Chapter 241

Chapter 242

Chapter 243

Chapter 244

Chapter 245

Chapter 246

Chapter 247

Chapter 248
Chapter 241
Although Song Chungui prepared a guest room for Xie Bian, the two didn't stay
in Yunding. Since Fan Wushe had followed him there, it wouldn't have been
appropriate.

So the two of them returned to Lanxi Town and stayed in the inn, pretending to
be travelers.

After returning to the inn, Xie Bian took out the co n, which had been reduced
to the size of his palm, and put it on the table. In fact, he could have put it
directly into his spatial bag since any inanimate object could go inside, even one
as big as a sedan chair. But putting in an object like a co n along with various
sundries wouldn't be respectful to the dead. But if he didn't put it in his spatial
bag and kept it on his person, the body inside could shake around, and then
what would it look like?

Fan Wushe took a quick glance then guessed what Xie Bian was thinking. "Just
put it into the spatial bag."

"It's not right."

Fan Wushe held back his mockery of Zong Ziheng and said, "Let's go into town,
have a meal, then buy a new spatial bag. Okay?"

Xie Bian frowned slightly and didn't answer. He knew Fan Wushe would take him
to another place where they had memories.

Fan Wushe walked up to Xie Bian and half squatted. Holding his knee with one
hand, he tilted his head and looked at him. "You must be hungry by now. Lanxi
Town is full of delicious food. Remember that restaurant you took me to,
Mianyueluo?1 Let's go there."

Xie Bian looked away. "No need. Let's just eat something at the inn."

"The food at this inn de nitely isn't good. Let's go eat what you like. We'll order
a table of dishes and two pots of wine."

1 眠⽉楼 - Sleeping Moon House roughly

fi
ffi
ffi
 "I don't like to eat anymore." Xie Bian looked out the window indi erently. "I'm
not interested in food, drinking, playing, even orchids. I only liked those things
because I was young."

Fan Wushe's heart suddenly lled with bitterness. "What does Dage like now?
Whatever you like, I'll nd it for you."

"I don't like anything."2

Fan Wushe looked at Xie Bian's dull and hollow gaze, and in that moment
realized that he wasn't just saying empty words. He really didn't like anything.
He really didn't look forward to anything anymore. The elder brother who loved
to travel around, who was curious about everything, who brought gifts and new
ower seeds every time he came home, who loved this world sincerely, had
become completely somber. His eyes were like dusty pearls no longer emitting
the light they once had.

And it was because of him that the person he loved most was like this.

Fan Wushe's heart was like a knife. He grabbed Xie Bian's hand and held it
tightly. "Please, please try to like things again.3 This time, no matter what it is
you like, I'll protect it with my life. You'll never lose it again. You can feel free to
like anything."

Xie Bian turned his face. The space between his eyebrows and eyes were calm
and quiet, like a painting. "I have nothing to lose."

"Dage!" Fan Wushe's eyes were full of pain. He hid his face so he wouldn't show
cowardice, but from his eyes to his voice, it was clear he was pleading. "I know
I'm not quali ed to say this, but I want a chance. I want the chance to make you
smile again. I want the chance to be together until we grow old. I know you
won't let anyone get close besides me. You're afraid of being alone. I'm begging
you, don't resist me any more. I'm willing to atone for everything I've done
wrong. Just give me a chance. I'll never give up until I get that chance. I'll never
give up."

Xie Bian tried to pull back his hand, but Fan Wushe held on. He looked numb,
but the corners of his eyes were slightly red.

2 Man, I don't have the same kind of problems, but I can totally relate to having moments of
total emptiness like this
3 Sentence is more literally "You, you like [things] again, okay"
fl
fi
fi
fi
ff
 Fan Wushe tilted his neck, exposing his throat to Xie Bian's hand with a
sacri cial gesture, full of total submission and trust. His bright eyes ashed and
glittered, "Dage, Xiao Jiu was wrong. Can you forgive me?"

"Don't say that name again," Xie Bian said through gritted teeth.

"I'm going to say that I'm Dage's Xiao Jiu." Fan Wushe grabbed Xie Bian's hand
and pressed it down on his rm chest. "I did something wrong before. As long
as I admit my mistake and repent, you'll forgive me. I made a lot of mistakes this
time. Don't give up on me. You can scold me. You can beat me. You can teach
me a lesson. Just don't give up on me."

"…. Enough."

"Dage, I miss you so much. I want to go back to the past with you." Fan
Wushe's charming fox eyes were covered with a layer of moisture which looked
extremely moving.

The next moment, Xie Bian didn't hesitate to slap him with his other hand.

Fan Wushe tilted his head and stared at the ground. A pale red palm print
gradually appeared on his jade white face.

"Don't pretend," Xie Bian said viciously. "If what you'd done was just a mistake,
you could behave and I'd forgive you. But what you did was evil. What you did
to me and to the world was unforgivable. The person you should try to atone to
isn't me, but countless innocents, living and dead!"

Fan Wushe raised his hand and gently stroked the hot spot on his face. Even
though he was reproached ercely, he was still happy.4 He showed an extremely
bitter smile. "This is the rst time Dage took the initiative to touch me."

"You!"

"Dage, I'll atone for myself. To you and to the world. I will set things right, settle
the strife, and bring the human and ghost realms back to peace. I'll protect you
and the people you want to protect."

"Let's wait and see till you do."

4 Is this how masochism starts?

fi
fi
fi
fi
fl
 "I will do it." Fan Wushe grabbed his hand again and kissed it gently. "I'm not
sensible. Dage, teach me more."

Xie Bian pulled back his hand forcefully and stood up.

Fan Wushe also stood up, and the oppressive feeling brought by his height
immediately overshadowed the vulnerability he'd created with his deliberate
inferiority. It made Xie Bian's nerves tense up, and he subconsciously took a
step back.

"I said I would grow taller than you one day," Fan Wushe extended his hand
again. Seeing that Xie Bian was on guard, he pulled the corner of his coat
instead, "but even if I am taller than you or more powerful than you, I'll only
listen to you."

Xie Bian's heart trembled twice. He once heard Zong Zixiao say this to him in
the voice of a youth whose voice hadn't yet changed. This voice was now calm
and raspy, more compelling. It burrowed arrogantly into his ears and lingered a
long time.

Like a charm that crossed time and space in response, it collided continuously
against his heart strings.

This person's constant displays of weakness and kindness were more di cult
for him to resist than the forceful and aggressive words in the past.

Xie Bian still went into town, but he didn't go to Mianyueluo to eat. He just found
a random noodle stand to ll his stomach, then went to buy a new spatial bag.

After putting Zong Minghe's co n into the spatial bag, Xie Bian felt that the
matter was nally settled.

As usual, one of them slept on the bed while the other meditated in the chair. Xie
Bian was forced to get used to being inseparable from Fan Wushe. After all, he
couldn't get rid of him.

But in the middle of the night Xie Bian's face suddenly felt itchy. He murmured a
little in his sleep and turned over unconsciously. After a long moment of
confusion, he opened his eyes and turned around only to see Fan Wushe lying
beside him.

fi
fi
ffi
ffi
 Xie Bian felt his scalp tingle. He was sti for a moment and didn't care to move.

Fan Wushe opened his eyes and said frankly, "Dage, my back hurts a little."

"Get o ," Xie Bian said angrily.

"This bed is so big. I won't touch you." Fan Wushe blinked. "Is it okay?"

"Scram."

Fan Wushe slowly climbed up and gave Xie Bian a disappointed glance. As he
got out of the bed, he said, "I just wanted to sleep with Dage. I don't have any
other intentions."

Xie Bian lay down again and covered his head with the quilt.

"Don't be so stu y," Fan Wushe said softly. "When I was a child, you always told
me not to smother myself in the quilt like this." He was silent for a moment then
sighed, "In summer like this, you would fan me and swat mosquitoes. You'd only
go to sleep after seeing me sleep peacefully. Dage, you were so good to me.
You were so good, how could I forget it?"

Xie Bian clenched the corner of the quilt with sorrow and grief in his chest.

ff
ff
ff
 Chapter 242
The night of the full moon was when yin qi was at its heaviest, and all of the folk
rituals of worshiping ghosts and immortals would be held on that day.

After the Zhongyuan Festival, the evil spirits let loose by Jiang Qulian infested
the human world. The cultivation world was in turmoil, and the common people
had nowhere to turn, so the incense burned in the City God's Temples had
greatly increased. On the eve of the full moon, many people went to worship the
City God after sunset.

For security reasons, Song Chungui sent Wuliang Sect disciples to surround the
City God's Temple. No one was allowed to enter, and the people didn't know
why. They thought that Wuliang Sect was doing something to help deal with the
increasing number of evil spirits. More and more people came to watch, and
eventually there were too many to drive away.

Song Chungui wasn't at ease, so he went personally to stand guard.

Opening the Ghost Gate was a major event. Even if Sun Xiazhen was a small
City God, he had far less power than the Red Ghost King. However, tearing a
gap could still have a huge impact on the world, and since Sun Xiazhen wasn't a
ghost king, he wasn't sure how much control he would have over it. Opening it
wasn't so di cult. The di culty was how big to open it, where to open it, and
once people went through, how to close it.

Sun Xiazhen recounted these risks to Xie Bian one by one. If the times weren't
so desperate, he wouldn't have done such a clearly forbidden thing.

"Sun Zhanglao, I understand what you said. We will assist you with our soul
weapons to try to contain the Ghost Gate as much as possible. The most
important thing is to ensure the safety of the common people. As for where we
appear in Jiuyou and how we'll come back to the world after, you don't have to
worry about it."

"Xiao Bai Ye, I've never done this before. I'll try my best."

"Many thanks."

After the sun set, Sun Xiazhen drew a talisman formation in the courtyard. A
ghost ag was inserted in the eye of the formation, and a pool of cow blood was
fl
ffi
ffi
poured onto the ground. Once everything was ready, he pinched his ngers and
frowned again.

"Sun Zhanglao, what's wrong?"

"How can yang qi still be so heavy this time of year?"

Fan Wushe said, "There are many people outside the City God's Temple."

Sun Xiazhen was surprised and said, "How can this be?"

