Liu Dashao nodded towards Granny Fan. Dog Egg’s mother also came over, squatted in front of Liu Dashao, and clasped his shoulders, saying, “Young Dog, our Little Pockmark is counting on you!” As she spoke, her voice became choked with emotion, and tears welled up in her eyes. Liu Dashao quickly wiped the tears from her face with his hand and patted his chest, saying, “Auntie, don’t cry. With me here, Little Pockmark and the others will be fine. Don’t worry, Granny Fan and I will be back soon.”
The preparatory ritual before descending to the underworld finally began. Granny Fan first lit incense in the main hall, then burned a pile of paper money. Liu Laoshi caught a rooster from his chicken coop and handed it to Granny Fan. She held the rooster by its wings, and the rooster, perhaps sensing its impending doom, didn’t even crow but just widened its eyes and shook its head from side to side. Granny Fan held the rooster and bowed three times to the incense that was emitting smoke. Then she used her fingernail to pierce the rooster’s comb. The rooster, in pain, let out a couple of crows, and blood began to seep from its comb. Liu Laoshi quickly brought a bowl to catch the blood. Once the blood had mostly drained, Granny Fan released the rooster.
Granny Fan then held the bowl of rooster blood, closed her eyes, and chanted some incantations. She dipped her finger in the blood and smeared it on Liu Dashao’s forehead. As she did this, she muttered, “With this rooster blood, your ‘third eye’ is opened. Once you descend, you will be able to see everything in the underworld.” After applying the blood, Granny Fan tied a black ribbon around Liu Dashao’s waist. With everything ready, Granny Fan instructed, “Liu family’s eldest grandson, repeat what I just told you.” Liu Dashao smiled wryly and said, “I remember it all. Once we descend, I must hold tightly to your hand, not wander off, and point out Guoqiang and the others as soon as I see them.” Granny Fan nodded in satisfaction after hearing Liu Dashao’s response.
However, Liu Dashao was now wondering: Where does this old witch plan to enter the underworld? Does she need to find a deep well and jump in? As he was lost in thought, Granny Fan told him to take off his shoes and lie down on the bed in the main hall. Liu Dashao followed her instructions and lay down on the bed. Liu Laoshi quickly came over and, following Granny Fan’s orders, covered Liu Dashao tightly with a quilt.
“Liu family’s eldest grandson, close your eyes and don’t let your mind wander. We’re about to set off,” Granny Fan said. Liu Dashao quickly closed his eyes, but for some reason, he suddenly felt uneasy. He secretly opened his eyes and glanced at Granny Fan, who was sitting in a chair in front of him. She drank a couple of sips of water, then leaned forward on the table and became motionless. Liu Laoshi, who was standing nearby, noticed his son had opened his eyes and quickly whispered in Liu Dashao’s ear, “You rascal, close your eyes and don’t let your mind wander. Just like when you sleep at night.” Liu Dashao had no choice but to comply, closing his eyes and quietly waiting for the moment they would arrive in the underworld.
One minute, two minutes… About ten minutes passed, and Liu Dashao gradually felt himself drifting off to sleep. He tried to open his eyes to look around, but he couldn’t. It felt like a nightmare, and Liu Dashao’s heart began to fill with fear. He struggled to wake up, but no matter how hard he tried, it was futile. Suddenly, his body convulsed violently, and he felt as if he had woken up from a nightmare. At that moment, a voice sounded in his ear: “Liu family’s eldest grandson, open your eyes. We’ve arrived.” Liu Dashao heard it clearly—it was Granny Fan’s voice.
He quickly opened his eyes, and all he could see was a dim, dusky environment, like the approach of dusk in winter. He looked at Granny Fan and asked, “Granny, is this the underworld?” Granny Fan nodded and then took Liu Dashao’s hand, leading him forward. Strangely, although Liu Dashao was walking forward with Granny Fan, he couldn’t see the path beneath his feet, and there was no one around them. Granny Fan said, “Liu family’s eldest grandson, keep your eyes peeled. As soon as you see the other three kids, tell me immediately.” Liu Dashao nodded in agreement.
He held tightly to Granny Fan’s hand as they walked, constantly looking around. After about half an hour, they saw a figure in red gradually floating towards them. Liu Dashao stared intently at the figure, and Granny Fan whispered in his ear, “Grandson, close your eyes and don’t look.” Liu Dashao, curious, ignored Granny Fan’s warning. As they got closer, Liu Dashao finally saw the face—it was a young, beautiful woman wearing a red cheongsam.
The cheongsam woman passed by them, and Liu Dashao couldn’t help but turn his head to watch her as she drifted away. Granny Fan, pulling him along, frowned and quickened her pace. When Liu Dashao turned back, he was horrified—a terrifying face suddenly appeared in front of him. Liu Dashao was so frightened that he fell to the ground, speechless. What kind of face was it? The scalp from the back of the head hung over the forehead, the left eye was missing, leaving only a black hole, and the right eye bulged out like a cow’s eye. The entire face looked as if it had been coated with a layer of white flour.
Granny Fan quickly pulled Liu Dashao up and comforted him, saying, “Grandson, don’t be afraid. She likes you and is just playing with you. Look behind you again.” After hearing Granny Fan’s words, Liu Dashao timidly looked back and saw the cheongsam woman again. She was facing him, giving him a faint smile, then turned and floated away.
Granny Fan, however, shook her head and sighed, “That cheongsam girl must have harbored a lot of resentment in her life. She probably ended her own life by jumping off a building.”
The road in the underworld was different from the one in the mortal world. It felt as if there was a thin layer of mist beneath their feet, making it seem both there and not there. As they walked further, more people began to appear on the road—elderly people leaning on canes, little girls clutching teddy bears and crying, middle-aged men frequently looking back…
Everyone on the road had a gloomy expression, and Liu Dashao guessed that many of them were still attached to the things of the mortal world. Granny Fan then reminded him, “Grandson, you must keep your eyes peeled. There are many people here, and if you miss them, it will be troublesome.”
Liu Dashao nodded. To be honest, he felt a bit disappointed with this trip to the underworld. He hadn’t seen the legendary Ox-Head and Horse-Face, nor had he encountered the Naihe Bridge, let alone the Judge or the King of Hell. But upon further reflection, it made sense—how could he, a mere mortal, expect to meet high-ranking officials of the underworld? Perhaps even this old witch had never encountered them in her lifetime!
Liu Dashao and Granny Fan walked for a long time but still hadn’t found Tian Guoqiang and the others. Granny Fan said, “Grandson, let’s walk a bit further. If we still can’t find them, we’ll head back. If we stay down here too long and the ghost guards discover us, it will be trouble.”
Liu Dashao, ever the inquisitive one, quickly asked what would happen if the ghost guards found them. Granny Fan smiled wryly and shook her head, “If the ghost guards find us, it will be difficult for us to return. The underworld doesn’t allow living people to descend casually, and if we stay down here too long, your father and the parents of the children will start to worry.”
“But, but how can that be? You said earlier that they are newly arrived souls, and they can only stay in this part of the underworld for a few hours. If we give up now and they are taken to another part of the underworld, won’t we lose all hope of saving them?”
“Grandson, I understand what you’re saying,” Granny Fan nodded. “But the mortal world has its rules, and the underworld has its own. We can only do our best. Whether these three kids survive or not depends on the will of Heaven.”
“No! Guoqiang, Dog Egg, and Little Pockmark are my brothers. I can’t abandon them. No matter what, I must save them today.”
“Stubborn!”
Liu Dashao and Granny Fan walked for a long time, and in the crowd ahead, he saw a chubby figure who looked quite young and, most importantly, resembled Dog Egg among the three kids. Liu Dashao quickly pointed at the figure and said to Granny Fan, “Granny, that person looks like Dog Egg.”
Granny Fan’s eyes flashed, and she immediately understood. She quietly made a shushing gesture to Liu Dashao, signaling him not to shout, then quickened her pace, pulling Liu Dashao towards the figure. When they were about five or six meters away, Liu Dashao could make out the clothes and the distinctive fat around the waist, confirming his earlier guess. Overjoyed, he couldn’t help but wave his hand and shout, “Dog Egg! I’ve come to find you. Where are Guoqiang and the others?” At that moment, everyone in the crowd turned to look at Liu Dashao in surprise.
The chubby figure also turned around, and Liu Dashao saw that it was indeed Dog Egg. Not far from him stood Little Pockmark and Tian Guoqiang. Seeing his friends, Liu Dashao immediately let go of Granny Fan’s hand and ran towards them. Tian Guoqiang, upon seeing Liu Dashao, asked, “Young Dog, how did you get here?”
Without a word, Liu Dashao first hugged Tian Guoqiang tightly, saying, “Guoqiang, I’ve come to take you back. The Four Great Rascals can’t be separated by those five old bastards from the Lingguan Temple! Haha, I’m so happy to see you—sweeter than eating bee poop, more comfortable than touching a swallow.” But as soon as Liu Dashao hugged Tian Guoqiang, Tian Guoqiang’s body trembled as if electrocuted and was thrown far away. Dog Egg and Little Pockmark were also inexplicably thrown off by a powerful force, rolling several times. Liu Dashao was shocked by what he saw and stood there, dumbfounded.
Granny Fan quickly came over and reminded him, “Grandson, don’t touch them. They are still ghosts, and you have the protection of the Pixiu. Your body is filled with righteous energy, which can harm them.” Only then did Liu Dashao realize what had happened.
Granny Fan looked at Tian Guoqiang, took out a yellow talisman from her pocket, tore it into three pieces, and handed them to the three boys, saying, “Stick this on your foreheads and don’t take it off. Hurry and follow me back. I and the Liu family’s eldest son came down specifically to take you back.”
“You… you’re the Flower-Watching Granny?” Tian Guoqiang’s eyes lit up as he suddenly recognized Granny Fan.
“Yes, yes, good child, you still remember me,” Granny Fan said affectionately, patting the back of his head. “Unlike some ungrateful brats who pretend not to recognize me, as if I were going to chase them with a knife over a patch of pumpkins.” As she spoke, she glanced meaningfully at Liu Dashao.
“My dad already compensated you. Why do you keep bringing it up?” Liu Dashao, being quick-witted, naturally understood that Granny Fan was referring to him and muttered under his breath.
Granny Fan ignored Liu Dashao and pointed at the talisman in Tian Guoqiang’s hand, saying, “Child, stick it on quickly! Without this, you might lose your soul on the way back.”
Tian Guoqiang nodded and did as he was told.
Liu Dashao was about to sit down with Tian Guoqiang and the others to chat about their “sightseeing” experience, but Granny Fan was getting impatient and quickly urged them, “You brats, get up and follow me. If we’re late, there will be trouble.” Reluctantly, the four boys followed Granny Fan, retracing their steps.
