Volume One: The Soul-Gathering Gourd and the Lamp of Burning Spirits Chapter 32: The Thirteen Stations of the Underworld
Inside the incense shop, cold winds whistled through the space.
After all, the front door had long since been torn to shreds by the King of the Underworld, Jiang Jingxue.
Yet within the icy shop, the atmosphere suddenly grew tense...
Faced with Jiang Jingxue’s interrogation, the Daoist Xiao Yulou wore a bitter expression.
“It’s nothing. Ten years ago I ventured into the Underworld, and the one who received me then was your father, His Majesty.”
Gu Mo, upon hearing this, burst out with a startled exclamation.
“Seriously, Master Xiao, can you stop exaggerating?”
In a flash, the foolish girl let out a hysterical shriek, her delicate finger pointed fiercely at Xiao Yulou.
“So... you’re the one who tricked my father with that special coin?”
Gu Mo’s head was immediately filled with question marks.
“What? Even the King of Hell can be deceived by a coin?”
He raised his eyebrows and with a mischievous grin, began to tease Xiao Yulou.
“Master Xiao, you even dared to outsmart the King of Hell—how impressive!”
Xiao Yulou did not find this achievement particularly worthy of praise.
“In truth, I had my own reasons back then…”
With a sigh, the peculiar Daoist began his tale.
“When I was barely in my teens, I had only just descended the mountain when I was ambushed, forced to wander for several years.
At first, I had no memories at all, living a life of hardship and drifting, unable to recall who I was, let alone any cultivation or Daoist skills.
Across the street, the convenience store owner often gave me bread to get by.
After some time, I experienced a bizarre and uncanny event, and gradually began to recover my lost memories.
A few days later, I finally earned some income. To thank the shopkeeper, I often helped him deal with evil spirits and demons.
As it turned out, the shopkeeper had a long-lost younger sister.
In those years, I was young and impetuous, unable to see through affairs of the heart, and inevitably fell helplessly in love with this pure and extraordinary girl…
Eventually, because of my Daoist identity, I was targeted by the White Lotus Cult’s evil practitioners. To threaten me, they took the girl’s life, which is why I ventured alone into the Underworld.”
At these words, Jiang Jingxue laughed lightly and spoke.
“Master Xiao, you make it sound so simple! Back then, even a hundred thousand ghost soldiers couldn’t stop you, and my father was three parts afraid. Otherwise, how could an ordinary Daoist retrieve a soul from the Underworld?”
Gu Mo glanced at the foolish girl in her phoenix crown and scarlet robes, then at the mischievous Xiao Yulou, and shuddered in awe.
“Whoa! A hundred thousand ghost soldiers? Master Xiao, you’re so modest!”
Xiao Yulou merely waved his hand with a calm smile.
“Youthful arrogance—let’s not speak of the past.”
At this, Gu Mo furrowed his brow and stroked his chin, voicing his doubts.
“Master Xiao, how exactly did you trick the King of Hell?”
Xiao Yulou drew from his robe a coin full of memories.
Gu Mo carefully took it, examined it, and finally understood.
“Guessing heads or tails?”
Xiao Yulou nodded with a smile.
“Back then, the King of the First Hall found he couldn’t stop me, so we negotiated. In that moment, I came up with a small trick—guessing heads or tails. After all, this coin of mine is a misprinted one…”
He glanced at the bewildered Jiang Jingxue and coughed, adding solemnly.
“The King of the First Hall is a ruler who keeps his word. Though he fell for my trick, he still returned my beloved’s soul to me.”
Gu Mo then handed the rare coin back to Xiao Yulou.
“Master Xiao, by that account, you’re a true romantic—braving the Underworld for love! A real man!”
Xiao Yulou gave a weary, bitter smile. But Gu Mo, tormented by curiosity, pressed on.
“Master Xiao, what became of your beloved?”
Xiao Yulou smiled gently, and replied with quiet composure.
“To spare her unnecessary trouble, I asked the King of the First Hall for a bowl of Lady Meng’s Soup…”
At this, Gu Mo finally understood Xiao Yulou’s helplessness.
“Since ancient times, lovers are left only with regret; this sorrow is endless!”
Xiao Yulou looked to the sky and let out a long, mournful howl, then composed himself and addressed Gu Mo again.
“We digress… Allow me to explain this map to you, Brother Gu.”
Gu Mo was instantly disappointed.
“Master Xiao, I’d rather hear more stories. Can’t the map wait a few days?”
Xiao Yulou shook his head gently.
“Brother Gu, you have a ‘pure Yin fate’ by birth. In a few months, you will have to venture deep into the Underworld. Wouldn’t you be lost then?”
Gu Mo’s body tensed, and he gasped in shock.
“What? Why will I have to go to the Underworld in a few months?”
Xiao Yulou sighed.
“Right now, the Underworld faces life-and-death peril; those cultivators in the world of the living will not rest.”
He paused, then continued.
“I foresaw this long ago. That’s why I want to raise your strength within a month!”
Gu Mo let out a sigh.
“Alas, disaster upon disaster! I haven’t even figured things out in the world of the living, and now I have to stir things up in the Underworld!”
No sooner had Gu Mo spoken than Jiang Jingxue twisted his ear fiercely.
“Little assistant, pay attention and memorize this!”
With his ear aching, Gu Mo could only scowl and turn his gaze to the newly drawn map of the Underworld.
