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Li Siniang was selling wine when she noticed a neighbor's child running towards her, proudly displaying two silver ingots in his hands. He told her that one was for buying wine and the other was his hard-earned money. Li Siniang, feeling curious, asked the child where he got the silver ingots. The child pointed behind him and said, "A big uncle gave them to me."
Following the child's gesture, Li Siniang looked in that direction but saw no one. After asking a few more questions and confirming that the silver was indeed given to the child and meant for buying wine, she turned to fetch a jar of Peach Blossom Wine.
That night, Wang Yanxing did not return home. Instead, he carried the jar of Peach Blossom Wine and walked back to Sister-in-law Village on foot. Compared to when he left, Sister-in-law Village had not changed much; only the wooden gate remained, and the person he longed for was absent. The scorched earth visible throughout the yard served as a reminder of what had once happened there. He softly called out Hui Niang's name while sipping the Peach Blossom Wine, eventually collapsing on the threshold and waking up only at dawn. Upon reflection, he realized that he had not dreamt at all that night.
Recalling the so-called Liao Fan Water given to him, he felt an inexplicable impulse and swallowed it in one gulp.
As the water entered his mouth, it was somewhat bitter at first but gradually revealed a hint of sweetness. Wang Yanxing felt dizzy, his body becoming light and soft. Then, unexpectedly, he found himself rising and walking outside. It was a path he had never taken before, lined with many red flowers that swayed gently without wind. Occasionally, he encountered one or two passersby; some hurried by while others strolled leisurely. When they passed him, they would smile and greet him: "Brother, you are also on your way!"
Wang Yanxing didn’t know how to respond and could only nod: "Yes, I am on my way too!"
"Are you alone?"
"Yes! Alone!"
"What a coincidence; I am alone too." The person said as they quickly walked ahead to greet another passerby.
At first, Wang Yanxing found it amusing, but as he continued walking, he suddenly froze because he saw a milestone with the words "Yellow Springs" inscribed on it.
An old man approached leisurely, stroking his silver-white beard. Noticing Wang Yanxing staring blankly at those two words and seeing his fine clothing adorned with jade accessories and an extraordinary demeanor, he stopped and asked him: "Do you have unfinished business in the mortal realm?"
Wang Yanxing turned around in confusion and asked, "Excuse me, am I dead?"
"Why? Is there no one to guide you on your way?"
"Is someone needed to guide me?" Wang Yanxing became increasingly bewildered.
"Not necessarily; for those who committed evil in life, there will be Ox-Head and Horse-Face to capture them. If one did good deeds in life, officials from the Underworld will come to invite them; these Underworld Officials are usually one black and one white. Those who don’t know call them Black and White Impermanence. In fact, they don’t look frightening at all; if anything, they are much more handsome than you or me. Ordinary people will have relatives come to welcome them before they depart; as for me, I am here waiting for my Wife; according to the time, she should be arriving soon."
"And what if no one comes to greet me?"
"Ah!" The old man shook his head. "People like you are not common, but they do exist. Usually, such individuals were extremely selfish in life, which is why their parents and relatives are unwilling to welcome them, and their wives and children do not wish to send them off. Or perhaps they died young, and those who passed before them have already reincarnated, while those who come after must wait for several years. Did you see that chatterbox just now? The one who greets everyone? He has been here for many years; he was an orphan in life, the kind that begged in Luoyang. He was hit by an official's carriage while begging and died by the roadside because he had no money for treatment. By the time he was discovered, his body was already decomposing. After arriving here, the Underworld Official originally wanted to help him reincarnate early out of pity, but he foolishly refused and has been waiting here year after year for his parents. But you see, even if such an orphan meets his parents on the road to the underworld, who would recognize whom? So sometimes, these ghosts are more stubborn than people."
"Excuse me, old man, have you seen a woman named Hui Niang on this road to the underworld?"
"Hui Niang? There are many women called Hui Niang on this road; I don't know which one you're asking about. Is she your beloved?"
