Chapter 97

Chapter 97

The headless ghost was genuinely terrified and immediately ended the call.

"Hahaha, why did it bolt? The headless ghost couldn’t take the heat, huh? It was so arrogant just now."

"Having some underworld connections sure helps. Even fierce ghosts are afraid."

"Well, it’s not like we don’t have ties down there, right? Our folks have always been watching over us from below."

"I told you, bad guys shouldn’t get too cocky, or they’ll get what’s coming to them. It’s a shame we haven’t recovered the heads of the deceased."

"Found it—it’s at this spot in the underworld," Lai Yin Chai showed the tablet to Wu Heng.

Wu Heng didn’t hesitate: "Let’s go now."

Wu Heng cut the live stream, yanked Shi Xuan outside, and Lai Yin Chai trailed behind, baffled.

"Wait, where are you two headed? The IP address is in the underworld, dude!"

Wu Heng shot Lai Yin Chai a look: "Is work stress messing with your hearing?"

Lai Yin Chai: ?

"No, dude, the address is in the underworld!"

Eugene panicked and yelled, "Xiao Heng!"

Wu Heng glanced back at Eugene, Zhou Yi, and the others, smiling reassuringly, "Don’t worry, I’ll be back by New Year."

Eugene quickly grabbed some fruit and pastries, shoving them into Wu Heng and Shi Xuan’s pockets. "Here, take more food for the journey to the underworld."

"You two better come back soon."

Xi Xi piped up in her little voice, "Godfather, I’ll protect everyone and wait for you to come back."

The little white snake chimed in, "Same here."

"Are you two seriously going down there? How are living people supposed to get to the underworld? Are you nuts?" Lai Yin Chai trailed them out of Chengde Medical Hall, stunned.

Wu Heng said, "The ancient well leads underground. Follow the water system down, and you’ll hit the underworld’s ghost gate."

The underworld has four ghost gates: east, south, west, and north. Descending from the southern Nuo village leads to the southern gate.

Lai Yin Chai felt something was off. Ghosts need a pass to enter the ghost gate, but living people don’t get one unless they’re living messengers.

Once living people’s yang energy hits the underworld, there’s no coming back. Even Wu Heng, a shaman, is still alive. He might protect himself, but he’s not getting through that ghost gate.

He can’t seriously cause a scene at the ghost gate over a headless ghost, can he? That’s ridiculous. Does that ghost even deserve it?

Lai Yin Chai figured maybe he should just go catch the headless ghost himself.

"Shi Xuan, I’ll take you back to the underworld," Wu Heng suddenly held Shi Xuan’s hand. He knew that without someone to guide him, even Shi Xuan wouldn’t know how to return to the underworld.

Before Lai Yin Chai could express his surprise, he saw Wu Heng pulling Shi Xuan and jumping down the well.

Lai Yin Chai exclaimed and quickly dived into the well to chase after them.

Wu Heng had visited the underworld once in ancient times—gloomy, desolate, teeming with ghosts, and utterly lifeless.

He was a shaman naturally resistant to ghosts and demons, and he naturally felt uneasy around them, so after that incident, Wu Heng never returned to the underworld. But now, the underworld before him had drastically changed. The Yellow Spring Road was muddy, yet ghosts and demons were patching up sections of the road and planting trees for greenery.

Under the overcast sky, Wu Heng gripped Shi Xuan's hand tightly and looked up into the distance.

At the end of the vast and endless Yellow Spring Road stood a towering, majestic ghost gate, the South Gate of the underworld.

At this moment, countless ghosts and demons were following the yin emissaries in groups towards the ghost gate.

Lai Yin Chai kept eyeing Shi Xuan. Wu Heng was one thing, but how could this living guy be completely unaffected?

'What you see now is our underworld's famous landmark—the South Gate! Ghosts and demons who need to check in, move it, you only have five minutes to stay.'

The yin emissary took out his work phone from his pocket to take photos for them, not forgetting to remind them, 'You don't have phones, but I charge for photos, five hundred ghost bucks per picture.'

Wu Heng was speechless; the inflation down here was really bad.