Xiao Yulou cleared his throat and continued…
“Next, I’ll describe the Thirteen Stations of the Underworld.
The first station: the Temple of the Earth God.
The Temple exists in the Underworld, though it is invisible to the living, but it truly exists! Within is a register, recording the local mountains, rivers, population, livestock, and so forth…
The second station: the Road to Yellow Springs.
As the saying goes, the Road to Yellow Springs is hard to walk, and there are no old or young upon it!
Indeed, above it, no stars shine; below, no earth is seen.
The third station: the Terrace of Reminiscence.
Once a soul reaches this terrace, there’s almost no hope of returning to life!
Standing on the terrace, one can see their home in the world of the living, their friends and family, and their own lifeless body lying there…
Beyond the Terrace of Reminiscence, at the end of the Road to Yellow Springs, lies a crossroads.
Downward leads to the Hall of Reincarnation. Upward leads to the Rootless Land and the Great Wilderness—places I have never ventured…
Straight ahead, at the very end, stands a small town called ‘Half a Step More.’
From here, there are three paths: the path of immortals, the path of demons, and the path of humanity.
When a ghost stands in Half a Step More, they must choose.
To become immortal, to return as human, to become a demon, or to turn into a devil.
It’s said that ‘Half a Step More’ is a place filled with hope, memories, forgetfulness, and obsession.
One thought, and you become an immortal; another, you turn into a devil.
You are only a step from paradise, yet obsession makes a half step seem infinite…
The fourth station: the Ridge of Evil Dogs.
Dogs can see spirits, bark, and the crowing of golden roosters signals the spirits to avoid sunlight lest their souls are scattered.
Old village dogs never sleep on the warm kang, and golden roosters never lie down to rest. On Evil Dog Ridge, the cold wind howls and countless dogs pounce upon passing souls; those who killed or abused dogs in life will surely be torn apart!
The fifth station: Golden Rooster Mountain.
Evil Dog Ridge and Golden Rooster Mountain are both checkpoints all souls must pass; only after crossing these can one be considered a ghost!
Golden Rooster Mountain lives up to its name. Its steep peaks resemble a rooster’s back. Upon reaching the summit, a flock of roosters will rush at you!
When someone dies, a porcelain dish is placed on their chest containing grains—the offerings needed to pass Golden Rooster Mountain! Those who killed or abused livestock in life cannot escape the grasping talons!
Along the way, simply scattering the grains from the dish will let you pass safely!
The sixth station: Wild Ghost Village.
It appears lively and prosperous, but in truth, it’s made up of wild ghosts!
Those who pass Evil Dog Ridge and Golden Rooster Mountain, but are ill-prepared, are left missing limbs.
These crippled souls cannot be reborn, so they become part of Wild Ghost Village’s apparent prosperity, awaiting passing souls to take their limbs and attach them to themselves.
The seventh station: Hall of Lost Souls.
Souls who continue on will find a pavilion, beside which springs the water of oblivion. Upon arrival, one must drink this water.
Thus, whatever the ghost says will be truth, confessing all sins committed in the living world—preparing for the judgment of the Ten Kings of Hell.
Leaving the Hall of Lost Souls, one sees a narrow path shrouded in black mist: the ‘No Return Path.’ Here, one finds the ‘River of Forgetfulness.’
The eighth station: Fengdu, the Capital of the Underworld.
When mortals reach Fengdu, they are dazzled by its sights.
Never talk to strangers, wander aimlessly, or eat and drink indiscriminately, lest your immortal body be harmed and you lose your chance to return to the living, stepping instead into the cycle of six rebirths.
Within Fengdu are the ten solemn halls of the Kings of Hell.
The ninth station: Eighteen Levels of Hell.
After judgment, the souls arrive at the Eighteen Levels of Hell.
Within, each level is filled with wailing and suffering; the punishments are far harsher than one can imagine.
Those who have witnessed it cannot describe even a fraction of its horror!
The Eighteen Levels of Hell are not part of the sequence of the Kings’ halls, but are set apart.
The tenth station: Hall of Offerings.
The living burn paper, the dead receive! All offerings and incense are sent there, like a post office for the underworld, with dedicated offices. Ghosts arriving here must make preparations!
The eleventh station: Fortress of Ghosts.
Souls here are governed by the laws of the Underworld. They even have their own holidays. Most ghosts encountered by the living come from here. Only a few are wild and solitary ghosts.
The twelfth station: Lotus Terrace.
Beneath the Lotus Terrace of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, all souls receive his blessings and the illumination of Buddhist law. As long as one sincerely turns to good and lets go of obsession, one can be reborn in bliss.
The thirteenth station: Cliff of Reincarnation.
By the cliff stands a stone bridge, guarded by four divine beasts. An old woman sits there, handing tea to passing souls—Lady Meng herself.
The tea is Lady Meng’s Soup; drinking it erases all memories, grievances, and entanglements of the past.”
Xiao Yulou looked up at Gu Mo.
“These are the Thirteen Stations of the Underworld.”
He then turned to Jiang Jingxue.
“Does Your Majesty have anything to add?”
The foolish King of Hell, who had been listening quietly, shook her head, her silver-bell voice ringing out once more.
“Master Xiao, who would have thought you knew the Underworld so well—even I pale in comparison.”
Suddenly, a strange green light emerged from the bundle on the counter.
Everyone present was baffled.
Then, a piercing scream shattered the quiet night.
Ah…