"'Illuminating the Night-Blooming Tansy'..."
Something stirred in Jiang Yang's heart, and he heard Bai Tang answer softly:
"To illuminate is to have a divine candle shine through the night, lighting the jade halls from within, spreading clouds of tansy and plumbing the hidden depths. Thus, when the Cloud Veil of Night wraps the body, light is born with time. With neither day nor night, one may walk the mortal world and cross the paths of the dead."
"This art is of little use for ordinary travel, but it is an excellent divine power for crossing the River of Forgetfulness and walking the Netherworld."
Jiang Yang nodded inwardly at this. Since both had agreed, the matter could now be settled. He replied:
"I imagine you have already guessed what I seek, True Person. This is naturally no simple matter, but in truth, it is not so difficult either."
"Oh?"
Xuan Yan's ears fluttered slightly as he heard the youth opposite him say:
"You need only take me to the Nether Bureau once."
"Oh... hmm?!"
At those words, Xuan Yan's previously casual expression abruptly turned serious. Then he shook his head like a pellet drum:
"No, absolutely not. What sort of place do you think that is?"
"The Nether Bureau keeps the living at a distance and bars their entry. It is no place for you to play around. Even with the Cloud Veil of Night draped around me, I must tread carefully there, for fear of disturbing a Ghost Constable or offending a Yin Deity. And now you want me to bring you along?!"
Seeing his whiskers quiver, Jiang Yang thought that the Nether Bureau was probably even more terrifying than the Hall of Yama. But he was not going there to tamper with the Book of Life and Death. He