Lai Yin Chai explained from the side, 'The yin emissaries are making extra money, turning ghost and demon escorts into tour groups to milk more money from the new ghosts.'

Probably conning the new ghosts into thinking that joining a tour group would make it easier to enter the ghost gate and get VIP treatment.

Actually, escorting ghosts and demons is their own job; no need to join a group.

Wu Heng smirked, 'Then we'll go solo.'

Wu Heng and the others headed towards the ghost gate, while Lai Yin Chai pulled out his work ID from the paper lantern ahead of time, and the ghosts and demons behind them also took out their travel permits in advance.

When it was Wu Heng's turn, Lai Yin Chai passed through the ghost gate first, thinking whether he could use his position to bribe the ghost gate's guards to let Shi Xuan and Wu Heng in.

Shi Xuan then breezed through security and entered the ghost gate.

Lai Yin Chai asked, stunned, 'How'd you get in?'

Shi Xuan pointed at the ghost face scanner, 'It let me through.'

Lai Yin Chai was baffled, 'What? That scanner's for underworld big shots. Even yin emissaries like me have to flash our IDs, and he just waltzed through?'

'Your ghost face recognition didn't pass, and you don't have a travel permit, you're not allowed in.' The ghost guard at the door eyed Wu Heng up and down, feeling uneasy.

There was something off about this ghost that made them uneasy.

Wu Heng coolly pulled out a black stone seal from his pocket and placed it on the travel permit scanner, and the security gate automatically opened.

Wu Heng entered under the shocked gazes of the ghost guards, holding the stone seal in his hand, and smiled at Shi Xuan, saying, 'The feeling of pulling rank is pretty sweet.'

Lai Yin Chai suddenly leaned in, staring at Shi Xuan's lifeless eyes with a gleam, 'Brother Shi, how about you die right now? I'll follow you from now on, okay?'

Could it be that this guy used to work in the underworld and then reincarnated as a human? So the machine still remembers him?

He had even thought of making Shi Xuan his intern to share his performance, how could his vision have been so short-sighted?

Perhaps this Brother Shi might be one of his former superiors!

Shi Xuan looked at Lai Yin Chai and said, 'You can try harder.'

Lai Yin Chai was heartbroken, wasn't the subtext of this that he wasn't good enough?

Lai Yin Chai swallowed his pride, 'Let's go, let's bag that headless ghost and bump up our stats.'

Beyond the ghost gate, the atmosphere turned even more sinister, with only a bizarre, pale green crescent moon looming above, enveloped in yin energy.

Shi Xuan looked at his palm, where ghostly energy surged and coalesced, like a sprout finding its roots. He had found his origin.

They rushed to the location Lai Yin Chai had traced, where the headless ghost lounged on the muddy ground, legs crossed, napping, with seven or eight human heads scattered nearby.

This is the underworld. Surely the shaman, no matter how skilled, couldn’t follow them here, right?

As for that minor yin emissary, although he could catch it, yin emissaries are driven by profit. It’s easier to guide two more ghosts than to come here and capture it. Considering the effort, he likely wouldn’t bother to catch it.

After all, it was hiding in the damp, dense woods on the fringes of the underworld.

‘Didn’t I sign off?’ The headless ghost rested its arm on its head, looking up until it saw that handsome, pale face.

‘Haha, got you!’ Lai Yin Chai swung the soul hooks, skillfully lassoing the headless ghost.

The headless ghost, upon being caught, suddenly reacted, instinctively trying to snap the soul hooks around its neck. As a fierce ghost, it could easily snap the neck of this minor yin emissary.

Until it saw the man in black standing on the withered tree, the man standing next to the shaman, with a stern expression and an imposing aura.

Suddenly, it lost all will to resist, frozen in place like a stunned chicken.

‘Weren’t you all cocky when you were online? Daring to provoke Dr. Wu.’ Lai Yin Chai didn’t expect capturing this fierce ghost to be so easy, immediately playing the bully, kicking the headless ghost a few times and sneering.

The headless ghost was internally panicking. It never imagined that a few taunts online could lead to being hunted down in the underworld.

