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Ninth Young Master has become Third Prince, and everyone is delighted. Dragon King presented Bai Tang with a generous gift, and after enjoying a special banquet at the Dragon Palace, the group returned to land. Aoxinchin and Wild Lilac did not join the others but were accompanied by Listening Heart and Long Ba back to Western Sea to visit their parents. Lu Feng had no reason to follow them this time and could only reluctantly accompany Bai Tang and Hua Man Lou. As soon as Yang Jian reached land, he bid them farewell, eager to return to Guankou to prepare a room for his son.
“Where are we going now?” Lu Feng asked, as he and Hua Man Lou had no destination in mind and turned to Bai Tang.
Bai Tang: “I need to go to the Underworld to send my disciple for reincarnation. Are you coming?”
“Of course!” Lu Feng replied without hesitation. He had already visited the famous three Celestial Architecture sites on land, including the Heavenly Court and the Dragon Palace, so he definitely wanted to see the Yama Palace.
To ordinary people, the Underworld and the Yama Palace seemed like terrifying places. However, when the three of them actually stood in the realm of the Underworld, they realized what it meant that “without investigation, one has no right to speak.” Besides being dark and gloomy, the streets were bustling with people, vendors calling out their wares... it was not much different from a human marketplace!
“What are three living beings doing in the Underworld?” While they were still in shock, a cold voice like a blade scraping metal sounded behind them.
The three turned around to see a man in his thirties with a pale face and black beard, wearing a blue cloth cap with tassels, dressed in a blue robe, cinched with a leather belt, and wearing narrow-bottomed boots. If not for the soul-reaping token in his hand, he could easily be mistaken for a constable from the human realm.
“This is Grim Reaper Brother. I am Bai Tang, seeking an audience with Yama King for an important matter,” Bai Tang said, cupping her hands in greeting. As the saying goes, “Yama is easy to meet, but ghosts are hard to deal with.” Bai Tang did not want to offend these spirits.
The Ghost Messenger coldly replied: “How could you expect to meet Yama King just because you want to? You trespassed into the Underworld, come back with me to face your punishment.” With that, he shook his Iron Chains, ready to bind Bai Tang.
Bai Tang quickly dodged the chains and smiled: “Although I am just an unknown person, my two friends are not. One is a disciple of the Floral Fairy, and the other is a disciple of Peacock Ming Wang. Even if they meet Yama King, they will be treated courteously. Do you still wish to capture us for punishment, Grim Reaper Brother?”
The Ghost Messenger was taken aback. The identities of the two men were indeed impressive; if they were together, this woman was certainly not just some “unknown person.” The Ghost Messenger quickly put away his chains and bowed to the three: “So it is three esteemed immortals visiting. I will take you to the Yama Palace. Please follow me.”
“Thank you, Grim Reaper Brother!” Bai Tang took out a piece of gold and handed it to the Ghost Messenger. His cold face immediately broke into a smile, and his attitude towards the three became even more courteous. This fully confirmed that “money can make ghosts push millstones.”
The Ghost Messenger led the three towards the city gate. Confused, Lu Feng asked: “Isn’t this the way out of town?”
The Ghost Messenger replied: “Indeed, esteemed immortal. The Yama Palace is not within this Fengdu City, but rather by the banks of the River of Forgetfulness.”
Curious, Hua Man Lou asked: “Is there a Bridge of Helplessness over the River of Forgetfulness? Is there a Meng Po? Is the Wishing Platform also there?”
Ghost Messenger replied, "Everyone is here! The Immortal truly understands our Underworld!"
Hua Man Lou smiled without answering; he had read many stories. He didn't expect Underworld to be just as described in the tales. Could it be that someone had traveled through Underworld and wrote those stories upon returning?
