The Fox Spirit Sent Me to Investigate the Underworld (VII)

The greedy actions of Underworld Official Zheng De and the ghost messenger Guli were exposed by the City God. The arrogant ghost messenger was sealed inside a porcelain vase by the Bodhisattva, never to cause harm to the human world again. As for Zheng De, he was supposed to be sentenced to be cut in two at the waist. Yet, when I last saw the malevolent spirit Liu Heng subjected to that punishment, it was so brutal that I couldn’t help but shed tears before the City God. I pleaded bitterly for Zheng De to be spared that fate and punished otherwise, and in the end, he was cast into the Avici Hell. Such is the retribution that awaits evildoers.

“Miss Xie, it’s thanks to your coming to the underworld and helping us uncover these two corrupt officials, that the grievances between the underworld and the human world have been resolved. This cup of wine was given to you by the King of Hell, with my lordship as his proxy.” “Wine?” But I can’t drink, and besides, I remembered what Fox Immortal Lady told me before I came here—not to eat or drink anything from the underworld, or I’d never return. Yet looking at the City God’s sincere face, I smiled and shook my head.

“My lord, please convey my respects and thanks to the King of Hell. I, Xie Lingling, gratefully accept his kindness, but I really can’t drink alcohol…” “How can that be? Not to mention you, even the righteous gods of this realm would not dare refuse the King of Hell’s gesture. Drink it—this wine will not harm you. When you reach the River of Life and Death, it will help you. You are a divine emissary—how could I harm you?” The City God’s words left me no room to refuse, and with no choice, I drank the cup.

In my eyes, the City God was already so high and mighty; the King of Hell, surely, was even higher. A humble girl like me would have no chance to meet him. Meeting the City God was already a blessing for three lifetimes. At this thought, I smiled softly.

“Miss Xie, the road back to the mortal world is long. I won’t see you off. Take care on your journey.” With that, the City God waved his hand and disappeared before my eyes.

What was going on? Just now, while the City God was present, it was still bright, but now it was suddenly darker than night—so dark I couldn’t see my own fingers. How was I to find my way? Ahead, there was a faint bluish glow, and in the distance, I could make out a small bridge, its stone pillars and railings visible in the gloom.

Oh, how foolish I was! Why hadn’t I asked the City God how to get home before we parted? Well, for now, I’d just walk toward the light. With that, I started toward the dim blue glow.

One step, two steps, three steps—I counted each one, as if to bolster my courage. When I was only a few meters away from the glow, I heard the sinister wind of the underworld and the mournful, wailing cries. Could there be more tormented spirits here? As I continued, anxiety crept into my heart.

“Return my life! I died such a tragic death!” In the distance, I could vaguely see several headless black shadows standing at the edge of the bridge.

What was this place? That cruel underworld official had already been sent to Avici Hell—why were there still vengeful spirits and wild ghosts here? I stood, trembling, gazing at the wronged souls in the faint blue light.

“There is a cause for every grievance, a debtor for every debt. I did you no harm. Go to those who wronged you!” I called out, even as the black shadows slowly moved toward me.

The matters of the underworld were finished. I should be returning to the mortal world—these grievances were none of my concern. Not to mention these few vengeful spirits, even Zheng De and Guli had failed to harm me; after all, I was protected by the Bodhisattva. With a bitter smile, I mustered my courage and stepped onto the bridge.

“Xie Lingling, return my life! I died so miserably!” The vengeful spirit before me had a lower body covered in blood, terrifying me out of my wits.

“Who are you? I don’t know you—why accuse me of causing your death? Don’t falsely blame me!” I said angrily to the headless spirit. “Who are you? Stay away from me!” Suddenly, a chilling wail rose from beneath my feet. A familiar vengeful spirit lay sprawled on the bridge, grinning eerily. “Xie Lingling, your memory is so poor! Have you forgotten me?”

“Liu Heng?” The sight of him sent a wave of panic through me.

“Liu Heng! Let go of me! I had nothing to do with your death. It was your own evil deeds that brought retribution upon you—it has nothing to do with me.” As I spoke, I began to retreat. But, as the elders say, once you set foot on the road of the underworld, there is no turning back.

“It hurts so much, Xie Lingling. You killed me—I want your life in return!” Liu Heng clung to my leg and tried to bite me.

“Hey! Liu Heng! Are you a dog? Let go, or when the patrol officers arrive, you’ll be in real trouble…” Before I could finish, Liu Heng—cut in half by a guillotine—hugged my leg and laughed sinisterly. Terrified, I struggled with all my might, hitting his head with my palm as he clung to the bridge. In that moment, someone gripped my arms tightly from behind. I turned, and the shock left me gasping.

