Chapter 499: Meeting the Lord of the Underworld
Chapter 499: Meeting the Lord of the Underworld
The reaper set off, then paused and glanced back. Stick close. I have the authority to fly across the Sanzu, but you dont. If you get too far from me, youll fall into its waters, and Ill have to fish you out again. Dont cause any more extra work for me!
Hui nodded. Many apologies for all the overtime small cultivator might have caused for Elder Sister.
She snorted. As if thats enough to compensate for the years Ive had to keep an eye on you. Youd better work hard and pick up your half of the slack quick around here!
Years? Hui asked, surprised. I really lost track of time in there. I have no idea how long I was under. Itit could be centuries! Its a cultivation world, after all. Everyone I know and love could already be long since dead
Ten long years, the reaper emphasized, letting the exhaustion come out in her voice.
Oh, Hui said. Thats not so bad. Even if my children failed in cultivation, they should still be alive
Wait, my kids. Its been ten years! I totally abandoned them. Fuck! I didnt want to do that! I wanted to be there and help raise them dammit! I messed up! I messed up bad!
The reaper frowned at him. What is it now?
Nothing. Im just reflecting on the joy of childrearing, Hui sighed melodramatically.
The reaper scoffed. Joy? I saved you from ten years of dealing with shit. Literally.
Surely it isnt all bad, Hui said wistfully.
Ha, well. Thats a mans perspective, isnt it, the reaper grumbled bitterly.
Hui looked at her. Elder Sister did you have a bad experience with children?
She snorted. Hmph.
She doesnt want to talk about it? It is a very personal question, after all. Hui pressed his lips together, regret welling up in him. Whether childrearing is a good or bad experience, I meant to be there. Alongside Bai Xue, and and if I got lucky, Li Xiang, too. I didnt want to abandon my kids the way my dad abandoned me.
But here I am. Abandoning them, like a total shitball. Man. I really fucked up this time, huh? Hui shook his head, disappointed in himself.
The reaper looked at him. What? You arent really broken up about that, are you?
Hui took a deep breath and sighed. I I dont want anyone to experience the same things I did. My father wasnt really present. And when he was, he Hui shook his head. I wanted to be there. Be a positive influence. But instead, Im
Youre dead, the reaper said flatly.
I know, but
You died. Youre only getting this second chance because Zhu Diyu has taken a liking to you. So stop your complaining and suck it up. After all, if not for Zhu Diyu, you wouldnt even have the ability to regret that you cant be there for those children of yours.
But still Hui shook his head. Leaving a burden on the others around me I didnt mean to do that. I wasnt thinking straight at the time. Or rather, I thought there wasnt much hope for me on this side. I knew Zhu Diyu had his eye on me, but then, so does Heaven. I might have been falling directly into a trap, and never open my eyes again.
I knew there was a possibility I might not fully die, a chance I was banking on, but even so, it was a slim chance. A chance I couldnt completely rely on. Better to do the things Ive always wanted to do once and for all than regret that I couldnt do them before I died, I thought. Just in case it went wrong, and I didnt wake up.
But now that Im on the other side and still myself, still awake and alive, I
The reaper rolled her eyes. If youre lucky, you might be able to watch over them from this side. There, are you happy now?
Hui nodded, slowly. Its better than nothing, he muttered.
A second later, he perked up. Wait. Children?
Huh? the reaper asked, frowning at him.
Elder Sister said children of yours. Plural. Does that mean, then, that means, that Li Xiang and I, too Hui said excitedly.
The reaper smacked him on the head. Are you excited you have children or depressed about it? Make up your mind.
Sorry, sorry, Hui said, ducking away from her.
They reached the other side of the river. The reaper straightened her robes. Alright. Stand up straight and look sharp. Were going in front of the big boss right now, after all.
The big boss that is, Lord Yama? Hui asked.
It hasnt been anyone named Yama for a long time. The role of head of the Underworld is one that can be occupied by any sufficiently powerful immortal, the reaper explained flatly. Ah, though I dont know that a single Lord of the Underworld has ever transferred power while still alive.
