, proclaiming the enthronement of the new Emperor with the reign title Hongren.
On one hand, Emperor Hongren, accompanied by Shuten-doji, attended the funerals of all the officials killed in the coup. On the other hand, Mo Chuan, with Mitsui Wakako, swiftly visited the surviving Chamberlain, Chogen Hyoe, Prime Minister Inukai Tsuyoshi, Minister of Finance and Mitsubishi Group Chairman Tanaka Ichiro, and other remaining zaibatsu politicians. Their objective was singular – to support the new Emperor and pledge allegiance to the Ghost King.
Soon, Mitsui, along with Mitsubishi, Tomoshin, and Sumitomo, the other three major zaibatsu, carved up the real power of the government and the military. Among them, Mitsui firmly held the cabinet organization rights and most of the military power.
However, because Mitsui's family head, Mitsui Matsutoshi, had witnessed Mo Chuan's terrifying power and sworn allegiance, this power was effectively in Mo Chuan's hands.
Coupled with the puppet Emperor Hongren… Mo Chuan directly seized over half of the Neon government's real power.
It could be said that Mo Chuan was the de facto Emperor Emeritus of Neon.
After restoring order in Tokyo, Mo Chuan began to consider his next move – where to go.
Zhang Hanshan didn't plan to return for now, but he provided Mo Chuan with the current situation in Long Country. Mo Chuan reviewed it and pondered each point:
Zhuanxu in the west? After seeing the real situation there, Mo Chuan truly didn't think it could be a place for him to settle.
Sui Ren in the north? Go back to school? Honestly, a considerable portion of the faculty and students at Longjing University had reportedly already left, so it wasn't a viable option either.
The Southeast Alliance? Don't be ridiculous. Mo Chuan was from Qingzhou himself; how could he not know the state of the east?
As it seemed, the north appeared to be a relatively more viable option, at least he could watch over his sister.
While Mo Chuan was lost in thought in the courtyard, a pair of delicate hands gently covered his eyes: "Guess who I am~"
"Jingjing, stop messing around…" Mo Chuan gently stroked Tang Jingjing's small hand and asked, "What's wrong? Where's Roni?"
"She went to eat sashimi," Tang Jingjing sat beside Mo Chuan, leaning her head against his shoulder and asked, "What are you thinking about?"
"Where to go… Even if I've made Neon my puppet, I can't not return to my country…" Mo Chuan looked at the rock garden not far away and said, "Do I have to stay here for a long time?"
"What's the situation like domestically now?" Tang Jingjing didn't pay much attention to this; she generally followed Mo Chuan's lead.
"The latest news is that the Zhuanxu army successfully broke through Hukou and is about to advance into Taiyuan; the Southeast Alliance has been routed by Sui Ren's central army north of the Yellow River in Qingzhou; the Yellow Emperor seems to have not made a decision yet… In short, it's a complete mess. Now, once you choose a place, it's difficult to change it."
"Then what are your plans?"
"If all else fails, I'll go north… At least I can keep an eye on Mo Fei…"
As soon as Mo Chuan finished speaking, Tang Jingjing handed him a letter. The simple envelope bore a vigorous inscription:
"Neon, Tokyo, For Mr. Mo Chuan."