Chapter Fourteen: Return to the Mortal Realm (Part One)

When they had been sent back from the Yellow Springs, Hu Hai was still somewhat disgruntled and muttered unhappily by Shi Jun’s ear. The moment they opened their eyes, they saw Rakshasa and Modo hopping about, blaming one another, with Chiyang and Little Mischief standing nearby, frowning as they looked around.

"Little Mischief!" Shi Jun exclaimed in both surprise and delight. "Where have you been lately? Chiyang and I were just asking about you, and now here you are!"

"Officer, it’s so pitiful! I was caught and taken away!" Little Mischief said, aggrieved.

"Caught by whom?" Shi Jun was puzzled, about to ask further when Chiyang, brow furrowed, fired off a string of questions. "How could you run off here without even a word? Did you reach the Netherworld? Did you see the Ancestor of the Yellow Springs? And what did he say to you?"

Rakshasa and Modo chimed in together, "So, so? Where did that Underworld Flow take you?"

"Of course it was the Netherworld!" Hu Hai blurted out, on the verge of recounting their recent adventure, but recalling his promise to Shi Jun to keep it secret, he forced himself to swallow back his words. With an awkward chuckle, he said only, "Best not to ask—talk to Shi Jun instead!"

Seeing Chiyang’s grave expression, Shi Jun quickly asked, "Weren’t you summoned by the Emperor of the Underworld? How did you get back so soon? Is everything alright?"

"It’s all because of you..." Chiyang began, but quickly changed the topic, scolding, "Don’t change the subject—answer my questions first!"

"All that fuss for nothing!" Shi Jun deliberately put on a disappointed, angry face. "That ghost thing dragged me to some pitch-black place for ages, and I didn’t see a single soul!"

"Really?" Chiyang visibly relaxed, though she still eyed Shi Jun with suspicion.

"What? You don’t believe me?" Lying was never Shi Jun’s strong suit, but having chosen to deceive, he stuck to his story, thinking it best to avoid further trouble. With a bitter smile, he added, "Even I can hardly believe it! You people from the Underworld—either you’re shouting for blood at the drop of a hat, or you act like mysterious sages. At least I’ve learned something new!"

At last, Chiyang’s expression softened, and she let the matter rest.

Though Shi Jun didn’t know all the details, he trusted there was good reason for the Yellow Springs’ command to keep their meeting secret. Moreover, it was clear that Chiyang had rushed here because he had entered the Netherworld, and given her usual wariness, something else might be afoot this time as well… How strange—could someone not want him to meet the Yellow Springs? If there were one person Chiyang had to obey, it would be… At that thought, Shi Jun grew more cautious of the Emperor of the Underworld, who had always lurked in the shadows. Outwardly, though, he feigned ignorance and disinterest.

"Oh, why are you asking so much? Is Officer Shi your prisoner or your subordinate?" Rakshasa, long since impatient, rolled her eyes at Chiyang’s interrogation, then turned to Shi Jun with a sweet smile. "Officer Shi, do you remember what you promised me?"

"Ah?" Shi Jun had almost forgotten. Thinking to himself that, though Rakshasa was troublesome, she was at least straightforward, unlike the ever-cautious Chiyang, he replied with a smile, "If you want to go to the human world, that’s fine—as long as your foster father agrees, you can come with us."

"What? You know he’ll never agree!" Rakshasa pouted, grumbling softly, but her eyes soon brightened. "Actually, I don’t have to go back with you. Even if you agreed, someone might go tattling to my foster father!" She shot Chiyang a pointed look.

Chiyang, however, showed no reaction, simply frowning and lost in thought, as if she hadn’t heard a word.

"Then what do you want me to promise?" Shi Jun feared she’d make some outlandish demand.

"Well…" Rakshasa hesitated, then said, "When you come next time, bring me seventeen or eighteen different kinds of pets from the human world! And the Underworld Serpent you owe me doesn’t count!"

So easy? Shi Jun felt a weight lift from his heart and breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

Earlier, when Hu Hai, Modo, and Rakshasa had been bragging about their realms’ pets, Hu Hai had spun wild tales about cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, turtles, lizards, and miniature pigs—every common city pet imaginable. Back when Rakshasa had lived in the human world, she’d only known cats, dogs, and rabbits. Who would have thought that, over the years, the variety of pets would have multiplied so? Envious, and knowing she’d likely never visit the human world herself, she figured she might as well settle for raising a few exotic pets.

Shi Jun thought, as long as you don’t insist on coming to the human world and causing trouble, even more than seventeen or eighteen pets wouldn’t be a problem. He agreed at once.

* * *

"Shi Jun, you should return," Chiyang said once his exchange with Rakshasa was over. "Your companion is still a mortal, and staying in the Underworld too long, absorbing all this yin energy, is bad for his health. Besides, there’s been chaos in the human world—you must go back and deal with it immediately."

