Chapter Nineteen: The Impostor Underworld Enforcer (Part Two)

The two walked and talked, weaving through the bustling streets of the Infernal Realm for quite some time before finally stopping before a building.

Before them stood a small courtyard gate, its entrance and surrounding wall constructed from massive, dark red stones. A pitch-black door, neither metal nor wood, blocked the way, giving the impression of utter poverty.

Hu Hai mused to himself: It seems this minor underworld officer doesn’t fare well. Compared to the grand estates we passed, this fellow’s residence is pitiable—likely not even middle class in the underworld. The civil servant welfare here must be truly lacking.

Once inside the courtyard, winding past what might be decorative boulders and traversing an inconspicuous side yard, Hu Hai’s eyes suddenly brightened. A grand and spacious mansion rose before them, and upon entering, Hu Hai couldn't help but stare in astonishment; Moto was equally surprised, letting out an involuntary exclamation.

The interior was worlds apart from the austere exterior: tables, chairs, and furnishings were all exquisite; the furniture and utensils radiated opulence—clearly not something a law-abiding minor underworld officer could afford.

Even a fool would realize that the humble trappings outside were mere camouflage—no different from those officials in the human world who feign austerity yet secretly amass wealth. Hu Hai thought: Indeed, these are age-old human vices. How could anyone expect them to change after becoming a ghost? To resurface in a new world under a different guise is only natural. He made no effort to hide his astonishment and teased Soul Hunter, “Well, well, who’d have thought you’re a corrupt official?”

Soul Hunter had brought Hu Hai to his private estate in hopes of currying favor—though he was just a minor officer, ghosts, like water, always seek higher ground; who wouldn’t wish to rise further? Yet, lacking both background and exceptional skills or achievements, he’d never had the chance. Now, with the rare opportunity to befriend someone close to a high official, he wouldn’t dare squander it. But hearing Hu Hai’s remark left him trembling with fear.

“Heh heh,” Soul Hunter replied, beads of muddy-brown sweat trickling down his ghostly face. “Sir, you frighten me! How can I be called a corrupt official? I’m nothing—just a patrolling lackey. Serving you well would be the greatest blessing for a humble soul like me!”

Moto, eyes darting, found a chair and sprawled out, giving an order, “Since you’re so eager, hurry up and bring something good to eat!” He’d been thinking about underworld spiritual fruits and rare elixirs.

“Good food?” Soul Hunter blinked. “Which type does Sir prefer?”

“Are there so many types of food?” Hu Hai asked, puzzled.

“Sir, perhaps you’re not yet familiar, but allow me to explain.” Soul Hunter, eager to flatter this new underworld dignitary, summoned his utmost diligence and poured out all he knew. “Food for cultivators here in the underworld is divided according to the four attributes: earth, fire, water, and wind. The reason is simple—the cultivation paths here also follow these four systems. Generally, from the second level, the Body-Purifying Hell, onward, those who escape reincarnation and reside here are accomplished spirits or the primordial souls of immortals and demons whose bodies were destroyed during tribulation. No matter their prior cultivation methods, here they must cultivate anew according to earth, fire, water, or wind—due to the unique environment, pursuing old methods without external support leads nowhere. Once an attribute is chosen, it cannot be easily changed, and since the four attributes counteract one another, each cultivator can only consume food of their own attribute, lest they mix and cause harm. Only those of exceedingly high realm and great powers can break these boundaries, at which point their food is unrestricted. Additionally, these foods differ in preparation and consumption methods…”

Hu Hai listened with keen interest, intending to ask more, but Moto impatiently interrupted, “I told you to fetch food—what’s with all the chatter? Just bring us seventeen or eighteen of each type to sample! We’re not underworld natives; we’ll eat whatever’s put before us!”

Soul Hunter paused, looked at Hu Hai, and seeing no objection, thought: This young lord has already broken the attribute limits—no wonder he’s favored by the Underworld Emperor! He quickly urged his attendants, “Why are you still standing around? Go prepare all kinds of delicacies—don’t keep our guests waiting!”

A swarm of underworld attendants hurriedly obeyed, soon returning with a heap of bizarre foods. These dishes were a riot of colors: some resembled fruit, some were broths, others were so strange as to defy description—some fragrant, some foul-smelling, and most peculiar of all, some seemed alive, wriggling and shifting.

Hu Hai, for all his bravado, dared not recklessly sample these mysterious dishes. Moto, however, was another story—the little demon eagerly pounced, chomping away with gusto, determined not to leave a single morsel uneaten.

* * *

“Is there anything else Sir requires?” Soul Hunter, seeing the underworld captain lounging and gazing about but not eating, grew uneasy and bowed, asking nervously.

“Ah?” Hu Hai’s eyes flickered, and he cleared his throat, adopting an air of authority. “Very well, then—why don’t you introduce this place to me?” He thought, since the inhabitants here are all dead, calling it a ‘ghost place’ is fitting.

Moto, hearing Hu Hai refer to himself as ‘Sir’, burst out laughing until Hu Hai glared at him, at which point he shook his head and resumed attacking the food.

