Chapter 85: Ten Fingers Intertwined

Ten fingers intertwined—a sentiment unlike any other. As the seconds slipped by, the chill lingering at her fingertips dispelled all the unease in her heart. Suddenly, Lady Luo seemed to realize something and gently withdrew her hand.

Their eyes met, and in an instant, they each caught a fleeting hint of tension flickering in the other’s seemingly calm gaze.

Lady Luo lowered her eyes, avoiding the bewildering and enigmatic look that unsettled her so. In that moment, as she let go, her fingertips trembled uncontrollably. This tiny movement rippled through her heart, stirring the faintest of feelings. The abnormal pounding of her heart made her all the more reluctant to meet the Underworld King’s gaze; she could only avert her eyes and try to calm herself, as if in flight.

The ruler of the Underworld, the proud and powerful Lord of Shadows—now, he found himself unable to quell his sense of loss. When Lady Luo withdrew her hand, it felt as though all warmth had suddenly deserted him.

Never before had he imagined that he would one day crave warmth. In a world of relentless cold, he had become accustomed to the chill. But in that instant, when her hand left his, he found himself yearning once more for that unimaginable sensation.

Night’s embrace deepened the silence of the Baili Mountains, painting the world in dreamlike hues.

Though Lady Luo and the Underworld King composed themselves and seemed as serene as ever, only they knew that beneath that calm exterior, an indefinable bond had formed—a thread, invisible, yet unbreakable, winding them inexorably together.

Their meeting felt fated, as though two parallel lines had, in some mysterious space, bent toward one another, their paths crossing where none should have met. Perhaps this encounter was but a jest of destiny, or perhaps some inscrutable design; no one could change it.

Lady Luo had returned to her usual composure; the disturbance that once clouded her eyes was gone. She was once again the goddess sovereign of the mortal realm.

The Underworld King, too, had resumed his former poise. In his deep, tranquil gaze, there was no sign of emotion—like the silent night, present everywhere yet impossible to grasp.

All that had transpired between them seemed nothing more than a dream; now, they were once more the lofty and untouchable gods.

The gateway to the netherworld had vanished, leaving only the faintest traces to mark its former existence. With the collapse of the underground world, all its secrets had been buried, leaving only endless speculation.

Lady Luo’s gaze lingered on that mysterious entrance. She could no longer pursue the truths it once guarded. Most questions had been answered, yet the final, enigmatic vision still eluded her understanding. That scene had unsettled both her and the Underworld King—what earth-shattering secret could move them both at once?

That, Lady Luo could not know. Perhaps one day, she would learn the answer; perhaps it would remain an eternal mystery.

The Baili Mountains had long since returned to tranquility, stretching into the distance beneath the night sky. At the foot of the mountains, Baili City slumbered, wrapped in darkness.

Time flowed swiftly. Night could not forestall the coming of dawn. Within the city, people slowly woke from their dreams—a new day was about to begin.

As the first rays of sunlight broke through, Lady Luo greeted the dawn, bidding farewell to an unforgettable day.

What surprised her was that the Underworld King had not left. He stood in the sunlight, exuding an aura unlike any she had seen before.

Gone was the coldness of night; in its place was a subtle mystery—a radiance born from the perfect union of light and shadow.

The Netherworld Butterfly, too, remained perched quietly on the Underworld King’s shoulder, watching Lady Luo in silence.

Since leaving the netherworld, the butterfly had been utterly still, making no sound, yet it never left. It had witnessed the unspoken change between Lady Luo and the Underworld King, bearing silent witness to that most precious moment of encounter.

Lady Luo needed to return to Baili City, and to her surprise, the Underworld King did not return to his realm but accompanied her instead. No one in the city could have imagined that the master of the dead would walk beneath the sun.

A new day began at the Baili Inn. The attendant bustled about early, opening the doors to welcome travelers from far and wide.

From a distance, he saw the mysterious woman in red approaching. The innkeeper had warned him not to pay her too much heed, yet he could not help but notice her every move—what he discovered only deepened his astonishment.

Her mystery, her unpredictable comings and goings, her bearing and poise, her enigmatic companion—all pointed to her exalted status. And today, her companion was a man dressed in black.