Unexpectedly, as soon as the three boys started moving, the other people on the underworld road also began to clamor, asking Granny Fan to take them away as well. The crowd surged towards Granny Fan and Liu Dashao like a tide. The two had no choice but to stop and spread their arms to shield Tian Guoqiang and the others, preventing the crowd from getting closer. The underworld road became as chaotic as a traffic jam on a highway.
At that moment, Liu Dashao, who was already feeling overwhelmed, heard someone shouting from behind, “Don’t move! Damn it, all of you, stand still!” Liu Dashao didn’t know who was shouting, but the voice sounded familiar, though he couldn’t quite place it. Granny Fan, however, suddenly turned pale, her face shifting from yellow to white, then to black, and she said anxiously, “Oh no! This is bad. The ghost guards are here.”
At the ghost guard’s shout, the crowd timidly retreated, leaving only Liu Dashao and the four boys standing there like wooden statues. Liu Dashao had expected the ghost guards to look something like Zhong Kui from the paintings—even if not as ferocious, at least as menacing as Li Kui. But reality proved his expectations wrong—just like the name “Ah Biao,” does someone named “Ah Biao” have to be big and burly? Couldn’t a scholarly gentleman also be called “Ah Biao”?
The preparation ritual before descending into the underworld finally began. First, Old Lady Fan lit incense in the main hall and then burned a pile of paper money. Meanwhile, Liu Laoshi caught a rooster from his chicken coop. Old Lady Fan took the rooster from him, holding it by its wings. The rooster, sensing its impending doom, didn’t even cry out—it simply stared wide-eyed and shook its head from side to side. Old Lady Fan bowed three times toward the incense smoke with the rooster in hand, then pinched the rooster’s comb until it bled. The rooster squawked in pain, and blood began to drip from its comb. Liu Laoshi quickly held out a bowl to collect the blood. Once enough was gathered, Old Lady Fan released the rooster.
She then took the bowl of chicken blood, closed her eyes, and muttered incantations. With her finger, she dipped into the blood and smeared it across Liu Dashao’s forehead. As she did, she muttered, “This chicken blood opens the ‘Heavenly Eye,’ allowing you to see everything in the underworld.” After applying the blood, she tied a black ribbon around his waist. Once everything was ready, she instructed, “Liu’s eldest grandson, repeat what I just told you.” Liu Dashao smiled bitterly and said, “I remember. I must hold Grandma’s hand tightly, not run off, and point out Guoqiang once I see him.” Satisfied, Old Lady Fan nodded.
But Liu Dashao was thinking: Where exactly would this old witch enter the underworld? Maybe through a deep well? As he pondered, Old Lady Fan told him to take off his shoes and lie on the bed in the main hall. Liu Dashao obeyed, and his father quickly covered him with a thick quilt as instructed.
“Liu’s eldest grandson, close your eyes and don’t think too much—we’re about to leave,” Old Lady Fan said. Liu Dashao closed his eyes, but suddenly felt uneasy. He sneaked a peek and saw Old Lady Fan sitting in a chair in front of him, drinking some water and then leaning motionless on the table. Liu Laoshi, seeing his son peeking, whispered, “Close your eyes, you little brat! Don’t think too much—just like sleeping at night.” Liu Dashao sighed and obeyed.
One minute, two minutes… About ten minutes passed. Liu Dashao gradually felt himself drifting to sleep. He tried to open his eyes but couldn’t, as if he were trapped in a nightmare. Fear crept into his heart as he struggled to wake up, but to no avail. Suddenly, his body convulsed violently, and he felt as if he had awoken from a nightmare. Then, a voice whispered in his ear: “Liu’s eldest grandson, open your eyes—we’ve arrived.” It was unmistakably Old Lady Fan’s voice.
He opened his eyes and found himself surrounded by darkness, like the dim twilight of a winter evening. He asked, “Grandma, is this the underworld?” She nodded and pulled him forward. Strangely, although they walked, Liu Dashao couldn’t see the path beneath his feet or anyone around them. Old Lady Fan reminded him, “Keep your eyes open—tell me when you see the other three children.” Liu Dashao nodded.
He held Old Lady Fan’s hand tightly and scanned the surroundings as they walked. After about half an hour, they saw a red-clothed figure approaching. Liu Dashao stared intently, but Old Lady Fan whispered, “Close your eyes, grandson—don’t look.” Curious, he ignored her warning. As the figure drew closer, he finally saw her face—a young, beautiful woman in a red qipao.
As they passed her, Liu Dashao couldn’t help but turn his head to watch her fade into the distance. Old Lady Fan pulled him, frowning, and quickened her pace. When Liu Dashao turned back, he froze in terror—right in front of him was a horrifying face. The back of its head dangled over its forehead, its left eye was gone, leaving a black hole, and its right eye bulged out like a cow’s. Its face was pale, as if coated with flour.
Old Lady Fan quickly pulled him up, soothing him: “Don’t be afraid, grandson. She likes you—she was just playing. Look behind you again.” Trembling, Liu Dashao glanced back and saw the qipao woman again, smiling faintly before vanishing.
Old Lady Fan sighed, shaking her head: “This girl must have carried deep sorrow in life—probably jumped to her death.”
The path in the underworld felt different, as if covered in a thin mist. As they walked, more people appeared—elderly with canes, crying little girls holding teddy bears, middle-aged men glancing back. Everyone had gloomy faces. Liu Dashao guessed they were still attached to the living world. Old Lady Fan warned, “Watch carefully, grandson—don’t miss them.”
Liu Dashao nodded. Truthfully, he felt disappointed—no Ox-Head or Horse-Face guards, no Bridge of Helplessness, no Yama or judges. But he realized: such high-ranking officials wouldn’t be easily seen, not even by Old Lady Fan herself.
After a long walk without finding Guoqiang, Old Lady Fan said, “Let’s go a bit further—if we don’t find them, we must return. Lingering too long might attract the ghost guards.”
Liu Dashao, curious, asked what would happen if they were caught. Old Lady Fan shook her head: “If caught, returning will be difficult. The underworld forbids the living from entering. Besides, your father and their parents will worry.”
“But Grandma, you said they’re recent arrivals—they can only stay a few hours. If we give up now, they’ll be taken deeper, and we’ll never save them!”
“I know, grandson,” she replied. “But there are rules in both worlds. Whether they survive depends on fate.”
Liu Dashao nodded towards Granny Fan. Dog Egg’s mother also came over, squatted in front of Liu Dashao, and clasped his shoulders, saying, “Young Master Dog, our little Pockmark is counting on you!” As she spoke, her voice became choked with emotion, and tears streamed down her face. Liu Dashao quickly wiped her tears with his hand and patted his chest, saying, “Auntie, don’t cry. With me here, Little Pockmark and the others will be fine. Don’t worry, Granny Fan and I will be back soon.”
The preparatory ritual before descending to the underworld finally began. Granny Fan first lit incense in the main hall, then burned a pile of paper money. Liu Laoshi caught a rooster from his chicken coop and handed it to Granny Fan. She held the rooster by its wings, and the rooster, sensing its impending doom, didn’t even crow, just widened its eyes and shook its head from side to side. Granny Fan held the rooster and bowed three times to the smoking incense, then used her fingernail to prick the rooster’s comb. The rooster, in pain, let out two squawks, and blood began to seep from its comb. Liu Laoshi quickly fetched a bowl to catch the blood. Once the blood had mostly drained, Granny Fan released the rooster.
Granny Fan then held the bowl of rooster blood, closed her eyes, and chanted some incantations. She dipped her finger in the blood and smeared it on Liu Dashao’s forehead while muttering, “With this blood, your ‘third eye’ is opened. Once you descend, you’ll be able to see everything in the underworld.” After applying the blood, Granny Fan tied a black ribbon around Liu Dashao’s waist. With everything ready, Granny Fan instructed, “Grandson of the Liu family, repeat what I just told you.” Liu Dashao smiled wryly and said, “I remember clearly. Once we descend, I must hold onto your hand tightly, not wander off, and point out Guoqiang and the others as soon as I see them.” Granny Fan nodded in satisfaction after hearing Liu Dashao’s response.
However, Liu Dashao was now wondering: How exactly does this old witch plan to enter the underworld? Would she need to find a deep well and jump into it? As he was lost in thought, Granny Fan told him to take off his shoes and lie down on the bed in the main hall. Liu Dashao complied, and Liu Laoshi quickly came over to tuck him in tightly with a quilt, following Granny Fan’s orders.
“Grandson of the Liu family, close your eyes and don’t let your mind wander. We’re about to set off,” Granny Fan said. Liu Dashao quickly closed his eyes, but for some reason, he suddenly felt uneasy. He secretly opened his eyes and glanced at Granny Fan, who was sitting in a chair in front of him, drinking some water. She then leaned forward on the table and became motionless. Liu Laoshi, who was standing nearby, noticed his son’s open eyes and whispered in his ear, “You rascal, close your eyes and don’t let your mind wander. Just like when you sleep at night.” Liu Dashao had no choice but to close his eyes and wait quietly for the moment they would arrive in the underworld.
One minute, two minutes… About ten minutes later, Liu Dashao gradually felt himself drifting off to sleep. He tried to open his eyes to look around, but he couldn’t. It felt like a nightmare, and Liu Dashao’s heart began to fill with fear. He struggled to wake up, but no matter how hard he tried, it was futile. Suddenly, his body convulsed violently, and he felt as if he had woken up from a nightmare. At that moment, a voice rang in his ears: “Grandson of the Liu family, open your eyes. We’ve arrived.” Liu Dashao heard it clearly—it was Granny Fan’s voice.
He quickly opened his eyes and saw that everything around him was dim, like a winter evening just before nightfall. He looked at Granny Fan and asked, “Granny, is this the underworld?” Granny Fan nodded and then took Liu Dashao’s hand, leading him forward. Strangely, although Liu Dashao was walking forward with Granny Fan, he couldn’t see the path beneath his feet, and there was no one around them. Granny Fan said, “Grandson of the Liu family, keep your eyes peeled. If you see the other three kids, point them out to me immediately.” Liu Dashao nodded and said, “Yes.”
He held Granny Fan’s hand tightly and looked around as they walked. After about half an hour, they saw a figure in red gradually floating towards them. Liu Dashao stared intently at the figure, and Granny Fan whispered in his ear, “Grandson, close your eyes and don’t look.” Liu Dashao, curious, ignored Granny Fan’s warning. As they got closer, Liu Dashao finally saw the face clearly—it was a young, beautiful woman wearing a red cheongsam.
The woman in the cheongsam passed by them, and Liu Dashao couldn’t help but turn his head to watch her as she drifted away. Granny Fan, holding his hand, frowned and quickened her pace. When Liu Dashao turned back, he was terrified—a horrifying face suddenly appeared in front of him. Liu Dashao was so scared that he fell to the ground, his mouth agape, unable to speak. What kind of face was it? The scalp from the back of the head hung over the forehead, the left eye was missing, leaving only a black hole, and the right eye bulged out like a cow’s eye. The entire face looked as if it had been dusted with white flour.
