The Bead

Hearing Han Mei's question, the black figure's voice softened. "There are ways, though challenging. As King and Queen of the Underworld, you have access to vast knowledge and resources. We can help you search through the records of the underworld and the history of inter-realm disturbances. There may be clues or patterns that can guide you."

"Then please start looking as soon as possible," Han Mei pleaded, her voice filled with urgency.

The ghostly figures turned to Feng Lou. "We will do as the king commands," they said in unison, awaiting his orders.

Feng Lou sighed and then said, "Begin the search immediately. Review every record, every trace of inter-realm activity."

The black ghostly figure replied, "Yes, your majesty. You can do whatever you want in this palace, or anywhere in the underworld. It is yours now." The figures bowed and dissipated into the air, leaving Feng Lou, Xiao Meiying, and Han Mei to contemplate their next steps.

Before Feng Lou could even do anything, the figures reappeared, and said, "We found him."

Feng Lou, Xiao Meiying, and Han Mei looked at the ghostly figures in shock, their minds reeling with the speed of the discovery. "So fast!?" each of them thought.

"Where is he?" Han Mei asked urgently, her voice trembling with a mix of hope and anxiety.

The white figure stepped forward, its ethereal form shimmering. "Your husband is in a realm that intersects with the underworld, a place of chaos and forgotten souls. It is a liminal space where time and reality are distorted. It is the realm of the evil god Santuro. He is an evil god from another realm who made a contract with the previous king to stay in the underworld."

Feng Lou's eyes narrowed. "An evil god? What kind of contract are we dealing with?"

The black figure spoke, its tone grave. "Santuro was granted a domain within the underworld in exchange for certain powers and knowledge. However, his realm is treacherous, filled with malevolent entities and unpredictable dangers. Your father is there, trapped within Santuro's grasp."

As Xiao Meiying felt the shiver run down her spine, the name Santuro resonated with the dark presence of the queen within her, stirring an unsettling sense of familiarity.

Han Mei's eyes widened in shock as the name Santuro was mentioned. "Santuro... That's the god worshipped by the Mo Sect," she exclaimed, her voice trembling with concern. "They believe he grants them power and protection, and they claim the holy daughter, whom we thought was you, Meiying, will bring the god back to the mortal world and cleanse it from evil."

"Can we kick him out of the underworld?" Feng Lou asked, his voice tense with determination.

The ghostly figure nodded gravely. "You can, but it will anger him greatly. Santuro is extremely powerful, though not as powerful as you, he still possesses enough strength to wreak havoc. He could potentially destroy half of the underworld if provoked. Moreover, we don't actually know where he comes from or the actual true extent of his abilities."

"What kind of things did he give to the previous king that allowed him to reside in the underworld?" Feng Lou inquired.

"We don't have full details on everything, but the most significant item bestowed upon the previous king was a red blood bead crafted from Santuro's own blood," the ghostly figure explained. "It suddenly went missing around 500 years ago," 

As Xiao Meiying processed the ghostly figure's words, shock rippled through her. Her hand instinctively went to her chest, where the red blood bead rested within her heart. Even the queen within her mind was stunned by the revelation.

"What's that bead for?" Feng Lou inquired.

"We're not entirely sure," the ghostly figure admitted. "But what we do know is that the previous king cherished it greatly. He kept it close to his heart every day and even infused it with underworld energy from the crown."

"How did it disappear if he treasured it so much?" Feng Lou pressed.

The ghostly figure let out a little sigh before responding, "The previous queen stole it and ran away."

Feng Lou was shocked by those words, and thought Xiao Meiying might run like that. Without hesitation, he issued a command to the crown on his head, ensuring that Xiao Meiying must stay within a 100-meter radius of him at all times.

Xiao Meiying, on the other hand, felt a surge of panic and frustration. Just as she entertained thoughts of escaping, an order resonated in her mind, compelling her to remain within 100 meters of Feng Lou. Her hope of freedom quickly faded as the reality of her situation sank in.

Xiao Meiying's anger simmered beneath the surface, her gaze piercing Feng Lou with a mix of frustration and resentment. The queen within her echoed this fury too. But Feng Lou remained stoic, his attention elsewhere, seemingly unaffected by her silent protest.

Xiao Meiying's thoughts raced with frustration and indignation. "I will kill him," she muttered under her breath, her anger boiling over. "Why does he want to protect me?" The conflicting emotions swirling within her threatened to consume her as she struggled to make sense of Feng Lou's actions.

Feng Lou's request was direct. "Can you take us to Santuro's realm? We need to go there and find Xiao Meiying's father."

The ghostly figures nodded solemnly, acknowledging his command. "Yes, your majesty. We will guide you to Santuro's realm."

"Santuro's realm harbors a colossal worm with the mind of a child. It's the most destructive creature I have ever witnessed. Be cautious around it, although with the power of the underworld, you should have no trouble dealing with it. Still, exercise caution, Your Majesty," the black ghostly figure warned.

Feng Lou was totally surprised. He thought that monster that gobbled up the moon might be linked to the Mo Sect, but he never imagined it would actually be true.

"I think this worm-like creature they're talking about might just be the same one that swallowed the moon," Feng Lou shared his theory with Xiao Meiying and Han Mei, seeking their thoughts.

Even Xiao Meiying and Han Mei were stunned by those words. They remembered the creature that devoured the moon, its massive, worm-like form etched vividly in their minds. They couldn't believe that the creature in Santuro's realm might be the same one.