Matters of the Underworld

Chu Hang recalled what his uncle had told him: ordinary ghosts could not enter the County Office, but a god would certainly have no trouble.

With that thought, reverence filled Chu Hang's heart. He lit some incense at a candle stand nearby, bowed before the City God's statue, then placed the incense in the burner and hurried back to the Drunken Guest Pavilion.

Inside the City God Temple, Yi Shuyuan stepped into the main hall. Light and shadow seemed to cross, shifting between brightness and darkness, and the noises outside the temple vanished. He had entered the true City God Hall.

Unlike when the Day Patrol Officer had returned before, there was no enormous divine statue before Yi Shuyuan now. Instead, he saw a somewhat empty hall, wreathed in the scent of incense, with unfamiliar figures standing about in twos and threes.

"Lord City God, Mr. Yi has arrived!"

The Day Patrol Officer, Sun Heng, led Yi Shuyuan inside and announced his arrival.

As though only just hearing the movement behind him, an old man in a black python-patterned robe and a gauze-winged crown turned around and looked at Yi Shuyuan, who had also turned his attention toward him.

As the visitor, Yi Shuyuan naturally cupped his hands and saluted first.

"I am Yi Shuyuan. My respects, Lord City God!"

A smile appeared on the old City God's face, and he returned the salute.

"No need for such ceremony, Mr. Yi. I am Xiang Changqing, the City God of this county. When I heard you wished to visit, I set aside my official duties and have been waiting here to welcome you! Please, take the seat of honor!"

There were tables and chairs in the center of the hall. The City God personally led Yi Shuyuan farther inside, and they sat down in turn. Other ghosts and gods took seats beside them, and City God Xiang introduced each of them to Yi Shuyuan.

"These are the gods presiding over the Office of Yin and Yang, the Office of Merit and Deeds, the Office of Punishing Evil, and the other offices, along with the Civil and Martial Judges!"

As the City God named them, the officials each cupped their hands toward Yi Shuyuan. He naturally dared not slight them and returned every greeting.

Throughout this, the gods of the Underworld Office were also studying Yi Shuyuan closely. They could not gauge the depth of his cultivation, but his manners were courteous and his bearing extraordinary. These gods were especially sensitive to people's hearts. Even if his cultivation was profound, the sincerity he naturally displayed did not seem feigned, and he appeared particularly curious about the Underworld Office.

Under these circumstances, the gods of the Underworld Office, including City God Xiang Changqing, all relaxed somewhat. Having met him in person, they could sense that this Mr. Yi was, at the very least, no evil creature!

Yi Shuyuan truly was curious about everything around him. Had he not feared seeming rude, he would have been looking this way and that. Even now, he could not help studying things within his field of vision.

"Mr. Yi, what important matter have you come to discuss?"

Although the City God had come straight to the point, Yi Shuyuan still had to approach it indirectly. After weighing his words, he spoke.

"This matter is somewhat complicated and concerns the Underworld. I am on fairly good terms with Elder Huang, the Broad South Mountain God. He said he had some acquaintance with you, Lord City God, and suggested I come here for advice."

It was perfectly ordinary to mention a mutual acquaintance to draw closer, and to Yi Shuyuan, the effect seemed quite obvious.

There was just one thing Yi Shuyuan had misunderstood. When Huang Hongchuan had said they had "a little acquaintance," it really had been just a little-not a scrap more.

The ghosts and gods present actually knew little about the Broad South Mountain God. They knew only that, though free-spirited, he had lofty standards and was not easy to get along with. But he was an Orthodox God, after all, and had to be shown respect and given due face.

Thus, the City God also became somewhat more courteous.

"I would not presume to call it advice, but we will certainly tell you everything we know. What would you like to ask about, Mr. Yi?"

Yi Shuyuan could clearly sense a subtle change even in the City God's tone. It seemed connections were something even ghosts and gods could not rise above.

With that thought, Yi Shuyuan's mind gradually returned to Broad South Mountain, recalling the Awakening of Insects Tribulation.

"Previously, I took the dwelling of a water spirit in the mountain to use as an inkstone, then returned it several days ago. Over this matter, Elder Huang and I drank and talked at length on Broad South Mountain. I also sought his guidance on the mysteries of the immortal path..."