At that moment, Song Chungui pushed open the door and walked in. "It's
already dark. How are your preparations going?" He couldn't see Sun Xiazhen,
but seeing everything set up in the courtyard, his expression showed a hint of
concern.

"It's ready, but the City God said the yang energy around here is too strong," Xie
Bian said. "Can the people be dispersed?"

"Yes, but it will take some time." Song Chungui called his disciples and
instructed them to go down.

Soon, they heard some loud noises from outside the City God's Temple. The
disciples of Wuliang Sect were persuading the people to go home, and the
crowd gradually dispersed.

Sun Xiazhen said, "Almost time. Xiao Bai Ye, please send him out."

Xie Bian glanced at Song Chungui who immediately understood. "Bai Xianjun,
you're here to enter the netherworld. Are you coming back from here too?"

"We shouldn't come back from here. After going to Jiuyou, everything has to be
improvised. After this, there's no need to guard the City God's Temple," Xie Bian
said. "Many thanks to Song Zhenren."

"Mn. Take care, Bai Xianjun."

Xie Bian said sternly, "Zhenren, if I make it back alive, I hope to see that you've
settled your 'internal a airs' and moved on to more important things. Because
whether we can succeed or not, there will be a long war in the world. The
Immortal Alliance must be re-established, and it all depends on you."

ff
fi
 Song Chungui paused. He seemed to have made up his mind at that moment.
"De nitely."

Song Chungui retreated and closed the door gently.

Sun Xiazhen began to chant the incantations while releasing yin qi attached to
the ghost ag. Like a streamer in the wind, the ghost ag stood up again and
again although there was no wind in the silent courtyard.

In fact, any ghost had the capability of opening the boundary between the
human and ghost realms as long as their cultivation was deep enough. Even just
a small tear required great skill and e ort, and if it was discovered by yin agents,
the one who opened it would be greatly punished. Even Jiang Qulian had to
escape after forcibly opening the Ghost Gate because it consumed too much of
his power.

Although it could do nothing but harm to Sun Xiazhen, he still did it without
hesitation.

Sun Xiazhen recited the words, and the ghost ags began to ap in the windless
air. The black and red soil stained with cow's blood suddenly began to churn as
if something was going to break out of the soil. However, what came out of the
earth was not seeds or branches, but blood. It came out of the ground like
pools, bubbling, boiling, mumbling. At the same time, there was a strong
nauseating shy smell.

The land seemed to rot before their eyes. The demonic red aura in the eye of the
formation ickered between bright and dark, and the bloody soil sank inward a
little.

The Ghost Gate was about to open!

Xie Bian and Fan Wushe both stood by with their soul weapons, prepared for the
worst in case evil spirits were released.

Just then, there was a commotion outside the door. Someone was arguing in a
low voice. They couldn't really hear what was being said, but the meaning of the
con ict was obvious. The yang qi which had faded began to gather again.

Sun Xiazhen was scared to a cold sweat. "Quickly drive away the people
outside! The Ghost Gate has opened. Yang qi will attract evil spirits."

fi
fl
fl
fl
fi
ff
fl
fl
fl
Fan Wushe was about to go deal with it, but he was stopped by Xie Bian. "I'll
go. You stay here to guard the Ghost Gate." He was afraid that Fan Wushe
wouldn't know the severity of the situation and would hurt someone.

Outside the City God's Temple, Xie Bian saw an unexpected person: Li Zhiqing.

He thought Li Zhiqing wouldn't dare to see them at all, fearing that he'd be
required to "pay his father's debt." But seeing that Li Zhiqing had brought so
many people here to confront Song Chungui, could it be that he didn't know
they were there?

"What's the matter?" Xie Bian looked at Li Zhiqing coldly.

When Li Zhiqing saw Xie Bian, he obviously shrunk back. "Bai, Bai Xianjun, or
should I call you Emperor…."

"Cut the crap," Xie Bian interrupted him nonchalantly and said to Song Chungui,
"Your Wuliang Sect's business, go home and close the door to solve it. The
Ghost Gate is opening. We can't have so much yang qi gathering here."

Song Chungui's face was blue and white. He held back his anger and said,
"Shixiong, you heard it. I'm not here at the City God's Temple to practice. Let's
not delay Bai Xianjun's matters. Let's go back to Yunding rst."

"It turned out to be Bai Xianjun who was doing it." Li Zhiqing's eyes rolled. "Bai
Xianjun, don't blame me. During this period of time, several of my sect's
brothers have been involved in accidents removing evil spirits. Song Shidi kept
sending people out." He looked at Song Chungui coldly. "You sent so many
disciples at once. Naturally, I thought you were up against something terrible."

"It's the duty of a cultivator to get rid of troubles for the common people. Hong
Guiwang sent out so many evil spirits. Our Wuliang Sect is the largest in the
world. We can't ignore them."

Li Zhiqing said in a strange voice, "Naturally we cannot ignore the common

people, but in the face of evil spirits, the occasional sacri ce must be made.
Although it's sad, it can't be helped. But I would like to ask Song Shidi, why
have all the accidents over the past few days happened to my Li family's
zizhis?5 How did it happen that they always encountered powerful evil spirits all
the places they were sent to?"

5 ⼦侄, nephew. Also, maybe it's because your Li family sucks at cultivating?
fi
fi
Song Chungui said with a straight face, "Shixiong seems to be implying
something. It's better to say it clearly."

"To put it clearly, it's…"

"Enough!" Xie Bian said quietly but sternly. "Don't make me repeat what I just
said."

Li Zhiqing cupped his hand sarcastically. "Don't blame me, Bai Xianjun." He
glanced at Song Chungui and led his men away.

Song Chungui sighed and said in a low voice, "Bai Xianjun, within Wuliang Sect,
relatives of the Li family make up half the mountain. So… I'm in a di cult place."

"No one can help you now," Xie Bian said in a deep voice. "I believe you know
clearly in your heart what the Li father and son are like. I only advise you to put
aside your foolish loyalty and lial piety, and consider what's important for the
overall situation." After saying that, he returned to the City God's Temple without
waiting for Song Chungui to respond.

The Ghost Gate had been completely opened, and a rough red seam glowed in
the ground. Surrounded by black blood, it was like a raging beast's mouth,
waiting for its prey to throw itself in.

Fan Wushe looked at Xie Bian. Although he didn't say anything, his gaze was
quiet and certain without a trace of hesitation.

A tight, painful numbness hit Xie Bian. He remembered the years when he and
Fan Wushe were martial brothers. Whenever they were in danger, Fan Wushe
looked at him with the same gaze and told him, "Don't be afraid, I'm here." And
every time, he was true to his words. He brought him out of danger again and
again. As a result, the young man who was still childish became the cornerstone
in his heart. It seemed that no matter what disaster they met, as long as they
worked together, they would be able to break out of it.

Xie Bian looked away, took a deep breath, and walked to the Ghost Gate. Fan
Wushe walked to his side and held his hand with the kind of strength that
wouldn't allow him to let go.

Sun Xiazhen said, "Xiao Bai Ye, take care of yourself."

"Thank you, Sun Zhanglao. After we go through the Ghost Gate, close it as soon
as possible."

fi
ffi
"Don't worry."

Xie Bian took a step and then stopped. "Sun Zhanglao, if I don't make it back, I
hope you will assist Song Chungui. He may be the only one who can support
the cultivation world."

Sun Xiazhen sighed. "Yes."

Without hesitation, the two jumped into the crack in the ground and fell into the
endless darkness and blood of the netherworld.

Chapter 243
They landed in a mountain forest.

The trees there were towering and had dense foliage. Only some thin slivers of
light could make it through the gaps, but it barely penetrated the thick fog. A
bloody rotten smell surrounded them, stagnant in the dense fog, fermenting in
the hot and humid forest. It was as disgusting as being enclosed in a vat.

The two men's stomachs churned, and they could barely breathe. Their faces
turned red at rst and then white.

Xie Bian held onto a tree and retched.

"Who knows how many dead bodies raised up this much miasma. Let's leave as
soon as possible." Fan Wushe took out two spiritual pills and fed them into their
mouths. They swallowed the pills and quickly circulated their breath so the
medicine would enter their spiritual pulse.

Miasma produced by the long-term accumulation of dead bodies was highly

toxic to living creatures. Moreover, this was the most deadly zone. The two of
them were already very uncomfortable at this point.

Covering his mouth and nose with a handkerchief, Fan Wushe said, "If the ghost
and mortal realms are the same continent in di erent spaces, then the location
of the netherworld is Fengdu, which is seven hundred miles west of here. Let's
try going west.

Xie Bian raised his head and saw a blood-red moon through the forest leaves.
"That's the only way."

They didn't know how deep or wide the dense forest was, and it was so foggy
that they couldn't use their swords. Fortunately, Fan Wushe had Wuzhui.
Otherwise, if they had to continue on their own two legs, they might have been
poisoned to death.

Wuzhui was sentient and could discern direction better than them. No matter
how fast he rushed, he could avoid the trees and rocks despite the low visibility
in the dense forest.

Once his dizzy mind regained some clarity, Xie Bian realized that he'd been
wrapped in Fan Wushe's arms at some point. His back was pressed up against
fi
ff
Fan Wushe's hard, hot, broad chest, and his waist was encircled by Fan
Wushe's strong ironlike arms. He even felt Fan Wushe's hot breath against his
ears.

Xie Bian's scalp suddenly tingled. He grasped the saddle and wanted to sit up
straight, but Fan Wushe's arms didn't move.

Two ambiguous chuckles rang out next to his ear. "We used to ride like this,
Dage. Have you forgotten?"

"….. Let go."

"Wuzhui runs so fast. If I let go, Dage will fall o ."

"I'll take the reins."

"Sure, but if I don't pull the reins, I'll fall. So I can only hold Dage tightly," he
said, passing the reins to Xie Bian.

Xie Bian opened his hand angrily.

Fan Wushe tightened his arms again, and even pressed his palms against Xie
Bian's chest to pull him back so the two were pressed even more tightly
together.

"Let go," Xie Bian warned in a low voice. They were too close, so close that he
seemed to faintly feel Fan Wushe's heartbeat.

