Volume One: The Soul-Gathering Gourd and the Soul-Kindling Lamp Chapter Three: A Righteous Intervention or a Hostage Crisis?

“Don’t come any closer! Don’t come back!”
Outside the Hall of Life and Death, that hysterical scream lingered on for what seemed like an eternity!

Peering through the gaps between the three predators, one could see that the girl adorned in a phoenix crown and scarlet bridal robe was indeed strikingly beautiful.

Her long, jet-black hair was coiled high atop her head, held in place by seven or eight dazzling golden hairpins swaying gently in the wind—a sure sign she hailed from a wealthy family.

Her angelic face was delicately made up, her features smooth as jade. Tears welled in her peach blossom eyes, and her thick, dark lashes fluttered like tiny fans.

Her figure, too, was breathtaking. Beneath the festive red wedding dress, her curves were alluring, with a glimpse of an embroidered red corset showing through. Her snow-white legs seemed on the verge of being revealed.

So the fabled “legs that could be played with for years” truly did exist!

Yet before this beauty who could shame Diao Chan and outshine Wang Zhaojun, there stood three men in yellow robes—lecherous beasts with evil grins.

Suddenly, these three scoundrels on the hillside seemed ready to commit unspeakable acts.

Clad in Daoist robes, the three cultivators cracked their knuckles and closed in slowly on the girl in red.

“Heh heh, little lady, come have some fun with us, eh?”

“Hahaha! Who’d have thought there’d be such a beauty in the Underworld?”

“Don’t be shy, sweetheart! We’ll be gentle with you!”

The girl lying on the ground shrank back in terror, their lewd words ringing incessantly in her ears.

Hiding nearby, Gu Mo was burning with rage and indignation. Yet, recalling his own pitiful strength, he forced himself to stay put. Best not to act rashly when one has no chance of success.

After all, returning to the world of the living was the most important thing right now. Acts of heroism were all well and good—for someone else. To invite disaster upon oneself was all too real.

Even so, guilt gnawed at Gu Mo. The more he watched, the more questions arose in his mind.

“Grandpa Xia, could this girl be the King of Hell’s ghostly bride?”

Old Man Xia gazed quietly down the hill, his voice raspy with age as he whispered, “Most likely!”

He turned his head to meet Gu Mo’s eyes, a faint smile on his lips. “Boy, give this old man another cigarette.”

Gu Mo handed him one, suspicion churning in his heart.

‘Is this old codger a pervert? Not only is he content to spectate, he wants a smoke? Is he planning to watch a live show on the spot?’

With a click, the lighter flared.

At the sound, the three Daoists below shuddered, instantly drawing their weapons and scanning their surroundings warily.

One of them snarled, “Who’s the coward hiding in the shadows? Show yourself, now!”

Gu Mo’s heart skipped a beat, his eyes flashing with resentment as he glared at Old Xia.

‘Damn it! That old devil has given us away! Couldn’t he have waited to smoke until we were safely out? The path back to the living world is right there—are we really going to lose it all now?’

As Gu Mo fumed, Old Man Xia unexpectedly rolled up his sleeves and strode straight down the hill.

A lotus-shaped tattoo appeared on his arm.

Gu Mo stared, stupefied, and began to curse under his breath.

‘What the hell? Is Old Man Xia crazy? There are three of them, all young and strong, and armed! Is he looking to get himself killed?’

In an instant, the ragged Old Xia, cigarette dangling from his mouth, walked right up to the three yellow-robed Daoists.

The Daoists looked him over and sneered.

“Hell, I thought it was someone important—a decrepit old ghost, that’s all!”

The others laughed loudly.

“Hahaha… Old bag of bones! You want to get in line too? Is your limp noodle up to the task?”

“This is the Underworld—no ‘little blue pills’ for sale here! Hahaha!”

Faced with their torrent of vulgarity, Gu Mo’s face flushed with shame on Old Xia’s behalf. This world truly was ruled by the strong, and so-called justice rarely held up under scrutiny.

Old Xia tottered forward, playing deaf as he leaned in, head cocked.

“Ah… what did you say?”

The nearest Daoist turned to his companions, howling with laughter.

“Hahaha, the old fool’s deaf as well!”

In a flash, Old Xia’s left hand snapped out, releasing a shadow that shot forward.