The issue is, the shaman’s a living person—how did he get in here? Is he some kind of living yin emissary?

The headless ghost sniffed but detected no trace of a living yin emissary on Wu Heng.

"I’m taking all these heads with me," Wu Heng frowned as he looked at the heads.

The headless ghost didn’t dare to refuse, hurriedly removing the head from its shoulder and offering it to Wu Heng, who hesitated.

Shi Xuan looked at Lai Yin Chai: "Go fetch a bag."

Lai Yin Chai didn’t hesitate: 'Yes!'

Wu Heng added: "Leave the triangle piece I gave you before you go."

Shi Xuan took off his coat, threw it onto the muddy ground under the tree, held Wu Heng's waist, and jumped down from the withered branches of the tree, landing precisely on the coat, not dirtying Wu Heng's cloth shoes.

The headless ghost didn’t dare to make a sound, fearing a beating.

"Weren’t you quite smug when you were provoking me online just now?" Wu Heng smiled as he looked at the headless ghost.

The headless ghost was completely subdued. Indeed, the saying that villains die from talking too much in novels is a universal truth.

Seeing the headless ghost silent, Wu Heng added: "Tell me, what position was he planning to arrange for you?"

The headless ghost was as docile as a quail. Shi Xuan said: "He has no mouth; he can’t speak for now."

After getting permission, the headless ghost hurriedly picked up a head from the ground and skillfully installed it on itself, saying: 'Judge... judge.'

Wu Heng was shocked: "You actually believed that promise?"

That promise was indeed big and round.

The headless ghost was somewhat displeased, avoiding Shi Xuan's gaze, and whispered in defense: 'I think it’s true. I feel quite capable of being a judge.'

Wu Heng took out the triangular block containing the fierce ghost and released it. The headless ghost, upon seeing the fierce ghost burnt to a crisp, was so frightened that its hair stood on end, suspecting that the shaman was making an example of him. Then it heard Wu Heng demand, 'Tell me, besides helping you dig out living people's eyeballs, what position did that person plan to arrange for you?'

The fierce ghost had empty eye sockets and no eyeballs, and its tongue had been burnt away by the fires of the underworld, so it couldn't speak. However, it raised its maimed hand and painstakingly scrawled two crooked characters in the mud—'Judge.'

The headless ghost: '…………'

Wu Heng chuckled, 'Look, they’re all selling you the same dream. Everyone wants to be a judge. Is being a judge as common as cabbage in the field? So easy to become?'

Seeing that the headless ghost was about to cry with someone else's head perched on its shoulders, Wu Heng said, 'I can help you find your real head later and personally stitch it back on for you.'

The headless ghost's eyes immediately gleamed, only to hear Wu Heng add, 'On New Year's Eve in the living world, guard the south gate of the Ghost Door and cooperate with a ghost named Yang Xing.'

The headless ghost asked, 'Can I become a judge by redeeming myself through meritorious service?'

Wu Heng's lip twitched slightly. Why was it so obsessed with becoming a judge?

Wu Heng glanced around at the heads and said coldly, 'It can lessen your punishment.'

Of course, it could only reduce the penalty a little. The penalty still had to be paid.

The headless ghost hesitated for a while. Compared to becoming a judge, the fierce ghost's fixation ultimately won out. All it wanted was a head, and if it could be its own, that would be even better.

Seeing the headless ghost nod, Wu Heng produced the stone seal and handed it to Shi Xuan, instructing him to imprint an unsigned mark on the headless ghost's arm. With this mark, the headless ghost wouldn’t dare to act out.

'The bag is here. I’ll pack up the heads. Why the hell are you wearing that again, you idiot?' Lai Yin Chai dragged a nylon bag over and was immediately furious when he saw the headless ghost wearing the head of Old He’s son again.

The headless ghost hurriedly explained that Dr. Wu had allowed it and reluctantly took the head off its shoulders, carefully tossing it into the bag.

'Should I take these two fierce ghosts to the underworld office now?' Lai Yin Chai put the sightless fierce ghost back into the container and stared at the headless ghost with a grin.