"It's not okay to hold Dage?" Fan Wushe whispered against Xie Bian's ear. "I'll
just hold you like this. I won't do anything else."

"…."

"Is it that as soon as Dage rides Wuzhui, you remember what we did while riding
this horse?"

"Shut up!" Being hit exactly on the mark made Xie Bian irritated. He struggled to
get up.

Wuzhui suddenly staggered because of this sudden action and almost

stumbled. Xie Bian cried out in alarm and immediately grabbed the saddle.

ff
Fan Wushe's legs clamped down on the horse's belly to stabilize his body, then
he wrapped his arms around Xie Bian with an even stronger grip. "Don't move. I
told you that you would fall."

Xie Bian gritted his teeth.

"Dage, don't be angry," Fan Wushe said innocently. "I know you don't want to
think about it, but no one can control what they think about, okay?"

Xie Bian was already trying his best to avoid recalling the most ridiculous sexual
experience he'd ever had, but Fan Wushe brought it up on purpose. He didn't
know how to stop Fan Wushe's mouth, or how to erase those ugly images from
his mind.

This bastard!

"It's the same for me. I keep thinking about it. I remember that Dage was curious
about Wuzhui, so I took you out to ride, and you got angry."

"I did a lot of asshole things back then and forced you…. But I really couldn't
help it. I want you anytime and anywhere." Fan Wushe's voice lowered as he
spoke. "I'm sorry. I'll never treat you like that again."

Xie Bian glanced at the hand pressed against his chest. "You say you won't
force me, but what do you think you're doing now?"

"I'm just afraid that Dage will fall," Fan Wushe said without changing his face.

Xie Bian couldn't let himself get angry. He knew that he was never a match for
this man. When he was a child, he always compromised because he was cute
and spoiled. Later, when he faced the Demon Lord, there was no room for
resistance. Later, they became martial brothers, and this man played with him
based on his knowledge of his weaknesses from prior experience. Now was the
same. He couldn't escape, he couldn't hide, he couldn't avoid it. He was always
forced to face these turbulent feelings. He was always at a loss.

Fan Wushe held his beloved elder brother tightly, looking at his taut jaw and sti
back. His heart felt both sweetness and sorrow. It doesn't matter, he told
himself, as long as we can stay together like this, it's enough. No matter how
much he craved, he wasn't quali ed to ask for more.

He knew this was related to the Tianji Tally. He received a huge amount of yin qi
from controlling the Tianji Tally. The price was that he would gradually become a
fi
ff
 demon. At rst, it seemed that he was the one controlling the Tianji Tally, but
when he became greedy and it was hard for him to control himself, the Tianji
Tally would control him in turn, just like when he tore apart the Fengdu boundary
and went into the netherworld alone in his past life. Though the outside world
thought he was killed by the Great Beiyin Emperor, in reality, he was killed by the
Tianji Tally when he succumbed completely to his internal demons. Therefore,
this time, though he wouldn't abuse the Tianji Tally, using it would cause strong
uctuations of his mood every time, making the dormant yin qi in his body move
and erode his mind. It was all related to Xie Bian.

This so-called internal demon was just a valley of insatiable desire. The deepest
desire in his heart had always been the desire for his elder brother. He was
terri ed that the yin qi in his body would wait for the opportunity to amplify this
desire again, and eventually become an uncontrollable encroachment.

If that day really came, he would rather die than hurt his elder brother again.

Thinking about this, Fan Wushe's heart was blocked as the two of them were
pushed together. At last, he moved his hand down from Xie Bian's chest, but he
still had his strong arm around his thin waist. Xie Bian had to bear with it for a
while in order to get out of the ghost forest as quickly as possible.

They didn't know how long they'd been running when Wuzhui suddenly let out a
high-pitched hiss. The yin qi surrounding them gradually increased, and the
miasma became thicker and thicker. Behind the heavy fog were several green
oating ames coming one at a time. Even with Wuzhui's fast speed, they still
couldn't shake them o .

Those green ickering lights were still moving. Looking clearly, wherever there
were these little ames, it was clearly a pair of ghost eyes.

Thinking of this, Xie Bian's body was cold all over.

"What is it?" Fan Wushe asked in a deep voice.

fl
fl
fi
fl
fi
fl
fl
ff
 "Evil spirit."6 Xie Bian clutched the saddle tightly. "Those evil spirits that are born
onto the Diyu path are even more vicious than the ghosts who are tortured in the
eighteenth level of hell. They are resentment itself."

A large number of green ghost eyes appeared in front of them. Floating in the
fog, hanging from the trees, squatting on rocks, and crawling on the ground
were countless ghost eyes of evil spirits.

Fan Wushe tightened the reins, and Wuzhui stopped its feet with a screech.

The evil spirits crawled out from the thick fog. Their bodies were rotten and
putrid. None of them were completely intact. Within their deep sunken sockets
were green ames. With their sparse hair and exposed bones, these creatures
crawling on all fours almost couldn't be described as having a "human"
appearance.

All of them were evil people before they died, and they su ered the most severe
retribution after death: "living" this way forever.

Unlike Xie Bian's terror, Fan Wushe looked calmly at the evil spirits hanging over
a tree trunk and said softly, "Dage, you know, if I didn't escape from hell, I would
have become one of them."

Xie Bian's body sti ened. Looking at those rotten things, he couldn't and didn't
dare think of him becoming like this.

"It was because I kept thinking of you in my heart that I didn't lose my mind. I
was able to cross Wangchuan and return to your side."

Xie Bian slowly turned his head back and met Fan Wushe's deep gaze. It was so
focused and persistent that it seemed to have cast a snare and captured him
tightly. It was impossible for him to avoid. He paused before replying, "If you
don't want to be punished, then don't do evil."

6I have to confess something: I haven't been distinguishing 厉⻤ from 凶⻤恶灵 and have been
using "evil spirit" as a catch-all. 厉, 凶, and 恶 can all tl out to " erce" in English. ⻤ is ghost
and 灵 is "departed soul/spirit." 恶灵 as a unit is an "evil spirit."

I have a x-it list for some of the more labor-intensive edits I'm planning to make for accuracy/
continuity and will go through the raws chapter by chapter. This is one of the items on that list.
fi
fl
ff
fi
ff
 "For you, doing evil is nothing." Fan Wushe's lips hooked up. "Breaking into the
netherworld was for you. Going to hell was for you. Returning to the world was
for you."

"You are to blame. Don't say that to me again," Xie Bian rebuked.

Wanting to say more, Fan Wushe said loudly, "I crawled back from hell to love
you."

Xie Bian's heart was shaken. He turned his head again. "Now, now is not the
time to talk about this. There are too many evil spirits to deal with here. We have
to escape."

"No need. I can…"

"No, you can't use the Tianji Tally," Xie Bian stopped him. "You haven't
encountered evil spirits. You don't know how powerful they are. If you use the
Tianji Tally, you will have to release very strong yin qi to suppress them. If you do
that, the ve Ghost Emperors will de nitely be alerted. They are likely to have
colluded with Jiang Qulian. We can't take that risk before achieving our goal."

Fan Wushe frowned, put away the Tianji Tally, and took out his soul-attracting
cord. He tightened his grip on the reins with his other hand. "Then don't
dismount. Let's get out."

Xie Bian gripped Wuqionbi in his hand, and his gaze was rm. "Good. Let's get
out."

"Wuzhui, go!"

Wuzhui once again took o and rushed out.

fi
ff
fi
fi
Chapter 244
Those evil spirits had no thoughts, no memories, no souls. Like glowing green
worms with greedy eyes and putrid, rotten esh, they crawled towards them
from all sides. The yang energy they had as living creatures was an irresistible
temptation to these evil spirits who had fallen into darkness for eternity, and this
instinct conquered their fear of soul weapons. They rushed forward, and
darkness surrounded them.

After a bloody battle with the help of Wuzhui, they created an Asura road paved
with rotting corpses. Wuzhui ran wildly, leaving the group of evil spirits behind.

They ran west for dozens of miles. Only when they saw that the surrounding
area was quiet again did they dare stop to recuperate.

Both of them had multiple injuries, and the corpse poison that spread into their
blood from their wounds combined with the miasma that had invaded their
bodies during the ght produced major toxicity in their bodies.

Their faces were abnormally gray, their pupils had turned reddish-brown, and
their hands twitched slightly. The pain was like the tide, coming and going in
bursts, and their bodies were as cold as an ice cave, tormenting them to the
extreme.

Fan Wushe had been protecting Xie Bian, so he was more seriously injured and
poisoned more deeply. He was sweating like rain, and his expression was a bit
grim as he held himself back.

Each of them took another top-grade healing spiritual pill. This level of pill was
extremely rare, even in the great immortal sects. Pills like this would usually only
be given to an heir whose cultivation path was blocked. Using them now
showed how powerful the poison was.

After swallowing the spiritual pills, they sat back to back and meditated, letting
their spiritual power circulate. A shimmering protective array encircled them
while Wuzhui silently guarded at their side.

Three hours later, they woke up one after the other. The toxicity was temporarily
expelled from their organs, and it didn't pollute their hearts or veins, but some of
it remained residually in their blood. Their exterior wounds had festered and
were seeping black pus and blood.

fi
fl
 "Cut out this esh." Xie Bian looked at the rotting wound on his arm. What was
once on the bodies of the corpses was now growing on his body. It was
disgusting and frightening.

Fan Wushe said in a dumb voice, "Take o your clothes and let me see the
wound."

Xie Bian looked at the blood on Fan Wushe's body. Although blood didn't show
up much on black clothing, the dried area had hardened which made it more
eye-catching. He said hesitantly, "You're more seriously injured. Clean your
wounds rst."

"Mine don't matter. We'll deal with your rst."

"I only have three. I'm afraid that you have many more."

Fan Wushe smiled. "Dage is worried about me?"

Xie Bian froze, a little embarrassed. "When did I…."

"Or just embarrassed to undress in front of me?"

"Now isn't the time to talk nonsense!" Xie Bian said angrily. "There are priorities.
I'm afraid your injuries will delay our business!"

"That's worrying about me." Fan Wushe looked at Xie Bian warmly and said
softly, "I'm so happy that Dage is so concerned about my injury."

