Preface 1

Before I start, this is a continuation of the previous book. For those who have read the previous book, you can take a look. If you haven't, you can skip the preface and start from the first chapter, treating it as a new story!

Where does a person go after death?

Naturally, it's the underworld, the eighteen levels of hell, crossing the Naihe Bridge and drinking the Meng Po soup, forgetting all the past lives and reincarnating. Whether one becomes a dragon, a snake, a human, or a beast, it all depends on one's past actions!

Some joyfully drink the Meng Po soup and are reborn, while others refuse to die and linger in the underworld!

One day, the sound of wailing and howling ghosts came from the Lookout Platform. A ferocious little ghost with a green face was beaten severely, wailing and falling from above, landing in front of an old ghost resting against the wall.

The old ghost looked down and couldn't help but smirk, "You persistent little thing, got beaten down again, huh!"

The little ghost groaned and climbed up, picking up the broken arm and legs, "Brother, don't stand there laughing at me, come and help me!"

The old ghost chuckled and took the broken arm, saying as he attached it to the little ghost's shoulder, "Ouch... this hurts like hell!"

The little ghost screamed in pain as his hand was reattached, then he asked the old ghost to help him with his leg, "Ouch... finally, I'm whole again!"

Meanwhile, he checked to see if anything else was missing, while the old ghost chuckled and said, "I told you earlier, that red-clothed female ghost is fierce. You just had to provoke her, and she almost swallowed you whole. It's all her doing!"

The little ghost carefully picked up his half-broken ear and grumbled, "This Lookout Platform is only for newly deceased ghosts, who can ascend within forty-nine days. She's been dead for ten years, how can she still ascend? We are the inspectors of the underworld, how can we not apprehend such a lawless ghost!"

The old ghost shook his head, "You are truly naive. This female ghost has been wandering in the underworld for so many years, even the King of Hell can't control her. How can a mere ghost like you manage her?"

The little ghost angrily said, "Where did this red-clothed female ghost come from? Why is she so arrogant? She should have been reincarnated, but she's causing trouble here. According to the law, she should be thrown into the oil pan and fried!"

The old ghost smirked and approached, pulling his crooked nose and then adjusting it back, "Hehe, you are diligent as a new ghost. Let grandpa teach you a lesson!"

This female ghost had the karma of two generations of emperors, and she was protected by the Ziwei star. When she died with resentment, she was buried in a place with extreme Yin energy. After her death, she immediately gained the power of a ghost king. If it weren't for her single-minded thoughts of the mortal world, her abilities could disrupt the peace of the underworld!

"Ah! No wonder she's so powerful! If that's the case, how can the King of Hell not find a way to send her into reincarnation and instead trouble us!"

The old ghost looked around and whispered, "You think the King of Hell doesn't want to? But she has someone above her, offering sacrifices and tributes throughout the year, even the earthly emperor personally wrote a memorial to report the achievements of the King of Hell to the heavens... Last year, the heavenly court praised our King of Hell. Think about it... if this female ghost is sent into reincarnation, the King of Hell won't gain such great benefits..."

"Oh, I see... that's why..."

The little ghost touched his horns, "Hiss..." and couldn't help but feel resentful towards the female ghost above.

"Will she continue to be arrogant in the underworld?" the little ghost asked.

The old ghost chuckled, "Heh! No one can escape death, even the earthly emperor has to go through this. When the emperor dies, she will lose her backing, and then she will be dealt with. Why bother with her now? I sneaked into the palace and looked at the Book of Life and Death. The emperor's death should be in the next few days. Just be patient!"

The little ghost was overjoyed, "Good! I'll wait!"

With that, he glared resentfully at the female ghost above and picked up his pitchfork, "Hmph, let her be arrogant for a few more days!"

As the two ghosts whispered to each other, the female ghost in red on the Lookout Platform was crying and wailing, "Fool! Fool... I sacrificed myself to save you, so you could enjoy the glory and wealth of this world. But what did you do... you only eat simple meals, even simpler than the monks in the temple. I sacrificed myself to save you, so you could enjoy the beauty and charm of this world. But what did you do... you have countless beauties in the palace, yet you only embrace me in my red clothes day and night, not even willing to leave an heir! You... you... you fool... you... you... you are no different from the dead. You bury yourself in endless official duties every day, not eating or sleeping, turning yourself into a living dead. Fool! Fool..."

As she wailed, her ghostly eyes shed tears of blood as she looked towards the clear mist and chilly wind, where a faint figure could be seen. She saw his fading spirit, his sleepless nights, his devoted heart, and his declining health...

She cried and looked, looked and cried, her cries becoming more bitter and resentful, and her resentment turning into tears. The mournful and desolate ghostly cries shook the Lookout Platform three times, and a surge of resentment rose to the King of Hell, "Hey..."

Yanwang threw down the pen in his hand and dispersed the resentment with a wave of his hand. He furrowed his brows and asked the subordinate judge, "When did Zhao Jing die?"