"She is my wife!" Wang Yan hesitated for a moment but still uttered those two words.
"Wife? I don't think so, because when you said those two words, your eyes wandered and your voice lacked strength. This Hui Niang must be someone you feel guilty towards, right? No worries, I don't like to pry into others' affairs. But if you're thinking of her, you might as well go ask by the River of Forgetfulness."
The old man suddenly opened his previously squinted eyes wide and cheerfully walked towards an old woman. The woman, who had been leaning on a cane, straightened up upon seeing the old man. Her eyes glistened slightly as she hoarsely called out, "Husband!"
"Wife! You’ve come! You don’t know how lonely I’ve been on this road to the underworld!"
"There are so many people here; what could you possibly be lonely about? Besides, I'm here now, aren't I?"
"That's good! That's good!" The old man smiled happily.
"Am I late?" the old woman asked as she extended her hand to the old man's.
"Not late at all; just in time." The old man said with a wink. "If you had come any later, I might have gone with someone else."
"You old fool, how dare you!" The old woman said as she pinched the old man's ear. Amidst his pleas for mercy, their white hair turned back to youthful black.
"Wife, stop! You were truly beautiful when you were young!"
"Was I really beautiful?"
"You were truly beautiful!"
"Well, if I didn't look good, would you have let me bully you for so many years?"
"Wife, you are mistaken. I let you bully me not because you are beautiful, but because I love you!" The old man pointed at the Old Woman's nose and asked, "In the next life, would you still be willing to marry me?"
"In the next life, will you still let me bully you?"
"Of course! If I don't let you bully me, who else will I let?"
"Then it's settled. In the next life, you must not leave me so early. Even if you have to go, let me go first." The Old Woman wiped her wet eyes and said, "You don't know how hard it has been for me all these years alone!"
"I know, I know. I've been watching from here. That's why I haven't left. The Underworld Officials have urged me many times, but I just can't bear it. I can't bear for you to be alone when you embark on your journey."
The two embraced each other and walked past Wang Yanxing, gradually moving away. Wang Yanxing looked at them and first thought of Hui Niang, then of Gu Zizhu. He didn't know if Hui Niang was waiting for him by the banks of the River of Forgetfulness, nor did he know if he would be able to wait for Gu Zizhu on Yellow Springs Road.
With a long sigh, Wang Yanxing joined the small groups of people and moved forward.
A soft halo fell on Yellow Springs Road, where Red Spider Lilies gently swayed, their petals lifted by the wind as they danced around the light. As the halo faded, a fox gently placed Xing Ruyi on the ground and reached out to remove a petal stuck in her hair.
"Who was Wang Yanxing thinking about just now?"
"Hui Niang or perhaps Gu Zizhu. At this moment, he surely wouldn't be thinking of his parents."
"After being an official for so many years, he never thought to rebuild his deceased parents' tombs or visit their graves during Qingming Festival to pay respects. Wang Yanxing is certainly not a filial son."
"Thus, when he enters Yellow Springs, he ends up all alone." The fox said as it wrapped its arm around Xing Ruyi's shoulder. "Since we are here, we should go see Brother Cui; otherwise, we will surely hear his complaints."
"Let's go then. After all, Wang Yanxing still has some distance to travel before reaching the River of Forgetfulness. By the way, where is Hui Niang now? If he walks slowly, I'm afraid he won't catch up."
"On Naihe Bridge is where one faces fate; there is no crossing the River of Forgetfulness without resolution. There is no right or wrong before the Three Lives Stone; Meng Po waits by the Wishing Platform. At this time, Hui Niang should be with Meng Po!"
"That Meng Po must have a headache; with Hui Niang being so stubborn, she probably won't even drink the Meng Po soup."
"Don't worry, Meng Po will find a way," the fox said, waving a hand, and the two of them vanished from the road to the Underworld.
On the Viewing Platform, Wang Yanxing finally saw Hui Niang. She still looked like she did on their wedding day, wearing a pomegranate red dress that dazzled his eyes. He timidly approached her and softly called her name: "Hui Niang!"