"Cut the crap." Xie Bian subconsciously avoided that naked gaze.

"But it's better to deal with yours rst." Fan Wushe grabbed Xie Bian before he
could open his mouth and continued, "I have many injuries. If we don't take care
of yours, how can you help me with mine?"

"….. All right." Xie Bian forced himself7 to take o his coat. One of his injuries
was on his arm, and the other two were on his back.

This slender, well-proportioned, pale and jade-like body had always been a fatal
temptation to Fan Wushe, but at this moment, he had no heart for the wind and
moon. He looked at the hideous scratch and felt deeply distressed.

7 idiom: 硬着头⽪ lit "harden [one's] head" meaning brace or force oneself to do something
(against one's will); braving all rebu s; put a bold face on it; summon up courage
fi
fl
ff
fi
fi
ff
ff
 Xie Bian drew his dagger and handed it to Fan Wushe.

Fan Wushe took the dagger and frowned at the wound, not daring to move.

Xie Bian took it back and stabbed the rotting esh wound on his arm. Shaking
with pain, he forced himself to quickly cut out the esh until new blood gushed
out.

"Dage…" Fan Wushe grabbed his wrist and sprinkled hemostatic medicine on
the wound. Looking at that pale and twisted face, he felt as if the dagger had cut
out his own heart.

Xie Bian gasped a few times before handing the dagger to Fan Wushe. He
turned around and urged in a low voice, "Hurry up."

Fan Wushe clenched his teeth and placed the blade over his back several times,
but he was reluctant to take the plunge. He had been in hell for a hundred years
and had seen every kind of unimaginable bloody torture, but because it was a
wound on the person he cared about most, he'd turned soft at this moment.

"Hurry up." Xie Bian emphasized.

Fan Wushe reached out his hand and gently stroked along Xie Bian's protruding
spine. He whispered, "Dage, bear with it." Ruthlessly, he quickly stabbed the
knife into the rotten esh and cut along the wound.

Xie Bian gave a short cry, then clenched his sts and went completely quiet.

Fan Wushe covered the bleeding wound with cotton gauze. The crimson blood
re ected in his eyes. Killing intent was boiling within his heart, as if he wanted to
destroy the entire netherworld. Black miasma took advantage of his unyielding
anger and quietly creeped into his eyes.

He quickly applied the medicine and bandaged the wound. Xie Bian was
covered in sweat, as if his whole body had been shed out of water. He bowed,
supporting himself on the ground with his uninjured arm, and slowly adjusted his
breathing.

Fan Wushe carefully held his shoulder, having him lean back into his arms.
"Dage, you can shout if you're in pain. You can bite me. Vent as much as you
want." He put his other hand around his back, and it looked like they were
hugging.

fl
fl
fi
fl
fi
fl
Xie Bian usually resisted Fan Wushe's approaches, but he seemed to have
exhausted all his energy at this time. He leaned into Fan Wushe's arms with a
close but restrained posture and slowly adjusted his breath, waiting for his
physical strength to recover.

"Do you remember in Linggong at the bottom of Fengming Lake? We were

attacked by the Feiling Emissaries and were seriously injured." Fan Wushe
spoke softly into Xie Bian's ear. "I really hated that I didn't have the power of my
previous life. In fact, not only that time. When we went to Fumenghui to
investigate the whereabouts of Meng Kefei's human pill, we ran into Song
Chungui. That was the rst time we were in danger. At that time, my body was
too small and weak. If I wanted to defeat Song Chungui, I would have exposed
my identity, but as long as it was for you, I was willing to do it."

"…. you took me away from danger." Time and time again.

But the second half of the sentence wasn't said out loud. Instead, he swallowed
it back into his stomach. He was more or less alert in his heart. He'd even gone
as far as to follow Fan Wushe's thoughts to actively recall the memories which
once moved him.

"Because I swore," Fan Wushe's breathing suddenly became heavy, "when

you…. died in front of me, I swore I would nd you and then protect you
forever."

Xie Bian felt a dull pain in his heart. He knew that it was this man's own fault, but
what kind of pain and madness would force a mortal to become the enemy of
the entire netherworld? And it was his death which sent him into such a
desperate state. Letting go of just a little courage to experience that kind of pain
made him shudder.

Xie Bian didn't dare to think about it any more. He was afraid he would go too
deep into imagining the terror and misery of a hundred years in hell. He was
afraid his heart would soften.

He endured the pain, sat up straight, then said lightly. "Come on. It's your turn."

Fan Wushe handed the dagger to Xie Bian and smiled. "I'm not afraid of pain.
You don't need to be nervous."

Even if he said that, Xie Bian had just tasted what it felt like. When it was his turn
to cut with the blade, he also hesitated a moment. Then he plunged the dagger
and cleaned out the rotten esh.

fi
fl
fi
 Fan Wushe's body trembled and naturally reached out his arms, loosely
wrapping them around Xie Bian's waist.

Xie Bian paused. "Don't move."

"Not moving." Fan Wushe's voice had a slight tremor.

Xie Bian looked at all seven wounds on Fan Wushe's body and frowned deeply.
He knew that this person had been hit several times to protect him, and he had
a strange feeling in his heart. He was a very kind and emotional person. When
the Demon Lord forced him, he ended his own life. However, this Fan Wushe
was too clever. He used the method he couldn't ght against and ate at his will
little by little.

Xie Bian shook his head, secretly telling himself that now wasn't the time to be
distracted. He took a deep breath, and his eyes became rm. He cut the rotten
esh out with the dagger. Fan Wushe occasionally gave mu ed grunts, but
otherwise, only kept his hands and feet close to Xie Bian, as if doing this could
relieve all pain, the world's most e ective hemostatic medicine.

It wasn't until when Fan Wushe was almost hugging him, making him unable to
take the correct angle that he reprimanded softly, "How can I clean your chest
like this?"

"Dage, let me hug you for a while," Fan Wushe whispered.

"Didn't you say you're not afraid of pain?"

"Because I'm numb to pain. In hell, experiencing torture day and night, pain
becomes a habit." Fan Wushe paused and laughed again. "Actually, it still hurts.
I just endure it."

Xie Bian's heart tightened. Looking at the hideous wounds on Fan Wushe's
body and the blood dripping dagger, he had the illusion that he had stabbed
him. Xie Bian's hand trembled a little. Feeling thirsty, he opened his mouth and
stammered, "I-if it hurts, you, you can shout."

"Good." Fan Wushe tightened his arms and buried his face into the the nook of
Xie Bian's neck. He said with an incredibly soft tone, "Dage, Xiao Jiu hurts. It's
so painful."

Xie Bian heard a buzzing sound in his brain. His heart felt numb from pain, and
his entire body froze on the spot.

fl
ff
fi
fi
ffl
"It hurts. Dage, blow on it for me." Fan Wushe closed his eyes. The corners of
his eyes glittered with tears. A hundred years in hell, how many times did he call
out for his elder brother? When his consciousness was in chaos, when he was in
too much pain, when the pain would never end, all he wanted was his elder
brother to save him. But no one saved him. Finally, it stopped hurting. He no
longer cared about the pain because it hid the screams in the bottom of his
heart.

Xie Bian gripped the dagger tightly and stared straight in front of him to prevent
his emotions from leaking.

No, he is not Xiao Jiu. You mustn't be confused by him…

Chapter 245
Xie Bian took a few deep breaths before continuing to clean up those hideous
wounds.

Fan Wushe had been half-leaning on him the whole time and holding onto his
clothes tightly. Sometimes the pain was so bad that he would let out a ragged
grunt, but the majority of the time, he restrained himself and trembled.
Occasionally, he whispered in his ear, "Dage, it hurts."

Anger and pain were the poisons which infused emotions. Black miasma was
constantly escaping from his body, and the blood in his eyes was getting darker
and darker, as if to swallow the whites of his eyes.

Xie Bian regretted telling Fan Wushe to shout if it hurt. Once Fan Wushe
declared his pain from his mouth, he was unable to resist doing it more. Finally,
Xie Bian couldn't help but respond, "Bear with it a little more. It'll be better
soon."

Even if there was only a hint of a soothing tone in these words, Fan Wushe
latched onto it like sweet dew in a long drought, because it was the tenderness
this person hadn't given him for a long time. Almost instantly, the miasma
converged, his eyes gained clarity, and his heart was covered with honey. He
grabbed the clothing in his hands, secretly revealing a small smile, and
continued to say in a hoarse voice, "But it really hurts. Dage, it's just so painful."

"It doesn't."

"It does." Fan Wushe put his hand on Xie Bian's waist. "If only it was just me
who got hurt."

"…. Don't move around." Xie Bian cleaned out another wound. "It's almost
done."

Fan Wushe let out a sti ed grunt. "Back then, when I couldn't keep up my
martial arts practice, Dage said that it would be over soon, but it ended up being
a long time before you let me nish. Dage is lying to me again."

"I didn't lie to you."

fl
fi
"Then, if I hold on until the end, how will Dage reward me?" Fan Wushe smiled.
"Will you make some delicious food for me in the evening? Or take me out to
play?"8

Xie Bian pursed his lips. Looking at Fan Wushe's tall body that was covered in
blood and shaking in his arms, he thought back to those warm and intimate
conversations when they were young, and his fully-armed heart took a small hit
in that moment. He heard himself reply without thinking, "When do you ever not
want to eat your favorite foods?"

The moment those words came out, both of them were completely shocked.
This question, wasn't it admitting that Fan Wushe was Xiao Jiu? It seemed like
an ordinary sentence, but it washed over the situation and their moods like
waves.

But right after that came great mourning. At that moment, it was as if they had
really dreamed of a hundred years ago, as if they were still close brothers, as if
all the ugliness had never happened and they weren't in his dark land of the
dead, but just spending an ordinary afternoon in Wuji Palace.

There were no crueler words in the world than "back then."

This was Fan Wushe's deliberate attempt to drag Xie Bian to this point. He
should have been overjoyed, he should have taken advantage of his victory, but
instead, he carefully leaned against Xie Bian and didn't speak again. He was
afraid that this moment was another dream, and that even the slightest sound
would frighten the dreamer.

