Chapter 209
Chapter 209
“Why are you looking at me?”
Xia Ximo still acted as though the matter had nothing to do with her, but she passed it back to Yan Zhengchu. “Since you have a method, follow it.”
“What?” Yan Zhengchu looked bewildered and muttered, “I never said I had a method…”
Then he suddenly understood something from Xia Ximo’s gaze…
“Yes, there is indeed one method we could try…
“However, the Young Marquis and Young Master Yu will need to step outside.”
Puzzled, Yu Lang glanced at Xia Ximo. “Miss Xia does not need to leave?”
“Here is the situation.”
Yan Zhengchu was quick on his feet. He explained, “Miss Xia was born in a yin year, yin month, yin day, and yin hour. Hers is a body of extreme yin. I need her assistance to open the Path to the Netherworld.”
Understanding dawned on Yu Lang, who appeared to believe the explanation completely.
Ren Fengjue, however, frowned slightly. “Can you guarantee Miss Xia’s safety?”
Yan Zhengchu himself was far from confident, but he had witnessed Xia Ximo’s abilities and trusted her completely.
“Naturally.”
Only after seeing his confidence did Ren Fengjue relax somewhat. He said to Yu Lang, “In that case, let us wait outside.”
Once the two men left, Yan Zhengchu immediately whispered to Xia Ximo, “Miss Xia, when I was young and knew no fear, I did once barge into the Underworld Administration. But I was a newborn calf unafraid of the tiger back then…
“Even if you lent me a hundred measures of courage now, I would not dare do it again.”
Xia Ximo wasted no words. “I did not say you were going.”
From within the Soul-Ferrying Lantern, Wuyou immediately protested.
“Mogu, trespassing in the Underworld Administration is a grave offense! Your soul only recently fused with this body. Are you truly going to take such a risk?”
Xia Ximo ignored Wuyou and instructed Yan Zhengchu, “Guard my body carefully. If anything happens to it, I will hold you responsible.”
With that, she drew her soul out of her body and entered the Soul-Ferrying Lantern.
“Lead the way.”
Annoyed by her stubbornness, Wuyou refused. “I will not.”
“I have questions for the Earth Lord.”
For once, Xia Ximo offered an explanation. “I want him to confirm a few things.”
The Soul-Ferrying Lantern and the Soul Ferryman were linked in mind and heart.
As the Lantern-Guarding Soul, Wuyou naturally sensed the turmoil in her heart.
Wuyou sighed and asked, “Do you know why Soul Ferrymen have no memories of their previous lives?”
Xia Ximo did not answer.
She had never considered the question.
“Because the memories from most Soul Ferrymen’s previous lives are painful.
“Bear the lantern and ferry souls. Resolve hatred and grudges. Do not dwell on the past or remember what came before. That is what you should be doing now.”
Wuyou offered earnest advice.
Xia Ximo lowered her eyes and fell silent for a moment. “Even without my memories, I know myself.
“Once I decide to do something, I must do it.
“Otherwise, I will never move past it.”
At that, Wuyou knew persuasion was useless.
With a helpless sigh, Wuyou said, “Very well. Once you enter the Underworld Administration, there will be no chance to regret it.
“Whether you can meet the Earth Lord is another question.”
As Wuyou spoke, a light appeared inside the Soul-Ferrying Lantern. Wuyou said irritably, “Follow that light to the end, and you will reach the Gate of the Netherworld.”
Xia Ximo nodded and walked toward the light without hesitation.
Watching her retreating figure, Wuyou hovered in place, torn for a moment, then sighed again.
“Fine. If we die, we die.”
In the end, Wuyou secretly followed.
Two Underworld Runners stood guard before the Gate of the Netherworld.
When they saw a soul arriving from the mortal realm, they immediately crossed their halberds to block the way.
“Who goes there?”
Xia Ximo stopped and was about to speak when Wuyou asked first, “This is a Soul-Ferrying Envoy from the mortal realm. We tracked a wronged soul here but lost its trail. Have either of you seen it?”
