"What is it that we VIP customers cannot see?"
"I just want to know, aren't we about to depart? Why would a [censored] scene appear?"
"Is the live stream glitching? What's so good about the ship's deck? Am I not worthy of seeing the streamer's handsome face?"
The sudden change in the live stream's visuals almost caught the viewers off guard.
When they finally reacted, they were even more confused.
Didn't they just witness, or rather, not witness anything [censored]?
What's going on? Is the streamer okay?
On the Ghost Artifact Ship.
Jiang Lin glanced at the small, round live stream orb that had suddenly flown into the ship, feeling a bit surprised himself.
This little thing usually wanted to peek at everything, being quite nosy.
Why was it suddenly so considerate?
Jiang Lin subtly scanned his surroundings, finding no new developments.
Suddenly,
He seemed to recall something and looked up towards the sky.
He saw a red, imposing figure flying towards them.
"Lord Zhong Kui!"
Li Suo Dang Ran eagerly approached, not expecting Lord Zhong Kui to come to see them off~
He felt delighted.
A Judge?
Sensing the aura emanating from the work ID on Zhong Kui's waist, all the ghost officers on the ship looked over.
Even the ghost officers coming and going at the entrance to the underworld slowed down, turning their attention this way.
They were probably wondering if they should eavesdrop.
As Zhong Kui spoke with Li Suo Dang Ran, Xu Youzhi, along with the ghost officers from the Eastern Palace, drew closer.
They could disregard Li Suo Dang Ran, but the presence of a Judge from the Southern Palace warranted a greeting.
"Lord Zhong Kui."
"Are the members of the Eastern Palace getting along well here?"
Zhong Kui patted Dang Ran's little head and looked over with a smile.
"It's very good," Xu Youzhi replied with a smile.
"The Southern Palace is different from the Eastern Palace; I can learn a lot here, which is quite interesting."
"Then remember to visit often in the future."
As Zhong Kui spoke, he immediately produced several Southern Palace passes and handed them to the ghost officers of the Eastern Palace.
This reaction made Xu Youzhi pause.
Lord Zhong Kui's demeanor suggested he had been waiting to say this very thing and eagerly hand them the passes...
Was it his imagination?
Xu Youzhi: "We will definitely come when we have time."
He thought it was over then.
After all, pleasantries were just a few words.
Unexpectedly, Lord Zhong Kui spoke again, his words leaving the ghost officers of the Eastern Palace stunned.
The gist of his speech was...
He had heard from the seal team members that Xu Youzhi and his colleagues did excellent and professional sealing work, and they could learn a lot from them.
The two palaces could have more exchanges and communication in the future.
He also mentioned that Qin Zhouzhou had great cooking skills, her aromas making mouths water from afar, and that the chefs in the Ghost Market often wanted to learn from her.
He also brought up Hei Wuchang Liu Buwei voluntarily being confined to fight, saying he had a lot of the Southern Palace's style.
And he mentioned Jiang Lin's quick learning and thorough understanding of Southern Palace skills, predicting a bright future for him.
In short, he mentioned all the ghost officers of the Eastern Palace.
During their stay in the Southern Palace, Zhong Kui had never shown himself.
However, judging by his words, he seemed to know everything.
"…?"
At first, Xu Youzhi had been smiling and engaging in a back-and-forth.
You praise us, and we'll praise you.
But as he listened, Xu Youzhi began to feel a sense of unease.
Why was Lord Zhong Kui saying all this?
Moreover, he had a strange feeling...
Was Lord Zhong Kui trying to poach them?
As he was thinking, he heard Zhong Kui laugh heartily, "Why don't you just come and live in the Southern Palace? I think your style fits well with our Southern Palace."
"!!!"
Xu Youzhi's heart skipped a beat, and he looked up sharply.
He was wrong; there was no strange feeling.
Lord Zhong Kui was clearly trying to openly poach from the Eastern Palace!
This, this!
Xu Youzhi was momentarily speechless, his palms sweating.
Lord Zhong Kui, does the King of Hell of the Southern Palace know you're doing this?
Does the King of Hell of the Eastern Palace know?
Is it really okay for you to be so blatant about poaching?
...
In the silence.
Zhong Kui himself broke it, "Hahaha, I'm just saying."
His gaze swept over the ghost officers of the Eastern Palace, "The Southern Palace always welcomes you for exchanges and learning!"
Xu Youzhi: "..." He didn't believe it.
This time, Xu Youzhi dared not offer any more polite remarks like 'The Eastern Palace also welcomes you anytime.'
What if Zhong Kui went directly to the Eastern Palace to poach?
He vaguely responded twice, and after seeing Zhong Kui off, his heart remained unsettled.
"Prepare to depart!"
Xu Youzhi turned around, not wanting to linger for another second, and immediately began to maneuver the Ghost Artifact Ship to lift off.
"Understood!"
Li Suo Dang Ran also quickly took out his newly acquired ghost artifacts—two palm-sized gourds.
As their ghostly energy appeared, they injected it unidirectionally into the gourds.
In a short while, the ghost artifacts transformed into large gourds about a meter long.
The two young ghosts leaped lightly, sitting or standing on the gourds as they pleased.
"Depart!"
As soon as Xu Youzhi's voice fell, the entire Ghost Artifact Ship shot upwards.
Passing through the underworld passage to the mortal realm, it ascended straight into the clouds.
Such speed,
When the two large gourds behind them caught up, the Ghost Artifact Ship had already traveled a considerable distance towards the western lands.
"Brother, why did that old man suddenly change his tune?" He flew as if escaping for his life.
Dang Ran, sitting on the gourd, asked curiously.
He had overheard the conversation between Zhong Kui and the others.
Wasn't it just asking if they wanted to live in the Southern Palace? Friends often say such things, right?
There was nothing wrong with it.
Li Suo stood on the gourd and, after thinking for a moment, said:
"Dang Ran, we are children. We should just listen to what adults say. Their thought processes are different from ours."
Dang Ran tilted his head, pondered for a moment, and nodded, "Brother, you're right!"
They were children, and they didn't care about all that!
As long as they were happy!
The Ghost Artifact Ship traveled at almost full speed for an hour before slightly slowing down.
"Phew~"
Xu Youzhi looked in the direction of the Southern Palace and let out a long sigh.
He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
In that moment, he truly feared that the Southern Palace wouldn't let them leave.
That Lord Zhong Kui really dared to say anything.
He glanced back at his team members behind him. Fortunately, none were missing.
Before departing on this trip, the King of Hell had instructed him to ensure all team members were brought back safely.
If any were stubborn and didn't want to return, they were to be brought back even if their legs were broken.
Especially that Bai Wuchang, he must not be left behind in any other palace.
"..."
Xu Youzhi turned his back and quietly rubbed his somewhat stiff face.
He thought to himself: King of Hell, what should I do if someone else's hoe is too powerful?
...
Southern Palace Underworld
Zhong Kui was sketching on the documents on his desk.
Looking at the various expenses, he sighed.
He would have to be thrifty again in a while.
Should he think of some way to make money?
...