Yama Rising

Chapter 612: Heavenly Curtains

I definitely should not underestimate these first-rate underworlds…

The netherflames in his eyes blazed as he stared intently at Qin Ye. Unfortunately, Qin Ye wasn’t able to give his response right away. In fact, he even hesitated a little - Should I even participate in this?

That’s most certainly going to be a telltale sign that Hell is no more than a barren wasteland right now!

“I’ll convey your suggestions to the upper echelons of Hell in full.” Qin Ye spoke with great sincerity, and then paused for a moment, “But, let’s say we’re actually able to take it--...”

What the hell is a vein of Crystallized Resentment good for anyway?

“And what if there happens to be no souls?” Qin Ye probed deeper, “Since there’s no rush, why don’t we negotiate more with each other and finalize the exact agreement on the distribution before making our move? Besides, we’re talking about wiping out an entire country. Even though the Mongol Empire doesn’t have much of an international presence right now, it’s still better to stick to the proper procedures.”

Yanluo Qin was filled with doubt with all that he had just mentioned - I hope I didn’t say anything wrong there. I guess I’ll have to pick up diplomatic etiquette and some basic knowledge about such political negotiations as soon as I get back. I don’t ever want to languish in such heart-stopping moments ever again…

“Perhaps?” Qin Ye smiled faintly, and clinked glasses with Rumyantsev.

Not even Tengrism could save them from the march of several Yama-Kings, including the Empress’ personal guards as well as the Cossacks Cavalry Regiment!

Meanwhile, Qin Ye wasn’t prepared to tell the six Yin spirits about all that had just transpired. After all, the implications were far too heavy. Not only did they relate to Hell’s international image and regional expansion efforts, it even concerned the possibility of one of Hell’s divine artifacts!

Besides…

It was about time to leave Daehan.

The answer he received surprised him. It was impossible to go by land, because the Array of the Nine Gods was as seamless as it got on land. The only place where gaps even existed was over the seas, and that was the only way he could possibly return to Hell with all of the Yin spirits in tow.

The journey from Hanyang to Jeju took approximately 10 hours. Thereafter, the boat would depart at 9.00 p.m., and would later arrive at 8.00 a.m. in the morning.

Time flew by quickly. Lee Jung-sook didn’t bother sending him off because there were just too many things that she needed to do. Samsung was changing its strategy and shifting its focus, and she naturally had to be there to give oversight to the company. That said, the one thing that she was absolutely right about was the fact that Daehan wasn’t able to do a thing as far as Samsung’s future plans were concerned.

Oooo… With the long blare of the horn, the ship finally departed from the port and began making its way westwards.

By now, the deck was already devoid of people. The surrounding waves lapped against the hull of the ship, while the dim moonlight gleamed like stardust on the ripples in the seas. The crashing waves were loud, but it was also surprisingly tranquil.

“You mentioned that we can only see it during the witching hour?” Qin Ye took a sip of his fruit juice and asked placidly.

“I’ve tried to return home once. I chartered a boat and went around the circumference of the array, but no matter how hard I tried, I was unable to find any gaps in the Array of the Nine Gods. It was then that I happened to witness the sight. It was… truly beautiful beyond belief - far more than even the aurora borealis often spoken about. Mr Wu Daozi has also made the voyage to these parts several times just to admire the incredible sight. If possible, it would be great if we could keep it, or even a part of it in future.”

Qin Ye glanced at the pitch-black night sky with some measure of anticipation. The Array of the Nine Gods could never be seen from land. It was only when one was out in the seas during the witching hour that they would be able to witness the spectacle for a brief moment of ten minutes.

Qin Ye filled his time with conversations and discourse with the famous scholars around him, gleaning what he could from their wealth of knowledge and experience, especially in relation to what they had learnt in their time with the foreign underworlds. Before he knew it, it was already 4.50 a.m.

It was almost divine in nature, just like the presence of a god that demanded worship.

We’re almost there… He stood at the railing at the front of the ship, and everyone else stood behind him in absolute silence. Everyone was waiting for the moment of miracle with bated breaths.

The dark night sky was completely cleaved in two halves by the eruption of radiant golden light, almost as though one was watching Moses part the Red Sea from below. Golden runic symbols leapt right out of the gap in the sky, flanked by rolling dark clouds, almost as though a golden river of light was cutting through the canopies of the skies.

Whoosh… Qin Ye was taken aback by the dazzling sight in the skies. In that instant, he felt as insignificant as a grain of sand on an endless beach. He had never felt as small and redundant before.

The curtain of light shimmered softly, while the ship continued to plod on, closer and closer to the light. Qin Ye watched as the curtain of light erupted from nothingness, just like a midnight blossom. And then, it finally vanished as abruptly as it had appeared. Qin Ye immediately pulled out his phone and looked at the time.

Given the location of the curtain of light earlier, Qin Ye estimated that they were at best a thousand meters away from the Array of the Nine Gods.

Thump, thump… Their hearts were beating right out of their chests as the ship ploughed forward. Zu Chongzhi, Wu Daozi, Li Chun, Lu Ban, and the rest of the Yin spirits scrambled close to the front of the ship, watching as the bow of the ship cut through the vast seas with bated breaths.

50 meters… 30 meters… 20 meters… 10 meters!

The ship was still beneath their feet.

“We’ve made it…” Zhang Heng’s hands trembled profusely, before he suddenly turned around and yelled excitedly, “We’ve made it… We’ve finally made it!!!”

“We’ve… finally returned…”

Meanwhile, Kwon Kyung-ho and Ryu Changmin also appeared and took in their surroundings curiously. It was a voyage into the new chapter of their lives as well.

“Everyone.” Just as the rough silhouette of their homeland appeared on the horizon, Qin Ye smiled radiantly at them all, “We’re home.”

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1. His real name is actually Pyotr Alekseevich, but the acclamation was anglicised as Peter the Great.