Granny Fan quickly pulled Liu Dashao up and comforted him, saying, “Grandson, don’t be afraid. She likes you and is just playing with you. Look behind you again.” Hearing this, Liu Dashao timidly turned around and saw the woman in the cheongsam again. She faced him, gave him a faint smile, and then drifted away.
Granny Fan, however, shook her head and muttered, “That woman in the cheongsam must have harbored a lot of resentment in her life. She probably ended her life by jumping off a building.” After saying this, she let out a long sigh.
The path in the underworld was different from the one in the mortal world. It felt as if there was a thin layer of mist beneath their feet, making it seem both there and not there. As they walked further, more people began to appear on the road—elderly people leaning on canes, little girls clutching teddy bears and crying, and middle-aged men who kept looking back…
Everyone on the road had a gloomy expression, and Liu Dashao guessed that many of them were still attached to the mortal world. Granny Fan then reminded him, “Grandson, keep your eyes peeled. There are many people here, and if you miss them, it’ll be troublesome.”
Liu Dashao nodded. To be honest, he felt a bit disappointed with this trip to the underworld. He hadn’t seen the legendary Ox-Head and Horse-Face, nor had he encountered the Naihe Bridge, let alone the Judge or the King of Hell. But upon reflection, it made sense—how could he, a mere mortal, expect to meet such high-ranking officials of the underworld? Perhaps even this old witch had never encountered them in her lifetime!
Liu Dashao and Granny Fan walked for a long time but still couldn’t find Tian Guoqiang and the others. Granny Fan said, “Grandson, let’s walk a bit further. If we still can’t find them, we’ll have to go back. If we stay down here too long and get caught by the ghost guards, it’ll be trouble.”
Liu Dashao, being the persistent type, quickly asked, “What would happen if we got caught by the ghost guards?” Granny Fan smiled wryly and shook her head, “If we get caught, it’ll be difficult for us to return. The underworld doesn’t allow living people to wander around freely. Besides, if we stay down here too long, your father and the parents of the children will start to worry.”
“But, but that can’t be! You said earlier that they’re newly departed souls, and they can only stay in this part of the underworld for a few hours. If we give up now and they get sent to another part of the underworld, we’ll lose all hope of saving them!”
“Grandson, I understand what you’re saying,” Granny Fan nodded, “But the mortal world has its rules, and the underworld has its own. We can only do our best. Whether these three kids survive or not is up to fate.”
“No way! Guoqiang, Dog Egg, and Little Pockmark are my brothers. I can’t just abandon them. No matter what, I’m going to save them today.”
“Stubborn!”
Liu Dashao and Granny Fan walked further ahead, and in the crowd, he saw a chubby figure who looked quite young and resembled Dog Egg. Liu Dashao quickly pointed at the figure and said to Granny Fan, “Granny, that person up ahead looks like Dog Egg.”
Granny Fan’s eyes flashed with understanding, and she quietly gestured for Liu Dashao to keep his voice down. She then quickened her pace, pulling Liu Dashao along. When they got within five or six meters of the crowd, Liu Dashao could make out the clothes and the distinctive fat around the waist, confirming his earlier guess. Overjoyed, he couldn’t help but wave and shout, “Dog Egg! I’ve come to find you. Where are Guoqiang and the others?” At that moment, everyone in the crowd turned to look at Liu Dashao in surprise.
The chubby figure also turned around, and Liu Dashao saw that it was indeed Dog Egg. Not far from him stood Little Pockmark and Tian Guoqiang. Seeing his friends, Liu Dashao immediately let go of Granny Fan’s hand and ran towards them. Tian Guoqiang, upon seeing Liu Dashao, asked, “Dog Shao, how did you get here?”
Without a word, Liu Dashao hugged Tian Guoqiang tightly, “Guozi, I’ve come to take you back. The Four Great Rascals can’t be separated by those five old bastards from the Lingguan Temple! Haha, I’m so happy to see you, sweeter than eating bee poop, more comfortable than touching a swallow.” But as soon as Liu Dashao hugged Tian Guoqiang, Tian Guoqiang’s body trembled as if electrocuted and was thrown far away. Dog Egg and Little Pockmark were also inexplicably flung aside, rolling several times. Liu Dashao was shocked by what had just happened and stood there, dumbfounded.
Granny Fan quickly came over and warned, “Grandson, don’t touch them. They’re still ghosts, and you have the protection of the Pixiu. Your body is filled with righteous energy, which can harm them.” Hearing this, Liu Dashao suddenly realized what had happened.
Granny Fan looked at Tian Guoqiang, took out a yellow talisman from her pocket, tore it into three pieces, and handed them to the three boys, “Stick this on your foreheads and don’t take it off. Hurry and follow me back. I came down with the Liu family’s eldest son specifically to fetch you.”
“You… you’re the Flower-Watching Granny?” Tian Guoqiang’s eyes lit up as he suddenly recognized Granny Fan.
“Yes, yes, good child, you still remember me,” Granny Fan affectionately patted the back of his head, “Unlike some ungrateful brats who pretend not to know me, as if I’d chase them with a kitchen knife over a patch of pumpkins.” As she said this, she glanced meaningfully at Liu Dashao.
“My dad already compensated you for that. Why do you keep bringing it up?” Liu Dashao, being quick-witted, immediately understood that Granny Fan was referring to him and muttered under his breath.
Granny Fan ignored Liu Dashao and pointed at the talisman in Tian Guoqiang’s hand, “Child, stick it on quickly! Without this, you might lose your soul on the way back.”
Tian Guoqiang nodded and did as he was told.
Liu Dashao was about to sit down with Tian Guoqiang and the others to chat about their “sightseeing” experience in the underworld, but Granny Fan was getting impatient. She hurriedly scolded, “You brats, get up and follow me quickly. If we’re late, there’ll be trouble.” Reluctantly, the four boys followed Granny Fan, retracing their steps.
Unexpectedly, as soon as the three boys started walking, the other people on the underworld road also began to clamor, asking Granny Fan to take them away as well. The crowd surged towards Granny Fan and Liu Dashao like a tide. The two had no choice but to stop and spread their arms to shield Tian Guoqiang and the others, preventing the crowd from getting closer. The underworld road became as chaotic as a traffic jam on a highway.
At that moment, Liu Dashao heard someone shouting from behind, “Don’t move! Damn it, all of you, stand still!” Liu Dashao didn’t know who was shouting, but the voice sounded familiar, though he couldn’t quite place it. Granny Fan, however, suddenly turned pale, her face shifting from yellow to white, then to black. She said anxiously, “Oh no! We’re in trouble. The ghost guards are here.”
At the ghost guard’s shout, the crowd timidly retreated, leaving only Liu Dashao and the four boys standing there like idiots. Liu Dashao had imagined that the ghost guards would look something like Zhong Kui from the paintings, or at least have a fierce appearance like Li Kui. But reality proved him wrong—just like the name “A Biao,” does someone named “A Biao” have to be big and burly? Couldn’t a scholarly gentleman also be called “A Biao”?
“Stubborn mouth!”
Liu Dashao nodded towards Granny Fan. Dog Egg’s mother also came over, squatted in front of Liu Dashao, and clasped his shoulders, saying, “Young Master Dog, our Little Pockmark is counting on you!” As she spoke, her voice became choked with emotion, and tears streamed down her face. Liu Dashao quickly wiped her tears with his hand and patted his chest, saying, “Auntie, don’t cry. With me here, Little Pockmark and the others will be fine. Don’t worry, Granny Fan and I will be back soon.”
The preparation ritual before descending to the underworld finally began. Granny Fan first lit incense in the main room and then burned a pile of paper money. Liu Laoshi caught a rooster from his chicken coop and handed it to Granny Fan. She held the rooster by its wings, and the rooster, sensing its impending doom, didn’t even crow, just widened its eyes and swayed its head from side to side. Granny Fan held the rooster and bowed three times to the incense, which was emitting a thin wisp of smoke. Then, she pinched the rooster’s comb with her fingernail, causing it to cry out twice in pain. Blood began to seep from the comb, and Liu Laoshi quickly fetched a bowl to catch the blood. Once the blood had mostly drained, Granny Fan released the rooster.
Granny Fan then held the bowl of rooster blood, closed her eyes, and muttered some incantations. She dipped her finger in the blood and smeared it on Liu Dashao’s forehead. As she did this, she muttered, “With this blood, your ‘third eye’ is opened. Once you descend, you’ll be able to see everything in the underworld.” After applying the blood, Granny Fan tied a black ribbon around Liu Dashao’s waist. With everything ready, she instructed, “Grandson of the Liu family, repeat what I just told you.” Liu Dashao smiled wryly and said, “I remember it all. Once we descend, I must hold onto your hand tightly, not wander off, and point out Guoqiang and the others as soon as I see them.” Granny Fan nodded in satisfaction after hearing Liu Dashao’s response.
However, Liu Dashao was now wondering: How exactly does this old witch plan to enter the underworld? Would she need to find a deep well and jump into it? As he was lost in these thoughts, Granny Fan told him to take off his shoes and lie down on the bed in the main room. Liu Dashao complied, and Liu Laoshi quickly covered him with a thick quilt as per Granny Fan’s instructions.
“Grandson of the Liu family, close your eyes and don’t let your mind wander. We’re about to set off,” Granny Fan said. Liu Dashao quickly closed his eyes, but for some reason, he suddenly felt uneasy. He secretly opened his eyes and glanced at Granny Fan, who was sitting in a chair in front of him. She took a few sips of water, then leaned forward on the table and became motionless. Liu Laoshi, who was standing nearby, noticed his son’s open eyes and whispered in Liu Dashao’s ear, “You little rascal, close your eyes and don’t let your mind wander. Just like when you sleep at night.” Liu Dashao had no choice but to close his eyes and wait quietly for the moment they would arrive in the underworld.
One minute, two minutes… About ten minutes passed, and Liu Dashao gradually felt himself drifting off to sleep. He tried to open his eyes to look around, but he couldn’t. It felt like a nightmare, and Liu Dashao’s heart began to fill with fear. He struggled to wake up, but no matter how hard he tried, it was futile. Suddenly, his body convulsed violently, and he felt as if he had woken up from a nightmare. At that moment, a voice rang in his ears: “Grandson of the Liu family, open your eyes. We’ve arrived.” Liu Dashao heard it clearly—it was Granny Fan’s voice.
He quickly opened his eyes and saw that everything around him was dim, like the twilight of a winter evening. He looked at Granny Fan and asked, “Granny, is this the underworld?” Granny Fan nodded and then took Liu Dashao’s hand, leading him forward. Strangely, although Liu Dashao was walking forward with Granny Fan, he couldn’t see the path beneath his feet, and there was no one around them. Granny Fan said, “Grandson of the Liu family, keep your eyes peeled. If you see the other three kids, point them out to me immediately.” Liu Dashao nodded and said, “Mhm.”
