Lu Li extended a hand, steadying himself on Ruth as he stood up.
His body and hair were covered in dust, but he didn't bother to clean himself. Lu Li staggered over to the nearby demon and crouched in front of it.
The hungry demon showed no hostility as Lu Li approached, its body slumping slightly.
Lu Li's gaze fell to the hungry demon's ankle, where a tag hung, nearly worn away from dragging against the ground.
Tags like that were usually tied to the ankles or wrists of corpses in a morgue for identification.
Reaching out, he took the tag and wiped away the gri with his thumb. A blurry na appeared.
[Whitley Sela]
Lu Li did indeed know a woman nad Whitley.
A pitiable woman Richard had used in a parasitic experint, inserting another's soul into her body. Her flesh had begun to decay while she was still alive.
That villain had gotten what he deserved, but his innocent victims were still suffering the bitter consequences.
"You rember who this is?"
Ruth's voice ca from behind him.
The hungry demon bared its sharp teeth, showing open hostility toward Ruth.
"Your benefactor killed , and you expect
to be gentle with him?" Ruth sneered at the hungry demon, then shook her head. "I really must be going mad, talking to a mindless husk."
"Why did you say she's starving?" Lu Li dropped the tag—the only proof the hungry demon had once been human—and stood up, turning to ask.
Lu Li had switched to calling the creature "she."
Out of respect.
"Gluttony is aningless in Hell. No matter how much flesh you eat, the hunger never lessens, not one bit." Ruth lifted her coat, revealing the horrifying sight of her clearly defined ribs and sunken stomach. "Hell burns and tornts human souls every second. Only by replenishing the soul can you satisfy this hunger."
She lowered her coat, her voice dropping. "If we don't constantly replenish ourselves, we'll eventually turn into these lesser hungry demons."
"'We'?" Lu Li caught the detail.
"Hell is a lot hotter than you think, and I'm not talking about the temperature," Ruth said, her words carrying a double aning. "Besides these wretched, mindless lesser demons, you'll find the Devil's forces, demon territories, and wandering greater demons everywhere. There are also plenty of souls, like you and , who have kept their forms and haven't yet beco demons."
"How do you protect yourself?"
Ruth didn't hide it. She threw open her coat, revealing a holster with a flintlock pistol, and patted it. "Hunt the demons that don't have their wits about them."
She wanted to draw it to intimidate Lu Li, but she wasn't sure if his guardian souls would see it as a hostile act.
"Can I see it?" Lu Li's eyes were fixed on the pistol. He wanted to know if it was a spirit gun.
Her coat fell closed, hiding the pistol from view. Ruth replied in an unfriendly tone, "No."
Asking no more questions, Lu Li simply told Ruth, "I intend to leave this place."
"Do you have any idea how vast Hell is? How many demons there are? How powerful they are?" Ruth's questions were a clear mockery of Lu Li's ignorance.
"Does it matter?"
"These powerful beings are forced to remain in Hell and endure its tornt. What makes you think you can just leave?"
"Because I don't belong here," Lu Li replied calmly.
It was, admittedly, a strong argunt. Ruth shrugged, no longer trying to dissuade him. "Then what are you going to do, dium?"
"Where do you all gather?" Lu Li asked.
"The Canyon of Justice."
"Take
there, please."
"There's no need to rush. In Hell, you have to get used to slowing down," Ruth tried to caution him. "Every action we take drains the soul. The slower you move, the slower it drains."
Lu Li shook his head slightly. He didn't have much ti. "The Devil's spawn are looking for . I have to find a way out before they find ."
Besides, the longer he lingered in Hell, the greater the risk to Anna.
Lu Li didn't want to return only to find an Anna who had completely lost her humanity and transford into an Evil Spirit.
"You've got to be joking, right?"
The levity on Ruth's face slowly vanished. Looking at Lu Li's calm expression, she realized he probably wasn't joking...
Especially after Lu Li raised his hand, revealing a burn in the shape of an inverted pentagram on the back of it.
She recoiled as if she'd seen a mortal enemy, staring warily at Lu Li. "I refuse to help you. I thought you'd be more cautious after you so despicably killed , but I never expected you to dare provoke a Devil in Hell..."
"Wait."
Lu Li called out to the retreating Ruth. "Just tell
how to get to the Canyon of Justice."
After backing away ten ters, Ruth pointed in a direction. "Follow the base of the Black Rock Volcano, and you'll see an abandoned town. The only tavern still open there is the place."
Lu Li turned and looked into the distance, his gaze fixed on the edge of the teorite crater.
"Thank you."
Lu Li gave Ruth a grateful nod, paying no more mind to her complicated expression. Accompanied by Whitley, he walked to the edge of the teorite crater and climbed out.
After pulling the gaunt Whitley up after him, Lu Li scanned the horizon. On the black earth crisscrossed by rivers of lava, it was difficult to spot any town; perhaps it was too far away.
Whitley showed no signs of leaving, so Lu Li took her with him and started walking along the base of the mountain.
At so point, Lu Li suddenly turned his head slightly.
Ruth, who had "parted ways" with him just minutes ago, was walking a few dozen ters behind.
After walking another few hundred ters, Ruth was still following him. Lu Li stopped and turned around.
"I'm going to the tavern," Ruth said awkwardly. "It's just on the way."
Lu Li said nothing and continued walking across the scorching earth.
"Why is it called the Canyon of Justice?"
Lu Li asked. Soon, Ruth's reply ca from behind him. "That's the na given to it by the first spirit, demon, or devil who ca here. Because all the dead who end up here are equal. They aren't elevated for having been princes or nobles. They all face the sa fate. What could be more just?"
An addition followed, laced with both pity and schadenfreude.
"But you're the exception. You're the 'lucky one' being hunted by a Devil."
"Tell
about the tavern."
"Fine."
Then Ruth told Lu Li about the tavern.
Exchange and trade are an important part of life for intelligent beings, even in Hell.
Chaos and evil are synonymous with Hell; lies and deceit flourish here. Even a cunning Devil can be tricked.
And so, the tavern ca to be.
The tavern is a gathering place for all sorts: holess souls, demon hunters, various greater demons, malevolent demons, even Devils. They exchange information and trade.
The rules there are universally accepted: no one, no matter who they are, is allowed to use force within the town's limits.
Not even Devils or greater demons.
Whether these rules are truly effective and can restrain the highest-level beings of Hell remains to be seen.
But for now, at least, the tavern still exists.
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