“…”

In that instant, Jian Chou hadn’t expected this. She was slightly surprised, but what followed was silence.

How to put it?

At such a time, Zhang Tang, as an underworld official, wasn’t first dealing with her problem of forging the new ghost registry, but was instead asking about such irrelevant matters.

Of course, what Jian Chou hadn’t expected even more was that she would still hear this name one day.

How long had it been?

Jian Chou almost instinctively asked herself.

Calculating, she should have only been in the Extreme Domain for a few days, yet she already felt like she hadn’t heard this person’s name for a long time.

Or rather, Xie Buchen’s existence had become somewhat unimportant.

So hearing it suddenly now, Jian Chou was still somewhat surprised.

She looked at Zhang Tang with interest.

After Zhang Tang asked, his gaze fixed on her without moving an inch, as if observing a prisoner, wanting to capture every trace of expression change on her face.

Unfortunately, Jian Chou’s expression was rather strange.

Even if husband and wife were birds of the same forest who flew separately when disaster struck, there shouldn’t be such calmness, even…

Mockery.

It was a look with smiling eyes, as if pondering something.

Zhang Tang suddenly felt uncomfortable, because he was very clear: what Jian Chou was pondering was him.

Though he didn’t know why.

Her lips curved upward, her smile deepening.

Jian Chou’s voice actually carried some joy: “Before I accidentally fell into the Extreme Domain, I did just see him. However, is this person more important than the City of Unjust Deaths matter? Actually worth Court Minister Zhang bringing up at this moment.”

“Rebellious ministers and treacherous subjects should die.”

Zhang Tang’s answer was exceptionally brief, but the meaning in his words was clear and cold.

Jian Chou suddenly remembered the various troubles of the Xie family, and she had heard bits and pieces later on.

Now that Zhang Tang still mentioned “rebel,” it reminded her of old events, so she casually asked: “Are they truly rebellious ministers and treacherous subjects?”

“…”

Zhang Tang looked at her with neither warmth nor coldness, calmly saying: “Do you want to overturn the case for the Xie family?”

Overturn the case?

Jian Chou nearly laughed out loud.

Meeting an old acquaintance, though this acquaintance was a skin-peeling cruel official, her mood was rarely good. She shook her head: “Any case handled by Court Minister Zhang becomes ironclad even without evidence—how would Jian Chou dare to act presumptuously? Moreover, what connection do I have with the Xie family?”

After all this talk, she still hadn’t answered his question.

Zhang Tang’s gaze held no warmth. He didn’t even acknowledge what “offensive truths” Jian Chou had just said, only continued asking: “Where is the rebel?”

Truly persistent enough.

Jian Chou was blocked by this question for quite a while before looking at him again with some mockery: “Where he is, I’m not quite sure, but where his corpse is, I might know something about that.”

“…”

Corpse?

In that instant, Zhang Tang’s brows furrowed tightly, his face immediately showing intimidating coldness: “Dead?”

“Most likely.” Jian Chou smiled cheerfully.

Zhang Tang fell silent.

He didn’t avoid examining Jian Chou at all, not even showing the awkwardness of directly staring at a woman. When his mind was full of official business, he wouldn’t think about such things.

Corpse, dead, most likely.

These words connected together had a somewhat strange flavor.

Zhang Tang possessed the keenest intuition, and at this moment, his intuition told him: Jian Chou’s smile was very strange.

“Who killed him?”

Jian Chou still smiled, her eyes squinting like two crescent moons, appearing quite innocent: “I’m not quite sure about that either. I only know the strike was quite decisive, and they looked quite handsome too. Ah, finally someone dared to act against Kunwu’s Xie Buchen—what a delightful thing!”

Tsk tsk.

After saying this, Jian Chou felt her shamelessness was rising rapidly, possibly soon surpassing Fudao Shanren—the student surpassing the master.

Zhang Tang had heard Gu Qingmei mention Xie Buchen in the Killing Red Small Realm. Now hearing Jian Chou mention “Kunwu,” the person mentioned that day in the Killing Red Small Realm must be the Xie Buchen from the mortal realm.

The underworld’s Life and Death Registry long ago lost this person’s existence, presumably having escaped reincarnation and become a cultivator.

Kunwu—Zhang Tang had heard of it.

A leading sect in the Central Domain of the Nineteen Continents, a first-rate great sect. All its disciples were elite, not to mention the true disciples under Real Person Hengxu—every one was a genius among geniuses.

That Xie Buchen could be a Kunwu disciple with such lofty status was evident from Gu Qingmei’s attitude.

In Great Xia, Zhang Tang had maneuvered among various court factions, thoroughly understanding the balance of various powers.

Jian Chou’s sigh that “finally someone dared to act against Kunwu’s Xie Buchen” was simply because Kunwu’s power was great—acting against Kunwu disciples could provoke countless disputes.