Hui Niang turned around, her previously confused eyes slowly becoming clearer. Finally, she looked at his face and gently called out "Husband."
Wang Yanxing's heart stirred as he stepped forward and embraced Hui Niang. He greedily inhaled her scent, but all he could smell was coldness, decay, and the burnt odor of charred flesh.
"Husband, you haven't seen our child yet, have you? Come look; he looks just like you!" Hui Niang said as she broke free from Wang Yanxing's embrace and eagerly raised her hands. In her hands appeared a blue-patterned pillow that was inexplicably on fire. Hui Niang's face was gradually being consumed by the flames, yet she still smiled brightly at Wang Yanxing: "Husband, hold our child; soon he will call you 'father'!"
Wang Yanxing was initially frightened and took a step back, but seeing Hui Niang's expression made his heart ache. He reached out and took the blue-patterned pillow: "Yes, this child really does look like me!"
The pillow finally burned away, and ash swirled around the Viewing Platform before transforming into a cute child who giggled as he fell into Hui Niang's arms. She smiled weakly at Wang Yanxing: "Husband, Hui Niang must go now. In the days to come without Hui Niang by your side, you must take care of yourself! Also, you haven't given our child a name yet!"
"Wang Yici! Let's name him Wang Yici!"
"Good, then we'll call him Yici!" Hui Niang smiled and walked over to Meng Po, lifting the soup to her lips and drinking it down in one gulp.
"Hui Niang!" Seeing Hui Niang walk away without looking back, Wang Yanxing wanted to rush over but was stopped by Meng Po: "Her wish has been fulfilled; why cling to it? She has seen who she needed to see; her wishes are complete. It is time for you to return. This Underworld is not a place for the living to linger."
"Hui Niang!" Wang Yanxing's knees buckled as he knelt on the ground: "Hui Niang, I didn't mean to abandon you and our child; it was because Lord Gao threatened me that if I didn't divorce you, he would take your life. Hui Niang, I am not someone who covets wealth!"
"Lord Wang, please go back. Hui Niang has drunk the Meng Po soup and forgotten her past; she won't care about any of this. Moreover, from beginning to end, she has never held any resentment against you. Her stubbornness is only because of that child—the one you have never acknowledged."
Wang Yanxing wanted to say more, but Meng Po pushed him hard, sending him away from the Viewing Platform. The last scene etched in his memory was of Hui Niang in that pomegranate red dress turning around and smiling shyly at him.
The fox watched as Wang Yanxing was pushed back to the mortal realm and asked Xing Ruyi beside him: "Are we just letting him go like this?"
"What else can be done? Hui Niang has never held any resentment, so how can I, an outsider, seek justice for her?"
"That's true!" The fox nodded. "It's getting late; we should head back!"
"Fox!"
"Yes?"
"After a hundred years, will I also be all alone on Yellow Springs Road?"
"Not at all. By then, I will accompany you and stop Meng Po from letting you drink the soup. That way, in the next life and the life after that, you will still be my Fox Demon."
"How unrealistic! Isn't it enough to take advantage of my one lifetime? You even want to demand it for all eternity." Xing Ruyi pouted but then stood on her tiptoes and lightly kissed the fox: "But I am willing!"
Wang Yanxing wandered around the underworld before returning to the mortal realm. He resigned from his official position and went back to Sister-in-law Village, dedicating himself to guarding his courtyard. Gu Zizhu had come to find him a few times with Winter Spring, but he refused to meet her, citing that their marital bond had ended. He only entrusted someone with an unsigned divorce letter for Gu Zizhu, telling her that if she met someone suitable, she could dissolve their marriage anytime.
Gu Zizhu held that divorce letter and quietly waited through the night; in this lifetime, she never remarried.
Years later, they met again on Yellow Springs Road. They exchanged smiles but did not hold hands!
In this life, I cannot repay what I owe you. In the next life, I cannot promise anything; I only wish for us to be honest with each other and love freely!
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