“Xie Lingling, I died so tragically! You brought ruin upon me!” The person behind me was extremely fat, dressed in a crimson cotton jacket, her neck smeared with black-red blood.

“Let go of me! What grudge do you hold against me? I don’t even know you!” The headless fat woman giggled. “You don’t know me? But you bought my flatbread. You caused me to suffer at the edge of the River of Life and Death. I want your life in return!” Her wailing cry sent a chill through me.

“Bought flatbread—you’re the woman who sold flatbread? When the underworld officials were arrested, weren’t you released? How did you end up beheaded?” I asked, noticing her head with two round eyes glaring from the ground. “Don’t blame me for your suffering. You tried to trick me with counterfeit silver notes—that’s your own karma, not mine. Let me go!” The woman only laughed more menacingly.

Her laughter was terrifying and raised goosebumps all over my skin. “Xie Lingling, you talk well, calling it my evil. I should have lived peacefully in the City of Wrongful Death, but you came and ended my life. Now I can’t reincarnate, nor can I exist as a ghost—it’s all your fault. Today, you’ll pay for it with your blood!” No sooner had she finished than another figure appeared—his face covered in blood, blue eyes drooping at the corners, glowing green, and glaring fiercely at me.

He was still dressed as a ghost messenger, with black-red blood seeping from his eyes, nose, and ears. He looked at me as if bewitched, his gaze fixed and unblinking as he advanced step by step.

“Xie Lingling, do you remember me? I was once an underworld soldier, living well here with food and drink. But now, I am a resentful ghost in the River of Life and Death—because of you! You must bear the consequences and return my life!” The ghost messenger reached out to grab me.

How unlucky could I be! I ought to be returning to the living world, yet here I was surrounded by vengeful ghosts. Tears streamed down my face, but it did not move their hearts. They all harbored deep-seated hatred against me.

Fox Immortal Lady, where are you? Please, come save me! My mouth was sealed; I could only cry out in my heart. One after another, hands smeared with black-red blood reached for me.

“Step aside! She ruined us both. If anyone is to kill her, it should be us, not you!” Two ghost messengers with blood-stained faces shouted at the incomplete corpses of vengeful spirits.

“You’re wrong! She harmed you and us too. If she is to die, we have a share in it!” The evil spirits began to argue over who had the right to kill me.

“Heh heh heh, Xie Lingling, you made us unable to live or die. We won’t let you off so easily. Even if we can’t kill you, we’ll throw you into the River of Life and Death to feed the snakes and scorpions!”

“Snakes and scorpions?” I glanced at the river before me, which glowed with a blood-red light that filled me with dread. I imagined it was stained with the blood of all those wronged souls ground to death by the millstone.

“That’s right, the fat woman is right. We can’t keep fighting over killing her—if we do, she’ll escape and our struggle will be in vain,” Liu Heng said, grinning at the other spirits.

“Good idea, Liu Heng. You really are clever. Let her fall into the river and suffer a fate worse than death.” At her words, I panicked, staring at the river.

In the water, besides snakes and scorpions, there were rotten fish reduced to nothing but bones, all baring their jaws and glaring viciously at me. What had this river to do with me? I, Xie Lingling, have never taken a life and dislike eating fish or snakes and scorpions. How had I become entangled with them? The old saying was true: the River of Life and Death teems with snakes and scorpions, waiting for their fated prey. Now, it seemed, my fate was sealed. I closed my eyes in despair.

The vengeful spirits and wild ghosts laughed menacingly as they stared at me, their laughter filling me with terror. My body trembled uncontrollably, and then, to my horror, I felt myself tilting forward. Perhaps this was my destiny.

Woof, woof, woof… Suddenly, the fierce barking of dogs erupted, growing nearer and nearer. The vengeful spirits released me and watched as a pack of black, menacing dogs charged toward us, then vanished into black smoke before my eyes.

These fierce dogs, their fur bristling like wolves, snarled and wagged their tails as they glared at me, their eyes glowing green, bloody jaws gaping, baring sharp teeth.

“Are you going to eat me? I’ve never harmed you!” I cried, retreating. After a few steps, a sharp pain shot through my head—I turned and found myself pressed against a black wall.

This was it. If I was to be torn apart by these dogs, I’d rather leap into the River of Life and Death—better that than being ripped to shreds. In ancient times, Meng Jiangnu threw herself into the Bohai Sea; now, Xie Lingling leaps into the River of Life and Death. How tragic!

With tears in my eyes, I closed them, let out a desperate cry, and jumped into the blood-red river.