Chapter 4

Xie Bi An wakes up between 5-7am daily. He meditated, ate, read, practiced swordplay, and took care of flowers. The mornings passed like this.

But after he woke up this morning, he went next door to check whether if Fan Wu She ate his meal last night.

Seeing that the bamboo basket had disappeared from outside the door, Xie Bi An was in a good mood. After eating the food that he made, his little junior brother would definitely get closer to him.

The deceased did not need to eat anything, so in this huge Underworld, only he and his master needed to eat. Although the two of them could refrain from eating, they didn't scrimp and save on every meal because they loved to eat. Even Bo Zhu wanted to eat with them. However, as Bo Zhu's cooking was too unappetizing, Xie Bi An had to do all the cooking himself.

Xie Bi An went to the kitchen to prepare porridge and side dishes, imagining the three of them sitting around a table and sharing breakfast. The elders were kind to the juniors, the juniors were filial to the elders, and the brothers were showing love and respect for each other. How warm. If his master found himself a wife, then it would really be like a family.

The meal had been prepared. Looking at the time, Zhong Kui would be waking up soon. He let Bo Zhu carry out the dishes and went to call Fan Wu She.

As Xie Bi An approached Hantanxiang, the sounds of air being cut from across the wall due to a sword dance could be heard. Judging by the sound alone, he could roughly estimate the speed and power of the sword dance. It was definitely impressive. 

Xie Bi An stepped into the courtyard. Indeed, it was Fan Wu She there practicing with a sword, but he only had time to see a clean and neat ending.

Fan Wu She's breath moved slightly. His nose flared, and a thin layer of sweat dotted his forehead like pearly beads under the morning sunray, which made his face look even more radiant. He looked at Xie Bi An: "Senior brother."

"Why have you stopped practicing? I expected your swordplay to be good. Senior brother wants to see."

Xie Bi An folded his arms, leaned against the wall, and beamed with joy.

His black hair was half tied, with a light green jaded Ruyi crown*on top of his head. He was dressed in snowy white clothes. His wrists, girdle, and collar were all silver-patterned with double-petaled orchids. That flower-blooming smile was faintly scented, standing under the scorching morning sun.

Fan Wu She's Adam's apple bulged slightly and rolled under his tender skin. He immediately shifted his gaze away from Xie Bi An, put his sword away, turned his head and walked back into his house.

"Who taught you how to wield the sword? Did you learn from a teacher previously?"

"A casual cultivator in Mount Qingcheng. He took me in when I was young. He went to travel around the world afterwards."

"Have you formed a core?"

"It's formed."

The first time he saw Fan Wu She, he had already felt that this young man's presence was extraordinary. Now it seemed like he is really talented. Those who could form a core at this age were outstanding people, plus Fan Wu She's teacher was a casual, nameless cultivator. From now on, with Zhong Kui’s guidance and the spiritual nourishment of Mount Luofeng, his future self should not be underestimated.

Xie Bi An followed: "I came to tell you to join us for breakfast."

"Okay." Fan Wu She picked up a cotton handkerchief and wiped off his sweat.

Xie Bi An took a glance inside the room and saw the bamboo basket on the table: "Did you eat last night? Was the food cold?"

"No."

"No means..."

"I ate it. It wasn’t cold."

Xie Bi An asked expectantly: "That's great. Was senior brother’s cooking delicious?"

Fan Wu She paused. His head hung down together with his hands, and said in a low voice: "Delicious."

Xie Bi An laughed and said in a clear and loud voice: "Whatever you like to eat or don't like to eat, later..."

"Are you this kind to everybody?" He lowered his eyelids and blocked the sinister gaze in his eye.

Knowing that the person in front of him was the same as the one in his previous life, with evil intentions hiding behind his gentleness, with thoughts as poisonous as snakes and scorpions beneath his kindness, yet he still...

Fan Wu She had also thought countless times about it, whether if this person was naturally like that, or if he was just blinded by greed. If those things did not happen, would his big brother be like this forever? Even if he pretended for a lifetime.

Xie Bi An broke into laughter: "Why would I? You are my junior brother."

Fan Wu She carried the bamboo basket: "Let's go."

Seeing Fan Wu She's face turning cold again, Xie Bi An shook his head and smiled faintly: "After eating, senior brother will bring you to Fengdu city to buy some new bedding and some daily supplies."

"No need."

"Why?"