"Chaos in the human world?" Hu Hai’s ears perked up at once, and he hurried over. "What happened? Have the ghosts revolted?"

"It’s all because of the trouble you’ve caused!" Chiyang shook her head at Shi Jun’s questioning look. "Did you know that the Underworld Token was originally the Emperor’s talisman? It not only opens the gateway to the Underworld, but also contains many powerful spirits the Emperor subdued in the past. I never told you how to use the Token, partly because I feared your cultivation wasn’t sufficient to control those spirits. But you somehow managed to activate the Token and come to the Underworld. Worse, in the process, you released those spirits from the Token into the human world. These beings are powerful and unruly—there’s no telling what havoc they’ll wreak!"

Shi Jun was stunned to learn he had caused such a disaster without realizing it, his scalp prickling with anxiety. "Are those spirits more dangerous than the lost souls you wanted me to capture…?"

He hadn’t finished when Little Mischief broke in, "Sir, it’s not the same! The ones you released were all fugitives from the Underworld, not just ordinary wandering souls. After the Emperor subdued them, their souls were imprisoned within the Token’s barrier. Used properly, you could have summoned them to help hunt down lost souls in the human world. But now you’ve accidentally freed them, and with their abilities and temperaments, it’s impossible that trouble won’t follow!"

Hu Hai smacked his forehead in frustration. "It’s all my fault! If only I hadn’t…"

"It’s not your fault," Shi Jun interrupted quickly, then turned to Chiyang. "I had no idea this would happen. In that case, I’ll return at once and do everything I can to stop those spirits from causing harm."

"Yes, count me in too—we’ll handle it together!" Hu Hai added hastily.

Chiyang could only offer a wry smile and said softly, "It seems you still don’t understand the situation… But never mind. This time, you really are on your own. Little Mischief and I have been ordered by the Emperor to go to the Demon Realm immediately, so we can’t return with you to the human world."

"What? You’re traveling for work?"

Shi Jun’s offhand remark actually made the worried Chiyang laugh.

"Yes, you could call it that. There’s been unrest in the Demon Realm, and we’re to investigate on the Emperor’s orders. Once you’re back, don’t act rashly. Be careful, and if you meet a powerful spirit, don’t try to confront them head-on—if you can stall, then stall. Above all, keep yourself safe. I’ll try to finish up quickly and join you in the human world as soon as I can." She put on a stern face, but concern and worry still crept into her expression, warming Shi Jun’s heart.

Little Mischief nodded repeatedly, grumbling, "Sir, the Demon Realm is a mess—I really don’t want to go. I’d much rather go with you—so much more fun in the human world!"

Shi Jun had thought Chiyang and Little Mischief would return with them, but now realized he would have to face and resolve these troubles alone. Yet he felt no fear—one must bear the consequences of one’s actions. Though his cultivation was still shallow, he couldn’t hide under another’s wing forever. He decided to treat this as a trial in his life. With a smile, he said, "No matter—we’ll each go our own way, then."

Chiyang glanced at Shi Jun, a fleeting look of relief shining in her previously troubled eyes. Turning to Modo, she said, "Come here, I want a word with you." With that, she soared a hundred meters away.

Modo hesitated, then followed her.

Seeing Chiyang and Modo deep in conversation, Shi Jun fell silent. All beings are bound by fate; not only himself, but Chiyang, Little Mischief, and Modo as well—who truly wishes to dance forever to another’s tune? In this world, so many live with words and actions not their own. Chiyang’s private talk with Modo was surely about such things. Yet, however one struggles, only through solitary effort can one break free from destiny. In each person’s eyes, their path is the path of justice.

* * *

Pulling Modo aside, Chiyang began, "Shi Jun and his companion will be returning to the human world soon—what do you plan to do?"

Modo raised an eyebrow in surprise, answering without hesitation, "Of course I’ll keep searching for my Underworld River Ice Crystal."

Chiyang shook her head, her expression serious. "You’re too naive. Do you really think the Ice Crystal will be so easy to obtain? And do you believe the Underworld is a place you can come and go as you please? Frankly, with your current level of cultivation, and after making yourself so conspicuous here, crossing the tribulation safely is all but impossible."

Modo hadn’t expected Chiyang to pull him aside just for this. He laughed, "It can’t be that bad. Everyone’s been polite enough so far!"

Chiyang smiled faintly. "Naive indeed. Don’t you see? Those officials only deferred to you because you were with Officer Shi. Once he’s gone, who will respect you? Apprehending an intruder from the Demon Realm is a chance for them to win merit. I’m only warning you because you’re Shi Jun’s friend—otherwise, in my position, I ought to arrest and expel you myself."