As they drew near, the attendant could not make out the Underworld King’s features, only sensing an overwhelming, suffocating presence.

Their figures came closer and closer, and when the attendant finally glimpsed the Underworld King’s eyes, he hastily lowered his head.

One glance—just one—was enough to make him feel as though he had plummeted into a bottomless abyss, all hope stripped away, leaving only bone-deep terror. The aura of the man in black was fearsome beyond compare.

If the woman in red brought vitality and hope, the man in black was the harbinger of endless death.

Even after they entered the inn, the attendant dared not look at the Underworld King directly. Instead, he watched Lady Luo, the woman who, with a single glance, could fill him with hope.

The Underworld King’s arrival caused everyone in the inn to lower their heads in unison. Lady Luo, perplexed, observed the scene. Both she and the Underworld King had already masked their auras—there was no reason for anyone to suspect their identities. After all, who would expect the master of the dead to appear in the sunlight?

Lady Luo sat at her usual spot—the inn’s best vantage point from which she could observe the city’s changes.

At last, the Underworld King withdrew his gaze from the room, turning his back on the crowd. Only his silhouette remained, yet even that was enough to make everyone silently exhale, releasing their pent-up fear.

Even with just his back to them, his imposing presence was inescapable.

Lady Luo glanced around, understanding at last. No matter how the Underworld King changed, he could never hide the innate majesty and suffocating power that were his birthright.

Yet this inn was a place where Lady Luo could gather the information she needed about the city’s true state. Fortunately, people gradually grew accustomed to the Underworld King’s presence.

When a powerful figure appears, people are first surprised, and some might even think to challenge him. But when someone of unimaginable power arrives, all they can do is gaze up in awe. And when such a being remains quietly apart, neither inviting challenge nor allowing approach, the only option is to watch from afar.

This was now the role the Underworld King played in their hearts. All knew his strength, but thankfully, none dared provoke him. Nor did the Underworld King pay any heed to their astonished stares; the atmosphere in the inn, for now, remained normal.

People sneaked glances at him, and seeing that he cared nothing for their affairs, they relaxed. After all, should such a being take issue with them, it would mean certain doom. But as things stood, with no threat to their lives, their attention slowly drifted from the Underworld King.

The attendant brought Lady Luo her usual water, then retreated to one side. As expected, peculiar tastes proved contagious—the mysterious man in black also ordered a glass of water.

Strange people, strange companions. The attendant busied himself at the door, all the while sneaking glances at the Underworld King. He dared not look him in the eye—those eyes were too deep, as if a single glance could shatter every hope he possessed. He could only circle the man with his gaze, wondering about this new arrival.

Why were so many unusual people appearing in the city? They seemed entirely ordinary, yet no matter how they tried to blend in, there was a brilliance about them no mortal could possess. Once more, the attendant thought of the gods—perhaps only the lofty immortals bore such a presence.

What he could not imagine was that this man was none other than the ruler of the Underworld. Nor could he fathom that the Lord of Shadows would set foot in the inn. If word of his presence spread, Baili City would surely empty in a heartbeat.

There is a primal fear of death in all people. No matter how mighty or arrogant one might have been in life, when death arrives, all meet the same fate, suffering pains the living cannot endure. As a soul, one bears the torment of never seeing light again.

The Underworld King never expected his presence would so shake the people. He cared nothing for their affairs; perhaps only Lady Luo had the power to move his heart.

He could not explain why he lingered at the inn. When he learned Lady Luo planned to remain in Baili City, he found he did not wish to return to the underworld—instead, he chose to appear beneath the sun.

Everything felt utterly changed. He noticed the shocked stares of the people, but as no one dared challenge him, why should he care about the attention of mortals?

Gazing at the glass of water before him, the Underworld King recalled that day on Sunset Mountain, sitting quietly just as he was now, when he first met Lady Luo. It was then she entered his life, altering its course in an unexpected way.

In the clear water, he saw his own reflection—everything was a fresh discovery. Never had he imagined he would one day sit like an ordinary man, on a morning such as this, quietly watching his own reflection.

His image in the water was almost commonplace, yet there was a trace of change in his features—a little less severity, a little more warmth in his eyes. This subtle transformation made the Underworld King feel strangely unfamiliar to himself.