Wu Heng said, 'We’ve just struck a deal with it. It will atone for its crimes through meritorious service. Just take the one in your hand.'

They left the dense woods and made their way toward the heart of the underworld. Along the way, they saw countless ghosts and demons walking, some ordinary, some from the mortal world who had committed crimes and were shackled, a thronging mass.

Everyone was lining up at the ferry, waiting to cross the Styx.

Wu Heng paused at the ferry, slightly tilting his head to look at Shi Xuan beside him, and whispered, 'We’ll meet again on New Year's Eve.'

Shi Xuan stared at Wu Heng, then suddenly pulled him into his arms.

Wu Heng, enveloped in Shi Xuan's ghostly aura, couldn't help but think that his ghostly energy had grown much heavier.

He remembered when he first met Shi Xuan, he didn’t quite like the eerie aura around him. But now, seeing the ghostly energy swirling around him, he also felt a hint of loss.

Wu Heng couldn’t help but think that the ghostly energy emanating from Shi Xuan wrapped around him tightly, intertwining fiercely with the righteous energy brought by his shamanic power, completely accepting it.

Shi Xuan looked down at Wu Heng, his gaze lingering on every part of his face, hesitating as it passed over his lips.

Wu Heng felt Shi Xuan’s hand grip the back of his head, his fingertips still so cold, yet the gentle caress ignited a fire at his neck. His heartbeat quickened, but Shi Xuan’s lips only brushed against his hair.

Shi Xuan held Wu Heng tightly, 'Alright, we’ll celebrate the New Year together.'

He didn’t like the New Year because, in the past, when his father wasn’t so strict, he would let Wu Su return to their hometown. Compared to the festive atmosphere in other homes, his family was eerily silent.

But now, he too began to look forward to the New Year.

Wu Heng gently embraced Shi Xuan, his hand sliding down his back, but as he let go, he discreetly slipped the stone seal, a symbol of his identity, into Shi Xuan’s pocket.

Shi Xuan realized that the small, headless fierce ghost wasn’t worth his trip to the underworld; Wu Heng was there to see him off.

Wu Heng watched as Shi Xuan boarded the boat, which was a solitary small vessel.

Despite being a small boat, it was incredibly fast, way faster than the big ships and cruise liners.

Wu Heng simply watched Shi Xuan’s retreating figure, and Lai Yin Chai, who had just helped the fierce ghost get the boat ticket, saw the scene: "Huh? Why’d he go in there? And he gets VIP treatment all by himself?"

Lai Yin Chai looked at the distant small boat and couldn’t help but remind: "Wu Heng, I have to tell you, once they cross the River Styx, ghosts and demons start forgetting their past lives, only holding onto what they yearn for most. You’re letting Shi Xuan go alone? Shouldn’t we bring him back?"

And before reincarnation, crossing the Naihe Bridge means saying goodbye to their past life memories for good.

Wu Heng still looked in the direction Shi Xuan left, smiling and saying, "Others forget, but he’ll remember."

-

Wu Heng came back through the well, and by the time he got to Nan Nuo Village, dawn was breaking.

Lai Yin Chai had to escort the fierce ghost that gouged out people’s eyes, so Wu Heng returned alone. As he reached the clinic door, the people inside heard the commotion and came out.

"Xiao Heng, why’d you come back alone? Where’s Shi Xuan?" You Jin helped take the nylon bag, his eyes scanning around but not seeing the other person.

Wu Heng said, "Brother You Jin, don’t sweat it."

You Jin opened his mouth but swallowed the question, lifted the bag in his hand and said, "What’s in here? The Village Chief was zipping around on a little electric scooter with a loudspeaker at the crack of dawn, going door to door to tell people to buy fireworks and firecrackers. Is this fire... I’ll go open the clinic for business."

Su Dayi, who was running around the clinic, came over and took a look, screaming: "Ugh, so ugly! How’d the most important part end up like this?"

Wu Heng sat aside calling the police, and at the same time said, "Su Dayi, these poor souls had their heads taken off, it’s tragic. Can you make sure they’re cremated with dignity?"