He held Granny Fan’s hand tightly and looked around as they walked. After about half an hour, they saw a figure in red gradually floating towards them. Liu Dashao stared intently at the figure, and Granny Fan whispered in his ear, “Grandson, close your eyes and don’t look.” Liu Dashao, however, was too curious and ignored Granny Fan’s warning. As they got closer, Liu Dashao finally saw the face—it was a young, beautiful woman wearing a red cheongsam.
The woman in the cheongsam passed by them, and Liu Dashao couldn’t help but turn his head to watch her as she drifted away. Granny Fan pulled him along, her brow furrowed, and her steps quickened. When Liu Dashao turned back, he was horrified—a terrifying face suddenly appeared in front of him. Liu Dashao was so frightened that he fell to the ground, his mouth agape, unable to speak. It was a horrifying face—the scalp from the back of the head hung over the forehead, the left eye was missing, leaving only a black hole, and the right eye bulged out like a cow’s eye. The entire face was as white as if it had been dusted with flour.
Granny Fan quickly helped Liu Dashao up and comforted him, saying, “Grandson, don’t be afraid. She likes you and is just playing with you. Look behind you again.” Hearing this, Liu Dashao timidly looked back and saw the woman in the cheongsam again. She was facing him, giving him a faint smile before turning and drifting away.
Granny Fan, however, shook her head and sighed, “That woman in the cheongsam must have harbored a lot of resentment in her life. She probably ended her life by jumping off a building.”
The road in the underworld was different from the one in the mortal world. It felt as if a thin layer of mist covered the ground, making it seem both there and not there. As they walked further, more people began to appear on the road—elderly people leaning on canes, little girls clutching teddy bears and crying, middle-aged men frequently looking back…
Everyone on the road had a gloomy expression, and Liu Dashao guessed that many of them were still attached to the mortal world. Granny Fan reminded him, “Grandson, keep your eyes peeled. There are many people here, and if you miss them, it’ll be troublesome.”
Liu Dashao nodded. To be honest, he was a bit disappointed with this trip to the underworld. He hadn’t seen the legendary Ox-Head and Horse-Face, nor had he encountered the Naihe Bridge, let alone the Judge or the King of Hell. But upon reflection, it made sense—how could he, a mere mortal, expect to meet such high-ranking officials of the underworld? Perhaps even this old witch had never encountered them in her lifetime!
Liu Dashao and Granny Fan walked for a long time but still couldn’t find Tian Guoqiang and the others. Granny Fan said, “Grandson, let’s walk a bit further. If we still can’t find them, we’ll have to go back. If we stay here too long and get caught by the ghost guards, it’ll be trouble.”
Liu Dashao, being the curious type, quickly asked what would happen if they were caught by the ghost guards. Granny Fan smiled wryly and shook her head, “If we’re caught, it’ll be difficult for us to return. The underworld doesn’t allow living people to come down casually, and if we stay too long, your father and the parents of the children will worry.”
“But, but that can’t be! You said earlier that they’re newly arrived souls, and they can only stay in this part of the underworld for a few hours. If we give up now and they’re taken to another part of the underworld, we’ll never have a chance to save them!”
“Grandson, I understand what you’re saying,” Granny Fan nodded. “But the mortal world has its rules, and the underworld has its own. We can only do our best. Whether these three kids survive or not is up to fate.”
“No way! Guoqiang, Dog Egg, and Little Pockmark are my brothers. I can’t just abandon them. No matter what, I’m going to save them today.”
“Stubborn!”
Liu Dashao and Granny Fan walked further, and in the crowd ahead, he saw a chubby figure who looked very much like Dog Egg. Liu Dashao quickly pointed him out to Granny Fan, “Granny, that person up ahead looks like Dog Egg.”
Granny Fan’s eyes lit up, and she quietly signaled Liu Dashao to keep quiet. She then quickened her pace, pulling Liu Dashao along. When they got within five or six meters of the crowd, Liu Dashao could clearly see the clothes and the distinctive belly fat, confirming his earlier guess. Overjoyed, he couldn’t help but wave and shout, “Dog Egg! I’ve come to find you. Where are Guoqiang and the others?” At that moment, everyone in the crowd turned to look at Liu Dashao in surprise.
The chubby figure also turned around, and Liu Dashao saw that it was indeed Dog Egg. Not far from him stood Little Pockmark and Tian Guoqiang. Seeing his friends, Liu Dashao immediately let go of Granny Fan’s hand and ran towards them. Tian Guoqiang, upon seeing Liu Dashao, asked, “Dog Dashao, how did you get here?”
Without a word, Liu Dashao hugged Tian Guoqiang tightly, “Guoqiang, I’ve come to take you back. The Four Great Rascals can’t be separated by those five old bastards from the Lingguan Temple! Haha, I’m so happy to see you, sweeter than honey and more comfortable than touching a swallow.” But as soon as Liu Dashao hugged Tian Guoqiang, Tian Guoqiang’s body trembled as if electrocuted and was thrown far away. Dog Egg and Little Pockmark were also inexplicably lifted by a great force and rolled several times. Liu Dashao was shocked by what he saw and stood there, dumbfounded.
Granny Fan quickly came over and reminded him, “Grandson, don’t touch them. They’re still ghosts, and you have the protection of the Pi Xiu. Your body is filled with righteous energy, which can harm them.” Only then did Liu Dashao realize what had happened.
Granny Fan looked at Tian Guoqiang, took out a yellow talisman from her pocket, tore it into three pieces, and handed them to the three boys, “Stick this on your foreheads and don’t take it off. Hurry and follow me back. I and the Liu family’s eldest son came down specifically to bring you back.”
“You… you’re the Flower-Watching Granny?” Tian Guoqiang’s eyes lit up as he recognized Granny Fan.
“Yes, yes, good child, you still remember me,” Granny Fan affectionately patted the back of his head. “Unlike some ungrateful brats who pretend not to know me, as if I were going to chase them with a kitchen knife over a patch of pumpkins.” As she said this, she glanced meaningfully at Liu Dashao.
“My dad already compensated you for that. Why do you keep bringing it up?” Liu Dashao, being quick-witted, immediately understood that Granny Fan was referring to him and muttered under his breath.
Granny Fan ignored him and pointed to the talisman in Tian Guoqiang’s hand, “Child, stick it on quickly! Without this, you might lose your soul on the way back.”
Tian Guoqiang nodded and did as he was told.
Liu Dashao wanted to sit down with Tian Guoqiang and the others to chat about their “sightseeing” experience, but Granny Fan was in a hurry and scolded them, “You little rascals, get up and follow me quickly. If we’re late, there’ll be trouble.” Reluctantly, the four boys followed Granny Fan, feeling their way back along the path they had come.
Unexpectedly, as soon as the three boys started moving, the other people on the underworld road also began to clamor, asking Granny Fan to take them away. The crowd surged towards Granny Fan and Liu Dashao like a tide, and the two had no choice but to stop and spread their arms to shield Tian Guoqiang and the others, preventing the crowd from getting closer. The road in the underworld became as chaotic as a traffic jam on a highway.
At that moment, Liu Dashao, who was already feeling overwhelmed, heard someone shouting from behind, “Don’t move! Damn it, all of you, stand still!” Liu Dashao didn’t know who was shouting, but the voice sounded familiar, though he couldn’t place it. Granny Fan, however, suddenly turned pale, her face shifting from yellow to white and then to black. She said anxiously, “Oh no! We’re in trouble. The ghost guards are here.”
At the ghost guard’s shout, the crowd timidly retreated, leaving only Liu Dashao and the four boys standing there like idiots. Liu Dashao had imagined that the ghost guards would look something like Zhong Kui from the paintings, or at least have a fierce appearance like Li Kui. But as it turned out, this was just his wishful thinking. Just like the name “A Biao”—does someone named “A Biao” have to be big and burly? Couldn’t a scholarly gentleman also be called “A Biao”?
Liu Dashao nodded towards Granny Fan. Dog Egg’s mother also came over, squatted in front of Liu Dashao, and clasped his shoulders, saying, “Young Master Dog, our Little Pockmark is counting on you!” As she spoke, her voice became choked with emotion, and tears streamed down her face. Liu Dashao quickly wiped her tears with his hand, patted his chest, and said, “Auntie, don’t cry. With me here, Little Pockmark and the others will be fine. Don’t worry, Granny Fan and I will be back soon.”
The preparation ritual before descending to the underworld finally began. Granny Fan first lit incense in the main hall, then burned a pile of paper money. Liu Laoshi caught a rooster from his chicken coop and handed it to Granny Fan. She held the rooster by its wings, and the rooster, seemingly aware of its impending doom, didn’t make a sound but just stared wide-eyed, shaking its head from side to side. Granny Fan held the rooster and bowed three times to the incense, which was emitting a thin wisp of smoke. Then, she used her fingernail to prick the rooster’s comb. The rooster, in pain, let out a couple of squawks, and blood began to seep from its comb. Liu Laoshi quickly brought a bowl to catch the blood. Once the blood had mostly drained, Granny Fan released the rooster.
Granny Fan then held the bowl of rooster blood, closed her eyes, and muttered some incantations. She dipped her finger in the blood and smeared it on Liu Dashao’s forehead. As she did so, she murmured, “With this blood, your ‘third eye’ is opened. Once you descend, you’ll be able to see everything in the underworld.” After applying the blood, Granny Fan tied a black ribbon around Liu Dashao’s waist. With everything prepared, Granny Fan instructed, “Liu’s eldest grandson, repeat what I just told you.” Liu Dashao smiled wryly and said, “I remember it all. Once we descend, I must hold onto your hand tightly, not wander off, and point out Guoqiang and the others as soon as I see them.” Granny Fan nodded in satisfaction after hearing Liu Dashao’s response.
However, Liu Dashao was secretly wondering: How exactly does this old witch plan to enter the underworld? Would she have to find a deep well and jump into it? As he was lost in thought, Granny Fan told him to take off his shoes and lie down on the bed in the main hall. Liu Dashao complied, and Liu Laoshi quickly came over to tuck him in tightly with a quilt.
“Liu’s eldest grandson, close your eyes and don’t let your mind wander. We’re about to set off,” Granny Fan said. Liu Dashao quickly closed his eyes, but for some reason, he suddenly felt uneasy. He secretly opened his eyes and glanced at Granny Fan, who was sitting in a chair in front of him. She drank a couple of sips of water, then leaned forward on the table and became motionless. Liu Laoshi, who was standing nearby, noticed his son’s open eyes and whispered in his ear, “You little rascal, close your eyes and don’t let your mind wander. Just like when you sleep at night.” Liu Dashao had no choice but to close his eyes and wait quietly for the moment they would arrive in the underworld.