Xie Bian didn't say anything else. He quickly nished cleaning Fan Wushe's
wounds, applied medicine, and bandaged him up all at once.

Fan Wushe took out a new set of clothes from his spatial bag. He slowly put
them on, but he was still weak and couldn't do it after several attempts.

Xie Bian took the clothes helplessly.

Fan Wushe smiled shyly. "After I turned ve, you made me dress myself."

"Hands up." Xie Bian turned his face away from him.

8I am really not feeling this operation baby talk? Like, acting like Xiao Jiu when you're a grown
ass man is a weird way to make Xie Bian interested in accepting your baobei
fi
fi
 Fan Wushe straightened his chest, raised an arm, and, intentionally or
unintentionally, placed it on Xie Bian's shoulder in an embrace.

They were very close to each other. Since they started healing each other's
wounds, they hadn't been far away from each other. Gradually, Xie Bian was so
relaxed about such proximity, he didn't notice until the moment when Fan
Wushe's naked body had almost surrounded him. The white gauze that
wrapped around him couldn't hide his undulating muscles, wide hard chest, and
long strong arms. Xie Bian suddenly felt the heat of his skin, which naturally
steamed around him.9

This body was very familiar to Xie Bian. In those absurd, lustful, chaotic days in
Wuji Palace, Xie Bian had become one10 with this body several times. It was tall,
strong, and aggressive. Even if Fan Wushe pretended to be harmless, he
couldn't help recalling countless fragments and details.

Xie Bian straightened his body, moved his gaze away, and put the clothes on
Fan Wushe expressionlessly. However, while he was tying Fan Wushe's belt, Fan
Wushe took advantage and wrapped his arms around him in an embrace.

Xie Bian sti ened and said coldly, "Let go. Don't make me do it."

"It doesn't matter if you do. If I can hold Dage like this, even just for a little while,
it doesn't matter."

"So shameless. You're not going to get what you want."

"I want you. Everything has changed, except you. Before, I just wanted to stay
by your side and redeem myself from my mistakes. Later, I wanted to remind
you more of our past. Today, when you admitted I am Xiao Jiu, I gained an inch,
and I want you…."

"I didn't admit anything. Your injuries aren't good. It'll a ect our plans." Xie Bian
paused. "That's all."

9The speci c term can mean "fumigate" but also the act of treating diseases via moxibustion
or steamed medicinal herbs. Basically, envision a heat which comes over your skin like steam
10 idiom: ⽔乳交融 lit "milk and water blended" basically coming together like an emulsion.

Also lol, I just said I didn't think FWS's tactics would work, but I guess that body is too manly
to ignore
fi
ff
ff
 Fan Wushe laughed. "You admitted it. It's too late to regret it now. Dage's
always had me in your heart. Why deceive yourself?"

Xie Bian glanced at him, then grabbed his wrist. Secretly trying his hardest, he
push it away from his body.

This move a ected his wounds, and Fan Wushe's face went white in pain. He let
go of Xie Bian and couldn't hide his disappointment, but he didn't give up.
"Dage, do you remember what you said before you drank Meng Po soup?"

Xie Bian's face changed slightly. He had the memories of his past and present
lives, but what happened in the netherworld after his death, he naturally didn't
know. But Meng Po told him that when he chose to be reborn and forget
everything, at the moment when his identity as Zong Ziheng really ended, his
life's greatest regret, the most unforgettable person in his life, was Xiao Jiu.

"If Dage could make me another meal, I would die willingly."

Anger ashed on Xie Bian's face. "Shut up. Concentrate on healing your injuries.
Don't delay our business."

"Dage is so good." Fan Wushe's eyes were xed on Xie Bian, the a ection in
them over owing. "Always so good."

Xie Bian simply turned around and closed his eyes to meditate.

"I'll never let you down again," Fan Wushe promised in a soft voice.

The two of them rested there for the night. Thanks to the top-grade spiritual pills
and their exceptional spiritual roots, their bodies began to improve.

After dawn, Wuzhui took them on their way, and they nally escaped from the
dense miasma- lled forest.

Galloping on this boundless land, the blood-red sun in the sky was their only
guide. The netherworld was so dark, desolate, and barren, it seemed that there
was nothing there, only endless wasteland. Regardless of whether it was a
human or ghost, if they lost their way here, they'd be lost forever.

So when a village suddenly appeared in front of them, both of them had a sense
of surrealism.

fl
fl
ff
fi
fi
fi
ff
 "It's a ghost village." Fan Wushe looked into the distance. "Should we catch a
ghost and ask if we're going the right direction?"

"Many ghosts were born in the ghost realm. They might never have been to the
netherworld in their lives. Even if we ask, they might not know."

"Then we'll go into the village and ask. There's always someone in a village who
knows something."

"That will startle the snake." Xie Bian thought for a moment. "First use a
blindfold talisman and look around the village, then we'll improvise."

"Okay."

In the eyes of those with low cultivation, a person or object a xed with a
blindfold talisman was as inconspicuous as a stone on the side of the road. As
long as they didn't make a big move or loud sound, they could muddle through.

They put on the talismans, held their breath and adjusted it to the lightest and
slowest state to hide that they were living people, then sauntered towards the
ghost village.

The ghost village looked similar to the villages in the mortal realm, but it was
very poor. The houses and appliances were very simple. It was like a gathering
place for refugees.

Ghosts didn't need to eat or drink, and naturally didn't have to farm, but that
didn't mean that they did nothing. They found ways to "live" beyond their own
cultivation. They also went deep into the mountains, bogs, and forests to look
for herbs and spiritual treasures which could enhance their cultivation. Although
they couldn't eat or drink and didn't age or die, they were, in fact, food for evil
spirits, demons, and beasts.

And the greatest threat to them were the hungry ghosts who were suddenly born
from the Egui path.

When a hungry ghost had reached its term, it would tear open its own ghost
mother's belly and crawl out, taking its ghost mother as their its meal before
frantically moving on to the rest of the village. After eating a village, it would go
nd the next one. Once one was powerful enough, it would eat evil spirits and
demons. Eventually, it would devour other hungry ghosts. In the end, it would
either become food or a ghost king.

fi
ffi
To get to the point where a hungry ghost was no longer hungry and would no
longer be manipulated and tortured by almost insatiable desire, its cultivation
would have to be very good.

This was the path that the red-clad Ghost King Jiang Qulian had traveled for
hundreds of years in the netherworld.

After entering the village, they soon got something. Two ghost hunters were
discussing the forests where they had found a large amount of spiritual herbs.
However, several evil spirits were guarding it, and the ghosts needed to organize
a group to go together. As they spoke about the location of that forest, the two
of them could deduce that they had gone in the right direction using the
netherworld as a reference. According to that, the netherworld was only half a
day's journey away.

The two men got their answer. Not wanting to delay, they intended to get on
their way as soon as possible, but stopped at the same time after hearing a
name.

The ghost hunter behind them said, "I've never heard of throwing a living person
into hell before."

"Yeah. Then, this Lan Chuihan, is he still considered a living person?"

Xie Bian's eyes went wide and he turned around suddenly.

With a jolt, the ghost hunter felt something was unusual around him, but when
he looked around, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. He couldn't help but
scratch his head in doubt.

"Dage, calm down," Fan Wushe said softly.

Xie Bian clenched his st.

"It's reasonable to say that when a living person comes to Jiuyou, they'll
naturally die. But, Tianshi and Wuchang, they were also living people and always
going back and forth from the netherworld. This Lan Chuihan being alive, it's not
unusual. But if you put a living person in hell, isn't that torturing them to death?"

"Who knows? Whatever kind of hatred Hong Wang has with that Lan Gongzi,
Lan Gongzi is not an evil person. He originally shouldn't have gone to hell."

fi
 "It must be a grudge from the previous life," the ghost hunter sighed. "Whatever
the grudge is, it doesn't a ect us. I heard the world is in chaos and the
netherworld is now controlled by Hong Wang. Who knows whether it's a
blessing or curse?"

"That's not something for ants like us to think about. We need to discuss how to
deal with those evil spirits."

Xie Bian held back his surging emotions and quietly withdrew from the village.
Once he was further away, he tore o the blindfold talisman and threw it on the
ground. He roared ercely, "Jiang Qulian, how dare that evil beast treat Lan
Dage like this!"

"Dage, there's no need to be in a hurry. If Jiang Qulian wants revenge, he won't

kill him easily. Let's go save him."

Xie Bian took a breath. "I'm afraid Lan Dage is…."

"Hurt? Crippled? It's useless to think about that. He's alive. That's good. Dage,
don't worry. I'll accompany you wherever you want to go."

"That's hell," Xie Bian muttered.

Fan Wushe looked at the worried expression frozen on Xie Bian's brow, and his
heart felt sour. He hooked his lips into a smile. "It would be good if Dage worried
this much about me."

Xie Bian was slightly stunned and stayed silent.

"Dage, let's go." Fan Wushe endured his jealousy. "Let's go save him."

After several days of trekking, they found Luofeng Mountain. It still looked the
same as before, towering so high one couldn't see the top. The netherworld was
set up in that mountain range, as were the well-known Huangquan Road, Naihe
Bride, Yanluo Hall, and hell.

Xie Bian hovered on his sword over the netherworld. Looking at the familiar
buildings beneath his feet, especially Tianshi Palace where he had grown up, his
heart was lled with grief. The netherworld seemed to have changed little, but it
had been forced to change its course. He didn't know whether the netherworld
was still ful lling its duties under the rule of the Red Ghost King or if the trials at
fi
fi
fi
ff
ff
 Yanluo Hall, Meng Po soup, and the six paths of reincarnation were still
functioning as usual. Just looking from the sky, it seemed like nothing had
changed, but there was no longer a place for him to go back to.

"Dage, right now the netherworld is full of Jiang Qulian's people. We need to
disguise ourselves as yin agents and blend in to look around."

"Mn."

"Jiang Qulian most likely placed the Book of Life and Death in Hong Palace."

"Mn."

"I know you're worried about Lan Chuihan, but our most important goal at this
time is to get the Book of Life and Death rst."

