Chapter Sixteen: Reunion with an Old Friend (Part Two)

Along the way, Shi Jun recounted every detail of his recent experiences to Chiyang. As Chiyang listened, his expression shifted between anger and concern, but he was no longer as furious as when they first met. Instead, he simply sighed and said, “You really can’t be left alone! Just a few days without seeing you and you’ve gotten yourself into trouble, nearly lost your life. If I had known, I would have watched over you every day!”

The two of them instantly realized the awkwardness hidden in those words and, without meaning to, both blushed, neither daring to meet the other’s gaze. Chiyang wished he could find a hole to crawl into and sew his mouth shut, while Shi Jun tasted a subtle sweetness in his heart, though he feared it was only wishful thinking on his part. His eyes, too, avoided Chiyang’s, and for a moment, silence fell between them.

After a pause, both spoke at the same time: “You…” and then, in unison, “You go first.” Meeting each other’s eyes, they couldn’t help but burst into laughter, and the earlier embarrassment melted away.

They found a place to sit down. Chiyang, now a little more at ease, smiled and said, “Don’t worry. With a token from the Underworld, Hu Hai will be safe. I just don’t know where he’s ended up. I’ve searched every other place; he must be somewhere on this level of hell…”

Shi Jun, curious, asked, “So there really are eighteen levels of hell?”

“Of course not!” Chiyang shot him a look, lips curving into a smile. “In truth, there are only four levels in the Underworld. The first is Rebirth Hell, ruled by King Kasyapa. The second is the Purification Hell, under Veda King. Where we are now is the third, the Burning Heart Hell, governed by the Asura King.”

Here, Chiyang paused. “Did you know? The Rakshasa you saw earlier is the Asura King’s adopted daughter.”

Learning that the Rakshasa was the Asura King’s goddaughter, Shi Jun suddenly understood—no wonder she acted like a spoiled young lady. It struck him that the Underworld was not so different from the mortal world. Weren’t many children of mortal leaders equally arrogant and untouchable? Yet, compared to them, the Rakshasa’s innocence and naivety were oddly endearing rather than annoying. The thought made him shake his head and chuckle.

“What’s so funny?” Chiyang, watching Shi Jun’s expression, felt a sudden, inexplicable flash of irritation. “Do you like her? You seem awfully happy just thinking about her!”

Chiyang’s abrupt question made Shi Jun laugh out loud. “Don’t be ridiculous! She’s just a kid—what would I like her for?”

“Who knows?” Chiyang replied, feigning indifference. “You’re unpredictable; who can tell what you’ll do?”

“Really? Compared to the tricks you played on me, I’m the model of propriety!” Shi Jun teased.

The memory of those early days at school, when Chiyang had so often schemed against Shi Jun, made Chiyang laugh too. “And yet you always called me a wicked woman behind my back. I’d say we’re even!”

“Even?” Shi Jun protested. “That’s not fair. I was always a gentleman—never laid a hand on you!”

“And you’d like to get even now?” Chiyang giggled, giving Shi Jun a playful smack.

With the ice broken, the two got lost in reminiscence, recalling their school days with a back-and-forth of banter and laughter. Chiyang brought up the time Shi Jun was repeatedly called on to answer questions, and laughed heartily at the memory.

“To be honest, I was furious back then, especially when you blew up Old Li’s TV. I wanted nothing more than to give you both a good beating,” Shi Jun said with a wry smile.

“Then why didn’t you?” Chiyang’s eyes sparkled with mischief.

Shi Jun sighed. “How could I dare? If I caused a real rift, you’d have your revenge on everyone around me, and that would’ve been a disaster.”

Chiyang’s expression suddenly darkened, the bright gleam in her eyes clouded with a faint melancholy. After a moment of silence, she murmured, “Maybe one day you really will turn against me.”

Shi Jun laughed, answering without thinking, “Planning to mess with me again? No way. Even if you did, I’d never be able to beat you. So all I can do is hope for your mercy, Lady Chiyang!”

“Mercy…” Chiyang muttered absent-mindedly, “But when that day comes, you won’t show any…”

“What did you say?” Shi Jun didn’t catch her words.

“Nothing,” Chiyang shook her head and, after a moment’s thought, returned to their earlier conversation. “As I said, the third level of hell. I suppose you can guess the fourth—it’s the Blissful Hell, ruled by the Emperor of the Underworld. Only the Emperor holds absolute power here; all other kings, marshals, officials, civil and military, take their orders from him and dare not harbor the slightest thought of defiance…”

As she spoke, her brows knit tighter, her voice growing softer, until she fell silent, lost in thought.

“So where are we going now?” Shi Jun sensed something was amiss with Chiyang, but couldn’t figure it out, so he broke the silence.

“Hmm?” Chiyang started and snapped back to herself. “Nowhere for now. Let’s find your friend first.” With that, the two set off again. To speed up, Chiyang murmured an incantation and rose into the air. Since Shi Jun could not fly, he sat on a small boat formed by the spirit of Lanpo, trailing behind her.

