The little demons who were enforcing the law heard the voice and immediately halted their actions. They bowed respectfully toward the direction of the sound and loudly proclaimed, “We greet Her Majesty the Underworld Queen.”
Yun Qingxue also turned to look and saw a figure running joyfully along the path nestled between the Mountain of Knives and the Sea of Flames. The person moved with light and cheerful steps, quickly closing the distance until they stood right before her.
“Qingxue, you’re dead!” Xiao Xiaoxiao cheerfully ran up to Yun Qingxue and greeted her with a smile.
Yun Qingxue’s lips twitched involuntarily. Even though this was just an illusion, she was happy to see Xiao Xiaoxiao—but why was this girl still so clueless even in a fantasy setting?
What kind of best friend greets someone after a long separation with, “You’re dead!”
“I…” Yun Qingxue opened her mouth to explain that she was very much alive.
But before she could speak, Xiao Xiaoxiao blurted out with genuine sincerity, “Oh, Qingxue, when did you die? Why didn’t you tell me? I would’ve personally escorted you to the underworld!”
Yun Qingxue stared at Xiao Xiaoxiao in silence…
Xiao Xiaoxiao lowered her head slightly, a guilty yet ingratiating smile on her face. “Don’t be mad, Qingxue. I didn’t mean to skip out on picking you up myself… But don’t worry! Now that you’re here in the underworld, I’ve got your back! I, Xiao Xiaoxiao, promise you—no ghost in this realm will dare bully you!”
Yun Qingxue: “…”
She had inexplicably ended up in the underworld’s hell, and now she was being declared dead…
Seeing Yun Qingxue still silent, Xiao Xiaoxiao assumed she was upset about not being personally escorted to the underworld and quickly added, “I just didn’t know you’d died! If I had, I would’ve gone myself. And as soon as I heard Xiao Bai mention you were here, I rushed over immediately.
“If you’re still mad, how about this? You go back to the living world, pretend to die again, and I promise I’ll personally come get you!”
Yun Qingxue: “…”
“Qingxue, is this your friend? Did you two die together? To make up for not picking you up myself, I’ll let your friend return to the living world with you.
“Buy one, get one free—I’ll personally escort both of you! Pretty generous, huh?” Xiao Xiaoxiao rambled on.
Watching Xiao Xiaoxiao chatter away, Yun Qingxue felt torn between laughter and exasperation. Buy one, get one free?
Daisy had now been declared dead alongside her…
Daisy frowned at Xiao Xiaoxiao. She could sense the woman meant no harm, but her constant talk of death was grating.
Still, it seemed her mistress knew this woman—they were friends.
But seriously, what kind of friend greets you by announcing your death?
“Qingxue…” After a long monologue, Xiao Xiaoxiao finally noticed Yun Qingxue’s silence and pouted.
“Xiaoxiao…” Yun Qingxue seized the brief pause to clarify, “I’m not dead!”
Xiao Xiaoxiao blinked, then nodded understandingly, adopting a patronizing tone. “Okay, okay, if you say you’re not dead, then you’re not dead!”
Yun Qingxue: “…”
“We really aren’t dead!” Daisy couldn’t help but reiterate.
“Sure, sure, whatever you say!” Xiao Xiaoxiao smiled indulgently.
Yun Qingxue sighed in frustration. Giving up on explanations, she grabbed Xiao Xiaoxiao’s hand and pressed it firmly. “Feel that? My hand’s warm! Have you ever met a ghost with body heat?”
“Ooh?” Xiao Xiaoxiao marveled, clicking her tongue. “Divine beings are different! Even as ghosts, they still have warmth!”
Yun Qingxue: “…”
There was no reasoning with her. She gave up.
Besides, this underworld was likely just an illusion. Still, seeing an old friend—even in a fantasy—was a rare joy.
She just hoped this beautiful illusion wouldn’t turn into some cliché assassination plot.
She hoped Xiao Xiaoxiao, who was now laughing and chatting with her, wouldn’t suddenly reveal her true nature and draw a blade in the next second.
If that happened, she wouldn’t hesitate to strike back—after all, this wasn’t the real Xiao Xiaoxiao.
“Xiaoxiao, we accidentally ended up here. Can you help us leave?” Yun Qingxue asked.
“Qingxue… you’re really not a ghost?” Xiao Xiaoxiao scrutinized her carefully, suspicion creeping into her voice.
“I’m really not. Believe it or not…” Yun Qingxue replied weakly.
“Fine, I believe you!” Xiao Xiaoxiao finally stopped insisting she was a ghost.
But then she couldn’t resist asking, “If you’re not dead, how did you end up in the underworld? And why are you in the Mountain of Knives and Sea of Flames of the Eighteen Hells?”
Yun Qingxue shook her head. “I have no idea. Do you have a way to get us out?”
Xiao Xiaoxiao frowned. “I don’t.”
Seeing Yun Qingxue’s troubled expression, she quickly added, “But I can take you to see Mingdi—that guy’s the boss here. Sending you back should be a piece of cake for him!”
“Alright.” Yun Qingxue nodded. The path they’d taken had vanished, so they had no choice but to proceed step by step.
Right now, the priority was figuring out whether this underworld was just another illusion within Yunhuang.
“Xiaoxiao, I’ve always been curious about something…” Yun Qingxue walked alongside her and voiced her question.
“What is it?” Xiao Xiaoxiao asked eagerly.
“Do the paper offerings burned by the living actually reach the souls here?”
“Of course!” Xiao Xiaoxiao nodded. “Unless they were truly wicked in life, most ghosts receive what their living relatives send them.
“But those who committed great evils? They get nothing. Worse—they’re sent to hell for punishment. The ones you saw earlier? They’re the worst of the worst.”
“Since you’ve been a ghost for so long… have you ever gone back to see your family?” Yun Qingxue asked softly.
A faint sadness flickered across Xiao Xiaoxiao’s face. “What’s there to see…”
Then, as if struck by a thought, she turned to Yun Qingxue. “Do you still have someone you can’t let go of in that world?”
Yun Qingxue blinked innocently. “Which world? What are you talking about, Xiaoxiao?”
“The 21st century, of course! Qingxue, you and I came from the same place—except I became a ghost, and you got isekai’d. Don’t you remember?” Xiao Xiaoxiao eyed her suspiciously.
“What was that world like?” Yun Qingxue pressed.
“Qingxue?” Xiao Xiaoxiao stopped walking, concern etched on her face as she studied Yun Qingxue. Something felt very wrong.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage