In the grand world of Japanese mythology, the war between heaven and earth has settled into a truce, maintaining a fragile calm as most beings focus on hunting down the demon gods who consume blood. These entities are no longer worthy of being called gods, whether they reside in Hell or Gao Tianyuan, which has quietly prepared to confront these demon gods.
Meanwhile, the Underworld continues to function smoothly. The entire realm maintains its operations under the control of Hades, the Sea Emperor, and the Heavenly Emperor. Although chaos still lingers on Earth, a peculiar balance is upheld.
However, anyone with discerning eyes can see that this balance is merely temporary. As time progresses, it will inevitably be shattered, piece by piece. This impending fracture is the most terrifying prospect. When the balance breaks, the resulting conflict among the gods will sweep everything away.
Of course, none of this will affect the Underworld. The entire realm has gradually found its footing. With the truce between the gods, the inhabitants of the Underworld, while remaining vigilant, have also immersed themselves in their respective duties.
Dressed in lacquered black clothing, a sharp-eyed figure spoke coldly, "Your life has come to an end; this is your hell."
"Ah!"
"No!"
The anguished wails of souls echoed, but they were of no consequence. They had already reached Yellow Spring Biliangzaka. After completing his work, the Ghost Messenger turned to leave, followed by a ghostly companion.
The ghosts of black and white now replaced the soul ecstasy once created by Hades. They embodied the true essence of soul retrieval. The black and white powers of these ghosts seemed singular, yet they encompassed countless souls. Over time, when a soul perishes, they will appear to claim it. This is their essence, and their indifferent expressions, accompanied by their black and white faces, led them deeper into the Underworld.
"Everyone! No noise! Dare to make trouble in the Underworld? Court death!" The ghosts maintained order throughout the realm.
As strong enforcers of Underworld order, the bull-headed and horse-faced figures—the ghosts of black and white—sustained the entire realm.
Outside the gates of the Underworld in Sakae, a beautiful flower field bloomed, known as the Flower Field of the Other Shore. Bianhua sat quietly among the flowers, gazing into the distance, whispering softly, "I never thought I would make it this far..."
Once a small, insignificant deity, Bianhua had been overlooked by others. She never imagined she would ascend to such heights.
Now, as the Underworld regained its calm, the gods of Hell returned one by one. Each had undergone transformation upon taking power. Bianhua had risen to the status of a first-class deity, now a main god, alongside the Ten Kings and Yan Mo, who also held the rank of Titan main god.
As for the ferryman?
A little girl in a lacquered black kimono walked quietly by the Styx River. She seemed lost in thought, tilting her head cutely, yet her face bore no expression—only an endless emptiness, devoid of emotional fluctuations. This strange demeanor felt unsettling.
"Um?!" The ferryman Charon's avatar was instantly replaced by his true form. He observed the little girl standing at the river's edge with interest and said playfully, "Oh! A little girl embodying the law of the Styx River. Though merely a prototype, isn't this the perfect part of you?"
Beside Charon stood a shadowy figure, lacking a defined form. The God of Styx differed from the ferryman in that he possessed no true body. For a long time, he had been searching for that essential part of himself, an unsettling reality that seemed hopeless.
Now, however, the most fitting part had manifested.
"Are you going to wait?" Charon inquired.
"Sure!" He replied, watching with curiosity. What choice would the little girl make? What actions could she take?
"I should step over..."
The little girl gazed quietly at the Styx River, instinctively sensing that crossing it would grant her everything she desired. After a moment's hesitation, she stepped forward and walked directly into the river.
The Styx River appeared clear, yet it was anything but. It concealed an unfathomable abyss of souls—countless wretched beings who had committed heinous acts in their lifetimes. Those without even the slightest good fortune to cross the river were doomed to perish within its depths forever.
But! Regardless of the circumstances, any soul that ventured into the Styx River would inevitably be consumed.
In this moment, a peculiar event unfolded as the little girl stepped into the river. Remarkably, she walked upon its surface, step by step. Despite the multitude of evil spirits attempting to devour her, they could not touch her at all.
Each step was firm and swift, and soon she reached the opposite bank of the Styx River as if it were just within reach.
"Child."
The little girl tilted her head, gazing at the woman before her. She appeared dazed, unsure of who this elegant, mature figure was—dressed in a kimono and holding a cigarette stick, exuding a unique blend of authority and gentleness that felt oddly familiar.
"Huh" A wisp of green smoke escaped as Yan Mo smiled gently, saying, "Little one, this is our first meeting. Do you wish to follow me and seek all that you have been lacking? Everything that belongs to you but was lost due to the circumstances of your birth."
"I... meant to..."
The little girl, appearing somewhat vacant, nodded obediently, feeling an instinctual attachment to Yan Mo.
"Hehehe" Yan Mo smiled softly and declared, "In that case, from this day forth, your name will be Yan Moai! I will grant you a new name, carrying my surname."