One minute, two minutes… About ten minutes later, Liu Dashao gradually felt himself drifting off to sleep. He tried to open his eyes to look around, but he couldn’t. It felt like a nightmare, and Liu Dashao’s heart began to fill with fear. He struggled to wake up, but no matter how hard he tried, it was useless. Suddenly, his body convulsed violently, and he felt as if he had woken up from a nightmare. At that moment, a voice rang in his ears: “Liu’s eldest grandson, open your eyes. We’ve arrived.” Liu Dashao heard it clearly—it was Granny Fan’s voice.
He quickly opened his eyes and saw that everything around him was dim, like the twilight of a winter evening. He looked at Granny Fan and asked, “Granny, is this the underworld?” Granny Fan nodded, then took Liu Dashao’s hand and led him forward. Strangely, although Liu Dashao was walking forward with Granny Fan, he couldn’t see the path beneath his feet, and there was no one around them. Granny Fan said, “Liu’s eldest grandson, keep your eyes peeled. If you see the other three kids, point them out to me immediately.” Liu Dashao nodded and said, “Mm-hmm.”
He held Granny Fan’s hand tightly and looked around as they walked. After about half an hour, they saw a figure in red gradually floating towards them. Liu Dashao stared intently at the figure, and Granny Fan whispered in his ear, “Grandson, close your eyes and don’t look.” Liu Dashao was curious and didn’t take Granny Fan’s words to heart. As they got closer to the figure in red, Liu Dashao finally saw the face—it was a young, beautiful woman wearing a red cheongsam.
The woman in the cheongsam passed by them, and Liu Dashao couldn’t help but turn his head to watch her as she drifted away. Granny Fan pulled him along, her brow furrowed, and their pace quickened. When Liu Dashao turned back, he was horrified—a terrifying face suddenly appeared in front of him. Liu Dashao was so frightened that he fell to the ground, his mouth agape, unable to speak. What kind of face was it? The scalp from the back of the head hung over the forehead, the left eye was missing, leaving only a black hole, and the right eye bulged out like a cow’s eye. The entire face was as white as if it had been covered in flour.
Granny Fan quickly helped Liu Dashao up and comforted him, “Grandson, don’t be afraid. She likes you and is just playing with you. Look behind you again.” After hearing Granny Fan’s words, Liu Dashao timidly looked back and saw the woman in the cheongsam again. She was facing him, giving him a faint smile, then turned and drifted away.
Granny Fan, however, shook her head and sighed, “That woman in the cheongsam must have harbored a lot of resentment in her life. I bet she ended her life by jumping off a building.” After saying this, she let out a long sigh.
The path in the underworld was different from the one in the mortal world. It felt as if a thin layer of mist covered the ground, making it seem both there and not there. As they walked further, more people began to appear on the path—elderly people leaning on canes, little girls clutching teddy bears and crying, middle-aged men frequently looking back…
Everyone on the path had a gloomy expression, and Liu Dashao guessed that many of them were still attached to the things they left behind in the mortal world. Granny Fan reminded him, “Grandson, keep your eyes peeled. There are many people here, and if you miss them, it’ll be troublesome.”
Liu Dashao nodded. To be honest, he felt a bit disappointed with this trip to the underworld. He hadn’t seen the legendary Ox-Head and Horse-Face, nor had he encountered the Naihe Bridge, let alone the Judge or the King of Hell. But upon further reflection, it made sense—how could he, a mere mortal, expect to meet such high-ranking officials of the underworld? Perhaps even this old witch had never encountered them in her lifetime!
Liu Dashao and Granny Fan walked for a long time but still couldn’t find Tian Guoqiang and the other two. Granny Fan said, “Grandson, let’s walk a bit further. If we still can’t find them, we’ll head back. If we stay down here too long and get caught by the ghost guards, it’ll be trouble.”
Liu Dashao, being the persistent type, quickly asked, “What would happen if we got caught by the ghost guards?” Granny Fan smiled wryly and shook her head, “If we get caught, it’ll be hard for us to return. The underworld doesn’t allow living people to wander around, and if we stay too long, your father and the kids’ parents will worry.”
“But, but that can’t be! You said earlier that they’re newly arrived souls, and they can only stay in this part of the underworld for a few hours. If we give up now and they get taken to another part of the underworld, we’ll never have a chance to save them!”
“Grandson, I understand what you’re saying,” Granny Fan nodded, “But the mortal world has its rules, and the underworld has its own. We can only do our best. Whether these three kids survive is up to fate.”
“No! Guoqiang, Dog Egg, and Little Pockmark are my brothers. I can’t abandon them. No matter what, I have to save them today.”
“Stubborn!”
Liu Dashao and Granny Fan walked further, and in the crowd ahead, he saw a chubby figure who looked a lot like Dog Egg. Liu Dashao quickly pointed him out to Granny Fan, “Granny, that person up ahead looks like Dog Egg.”
Granny Fan’s eyes lit up, and she quietly gestured for Liu Dashao to keep his voice down. She then quickened her pace, pulling Liu Dashao along as they headed towards the figure. When they got within five or six meters, Liu Dashao could see the clothes and the distinctive belly fat, confirming his earlier guess. Overjoyed, he couldn’t help but wave and shout, “Dog Egg! I’ve come to find you. Where are Guoqiang and the others?” At that moment, everyone in the crowd turned to look at Liu Dashao in surprise.
The chubby figure turned around, and Liu Dashao saw that it was indeed Dog Egg. Not far from him stood Little Pockmark and Tian Guoqiang. Seeing his friends, Liu Dashao immediately let go of Granny Fan’s hand and ran towards them. Tian Guoqiang, upon seeing Liu Dashao, asked, “Young Master Dog, how did you get here?”
Without a word, Liu Dashao hugged Tian Guoqiang first, “Guozi, I’ve come to take you back. The Four Great Mischiefs can’t be separated by those five old bastards from the Lingguan Temple! Haha, I’m so happy to see you guys, sweeter than eating honey and more comfortable than touching a swallow.” But as soon as Liu Dashao hugged Tian Guoqiang, Tian Guoqiang’s body trembled as if electrocuted and was thrown far away. Dog Egg and Little Pockmark were also inexplicably lifted by a great force and rolled several times. Liu Dashao was shocked by what he saw and stood there, dumbfounded.
Granny Fan quickly came over and reminded him, “Grandson, don’t touch them. They’re still ghosts, and you have the protection of the Pixiu. Your body is filled with righteous energy, which can harm them.” Only then did Liu Dashao realize what had happened.
Granny Fan looked at Tian Guoqiang, took out a yellow talisman from her pocket, tore it into three pieces, and handed them to the three boys, “Stick this on your foreheads and don’t take it off. Hurry and follow me back. I and Liu’s eldest grandson came down specifically to fetch you.”
“You… you’re the Flower-Watching Granny?” Tian Guoqiang’s eyes lit up as he suddenly recognized Granny Fan.
“Yes, yes, good boy, you still remember me,” Granny Fan affectionately patted the back of his head, “Unlike some ungrateful brats who pretend not to know me, as if I’d chase them with a knife over a patch of pumpkins.” As she said this, she glanced meaningfully at Liu Dashao.
“My dad already compensated you. Why do you keep bringing it up?” Liu Dashao, being sharp, naturally understood that Granny Fan was referring to him, and he muttered under his breath.
Granny Fan ignored Liu Dashao and pointed to the talisman in Tian Guoqiang’s hand, “Boy, stick it on quickly! Without this, you might lose your soul on the way back.”
Tian Guoqiang nodded and did as he was told.
Liu Dashao wanted to sit down with Tian Guoqiang and the others to chat about their “sightseeing” experience, but Granny Fan was getting impatient and quickly urged them, “You little rascals, get up and follow me. If we’re late, there’ll be trouble.” Reluctantly, the four boys followed Granny Fan, retracing their steps.
Unexpectedly, as the three of them started walking, the other people on the underworld path also began to clamor, asking Granny Fan to take them away. The crowd surged towards Granny Fan and Liu Dashao like a tide. The two had no choice but to stop, spread their arms, and shield Tian Guoqiang and the other two, preventing the crowd from getting closer. The path in the underworld became as chaotic as a traffic jam on a highway.
At that moment, Liu Dashao heard someone shouting from behind, “Don’t move! Damn it, all of you, stand still!” Liu Dashao didn’t know who was shouting, but the voice sounded familiar, though he couldn’t quite place it. Granny Fan, however, suddenly turned pale, her face shifting from yellow to white, then to black. She said in a panicked voice, “Oh no! This is bad. The ghost guards are here.”
At the ghost guard’s shout, the crowd timidly retreated, leaving only Liu Dashao and the other four standing there like wooden chickens. Liu Dashao had expected the ghost guards to look something like Zhong Kui from the paintings—if not as ferocious, at least as menacing as Li Kui. But as it turned out, this was just his wishful thinking. Just like the name “A Biao”—does someone named “A Biao” have to be burly? Couldn’t a scholarly gentleman also be called “A Biao”?
Liu Dashao nodded at Granny Fan. Dog Egg’s mother also came over, squatted in front of Liu Dashao, and grabbed his shoulders, saying, “Young Master Dog, our Little Pockmark is counting on you!” As she spoke, her voice became choked with emotion, and tears streamed down her face. Liu Dashao quickly wiped away her tears with his hand and patted his chest, saying, “Auntie, don’t cry. With me here, Little Pockmark and the others will be fine. Don’t worry, Granny Fan and I will be back soon.”
The preparatory ritual before descending to the underworld finally began. Granny Fan first lit incense in the main room, then burned a pile of paper money. Liu Laoshi caught a rooster from his chicken coop, and Granny Fan took it from him, holding it by its wings. The rooster, sensing its impending doom, didn’t even crow, just widened its eyes and swayed its head from side to side. Granny Fan held the rooster and bowed three times to the smoking incense, then used her fingernail to pierce the rooster’s comb. The rooster, in pain, let out a couple of crows, and blood began to seep from its comb. Liu Laoshi quickly fetched a bowl to catch the blood. Once the blood had mostly drained, Granny Fan released the rooster.
Granny Fan then held the bowl of rooster blood, closed her eyes, and chanted some incantations. She dipped her finger in the blood and smeared it on Liu Dashao’s forehead. As she did so, she muttered, “With this blood, your ‘third eye’ is opened. Once you descend, you’ll be able to see everything in the underworld.” After applying the blood, Granny Fan tied a black ribbon around Liu Dashao’s waist. With everything prepared, she instructed, “Grandson of the Liu family, repeat what I just told you.” Liu Dashao smiled wryly and said, “I’ve got it all memorized. Once we’re down there, I’ll hold onto your hand tightly, won’t wander off, and will point out Guoqiang and the others as soon as I see them.” Granny Fan nodded in satisfaction after hearing his response.
