Xie Bi’an immediately clasped his fists and said, “General, since you are planning for the great cause of the Underworld, how could we two brothers possibly refuse? If we did, we would be eternal sinners against the Underworld.”
Fan Wujiu nodded in agreement. “Indeed. Right now, our Underworld’s incense offerings are growing stronger by the day, and that is all thanks to your help, General. Everyone in the Underworld knows your name by now. That’s why we brothers believe that even if you did break the laws of the Underworld, given your abilities, the authorities would probably not pursue it too harshly. They’d most likely turn a blind eye.”
“Exactly,” Xie Bi’an added.
Holy crap!!
So shouting slogans and waving the banner of righteousness really did work!
But then again, to be fair, Lu Chen had genuinely done some major deeds for the Underworld.
Otherwise, if there were no results to show for it, shouting slogans alone wouldn’t have been enough either.
These guys were all sly foxes in their own right.
“Then I thank you both,” Lu Chen said, bowing once more, but Xie Bi’an quickly stopped him. “General, you must not bow to us!”
Lu Chen smiled and didn’t stand on ceremony any further.
Xie Bi’an turned to look at Xie Qingyi on the side and snorted, “It’s only because you ran into me and your Eighth Uncle today. If it had been anyone else, there would have been absolutely no room for negotiation!”
“Thank you, Father!”
A flicker of affection passed through Xie Bi’an’s eyes, then his gaze turned resolute. He turned and gave orders to the figure behind Lu Chen. “Niu’er.”
“Seventh Master!” Ox-Head clasped his fists, awaiting orders.
“Go back to the Underworld immediately and report this matter to Lord Yan. Ask Him to come to the City God Street in person. If He is willing to come, then today’s affair has at least a fifty percent chance of success. Go swiftly!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Hold on!”
Lu Chen called out to Ox-Head, who was just about to leave.
“General?” Ox-Head looked at him in confusion.
Lu Chen leaned in and whispered a few words into his ear.
Ox-Head’s eyes went wide. “General, is that true?”
“At this critical juncture, would I lie to you?” Lu Chen laughed.
“If that’s really the case, then Lord Yan will certainly not refuse. I’m off!”
Ox-Head spun around on the spot, transformed into a gust of dark wind, and burrowed into the steps below, vanishing from sight.
“What did you tell him, General?” Fan Rusong asked curiously.
“Just promised some benefits that Lord Yan wouldn’t be able to refuse.”
Money makes the world go round—or in this case, makes ghosts turn the millstone. Since things had already come this far, Lu Chen naturally wasn’t about to give up on this mission easily.
If benefits needed to be given, then he would give them in full!
“Benefits?” Xie Qingyi and Fan Rusong exchanged bewildered glances.
“Alright, before the City God discovers us, let’s move quickly—as far away as we can!” Xie Bi’an gave the decisive order.
With a flick of his hand, he swept Madam Zheng’s soul into his sleeve.
“Let’s go!”
The group summoned dark clouds and flew straight toward the entrance of the City God Street.
With Xie Bi’an and Fan Wujiu assisting them, their speed was several times faster than when they had arrived.
“Huh? Why are they leaving?”
At that moment, the City God’s clerk, who had been waiting before the main hall for Black and White Impermanence, suddenly spotted a mass of dark clouds rising into the air in the distance and speeding away.
The faintly glowing soul of the Nine-Lives Good Person inside the clouds also disappeared along with them.
The clerk froze for only an instant, then his face changed dramatically. “Oh no! They’ve taken the soul and run?!”
Without time to ponder the reason, he turned in a panic and rushed into the main hall.
…
Inside the City God’s hall, the atmosphere was lively.
The Prefectural City God sat high in the main seat, drinking and chatting merrily with the subordinate City Gods under his jurisdiction.
Each City God’s official hat bore the name of the place they governed.
The Prefectural City God’s hat read “Qianjiang,” while the Prefectural City Gods below had names like “Jiangdu” and “Haozhou,” and there were quite a few County City Gods in attendance as well.
After several rounds of drinks, the Prefectural City God laughed and said, “Today’s City God Assembly brings me great joy. I hope everyone enjoys themselves to the fullest. Later, when the soul of the Nine-Lives Good Person arrives, we can all have a look at this rare treasure.”