Su Dayi proudly put her hands on her hips and said, "Of course, my illusions can give them a dignified second funeral. Just pluck a few of my hairs."

The He family arrived faster than the police, seeing their son’s head among the seven or eight heads, tears streaming down their faces.

They invited the village’s yin-yang master to put their son’s head back into the coffin, planning to choose an auspicious day for cremation.

But the cuts on the neck couldn’t be fixed.

Suddenly, a white fox hair fell from the sky, just landing on the He family son’s head. The neck and head were seamlessly connected, not even a trace of a wound, as if the beheading incident had never happened.

Before the He family parents could rejoice, they saw their son’s head suddenly curve into a benevolent smile.

The He family parents: "!!!"

Our boy’s smiling!

Wu Heng didn’t know what the He family parents were feeling, but he was somewhat speechless and said to Su Dayi, "Is this how you give them dignity?"

Su Dayi argued, "They’re laughing happily—isn’t that dignified enough?"

Wu Heng didn’t bother to argue with her, handed the rest of the heads to Officer Wang and the others.

The police station’s system could quickly find the original bodies of these heads, and then sew them up and cremate them. These things could be handled by the police station.

Wu Su got up planning to rush to buy firecrackers and fireworks. He loved playing with snap poppers—just toss ’em on the ground, and they’d pop without a spark.

As soon as he got up and looked around, Wu Su was somewhat surprised: "Hey, where is Shi Xuan? Didn’t he just finish the final exams? Is he still going to school?"

Wu Heng didn’t answer, instead said, "Dad, this year many people will come to Nan Nuo Village for the New Year."

"The He Yunxiao family, Li Hao, Wang Dong, and Hei Mao all gave me a heads-up. They’ll come as soon as the final exams are over, hoping to spend the New Year together at our house."

Mr. He and those middle-aged bosses had a strong feeling that this New Year might be unusual. Rather than staying in their own homes, especially their large ones where who knows if something sinister might be lurking, they thought it would be better to head to Nannuo Village for the New Year. The high-speed rail would be operational in two days! First by plane, then by high-speed rail, it would be very fast.

Thinking of their son's friendship with Dr. Wu, they could only humble themselves and come closer. Being near Wu Heng always felt safer.

Wu Su was pleased to hear this and said, "Great! We’ve cleaned up the guest rooms in the medical hall. If there's not enough space, we can stay with other villagers. It’s not a problem."

Wu Su then glanced at the bedroom window on the second floor and asked, "Little Heng, what type of firecrackers does Shi Xuan enjoy? He's never played with them before."

Wu Heng, understanding his father's implication, smiled and said, "He can pick his own when the time comes."

Hearing this, Wu Su's slightly tense face finally relaxed, and he chuckled, "That's good, that's good. Then I’ll go buy more fireworks and firecrackers. I’ll ride my electric scooter to get them now."

Wu Su also vaguely knew that this New Year might not be as festive, but as people say, take it one day at a time, and happiness is the most important.

After all, no matter how much evil there is, the New Year’s sun will always rise.

Wu Heng watched his father head off on his electric scooter to town to buy fireworks and firecrackers, then turned and entered Chengde Medical Hall.

As soon as he stepped into the medical hall, the phone on the counter started ringing.

You Jin said it was a call from Chen Zhao.

As soon as the call was answered, Chen Zhao's intermittent sobbing voice came through, "Dr. Wu, my master and I have finally... returned to the Xuanmen. Damn, the signal is so bad."

As soon as Chen Zhao returned to the Xuanmen, he felt extremely uncomfortable.

He felt like he had entered a prison. There was no festive atmosphere of the upcoming New Year in the Xuanmen, and he couldn't help but imagine that Nannuo Village must be decorated with lanterns and full of New Year spirit, right? After all, it's almost the Little New Year.

Nannuo Village is where he should be!

So Chen Zhao finally asked the main purpose of this call, putting on a playful tone, "Dr. Wu, when are you coming to the Xuanmen to pick me up? You're not lying to me, are you?"

Wu Heng: "Now."