However, Liu Dashao was secretly wondering: *Where on earth does this old witch plan to enter the underworld? Does she need to find a deep well and jump into it?* As he was lost in these thoughts, Granny Fan told him to take off his shoes and lie down on the bed in the main room. Liu Dashao complied, and Liu Laoshi quickly came over to tuck him in tightly with a quilt, following Granny Fan’s orders.
“Grandson of the Liu family, close your eyes and don’t let your mind wander. We’re about to set off,” Granny Fan said. Liu Dashao immediately closed his eyes, but for some reason, he suddenly felt uneasy. He secretly peeked at Granny Fan, who was sitting in a chair in front of him, drinking some water before leaning over the table and becoming completely still. Liu Laoshi, who was standing nearby, noticed his son’s open eyes and whispered urgently in his ear, “You little rascal, close your eyes and don’t let your mind wander. Just like when you’re sleeping at night.” Liu Dashao had no choice but to comply, closing his eyes and quietly waiting for the moment they would arrive in the underworld.
One minute, two minutes… After about ten minutes, Liu Dashao gradually felt himself drifting off to sleep. He tried to open his eyes to look around, but he couldn’t. It felt like a nightmare, and his heart began to fill with fear. He struggled to wake up, but no matter how hard he tried, it was futile. Suddenly, his body convulsed violently, as if he had just woken up from a nightmare. At that moment, a voice rang in his ears: “Grandson of the Liu family, open your eyes. We’ve arrived.” Liu Dashao heard it clearly—it was Granny Fan’s voice.
He quickly opened his eyes and saw that everything around him was dim, like a winter evening just before nightfall. He looked at Granny Fan and asked, “Granny, is this the underworld?” Granny Fan nodded, then took Liu Dashao’s hand and led him forward. Strangely, although Liu Dashao was walking forward with Granny Fan, he couldn’t see the path beneath his feet, and there was no one around them. Granny Fan said, “Grandson of the Liu family, keep your eyes peeled. As soon as you see the other three kids, let me know.” Liu Dashao nodded in agreement.
He held onto Granny Fan’s hand tightly, looking around as they walked. After about half an hour, they saw a figure in red gradually floating toward them. Liu Dashao stared intently at the figure, and Granny Fan whispered in his ear, “Grandson, close your eyes and don’t look.” Liu Dashao, however, was too curious and ignored Granny Fan’s warning. As they got closer to the figure in red, Liu Dashao finally saw the face—it was a young, beautiful woman wearing a red cheongsam.
The woman in the cheongsam passed by them, and Liu Dashao couldn’t help but turn his head to watch her as she drifted away. Granny Fan, holding his hand, frowned and quickened her pace. When Liu Dashao turned back, he was terrified—a horrifying face suddenly appeared in front of him. Liu Dashao was so frightened that he fell to the ground, speechless. The face was grotesque—the scalp from the back of the head hung over the forehead, the left eye was missing, leaving only a black hole, and the right eye bulged out like a cow’s eye. The entire face was as pale as if it had been dusted with flour.
Granny Fan quickly pulled Liu Dashao up and comforted him, “Grandson, don’t be afraid. She likes you and is just playing with you. Look behind you again.” Following Granny Fan’s words, Liu Dashao timidly looked back and saw the woman in the cheongsam again. She was facing him, giving him a faint smile before turning and drifting away.
Granny Fan, however, shook her head and sighed, “That woman in the cheongsam must have harbored a lot of resentment in her life. She probably ended her life by jumping off a building.” After saying this, she let out a long sigh.
The road in the underworld was different from the one in the mortal world. It felt as if a thin layer of mist covered the ground, making it seem both there and not there. As they walked further, more people began to appear on the road—elderly people leaning on canes, little girls crying while clutching teddy bears, and middle-aged men who kept looking back…
Everyone on the road had a gloomy expression, and Liu Dashao guessed that many of them were still clinging to the memories of their lives in the mortal world. Granny Fan reminded him, “Grandson, keep your eyes open. There are many people here, and if you miss them, it’ll be troublesome.”
Liu Dashao nodded. To be honest, he felt a bit disappointed with this trip to the underworld. He hadn’t seen the legendary Ox-Head and Horse-Face, nor had he encountered the Naihe Bridge, let alone the Judge or the King of Hell. But upon reflection, it made sense—high-ranking officials like the Judge and the King of Hell weren’t people one could just casually meet. Perhaps even this old witch had never encountered them in her lifetime!
Liu Dashao and Granny Fan walked for a long time but still couldn’t find Tian Guoqiang and the others. Granny Fan said, “Grandson, let’s walk a bit further. If we still can’t find them, we’ll have to go back. If we stay down here too long and get caught by the ghost guards, it’ll be trouble.”
Liu Dashao, ever the curious one, quickly asked, “What would happen if we got caught by the ghost guards?” Granny Fan shook her head with a wry smile, “If we get caught, it’ll be hard for us to return. The underworld doesn’t allow living people to just wander around, and if we stay too long, your father and the parents of these kids will start to worry.”
“But, but that can’t be! You said earlier that they’re newly arrived souls, and they can only stay in this part of the underworld for a few hours. If we give up now and they get sent to another part of the underworld, we’ll lose any chance of saving them!”
“Grandson, I understand what you’re saying,” Granny Fan nodded. “But the mortal world has its rules, and the underworld has its own. We can only do our best. Whether these three kids survive or not is up to fate.”
“No way! Guoqiang, Dog Egg, and Little Pockmark are my brothers. I can’t just abandon them. No matter what, I’m going to save them today.”
“Stubborn brat!”
Liu Dashao and Granny Fan walked further, and in the crowd ahead, he saw a chubby figure who looked a lot like Dog Egg. Liu Dashao quickly pointed him out to Granny Fan, “Granny, that person up ahead looks like Dog Egg.”
Granny Fan’s eyes lit up, and she quietly signaled Liu Dashao to keep his voice down. She then quickened her pace, pulling Liu Dashao toward the figure. When they got within five or six meters, Liu Dashao could make out the clothes and the distinctive paunch around the waist, confirming his earlier guess. Overjoyed, he couldn’t help but wave and shout, “Dog Egg! I’ve come to find you. Where are Guoqiang and the others?” At this, everyone in the crowd turned to look at Liu Dashao in surprise.
The chubby figure turned around, and Liu Dashao saw that it was indeed Dog Egg. Not far from him stood Little Pockmark and Tian Guoqiang. Seeing his friends, Liu Dashao immediately let go of Granny Fan’s hand and ran toward them. Tian Guoqiang, upon seeing Liu Dashao, asked, “Young Master Dog, how did you get here?”
Without a word, Liu Dashao hugged Tian Guoqiang tightly, “Guoqiang, I’ve come to take you back. The Four Great Rascals can’t be separated by those five old bastards from the Lingguan Temple! Haha, I’m so happy to see you—it’s sweeter than eating bee poop and more comfortable than touching a swallow.” But as soon as Liu Dashao hugged Tian Guoqiang, Tian Guoqiang’s body shuddered as if electrocuted and was flung far away. Dog Egg and Little Pockmark were also inexplicably thrown off, rolling several times. Liu Dashao was shocked by what had happened and stood there, dumbfounded.
Granny Fan quickly came over and warned, “Grandson, don’t touch them. They’re still spirits, and you have the protection of the Pixiu. Your body is filled with righteous energy, which can harm them.” Upon hearing this, Liu Dashao suddenly understood.
Granny Fan looked at Tian Guoqiang, took out a yellow talisman from her pocket, tore it into three pieces, and handed them to the boys, “Stick this on your foreheads and don’t remove it. Hurry and follow me back. I came down with the Liu family’s grandson specifically to fetch you.”
“You… you’re the Flower-Watching Granny?” Tian Guoqiang’s eyes lit up as he recognized Granny Fan.
“Yes, yes, good boy, you still remember me,” Granny Fan said affectionately, patting the back of his head. “Unlike some ungrateful brats who pretend not to know me, as if I’d chase them with a cleaver over a patch of pumpkins.” As she said this, she glanced pointedly at Liu Dashao.
“My dad already paid you back. Why do you keep bringing it up?” Liu Dashao, quick-witted as ever, immediately understood that Granny Fan was referring to him and muttered under his breath.
Granny Fan ignored him and pointed at the talisman in Tian Guoqiang’s hand, “Boy, stick it on quickly. Without this, you’ll risk losing your souls on the way back.”
Tian Guoqiang nodded and did as he was told.
Liu Dashao was about to sit down with Tian Guoqiang and the others to chat about their “sightseeing” experience, but Granny Fan was getting impatient and scolded, “You little rascals, get up and follow me quickly. If we’re late, there’ll be trouble.” Reluctantly, the four boys followed Granny Fan, retracing their steps along the path they had come.
Unexpectedly, as the three of them started walking, the other people on the underworld road began to clamor, asking Granny Fan to take them away as well. The crowd surged toward Granny Fan and Liu Dashao like a tide. The two had no choice but to stop and spread their arms to shield Tian Guoqiang and the others, preventing the crowd from getting closer. The underworld road became as chaotic as a traffic jam on a highway.
At that moment, Liu Dashao heard someone shouting from behind, “Don’t move! Damn it, everyone stay where you are!” Liu Dashao didn’t know who was shouting, but the voice sounded familiar, though he couldn’t quite place it. Granny Fan, however, suddenly turned pale, her face shifting from yellow to white, then to black. She said anxiously, “Oh no! We’re in trouble. The ghost guards are here.”
At the ghost guard’s shout, the crowd timidly retreated, leaving only Liu Dashao and the others standing there like idiots. Liu Dashao had imagined that the ghost guards would look something like the paintings of Zhong Kui—if not as ferocious, at least as intimidating as Li Kui. But reality proved him wrong. Just like how someone named “A Biao” might not necessarily be a burly man—couldn’t a scholarly gentleman also be called “A Biao”?
Old Lady Fan hurried over: “Don’t touch them! They’re ghosts, and you carry the protection of a pixiu—your positive energy harms them.”
She handed them three yellow talismans: “Stick these on your foreheads. Follow me back—we came to rescue you.”
“You… you’re the Flower-Watching Grandma?” Guoqiang’s eyes lit up.
“Good boy! Unlike some ungrateful brats,” she said, glancing at Liu Dashao.
“But Dad already paid you back!” Liu Dashao muttered.
Old Lady Fan ignored him: “Hurry up! Without talismans, you might lose your souls.”
Guoqiang nodded and obeyed.
Liu Dashao wanted to chat with them, but Old Lady Fan urged them to leave: “Hurry up, or trouble will come!” Reluctantly, the four followed her back.
