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Yama's Wedding
墨書 Inktalez
Yama's Wedding
On the silent road, a crescent moon hung lonely in the night sky. Upon closer inspection, it seemed to be surrounded by a fuzzy aura, appearing both eerie and enchanting.
The surroundings were utterly quiet, with not a single sound, as if even the wind had come to a standstill. Yet, faintly, one could hear the sound of bells ringing from afar.
“Ding ding ding…” The clear, crisp sound of bells floated in from the distance, striking an odd yet inexplicable harmony with the stillness of the street. Amidst this ringing, a figure slowly emerged from down the road. If anyone were walking on this street at that moment, they would surely be taken aback. Out of nowhere, a man whose features were indistinct appeared, and behind him seemed to follow many others.
“March Third, Ghost Gate Opens, Night Parade of One Hundred Demons.” A low murmuring voice began to resonate, echoing down the silent street into the distance.
The moonlight was no longer pure and bright; since the man's appearance, the once empty moon began to turn red—blood red! This was a blood moon. Any experienced elder would recognize this ominous blood moon filled with supernatural hues. When the blood moon rises, Yama makes his rounds. It is said that in Yama's Hall, there are Ten Kings of Hell.
The first hall, King Qin Guang Jiang, oversees life and death in the mortal realm and determines fortune and misfortune in the underworld. When good people pass away, he guides them to ascend. On the right high platform of his hall stands a mirror known as Nefarious Mirror Platform. Those who gaze into it see their hearts' goodness or wickedness reflected back at them before being judged and sent to suffer in the second hall.
The second hall, Chaojiang Wang Li, governs the great hell of living beings, which contains Sixteen Hells. Those who harm others or commit theft and murder in the mortal world are sent to suffer in these Sixteen Hells.
The third hall, Song Emperor Wang Yu, presides over the Great Hell of Black Ropes, which also includes Sixteen Hells. Those who defy their elders or incite lawsuits in the Yin World are thrown into this prison to endure punishments such as being hung upside down, having their eyes gouged out, or having their bones scraped before being transferred to the fourth hall upon completion of their sentences.
The fourth hall, King of Five Officials Lu, governs the Great Hell of Harmony and has its own sixteen hells. Those who resist paying taxes or engage in deceitful transactions are sent here to suffer further penalties before being transferred for review at the fifth hall.
The fifth hall is overseen by Yama's Son Bao. Originally residing in the first hall due to his compassion for those wrongfully dead, he was later demoted to this hall. He now manages the Great Hell of Calling Out and has sixteen heart-punishing hells. Those brought here are taken to the Viewing Home Platform to witness their families on earth and suffer from their past misdeeds before being pushed into this prison for detailed examination of their sins. They are then sent to face punishment in the heart-punishing Sixteen Hells, where their hearts are hooked out and fed to snakes while their bodies are beheaded—enduring suffering for a full day before being dispatched elsewhere. This fifth hall's king is perhaps most familiar to everyone; he is known among mortals as Bao Zheng.
The sixth hall is ruled by Six City King Bi, who oversees the Great Hell of Calling Out and also manages Wasted Life City along with its own Sixteen Hells. Those who are unfilial or disrespectful face dismemberment by two demons wielding saws. Anyone who complains about their fate or weeps towards the north is sent here. They will be punished with iron spikes and have their tongues burned before being transferred for further suffering at the Seventh Hall, where any additional wrongdoings will be investigated.
Seventh Hall, governed by the King of Taishan, Dong, oversees the Hot Disturbance Hell and also manages the Sixteen Hells. Anyone from the Yin World who collects corpses for medicine or causes sorrow to others will be sent to this prison. After enduring suffering for a full day, they will be transferred to the Eighth Hall for further examination and punishment. Furthermore, those guilty of theft, false accusations, extortion, or murder will face the punishment of being boiled in oil, a fate commonly referred to as "being put in the oil pot."
In the Eighth Hall, ruled by Urban King Huang, who presides over the Great Heat, Great Anger, Great Hell, there are also Sixteen Hells. Those who are unfilial in life, causing their parents or elders distress and worry, will be cast into this prison. They will then face increased punishments from various halls, suffering greatly before being sent to the Tenth Hall for transformation into livestock.
The Ninth Hall is overseen by Equal King Lu, who governs the Fengdu City Iron Net Abysmal Hell and has his own Sixteen Hells. Those who commit murder or arson in the Yin World will be brought here. Their hands and feet will be chained together with a Hollow Copper Pillar and set ablaze until their hearts are scorched. They will then suffer under Abaddon until all victims are reincarnated, at which point they may be released to the Tenth Hall to experience one of the Six Paths: Deva Path, Human Path, Animal Path, Asura Path, Hell Path, or Preta Path.
The Tenth Hall is managed by Wheel King Xue, who specializes in examining souls brought from various halls to determine their good and evil deeds and assign them to their respective realms for rebirth. Details such as lifespan and social status are meticulously recorded each month at the first hall's registration. Those who have committed heinous crimes will be condemned to a cycle of rebirth as lowly beings after suffering greatly. Before being reborn, they must first meet Meng Po at the Forgetfulness Platform and drink the Oblivion Soup to forget their past lives.
From this, it is evident that most folk tales do not reflect reality. However, it is no wonder that so few truly understand what happens within Yama's Hall; how many enter with clarity and leave with understanding?
On March Third, when the Ghost Gate opens, we witness the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons. Most of these demons emerging from Yama's Hall are newcomers who have yet to reincarnate. Led by Wheel King Xue, they return to the human realm to fulfill some unfinished wishes. At this point, it should be clear that this man in black is indeed one of the Ten Kings of Hell—Wheel King Xue.
Before long, Wheel King disperses the hundred demons as they scatter in different directions. With three hours remaining until their return to the Underworld, Xue clears away the thick fog surrounding him, revealing his true appearance.
His features are sharply defined and deep-set; his thin lips are lightly pressed together above sharp black eyes that conceal a piercing gaze. His long black hair falls obediently down his back. In this solitary street, he exudes an aura of coldness that captivates onlookers. Some may be cold but not intimidating; however, Wheel King's chill emanates from his very bones. Standing there like a wolf in the night—proudly aloof yet commanding—he radiates an air of solitude.
Looking up at the moon, which has transformed from a crescent into a full orb signifies that it is nearly time to return to the Underworld. Wheel King opens the great door to the Underworld and calls back the hundred demons; they still have homes to return to while he remains homeless. It is said that Wheel King shares thirty-two characteristics with Bodhisattvas but was sent to the Underworld due to seven shortcomings compared to them: purity in heart, clarity in thought, maintaining composure in all situations, completeness in actions, depth in understanding, wisdom that acts independently of worldly matters, and detachment from worldly desires. He does not comprehend why he was assigned here; although he receives great respect in the Underworld, having lived away from sunlight for so long has left him somewhat resentful. Thus he positions his palace directly opposite places filled with worldly impurities and rarely interacts with other kings of hell. The task of guiding these demons was not originally his responsibility; he took it upon himself simply to breathe some fresh air from above and hoped it might help him recall his past.
Upon returning to the Underworld, Xue throws himself onto his bed. The outing did little to alleviate his loneliness; instead, breathing in human air only deepened his awareness of the darkness surrounding him in the Underworld.
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