"I know," Xie Bian sighed, "I don't know what the netherworld looks like at this
time, but maybe we can still nd someone to help us. Let's go in rst."

Xie Bian's spatial bag uniforms of yin agents inside. They changed their clothes,
put on ghost masks, and hid their breath again using the closed breathing
technique. Pretending to be yin agents on patrol, they entered the netherworld.

On the surface, it seemed that the netherworld was still operating as usual.
There were still many yin agents moving around, ferrying souls where they
needed to go as if nothing had changed.

Fan Wushe grabbed a yin agent and stuck a puppet talisman on him to inquire
about the situation.

Since the battle at Fengdu City, Jiang Qulian had completely taken control of the
netherworld. Cui Jue, Yeyou, Bo Zhu, and many of Cui Jue's former
subordinates had been imprisoned. Riyou had escaped, while Meng Po was still
cooking her soup on Naihe Bridge as if whoever was running the netherworld
didn't a ect her at all.

She was able to stand alone, partially because she didn't participate in the
battle, but also because Jiang Qulian still needed her.

After a short discussion, they decided to take the risk to ask Meng Po for help.

Stealing the Book of Life and Death and saving people from hell at the same
time without revealing themselves the way they wanted would be di cult. Meng
ff
fi
fi
fi
ffi
 Po was the only one capable of helping them. It was just that Meng Po had
always been unpredictable. No one knew what she was thinking or why she was
willing to guard that one bridge and repeat the same thing day after day, but
even the Great Beiyin Emperor was courteous to her.

Only, they were worried that Meng Po would not only refuse to help them like
the ve ghost emperors did, she might even sell them out. But right now, they
could only try.

They blended in with a team of yin agents who were sending souls to Naihe
Bridge. Looking at the scarlet water under the bridge, they couldn't help feeling
emotional.

When they stood in front of Meng Po, she wasn't surprised; she only waved her
smooth snake tail. "You came back so late, I thought you were dead." Her tone
was cold with a bit of ridicule.

"Meng Cao Lao," Xie Bian cupped his hand. "I've wanted to come back every
day, but I was recovering from my injuries."

"Looking at your injuries, you haven't fully recovered either." Meng Po could see
at a glance that they were both still injured, and neither had much blood on their
faces.

"There was a di cult encounter in a dense forest with evils spirts," Xie Bian said
heavily. "The netherworld becoming like this, Cui Fujun and Yeyou imprisoned in
hell with the others, that's not what Meng Cao Lao wants to see, right?"

Meng Po gently brushed her head with her ngers. Her old pale face seemed to
be tired of making expressions. She said, "Then you know why Hong Wang
didn't shut me down."

"Meng Cao Lao has some kind of deal with him." Xie Bian stared straight at
Meng Po. "If we turn around and leave now, will Meng Cao Lao tell Hong Wang
about this matter?"

Meng Po let out a peal of laughter. "Look at you, so scared. You're not as good
as your shifu."

"How could I compare with my shizun?"

Fan Wushe narrowed his eyes without fear. "Meng Cao Lao, you keep avoiding
the important things. We won't let you go if we're found out."

fi
ffi
fi
Meng Po laughed sadly. "Zunshang doesn't need to say such harsh words. I
didn't say I wouldn't help you."

 Chapter 246
Xie Bian asked Meng Po about the situation in the netherworld.

Lan Chuihan had indeed been thrown into hell by Jiang Qulian, and no one knew
his current state. Cui Jue and Yeyou were put under house arrest in the Judge's
Palace, including the "little servant of Tianshi Palace," that was, Bo Zhu.

Jiang Qulian took little interest in Niutou, Mamian, and the others whose main
duties were overseeing animals, so he didn't touch them. They also knew how
to protect themselves and continued to do the same things they always did
without taking part in the disputes of the netherworld. The ten Yanluo Halls were
all civil o cials, and most of the yin agents under their command were
controlled by Jiang Qulian since they were unable to resist him.

Jiang Qulian planted a group of his own ghost generals to replace the former
netherworld generals. The entire netherworld was under his control.

Xie Bian's brow furrowed and his heart tightened. "No news about Lan
Chuihan?"

"No. Hong Wang was originally warden of hell, and his ghosts are there, inside
and out." Meng Po hummed lightly. "However, going to hell with a living body, it
can only be bad fortune."

Xie Bian dropped his head. He said nothing, but he clenched his sts so hard
they hurt.

Fan Wushe said, "Jiang Qulian won't kill him. If he wanted him to die, why would
he go to all this trouble?"

"To torture him?" Xie Bian gritted his teeth. "Not to mention torture, just the
erosion of yin qi is enough to kill a living person. He can't last long."

"You want to save him?" Meng Po shook her head.

"Meng Cao Lao, can you help us nd out where Lan Chuihan is and where the
Book of Life and Death is now?"

"Something as important as the Book of Life and Death must be carried by

Hong Wang himself. As for the living man, I can try, but if he is in the infernal
hell, you should give up."

ffi
fi
fi
 "The infernal hell isn't impossible to break out of." Xie Bian gave Fan Wushe a
meaningful look.

Meng Po laughed coldly. "That's because you had the help of Hong Wang.
Could he have left the infernal hell by himself? Since ancient times, no ghost has
ever escaped from the infernal hell."

Fan Wushe's face was gloomy, and he didn't answer.

"Hong Wang and Zunshang used each other. He took the risk of taking you out
of hell and even sending to you reincarnation. But what use does Lan Chuihan
have for Hong Wang?"

"Lan Chuihan's value to Hong Wang is obviously not 'use.'" Fan Wushe looked
straight at Meng Po. "Can you help us or not?"

"Who else can help you but me?"

"Why are you helping us?" Fan Wushe asked again.

Meng Po's snake tail glided and made a rustling sound. "The Great Beiyin
Emperor has been kind to my Nüwa clan. Since the separation of heaven and
earth, our ancestors were forced to return to the divine throne. The lamia people
people who remained on earth lost their protection. Because of the residual
divinity in our snake pearls, we were hunted and killed by earth dwellers. It was
the Beiyin Emperor who saved us. While he is in seclusion due to his injury, how
could his netherworld be allowed to fall into the hands of ambitious people?"

"Meng Cao Lao is very righteous. I thank you in advance." Xie Bian cupped his
hand. "In your opinion, what should we do now?"

"I have no good opinion. If you want one, go see Cui Fujun."

"Can you take us to see him?" Xie Bian's eyes lit up.

"Compared to getting the Book of Life and Death or getting into hell, it's easier
to mix in to the Judge's House. It isn't me who will take you though, but Riyou."

"Riyou is in the netherworld now?"

"In order to avoid Hong Wang's pursuit, he has been shuttling between the
human and ghost realms. Even if he comes back here, he is in hiding. He came
to nd me, and I can nd him. He's been waiting for you to come back." Meng
fi
fi
Po gazed at Xie Bian. "We've all been waiting for you to come back. Tianshi is
gone. Perhaps only you can save all this."

Xie Bian said sadly, "I'm afraid I won't live up to my shizun's expectations."

"Then don't fail." Meng Po straightened her slightly hunched back, and her
snake tail did too. At her full height, she was as tall as two people. She looked
down at them and said, "Pay back what you owe to the human and ghost
realms."

In accordance with Meng Po's words, the two waited under the ninth beacon
tower which lead to Yanluo Hall.

Not far away was a spacious mountain road which led to the Hall of Hell and the
continuation of Huangquan Road. The two hid within the tall artemisia grass and
waited for Riyou to come to them.

Xie Bian was silent for a long time. One hand clutched the hilt of Junlan, and he
looked worried.

"Are you still thinking about Lan Chuihan?" Fan Wushe couldn't help asking.

Xie Bian didn't answer.

"Jiang Qulian won't kill him. He's only been in hell a few days. You don't need to
worry so much."

"It's not up to you to decide who I need to be worried about."

Fan Wushe narrowed his eyes, and the jealousy and injustice in his chest
couldn't be suppressed. "I was in the infernal hell for a hundred years, but I've
never seen you worried about that. You've never even asked about it."

Xie Bian turned away, obviously not wanting to continue the conversation.

"You're so worried about him being tortured in hell. You're afraid he'll have bad
fortune, but have you ever even thought about me once? How I survived those
hundred years?"

Xie Bian gritted his teeth. "Are you saying this to accuse me? Is it my fault?" He
didn't want to think about it. He didn't dare to think about it. While he was
worried about Lan Chuihan, he couldn't help thinking about how this man had
endured a hundred years of torture. His heart which hung over the abyss
seemed to be at risk of crashing at any time. And so, he couldn't think about it
any more.

"…." Fan Wushe's felt like something was stuck in his throat, and his shoulders
collapsed a little. He said sadly, "No."

"Then stop talking." Stop pushing me.

"I just want you to care about me a little, just a little bit, about what happened in
the past. I don't care about how much pain I went through, but if you don't care
at all either…." Fan Wushe looked down and said softly, "I'll be really sad."

Xie Bian still looked away, leaving Fan Wushe with a tense pro le and slightly
undulating Adam's apple.

Fan Wushe's heart was lled with pain. At this moment, he wanted to use some
extraordinary means to make him say a few words to appease him, even if just
by force. As long as it could relieve this pain in his heart.

The dull atmosphere that owed between them was suddenly broken with
Riyou's arrival.

Riyou looked haggard. He was only awake half the time, and without Yeyou's
care, he had to do everything he need to do within a limited time and then nd a
safe place to hide before the sun set. Additionally, he was always worried and
thinking about his wife. Naturally, he was exhausted.

"Wuchang, you've nally come back. Cui Fujun said you would de nitely come
back to save them."

Xie Bian was a little ashamed. "I will save them even if it costs my life."

"I know the secret passage to the Judge's Palace. I can take you to see Cui
Fujun; however, this trip is very risky. If Hong Wang nds out, what will you do?"

"Then we can only ght," Fan Wushe sneered. "Close combat is the worst
option, but if we're exposed trying to get the Book of Life and Death and saving
the hostages, then we have no choice."