Unexpectedly, the other souls followed, begging Old Lady Fan to take them too. A crowd surged toward them. Helplessly, Old Lady Fan and Liu Dashao shielded the three boys with their arms. Chaos erupted like a traffic jam.
Suddenly, a booming voice echoed from behind: “Don’t move! Stand still, all of you!” Liu Dashao didn’t recognize the voice, but it sounded familiar. Old Lady Fan’s face paled: “Oh no! The ghost guards are here!”
Everyone froze in fear, leaving Liu Dashao and the others standing stiffly. Liu Dashao had imagined ghost guards like Zhong Kui or Li Kui—ferocious and terrifying. But reality proved otherwise. Just like how someone named “Abiao” might be gentle, not necessarily a brute.
In fact, the ghostly officer standing right in front of us looked no different from any ordinary person in the human world in both appearance and clothing, and his age was about the same as Dad’s.
The ghost officer in white looked at the group and was first taken aback, then sniffed twice like a dog with his sharp nose. Immediately, the playful smile on his face stiffened, and his expression changed completely one hundred and eighty degrees. He pointed at Old Lady Fan and shouted angrily, “Looks like you really don’t want to live anymore! Why did you come down here when you should be living peacefully in the land of the living?”
Old Lady Fan hurried forward, bowed, and smiled apologetically. “Uncle Wu Chang, I even know your squad leader. We came here today mainly to take someone with us. Please be kind enough to let us pass.”
The ghost officer in white snorted coldly and said, “Do you think the souls in the underworld are yours to take as you please? Leave those three kids here and you two go back immediately, and I won’t pursue this matter further. But if you insist on going against me—”
“Don’t blame me if I turn my back on you!” the ghost officer in black raised his wailing staff and added with a grim face.
Seeing that the two ghost officers were unyielding, Old Lady Fan had no choice but to negotiate. “Officers, I suppose you’ve been too busy with the affairs of the underworld to fully understand our situation. These three kids haven’t actually reached the end of their lifespan yet. Their souls were simply captured by evil spirits and brought here. If you would be so kind as to let them go, name any conditions you want. We’ll meet them without hesitation.”
The ghost officer in white, however, remained unimpressed by Old Lady Fan’s attempt at bribery and said sternly, “Don’t waste your breath on me. I won’t agree. A thousand years ago, King Guangluo established a rule: no matter who they are, or how they arrived here, once they come to the underworld, they can never return. As for that little kid beside you, you brought him here yourself, so that’s none of my business. Still, I advise you to leave here as soon as possible.”
Among the three children, Tian Guoqiang was the most mature and composed. Seeing that the two ghost officers remained unmoved by either soft words or hard threats, he leaned close to Liu Dashao and said, “Master Dog, don’t worry about me anymore. Just go back with Old Lady Fan quickly. The four of us once made a brotherhood by cutting a chicken’s head and burning yellow paper at the tiny temple in our village. We didn’t do any good deeds together, but we never missed an opportunity for mischief either. I don’t expect us to die together or share both fortune and misfortune, but today you’ve risked your life to come down here for us. That proves you care about us. We appreciate your feelings. Just remember to burn some pretty maids, incense, and paper money for us on holidays. Otherwise, I’ll be the first to haunt you in your dreams!”
After Tian Guoqiang finished speaking, Goudan and Xiao Ma exchanged a glance, didn’t add anything, but simply laughed foolishly to show their agreement.
Tian Guoqiang’s words made Liu Dashao’s nose tingle and brought tears to his eyes. Perhaps moved by his words, Old Lady Fan suddenly became furious. She rolled up her waist sash and roared at the white-robed ghost officer, “I’m taking them today, no matter what you think you can do to stop me!”
“Oh?” The white and black ghost officers exchanged glances. The white one first shrugged his shoulders and burst into exaggerated laughter, while the black one remained stiff as a bamboo pole, letting out a cold snort from his nose, clearly showing his contempt.
After a moment, the white ghost officer finally stopped laughing, his eyes suddenly sharpened. “Old lady, there’s nothing wrong with being confident, but don’t be too overconfident!”
“Foolish old woman!” the black ghost officer interjected. He was indeed strange, speaking only in short phrases, completely different from the talkative white ghost officer. His voice was extremely cold, giving even under the blazing sun a feeling of icy chill.
The white ghost officer stepped forward, a playful smile curling his lips. “The reason my brother and I have been so kind and gentle with you from the beginning is not out of fear, but simply because we are a bit kinder than other officers in different regions. As the saying goes, the living and the dead are separated by the boundary of yin and yang. But if you—”
“You refuse to accept kindness when offered,” the black ghost officer abruptly interrupted. Although he cut off the white ghost officer’s sentence again, he completed the meaning, albeit in a rather unpleasant way. The white ghost officer didn’t seem to mind, smiled, and continued from where he left off, “Then my brother and I will have to follow the rules and deal with you—”
“Eliminate you!” the black ghost officer said.
The black and white officers played good cop and bad cop, refusing to let up and insisting on keeping Goudan and the others. As for Old Lady Fan’s threats, they treated them as jokes.
Old Lady Fan’s furious roar was purely out of a surge of blood to the head. She knew very well her own limited abilities. If she really had to fight against the two ghost officers in front of her, she wouldn’t even survive a single finger from them. Therefore, after calming down, she immediately felt that her previous actions were too impulsive. If any of her words angered them, especially the black ghost officer… Thinking of this, Old Lady Fan broke into a cold sweat. Impulse is the devil!
“Ah, come on, come on, we’re busy! No time to mess around with you!” Seeing that Old Lady Fan and the others had no intention of leaving, the white ghost officer couldn’t help but step forward to pull her.
Liu Dashao had been thinking about where he had heard that voice before, but seeing the white ghost officer pulling Old Lady Fan, he knew that Goudan and the others were definitely doomed, since the black and white officers wouldn’t let them go! Instantly, Liu Dashao became anxious and shouted at the top of his voice, “Old Lady! We can’t abandon Goudan and the others!”
Hearing Liu Dashao’s words, Old Lady Fan, for some reason, suddenly found courage and, regardless of whether she could offend the black and white officers or not, actually stretched out her two claw-like hands and began a tug-of-war with the white ghost officer who was trying to pull her away.
The white ghost officer pulled Old Lady Fan’s arm outward, while she desperately clung to his arm with her clawed hands, her old face flushed red as she shouted, “Help! The ghost officer is beating me! Someone come quickly! Save me!”
Back and forth they tugged, but Old Lady Fan didn’t budge an inch. Watching from the side, the black ghost officer quickly grew impatient. He suddenly roared, “Enough! Get the hell out of here!”
His shout was so loud that it immediately stunned Old Lady Fan and the others. The white ghost officer knew his iron-faced brother was furious and could only sulkily shrug his shoulders and step aside. When the black ghost officer got angry, the consequences were indeed severe.
The black ghost officer, his face dark with anger, charged straight at Old Lady Fan. An old village woman like her had never seen such a terrifying scene before. Even dealing with a small snake demon required all her effort. How could she possibly face the famous black ghost officer?
As the black ghost officer approached furiously, Old Lady Fan silently cursed, “Oh no, oh no, I’ve really angered him! He’s not as easy to fool as that stupid snake demon!”
Though she was terrified, Old Lady Fan tightly gripped the sash around her waist, probably trying to find some comfort from it.
Finally, the black ghost officer reached Old Lady Fan, who instantly pulled something from her sash and began swinging it wildly with her eyes shut. She jumped around frantically, waving the object and screaming at the top of her lungs, “Ahhhhhh! Don’t come any closer! Master protect me! Guanyin Bodhisattva, show your power! Laojun, by divine decree…”
Like a shaman performing a ritual, Old Lady Fan frantically waved the object in her hands, chanting a long list of deities, from the Kitchen God, the Earth God, Zhang Guolao, and finally even invoking the black and white ghost officers who were about to deal with her.
In fact, the ghost official standing before us looked no different from an ordinary person in both appearance and attire, and his age was similar to my father’s. The ghost official, dressed in white hemp clothes, was momentarily stunned upon seeing the group. He then sniffed the air twice with his sharp, dog-like nose, and the playful smile that had been lingering on his lips instantly froze. His expression underwent a complete transformation as he glared at Granny Fan and shouted, “It seems you’ve grown tired of living! You’re supposed to be alive in the mortal world—what are you doing down here?” Granny Fan quickly stepped forward, bowing and smiling apologetically. “Officer Wuchang, I know your captain. We’re here to take someone back with us. Please, be lenient.”
The ghost official snorted coldly. “Do you think you can just waltz into the underworld and take souls as you please? Leave the three children here, and the two of you can go back immediately. I’ll let this slide, but if you insist on being stubborn, don’t blame me—”
“Turning a blind eye!” The black-clad ghost official added, raising his mourning staff with a grim expression.
Seeing that the two ghost officials were unmoved, Granny Fan decided to negotiate. “Gentlemen, I imagine you’re busy with the affairs of the underworld and may not fully understand our situation. These three children aren’t supposed to be here—their souls were taken by evil spirits. If you could just let them go, name your price. We’ll do our best to meet it.”
The white-clad ghost official seemed unimpressed by Granny Fan’s bribery attempt and remained stern. “Don’t waste your breath. I won’t agree. King Qin Guang established the rules a thousand years ago—no matter who they are or how they got here, once they’re here, they can’t leave. As for the little ghost by your side, since you brought him down, I won’t interfere. But I advise you to leave as soon as possible.”
Among the three children, Tian Guoqiang was the most composed. Seeing that the two ghost officials were unyielding, he leaned over to Liu Dashao and whispered, “Dashao, don’t worry about me. Go back with Granny. The four of us once impulsively became sworn brothers by cutting a chicken’s head and burning yellow paper at the village’s tiny land temple. We haven’t done much good, but we’ve certainly done our share of bad. I don’t expect us to live or die together, but the fact that you risked your life to come here shows you care. We appreciate it. Just don’t forget to burn some paper money and pretty maids for us during the holidays! Otherwise, I’ll be the first to haunt you!” After Tian Guoqiang finished speaking, Gou Dan and Xiao Ma exchanged glances and chuckled, silently agreeing with him.
Tian Guoqiang’s words made Liu Dashao’s nose tingle, and he felt like crying. Granny Fan, perhaps moved by his words, suddenly became furious. She straightened her sash and roared at the white-clad ghost official, “I’m taking them with me today. Do you really think you can stop me?”
“Oh?” The white-clad ghost official exchanged a glance with the black-clad one, then burst into exaggerated laughter, while the black-clad ghost official remained stiff, letting out a cold snort of disdain.
After a moment, the white-clad ghost official stopped laughing and said sternly, “Old woman, confidence is good, but don’t overdo it.”
“Old fool!” the black-clad ghost official interjected. He was a strange one, often speaking only a few words at a time, in stark contrast to the white-clad ghost official’s talkativeness. His voice was icy, sending chills even under the blazing sun.
