Chu Qi didn't understand the Northeast insult and paid it no mind, her entire attention focused on the elegant and dignified ghost of a beautiful woman before her, her whole demeanor screaming "Don't come near me!"
"Hello, Instructor Chu!" Wu Zhao extended her hand. After becoming corporeal, her hand was incredibly beautiful, not too plump and not too thin, much like the texture of the Mona Lisa's right hand.
Chu Qi didn't dare step forward, instead, she retreated another step.
Fearing Wu Zhao would feel awkward, I grabbed her hand and took the opportunity to feel it. Indeed, the sensation in my hand was even better than it looked. The only flaw was the lack of warmth; it was a bit cold, as ghosts are. I was already used to it.
After the pleasantries, Wu Zhao subtly inquired about my purpose. I answered truthfully, stating that I had my eye on the dim, yellow land between the Gate of Hell and the Bridge of Helplessness, finding it most suitable for a duel without being seen.
"I wish to borrow this place for a while. May I have your permission, Commander Wu?" I asked.
"Aren't you also a great lord of the Underworld's Department? Such a minor matter hardly requires my approval. Besides, I'm also curious to see how far martial arts from the mortal realm have developed," she replied.
"Excellent. It would be their honor to receive guidance from Commander Wu on this occasion," I flattered, this being a polite exchange between two underworld officials.
"Lord Wu, please!"
"Commander Wu, please!"
Wu Zhao held a higher rank than I did, so she didn't refuse. After taking a few steps, she suddenly remembered something and called out to the judge in the local City God Temple, "Hey... you there, go get some melon seeds for Lord Wu!"
"Right away, my lord!" The judge scurried off excitedly, leaving Yao Yao stunned. She mumbled, "He's as fat as Hong Jinbao, yet he can move so quickly."
I looked back at Chu Qi and gestured for her to follow. "It's alright. Inside the Gate of Hell is still mortal territory, and there's even Wi-Fi! Don't be afraid!"
Chu Qi hesitated for a moment, and it wasn't until she was met with a disdainful look from Yao Yao that she straightened her back and followed.
Wu Zhao naturally activated the City God Temple's mechanism, and the three of us, along with the ghost, entered the dim, yellow realm. I stepped on the ground first. I hadn't looked closely last time, but this time I got down on my hands and knees to inspect it. No wonder it was so flat; it was paved with asphalt, with clear tracks left by a road roller. This was undoubtedly a project undertaken by some road construction company from the mortal realm. I wondered how they had managed the operation back then.
"Ladies, please proceed," I said with a smile.
Yao Yao, still using her qi-sensing technique, pointed into the distance. "What is that place?"
"The Bridge of Helplessness. It's quite far, you won't fall into the water," I replied. However, I didn't sense the presence of Meng Po nearby. Perhaps she was on break today. Fucheng is a very small prefecture-level city, and not everyone dies every night to be sent here.
Chu Qi was still somewhat uneasy, rubbing the soles of her shoes on the ground and testing the surroundings.
Just then, the plump judge returned, carrying two bags of Qiaqia brand melon seeds (paid for). He handed them to me and Wu Zhao. We then sat on the ground, eating melon seeds while watching the two women. But they were still engaged in a silent battle with the ground and the distant landscape. After a full minute, Yao Yao was the first to relax, turning to Chu Qi. "Let's begin, Instructor Chu."
Chu Qi took a deep breath and exhaled through her nose, perhaps testing the air quality. The air was fine, with no peculiar odor, only a faint yellow hue. After all, this was still within the mortal realm, and the oxygen content was the same as outside.
The two stood facing each other, their duel about to commence.
Chu Qi asked, "Weapons, or unarmed combat?"
"Weapons? Do you have any?" Yao Yao asked with a smile, her gaze drifting down towards Chu Qi's waist. Yao Yao's smile faded as she noticed. "A soft sword hidden at your waist. A true master!"
"Do you?" Chu Qi retorted.
Yao Yao produced a pair of Meridian-Cross Daggers from behind her back and clinked them together. "I'm sorry, but this weapon of mine perfectly counters your soft sword. I don't want to bully you, so how about we fight unarmed?"
"The Meridian-Cross Dagger counters a soft sword? Who told you that?" Chu Qi's fair hand reached towards her waist, pressed a hidden mechanism, and drew a gleaming sword from her belt. Because she was slender with a petite frame, the soft sword, when unfurled, wasn't very long, only about sixty centimeters from end to end. It wasn't much larger than one of Yao Yao's Meridian-Cross Daggers.