"I'm afraid getting the Book of Life and Death will be very di cult. I've been to
Hong Wang's underground treasure vault and haven't seen the Book of Life and
fi
fi
fi
fl
fi
ffi
fi
fi
fi
 Death or the Judge's Pen. Hong Wang must be taking them around with him.
However, they are Cui Fujun's things after all. Maybe Cui Fujun has a way to get
them back."

"Take us to see Cui Fujun."

Riyou and Yeyou's duty was to patrol the world and collect intelligence for Cui
Fujun, therefore, they were extremely fast, wary, and good at hiding and
in ltrating. Although the Judge's Palace had many guards and gates, Riyou had
already gured out the loopholes and sneaked in to see Cui Fujun once.

This time took some e ort, but he eventually brought the two of them in
unnoticed.

Cui Jue was imprisoned in his residence and could only move around in his
bedchamber and study all day. He clearly looked a little dispirited. Only when he
saw Xie Bian did his eyes brighten. "Bian, you're back."

"Cui Fujun, I'm late. I, I was injured, so…."

"No need to explain. I understand." Cui Jue looked at Fan Wushe and said
indi erently, "You deliberately took back the Tianji Tally after all the chaos. Did it
give you what you wanted?"

Fan Wushe's face changed slightly. He pursed his lips and didn't respond.

"After living two lives, you still don't understand the truth. Absolute power can't
create everything, but it can destroy everything."

"…. I understand now." Fan Wushe stole a glance at Xie Bian then lowered his
eyes.

Cui Jue nodded and said earnestly. "It's not too late to mend the fold after the
sheep is stolen."11

They exchanged information with each other. Xie Bian knew that both Yeyou and
Bo Zhu were well, except that they hadn't seen each other after they were
imprisoned there. It was Riyou who had visited them separately.

11 idiom: 亡⽺补牢 lit "lost sheep mend gate" meaning to learn from one's mistakes
fi
ff
fi
ff
 After learning that Lan Chuihan was thrown into hell by Jiang Qulian, Cui Jue
was furious. "Jiang Qulian has repeatedly violated heaven's mandates.
Punishment in hell isn't enough for him."

"I'm very worried about Lan Chuihan. I have to save him."

"Going to hell and saving someone, it's not that easy. This needs to be
considered long term."

"The secret passage under Hong Palace can lead straight to hell, but I don't
know if it's been sealed by Jiang Qulian." Xie Bian sighed. "We're waiting for
Meng Po to nd out which oor Lan Chuihan is on."

"If it's the infernal hell…." Cui Jue stopped speaking.

All of them were silent. If Lan Chuihan was really in the infernal hell, that would
be the worst case possible.

This also made them wonder, what did Lan Chuihan do to Jiang Qulian in their
previous lives to make Jiang Qulian hate him enough to throw a living person
into hell?

Fan Wushe said, "Cui Fujun, let's not talk about Lan Chuihan. The most
important thing for us to do on this trip is take back the Book of Life and Death
and the Judge's Pen. Our guess is that if the Book of Life and Death is
combined with Jinqie Yuce, Jiang Qulian may nd the secret of controlling the
six paths of reincarnation."

Cui Jue sighed. "It's true. If he controls the six paths of reincarnation, not to
mention the netherworld, all of earth will fall into his hands even."

"What?"

"The Tian and Asura paths may be a ected. After the separation of heaven and
earth, the only way for man to become immortal has been cultivation. However,
if the six paths of reincarnation become Jiang Qulian's tool, there's no need to
cultivate to immortality. He could directly reincarnate as a celestial being. At that
time, all three realms will be in chaos."

Xie Bian took in a breath of cold air. Why didn't they think of that? Jiang Qulian's
ambition, was it so much more than just above and below the ground?

fi
fl
ff
fi
"So we have to take back the Book of Life and Death," Cui Jue said. "After all, I
have been in charge of the Book of Life and Death for a thousand years. I have a
way to get it, but it depends on you."

"Please speak, Cui Fujun."


Chapter 247
"The Book of Life and Death and the Judge's Pen both have the spiritual sense I
secretly left on them. I know where they are, and as long as they're close
enough, they can accept my summon and return to my hands. Getting them
back is simple, but it's up to you how to keep them."

"Are they in the netherworld now?"

"No. Jiang Qulian has likely gone to the moral realm."

"If we take back the Book of Life and Death, we'll have leverage to exchange for
you, but" Xie Bian hesitated. "Lan Dage…."

"Bian, you should nd a way to save Lan Gongzi rst. He is a living person and
can't last long in hell. After rescuing him, don't worry about us. Leave the
netherworld immediately and go nd Jinqie Yuce."

"I can't leave you here."

"Don't worry, Jiang Qulian won't kill us. He'll just keep us for a while," Cui Jue
said. "But if he gets Jinqie Yuce rst, the consequences will be unimaginable."

"Cui Fujun is right. Jiang Qulian must be looking for Xu Zhinan," Fan Wushe
said. "We must nd Xu Zhinan rst."

Xie Bian thought for a moment. "Well, it's just that Xu Zhinan wants to hide. So
far, there aren't any clues. I don't know where Hua Xiangrong is now. If she
tracked Xu Zhinan all the way, maybe…."

"Have Riyou help you. Although Riyou can only be active during the day, he's
been patrolling the world for me the whole time looking for people to nd clues.
I'm afraid there's no one faster than him."

Riyou cupped his hand. "Order received."

"Thank you, Cui Fujun." Xie Bian's face was grave. "Cui Fujun, we have to go to
hell to save someone. Do you have any ideas?"

"I have something that might be able to help you." Cui Fujun opened a drawer,
pulled out a wooden box, and took out a jade token from it. "This was originally
my Judge's token to pass through hell, but now that Jiang Qulian is running the
fi
fi
fi
fi
fi
fi
fi
netherworld and many of his subordinates are in hell, I can't say whether this
Judge's token will work once you're there. However, it can pass through hell's
array which was laid by the Beiyin Emperor. There are rules to pass through it
which he can't control."

"Good. With this, as long as we can avoid the netherworld's guards, we can
enter hell."

Cui Jue shook his head and sighed. "Don't get too happy. You can enter hell,
but when you nd Lan Gongzi, you'll need to nd a way to bring him out."

"To leave hell, you need an o cial document from one of the ten Yanluo Halls."

"Yes. Only those who have completed their sentences with an o cial document
from the ten Yanluo Halls can be released. You still have to nd Qin Guang
Wang. Tianshi had a great relationship with him. He will de nitely help you."

Xie Bian nodded and cupped his hand to Riyou. "Yanluo Hall is full of traitorous
yin agents. We'll have to trouble Riyou to show us the way."

"Don't worry. I will take you to see his majesty Qin Guang Wang."

"It's not too late. Go quickly." Cui Jue patted Xie Bian on the shoulder, then
looked at Fan Wushe and said, "There are many hardships in the world, but you
must not give up. Bian, Tianshi always believed in you. You will bring peace to
both the human and ghost realms."

Xie Bian was ashamed. "I will do my best to live up to Shizun's expectations."

With Riyou's help, they also managed to in ltrate Yanluo Hall and nd Qin
Guang Wang. When Qin Guang Wang saw Xie Bian, he spilled out his
grievances, denouncing Jiang Qulian's evil deeds of ignoring the laws of the
netherworld and enlisting the ghosts of the netherworld in order to control trials
and reincarnation. Among the ten Yanluo Halls, some had already given in to
Jiang Qulian. Others were still struggling, but none dared to resist outright,
otherwise Yanluo's position would be lost.

After hearing Xie Bian's intention, Qin Guang Wang immediately wrote an o cial
document and also sent his own yin agents to Xie Bian so that he could meet
them in hell. As long as they didn't cause too big of a disturbance when they
rescued Lan Chuihan, they could bring him out of hell unnoticed. Now was the
fi
ffi
fi
fi
fi
fi
ffi
fi
ffi
 best time to do it since Jiang Qulian was not in the netherworld. He had likely
gone to the mortal realm to look for Xu Zhinan. They had to act immediately.

After getting the o cial document, it was almost dawn.

In fact, Jiuyou was dark and gloomy, and there wasn't a big di erence between
day and night. It was a vast and rootless land forever imprisoned in darkness.
However, they still decided to wait until nightfall before taking action because yin
agents liked to collect souls after the sun set. At night, the netherworld would be
more "lively" and they could take advantage of the chaos.

The two of them hid on Luofeng Mountain.

Xie Bian was carefully wiping his sword. As he wiped the shining silver blade
with a handkerchief, he saw a pair of calm and steady eyes on the blade. He
blinked and looked at himself attentively, but read the emotions that even he
couldn't express.

He'd always had deep feelings for this Junlan sword. Even if it was a far
comparison from his ancestral divine Zongxuan Sword which was forged in the
Shennong Cauldron, the sword he'd want to accompany him all his life was still
Junlan.12

Even though he'd used the Zongxuan sword for a decade, he never felt that the
sword really belonged to him. Maybe it was because he'd resisted his identity of
Ren Emperor at the bottom of his heart. Junlan had appeared when he'd needed
it most, and it came as a sincere gift. No matter what Xu Zhinan became, he
rmly believed that the moment Xu Zhinan gave him the sword was sincere.

Therefore, holding this sword, it was extremely sad to think that he and Xu
Zhinan had come to this point.

Fan Wushe had rested a while. When he opened his eyes, he saw that Xie Bian
was wiping his sword over and over. In fact, the sword was already clean. There
was no need to wipe it again and again.

"Dage," Fan Wushe called out softly.

Xie Bian, who was immersed in memories, only responded after he was called a
second time. "Hm?"

12 Peixue sword is sitting alone in XBA's spatial bag crying from being excluded
fi
ffi
ff
"What are you thinking about?" Fan Wushe looked at Junlan and had actually
already guessed.

Xie Bian said in a low voice, "I used to regard him as a trusted elder brother, and
after I had ascended to the throne, my closest aide."13

Fan Wushe narrowed his eyes. "He deserves to die."

"I really am not good at reading people."

"That person is cunning. He hid himself deeply and deceived everyone. We were
all in the dark. Dage, it's not your fault."

"It's not just him. There's also Li Buyu," Xie Bian spoke self-deprecatingly, "even
my mother. We were each other's closest person in the world, and I never really
knew her."