The judge quickly turned around and took the imperial decree to check, then replied, "According to Your Majesty, Zhao Jing's soul returned to the underworld at the hour of today..."

"Good!"

Yanwang nodded and said, "Good, order Ox-Head and Horse-Face to bring him here. Remember not to scold or disturb him. Disperse his soul, we only need to ask them!"

"Yes!"

The judge turned and gave orders. Soon he returned and reported, "According to Your Majesty, he has already set off and is on his way here!"

"Good!"

Yanwang nodded. The wailing of the ghosts around him continued incessantly, and his brows furrowed tightly. One of his subordinates observed his expression and suggested, "My lord, ordinary ghost catchers cannot control her. Why not send the ghost generals to capture her, lock her in the oil pot and fry her a bit to calm her down?"

Yanwang shook his head and said, "Forget it. I've endured it for so long, a little more won't make a difference. When Zhao Jing's soul arrives in the underworld, she will naturally be reincarnated..."

After a moment of contemplation, he reached out and said, "Give me the imperial decree!"

The judge quickly handed it over and said, "Please have a look, Your Majesty..."

Yanwang leaned over and pointed to the top, "In this life, Zhao Jing will be born into the royal family of the Great Wei Dynasty, ascended to the throne at the age of twenty-four, and passed away at the age of thirty-two after reigning for eight years. He was diligent in governing the people and accumulated a lot of good deeds. The Purple Star of the Emperor's Fate is not extinguished. It is likely that he will be born into the royal family in the next life as well..."

Yanwang nodded as he read and said, "He was an emperor for three lifetimes, so after this life, he should have two more..."

He then pointed to the top and said, "In this life, he will go to the Danning Dynasty in the Kuangxu Realm. What year is it now?"

"According to Your Majesty, it is the eleventh year of Yanwu..."

"Good!"

After making some adjustments with the pen, the judge asked, "I wonder how the female ghost should be dealt with?"

Yanwang thought for a moment and said, "She had a marriage fate with Zhao Jing in their previous life, and was protected by the Emperor's Fate. Although she engaged in lowly occupations, she also helped others and accumulated enough good deeds. Let her be reborn as a wealthy daughter, find a devoted husband, have many children and grandchildren. This will settle their fate, and it will also be a response to Zhao Jing's years of offerings!"

"Yes!"

The judge wrote it down, and as they were finalizing the fate of the two, a little ghost came in and reported, "Yanwang, Emperor Zhao Jing's time has come, and he has arrived at the underworld to report. He has been brought to Your Highness's presence!"

Yanwang nodded and said, "Please bring him in!"

He personally walked down the steps and greeted Emperor Zhao Jing at the gate. The ghost escorting Zhao Jing quickly introduced, "This is the ruler of our underworld, the King of Hell..."

Zhao Jing stepped forward and bowed, "Yanwang, please accept my respects!"

Yanwang helped him up and said, "As a new soul, there's no need for excessive courtesy. You were an emperor in the mortal realm, benevolent and compassionate, and your merits are recorded in the heavens. Even the Southern Gate recognizes your achievements. I should be the one showing respect to you!"

After exchanging pleasantries, they sat down in the hall. A little ghost with a green face and protruding teeth brought tea. Zhao Jing lowered his head and saw that the tea was crimson in color, and when he sniffed it, a pleasant fragrance wafted out. He took a sip and felt a refreshing sensation, and couldn't help but praise, "What a great tea!"

Yanwang explained, "This is the Forgotten River's Blue Lotus Flower paired with water from the Yellow Springs. It clears the mind and is most suitable for new souls to drink. It can solidify the soul and protect the spirit."

After the tea had been served three times, they got down to business. Yanwang explained, "You have the Purple Star added to your fate, and you have the destiny of being an emperor for three lifetimes. You have just finished one lifetime, and there are two more to come. In the next life, you have been assigned to be an emperor in the Danning Dynasty in the Kuangxu Realm. It is the eleventh year of Yanwu, and there are strong enemies and rising foreign powers. You will have to endure hardships to accomplish something there."

Zhao Jing nodded and said, "If it is destined, I will do my best to ensure the safety and well-being of the people, and drive away the foreign forces to bring peace to the people!"

Yanwang nodded in approval and said, "Indeed, you are the chosen one of the Purple Star... In that case, should you set off immediately?"

After some hesitation, Zhao Jing asked, "Yanwang, I have a question... I wonder... I wonder where my wife, Hongniang, is now? Has she been reincarnated as a human?"

He didn't know how Hongniang was doing now. She had come to the underworld early, and was probably already reincarnated as a human. He didn't know where she was or how she was doing. Had she found a new marriage fate?

Yanwang chuckled and stroked his messy beard, "I knew you would ask about her. Over these years, I have not dared to neglect the task you entrusted to me. She couldn't bear to be reincarnated and lingered in the underworld, unwilling to be reborn. However, the laws of heaven have their own rules and cannot be easily violated. Although you are both in the underworld, your marriage fate has been severed, and you cannot meet again!"