A City God at the table asked, “Lord Prefect, I’ve heard that the soul of this Nine-Lives Good Person is forged from merit—every breath it takes scatters merit around. If one could take just one whiff, would it be worth ten thousand incense offerings?”
The Prefectural City God smiled faintly. “That statement is not untrue. But don’t any of you think about taking advantage. Such souls of merit have their own fixed fate. We can look, but if greed arises, it will likely invite karmic consequences.”
“What you say is true, Lord Prefect. Still, in recent years, it seems that premature deaths among these multi-life good people have been increasing. The City God from the neighboring province visited me a while back and mentioned encountering a Six-Lives Good Person who died young. Do you know why that might be?”
The Prefectural City God’s eyes shifted slightly, and he said calmly, “Those are matters of the higher-ups. We need not ask too many questions. Come, let’s continue drinking!”
Just as a new round of toasts was about to begin, the City God’s clerk came rushing in, flustered. “My Lord! Something terrible has happened!”
“What’s all this panic about? Conduct yourself with dignity!” the Prefectural City God said with displeasure.
The clerk pointed outside the hall. “My Lord, the soul of the Nine-Lives Good Person has been taken by Black and White Impermanence! They’re flying toward the city gate!”
“What?!” All the City Gods present rose to their feet.
“Is this true?!”
“I saw it with my own eyes, my Lord! I speak no falsehood!”
BANG!
The Prefectural City God smashed his wine cup to the ground and roared in fury, “Rebellion!!! Mobilize the troops at once! Seize them for me!”
“Yes, sir!”
…
Meanwhile, with the full support of Xie and Fan.
Lu Chen’s group had almost reached the exit of the City God Street.
Seeing the path to survival right before them, Xie Qingyi couldn’t help but whisper excitedly, “We made it?! We’re getting out without a hitch?”
Fan Rusong’s eyes also sparkled with joy.
But then again, when was trouble ever not just around the corner?
KABOOM!
A ghastly green yin thunderbolt came crashing down upon them!
Xie Bi’an and Fan Wujiu hurriedly channeled their power to block it, but the bolt was terrifyingly powerful—it blasted the entire group out of the sky in an instant!
With a deafening crash, they slammed onto a plaza below, kicking up clouds of dust and smoke.
Fortunately, no one was hurt. They waved away the dust and coughed as they got back to their feet.
“INSOLENCE!!!!!!”
A furious roar shook the heavens and the earth, making the entire City God Street tremble.
From all directions, countless yin soldiers surged forward, wielding long spears and battle-axes, completely surrounding them.
Straight ahead, the Prefectural City God stood on a cloud with dozens of Prefectural and County City Gods, their robes fluttering in the wind.
The clerks on either side immediately barked sternly, “How dare you, Xie Bi’an and Fan Wujiu! You have violated the laws of the Underworld by secretly smuggling away a departed soul! Hand it over at once!”
“As expected, it wasn’t going to be that easy to get away.” Xie Bi’an and Fan Wujiu exchanged wry smiles—they weren’t surprised by this outcome.
Shing!
With a collective draw of their weapons, Xie Bi’an, Fan Wujiu, Xie Qingyi, and the others each revealed their magical implements.
At the same time, they summoned a hundred yin soldiers to guard the outer perimeter.
But against this overwhelming encirclement.
Those hundred yin soldiers were far from sufficient.
“Father, what do we do now?” Xie Qingyi asked urgently.
Just as Xie Bi’an was about to speak.
Lu Chen reached out and stopped him. “Seventh Master, don’t worry. Let me have a word with this Prefectural City God.”
“General!?”
“It’s fine. You’ve all done more than enough. It’s my turn to share the burden.”
Lu Chen stepped forward twice.
The Prefectural City God frowned. “You… you’re a living person? Why have you trespassed on my City God Street?!”
Lu Chen cupped his fists in salute. “Lord City God, this humble junior is Lu Chen. I pay my respects to you.”
As he spoke, the Yanluo Token in his hand suddenly flared with crimson light, transforming into the visage of Yanluo, who then bowed solemnly to the Prefectural City God.
“You actually possess… the Yanluo Token?!”
All the City Gods froze in shock.
Clearly, none of them had expected that this young man was so closely connected to Lord Yan!
“Wait a moment, you are—?” The Prefectural City God seemed to have thought of something.
“That’s right. This is our Underworld’s newly appointed Might Virtuous and Righteous General.”
Xie Qingyi jumped forward and introduced him proactively.