Outside the city, it was even darker, with yellow sand swirling. Occasionally, a few ghostly flames drifted by, creating an atmosphere of the ghost realm. After walking for a while, they came across a tall archway with a couplet hanging above it. The first line read: "In the world of the living, villains harm others;” the second line said: “In the bright Underworld, who has ever been spared?" The horizontal plaque stated: "You may come now."
Bai Tang: "This horizontal plaque... is incredible!"
Entering the archway, they found a row of palaces inside, with the first being the Silver Peace Hall. On the pillars of the hall was another couplet: The first line read: "Do not act recklessly; dreams blossom in vain, calculating whether what is before you is real or just clever tricks;" the second line said: "Do not be bold; hot iron melts copper, feeling whether your heart fears or not, think carefully." The horizontal plaque stated: "Good and evil are clearly defined." Upon entering the hall, they saw at the top a figure seated—a Yama Son, wearing a Five Dragon Bead Crown, with dragon heads facing forward and tails backward. He wore a light yellow Robe of the Dragon, with a jade belt around his waist and official boots at his feet. Looking at his face, it was as hard as iron, with three strands of black beard flowing over his chest—truly an imposing figure that inspired fear. On either side stood civil and military Judgment Officers, one holding a Book of Good and Evil and the other holding a Book of Life and Death. Both wore soft-winged black caps and large red robes with round collars and wide sleeves, secured with a rhinoceros horn belt, their feet clad in black boots. There were also Ox-Head and Horse-Face along with many Ferocious Evil Spirits standing in formation. To the side of the hall was a high platform about ten feet tall, on which sat a large mirror. Above the mirror was a horizontal plaque inscribed with seven large characters: "Nirvana Mirror Platform has no good people before it."
According to what the three knew, the Fengdu Emperor in Underworld commanded the Ten Yama Kings, which included King Qin Guang, Chu Jiang Wang, Song Emperor, Wuguan Wang, Yama King, Biancheng Wang, Taishan King, Urban King, Equal King, and Zhuanlun Wang. Among them, King Qin Guang was the first Yama in charge of life and death in the human world, overseeing fortune and misfortune in the underworld. In his hall was a treasure called the Nirvana Mirror Platform, which could reveal all sins committed by souls in the living world. Based on these sins, King Qin Guang would make decisions about reincarnation or punishment in Hell!
Indeed, Ghost Messenger called out loudly: “Your Highness King Qin Guang, these three immortals seek your audience!”
Upon learning of Lu Feng and Hua Man Lou's identities, King Qin Guang did not dare to be presumptuous. He descended from his throne and clasped his hands together, saying, “What brings you three here?”
Bai Tang bowed respectfully and said: “Your Highness King Qin Guang, I have a disciple who passed away recently. I wish to personally send her to reincarnation; I ask for your assistance.”
“That's easy to arrange!” King Qin Guang readily agreed to grant this favor to Bai Tang. “Please release your disciple!”
Following his instructions, Bai Tang released Xue Pan. Unlike in the human world where souls were ethereal, in the ghost realm she appeared as solid as ever.
“Master!” Xue Pan exclaimed joyfully upon seeing her beloved Master. He remembered closing his eyes amidst his descendants' cries when he ran out of energy. But what was this situation? Was he not dead? Had his own Master saved him?
“Xue Pan, do not forget to greet His Highness King Qin Guang!”
King Qin Guang? Startled, Xue Pan realized that he was one of the Ten Yama Kings!
"Am I really dead?"
Bai Tang felt a headache coming on; why was his disciple so foolish?
"This is Underworld. Are you dead or not?"
"Then Master, you are also in Underworld? Does that mean you are dead too?"
Bai Tang slapped him across the face: "Idiot, quickly pay your respects to His Highness."
Xue Pan wasn't really an idiot; he just didn't react in time. After being slapped by Bai Tang, he immediately bowed respectfully to King Qin Guang. King Qin Guang accepted the greeting and instructed the Judgment Officer to check Xue Pan's life history. Then, satisfied, he said to Bai Tang: "Xue Pan served his country well in life. Although he killed many, he saved even more. Based on his merits, he will be reborn into the royal family in his next life!"
