Master, This Poor Disciple Died Again Today

Chapter 500: The Village of the Dead

Following after the reaper, Hui looked around. The Underworld stretched all around them, an enormous dark cave filled with souls. Some wandered aimlessly through the air or ran along the ground, as if searching for something. A few drifted, unable to move themselves. One or two flickered, fluttering at the edges as if broken.

Elder Sister, what are these? Hui asked. This doesnt seem to be punishment or Nirvana, so what are these souls doing?

These are souls outside the cycle of reincarnation. Some of them are disparate souls, and lack the capacity of reincarnation until the rest of their pieces materialize or until they fade away. Others refused Meng Pos soup, or refused to reincarnate. Some simply havent found their way. She gazed over the field, then shrugged. Theres more like this on the other side of the Sanzu. Zhu Diyu forcibly moved these ones to this side a hundred years ago, hoping it might progress them toward reincarnation and prevent them from accidentally returning to the world as ghosts, but it doesnt seem to have accomplished much.

Ah, Hui said, nodding. How pitiful.

The reaper looked at him from the corner of her eyes. Dont pity them too much. Youre in the same state, arent you?

Thats true, Hui said, nodding. And not only that, but I have to work, too! Come to think of it, Im the pitiful one here. He snorted at himself and shook his head. No, no. I still have my wits, and I seem to be in better shape than these souls. I wont be envious of them.

He looked at the reaper. Are we going to the surface?

She rolled her eyes. Not this quickly. We need to get your sword, first.

Er, Im not good with swords Hui said, biting his lip.

You can pick a different kind of weapon, if you prefer, she said.

Im not good with weapons Hui said.

The reaper stared at him. Are you a cultivator?

Yes!

Then how are you not good with weapons? she asked.

Hui licked his lips. Im Im a magical techniques-using cultivator! Talismans, not swords!

The reaper sighed. Well find you something. That Zhu Diyu, giving me such a troublesome newbie..."

"Elder Sister, youve watched me for this long and you dont know that I cant use swords well? Hui asked playfully.

Youve encountered me this many times and dont know my name? the reaper returned, arching a brow.

Ive asked! Hui said, putting his hands up.

In any case, I was busy with real work. I didnt have time to sit around and watch you all the time, the reaper said.

Ah, thats right. What, precisely, do reapers do? Hui asked, putting a finger on the side of his face.

Reap, the reaper said flatly.

Hui stared at her.

The reaper grinned. Most souls automatically enter the cycle of reincarnation, and need no assistance. Our job is to attend to the souls that dont come willingly. The ones that fight back, or have an overpowerful attraction to life. We cant catch them all, which is why so many death cultivators, ghouls, and ghosts roam the lands, but we try to stop the worst of them. The ones that could change the order of the world, upset karma, or fundamentally alter the cycle of reincarnation.

Powerful souls, then? Hui asked.

You counted, the reaper said, leveling him with a stare.

Ah, so not powerful souls, necessarily, Hui said, nodding.

Significant souls, the reaper stressed. Zhu Diyu can foresee the paths karma might take. If the soul might alter karma from its expected path then were sent to reap it.

Oh. Eh, but then Elder Sister let me go a great many times. Is that not

The reaper waved her hand. Zhu Diyu took an interest in you. I was set to monitor you for his own interest.

Hui frowned. So Elder Sister was a stalker by proxy?

She blinked at him. After a beat, she laughed aloud. Youre incredibly bold for a coward!

Ah, well, Ive been saved by my tongue before, Hui admitted. He glanced at the ground and kicked at a bit of dust. Er, but I should be more careful. I have a bit of a heart-demon.

That isnt a heart-demon. Its confidence, the reaper returned flatly.

Dangerous stuff, Hui said.

Ahead, a complex of buildings stood, constructed from the same stone that stretched in all directions to the point that they nearly blended into the caves distant walls. Each building had a sloped roof and boxy walls, with no decorations anywhere in sight. Ghostly lanterns burned in their hollow windows, flickering away. The entire manor had a spartan demeanor. Nothing extra. Nothing added. Simple buildings in a simple arrangement.

Hui frowned. Even the poorest sect would have a nicer manor than this. Is this all that the Underworld has to offer?

No, no. Im sure Zhu Diyu stays somewhere else. This must be the workers accommodations. Hui shook his head, but then paused. Masters peak only had a hut. I cant really look down on this. Its actually a pretty nice building, all in all.

Ghosts flickered around the manor, rushing here and there. Unlike the ghosts drifting in the field, however, these ghosts moved with purpose. Some carried linens or tea, and all wore the same simple uniform.