"Dage, it's not your fault." Fan Wushe gazed into Xie Bian's eyes and added,
"Because you are gentle and kind, and you were carrying a huge treasure, those
people used you and deceived you. It's not your fault; it's their evil." He paused
and whispered, "And me, I also hurt you, but never again."

Xie Bian wiped the sword a few more times. "I won't trust you, or anyone else,
ever again."

Fan Wushe felt a dull pain in his heart, but he could only swallow this bitter fruit.

Before the sun set, they returned to Naihe Bridge. It was time for their
appointment with Meng Po, and they came to ask for clues.

Meng Po gave them an answer which, although expected, was still terrible: Lan
Chuihan was really in the infernal hell.

The eighteenth oor of hell and the upper seventeen oors all had di erent
punishments for di erent crimes. For example, in the rst level, people with
verbal karma14 had the punishment of ripping out tongues, while the fourteenth

13肱⻣之⾂ literally "minister of the humerus," this was an emperor's most important o cial as
someone being both close to him and capable. A little bit similar in spirit to calling someone
your "right hand man"
14This is essentially creating bad karma through sins like deceiving people, voicing lustful
thoughts, and other ways of harming people through words
fl
ff
fl
fi
ff
ffi
level15 was where those who did not value life and committed suicide were
punished. The eighteenth level of hell was reserved for those who committed the
greatest evils. Infernal hell meant endless su ering.

Xie Bian had been preparing himself for a long time. He calmly asked many
questions about hell. It wasn't his rst time going there. He'd been with Zhong
Kui many times, but he'd never been to the infernal hell, much less breaking
someone out of it.

After getting ready, they arrived that night at the entrance to hell which was
located deep in Luofeng Mountain.

15 I changed around and added some stu in this paragraph for clarity. The eighteen levels of
hell each have their own names related to the kind of torture they have. The name of the rst
level is "Pulling the Tongue Hell" which is kind of self-explanatory. The fourteenth level is
"Wrongful Death Hell."
fi
ff
ff
fi
 Chapter 248
Di erent from how the legends in the mortal world described, the entrance to
hell was not a blue-faced ghost head with tusks,16 nor was it a gate surrounded
by thorns and rivers of blood. There weren't even rakshasas17 guarding the
ghosts at each layer. It was actually a volcanic crater.

When they climbed the towering Luofeng Mountain, the top was an endless
plain of volcanic ash and lava. The ghostly aura was so thick that there was no
grass. Lava formed a stream wrapped with putrid blood, broken limbs, and
resentment. It owed down from the top of Luofeng Mountain down into
Wangchuan, causing every ghost who fell into it to forget themselves and lose
their strength, memory, and willpower, making it di cult for them to ever
escape.

In the center of that plain was a huge crater parallel to the ground. From the sky,
it looked like a deep hole which went through to the center of the earth. The hot
lava which rolled down from it seemed as if it could melt everything to ashes.

At this moment, a group of yin agents was taking ghosts into hell from their
trials. They went slowly toward the entrance of hell, and when they came to the
edge of the crater like a handful of ants at the edge of a pot, they jumped down
one after another.

Watching from the sky, Xie Bian was a little scared. Once while on patrol with
Zhong Kui, they visited hell. Zhong Kui had a heavenly order and could pass
through hell freely. No matter whether it was going in or out of hell, Zhong Kui
would never be in danger. But this day wasn't like back then. They were going
into a real asura eld, and if the token in his hand didn't work, they would plunge
head rst into the magma, and not even a bone would be left.

Xie Bian said, "To enter hell, you have to go from there with a Yama Decree and
an o cial document in hand. The token is used to pass through the border, and
the o cial document is to send and shuttle people. Otherwise, we won't reach
the real hell and will fall in the magma pool." He paused then said, "Likewise,
without the o cial document and token, anyone inside can't come out. All of

16 Would look something like a Japanese Hannya mask or like this: https://ss3.baidu.com/
9fo3dSag_xI4khGko9WTAnF6hhy/zhidao/wh%3D450%2C600/
sign=ed5814090c55b3199cac8a717699ae10/
a9d3fd1f4134970a72d5482793cad1c8a7865d17.jpg
17 罗刹 (luocha). This is speci cally a kind of demon from Hindu mythology
ff
ffi
fi
ffi
ffi
fl
fi
fi
ffi
 hell is wrapped in magma." The reason they they couldn't use Qin Guang
Wang's Yama Decree was because o cial documents could be forged, but
tokens couldn't. If they failed, Qin Guang Wang would be a ected, so they could
only risk using Cui Jue's token. If Jiang Qulian had blocked his token or if the
hell guards checked it, they could be exposed.

After waiting a long time, Xie Bian didn't get a response. He turned to look at
Fan Wushe, but saw that his face had gone pale. He stared straight at the
entrance to hell with bulging eyes, tightened pupils, and a face covered with a
thin layer of sweat. He clenched his sts, and his body was surrounded by black
miasma. This was the fear and vigilance which came from meeting a fatal threat.

Xie Bian's heart tightened. This man had been in and out of this place as a
prisoner and had served a hundred years in prison. He truly understood the
horrors of hell.

Xie Bian didn't make any more noise, but just looked at Fan Wushe in silence.
He knew that Fan Wushe was ghting against his own fear and the demons
caused by it.

After a long time, the black miasma gradually subsided, and Fan Wushe's eyes
regained clarity. He took a deep breath, but his face was still covered with
gloom. He said in a deep voice, "Let's go."

"You…"

"I'm ne. Anyway, there's no way I'll let you go in by yourself."

"Did you hear what I just said? If Cui Fujun's token doesn't work, we'll jump
directly into the magma."

"No," Fan Wushe took out the Shanhe Sheji Map, "if we really can't cross the
boundary, I'll change the landscape. I won't let you be in danger."

Xie Bian was slightly relieved. He realized that no matter how much he resisted
Fan Wushe, no matter how many of the dangerous tribulations he encountered
were caused by this person, he never doubted that this person had the ability to
save them from danger.

When they came to the entrance to hell, the hot air from the molten magma
underground kept surging upward, burning their hair and skin. They looked at
each other, and Fan Wushe held Xie Bian's hand, while Xie Bian held the
Judge's token in the other.

fi
fi
fi
ffi
ff
 They leapt down.

Their fall didn't last long. In the blink of an eye, they appeared in a large cave
surrounded by volcanic rock, and landed on the ground.

The coarse honeycomb-like rock wall was embedded with soul lamps which
glowed blood red. The wall extended so high they couldn't see the top. This was
the real entrance to hell.

The guards at the entrance and the yin agents who were lining up to enter found
them at the same time. The two of them were wearing yin agent uniforms and
ghost masks. They kept their breath closed to hide the fact that they were living
people, so the yin guards were not aware of the di erence.

Xie Bian waved the o cial document and lowered his voice, "Bringing up
someone."

"Which hall?" asked the guard.

"Qin Guang Wang's Hall."

The guard reached for the o cial document.

The o cial document was real, but the name on it was false. Naturally, the guard
had no way of knowing, so he let them in.

Through the gate, there was a large iron sago palm18 in front of them. The trunk
was riveted together with various mechanisms, and the branches extended out
in the shape of an umbrella. There were eighteen branches total. Huge skeletons
hung from each branch and carried yin agents up and down, relying on a group
of ragged ghosts at the top of the iron tree to push the mechanisms.

The two walked into a skeleton. A little ghost was lying on the skull and poked
his head through one of the skeleton's eyes and looked at them.

"Eighteenth oor," Xie Bian said.

The little ghost disappeared and soon, the big skeleton carried them down
slowly.

18 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycas_revoluta
ffi
fl
ffi
ffi
ff
As the big skeleton descended, they "passed" through every layer of hell.
Although they couldn't see anything through the stone walls, the incessant,
ceaseless, wailing cries were more piercing than the sharpest sword in the
world. Reaching into the depth of the souls, it made one cold from the inside
out.

When Xie Bian rst came here, he thought that if evildoers could go there and
see what happens at the end of karma, there would be fewer evil people in the
world. Unfortunately, people didn't believe in it, or even if they did, they couldn't
resist the erosion of desire.

The descent process wasn't very long, but they seemed to have gone through a
long ordeal. The howling sounds were like dull knives grinding at the esh,
making them numb. If they continued to listen to this, it would drive them crazy.

The further they descended, the higher the temperature was. They were already
sweating like rain, and even their skin was steamed to the point of pain.

Finally, the big skeleton reached the bottom, and they landed. They had arrived
at the eighteenth level of hell, the infernal hell.

Xie Bian walked out. He looked back and saw that Fan Wushe was still standing
in the skeleton. He had retreated to the far corner at some point. His face was
sinister and frightening, like a beast which had been driven to a desperate
situation, ready to ght for its life at any time.

Xie Bian felt a sudden pain in his heart. He sighed to himself and walked over to
Fan Wushe. "We're here."

Fan Wushe stared at Xie Bian. Black blood had creeped into his eyes again, and
his spiritual pressure rose with his aggression. He looked wary and hostile to
everything around him.

Xie Bian knew that the skeleton car was going to go up soon, so they couldn't
delay here. Plus, he still needed Fan Wushe to help him save Lan Chuihan. He
simply held Fan Wushe's hand.

Fan Wushe was shocked, and the black miasma in his eyes instantly faded. He
stared at Xie Bian blankly and helplessly.

"Don't be afraid." Xie Bian opened his mouth then swallowed the second half of
his sentence back into his stomach.

fi
fi
fl
 Fan Wushe's eyes gradually regained clarity and even had a trace of joy. He
intertwined his ngers with Xie Bian's, fearing that he would regret holding his
hand. "Dage…."

"Let's go." Xie Bian pulled Fan Wushe out, then let go of his hand.

Fan Wushe clenched his st, wanting to keep the residual warmth his elder
brother left between his ngers.

Notes from the author:

The chapters these last two days are a little short because the content after is
too di cult to write and it's better not to interrupt the important plot or put it in
the next chapter.

Corgi notes: Sorry I had to take a few days o ! Got a little behind, but we're
caught up again.
ffi
fi
fi
fi
ff