Volume One: The Soul-Guiding Gourd and the Flame of the Spirit Chapter 46: The Humble Banquet

Under the bright moonlight, a cool wind whispered through the air.

The four of them sat upright around the stone table.

Little Carrot, childhood friend, gazed at his future sister-in-law, utterly stunned by her beauty. From the bottom of his heart, he was genuinely happy for Gu Mo.

“Mushroom, aren’t you going to introduce us?” he urged.

Gu Mo didn’t pay much attention to why Carrot wasn’t afraid. As he exhaled, he reached out and took the pale, delicate hand of the King of Hell’s wife, then announced proudly, “This is my wife, the King of Hell, Jiang Jingxue. This here is my childhood friend, Hu Shengtian—he grew up with me, and his nickname is Little Carrot.”

“Congratulations, congratulations!” Jiang Jingxue swept a stray lock of hair behind her ear with her soft hand and smiled sweetly. “My respects to you all,” she said lightly.

Her voice was as clear as silver bells, but the old-fashioned phrase she used left Carrot completely at a loss.

He forced an awkward smile, then turned to Gu Mo in curiosity, “Mushroom, is your wife a stage actress? Why does she talk… so… so…”

Gu Mo laughed heartily at Carrot’s stammer and replied in all seriousness, “Carrot, are you trying to say my wife Jiang Jingxue seems like she just stepped out of a historical drama?”

Carrot’s eyes widened as he nodded repeatedly. “Exactly! Mushroom, you lucky dog, how did you find such a beautiful sister-in-law? I really am a little envious!”

As he finished, Carrot turned to Jiang Jingxue, raised a cup of baijiu respectfully, and said, “Sister-in-law, may you and my brother have a harmonious union for a hundred years, and may you soon be blessed with a child!”

At this, Taoist priest Xiao Yulou, who’d been quietly sipping his drink, stifled a laugh, while Gu Mo found himself momentarily disoriented. A harmonious union for a hundred years—perhaps. But to have a child… it sounded rather odd.

Separated by life and death, one was a shrimp in the river, the other a fish in the sea. Whether a wedding night would even be possible was another question altogether.

As these thoughts flitted through Gu Mo’s mind, Carrot downed another cup, and Jiang Jingxue drank with him.

After several rounds of wine and an array of dishes, the atmosphere grew warm and lively.

Then, Carrot looked at Jiang Jingxue and asked, “Sister-in-law, were you under the table just now? How come I didn’t see you before?”

The lines on Gu Mo’s face darkened immediately. “Carrot… Carrot!”

Carrot glanced back at him. “What is it now, Mushroom?”

Gu Mo leaned in, lowering his voice. “Carrot, brace yourself!”

Carrot snorted, unable to contain a laugh. “What am I preparing for? It’s your wedding, not mine!”

He paused, then added with a grin, “Besides, even if you’re getting married right away, you wouldn’t be in your wedding clothes today. Did you just come from a photo shoot or something?”

Gu Mo forced a wry smile. “This banquet is a little simple, I suppose…”

Carrot cut him off with a frown. “A little simple? It’s not even ready! Are you not going to tell Commander and Leizi?”

Hearing his friends’ nicknames, Gu Mo could only give a bitter smile. “Things happened suddenly… I’ll make it up to everyone later.”

Carrot glared at him. “You can’t be serious! This doesn’t count. Consider this an early notice—I expect a grand celebration next time!”

Gu Mo could only agree to everything.

After a few more drinks, Gu Mo fixed Carrot with a serious look.

“Carrot, listen carefully. My wife is the King of Hell—Jiang Jingxue!”

Carrot scoffed, waving a dismissive hand. “Yeah, yeah, she’s your wife. But I’ve never heard of this place. Where is Salt King Valley, anyway?”

Gu Mo was speechless. “Carrot, are you an idiot? I’m telling you, my wife is the King of Hell from the Underworld—Jiang Jingxue!”

At these words, Carrot’s face went as pale as wax, sweat pouring down his brow as his body tensed and froze, eyes bulging.

“W-what? The King of Hell?”

Carrot gave Gu Mo a skeptical look, then grinned slyly. “Come on—stop joking. Isn’t the King of Hell supposed to be a man? Why are you saying such unlucky things on your wedding day? Spit three times to ward off bad luck! Is your wife an actress or not?”

Gu Mo simply looked at him with unflinching sincerity, leaving Carrot utterly baffled.

“Mushroom, don’t scare me like that at night.”

Gu Mo glanced at the woman beside him. “Darling—”

“Ah-ha—”

The awkward tension dissolved in an instant at their silly exchange.

“Haha! Mushroom, I knew you were joking. Your wife’s so beautiful, how could she be the King of Hell?”

Gu Mo curled his lips into a wicked smile. “Darling, why don’t you show him a trick?”

Jiang Jingxue nodded and smiled. Carrot, oblivious, grew curious.

