Qiu Hai did not go to apprehend them. He simply stepped to the front of the hall, arms crossed, and sneered, "They’re asking for trouble themselves."
The fountain of reincarnation was right in front of them. The two elders were ecstatic.
But just as they stepped over the Bridge of Helplessness, a ghostly figure suddenly darted out in front of them.
The ghost was pale, dressed in black, and in the dim light of the Nether World, the black clothing shimmered.
They didn’t think much of it since it was a little girl, around five feet tall, with a chubby face that looked harmless.
The two ghosts formed hand seals and simultaneously struck out, aiming to crush the girl.
The girl yelled angrily, smashing two bowls: "Get lost, you grandma’s bridge!"
The two ghosts were caught off guard by the girl’s fierce reaction. They tried to break the bowls that flew at them, but the bowls suddenly expanded, making a loud bang as they covered them, trapping them under the bridge.
"Is... is that her spirit tool?!"
"Who would use bowls as a spirit tool?"
The two ghosts attempted to push the bowls off them but found their strength completely suppressed.
With a clatter, the girl was already in the bridge, and she stomped on the bowls, shattering them.
Holding a glowing green iron rod, her smile was sinister and strange, looking nothing like a child.
Before the two ghosts could beg for mercy, she struck them with the rod.
"Smack your stinky ghost feet so you’ll be crippled in your next life!"
"Smack your stinky ghost face so you’ll be ugly in your next life!"
"Smack your stinky ghost head so you’ll be as dumb as a pig in your next life!"
After several blows, the two ghosts’ strength was completely dispersed, and their forms became transparent and ethereal.
Meanwhile, Qiu Hai called out, "That’s enough, Granny Meng! Just weaken them; the higher-ups are still watching."
Granny Meng swung the rod a couple more times before stopping.
She stowed the iron rod and clapped her hands, raising her chin at Qiu Hai, displeased, "Can’t you keep an eye on your ghosts? I’m busy making soup and serving ghosts!"
Although she was clearly angry, her childlike voice made it oddly endearing.
Qiu Hai chuckled, "Yes, yes, you elder, don’t be mad. I’ll add a few more ghost envoys to keep watch."
He raised his hand and summoned the two extremely weakened elders back.
Granny Meng was still fuming. Her eyes swept over the queue of souls waiting to cross the bridge for soup. Before she could speak, the souls instantly formed an orderly line.
Granny Meng was quite satisfied and went back to her work at the bridgehead.
Gousheng blinked in surprise. He had heard that Granny Meng had a bad temper, but seeing it firsthand was a whole different matter...
The two elders could no longer be sent to hell; after being beaten, they couldn’t even enter the frying pot now.
"Hell Lord, Granny Meng may look young, but her temper is really... explosive," Gousheng whispered.
"Don’t be fooled by her appearance; she’s older than I am," Qiu Hai replied.
Gousheng was astonished, gesturing, "But she... she looks like she’s five or six!"
"That’s because she died young," Qiu Hai’s gaze deepened. "At such a young age, she became a local ghost king. If it weren’t for the Death God passing by and granting her some enlightenment, she would have long since turned to dust."
"Really? She became a ghost king at such a young age?" Gousheng couldn’t comprehend.
"She was born under extraordinary circumstances, with auspicious clouds floating around her. A Taoist found her parents and said she was a reincarnation of a deity. If they raised her until she was five and then ate her meat, they would live for a hundred years," Qiu Hai’s voice grew somber.
Gousheng was even more shocked. "Did she... really get eaten?"
"Indeed, to ensure freshness, they cut off her meat piece by piece while she was still conscious," Qiu Hai said.
Spirits like Granny Meng could ascend to great heights if they followed the righteous path, but if they chose the wrong path, they could also become formidable.
At that time, she had become a ghost king and harmed many people.
Gousheng felt a wave of sympathy.
Qiu Hai continued, "When I arrived, her temper was already . The Death God’s sight is..."
On the Bridge of Helplessness, Granny Meng peeked her head out, already swinging her iron rod towards Qiu Hai.
"Qiu Hai!!! I’ll beat you to death, you big mouth!"
Qiu Hai waved his hand to block the rod and sent it back to Granny Meng’s hand.
He laughed, "Granny Meng, don’t be so hot-headed with your short stature; you won’t grow any taller!"
Granny Meng caught the rod and threatened fiercely, "You dare to insult me personally? When the Death God returns, I’ll report you and get you removed from your Hell Lord position!"
"The Death God cares for me the most; your complaint will be useless."
"He cares for you? You shameless thing!"
"It’s obviously me! You’re so short; how could she care for you?"
"You’re so fussy; you don’t even look like a man!"
"At least I’m better than you!"
"You old hag!" Granny Meng tightened her grip on the iron rod, ready to fight Qiu Hai.
This affection must be fought for today!
Just then, a different presence approached from the east.
Qiu Hai’s nose twitched, and he immediately said, "Shorty, I won’t bicker or fight with you today."
He had to intercept their ancestor.
With Granny Meng around, she would definitely recognize their ancestor when she saw them.
Unexpectedly, Nanli was already familiar with the way to the Hell Lord Palace.
Hearing their bickering, she sensed the tense atmosphere.
She walked over and said, "Qiu Hai, why are you quarreling with a child? As a man, shouldn’t you be more accommodating?"
Qiu Hai turned to see Nanli had arrived at the Hell Lord Palace, not far from the Bridge of Helplessness.
His heart sank: Oh no, it’s bad!
His special affection was about to be taken away!
Sure enough, when Granny Meng saw Nanli, her big eyes nearly popped out.
She wanted to shout, but her mouth wouldn’t open.
Seeing that Nanli had lost all divine power, even though her soul was stronger than an ordinary person’s, she was no longer a divine soul.
She immediately understood that her superior, her master, was currently undergoing tribulations, and the Heavenly Dao wouldn’t allow her to reveal Nanli’s identity.
Nevertheless, Granny Meng flew over in an instant.
Her speed startled Nanli, and she instinctively took a defensive posture.
Granny Meng stopped just in time, staring at Nanli.
Then, adjusting her tone, she spoke softly, "Hello, I’m Granny Meng."
Nanli smiled brightly, "You’re so cute."
Though her face was pale, her short arms and legs and her big, round eyes made her look endearing.
Qiu Hai rolled his eyes nearby, mumbling, "With a face this pale, what’s so cute? After so many years, she’s become more and more familiar with pretending it."
Most importantly, their ancestor’s taste had never changed!
Clearly bizarre, yet she called her cute.
Granny Meng hadn’t seen Nanli in years, and hearing her compliment made her nose tingle, her eyes misty as she looked at her.
Nanli blinked, "Why are you about to cry? Don’t you like it when others praise you?"
Granny Meng hurriedly shook her head and, in a sweet voice, opened her little arms, "Can I have a hug?"
Qiu Hai’s expression changed, "What are you saying, shorty? You’re overflowing with ghost energy; if our ancestor comes into contact with you, it’ll bring disaster!"
Granny Meng instantly had second thoughts.