Everything Yi Shuyuan said was true, but at this point, the City God and several other gods could not help frowning. Judging by his wording, he had actually sought instruction in the immortal path from the Broad South Mountain God, a cultivator of the divine path? Yet this man was clearly an immortal cultivator himself, and they could not even discern his true depths.

Could I have misheard? Did he mean they discussed the immortal path? That seemed reasonable enough. A mountain god linked with the earth veins and influenced the mountain's contours, so he certainly shared common ground with immortal cultivators when it came to the natural ways of heaven and earth.

Yi Shuyuan knew nothing of the City God's tangled thoughts. After briefly explaining the cause, he continued with what had followed.

"When the wine ran out, Elder Huang departed. Unable to hold my liquor, I was already drunk, so I took a short nap on the ridge. But when Awakening of Insects arrived and thunder began to rumble, Wawa in the stream drew down lightning because of the stone inkstone I had returned, and perished beneath the heavenly thunder..."

Yi Shuyuan did not tell them everything. At the very least, he concealed his own tribulation and focused on Wawa's story. But while he could leave out the fact that he had undergone the tribulation, he could still describe what he had felt during it.

To convince the ghosts and gods, Yi Shuyuan therefore recounted quite a few of his experiences during the tribulation, merely transferring them to Wawa. In his account, Wawa had suffered the tribulation, while Yi Shuyuan had sensed part of that terrifying ordeal through his own perception.

Even so, as Yi Shuyuan revealed one detail after another, the assembled ghosts and gods of Yuanjiang County's Underworld Office felt as though they were sitting on needles. Merely listening to parts of his account made them feel as though strands of lightning were churning within their hearts, leaving them trembling and uneasy!

Though Yi Shuyuan could not possibly recount an entire night's Awakening of Insects Tribulation, when he finally reached the point where he and the Mountain God discovered Wawa's death, the ghosts and gods all felt as if they could breathe again, as though they had endured a small tribulation within their own hearts.

"Sadly, by returning the mountain stone I had used as an inkstone to Wawa, I instead cost Wawa's life. Only a wisp of vital essence remained, joined with the stone..."

Since he was asking for help, Yi Shuyuan naturally described Wawa's situation in as much detail as possible, ensuring that nothing was left out. He also explained that a trace of vital energy remained preserved within the mountain stone.

"After discussing it with Elder Huang, we believed that, with the aid of the Heavenly Dao's power of reincarnation, Wawa might still have a thread of hope. But we must seek the counsel of a God of the Netherworld on this matter, and perhaps even require the aid of a Great Netherworld God!"

Yi Shuyuan did not say outright that this was Huang Hongchuan's suggestion, much less mention that Huang Hongchuan thought the City God here might lack the power to accomplish it. He merely called it a decision reached through discussion. Having finished, Yi Shuyuan looked expectantly at Xiang Changqing.

"Lord City God, what would you advise?"

The old City God's feelings were difficult to name. He was still pondering how a trace of ink left on an inkstone could have brought down a calamity that drowned its victim. But since Yi Shuyuan had asked, he could only suppress those thoughts and consider his answer.

"In all my years as City God, I have never heard of sending a stone to be reincarnated. Still, according to you and Elder Huang, that mountain stone is extraordinary in itself, and the resonance of ink has preserved its intelligence. We certainly cannot say Wawa is beyond all hope..."

In truth, the old City God's thoughts were quite different. Send a stone to be reincarnated? Even if it contains a trace of a spirit creature's vital energy, it is still a stone! How could such a thing possibly be reincarnated?

But Yi Shuyuan had raised the matter. In the eyes of the assembled ghosts and gods, the Yi Shuyuan who had first entered the City God Hall was already different from the Yi Shuyuan before them now. Since he said it was possible, they would first rack their brains along the path he had proposed.

"If this is truly to be done, the key is not how profound our powers are. Rather, even as Gods of the Netherworld, we can only help it travel the length of Yellow Springs Road. But as for crossing the River of Forgetfulness..."

The old City God's brows knitted tightly, and his words paused there.

Yi Shuyuan first frowned slightly, then looked curious. He knew nothing about the affairs of this Underworld beyond a few legends he had heard. With such a rare opportunity before him, he immediately asked.

"Could you explain the process of reincarnation, Lord City God? For instance, Yellow Springs Road and the River of Forgetfulness you mentioned-are they beyond even the Underworld Office's control?"