A bloody succession, then. Hui glanced at the current Lord of the Underworld. Zhu Diyu sat atop his throne, long, blood-red hair draped over his shoulder. The throne was carved from pitch black obsidian, and Zhu Diyu wore all black, making the swathe of red all the more striking.
Catching him eyeing Zhu Diyus hair, the reaper leaned in and whispered, They say it turned red from all the blood of the enemies that splattered onto it in battle.
Hui gulped. Ill need to make it clear that small cultivator has no interest in the throne, none at all! Zhu Diyu, you can remain as Lord of the Underworld for all eternity, as far as I care!
Though I guess, probably, I pose no threat to him as I am now. My cultivation has fallen all the way back down to fifth realm well, in the first place, surging to seventh realm was only something I could do temporarily, in my previous state. As I am now He looked at his palms. I could once I heal, and gather enough qi, probably could enter seventh realm again!
After all, my dao
Hui paused. My dao is faking death, but Im already dead. How am I supposed to pursue my dao while Im dead?
No, wait. Im pretty sure my dao went beyond faking death, but He scratched his head. I cant remember? But I feel like It was something like
The reaper knocked him on the side of the head gently. Dont try to reach enlightenment right now, you idiot. Youll undo all that healing we put you through.
Ah, sorry, Hui said, bowing shortly.
Give it some time to heal, she admonished him, shaking her head.
Aww, Reaper-Sis does care! Hui thought, smiling to himself.
The reapers eyes glittered. She clenched her fist. I cant have my brand-new worker bee taking sick days right off the bat. Youre taking on some of my workload, at long last!
Hui shied away. I take it back. Er, can I go home? I think I have a headache
They approached Zhu Diyu. As they drew closer, he sat up and smiled slightly at them. Dismissing the waiting souls with a wave, he nodded. Youve awakened?
Hui bowed low. Thanks to your beneficence.
Zhu Diyu smiled mysteriously. Wonderful. Ive had my eye on you for a time. Do you have any idea how much trouble youve caused us?
Hui lowered himself into a kowtow. Please forgive this small one for daring to fake his death so many times! I didnt mean to distract Elder Sister Reaper so much
Zhu Diyu waved his hand. Not that.
Falling silent, Hui furrowed his brows at the floor. Eh? What does he mean, then?
A soul outside of this worlds karma crept in and caused no end of chaos to everything. We, who manage the cycle of reincarnation and the balance of mortal karma, did you think we would not notice your disturbance? To undo the things you had done Zhu Diyu trailed off.
Oh shit! They know Im from another world, too? Hui trembled. Master!
Accelerating your Masters ascension accelerated the downfall of Starbound Sect, which in turn accelerates the deterioration of All-Heavens and the eventual crumbling of the Southern Sect alliance. Because your Master ascended so early, he failed to meet his fated disciple in the lower realms. Problems, problems, problems! Zhu Diyu grumbled.
Failed to meet? Hui cleared his throat timidly. Er, if small cultivator might be bold enough to ask was his fated disciple, perhaps
Thats correct. Ying Lin, Zhu Diyu said. He sighed. Luckily, karma has a way of correcting itself. Your meeting with her was the assertion of forces outside even our control, a reconnection of the broken threads of fate.
Hui let out a sigh. Thank goodness! Ah, that explains so much, too. Why Master was always disappointed in my growth, and why Ying Lin grew so fast! The two were fated for each other.
But wait, then Hui cleared his throat again.
Go on, Zhu Diyu said.
Was was Starbound Sect meant to fall when Ying Lin ascended, instead of Master? he asked.
Zhu Diyu waved his hand. These things we cannot know. Karma is not something that one can see clearly ahead of time. It is the actions sown and reaped. Although some things may be preordained, or perhaps, likely to happen, once one has stirred the great workings of karma and shifted their order, the original cloudy chain stretching into the future becomes so clouded that it cannot be read. I am not one who worries overmuch on the fate of the world, and so, I cannot remember the precise timing of these things, as karma was originally meant to proceed.
