Immortal of the Nine Realms-Chapter 1412: Irrefutable

At that moment, a woman walked over and smiled at Jue Wudi. "Dear, what are you daydreaming about? The noodles are about to overcook. Hurry up and serve them to the customers."

Jue Wudi snapped out of his daze, quickly scooped the noodles from the pot, and served them to the customers.

The noodle shop's business was quite good. The customers seemed to be regulars, chatting with Jue Wudi about local happenings as they ate.

Jue Wudi smiled and responded politely.

When he returned to the stove, he noticed that the figure from before had vanished.

His expression turned slightly distant.

"Boss, a bowl of noodles, please."

Jue Wudi turned around to the source of the voice. There, he saw Fang Chen, sitting at a table, smiling at him.

Jue Wudi nodded lightly. He cooked a bowl of noodles for Fang Chen, and when he set it down in front of him, he hesitated for a moment.

Fang Chen said, "Brother Wudi, it's been quite a few years since we last met. Didn't expect to run into you here. Seems fate still binds us."

Jue Wudi's expression changed slightly. He set down the noodles, whispered a few words to the woman, and she nodded before taking his place at the stove.

Jue Wudi then sat across from Fang Chen and said quietly, "Whatever grudge lies between us, don't drag anyone else into it."

"The grudge between you and me?" Fang Chen neither confirmed nor denied it. He glanced at the woman and smiled. "She is...?"

"She's my wife." Jue Wudi sighed softly. "Back then, after you killed me, I wandered around as a lonely ghost for a time before entering the Underworld. I stood before the Forgotten River, but unfortunately, no one came to guide me across. I was given only two choices—either sink into the river and be washed away, or return to the mortal world as a wandering ghost until my Yin Lifespan is spent and I cease to exist entirely."

As he spoke, he looked at the woman, his eyes filled with love and tenderness.

"Who would have thought I'd meet her before the Forgotten River? Back when I was a wandering ghost, I helped her drive away some evil spirits. I barely remembered her, but she remembered me. When her family came to welcome her into the Underworld, she brought me along."

Jue Wudi looked back at Fang Chen, his gaze no longer carrying the fiery pride and arrogance he once had in Grand Qian. Now, there was only calmness, as clear and quiet as spring water.

"Since then, I've settled down here in the Underworld. Not long after, she and I got married. When the Underworld underwent its reforms, we had the chance to come to the capital, so we saved some Yin Lifespan Coins and came here to make a living. Back then, when I died by your hand, I hated you, resented you. But now, I no longer hold on to any of that. Most of those memories have already faded. I just want to spend whatever years I have left by her side."

"Fang... Daoist Fang, could you spare my wife and me? From your aura, I can tell you must be a Yin Walker, yes?" said Jue Wudi softly. "Though the Capital has strict laws, if a Yin Walker like you wished to strike at me, there would be a thousand ways to do it."

He looked at Fang Chen calmly. "If you refuse to let me go, just say the word now. Choose a place, and I'll go alone to meet my end. But please, I beg you, spare my wife."

Fang Chen smiled. "Why would I want to harm you? As you said yourself, you're a wandering soul, and I'm a Yin Walker. We no longer belong to the same world. Why cling to old grudges from the past?"

Jue Wudi instantly let out a long breath, relief and joy lighting up his face. He stood up awkwardly, wiping his hands on his apron in a fluster before saying excitedly, "Let me make you another bowl—extra toppings! I'll even go buy some wine."

Fang Chen's smile deepened. "No need to be so polite. I'm just passing through. I won't be staying long. I saw an old acquaintance and thought I'd stop to talk a bit."

Jue Wudi chuckled awkwardly and sat down again. The two began chatting idly.

Then Jue Wudi seemed to recall something and asked carefully, "Daoist Fang, with your talent, by now... You should have reached the Golden Core Realm, right?"

Fang Chen nodded. "Something like that."

A sigh escaped Jue Wudi's lips.

The Golden Core Realm....

Back in the Grand Qian, that was a realm reserved only for the most exceptional cultivators. When he had still been alive, he too had longed for it. He had even believed that breaking through to the Golden Core Realm was inevitable for him. But who could have imagined how much would change afterward, how completely things would slip from his control?

"Daoist Jue, there's something I don't quite understand." Fang Chen took two bites of the bland and tasteless noodles before setting down his chopsticks. "When the Yin Walker Division was first established, every cultivator of the Spirit God Sect was expelled from the Underworld. Those who refused had their divine soul scattered and dispersed."

In that instant, Fang Chen's eyes sharpened like twin blades, piercing straight through Jue Wudi.

Jue Wudi's face turned ashen, and he nearly fell from his seat.

"Daoist Jue, you were a cultivator of the Spirit God Sect. Tell me, have you filed a record with the bureau?"

Jue Wudi stammered, unable to get any words out, his eyes filled with deep regret, "Daoist Fang, I..."

His wife seemed to sense something was wrong and gently tried to coax the customers away.

Unexpectedly, one of the customers, with a bad temper, slapped the woman down. Seeing that, Jue Wudi immediately roared in anger and charged forward.

The two began to scuffle, but Fang Chen didn't intervene. He simply watched. In the end, the customer was no match for Jue Wudi and was beaten off, shouting threats as he fled.

The other customers, realizing that Jue Wudi was being targeted for revenge, shook their heads and left. Only Fang Chen, Jue Wudi, and the woman remained in the noodle shop.

The woman suddenly knelt before Fang Chen. Yin energy swirled in her eyes, on the verge of turning into tears. "Sir, my husband once told me he made mistakes, but he has changed over the years. We make a living here selling noodles. We even took in an orphan. We've never broken any laws. Please, do not ruin us."

Jue Wudi looked at Fang Chen. "Daoist Fang, please understand... if I go to the Yin Walker Division to register, I will be expelled from the Underworld. If it were only me, that would be one thing, but now... there's too much I cannot let go."

Fang Chen said calmly, "Sit. Answer me one question. If I'm satisfied, you'll be fine."

Jue Wudi was slightly taken aback but quickly helped his wife to her feet and sat down opposite Fang Chen.

"Ask. I will speak without hiding anything."

"You know the Spirit God Sect uses mortals to refine the Blood Spirit Pill?"

"Yes."

"For what purpose?"

"The doctrine says that there are too many mortals in the world and their lives are worthless. After refinement, the pill can be consumed by cultivators to aid their ascension. This is the righteous path, without selfish intent."

"And what's your opinion on this doctrine?"

Jue Wudi lowered his head. "It's greed, plain and simple. They are simply profiting from this, no argument against it."

"I see." Fang Chen smiled softly. "No matter how those above you think, what those below do and intend, it is exactly that."

"Here they come! Smash them!"

The customers who were driven off returned with reinforcements, over a dozen wandering souls swarmed in and began smashing and fighting.

Some attacked Jue Wudi and his wife, while naturally, others came after Fang Chen as well.