The Underworld Runners were puzzled. “We have not.”
Wuyou adopted an official tone. “That wronged soul’s resentment has not dissipated, so it cannot enter reincarnation. If it slips inside and disrupts the order of the Reincarnation Bureau, the consequences will be grave when Lord Impermanence discovers it.”
Hearing the seriousness in Wuyou’s words, the two Underworld Runners panicked.
Many ghosts passed through the Gate of the Netherworld every day, but most were escorted inside by Underworld Runners.
A small number of souls who had died unjustly were delivered there through the Soul-Ferrying Lantern or mortal realm magic.
It was not unheard of for wronged souls or fierce ghosts to break in.
But if Lord Impermanence learned of it, the two guards would first be charged with dereliction of duty…
And that carried punishment under the Underworld Administration’s laws.
Wuyou cleared their throat. “Please go inside and investigate now. The wronged soul is named Zhong Dingyan, and he died a terrible injustice. We will wait here.”
The Underworld Runners exchanged a glance. Not daring to hesitate, they left at once.
Xia Ximo glanced at Wuyou and offered rare praise. “You have plenty of tricks.”
Knowing the deception would soon be exposed, Wuyou urged, “We need to get inside quickly.”
Only after passing through the Gate of the Netherworld did they truly enter the Underworld Administration.
Yet the Underworld Administration was vast. Beneath the Earth Lord were the Ten Yama Lords, who oversaw the Reincarnation Bureau, the Judges’ Bureau, and the Underworld Bureau.
Beneath them were the envoys of each bureau, followed by the Underworld Runners and ghost generals.
Xia Ximo did not know the terrain. She knew only that reaching the Earth Lord required passing through the three bureaus and ten courts before arriving at the Ghost King’s Palace.
They had not gone far when a gloomy voice sounded nearby.
“Stop.”
Wuyou glanced back furtively. An enormous figure stood behind them, dressed in white robes and holding a Soul Token.
Wuyou cried inwardly, “It is the Soul-Locking Envoy, commonly known as White Impermanence.”
The envoy who had led Underworld Runners into the Eastern Palace’s secret chamber to capture souls was the black-robed Soul-Reaping Envoy, Black Impermanence.
These two envoys ranked jointly above all other soul envoys and held extremely high status in the Underworld Administration.
If this one detained them now, getting away would not be easy.
Xia Ximo was about to turn when Wuyou said, “Do not look back. There are so many ghosts here. We will keep walking and pretend we heard nothing.”
They immediately quickened their pace. In the next instant, however, a Soul Token descended from above and blocked their path.
The Soul-Locking Envoy flashed into view.
“Are you deaf? When I call out, why do you not answer?”
Wuyou immediately offered a placating smile. “Lord Impermanence, we did not know you were calling us.”
But the Soul-Locking Envoy recognized Wuyou at a glance. “Lantern-Guarding Soul, why are you in the Underworld Administration instead of guarding your Soul-Ferrying Lantern?”
While speaking, White Impermanence glanced at Xia Ximo and immediately froze.
This woman…
White Impermanence had seen her before.
“You are…”
The Soul-Locking Envoy instantly reacted as though confronting a formidable enemy. The Soul Token flew back into position, and at a fierce gesture, all the surrounding Underworld Runners and ghost generals closed in.
The Yin Souls scattered in terror.
“Impudent Nine… Nine Abyss Soul Prisoner! The Earth Lord ordered you to ferry souls in the mortal realm, yet you have… broken back into the Underworld Administration. What are you plotting?”
White Impermanence was clearly nervous as well.
Wuyou braced themself and tried to mediate. “Lord Impermanence, this is a misunderstanding…”
“There is no misunderstanding.”
“…”
Faced with the crowd of ghosts blocking her path, Xia Ximo remained arrogant. “As you can see, I have indeed broken in. Now take me to the Earth Lord and let him decide my punishment.”