Bai Tang was quite pleased with this outcome: "Xue Pan, although the royal family is the most esteemed in the mortal realm, it is also the hardest to navigate. You must stay true to yourself; don't aim to be an emperor. Just be a leisurely prince and live happily for the rest of your life."
"Yes, Master!" After mingling in court for decades, Xue Pan certainly knew about the affairs of the royal family!
"I'll have someone take you to the Bridge of Helplessness. I won't go; there are too many matters to handle in Underworld!" King Qin Guang called over the Ghost Messenger who had brought them to Yama Palace to guide them to the Bridge of Helplessness, sending Xue Pan across the bridge for reincarnation.
The Bridge of Helplessness spanned the River of Forgetfulness, with banks covered in red spider lilies, their fiery hue resembling a carpet of blood. Hua Man Lou had never seen such flowers before and asked the Ghost Messenger: "Grim Reaper Brother, what kind of flowers are planted along this path?"
"Ghost Messenger: "These are called 'Higanbana', also known as spider lilies. It is said that they were brought to the Underworld by Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva."
"Hua Man Lou: "But isn't this the same flower mentioned in Buddhist scriptures that says 'blooms for a thousand years, falls for a thousand years, flowers and leaves never meet? Love is not for cause and effect; fate determines life and death'?"
"Ghost Messenger: "Indeed, it is this flower."
"Hua Man Lou: "Can I take one or two with me?"
Ghost Messenger: "Whatever! There are plenty of these flowers on the road to the underworld; I just don't know if they can survive in the human world."
Hua Man Lou smiled: "I will do my best to keep them alive."
Walking over the carpet of Lycoris radiata, the three of them saw the Wishing Platform. Looking back from the Wishing Platform, one could see their life experiences and their hometown and loved ones in the mortal realm. Ghost Messenger asked the three if they wanted to go up to the Wishing Platform for a look, but all three, including a ghost, declined. They had already let go of their past when Xue Pan closed her eyes; why revisit what would only cause them worry?
Beside the Wishing Platform, an old woman was distributing soup to those who were about to cross the Bridge of Helplessness. Drinking the Meng Po Soup would allow one to forget everything and start anew.
"Old Lady Meng, could you give him half a bowl of soup?" In order for his disciple to have a good next life, Bai Tang thought of cheating by drinking only half a bowl of Meng Po Soup, forgetting Xue Pan's life experiences while retaining the martial arts and knowledge she had taught. In such a dangerous place as the Palace, having skills earlier would mean better self-preservation.
"Since it's a fairy asking for mercy, then half a bowl it is!" So whether human, fairy, or ghost, having connections and backing is what matters most!
Watching his disciple walk across the Bridge of Helplessness without looking back, Bai Tang felt a bit melancholic: "On the Bridge of Helplessness, there’s no turning back; right and wrong cannot cross the River of Forgetfulness. Before the Three Lives Stone, there’s no distinction between right and wrong; by the Wishing Platform, there is Old Lady Meng."
Affected by Bai Tang's sentiment, Hua Man Lou also sighed: "Stepping into the underworld without looking back, hearing nothing but silence in my heart. Treading on the path of helplessness wishing to turn back, only to gaze at my hometown with empty sorrow. Looking back at three lifetimes, tears are hard to sever; alas, forgetting emotions is right before my eyes. Raising my head to drink all the tears of this world, praying that I won't be lost in the Underclass."
Lu Feng said: "You two should stop being sentimental; people have already been sent off. Let's hurry back to the human world! Just now, dead Monkey Spirit sent me a message; he has set out and invited us to drink at Yueyang Tower by Dongting Lake. Hurry up, we can't keep him waiting too long. It's rare for him to treat us; this time we must make him spend generously!" (To be continued)
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