"For the grace of His Majesty, we have a human intruder!"
They were scared, not of the human, but because there was never a human, especially an alive one, that could ever step his foot in Hell.
That was because the air on Hell was highly polluted for any living beings that their skin would be corroded and their organ would turn into a pile of pus, and to broke his way into the main headquarter, one needed to cross through Eighteen Layers of Hell, mainly eighteen kind of tortures for the soul of the sinners.
The human stood straight, his gaze resolute, and with one leap, he landed on the first step of stairs leading to Judgment Room.
Tap…tap…tap. Step by step, he took his time.
Every time his step landed, a lotus flower bloomed under him. The pinkish white flowers were like lights dispersing the darkness.
Sometimes, his step faltered. Blood trickled down his arm that was holding a broken sword, dripping onto the lotus flowers, turning them into bloody red lotus.
It was mesmerizing and breathtaking.
He was so badly injured that none of his skin were left untouched. Blood were seeping on the stairs behind him. His breathing were ragged, but his determination never wavered even a bit.
On that eventful day, new history was written on Hell.
Breaking through Eighteen Layers of Hell, climbing on thousand stairs of Judgment Room, and standing in front of The King with his ministers surrounding him, Sheng Li was the first human—and the only human ever—to achieve that.
He raised his head and looked straight into The King's eyes.
No fear. No doubt. No pain.
Only firm determination.
Whispers and discussions were heard all over the room. Shock, fear, curious, contempt, disdain were painted on the ministers' face. But from the start, Sheng Li had only looked straight.
"Silence."
One word. Just one word and all the noises died down. Silence ensued in the Judgment Room to the point where every breath and every heartbeat could be heard.
Sheng Li's blood was still flowing, making the ground around him red.
His face paled and his breathing weak, as if he could fall down anytime soon.
"Human, how dare you break into my territory. Have you any idea what place is this?" The King's voice was soft like silk, it was carried by the wind and flow through every corner of Hell.
Every creatures that heard him were trembling and curled up on the ground, trying to making their presence as small as possible.
Sheng Li whispered. His voice weak but firm. "I know. This is Hell, and Your Majesty, you are the one I'm looking for."
"Oh?" One of The King's brows arched. His interest was piqued. "It's been such a long time since I have a human audience. Speak, what do you seek me for?"
"I'm looking for someone, Your Majesty. And she—she's with you."
"And what does that have to do with me?"
"Free her. Free her and let her reincarnate, because only you, Your Majesty, could make that decision."
At that moment, all of the ministers around Sheng Li exploded in anger.
"How dare you!"
"Who are you to ask My Majesty to change his decision!"
"Such insolence! My King, please give your punishment upon him!"
The King's palm landed on the table in front of him, and with a loud bang, the wide and sturdy table cracked and turned into dust. "Silence!" he growled.
His brows furrowed with annoyance and the temperature in Judgment Room dropped instantly. Wind was blowing wildly around him, his midnight black robe fluttered along his silvery hair.
All his ministers instantly shut up, none dared to speak ever again.
The King swapped his glance across the room before landing on Sheng Li. His lips curled up, but it was full of coldness, arrogance and cruelty. "Interesting. Very interesting. But, human, what makes you think I will grant this request of yours? Every single soul in my hand is personally picked by me. It was the darkest, dirtiest soul that had committed countless great sins. It was a soul that was destined to be tortured forever, never to be born again. Do you think I will give it to you?"
Hearing that, Sheng Li's gaze was full of sadness and grief. His voice cracked and hoarse. "I know. I know, but—but it wasn't her fault." It was mine. If not because of me, she wouldn't have fallen into madness and be tainted.
The King chuckled. "Do I care?"
Bam!
Sheng Li's knees buckled and he kneeled with a loud thud in front of The King. He bent his body as low as he could and begged. "Please."
His sword slipped to the ground. His fists balled so hard that his wound got opened wider with more blood dripping. He was numb of all pain, except the one in his heart.
"I am willing to do anything. I am willing to give anything, as long as you could free her. I beg you, Your Majesty. I beg you." His voice ended with a whisper, carrying heartbreak and despair within it.
The King fell silent for a moment. "Even if your soul were to take her place?"
Sheng Li raised his head abruptly, and the force almost made his body toppling down. But he couldn't care less. His gaze were brighter than ever. Without any hesitation, he answered. "Yes!"
"Even if you will be tortured forever and lose your chance to reincarnate?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. I am willing to do it. Anything you ask. Anything."
"Brat, you are the Emperor of the Earth, the strongest human ever exist. You could have anything you want, power, status, women. Everyone bow before you. Why do you have to sacrifice it all?"
Sheng Li smiled faintly. "Because she is all I ever want. For her, I could forsake everything!"
The King narrowed his eyes. This human…even if his body was battered and his life was hanging on the line, but he could feel the power and determination in his eyes. It was so pure, so clear that…he was tempted to taint them and make them lost the light.
Interesting. Very interesting.
The King couldn't hold himself back and he threw his head back and roared with laughter, and the ministers below him followed suit. He raised his arm and in his palm was a dark ball of light.
A soul that was full of hatred, pain and suffering. That little black ball was so small and weak that even a slight wind could dispersed it.
Sheng Li jolted. His body shuddered and he felt all his energy leaving him, but his eyes…that pair of bright eyes never stranded from the little black ball ever since it appeared.
His cold eyes melted instantly and warmth overflowing within them, as if every single drop of gentleness in him was only reserved for the soul.
My beloved...I've come to you as I promised…