The pupils of all the City Gods, yin soldiers, and yin generals contracted sharply.
“So he’s the new human general everyone in the Underworld has been talking about lately.”
“And so young at that!”
“I hear this man has also caused the Underworld’s incense offerings to thrive day by day—he’s quite capable!”
The City Gods murmured among themselves.
The Prefectural City God narrowed his divine eyes. “Though you hold a divine post in the Underworld, you are still a mortal. My City God Street has a rule: mortals are strictly forbidden from entering. Who exactly is it that broke this regulation?”
With that, his divine sense swept over the group, brushing past Xie Qingyi and the others.
The pressure came bearing down on them all at once.
Fortunately, Xie Bi’an and Fan Wujiu, after all, were veteran ghost attendants of the Underworld who had long been promoted to Yin Marshals.
Their strength was not to be underestimated.
Against the Prefectural City God’s divine sense alone, they had little to fear.
They easily deflected it.
Lu Chen remained courteous. “Lord City God, this junior’s intrusion today was indeed my fault, and I beg you to calm your anger. However, I would dare to ask you one question: they say that evil will be repaid with evil—but will good be repaid with good?”
The Prefectural City God let out a light snort. “Boy, don’t try to use your silver tongue on me. I don’t fall for that. You came here today for the soul of the Nine-Lives Good Person, no doubt. Let me make this clear: on my turf, every mortal who dies must report to the City God Street to sign their register before being sent to the Underworld.
I don’t care what your relationship is with Lord Yan.
Even if you were His personal disciple.
The rules cannot be broken!
If you’re really capable, then after I send this soul down to judgment, you can go plead with Lord Yan to show leniency and grant the soul a return to the living.
That way, I don’t break the rules, and you can do whatever you like!”
“Return to the living?”
This idea stirred something in Lu Chen’s mind.
Actually, that made sense too.
One of Lord Yan’s other abilities was indeed the power to restore life to the dead.
As long as Madam Zheng came back to life, going down to the Underworld wouldn’t be such a big deal.
However, Xie Qingyi hurriedly whispered to him, “General, don’t believe Him. Returning to life does exist, but that was hundreds of years ago. Even if Lord Yan has the power, any person brought back to life must also obtain the approval and consent of the Great Emperor of Fengdu before the spell can be performed. Over the past few centuries, Lord Yan has submitted applications for resurrection—if not five hundred, then at least a thousand—and not a single one has ever succeeded.
Among them were people of much higher status than Madam Zheng.
So, once you go down to the Underworld, there is only one path: reincarnation!”
Lu Chen jolted alert. “I see… I nearly fell for His trick.”
He took a deep breath and clasped his fists once more. “Lord City God, as the guardian of this city, you should know that Madam Zheng died under suspicious circumstances. To be honest, Madam Zheng’s death was caused by the ‘Heavenly Killing Intent,’ which was dispatched by the Plague Ministry. I had actually negotiated with the Plague Emperor Himself—He agreed that if I could eliminate the karmic calamity on her within seven days, Madam Zheng would awaken. I struggled and fought for seven whole days, and when I was finally about to succeed, she died for no reason. I am truly unwilling to accept this. I beg you, Lord City God, in consideration of Madam Zheng’s nine lifetimes of good deeds, to let her return. If you need an explanation, I will report this matter to Lord Yan later and ask Him to issue a decree—I will make sure you are not put in an awkward position!”
Hmph~
The Prefectural City God laughed. “Boy, don’t think you’re such a big shot just because you hold some minor position in the Underworld. Even if you truly commanded millions of yin soldiers, here on my City God Street, you follow my rules.
What Heavenly Killing Intent? What negotiations? What unwillingness?
What does that have to do with me?
All I know is that Zhang Hui is already dead. Since she’s dead, that is fate.
If she truly has a grievance, she can go to the Underworld and plead her case.
At that time, I might even be kind enough to help verify her claims.
But all of that is contingent on one fundamental condition: signing the register and entering the Underworld!
Without that condition, no amount of talk will change anything.
I have always enforced the law impartially. For you to ask me to break the rules—you have some nerve!”
With that, his divine sense swept over Lu Chen once more.
As if trying to see right through him.
Then, with an amused tone, he said, “So I was wondering where you’re from—turns out you’re from Jiangdu.”