So then Then, is it fine that I mucked with the order of things, and brought back Starbound Sect? Hui wondered.
What you mean to ask is meaningless. Once the die has been cast, it cannot be withdrawn. In the air, if your reflexes are fast enough and your eyes quick enough, you might predict where it lands and what face it shows, but if a stray wind blows or it strikes a hair you could not see, then it might show a different face anyways. That I saw the way the die would land is irrelevant, ultimately, when you have snatched the die from the air and rerolled it entirely.
Hui nodded slowly. I think I understand? Rather than a rigid and predetermined thing, karma is more like a chain of occurrences. I wasnt part of that chain, so naturally, adding me altered it, but it is the nature of the chain that until one experiences it, anything might happen. Thus, although I altered the original order of karma, it was never certain to begin with, and so my alteration can be overlooked or something?
In any case, you are dead, Zhu Diyu declared.
Yes, Hui agreed.
But I have taken an interest in you, and we happen to be down a reaper. Mamian will show you the ropes, and soon, you will be able to take on the role of reaper yourself, Zhu Diyu intoned, leaning back. There was a finality to his words that suggested he did not wish to be questioned or countered.
Hui gulped. He licked his lips. Er, but, I is there a way this small cultivator can return to life?
Zhu Diyu shrugged. Would I tell you if I knew?
It might motivate me, Hui said, shrugging back.
Zhu Diyu looked at him, his face suddenly cold and expressionless.
Ah! Excuse me. I didnt mean to imply that Senior needed to exert himself to motivate this small cultivator. No, no. One as buglike as myself would never presume that someone as lofty as Senior would need to act directly to receive my full effort and whole-hearted labor! Hui cried, bowing even deeper until his forehead pressed against the floor.
Alright, thats enough, the reaper said. She yanked him up by the collar and set him on his feet. Lets get started. Theres plenty of souls that need to be reaped today, and Im already behind.
Yes, yes. Lets do that, Hui agreed, not daring to look at Zhu Diyu. I didnt mean to immediately piss off the Lord of the Underworld on my first day! Whoops.
Ah, but on the other hand he didnt reply. Doesnt that indicate that theres still hope for me? A way to return to life?
Hui glanced down at his stomach. He smiled slightly. It seems like all my preparations werent in vain. This small cultivator isnt going to stay dead for long! Li Xiang, Bai Xue, Xingxue, Zhubi everyone, wait for me! Im coming back!
On his throne, Zhu Diyu chuckled lightly. He cast a silent look down at the two cultivators and shook his head.
Hui trembled. Er, he isnt reading my thoughts, is he? Senior, pleaseplease ignore those previous thoughts! A slip of the mind, thats all. Im thinking about labor, labor! Nothing but long, hard hours and work, work, work on this small cultivators mind! Yes, Im nothing but a tiny cog in the Underworld machine!
The reaper turned and walked away. Hui scurried after her, excited to be out of Zhu Diyus gaze.
As the two figures in white walked off, Zhu Diyu watched them go. He snorted quietly to himself.
A clerk approached him from the side. Sir, weve finished preparing the documents for the next batch of souls. She held up a massive stack of papers.
Zhu Diyu sighed heavily, looking the stack up and down. Somewhat reluctantly, he took them and thumped them on his desk. Cant someone else take this on?
The clerk frowned at him. Sir, no one would dare override the word of the Lord of the Underworld. There isnt a single clerk who aspires to your position.
You should be more proactive, Zhu Diyu replied, leafing through the papers absentmindedly. He waved his hand, and the massive stack whirled together into an equally massive scroll.
More proactive in usurping the throne? the clerk asked, confused.
Zhu Diyu snorted. He waved his hand.
The clerk bowed. Please forgive the slip of my tongue! She turned and marched off, shoulders squared, to rejoin the cadre of clerks in the back of the office.
Zhu Diyu looked at the scroll again, then lifted his head and looked at the endless march of souls. He sighed deeply. Next.