This time, Xiang Changqing truly could not conceal his astonishment as he looked at Yi Shuyuan. He does not even know this? Yet Yi Shuyuan's expression was earnest; he certainly did not seem to have come deliberately to mock them.

The Inspector of the Office of Yin and Yang beside them looked at the old City God. Seeing his surprise and silence, the inspector took up the question.

"Mr. Yi, as the saying goes, Yellow Springs has two roads: one leads to the Underworld Office, the other to rebirth. Take mortals as an example. The newly dead follow Yellow Springs Road to the various Underworld Offices, perhaps escorted by an earth god, perhaps brought by an underworld officer. When their underworld lifespan is exhausted, if they qualify for reincarnation, they must set out along Yellow Springs Road once more, walking all the way to the boundary of the River of Forgetfulness."

The Inspector of the Office of Yin and Yang paused briefly, and the old City God beside Yi Shuyuan picked up the explanation.

"The River of Forgetfulness is the soul's final trial. Countless evil ghosts and monsters dwell in its waters, all wandering souls and vengeful ghosts denied reincarnation. Soul serpents swarm there, and a blood-reeking wind strikes the face. Even if the Underworld Office fails to uncover a soul's wrongdoing and mistakenly judges it fit for reincarnation, it will still struggle to cross that river!"

"Wind and rain buffet the Bridge of Forgetfulness. Once an evil soul steps onto it, that soul is certain to fall! And an inanimate thing like a stone cannot even get onto the bridge. Even if a soul carries it up there, that extra foreign object will send them both plunging into the river!"

As the old City God spoke, he watched Yi Shuyuan's reaction. His look of understanding, followed by a frown, did not seem false.

"If you truly wish to get a stone across the River of Forgetfulness, there is only one other way!"

Yi Shuyuan perked up.

"What way?"

The old City God sighed, then finally told him.

"Besides the Bridge of Forgetfulness, there is also the Nether Crossing! It is not, in fact, a normal means of passage. The souls in the Underworld are beyond counting, and there are always some who deserve rebirth but cannot cross the Bridge of Forgetfulness for special reasons. The Nether Crossing came into being for their sake. Yet its existence also gives certain evil souls who have escaped the Underworld Office's scrutiny a chance to cross the River of Forgetfulness."

Yi Shuyuan understood why the old City God had seemed reluctant to speak of it earlier. This could be considered a small part of the Underworld's darker side.

"If a soul could take the stone aboard the Nether Crossing and carry it across the river, perhaps we really could try to have that stone reincarnated..."

The old City God explained carefully. Since they had begun considering this approach, he would make it as complete as possible.

Yi Shuyuan gradually learned more details about the Underworld. As the saying went, ghosts and gods did not board the Nether Crossing, and golden bodies could scarcely approach the Bridge of Forgetfulness. Even an underworld god could not help with this final step-unless he chose to abandon his cultivation and become human again.

The Bridge of Forgetfulness was out of the question. Their only hope lay in the Nether Crossing, but they could not simply find any ghost to carry the stone aboard and cross the river.

The entire River of Forgetfulness teemed with countless vengeful ghosts and monsters, filled with resentment and unwillingness. They could not touch the Bridge of Forgetfulness, but they would try every possible means to drag the souls aboard the Nether Crossing into the water. Whenever a ferry passed, the pitiful ghosts in the river, seemingly full of wails and pleas, would bare their ferocious nature and become utterly frenzied...

Having a ghost protect the stone while crossing the river would be no easy matter.

"By the way, if we do this, would the Celestial Court intervene?"

At Yi Shuyuan's question, every ghost and god in the hall froze for a moment. Seeing that he was not joking, the City God answered.

"Although the Gods of the Netherworld and the celestial realm do have ties, they belong to the opposite realms of yin and yang. Their authority does not reach quite that far."

The old City God was putting it politely. The Netherworld had its own system, one that valued the people's welfare over arduous cultivation and nurtured golden bodies upon a foundation of virtue. They could help one another, but theirs was not the relationship of superiors and subordinates that ordinary people imagined.

That was also the wondrous thing about it. The Underworld had less to fear from the influence of incense offerings. For gods who rewarded good and punished evil, believers held goodness in their hearts, while evildoers generally feared them to some degree. With their golden bodies founded upon virtue, they were less afraid of being held hostage by incense and fire prayer power-or perhaps, ever since becoming gods, they had been precisely what those prayers wished them to be.