Hui glanced at the reaper. These ghosts theyre servants?

The reaper nodded. Ghosts remain because they have strong desires, but not all ghosts can act on those desires or necessarily remember what they want. Those who have not satisfied their desires and do not wish to become evil ghosts in the mortal realm can come here and act as servants until they give up on their desires and move on to the next life.

Hui blinked. Eh, is that you and me?

She snorted lightly. You live up to your name, sometimes. Yes. Were in the same situation. Were merely fortunate enough that Lord Zhu Diyu has seen fit to give us more privileged roles.

Everything in the Underworld moves at Zhu Diyus whims. The only thing that stands between me and those servants is his favor. Hui frowned. Its a feudal society, but it doesnt mean I like it. Being pressured like this I spent my entire first life under someones thumb like this. No even if I have a privileged role, I cant stay here forever. Not that I want to be a reaper. I dont. Nor do I want to be dead. Very much the opposite! But it certainly kills any interest I might have had in remaining here.

This is a reminder to not lose sight of my goals. I want to escape this place and return to the mortal realm as soon as possible. I cant forget that.

He nodded to himself. Thank you for reminding me of that, Elder Sister.

She gestured him on. As she walked, she pointed to one of the smaller buildings, one split neatly in two. Our quarters are here. Im on the left, youre on the right. You wont spend much time here, but this is where you can rest if you need to.

Turning, she pointed at a much larger apartment-like building, standing three or four stories tall. This is where the clerks live.

The clerks? Hui asked.

The ones who investigate souls and report on their lives, the reaper explained.

Hui looked up at the imposingly large building. That sounds awful.

The reaper snorted. I wouldnt want that life. Though I believe the clerks share that opinion about our job.

Are they cultivators, too? Hui asked, curious.

Some were. Some are officials from various imperial courts, or merely commoners with some skill with letters. As long as the clerks are willing to work diligently, Zhu Diyu doesnt discriminate, she said. She gazed up at the building, watching the ghost flames dance in the lanterns. Most people dont keep their cultivation after they die. Even I had to build back up after death. You are a bit unique.

Hui looked at her profile. Im a dead soul who was implanted in a living body, right? This whole time, Ive been neither alive nor dead. But because I cultivated my soul alongside my body, I can retain my cultivation here.

Perhaps its more correct to say you were both alive and dead, the reaper refuted him. But yes.

Hui touched his chest. Earlier, I sensed my soul inside myself. Im not a soul, in other words. Am I in a body? Whats happening?

It took you a while to ask. We reapers can interfere with the mortal world, in however limited a capacity. Thus, we require bodies of a sort, or else, as souls wandering the mortal world, we would quickly become ghosts. She touched her chest. These bodies are constructs of Zhu Diyus making. Stone for flesh. Sanzu River water for blood. The cold wind of the Underworld for breath.

Our bodies are tied to the Underworld, then. Hui patted his chest self-consciously. If I want to escape, Im gonna need a new body. Again.

I wonder if I can use the lotus clone technique in this form? Ah! Not to make new clones. I need to let my soul rest and heal. But to create a new single body for myself. Its possible, right? Well, maybe once I get to the mortal world

The reaper sighed. Dont get ahead of yourself.

Eh? What does Elder Sister mean? Hui asked innocently.

She shook her head at him and gestured him on. The armory is this way.

Ah, Elder Sister. When I became a drowned ghost earlier, does the body not prevent that? Hui asked.

The reaper shook her head. In the first place, these bodies have no specific appearance. They only appear the way you conceive of yourself looking. If you decide that youre a drowned ghost, then the body will adapt

Adapt? Hui looked at the reaper, then imagined himself as the reaper.

The reaper stared at herself. She cocked an eyebrow.

Hui grinned back, quickly thinking about his ordinary appearance. The body reverted to his usual look. Elder Sister, these bodies are incredibly flexible. I like them, I like them a lot!

The reaper sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose. Its dangerous to do that. You might forget yourself in the disguise. You should only use that technique in emergencies.

Eh, Elder Sister, you know me. Id probably feel uncomfortable if I wasnt able to quickly disguise myself, Hui said, scratching his cheek.

You still have your techniques. Why not use that snakeskin technique of yours? she suggested.

Ah, I could, but Hui hesitated. My cultivation is still I need some time to meditate and recover.

Use that first, the reaper ordered. She turned away, flicking her hair.

Hui hurried after her. Of course, of course!