Chapter Ninety-Nine: The Judgment

"I am Fang You, the last disciple of the Maoshan Sect. I seek to enter the Underworld for a matter of grave importance. I humbly request that you two gentlemen grant me passage." Fang You bowed deeply, knowing that one must maintain a respectful attitude when seeking a favor.

The two ghost guards exchanged glances before speaking: "Did you burn a notification before descending? Has the Yama bureau approved your passage? Have you stated clearly what your business is down here?"

Fang You had anticipated being questioned by the gatekeepers, but he could hardly admit that he had come to forcibly retrieve the soul of the deceased and return it to the world of the living—a forbidden act of forced resurrection.

However, Fang You was well-prepared. From behind his back, he produced several thick stacks of spirit money and addressed the guards: "I forgot to burn the notification in my haste, but I have brought some 'human kindness' here. I hope you two gentlemen can show some flexibility."

Upon seeing this, the ghost guards instantly grasped the situation. After casting a wary eye around their surroundings, they accepted the "human kindness" from Fang You’s hand.

"Very well, go on in. Make your business quick!"

Fang You offered a faint smile and rode his white horse forward.

As it turned out, these guards of the Underworld had been greedy, wicked people during their own lifetimes. Wishing to avoid suffering in hell, they had pulled strings to secure these positions—a way to live a slightly easier existence in the afterlife. Their true natures, however, were difficult to change; they remained as covetous as ever, making them easily swayed by a little "human kindness." Often, "people" descending for illicit purposes would secretly slip money to the guards to facilitate their affairs.

Fang You rode his white horse to an entrance marked with the large characters: "Wilderness Ridge." Passing through the gate, he could see the spirits of various animals drifting by. This was a place for punishing those who had been cruel or abusive toward animals during their lives. Some of the abused creatures, even after death, would linger here, waiting for their tormentors to arrive so they could inflict suffering upon them and prevent their reincarnation.

Looking at the Wilderness Ridge, Fang You saw dozens of aggrieved spirits at the gate, trembling and too terrified to enter. In truth, those who had lived without grave sins would pass through the gates of hell and go directly to the Hall of the King of Hell, where they would be judged and assigned to reincarnation or further punishment. Those who had committed great sins, however, were handed over to the eighteen minor Yamas, each of whom governed one of the eighteen levels of hell. The souls would typically have to navigate to their designated hell for trial and sentencing.

Fang You had passed through the gates of hell but had not gone directly to the Hall of the King of Hell. This, too, he had anticipated. He suspected that he himself had been a great sinner in a past life, and since his karmic debts had not yet been fully repaid, he would not be granted an easy path to the Yama’s throne.

With this thought, Fang You felt no fear and walked straight into the Wilderness Ridge.

When he had first met Zhang Shengnan, Fang You had cast a physiognomy reading for her. The hexagram indicated that she was one of a pair of twins, destined to have a sister. Yet, observing the faint redness between her brows and the hooked tip of her nose, the signs of a homicidal past were clear. It appeared that Zhang Shengnan had killed her own sister. Because there was a gathering of dark energy at her crown, yet she had survived until now, it suggested the act was an accident of sorts, which was why the karmic retribution had not struck immediately.

At this moment, Zhang Shengnan would surely be entering the Hell of Killers for trial. He had to reach her before then; once she entered that hell and faced its minor Yama, the trial would be final, and she would never be brought back.

As Fang You entered the Wilderness Ridge, the animal spirits scattered in all directions. Having gained consciousness after death, they recognized the Maoshan Daoist and knew better than to cross him. Moreover, they remained in the Wilderness Ridge only to seek vengeance against their former abusers and had no interest in attacking others.

Fang You had ridden halfway through when, suddenly, the path was blocked by a vast number of fox spirits—hundreds, perhaps thousands, beyond counting.

"You have finally arrived, you vile Daoist!"

"You wiped out the entire fox clan of Shankou Village, leaving not a single one behind! Did you expect that we, your descendants, would all be waiting for you here?"

A massive fox spirit strode forward from the distance, causing the other souls to shrink back in terror. The giant beast opened its ferocious maw and roared, "Little Daoist, it has been a long time. This time, you shall not escape the clutches of this Lady so easily!"

"Lord Erlang, Yang Jian, will you lend me your aid?"

A golden light flashed from within Fang You’s spiritual body. "I am here!"

***

"Where are you taking me? I want to go home!" Zhang Shengnan’s hands remained bound. The Underworld messenger, Fang Chuan’en, appeared cold and detached, offering no response.

"Let me go!" Zhang Shengnan struggled.

"I am taking you to bypass the Hell of Killers and head directly to the Hall of the King of Hell for judgment," Fang Chuan’en said, continuing his steady pace.

"What Hell of Killers? What Hall of the King of Hell? What are you talking about?" Zhang Shengnan asked, bewildered.

"Given the weight of your murder, you would normally be sent straight to the Hell of Killers. The Great King of Karma there would sentence you to a term of punishment. If you enter that hell, you will truly become a damned soul," Fang Chuan’en replied.

"What do you want from me?" Zhang Shengnan asked.

"I am taking you to bypass the Hell of Killers and go before the King of Hell for a personal judgment."

"What do you gain from this?" Zhang Shengnan asked, still reluctant.

The Underworld messenger sighed. "If there were a chance for reincarnation, no one would choose to be an Underworld messenger, working themselves to the bone day in and day out. We messengers are all great sinners from our past lives, condemned to eternal hell. But if we choose to serve the King of Hell and successfully save ninety-nine souls, we earn the chance to be reincarnated as humans once more."

"So you are just using me?" Zhang Shengnan seemed to understand.

"One might say it is mutual exploitation," Fang Chuan’en continued. "We have studied your file. Aside from killing your sister in childhood, you have committed no other major sins. However, according to the Book of Life and Death, your path leads to the Hell of Killers. Once you enter, with no one to help you, you will be punished as a criminal. We intend to force a change of route, taking you to the King of Hell for a personal trial. If he finds you innocent, we have saved a soul. If he finds you guilty, you will be sent to the Hell of Killers, and we, your advocates, will have two souls deducted from our tally. For instance, if we had saved ninety-six souls, a verdict of innocence brings us to ninety-seven, while a verdict of guilt drops us to ninety-four."