"I'm used to sleeping with the quilt."

"But we still have to buy new ones. We need to have some spare ones to rotate them for washing. I’ll make some new clothes for you too. Feel free to tell me if you need anything. If you can't remember, you can write it down. I have to go shopping in Fengdu from time to time."

"Fengdu...How's the situation there?"

"What situation?"

"Didn't Zong Zi Xiao destroy the barrier at Fengdu?"

Xie Bi An was surprised, staring at Fan Wu She with wide eyes.

Fan Wu She frowned: "What?"

"You...you..." He just said the Supreme Demon's name so casually?

Although that Supreme Demon's name was considered as "unspeakable" by the world, Xie Bi An did not shy away saying it, because Zhong Kui care about such matters and often said that if he was born a few decades earlier, Zong Zi Xiao would have no chance to do evil deeds, and he believed his master. He was surprised that Fan Wu She was a newborn calf who is not afraid of tigers* , and even dared to call the Supreme Demon's name so overtly. Even the people in the Immortal Alliance did not dare to discuss it, and it’s an even bigger taboo in the Underworld.

Fan Wu She snorted coldly and disapprovingly: "He's already dead, why can't the name be mentioned?"

Xie Bi An's admiration of his junior brother increased. "You know, master said the same thing, word for word." Owning wine money was probably not the real reason for accepting him as a disciple. He has good roots and bones, and his temperament is also quite similar to master's, so master probably took fancy to him and decided to take him in.

"I heard that master used the Eastern Emperor Bell to repair the Fengdu barrier."

"Yes, without the Eastern Emperor Bell, the emperor would not have been able to maintain the barrier." Xie Bi An said, “Fengdu city is popular and bustling with prosperity now. People are above and ghosts are below. All of them depended on the Eastern Emperor Bell to live in harmony."

"That thing is really powerful." Fan Wu She seemed deep in thought.

"Yeah, the Eastern Emperor Bell is one of the first four ancient magic weapons. The owner can exercise magical powers and be domineering. It was because Zong Zi Xiao possessed 2 of the 4 ancient magic weapons that he dared to trample on the human and ghost realms." Xie Bi An said proudly, "Luckily the Eastern Emperor Bell is in master’s hands. Master is not tempted by greed and fame and would rather use that magic weapon to strengthen the barrier and protect the peace between the human and ghost realms."

Fan Wu She's eyes flashed with cold light: "If the Eastern Emperor Bell was there back then, the outcome of the battle at Mount Luofeng might have been uncertain."

"Yeah, master always says that if he was present back then, it would be impossible for the Supreme Demon to act willfully."

During the conversation, they have arrived at Zhuyeqing Hall. Zhong Kui was sitting at the table waiting for them.

The two greeted together: "Good morning, master."

Zhong Kui looked at the handsome duo dressed in black and white and nodded in satisfaction: "Sit down. Bo Zhu, you sit too."

"Do you feel unwell after spending the night in the Underworld?" Zhong Kui asked.

"No." Fan Wu She thought for a while, "The flow of spiritual power is not that smooth, but it's not a big problem."

"Mm, since you have a physical body, it's bound to be harmed by the invasion of Yin energy. Weak people cannot tolerate it. You should be able to get used to it after some time."

"Yes."

"There is a boundary in Heaven Master Palace, which has blocked a lot of Yin energy as well as other unnecessary troubles. You can't leave on your own now. When your senior brother thinks you can move about in the Underworld, then you can go out."

“Yes.”

"Master, I will take good care of Wu She. I plan to bring him to Fengdu to buy some stuff today."

"Go ahead."

Bo Zhu said excitedly: "White Master, are you going to Fengdu again?"

"Yeah, what do you want me to get for you this time?" Living beings would be affected by Yin energy, and the deceased would be affected by Yang energy. Ghosts like Bo Zhu who had shallow cultivation levels are unable to do activities during the daytime and be in places full of people and Yang energy. So, every time he went out, he would buy some stuff for Bo Zhu.

"Anything is fine." Bo Zhu laughed, "I will like whatever White Master brings back."

Xie Bi An smiled: "By the way, did you find out what I asked you to check yesterday?"

"Oh, I just told Heaven Master."

Zhong Kui said: "That Meng Ke Fei did not do any evil during his lifetime, so he didn't go to the Yanluo Hall."

Xie Bi An frowned, knowing that this matter would be difficult to handle.

