Escaping the Sea of Suffering

Zhang Weichu had been about to leave, but hearing those words, he fell silent for a moment.

Only after glancing at the other ghost did he speak with a trace of emotion. "In life, I studied the books of the sages. Naturally, I would never take another's life."

"So what? Even if you were a metropolitan graduate, you still got dragged down here to become a water ghost."

The water ghost beside him gave a derisive laugh. "I won't interfere with you saving people who fall into the water here. But when my replacement enters the water, if you dare stop me, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

For now, Zhang Weichu could save whomever he pleased. It had nothing to do with him.

If more people were saved, those who came to the Yongding River afterward would presumably grow less cautious, making it easier for him to strike.

He simply had to give this Zhang Weichu a stern warning.

He could not let him ruin his plans when the time came.

With that thought, he turned to leave.

Hearing those words, Zhang Weichu froze where he stood.

Indeed, there was no problem with saving the people who ordinarily fell into the water. But if he saved this ghost's intended victim and left the ghost to suffer the torment of drowning alongside him forever, that seemed wrong as well.

At this thought, he could not help wavering.

"Zhang Weichu!"

Just as Zhang Weichu hesitated, a shout came from afar.

The next moment, he saw the river boy floating toward them.

"Lord River Boy!"

Both water ghosts showed great respect at the sight of the river boy and hurriedly greeted him.

The river boy nodded at the two, then turned toward Zhang Weichu, a strange look flashing across his face.

After a moment's consideration, he took out a decree and presented it to him.

"This is a decree sent by the City God of Anzi County. It says that you are virtuous and upright, and may enter the Underworld Bureau to serve under the Civil Judge and receive offerings of incense from the living. Are you willing?"

Enter the Underworld Bureau?

"My lord, why would this happen?"

Hearing this, Zhang Weichu instantly grew excited, only to quickly calm down again.

After all, he had hardly heard of anyone being allowed to enter the Underworld Bureau and receive incense offerings so long after their death.

At Zhang Weichu's question, the river boy considered for a moment before replying, "The City God's temple holds two registers, Yin and Yang. I heard that you accumulated a considerable amount of Yin Merit in the Yin Register, drawing the City God's attention."

The Yin Register? Yin Merit?

Hearing this, Zhang Weichu was stunned, as was the other water ghost beside him.

So this was why he had been saving people from drowning all these days?

There was actually no need to find a replacement? Simply saving people from drowning would let him escape the torment of drowning too?

The water ghost's thoughts were simple, but the river boy inwardly shook his head as he watched him.

As the river boy, he knew this was far from so simple.

How could Yin Merit in the Yin Register be so easy to accumulate? Besides, the City God had taken a liking to Zhang Weichu and specifically called him virtuous and upright.

What lay behind all this could not be explained in a few words.

If saving a few drowning people were enough to enter the Underworld Bureau and enjoy incense offerings, would becoming a Yin deity in the Underworld Bureau really be so easy?

Zhang Weichu, however, did not think of this. Instead, his first thought was of Fang Zelin, whom he had encountered earlier.

Had it not been for Fang Zelin's words, he would not have done all this.

Thinking about it now, it was Fang Zelin who had shown him the way.

"Of course I am willing to enter the Underworld Bureau. It is all thanks to that gentleman I met before."

At this thought, a trace of gratitude appeared on Zhang Weichu's face.

Hearing Zhang Weichu mention this man, the river boy could not help pondering for a moment. He, too, found this man difficult to fathom.

With a single remark, he had enlightened a water ghost, allowing him to enter the Underworld Bureau and receive incense offerings. What remarkable ability!

After all, entering the Underworld Bureau to enjoy incense offerings was about as difficult as passing the provincial examination in Great Jin.

How did one become a provincial graduate?

First, one had to become an examination candidate, then take the county, prefectural, and academy examinations. Only then could one qualify as a licentiate.

Next came the provincial examination, held once every three years. Only by passing it could one become a provincial graduate. And not every licentiate could take the provincial examination; they had to sit examinations every year.

Only by coming out on top could a licentiate participate in the provincial examination.

These examinations grew harder with every stage. After all, those who made it to the later stages were all outstanding talents from across the land.

To think that such a difficult barrier had been broken with a single remark.

After considering it carefully, the river boy suddenly felt a jolt as something occurred to him.

"Could this man be an immortal's accomplished disciple who has descended from some famous mountain?"

"What do you mean, my lord?"

Hearing this, Zhang Weichu was stunned as well.

"It is said that when immortals accept disciples, they place great importance on their character, requiring them to temper themselves in the mortal world for over thirty years before teaching them an Immortal Method."

"They do this solely out of concern that a disciple of poor character, once taught an Immortal Method, might bring disaster upon a region and plunge its living beings into misery."

After some thought, the river boy shared this rumor.

The path of seeking immortality was exceedingly difficult, and he had merely heard such accounts.

At first, disciples of great masters would not be taught wondrous immortal methods. They would only have their temperament honed and their Dao hearts tempered.

If their character proved poor and they lacked a Dao heart, they would be expelled from the sect.

This practice echoed a saying often heard in Great Jin's martial world: martial heroes transgressed the law through their prowess.

Even ordinary martial heroes prompted fears that they might disrupt the laws of the realm, let alone immortals.

Hearing this, Zhang Weichu immediately recalled Fang Zelin's earlier words: "If a man does not act for himself, Heaven and Earth will destroy him."

If an immortal understood those words exactly as he had, what would become of the whole world...

At this thought, even Zhang Weichu could not help drawing a sharp breath.

"Then this man really might be an immortal's disciple?"

With that thought, Zhang Weichu hurriedly spoke.

Hearing this, the river boy carefully recalled what Fang Zelin had said, words that had vaguely struck him as containing the great Dao of Heaven and Earth. After some consideration, he nodded.

"Very likely."

"But when an immortal's disciple enters the mortal world, they never show their true face."

Hearing this, Zhang Weichu formed a plan.

Whatever the case, without that man's words back then, he could never have entered the Underworld Bureau.

Now that he could enter the Underworld Bureau, his benefactor should still be in Anzi County.

When he had time, he would have to find his benefactor and thank him properly.

With that thought, Zhang Weichu held the decree and bowed to the river boy, then turned into a stream of water and departed.

Seeing this, the river boy turned and vanished from the spot as well.

The water ghost beside them stared blankly at the scene.

He had not quite understood their later conversation, but he had grasped one thing: the other ghost had been able to enter the Underworld Bureau because he had kept saving people.

If he followed that example, surely he could enter the Underworld Bureau too!

Then he, too, could escape the torment of drowning and enjoy incense offerings from the mortal world!

With that thought, the water ghost hurried off excitedly.