"Hard Region." Ghost’s eyebrows raised slightly, a legendary mysterious area where many past planes or merchant ships had met with disaster, also dubbed as "the maritime passage to hell."
Accessing this region was no simple feat, even the powerful forces of the Main Gods dared not reach out to this place. First, the risks were too great, and second, there really was no necessity. It looked like Netherworld Palace would be the first to eat this "crab."
"Trouble, Lord Ghost." At that moment, a Hidden Guard rushed in, gasping for breath in urgency, nearly stumbling to his knees in front of Ghost.
"What happened?" Ghost irritably took off his headphones, still dealing with the mess at hand when bad news started popping up one after another.
"The hospital has been attacked..."
"What." Ghost gripped the collar of the Hidden Guard in agitation, hoisting him up.
"How is the Netherworld Empress doing?" Ghost bellowed.
"The Netherworld Empress... is... is fine." The Hidden Guard replied, his voice trembling.
"Get lost." Ghost cursed, kicking a chair beside him hard, his anger clear. Ye Shikai had just left, and now someone had dared to make a move. This was intolerable.
"Prepare the car, take me to the hospital."
...........................................
This hospital was a private property of the Netherworld Palace, located somewhat towards the suburbs. Although a private hospital, its equipment was excellent and standards were high. Of course, the hospital wasn’t aiming for profit as its main purpose. It was primarily a stronghold of the Netherworld Palace in Yanjing.
Just this morning, a group of black-clad Assassins surged into the surrounding area of the hospital. Seizing the Hidden Guards’ negligence, they charged into the hospital, killing anyone in sight, and each one was a lethal strike. By the time Ghost arrived at the scene, it was already under the control of the Hidden Guards.
Ghost looked at the blood all over the ground. The dead were not only Hidden Guards, but also some of the hospital personnel. Dead bodies were seen now and then. According to Ghost’s demand on his way here, the scene had to wait for his personal arrival before it could be cleaned up.
"Lord Ghost, we’ve finished counting. Nine Hidden Guards and seventeen hospital personnel dead. Thirteen Assassin corpses left on the scene..."
"What do you mean by that?" Ghost frowned at the report from a Hidden Guard.
"The scene was very chaotic at that time; perhaps some Assassin corpses were carried away by their accomplices."
"I see, any surveillance?"
"The surveillance room has been destroyed by the Assassins, all data from this morning has been obliterated." The Hidden Guard bowed his head as if worrying about Ghost’s punishment. It was clear these were professional Assassins; their work was very thorough, knowing not to leave any traces.
"Forget it." Ghost briskly walked to Su Qingyu’s intensive care unit, at the door, he saw someone.
"Nightmare, how’s the situation?" Ghost strode forward, seeing Nightmare’s white robe stained with fresh blood, his twin halberds still dripping.
"Lord Nightmare fought against three, standing guard at the door firmly, not allowing the Assassins to succeed." The Hidden Guard spoke with a tone full of awe for Nightmare. Indeed, it was a close call for Su Qingyu this time, if not because Nightmare stood guard at the door, the Assassins could have succeeded.
"Thank you." Ghost said dispassionately, relief apparent on his face. In the end, after a harrowing escape from death, fortune came. As long as Su Qingyu was fine, even if the whole hospital blew up it didn’t matter.
"No need, the Netherworld Empress’s safety is sufficient." Nightmare’s voice had just faded when Illusion Fox walked in from outside; the two exchanged knowing smiles. As expected, just as Ye Shikai predicted, the other party did indeed make a move.
"Lord Ghost, could it be that the whereabouts of the Netherworld King were leaked?" Illusion Fox whispered to Ghost.
"Possibly." Ghost glanced at a surveillance camera in the corner, with a grave expression.
"This place is no longer safe, we need to transfer the Netherworld Empress." Ghost’s voice was flat.
...........................................
South America, primeval forest.
Everyone was cautious en route, thankful that Ye Shikai had a Storage Ring for an endless supply of food, otherwise feeding everyone would become an issue again.
"Boss, it’s getting dark. Let’s rest here for a while." Soul Destroyer came over and suggested. In this rainforest, sometimes trees obscured the sky and it was impossible to tell if it was day or night. They could only rely on the most primitive mechanical watches for time.
"Zi Yun, what do you think?" Ye Shikai had just warmed some food and passed it to Zi Yun. She wasn’t a mercenary nor a cultivator, just a little girl, potentially troubled in such a forest.
"I’m okay." Zi Yun smiled, who had also been searching for the awakening fruit, but moreover, she gathered a lot of flora, mostly ones Ye Shikai hadn’t seen before.
"Here I’ve found lots of rare medicinal materials, even poisonous plants. The rainforest truly is a natural treasury of herbs." Zi Yun’s eyes sparkled with excitement, as if she didn’t come to the rainforest, but to a huge gold mine. But in another sense, the goodies from the rainforest are indeed a treasury, countless precious herbs, which, if turned into money, would be incalculable.
"Good, you can gather more to take back." Ye Shikai smiled faintly, but his heart was somewhat anxious. If only the awakening fruit could be found.
"Brother, actually, I have another discovery from ancient books that should lead us to the awakening fruit." At this moment, Zi Yun spoke mysteriously, seemingly reading Ye Shikai’s mind.
"What discovery?" Ye Shikai asked excitedly.
"The tallest trees are said to grow in the deepest part of the rainforest, their trunks so thick that hundreds of people cannot encircle them." Zi Yun’s words excited Ye Shikai; according to her description, that tallest tree must be massive, like the Tree of Life of elves in comics, large enough to house people.
"So you’re saying, that tree is easy to find."
"Exactly, the awakening fruit is a natural wonder, and only such a tree can bear it." Zi Yun nodded firmly.
Ye Shikai felt like taking a calming pill, Zi Yun’s words indeed filled him with energy. It was already night, and to be safe, Ye Shikai ordered everyone to rest in place, planning to set out again in the morning.
"Brother." Suddenly, Zi Yun seemed troubled calling Ye Shikai.
"The awakening fruit only bears three fruits a year, what if this year’s have already been picked by wild animals?" Zi Yun asked weakly.
"Then I’ll wait by the tree for a year."