When the newly deceased arrived in the Underworld, they must be brought to the Mirror of Sins first. The Mirror of Sins could reflect the degree of good and evil of a person. If the person had done good deeds in his life and cultivated great virtues, in the best case scenario he could ascend. If good deeds outweighed the evil deeds, he could directly enter the Human Path in the cycle of reincarnation. If good and evil deeds were equal, which is difficult to judge, or for people who have committed crimes, they would be randomly sent to one of the ten Yanluo Halls. Whether if the good offsets the evil or if they were to be punished in hell, the ten Yanluo Halls will make that decision. 

Most people in the world did more good deeds than evil deeds. They didn't need to go through Yanluo Hall. This also meant that no one would ask who murdered Meng Ke Fei. 

"Then what should we do? Can we invite King Qinguang to interrogate him?"

Zhong Kui shook his head: "After passing through the Mirror of Sins, he doesn't need to be interrogated in the Yanluo Hall. Yanluo only judges good and evil after one's death. No matter what karma he had when he was alive, it cannot be revealed to the human realm. These are the rules. If he went to Yanluo Hall, I could still shamelessly go there and ask secretly, but he didn't even go to the Yanluo Hall. Who knows, right now he might have already been reincarnated."

Xie Bi An sighed: "Then we can only hope that Wuliang Sect quickly finds the murderer. Whoever had the ability to dig out Meng Ke Fei's golden core, must be a high-level demonic cultivator. He probably already has a reputation in Jianghu*. It's really worrying."

"I'm even more concerned about why that demonic cultivator targeted him." Zhong Kui said thoughtfully, "Meng Ke Fei was Li Bu Yu's martial nephew. With such status, the demonic cultivator was bound to be hunted and killed down to the last cell by the Wuliang Sect. He might not even be alive to eat the golden core that he dug out. Moreover, Meng Ke Fei was murdered within Wuliang Sect's territory. Why did he want to take such a huge risk? It was like delivering a written challenge to Wuliang Sect."

"Yeah, who would be so daring? How did he ensure that he could escape unscathed?"

The master and disciple both remained silent for a while. Zhong Kui said: "Next time I'll go to Yunding and walk around."

"Master, bring me along," Xie Bi An looked at Fan Wu She who was immersed in eating, "and can you bring junior brother along too?"

Fan Wu She raised his head and a grim smile appeared on the corner of his mouth: "Mount Shu’s Yunding."

"Yes, that is where countless cultivators go. Although I feel that Wuliang Sect is too old-fashioned, going there to expand your horizons is also a good experience."

After breakfast, Xie Bi An brought Fan Wu She away from the Underworld and proceed to Fengdu city. 

The human and ghost realms coexisted in the same place. They were only separated by a barrier, but this barrier completely isolated Yin and Yang, life and death, which allowed the two realms not to invade and harass each other. Each realm kept their own order.

The two passed through a long, dense, quiet, and secluded path. In front of them a large, black, and square monument appeared. Two words, "Yin" and "Yang" were written on it. The strokes were powerful and vigorous as if it was not a monument, but a mountain.

"This is the Yin Yang Monument. It is the Underworld's one and only entrance. Passing through this monument will be crossing the boundaries between Yin and Yang." Xie Bi An summoned his green-jaded stick, "I'm a living being, so going in and out of the Underworld depends on this item."

"What's that?"

"This is a soul-suppressing stick that the emperor bestowed to me. I gave it a name ---Wuqiongbi."

Wuqiongbi drew an emerald, reflective arc in the air. Golden light surrounded the Yin Yang Monument. Like a powerful God moving a mountain, there was a rumbling sound, and the monument retreated to the side.

A path that led to the human realm appeared.

 

----

*Jianghu [江湖]----is equivalent to society (in the modern world)

*Ruyi [如意冠]--- Ruyi, an S-shaped ornamental object, usually made of jade, as a symbol of good luck

*a newborn calf who is not afraid of tigers [初生牛犊不怕虎] --- means young or inexperienced people often have less fear

 

Editor's Thoughts:

Hi everyone! How's it going? Remember to wear your mask when you go out and stay safe~ 

If you enjoyed the chapter, leave a comment "Like!" 

 

Edited on 14 Mar. 21 (Emzie)

Edited on 22 Jun. 21 (Ari)

Edited on 19 Jul 21 (Limit) 

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