With a swish, the three Daoists turned ashen, staring at Old Xia in disbelief.

A sickening sound followed. Blood sprayed from their throats in great arcs, jetting seven or eight meters across the path.

In a heartbeat, the gruesome scene was drenched in crimson, as if the deaths of the Daoists had breathed a twisted vitality into the Underworld.

Blood ran in rivers down the path to the Hall of Life and Death.

With a heavy thud, all three Daoists collapsed. One bloodied head rolled like a football toward the ghost bride, trailing a stream of dark red behind it.

The bride, terrified beyond reason, fainted dead away. Not far off, Gu Mo was so shocked he nearly choked on his own tongue.

Regaining his senses, Gu Mo was left with a head full of questions.

“What just happened? Is Old Xia really this formidable? Was he just pretending when I hit him earlier? If he’s so powerful, why did he lie low for a hundred years? I can’t make sense of it!”

At that moment, Old Xia turned and beckoned to Gu Mo.

“Boy, get over here!”

Gu Mo forced a bitter smile, then hurried over with long strides.

Once together, Gu Mo scratched his head and grinned.

“Grandpa Xia, you’re amazing! You took care of those beasts in an instant. May I become your disciple?”

Old Xia chuckled, hands clasped behind his back.

“Boy, you and I are fated, but let’s discuss apprenticeship after we return to the living world.”

Gu Mo nodded eagerly.

The old man then nudged the wedding robe and tossed it to Gu Mo.

“Take this, and carry the ghost bride. We need to get moving.”

Gu Mo was confused. True to his nature, he asked cautiously,

“Grandpa Xia, why bring the ghost bride? If the King of Hell comes after us, won’t our fate be worse than death? If we make amends now, perhaps His Majesty will be merciful and send us back to the living world!”

At this, Old Xia’s face darkened, and golden light flashed in his muddy eyes.

“Foolish boy, who knows how the King of Hell would punish us? Better to take the initiative than sit and wait for death. The ghost bride is our talisman!”

Gu Mo realized there was sense in the old man’s words. As the saying goes, ‘Heeding advice fills your belly.’

He slung the unconscious bride over his back. Her fragrance instantly enveloped him, and a tingling sensation swept through every nerve. To his surprise, carrying the beautiful ghost bride brought him a strange feeling of comfort.

With everything set, Gu Mo and Old Xia exchanged a glance and hurried toward the rear of the Hall of Life and Death.

Time passed swiftly as they navigated the rugged path. In their ghostly state, neither felt the slightest fatigue.

After much difficulty, a pitch-black cave appeared before them, flanked by two skeletal corpses clad in bronze armor, their bony hands clutching steel tridents. These must have been the underworld’s soldiers—but who had slain them was anyone’s guess.

The cave loomed like a beast’s gaping maw, ready to swallow them whole.

A bitter wind howled forth, and Gu Mo trembled uncontrollably, his vision blurring.

“Stay close, boy!” Old Xia called.

His voice was soon snatched away by the wind. Gu Mo gritted his teeth and followed, pressing onward.

As they drew nearer, the cold grew ever more intense—a chill a thousand times worse than the Arctic, seeping straight into the soul, making Gu Mo’s mind foggy.

He didn’t know how long they walked before a bright light burst before his eyes.

Cold moonlight spilled down, and the scent of grass and trees filled the air. Warmth returned to his soul, and familiar woods came into view.

Looking around in confusion, Gu Mo saw that there was no sign of any cave. It was as if the whole ordeal had been a twisted dream.

“Grandpa Xia, have we returned to the world of the living?”

A kindly smile appeared on Old Xia’s withered face.

“Boy, keep a low profile when you get back. Not a word to anyone about today.”

Gu Mo nodded and etched the warning deep in his mind.

Suddenly, Old Xia chuckled and struck Gu Mo with his palm.

With a whoosh, Gu Mo’s soul was sent flying backward. Old Xia remained behind, his smile turning sly.

“Heh heh! At least I’ve done right by that old smoker.”

He didn’t know how much time passed, but when Gu Mo awoke, he found himself floating back into the incense shop.

With a bang, his body sprawled over the counter, green ghostly flames flickering all around him. His chest glowed with a crimson light.

Looking closely, a strange, square talisman on his chest pulsed like a breathing lamp, flashing on and off…