Chapter 1400: Red King's Thoughts

Chapter 1401: The Red King's Intentions

The underground palace, which had been silent for a long time, was once again brightly lit this night.

Little scorpions entered through the entrance in a queue, each carrying a delicate dish of venomous insects on their tail stinger. However, compared to last time, the quantity was much smaller. Moreover, the number of venomous insects that died daily in the Ghost Snare Abyss due to internal strife was countless, so this small amount was just the tip of the iceberg.

The scorpions arrived at the entrance of the dining hall. Bright firelight streamed through the crack in the door, and from there, the sounds of laughter and chatter could be heard within.

A few small scorpions exchanged glances. "It's been a long time since we've seen the King laugh so happily."

Upon opening the door and entering, they saw Chen Ling and Ning Ruyu, each with several empty wine glasses in front of them, their faces flushed with intoxication, as if they had already had several rounds of drinks.

"Let me tell you… this isn't the first or second time Fifth Junior has done something like this… A few days ago, when Second Junior went to collect laundry, everyone else's clothes were fine, but Master's opera robe had a ghost face drawn on it… Do you know what he used to draw it?"

"What did he use?"

"He used the white ash from his own nose!" Ning Ruyu slapped the table. "You know Fifth Junior, his white ash is no ordinary substance. Once it gets on something, it's absolutely impossible to wash off. And the most crucial thing is, when others see that smear of white ash, they can't help but burst into laughter…"

"Do you know what the funniest part was?"

"What?"

"Master didn't notice at all! That day, he happened to wear that opera robe down the mountain, and everyone he met on the road laughed at him. No matter how he tried to change his expression, it was useless. It wasn't until he had gone around once that he belatedly realized something was wrong and found a mirror to look at himself… Then, he himself was so exasperated he couldn't help but laugh."

"Haha, what happened next?"

"After that, Fifth Junior got a good beating. Master also confiscated his large eating spoon and gave him an ear pick instead, so he had to painstakingly scoop his food with that every day."

"Hahahahahahaha…"

Chen Ling laughed heartily, a hint of tears seeming to well up in the corners of his eyes from amusement. He couldn't help but ask, "Fifth Senior Brother is truly mischievous, isn't he?"

"He's always been like this, but in the past few months, his pranks on Master have been especially frequent."

"Why?"

"Who knows…" Ning Ruyu took a small sip of the Five Poisons Wine. "Perhaps he's also blaming Master for driving you away."

The air suddenly fell silent.

The smile on Chen Ling's face stiffened. After a moment, he silently took a large gulp of wine.

"What about you… Do you blame him too?"

"For us, it's more about not understanding." Ning Ruyu paused for a moment. "Because Master, in our impression, has never been that kind of person… We believe he must have his reasons, but we just can't fathom his intentions."

Chen Ling gazed into Ning Ruyu's eyes, then suddenly chuckled softly. "So… he sent you here to be a persuader?"

"The old man didn't say it directly, but I can guess what he means… Otherwise, he wouldn't have agreed to Fourth Junior and the others' request at this time, yet only sent me alone." Ning Ruyu did not hide his intentions; instead, he spoke directly. "Junior Brother, please come back with me. Master probably wants to see you."

"Heh heh… 'Probably'?"

"If he wants to see me, why doesn't he come find me himself? If he wants to see me, why doesn't he tell you directly? Why does he have to use such an indirect method??" Chen Ling's grip on the wine glass tightened.

"Who does he think he is? A high and mighty chess player, or an emperor whose mind is so preoccupied with the state that he expects others to guess his thoughts? He's not even willing to say one direct word, and he expects me to obediently go back to see him?"

"Junior Brother…" Ning Ruyu opened his mouth, but didn't know how to answer, eventually falling silent.

After a long moment, he sighed deeply. "To be honest, let alone you… even we few can't understand what the old man wants to do now… Lately, he's been spending more and more time in the ancestral hall, and the opportunities for him to talk to us have become fewer and fewer… It seems Master has something on his mind."

"He has his matters, and I have mine." Chen Ling drained the Five Poisons Wine in his cup in one gulp. "Senior Brother, I'm truly happy you came to see me… but I won't go back with you to see him."

"Alright, I understand."

Ning Ruyu waved his hand, dismissing the topic. He then picked up his own glass and lightly clinked it with Chen Ling's. "Never mind him, let's just enjoy ourselves."

"Mm."

"This wine of yours is indeed potent; I can't drink any more… If I do, I won't be able to go back in a while."

"If you can't go back, then you can't. My palace has hundreds of rooms; there's always a place for you to stay, Senior Brother," Chen Ling said with a wave of his hand.

Ning Ruyu shook his head. "No, Master only gave me 22 hours. I should be heading back soon."

A flicker of doubt crossed Chen Ling's mind.

Not 12 hours, nor 24 hours, but precisely 22 hours… Chen Ling caught this detail. He vaguely seemed to guess something, and a thought surfaced in his mind.

"Alright, then I won't keep you." Chen Ling stood up. "Senior Brother, after this drink, I'll see you out."

"Haha, good!"

The two clinked their glasses again and drained the last sips of wine.

Ning Ruyu had indeed drunk a lot, perhaps even rivalling Jiang Xiaohua from before. By the time he left, he was wobbling as he walked…

Chen Ling escorted him all the way to the cliff of the Ghost Snare Abyss. Fearing that Ning Ruyu might get lost in the Ash Realm if he drank too much, Chen Ling even specifically arranged for a centipede to take him to the Ancient Opera Trove.

Ning Ruyu stumbled onto the centipede's back and waved goodbye to Chen Ling. "Junior Brother, I hope we meet again next time at the Ancient Opera Trove."

Chen Ling smiled faintly. "Alright… Goodbye."

The centipede, carrying Ning Ruyu, scaled the almost vertical cliff like an arrow, disappearing from Chen Ling's sight in the blink of an eye.

The large red opera robe stood silently in place. Once Ning Ruyu's figure had completely vanished, Chen Ling's gaze deepened once more.

He could feel that Ning Ruyu's visit this time was definitely not as simple as it appeared on the surface… Was this a signal? And what did it signify after this signal… What exactly was the Red King planning?

"22 hours, huh… It should be almost time." Chen Ling roughly calculated the time, and it was about what he expected.

He returned alone to the underground palace. The numerous torches had by then burned out, and patches of darkness re-engulfed the place, bringing back the prevailing theme of solitude and silence.

Chen Ling, holding the remaining Five Poisons Wine, lay on the throne and casually turned on the radio beside him…

Sounds from channels of different realms filled his ears. After listening carefully for a while, there was nothing noteworthy, so Chen Ling shook his head. "Forget it… What do the survival or demise of realms have to do with me?"

With that, he finished all the Five Poisons Wine in his hand and, feeling drowsy, fell asleep on the throne.