Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 119 Hook Blade Trip Trap Debate Loyalty and Treachery
Upon hearing this, I was startled and thought to myself that I was in big trouble.
The so-called “Underworld Yellow Springs Wandering Soul pass, Hook Blade Trip Trap debate Loyalty and Treachery!” refers to a thousand-year-old Ghostly Old Woman who guards the Yellow Springs Road. Anyone who is stopped by her, if they are loyal, filial, and kind-hearted, can pass through the Yellow Springs Road safely. However, if they are treacherous and villainous, they will fall victim to the Hook Blade Trip Trap, resulting in broken legs and feet, forcing them to crawl their way through the Yellow Springs Road. Some Wandering Souls who lose their legs cannot move forward and thus cannot reach the Underworld Yama's Hall to be reincarnated. If they try to turn back, they find the gates guarded by Yin Soldiers, making it impossible for them to leave the Yellow Springs Road. In short, once a treacherous person is caught by the Hook Blade Trip Trap, their fate is extremely tragic.
Of course, this debate on Loyalty and Treachery by the Ghostly Old Woman has its origins. It is said that long ago, when the Ghostly Old Woman was alive, she was a shrewd and kind-hearted person. With her abilities, she built a successful business and became a well-known merchant in her area. Because of her integrity and willingness to help others, she earned the nickname: Female Bodhisattva. Once, she befriended a man with the surname Hu in her business dealings. As they got to know each other better, they became closer friends and eventually swore an oath as siblings of different genders, becoming inseparable partners in business.
As the saying goes, good fortune brings joy; their business thrived. However, this good fortune did not last long. The man named Hu Yuanwai turned out to be a treacherous villain who soon harbored malicious intentions and absconded with their business capital. Unable to bear the blow, the Ghostly Old Woman died from anger after spitting blood and ultimately arrived at the Yellow Springs Road.
However, she did not go directly to the Underworld Yama's Hall to await reincarnation but instead lingered on the Yellow Springs Road, determined to wait for her enemy with the surname Hu to pass by so she could take revenge.
At that time, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, feeling pity for her and recognizing that Mr. Hu was indeed despicable, allowed her to remain on the Yellow Springs Road. He even provided her with a Hook Blade, enabling her to debate Loyalty and Treachery on that road! She has been wandering there for over a thousand years now, debating countless instances of Loyalty and Treachery.
However, not every treacherous person is stopped by her using the Hook Blade Trip Trap. She only intervenes with those who are particularly wicked. Lesser villains naturally face judgment from Yama.
Upon hearing the old woman shout “Underworld Yellow Springs Wandering Soul pass, Hook Blade Trip Trap debate Loyalty and Treachery!”, I was immediately alarmed. I thought about how countless souls traverse the Yellow Springs Road, including many wicked individuals. Why had this debating Ghostly Old Woman chosen to stop us on our first time crossing into Yin?
I then reflected on my own life’s actions; while I wouldn’t claim to be a great benefactor, I believed I hadn’t committed any major acts of villainy. Logically speaking, someone like me should not be stopped by the debating Ghostly Old Woman regarding Loyalty and Treachery.
So I looked at Cao Qilong, wondering if he had done something particularly wicked in his past.
Cao Qilong rolled his eyes at me and scolded, "What are you looking at? I haven't done anything treacherous!"
Hearing Cao Qilong say this, I was confused. If he had never done anything treacherous, why would Ghostly Old Woman from Loyalty and Treachery come looking for us?
I didn't doubt Cao Qilong's words. Although I hadn't known him for long, I could sense from his every word and action that he was a loyal and kind-hearted person. If he were treacherous, he wouldn't have traveled with me through hardships, nor would he have stood in front of me to take the blame when Black and White Impermanence tried to hit me with the Crying Mourning Stick. A person who dares to take responsibility and stands up for his brother would never commit great evil.
So, seeing Ghost Granny standing in front of us, still unwilling to step aside, I said to her, "So it is Senior Zhong Po. I am Pan Shenbao, disciple of Paper Effigy Maker. I greet you." With that, I dismounted and bowed to her.