He turned to the City God of Jiangdu at his side. “City God Li, since he’s one of your Jiangdu people, aren’t you going to step in?”
“Yes, Lord Prefect, please calm your anger.” The Jiangdu City God bowed, then turned to look at Lu Chen.
Lu Chen noticed the tall hat on his head, inscribed with the characters: 【Jiangdu】.
“So he’s the City God of Jiangdu City. Surnamed Li?”
Just as Lu Chen was pondering this.
City God Li stepped forward.
Lu Chen had assumed that as a “fellow townsman” or “local parent official,” there might be at least some courtesy.
But in the very next moment.
City God Li’s expression turned icy cold, and he snorted, “Insolent whelp! How dare you talk back to the Lord Prefect! Kneel at once!!”
And with that—
A wave of immense pressure crashed down on him.
Even stronger than the Prefectural City God’s, if that was possible!
BOOM!
Xie Bi’an and Fan Wujiu once again shielded Lu Chen.
But this time, it was noticeably more difficult for them.
Son of a bitch.
As expected, those who bully the locals are always the “locals” themselves!
Lu Chen’s expression also turned cold, and he dropped his clasped-fist salute.
Xie Bi’an deflected the pressure and his face instantly changed. “Lord City God, although you all operate on your own, don’t forget that you are also under the jurisdiction of the Underworld. Though the Might Virtuous and Righteous General is young, he is still a general of our Underworld. Are you not even going to show Lord Yan any face?”
“You come to my City God Street to cause trouble, and you still expect me to show face?”
The Prefectural City God found this utterly laughable.
“I’ll give you one choice now: put down the soul and leave at once, and I will not pursue this further. That is the greatest courtesy I can show Lord Yan. If you still refuse to back down—”
At a signal from the five great generals, the City God’s clerks, and the Day and Night Wandering Spirits, the thousands of yin soldiers surrounding them all took several steps forward, tightening the encirclement significantly.
Some of the blades were already pressed against the hundred yin soldiers on the outer perimeter.
At the sight of this, even Xie Bi’an and Fan Wujiu’s expressions shifted drastically, and a hint of desperate resolve flashed in their eyes!
—Oh, Lord Yan, where are you?! We can’t hold on much longer!
“Xiao Ru!”
But just then, in the midst of the high tension, Fan Rusong suddenly heard Lu Chen’s voice transmitted directly into her mind.
“What is it, General? Don’t be afraid, General! I will protect you even if it costs me my life!”
“No, no, I just want to confirm one more thing with you.”
“Please speak, General!”
“Are the yin soldiers and yin officials of your Underworld really all money-grubbers? Do they love money that much?”
“Well…” Fan Rusong was taken aback. She didn’t understand why Lu Chen would suddenly ask that, but she nodded instinctively. “Yes! Almost everything in the Underworld—every item, every treasure—must be bought with Underworld currency. And since most officials and soldiers have very limited salaries, they naturally love money.”
As she spoke, she couldn’t help but recall the greedy face of the duty clerk from the Soul Arrest Department just a moment ago.
In the City God Street, that duty clerk’s department was practically the most lucrative one of all.
Even Black and White Impermanence would grease their palms a bit on regular days just to ensure smooth registration.
And even so, that duty clerk still couldn’t tear his eyes away when he saw the big silver coins.
Let alone the other yin soldiers and generals of the City God Street.
They would only be even more greedy than those in the Underworld.
Because no matter how big the City God Street was, it was just a small ghost town—how could it compare to the entire Underworld?
At that thought, Fan Rusong’s entire body trembled. The realization hit her like a bolt of lightning, and she stared wide-eyed at Lu Chen. “General, you’re not thinking of—”
Lu Chen grinned. “In that case, I might as well give it a try! At the very least, it’ll buy us some time!”
With that, he reached into his pocket.
“Hm? What, are you thinking of throwing a punch?”
The Prefectural City God noticed Lu Chen’s movement and found it both amusing and absurd.
A mere mortal, daring to start a fight on City God Street?
He had no idea how high the heavens were or how deep the earth was!
But the very next second, Lu Chen suddenly threw his hand high up into the air—
In that instant, his hand erupted with a blinding, brilliant silver light that radiated outward in all directions, nearly “scorching” the ghostly eyes of countless yin soldiers and generals!
When the light finally faded—
A yin soldier among the ranks cried out in shock.
“Th… that’s… money?!”
“So… so much money!!!”