Soul Hunter scratched his head, thinking, That’s right, I heard this underworld captain was only recently appointed—it’s no wonder he’s unfamiliar with our workings. Gathering himself, he began, “Sir, each level of the underworld has a complete administrative structure, roughly divided into four departments and twelve bureaus—but not always; for example, the Soul Soothing Department exists only in the first level, the Rebirth Hell, while the fourth level, the Blissful Hell, has no administrative organs besides the Underworld Emperor’s temple. Each level’s administration reports only to its own underworld king, who in turn reports to the Underworld Emperor.”

“Four departments and twelve bureaus?” Hu Hai listened with interest.

“Yes, sir. The four departments are the Prison Guard Department, Soul Soothing Department, Alchemy Department, and General Affairs Department,” Soul Hunter enumerated. “The Prison Guard Department oversees security, patrols, law, and rewards and punishments. Its chief is the Warden, and under it are three bureaus: Security Bureau for daily patrol and order; Inspection Bureau for handling cases and disputes; and Thunder Bureau for arrests, suppression, and special operations.”

“Oh? Which bureau are you with?”

“Sir,” Soul Hunter replied with a fawning smile, “I’m attached to the Security Bureau.” He continued, “The Soul Soothing Department handles rebirth and purification (and exists only in Rebirth Hell). Its chief is the Soul Soother. Under it are the Rebirth Bureau, which guides souls through reincarnation; the Purification Bureau, which deals with souls unable to reincarnate or advance; and the Spirit Gathering Bureau, which gathers energy to maintain the underworld’s formations and barriers.

“The third department, Alchemy, manages pets, medicines, weapons, spells, and education. Its chief is the Alchemist. Under it are the Talent Bureau for education and spell research; Dragon Bureau for medicine and weapon crafting; and the Kirin Bureau for taming monsters and raising pets.”

Hu Hai’s eyes sparkled at the mention of weapons, spellbooks, monsters, and pets—how wonderful! His trip to the underworld was indeed worthwhile. If he returned empty-handed, he’d be letting down both the people and the nation! No, he must find a way to acquire some weapons or pets—such things would be formidable indeed!

While he pondered, Soul Hunter droned on, “Finally, the General Affairs Department manages population, construction, and internal and external affairs. Under it are the Internal Bureau for domestic matters; External Bureau for outside affairs; and the Coordination Bureau for overseeing all administrative coordination. In truth, the General Affairs Department holds the greatest power…”

“By the way, do you have that ‘Heart-Purifying Nectar’ here?” Hu Hai, seeing Moto eating with his head down, recalled the ‘good stuff’ Moto had mentioned earlier.

“Heart-Purifying Nectar?!” Soul Hunter exclaimed, “Sir, I can’t help you there! That treasure is the private reserve of Lord Wuchang, one of the Four Great Underworld Marshals. Without his permission, no one dares approach that forbidden ground. Besides, those mushroom guardians are fierce—if I sneaked in, I wouldn’t stand a chance!”

Mushroom guardians? Hu Hai swallowed hard, suddenly recalling those fat mushrooms who forced him to sing their praises. So that’s why the term sounded familiar! The Heart-Purifying Nectar is actually the tears shed by the mushrooms that Lord Wuchang torments daily…

Thinking this, Hu Hai burst out laughing and leapt from his chair.

Moto, about to toss a wriggling white worm-like thing into his mouth, asked, “What’s wrong? Don’t these foods suit your taste? Some are actually quite good…”

Hu Hai chuckled, thinking, Sometimes fortune smiles unexpectedly—a few kind words and I’ve stumbled upon a rare treasure. Without their reminder, I would have remained ignorant! Yet he knew the matter wasn’t entirely straightforward; deciding to feign ignorance about accidentally consuming the Heart-Purifying Nectar, he turned to Soul Hunter and changed the subject, “You just mentioned the Four Great Underworld Marshals—who are they?”

“Has Lord Chiyang not mentioned them?” Soul Hunter asked, surprised.

“Just answer! No need for so much nonsense!” Hu Hai had never met Chiyang, nor learned anything from her, but as the ‘Underworld Captain,’ he had to bluff. With a curt rebuke, he silenced Soul Hunter.

“Yes, yes!” Soul Hunter, chastened, replied obediently, “The Four Great Underworld Marshals are of similar rank to you, Sir, but they are military officers under the Underworld Emperor, commanding the Underworld Army divided into earth, fire, water, and wind branches. Lord Chiyang is the Marshal of the fire branch; additionally…”

The Four Great Marshals, it turned out, included Chiyang, commander of the fire branch; Yaksha, of earth; Meng Po, of water; and Wuchang, of wind. Beneath the Marshals were generals, vice-generals, commanders, and a full array of military officers—clear structure, defined roles, a match for human armies in organization and management. These armies, directly under the Underworld Emperor, were stationed throughout the underworld but did not answer to the underworld kings or their local officers.

Hu Hai remained outwardly calm, but thought: So, the ‘shrew’ Stone Army mentioned is actually a powerful commander—no wonder Soul Hunter was so alarmed when I mentioned Chiyang’s token. But why had Stone Army never brought it up? The underworld is truly complex—each of the upper three levels ruled by their own kings with administrative bodies and armies, akin to ancient Chinese feudal lords; while the Marshals control the central military, serving the Underworld Emperor, forming a power core capable of counterbalancing local rulers.

Reflecting on this, Hu Hai sensed that the Underworld Emperor was no ordinary figure…