Ghost Granny actually has a respectful title, which is Zhong Po, because she specializes in discussing Loyalty and Treachery, living a life of loyalty and righteousness, hence the name Zhong Po. Behind me, Cao Qilong also hurriedly dismounted and bowed to Zhong Po. The two of us looked like well-mannered young men; any senior would surely appreciate us.
However, this Zhong Po was different. While we respectfully greeted her, she maintained her cold expression and coldly replied, "No matter which sect you belong to, if you want to pass through Yellow Springs Road, you must ask if Huangquan Hook Blade will allow it."
Upon hearing this, I was dumbfounded. I thought to myself that this Zhong Po was indeed difficult to deal with; my flattery had clearly missed the mark. So I dropped the naive demeanor and directly asked her, "Zhong Po, your Hook Blade is meant for dealing with treacherous people. My senior brother and I are both loyal and kind-hearted individuals; why are you making things difficult for us? Are you mistaken?"
"That's right; I'm blocking you," Zhong Po slightly raised her head to glance at us and sneered.
Upon hearing this, I broke out in a cold sweat, realizing that we were truly in big trouble.
At this moment, Cao Qilong cautiously said to me, "Shidi, I think this Zhong Po is deliberately making things difficult for us today. We won't be able to go to the Underworld. How about we just go back?"
Just as I was about to respond, Zhong Po coldly laughed, "Go back? There's no way back. You can come along Yellow Springs Road, but you cannot return."
Hearing this, I understood that this Zhong Po had indeed come looking for trouble. If we didn't resolve this issue, we might not be able to leave. So I said, "Zhong Po, since you insist on making things difficult for us both, could you tell us who among us is loyal and who is treacherous? Why do you have to block us?"
Zhong Po smiled but did not speak. He raised the broken Cane in his hand and stomped it three times on the Ground. Then, I heard a miserable cry from Cao Qilong beside me. I turned around to see that his face had turned pale with fear, looking completely flustered.
I hurriedly asked him what was wrong. He pointed at his feet. I looked down and gasped; for some reason, there were now a pair of hook blades on his feet. The sharpness of the hook blades was evident, and just looking at them made one feel a chill. If they lightly hooked someone, not to mention Cao Qilong's flesh-and-blood feet, even steel bones would be easily severed like cutting through a radish!
Seeing this, my heart jumped into my throat, realizing that Cao Qilong had tripped over Zhong Po's hook blades. I urgently shouted, "Senior Brother, did you really commit some heinous act?"
Cao Qilong was already terrified, but hearing my question, he hurriedly defended himself, "What heinous act did I commit? I'm innocent! Could it be that Zhong Po is a vengeful spirit? How could he trip a good person like me with hook blades? Shenbao, you have to believe me! I'm not a bad person; please save me! Damn it, these hook blades are freezing; my feet are numb..."
Hearing Cao Qilong say this and seeing his painful expression made me anxious. Of course, I believed him. If he had truly committed some heinous act, he wouldn't willingly come to the Underworld. After all, there was a Naihe Bridge ahead, which was also a place for judging good and evil. Cao Qilong couldn't possibly be unaware of that. The fact that he was willing to cross into the afterlife clearly indicated that he had a clear conscience.
I was sweating nervously, fearing that Zhong Po might use the hook blades to sever Cao Qilong's feet. If that happened, it would truly be a disaster. Regardless of whether he had committed any heinous acts or not, the reason he accompanied me to the afterlife was entirely due to the trouble I caused. If I hadn't mistaken the Hundred Grievances Locking Yin Formation for the Four Ghosts Coffin Raising Formation, the four spirits guarding the ghost gate wouldn't have left. Without them leaving, we wouldn't have been able to cross into the afterlife. In short, this whole situation was because of my mistake. If Cao Qilong's feet were severed because of this, I would never forgive myself.
So I hurriedly said to Zhong Po, "Zhong Po, please show mercy. Are you mistaken? My senior brother is a good person; why would you trip him with hook blades?"
Zhong Po replied, "There is no mistake; my hook blades cannot be wrong. Since they have hooked onto his feet, it means he is indeed a wicked person."
Comment 0 Comment Count