Chiyang seemed to have lost her earlier cheer, weighed down by some unspoken worry. They flew in silence for a long time. Sensing Chiyang’s gloom, Shi Jun tried to lighten the mood. “You’re a terrible host. This is my first time in the Underworld, and all we do is fly around in silence. Shouldn’t you be showing me the sights—landmarks, shopping districts, famous scenic spots?”

Chiyang shot him a glare but couldn’t help laughing. “Shopping districts and landmarks? What do you take this place for? Still, I suppose it’s only right to fill you in. You’re an Underworld Constable now—people will have to call you ‘sir.’ If you don’t know the first thing about the place, you’ll be the laughingstock.”

“I’m not worried,” Shi Jun said, cheered by her smile. “As an Underworld Constable, I have no airs. In fact, I’m a model official who loves the people—no, the ghosts—like my own children…”

“Enough nonsense,” Chiyang laughed, pointing ahead. “Look, this is the Burning Heart Hell, ruled by the Asura King. Most inhabitants here are seasoned souls of the Underworld, far fewer in number than in Rebirth or Purification Hell above. People here are generally more capable, of higher status—most Underworld officials live on this level.”

Shi Jun asked, “So when I first fell, that blue sea—or rather, gas—was that the Rebirth Hell?”

Chiyang nodded. “Rebirth Hell, ruled by King Kasyapa, is at the top—it’s the first resting place for souls entering the Underworld. It appears as a vast ocean but is actually formed from the purest Underworld Yin chill. When souls first arrive, they’re formless. Only after being bathed in the Yin chill can they take shape. From there, they reincarnate, vanish, or, in rare cases, absorb the four elemental energies—earth, fire, water, and wind—gaining spiritual power through initial cultivation and advancing to the second level, thus escaping the cycle of rebirth to become true denizens of the Underworld.”

“Oh no!” Shi Jun exclaimed.

“What is it?”

“So not everyone can enter hell? If I die and can’t form a body, will I just… vanish?”

Chiyang replied offhandedly, “Impossible. You’re not like ordinary mortals.” But as she spoke, she frowned and scolded, “Stop making silly jokes, will you?”

Shi Jun was puzzled—he was just an ordinary person, so why not? But seeing Chiyang’s mood darken again, he decided not to press and instead grinned. “So the Purification Hell must be where those who’ve formed bodies continue their training, right?”

“Half right,” Chiyang said. “Purification Hell is where those who have just begun cultivating gather. Having gained spiritual power and escaped the Yin chill, they live and train here. Most who reach this level are souls with deep grievances or strong obsessions, or those with special constitutions—spirits whose lingering power is exceptionally strong after death. Some are beings from the demon, fairy, or devil realms whose bodies were destroyed during tribulation, leaving only their primordial spirits.

“Demons, after failing tribulation, lose their essence and become savage beasts. They survive in the Underworld’s forests and crystal valleys, feeding on souls to regain consciousness and reincarnate. There are many of them, living like wild animals, beyond the Underworld’s control.

“Fairies and devils, after failing tribulation, are forever stranded in the Underworld, forced to train anew. Unless they happen upon a rare opportunity, they can never regain their former strength or escape.

“Beneath this level is the Blissful Hell, wrapped in a powerful barrier set by the Emperor. Only the most accomplished can reach it. It’s rich in resources and treasures; apart from a few areas occupied by other cultivators, most is the Emperor’s private domain…”

As they whispered to each other, they scoured the area for any sign of Hu Hai.

* * * * *

While Shi Jun was searching high and low for his friend, Hu Hai was also on the hunt for Shi Jun, accompanied by a new companion—a brash young troublemaker from the demon realm named Motuo.

The two of them, fearless and open-hearted, hit it off instantly and quickly became sworn brothers. When Motuo revealed his demon heritage, Hu Hai wasn’t the least bit shocked; instead, he was deeply curious, itching to learn everything about the demon realm. Motuo, who always thought highly of himself but lived under his master’s strict watch, was thrilled to have such a keen and enthusiastic audience. He immediately launched into wild tales, bragging about his strength and abilities as if he could battle dragons and subdue tigers.

Hu Hai, knowing nothing about the demon realm, swallowed every word with wide-eyed admiration, convinced that Motuo was a hidden master and growing more impressed by the minute. Still, though he believed every tall tale, Hu Hai refused to be outdone; as soon as Motuo finished, he would embellish stories about himself and Shi Jun, painting them both as legendary figures. Even though he knew he probably couldn’t compare to this “rising star of the demon realm,” he was determined not to lose face before his new friend.

“Underworld Constable?” Motuo mused after Hu Hai’s wild stories. “I think I’ve heard the term, but…” Of course, he wasn’t about to admit that he’d long forgotten most of what he’d been taught about the other four realms, so he pretended to know more than he did. “But you mortals usually don’t have much power. If the Underworld Emperor wants you for this job, there must be something fishy… something ghostly about it!”

Motuo was just bluffing, but if Chiyang had been there to hear, she would have been astonished. As things stood, only Hu Hai was there to listen. He bristled at the comment. “What do you mean, fishy? We catch ghosts! You think only you have skills? Let me tell you, mortals are the best at catching ghosts…” He was about to quote Shi Jun when, suddenly, his vision blurred and he realized he was surrounded.