Someone had actually acted against Xie Buchen and seemingly succeeded?

Zhang Tang was momentarily silent.

While alive, he hadn’t pushed this person to the executioner’s block, hadn’t caught him, couldn’t even trace his various whereabouts.

After death, he suddenly had an opportunity to contact the person closest to him, only to be told Xie Buchen was dead with the killer’s identity unknown?

He didn’t know why, but it didn’t feel quite right.

Like something he should have done being snatched away by someone else, Zhang Tang became uncomfortable, and his expression grew less pleasant.

Moreover…

There was something strange about Jian Chou’s smile.

How could someone who could become Xie Buchen’s partner be simple?

Weren’t they all thousand-year-old foxes?

Zhang Tang looked at her with pale, quiet eyes, still carrying that scrutinizing quality: “Truly don’t know them?”

“Don’t know them.”

Jian Chou shook her head with an honest appearance.

“Besides, they dared to act against Kunwu and completely defeated Xie Buchen—their scheming and methods are first-rate. Even if I knew this person’s identity, Court Minister Zhang couldn’t act against them, right? Better not to know—saves the heartache.”

“Pfft…”

Laughter suddenly came from under the table.

Big Head Ghost and Little Head Ghost couldn’t hold back while listening.

Zhang Tang’s brow twitched, tinted with solemn coldness.

Undeniably, Jian Chou was quite right.

However, Zhang Tang’s intuition told him something was wrong.

He stared straight at her, his voice without inflection: “Wasn’t it you who killed Xie Buchen?”

“…Of course not.”

Jian Chou blinked and spoke directly without burden or guilt.

Zhang Tang’s stubborn streak and terrifying intuition were indeed real.

Without this, how could he have become the sharpest blade in the emperor’s hands?

Whether the Xie Marquis Manor committed treason, Jian Chou truly didn’t know clearly. She only knew Zhang Tang’s ability to fabricate charges was first-rate.

Somehow, she began thinking carefully, pondering: “Speaking of which, if Xie Buchen were still alive and knew Court Minister Zhang had become a ghost cultivator…”

Just thinking about it was interesting!

One with obsessions in his heart, having handled part of the Xie family case, already determined the Xie Marquis Manor’s treason and regardless of right or wrong, identified Xie Buchen as a “rebel.”

One with karmic debts in his heart—Xie Buchen probably never believed in “loyalty,” only in “Do kings, nobles, generals, and ministers have inherent nobility?” Even if the Xie family truly rebelled, he wouldn’t feel wrong at all. So regarding the Xie clan’s destruction, he must harbor resentment, and toward Zhang Tang who handled this case, he probably harbored bone-deep hatred.

Jian Chou couldn’t help thinking about what would happen if these two met.

Unfortunately, there probably wouldn’t be such an opportunity.

Though she left half her words unsaid, the meaning was clear enough.

How could Zhang Tang not understand?

But he remained unmoved, seeing through Jian Chou’s thoughts, coldly saying: “Should that day truly come, I’ll have him die on the executioner’s block.”

“…”

Well, worthy of being Court Minister Zhang.

This statement made Jian Chou smile involuntarily: “Since the enemy of my enemy is my friend, Zhang sir and Jian Chou are of like minds. However, I’m destined to be unable to help Zhang sir much. I’ll go search for Xie Buchen’s corpse later, and if there are results, I’ll definitely inform Zhang sir.”

“Search for the corpse?” Zhang Tang frowned.

Jian Chou smiled: “Living, one must see the person; dead, one must see the corpse. Besides, Yashan and Kunwu are two great pillars of the Central Domain with deep friendship. Seeing Xie Buchen’s misfortune, I should at least retrieve his body as a gesture. Unfortunately, now trapped in the Extreme Domain, I can’t leave temporarily. I hope when I escape from here, Fellow Daoist Xie still has a few bones left.”

These sarcastic words—where was the tone of former spouses?

Even Zhang Tang, who was naturally indifferent and unlike a normal person, couldn’t help but look up at her.

Jian Chou smiled: “Entangling over Xie Buchen’s matter is ultimately meaningless. I’ve now accidentally fallen into the Extreme Domain, unable to escape, and have no malice toward the Extreme Domain—I only want to leave and return to my sect. Since Court Minister Zhang came through the night, I believe you harbor no ill will toward me. Regarding the City of Unjust Deaths matter, could you show mercy and provide convenience?”

Oh ho!

She was directly asking Old Zhang!

Big Head Ghost and Little Head Ghost were stunned: Good heavens, a newborn calf unafraid of tigers! Just arrived in the Extreme Domain and daring to say anything!

After experiencing Zhang Tang’s earlier face-slapping surprise, Big Head Ghost and Little Head Ghost had been holding back anger. Now they nearly couldn’t help laughing loudly: “Are you stupid? Hahahaha, this is the first time I’ve seen someone ask Old Zhang for backdoor favors! My King of Hell, usually seeing Great Master Jian Chou, you seemed quite smart, but now haha… this is killing me…”

Jian Chou glanced coolly at them, letting them laugh while turning back to still look at Zhang Tang.