With a casual wave of her delicate hand, a strange green fireball burst into life in her palm.

Xiao Yulou, silent until now, formed a mudra and began to recite a Daoist incantation. In a flash, he flicked his sleeve, chanting, “Fire of Supreme Purity!”

As his words fell, a blazing golden fireball roared to life.

Two fireballs—one gold, one green—burned furiously before them, each unique, the darkness around them instantly dispelled.

Seated on his stone stool, Carrot merely took another sip of his drink, popped a couple of fried peanuts into his mouth, and chewed slowly.

After a long moment, a tipsy Carrot looked up at Gu Mo and snorted, “So, are you two doing magic tricks? I have props like that at home too, you know. Want me to make a fireball?”

Hearing this, Gu Mo shot Xiao Yulou a glare. “Feathers, why are you butting in? I can’t even explain this anymore!”

Xiao Yulou could only smile awkwardly and drink in silence.

Meanwhile, mischief brewed in Gu Mo’s mind. “Darling, show him something else—but don’t scare my friend too badly.”

Jiang Jingxue gave a simple nod. Carrot, eager for more, craned his neck to see what would happen next. Xiao Yulou, who’d been silent, sighed softly.

Suddenly, Jiang Jingxue placed her hands on either side of her chin and gave a gentle twist.

With a faint pop, her stunning head came off as easily as uncorking a wine bottle. She held her beautiful face in her hands, a faint smile still lingering on her lips.

Buzz!

Carrot’s mind went blank. His cheeks, once flushed from drink, turned ghostly white, sweat pouring down like spring rain.

If the fireball could be explained as a magic trick, this—detaching one’s own head—defied all reason.

His composure crumbled.

Trembling, Carrot silently grabbed his cup and gulped down more liquor, trying to drown his terror.

It seemed he had finally accepted that his sister-in-law truly was the King of Hell.

Jiang Jingxue, having finished her display, calmly placed her head back on her neck. As the joints clicked into place, she gently flexed her neck and gazed at Gu Mo with infinite tenderness.

“Husband, is my neck straight?”

Gu Mo smiled and nodded. “Perfectly straight.”

Still worried Carrot might not believe her, Jiang Jingxue stamped her foot.

With a muffled thud, an eerie green light spread instantly, transforming Gu Mo’s courtyard into the grand Hall of Yama.

Carrot looked up, and his soul nearly fled his body.

The hall was over twenty meters high, ten meters wide, and above the dais hung a plaque inscribed with four large golden characters: Hall of Yama.

On either side, giant lanterns radiated green light. Below them, a jade-green desk was set with an oil lamp, brushes, a seal, a bamboo slip holder, and an ancient book.

Draped in red, Jiang Jingxue sat regally behind the desk, while two little ghostly attendants fanned her leisurely.

A cold wind blew, chilling to the bone.

Carrot’s nerves finally snapped. With a dull thud, he dropped to his knees before Jiang Jingxue.

“Sister-in-law—no, no! Lord Yama! In my short and humble life, I’ve never done anything bad! I even help old ladies cross the street! Just the other day, I donated blood!”

(Truly, childhood friends are alike—Carrot’s words were just like Gu Mo’s!)

As Carrot rambled, Gu Mo stood and helped him up. But Carrot’s body was heavy as stone, refusing to budge.

Jiang Jingxue waved her hand, and the illusion of the Hall of Yama vanished.

“Husband, am I—”

Gu Mo shook his head slightly and looked at Carrot with exaggerated disdain. “Idiot—if I’m not afraid, why are you scared out of your wits?”

Carrot, pulled upright, wore a face like bitter gourd and trembled as he spoke, “Mushroom, is your wife really the King of Hell?”

Gu Mo found himself regretting his honesty—who would believe such things? But the arrow was already nocked; if he didn’t explain, Carrot might truly lose his mind.

With a sigh, Gu Mo nodded. “Carrot, my wife Jiang Jingxue is the only daughter of King Qinguang of the Underworld. I met her when she took office.”

Carrot’s face tightened, but questions still troubled his mortal heart. “Mushroom, shouldn’t King Qinguang’s daughter’s surname be Qin? And—”

Gu Mo cut him off with a shake of his head. There was no point arguing with ingrained beliefs. So, over the next five minutes, he recounted his recent experiences, omitting most of the terrifying parts. If he’d told Carrot everything, the poor guy would surely go mad.

Carrot listened, face ashen, drinking and eating in silence.

After a long while, he finally looked up, aggrieved, and said, “Mushroom, ever since you came back, everything has changed. I barely recognize you anymore… Why do all these supernatural things happen around you?”

Gu Mo gave a bitter smile, drained his cup, and only after a long pause gazed up at the night sky and sighed, “Sometimes, I don’t know the reason myself…”

He lowered his head to look at those beside him. “All I know is, once I set foot on this path, there’s no turning back.”

…