The white-clad ghost official stepped forward, a playful smile on his lips. “The reason my brother and I have been so polite is not because we’re afraid, but because we’re slightly kinder than our colleagues in other territories. The saying goes, ‘The living and the dead are separate paths.’ If you continue—”
“Don’t push your luck,” the black-clad ghost official interrupted, completing the thought in his usual blunt manner. The white-clad ghost official didn’t mind and continued, “Then my brother and I will have to follow protocol and—”
“Deal with you!” the black-clad ghost official finished.
The two ghost officials, one playing the good cop and the other the bad cop, were unrelenting in their demand to keep Gou Dan and the others. As for Granny Fan’s threats, they simply dismissed them as jokes.
Granny Fan’s earlier outburst had been driven by sheer frustration. She knew her meager magical abilities were no match for the two ghost officials. If it came to a fight, they could probably crush her with a single finger. As she calmed down, she realized how impulsive she had been. If she had said something to upset them, especially the black-clad ghost official, the consequences would be dire. The thought made her break out in a cold sweat. Impulsiveness was indeed the devil!
“Alright, let’s go. We’re busy and don’t have time to waste!” The white-clad ghost official, seeing that Granny Fan and the others weren’t leaving, stepped forward to pull her away.
Liu Dashao, who had been trying to recall where he’d heard the voice before, saw the white-clad ghost official grabbing Granny Fan and knew Gou Dan and the others were doomed. The ghost officials weren’t going to budge. Desperate, Liu Dashao shouted, “Granny! We can’t leave them behind!”
Granny Fan, suddenly emboldened, didn’t care if she was offending the ghost officials. She extended her claw-like hands and began a tug-of-war with the white-clad ghost official.
The white-clad ghost official pulled at Granny Fan’s arm, while she clawed at his hand, her face red as she screamed, “Help! The ghost officials are attacking me! Someone help!”
After several back-and-forths, Granny Fan hadn’t moved an inch. The black-clad ghost official, watching from the side, grew impatient and bellowed, “Enough! Get the hell out of here!”
His roar was deafening, instantly silencing Granny Fan and the others. The white-clad ghost official, knowing his stern brother had lost his temper, shrugged and stepped aside. When the black-clad ghost official was angry, the consequences were severe.
The black-clad ghost official, his face dark, stormed toward Granny Fan. She, a simple country woman, had never faced such a situation. Even dealing with a small snake demon had been a struggle, let alone the infamous black-clad ghost official.
As the black-clad ghost official approached, Granny Fan inwardly panicked. “This is bad, really bad! I’ve really angered him! He’s not as easy to fool as that stupid snake demon!” Despite her fear, she tightly gripped her sash, perhaps seeking some comfort.
Finally, the black-clad ghost official reached Granny Fan. In a flash, she pulled something from her sash and began wildly swinging it around, eyes closed. She jumped and flailed, screaming at the top of her lungs, “Ahhh! Don’t come closer! Ancestors protect me! Guanyin, show your power! Lord Laozi, act according to the law!”
Granny Fan, like a shaman in a trance, waved the object in her hand, invoking a string of deities, from the Kitchen God to the Land God, and even the very ghost officials who were after her.
The white-clad ghost official, watching the spectacle, couldn’t help but laugh when he heard Granny Fan invoke his own name. Seeing her desperate attempts to fend off the black-clad ghost official, he felt a pang of sympathy. After all, living to eighty was rare, and this old woman had managed it. Remembering his own human past, he spoke up, “Old Fan, let it go. Just drive them away—no need to get serious.”
But the black-clad ghost official, still furious, wasn’t listening. With a flick of his mourning staff, he tore the object in Granny Fan’s hand in two.
The torn piece flew up and landed on the black-clad ghost official’s face. The room fell silent. Granny Fan had really messed up.
The black-clad ghost official’s face was now covered with a piece of floral fabric that looked more like half a pant leg than a proper cloth. It turned out that Granny Fan’s desperate shield wasn’t a divine talisman but an old pair of floral underpants she had bought for three and a half yuan at a market stall the day before. She had planned to wear them but had tucked them into her sash, never imagining they’d come in handy like this.
“HAHAHAHA!” The room erupted in laughter. Not only did Liu Dashao and the others laugh until they doubled over, but even the other ghosts, though more restrained, couldn’t help but chuckle.
Only Granny Fan, still in her trance, was oblivious to the chaos around her.
“Oh no, Old Fan! Calm down!” The usually cheerful white-clad ghost official, instead of laughing, anxiously shouted at the black-clad ghost official, as if trying to stop him from doing something drastic.
Amid the laughter, the black-clad ghost official slowly reached up, grabbed the floral pant leg on his face, and yanked it off, revealing a terrifying visage. The already irritable ghost official bared his sharp fangs and roared, “Damn it! I’ll kill you all!”
A chilling wind swept around the black-clad ghost official as his mourning staff emitted an eerie wail, sending shivers down everyone’s spines.
“Die!” The black-clad ghost official swung his staff, sending a dark gust of wind hurtling toward Granny Fan, who was still in her trance.
Just as it seemed Granny Fan was done for, a stronger white wind intercepted the black wind. Needless to say, it was the white-clad ghost official’s doing.
“What the hell are you doing!?” the black-clad ghost official barked at his counterpart.
“What the hell are *you* doing!?” the white-clad ghost official retorted, rubbing his ringing ears.
“Why are you stopping me!?” the black-clad ghost official glared, though his voice was quieter now.
“Look at the kid next to the old woman. Remember him?” The white-clad ghost official pointed at Liu Dashao beside Granny Fan.
“Who? I don’t know him. We don’t know living people. Are you feverish?” The black-clad ghost official glanced over and scoffed.
“Terrible memory!” The white-clad ghost official smacked the back of the black-clad ghost official’s head and reminded him, “Remember? Roast rabbit! Sworn brothers!”
At this, the black-clad ghost official’s eyes widened. He stared at Liu Dashao for a moment before breaking into a smile—though it looked more like a grimace.
“HAHAHAHA! So it’s you, Third Brother! What are you doing here?” The black-clad ghost official, straightforward as ever, waved at Liu Dashao.
Liu Dashao, who had just been terrified of the black-clad ghost official, was now greeted warmly. It seemed the two had a good relationship.
“Who are you?” Liu Dashao asked timidly.
“What? You forgot? I’m Fan Ba!” the black-clad ghost official replied cheerfully. Friends reunited, all past grievances forgotten.
“Oh! It’s you guys! No wonder the voice sounded familiar! Big Brother, you’re dead too? And you’ve become ghost officials? Impressive!” Liu Dashao exclaimed excitedly.
It turned out the white-clad ghost official had found Liu Dashao familiar but hadn’t been sure until now.
“HEHEHE…” The two ghost officials and Liu Dashao stood together, laughing like old friends, leaving Granny Fan and the others utterly confused. What? Sworn brothers with ghost officials? This world had truly gone mad—rats were now best men at cats’ weddings!
But the black ghost officer, still in a rage, wouldn’t listen. He raised his wailing staff and with a slight effort tore the object Old Lady Fan was waving into two pieces.
This act caused a disaster. Half of the object flew and landed right on the black ghost officer’s face. Silence fell over the entire scene. Old Lady Fan had really messed up!
The black ghost officer had a piece of floral cloth covering his face. It didn’t look like a normal piece of fabric but more like half a pant leg. It turned out that the shield Old Lady Fan had desperately waved around wasn’t the divine talisman she thought it was, but actually an old floral pair of underwear she had bought for three yuan and fifty jiao from a small stall at the market yesterday. She had intended to wear them when she got home and had placed them in her sash, never expecting they would end up being used like this!
“Hahahahaha!” The entire area burst into laughter. Not only did Liu Dashao and the others laugh until they were doubled over, but even the other ghosts nearby, although they couldn’t laugh as loudly as Liu Dashao’s group, couldn’t help but let out some stifled chuckles.
Only Old Lady Fan, still jumping around with her eyes closed, was completely unaware of what was happening around her…
“Oh no, oh no! Old Fan! Stay calm!” The usually cheerful white ghost officer, surprisingly not laughing, anxiously shouted at the black ghost officer, clearly trying to stop him from doing something, looking extremely worried.
Amid the laughter of everyone, the black ghost officer slowly extended one hand, grabbed the floral pant leg on his face, and yanked it off violently. A terrifying face was revealed. Already furious, the black ghost officer bared two sharp, long fangs and roared, “Damn it! I’ll kill you all!”
“Whoosh!” A chilling wind rose around the black ghost officer. The wailing sound from his staff sent shivers down everyone’s spine, making them unable to ignore the danger.
“Die!” The black ghost officer swung his staff, sending a swift black gust of yin wind straight at Old Lady Fan, who was still performing her shamanistic dance.
Just when it seemed Old Lady Fan was doomed, a stronger white wind suddenly appeared and blocked the black wind. Needless to say, this white wind was definitely released by the white ghost officer.
“What the hell are you doing!?” The black ghost officer furiously roared at the white ghost officer.
“What the hell are you shouting for?” The white ghost officer replied, rubbing his ringing ear.
“Why did you stop me!?” The black ghost officer glared, though his voice was much softer now.
“Look at the kid next to that old lady. Do you remember him?” The white ghost officer pointed at Liu Dashao beside Old Lady Fan.
“Who? I don’t know him! We don’t know any living people, right? Are you feverish?” The black ghost officer glanced and sneered.
“Your memory is so bad!” The white ghost officer lightly slapped the back of the black ghost officer’s head and reminded him, “Don’t you remember? Roast rabbit! Brotherhood!”
As soon as the white ghost officer mentioned those words, the black ghost officer suddenly recalled the memory. He looked at the kid a few more times and finally showed a rare smile, although it looked more like a grimace.
“Wahahahahaha! So it’s you, little brother! How did you end up here?” The straightforward black ghost officer waved at Liu Dashao warmly.
Liu Dashao, who had just moments ago been confronted by a ferocious black ghost officer, now heard him greeting him kindly. It seemed they actually had a good relationship.
“Who are you?” Liu Dashao asked weakly.
“Don’t you remember? I’m Fan Ba!” The black ghost officer cheerfully replied. Friends meeting again, the previous unpleasantness was quickly forgotten.
“Oh! So it’s you! I thought that voice sounded familiar just now! Hey, big brother! You two have died too? And become ghost officers? You’ve really made it!” Liu Dashao shouted excitedly.
Actually, the white ghost officer had already felt that the little kid beside Old Lady Fan looked familiar, but he hadn’t been sure yet. Now, he was finally certain!
“Hehehe…” The two ghost officers stood together, grinning foolishly, leaving Old Lady Fan and the others completely stunned. What? They were actually on friendly terms with the ghost officers? Oh my God! The world had gone crazy! Even the mouse was the best man at the cat’s wedding!
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