Zhang Tang sat properly and meticulously. Even sitting in such a broken place, he had the cold solemnity of residing high in court halls, making people feel cold and difficult to approach.

Most importantly, this face was clearly that of a stubborn person who wouldn’t acknowledge anyone.

Whether Zhang Tang would show mercy, Jian Chou herself wasn’t confident.

After all, her understanding of Zhang Tang was truly superficial.

“…”

A period of silence.

Zhang Tang’s fingers rested on the table surface without moving. When others were present, he wouldn’t make any unnecessary movements.

Because unnecessary movements would expose some subtle thoughts in his heart, sometimes giving others opportunities to exploit.

Restraint, caution, carefulness.

This was the feeling Zhang Tang gave everyone, including Jian Chou.

Seemingly after contemplating for a while, Zhang Tang said: “Letting you go benefits me nothing. Conversely, reporting your news to Cui Jue would actually bring promotion.”

Cui Jue…

Jian Chou blinked with a meaningful smile: “I heard Judge Cui is a clean official, beloved by the people, with countless posthumous honors spreading, worthy of being recorded in history. This time, it seems Judge Cui is also presiding…”

“…”

Zhang Tang’s eyelids lifted. Under his pale, waveless eyes, ripples suddenly arose.

He observed Jian Chou for a long time, while Jian Chou fearlessly returned his gaze with calm smiles.

What kind of person was Zhang Tang?

Half “office-obsessed,” yet with some pursuit in his heart—on one hand the emperor’s blade, on the other the people’s blade—but his character was truly cruel and cold.

During the most exaggerated rumors in the capital, people said that at Zhang Tang’s residence, birds had all left the old trees, with only crows perching on every branch.

This person had been immersed in official circles for years, often maneuvering between various factions, understanding all manner of interests and relationships.

But he also had a stubborn streak.

Before all court officials, he could rebuke one of the Three Dukes until red-faced, while maintaining the same expression throughout—a deadpan face from start to finish.

Clean official, cruel official.

One with posthumous honors spreading, one with people celebrating and setting off firecrackers after death…

Could these two get along?

Jian Chou didn’t believe it.

She smiled while Zhang Tang remained silent.

Time passed bit by bit. Jian Chou glanced outside—it was already the darkest time: “New ghosts of the City of Unjust Deaths all enter the city at midnight. Court Minister Zhang, time is short…”

Zhang Tang also followed her gaze outside.

The light in his eyes deepened and darkened.

In this world, whether human, ghost, or other beings, as long as they have intelligence, they all have some darkness in their hearts—no one can avoid it.

Zhang Tang never avoided that darkness in his heart—

He disliked Cui Jue.

Even though handing over Jian Chou seemed beneficial to himself, Zhang Tang was too lazy to take risks.

Often, he was a very obsessive person.

As for the reasons for his obsessiveness, that was a matter of perspective.

Whether Jian Chou counted as part of the reason, Zhang Tang considered this but found it difficult to answer.

He only slowly turned his gaze back, stood up, and walked directly toward the door. Casually waving his hand, Big Head Ghost and Little Head Ghost immediately scrambled up from the ground.

“Creak.”

The tightly closed broken door was opened by his hands.

The bitter cold wind outside immediately blew against their faces.

Zhang Tang gazed at the boundless night over the Extreme Domain’s evil soil, his deep eyes unfathomable.

The windless temperature carried his temperatureless voice to Jian Chou’s ears.

“Departing now, arriving at the city by midnight—just right.”

Light footsteps sounded. Zhang Tang had already stepped out the door, his cold solemnity undiminished, but in Jian Chou’s view, it carried some ethereal, uncertain human feeling.

Heh.

Who cared if it was real or fake?

Successfully solving the problem was good enough.

Zhang Tang helping her enter the city was like Big Head Ghost and Little Head Ghost harboring her—they’d all be grasshoppers on the same rope afterward. No one could escape.

Jian Chou couldn’t help but smile and also stepped outside.

Big Head Ghost and Little Head Ghost still couldn’t quite react. Even combining their two brains wouldn’t be sufficient now.

“You two… this… this…” Little Head Ghost looked outside, then at Jian Chou walking toward the door, blurting out: “Are you two what’s called colluding like wolves… for evil?”

Jian Chou stopped, standing behind the threshold, contemplating for a moment before nonchalantly nodding and saying lightly: “More or less.”

After speaking, she put her hands behind her back and stepped out cheerfully.

Only Big Head Ghost and Little Head Ghost remained shivering in the cold wind: She admitted it directly! She actually admitted it directly! Damn…

“Are we, are we falling behind the times?”