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"Master!" Joan exclaimed in shock, quickly preparing to chase after.
"Stop shouting, I'm right here." A lazy voice came from behind.
As the mist cleared, a slender figure emerged.
"Master? What are you...?" Joan was slightly taken aback upon seeing Ye Mingshang and glanced at him before looking at the scattered fragments on the ground.
"You idiot, take a good look at what that really is," Ye Mingshang said with annoyance, looking at him as if he were disappointed.
Joan paused for a moment, then jogged a couple of steps to turn over the head among the fragments.
"This!" Joan gasped. This was not a human head at all; it was merely a twisted mass of blood, indistinct in features, with only basic outlines visible. Blood oozed from the raw flesh without skin, making it utterly horrifying.
Ye Mingshang explained, "This is a Faceless Ghost, which disguises itself in various forms on the ghostly path between the realms of life and death to deceive wandering souls. Generally, souls tricked by them are stripped of their essence and turned into a collection of skins as part of their bizarre obsession. However, they are weak; as long as one isn't deceived, even a 'country doctor' can handle them."
After hearing this, Joan felt a wave of fear wash over him. Fortunately, Master had arrived in time; otherwise, he could have easily fallen for the Faceless Ghost's trickery and ended up skinned. Just thinking about it made his teeth chatter. However, he also felt somewhat embarrassed; Ye Mingshang had said that if one wasn't deceived, even someone less capable than a Sage could deal with it. Yet here he was, a Real Person, almost falling into their trap—how humiliating!
"Let's go; don't just stand there like an idiot. We need to get back before dawn," Ye Mingshang called out and started walking ahead.
"Master, wait for me!" Joan replied quickly and hurried after him. The figure soon vanished into the mist.
After they left, a vague face flickered in the gray fog and disappeared.
"Hmm?" Ye Mingshang sensed something and frowned, looking back but seeing nothing. He shook his head; perhaps he was just being overly cautious.
"What's wrong, Master?" Joan asked.
"Nothing," Ye Mingshang replied, shaking his head as he continued walking forward. Joan scratched his head and hurried to keep up.
In the Underworld, there is a remote area known as Black Mountain, shrouded in perpetual rain and thunder. At the summit stands a white palace, brightly lit as if it were daytime. A figure dressed in snow-white robes reclines on a large chair, the brim of their hat casting a shadow over their face, revealing only a snow-white chin.
A wisp of White Mist floats in, forming a face with only outlines, whispering in its ear.
"Oh~ he has arrived." The voice is neutral, making it difficult to discern gender, yet there is a hint of joy in the tone.
Waving away the White Mist, the figure in white sets their feet down and prepares themselves. One hand comfortably rests on their thigh while they lightly hold a glass of red wine. Beneath the low brim of the hat, thin lips curve into a smile as they say, "You have finally come..."
Meanwhile, Ye Mingshang leads Joan along Yellow Springs Road, where soulless spirits wander aimlessly. Clearly, these are souls who have just died and come here to report.
These individuals—no, they should be called ghosts—must follow this path forward. Gradually, they will regain consciousness and come to understand their situation.
"No! I don't want to die! My father is the director! I still have many good days ahead! I don't want to die! Ah!!!" A young man resembling a Second Generation Rich Kid screams in disbelief, unwilling to face this bloody reality. However, he is met with a whip that strikes him hard, causing him to scream in agony as smoke rises from his body.
"Hmph! The Underworld is not a playground for you little ghosts! Follow the line obediently, or I'll make your soul scatter; you won't even be able to be a ghost!" A fierce-looking Ghost Messenger cracks his whip and shouts loudly. Seeing the ferocity of the Ghost Messenger, the Second Generation Rich Kid dares not act out anymore and can only follow along with a face ashen as death.
On Yellow Springs Road, many newly deceased souls struggle to accept their fate and often break down or cause disturbances. If some Ghost Messengers are not dispatched to maintain order, it could lead to chaos or even attempts to escape. If they manage to reach the human realm, it would pose significant dangers. Therefore, the Overseer's Ghost Messengers must be sufficiently fierce so that these New Ghosts will fear them and refrain from causing trouble.
"What's going on with those two little ghosts over there? Get them back in line!" A Ghost Messenger spots Ye Mingshang and Joan and calls out.
Ye Mingshang approaches with Joan and takes out a small notebook with the word Pass written on it. He also hands over a stack of Joss Paper along with the Pass to the Ghost Messenger.
"Sir, we are both from the Taoist Sect. We have come to the Underworld to retrieve my disciple's tablet," Ye Mingshang explains.
The Ghost Messenger takes the Joss Paper without showing any emotion and glances at the Pass before waving his hand dismissively. "Alright, go on."
"Thank you, sir."
Until the two walked far away, Joan turned back and asked, "Master, is your Ghost Messenger very strong?"
"Not strong, just at the level of a Sorcerer," Ye Mingshang replied.
Joan frowned in confusion, "Then why is Master being so polite?"
"We're here to do business, not to fight. The less trouble we have, the better. These Ghost Messengers are all former Bandit Bosses; giving them some benefits can make things easier for you. After all, Joss Paper is cheap, so giving a little doesn't hurt," Ye Mingshang explained with a shrug.
"Since they have such a bad reputation, why still use them?"
"To suppress these little ghosts, you need ruthless people. If you send good people, they might be torn apart by these collapsing New Ghosts in just a few days."
Good people can be bullied, and good horses can be ridden. Sometimes, to prevent riots from occurring, it is necessary to use these villains. This is not cruelty or darkness; it is a method born out of necessity. Without such decisive arrangements, there would be much more trouble, and the Underworld would have long been in chaos.
Soon, following Yellow Springs Road, they arrived at a city gate. Above the gate was a large plaque with three bold characters—Wangsi City.
After passing the Pass and giving a Red Envelope, the two entered the city. Joan was curious about everything along the way, just like when Liu Laolao entered Grand View Garden, looking around everywhere.
Wangsi City is a place where souls who are unwilling to reincarnate due to grievances gather. However, as time went on and the resident population increased, it gradually became more than just a place for wronged Deadbeats; it also served as a trading and handover spot for many traveling "masters."
(To be continued.)
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