Chapter 1474: Netherworld (Part 2)

The endless expanse of the underworld has no sky, just a dark wasteland, densely packed with newly deceased ghosts.

Many ghost messengers maintain order, stamping the passing ghosts with a thud, and each light seal shrinks into the ghost’s soul. When collected in hundreds, they’re taken away by other ghost messengers.

Zhao Zhongyu carries merit; when stamped, his mark is different. There are others like him, and they are taken away faster, needing only ten seals.

After walking for an unknown time, the space gradually becomes more open, fewer ghosts are on the road, and buildings appear in the distance.

There are straw houses, earthen houses, and brick and tile houses. The closer to the central area, the more exquisite the houses become. Zhao Zhongyu can even see palace-like structures, but strangely, there is only one solitary palace.

A palace, aren’t they usually in clusters?

Confused, he proceeds inside, passing through the city, reaching the other side, only to find himself suddenly in a grand hall.

Sharp screams and mournful cries explode in the ears, causing all the ghosts to shake and look forward in uncertain terror.

On the spacious hall, ghost messengers hold chains, locking several ghosts attempting to resist being thrown into a round hole, crying like wolves and ghosts.

The ghost messengers angrily whip them and shout, "How dare you rebel! Descend another level of hell, and if you dare cause trouble, you’ll be sent to the steamer hell!"

Zhao Zhongyu’s ghostly face turns pale, exchanging glances with his fellow ghosts, both feeling uneasy.

The ghost messenger leading them says, "Do not worry, this is the Yama Hall, not just anyone can come here. Apart from those with great evil, only you who carry deep merits can come."

Zhao Zhongyu then cautiously asks, "And those other ghosts earlier..."

"All are living souls who died unjustly, neither greatly good nor evil. They are registered, recorded, and then scattered to wait to cross the Naihe Bridge and reincarnate."

Those like Zhao Zhongyu, however, must pass through the Yama Hall, verify their merits, and then be sent to the city.

Unlike those ghosts who have to fend for themselves, Zhao Zhongyu and others will be directly sent to the city after interrogation in the Yama Hall.

Because, "Ghosts like you will be worshipped by people in the mortal world, and with grand ceremonies."

The so-called sacrifices naturally include more than five livestock and money, but also things ghost messengers won’t speak of, like merit and reputation.

These things, from the mortal to the underworld, incur processing fees and taxes.

Ghost messengers cultivate, and their living resources are drawn from these dealings, so they naturally treat them with respect.

After the Yama Hall, Zhao Zhongyu even receives one-on-one ghost messenger service.

The ghost messenger is chubby and smiling, with a gentle and friendly demeanor. Zhao Zhongyu hesitantly examines him, "Your face seems familiar..."

The ghost messenger, overjoyed, hurriedly salutes, "I dare not accept Mr. Zhao’s esteemed title, I am just a humble ghost messenger of the underworld."

He laughs, "My ancestral home is Yu State, Runan, Pingyu Yu Family."

Zhao Zhongyu: "...Is Yu Jixiang?"

"My third brother, I rank second in the family, named Zhongji."

Ah, no wonder he looks so familiar.

Yu Sanlang and Zhao Hu have been good friends, competing since childhood for decades without pause. Just a few years before he died, Zhao Hu once used glass made by Zhao Hanzhang to trap Yu Sanlang.

For this, Yu Sanlang went to confront Zhao Hu, almost colliding with Shi Le’s chaotic troops, hastily fleeing and falling from his carriage, said to have been bedridden at home for half a year. Due to this, the Yu family lodged a lawsuit against him.

After thinking for a while, Zhao Zhongyu recalls, "You’ve been dead for many years, haven’t you?"

"Yes," Yu, the ghost messenger, looks pensive, then beams, "I have been dead for nearly thirty years, never imagined seeing so many acquaintances in the underworld."

Yu Zhongji tells Zhao Zhongyu that he was originally queued to drink Meng Po Soup and cross Naihe Bridge for reincarnation, but just as his turn neared, a massive mortal death surge occurred.

After dying, they descend to the underworld, where it has its own reincarnation mechanism. Those with higher merits can choose reincarnation timing first. Among the sudden influx, many carry great merits.

Thus, Yu Zhongji’s ranking fell back. Seeing this, he simply gave up reincarnation, opting to apply as a ghost messenger.

Recently, due to the excessive deaths, ghost messengers in the underworld were lacking, prompting the Yama Hall to expand recruitment.

"My intention was to serve ten, or eight years as a ghost messenger, accumulate some resources, and reincarnate to a good life next time."

Having been human, everybody understands the importance of reincarnation.

Yu Zhongji, neither greatly good nor evil in life, remains ordinary and would likely reincarnate into a common family next.

Ordinary people live miserably, so he wants to work few years in the underworld, earn some resources, then secure a better reincarnation.

Yu Zhongji soon rejoices in his choice because, "Who knew that from nineteen years ago, there began a surge of mortal deaths, increasing each year, yet reincarnation numbers dwindle."

"Especially recent years, oh, just two years ago, the underworld received over two hundred thousand unjust souls in a single day, checked to have died from wars and starvation. Lucky I didn’t reincarnate, or I’d be drafted into the army, starve, or die unjustly."

Zhao Zhongyu remains silent.

Yu Zhongji glances at him, "Not speaking reveals mortal wars, evident from the influx of ghosts and their conditions, we receive numerous tragic ghosts daily for months."

He purses his lips, asking, "So, the many ghosts I saw earlier are newly deceased?"

"Yes, died around your time, they’ll be registered and scattered elsewhere to prevent congestion."

Zhao Zhongyu: "When can they reincarnate?"

"Unknown," Yu Zhongji says, "They may not survive to reincarnate, they could starve."

Zhao Zhongyu’s eyes widen, incredulous, "Can ghosts starve?"

"Of course ghosts can starve," Yu Zhongji laughs heartily, "Though unlike mortals needing three meals a day, to survive in the underworld, they must eat. Otherwise they will gradually thin, eventually dying as here, akin to dust in this world."

He lightly lifts his hand, sweeps the air, and chuckles, "With a swish, gone."

Zhao Zhongyu’s heart tightens.

Yu Zhongji laughs, "Naturally, you won’t become such a ghost."

He approaches Zhao Zhongyu, takes a deep breath, and says with relish, "You carry great merit, soaked in incense fragrance, indicating many people, important people are sacrificing to you, ensuring you won’t become here."

Zhao Zhongyu’s complexion shifts slightly, retreating two steps to distance himself from Yu Zhongji.

Yu Zhongji smiles, about to reassure him, when a cold hum is heard.

He looks up at the sound, his face changes, immediately becoming more reserved, bowing, "Mr. Zhao!"

Zhao Zhongyu turns to look, startled, "Brother..."

Zhao Changyu sweeps a disapproving gaze at him, then glances light as air at Yu Zhongji, merely a minor ghost messenger, whose lifetime rank was Chief Clerk, why fear him as a Chief of Staff?

Rebuking words roll on his tongue, unknown thinking reins them back, his face, however, isn’t pleasant, sternly saying, "Follow me."