Chapter One Hundred and One: The River of Forgetfulness

"That was perilous!" Zhou Jie wiped the spider fluid from his body. His frame was covered in wounds, yet they healed almost instantly.

"This is the Underworld; wounds sustained by the soul heal quickly," Fang Chuan'en said, leading Zhang Shengnan to the edge of a river.

The dark, gloomy water flowed silently, devoid of even a ripple.

"Were you truly a bad person in life? Is that why you were sentenced to never be reincarnated?" Zhang Shengnan had finally calmed down. After all, seeing the two of them risk their lives to protect her made her understand their current plight.

"Of course, but how many truly good people are there in this world?" Zhou Jie whistled toward the riverbank. At the sound, a vortex suddenly formed in the center of the river, and a small boat rose from the depths.

"Beyond the River of Oblivion lies the Palace of King Yama. Generally, the souls of the righteous arrive directly at the River of Oblivion after entering the gates of Hell. Following that, they enter the Palace of King Yama, where, after judgment and verification, they proceed to the Bridge of Three Lives to enter the cycle of reincarnation," Fang Chuande explained while watching the approaching boat.

Once the boat docked, Fang Chuande produced his token. The boatman nodded upon seeing it, and Fang Chuande, Zhang Shengnan, and Zhou Jie boarded.

Just then, a massive horde of aggrieved souls surged up behind them, seemingly desperate to board the vessel crossing the River of Three Paths. Seeing so many vengeful spirits, Zhang Shengnan recoiled in terror.

The boatman kicked off from the bank. As the vengeful souls leaped from the shore, trying to scramble onto the boat, skeletal fish burst forth from the calm water. With white bones and black nerves, these creatures dragged the souls into the depths, devouring them entirely.

"These souls, desperate for salvation, all seek to board this boat. Once they cross, they have a chance to enter the path of reincarnation and be reborn," Fang Chuande remarked, watching the souls being consumed without a hint of pity.

"There are too many souls in this world. Being eaten saves us some effort," Zhou Jie leaned against the mast, speaking languidly.

Zhang Shengnan looked pensively into the lightless night. "Little Daoist Fang You, perhaps we shall meet in our next life."

***

Before the Hell of Slaughter, a young Taoist slowly approached. This realm held the most vicious and violent of spirits—those who had been utterly wicked and had treated human life as mere grass during their mortal days. Now, they were trapped here, suffering day and night for the sins of their past.

Holding twin swords, Fang You crossed the threshold, determined to enter the Hell of Slaughter, find Zhang Shengnan, and take her away. The air within was filled with the wailing of ghosts and the sight of severed limbs. Suddenly, a gargantuan, monstrous spirit spotted him.

"Human flesh! The scent of human flesh—it has been so long!" The spirit opened its cavernous mouth, exhaling a nauseating stench, and lunged at Fang You.

"Do not obstruct me!" Fang You slashed, cleaving the monster in two.

More vengeful spirits, sensing the scent of the living, swarmed toward him. Fang You wielded his twin swords, chanting the Exorcism Mantra and the Protection Mantra in turns. Golden light flared as his blades carved through the ghosts.

"Where is my beloved?"

Beloved. That was how he referred to her. Fang You finally admitted it to himself: Zhang Shengnan was the one he loved, always had been. He had only refused to acknowledge it due to the constraints of his own fate.

His body was battered and wounded as he fought through the carnage, yet he did not stop, driven solely by the need to find her.

"Who dares to cause chaos in the Hell of Slaughter?" A towering figure emerged from a magnificent palace in the distance. He radiated immense power, and the ghosts scrambled to clear his path.

"I am the Maoshan Taoist, Fang You," Fang You said, his hands trembling as he gripped his swords. He steadied himself to address the Small Yama before him. This was Lord Guangye, one of the eighteen Small Yamas, who oversaw the punishments within this hell.

"I am here to seek one named Zhang Shengnan!" Fang You gasped, struggling for breath.

"Audacious! Even if you are a Maoshan Taoist, usually tasked with dispelling evil, trespassing in Hell is a crime punishable by death!" Lord Guangye roared.

"I only wish to take Zhang Shengnan away!" Fang You stared at the Small Yama, speaking every word with deliberate weight.

"Seize him! Flay him alive!" Lord Guangye commanded furiously.

In an instant, numerous ghost officials appeared, armed with cleavers and spears, looking ferocious.

"If you will not grant me my request, I shall take her by force!" Fang You raised his swords. "Forgive me!"

"Kill him!" Lord Guangye said emotionlessly.

Dozens of ghost officials charged at once. Fang You did not hesitate; he bit his tongue and spat blood onto his copper-coin sword and peach-wood sword. The red light fused with the artifacts, and empowered by his Taoist energy, he engaged the officials. The air filled with the sparks of clashing blades.

Suddenly, a crimson whip lashed out, binding Fang You's right arm. Caught off guard, he was swarmed by the officials and pinned to the ground, unable to move.

"Throw him into the deepest pit of the Hell of Slaughter, that he may never escape!" Lord Guangye bellowed.

"I am Li Shanshui, an Underworld Emissary. Who are you, and why have you come here?" asked the official holding the whip, retracting it while looking down at Fang You.

"I came for Zhang Shengnan. Have you seen this woman?" Fang You asked, despite being crushed under the weight of the officials.

"Zhang Shengnan?" Li Shanshui was startled. "Could it be that one...?"

As the ghost officials raised their spears to cast Fang You into the depths of the hell, Li Shanshui shouted, "Wait! I know this man. May I keep him for a moment?"

"You are but an Underworld Emissary; you have no right to negotiate with me!" Lord Guangye turned to Li Shanshui with a stern expression. "This man dared to wreak havoc in my domain. If he is not sentenced to eternal torment, where would my authority stand?"

"My Lord—"

"Silence!" Lord Guangye stroked his long beard. "You only need to gather enough righteous souls for reincarnation. My actions require no guidance from you!"

Suddenly, a divine light erupted from the depths of Fang You’s soul, and a profound voice resonated through the chamber:

"Does that include even me?"