The Fox Spirit Sent Me to Explore the Netherworld (IV)

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“Heh, you two truly deserve to be celestial envoys of the netherworld! You can even see through my mission.” I wondered if deceiving them would have any dire consequences. The thought unsettled me.

“Why are you trembling, Xie Lingling? We are not mere underworld bailiffs; we are true deities of the netherworld! Though we dwell here, we receive divine stipends just as the gods above do!” Their words soothed the anxiety in my heart.

“The reason I concealed your purpose in front of the underworld officers and bailiffs was simply to keep the heavenly secrets from them. If you are here by divine mandate, how could we dare punish you? Rest assured! Even if you hide your mission from the King of Hell, you will not suffer any penalty. After all, you are protected by the Bodhisattva.” The thought of being shielded by the Bodhisattva made me smile. The two of them whisked me away swiftly, and soon, we arrived before another city in the netherworld.

This city was magnificently constructed, surrounded by blue bricks, with an imposing tower rising above. The beams of the tower were painted a vivid red, and the characters “City of the Departed” shone fiercely, making me shiver with fear.

“City of the Departed?” I exclaimed, staring at the three characters, panic rising within me as I turned to them. “Sirs, is this one of the halls of the Ten Kings of Hell?” My question made the two burst into laughter.

“Xie Lingling, what are you thinking? This isn’t a King’s Hall, it’s one of the City God’s cities.” Their words interrupted my thoughts, leaving me puzzled.

“But isn’t the City God supposed to be in a temple?” “Heh, even Guanyin is in a temple, but does he live there? Does he never visit the South Sea or Mount Jiulong?” The two bailiffs mocked me gently.

“Come, Miss, the City God must be impatiently waiting.” With this, they led me toward the city gates. Although the bailiffs guarding the gate looked fierce, they greeted us courteously.

They immediately lowered their weapons and welcomed us inside. This city was far more bustling than the city of the underworld authorities, its streets antique but crowded, exuding the lively atmosphere of an ancient imperial capital. I was dazzled by it all.

“Sirs, may I ask you something? Why do some people here have chins while others do not? And why are those without chins dressed differently from those with them?”

The two bailiffs giggled at my question. “Those without chins are the servants of those with chins, so naturally their clothing is inferior. And those without chins are paper people—they rarely speak.”

Their answer only confused me further.

“But wait, why are some with chins dressed in rags?” As I pondered over the people in the street, the two explained, “That’s because their families didn’t burn paper money for them, or perhaps they gambled it away.”

“Gambled? Do they play cards here too?” “Enough with your questions. If you keep asking, you’ll confuse us as well.” The bailiffs led me toward the City God’s residence.

The place where the City God presided over cases resembled a grand palace. The roof was covered with glazed tiles that shimmered, making it hard for me to open my eyes. Two stone lions stood guard at the red gates, their fierce postures impressive.

Two bailiffs stood at the entrance, smiling as they greeted us. One called out loudly, “The errant envoys return, and Heavenly Envoy Miss Xie seeks an audience.” The other bailiff led us into the City God’s mansion.

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Inside, the City God’s mansion was spacious and splendidly decorated. In the grand hall, two rows of ghost soldiers stood, their fierce expressions and glaring eyes making me shiver.

“Xie Lingling, why are you not kneeling before the City God?” At the table sat an elderly man wearing a black official cap and dressed in a red robe, cradling a shining jade scepter, smiling kindly at me.

“Greetings to the City God, may you…” Before I could finish, the old man in red interrupted, “Enough, enough, rise quickly. Xie Lingling, you are sent by the Fox Immortal, protected by the Bodhisattva, tasked by the Jade Emperor to investigate the netherworld; no need for formalities. Stand up!”

Hearing the City God’s words, I rose and looked at his benevolent face.

“Abugu, Haobaye. I sent you to investigate the bailiff of the Path of Forgetting Life. How did it go?” The two bailiffs pointed, and with a shriek, a fat, big-eared underworld officer fell from a green light and landed before the City God.

The bailiffs addressed him, “This is the greedy bailiff from the Path of Forgetting Life, who extorted money from souls and framed innocents. Please question him, City God. If he denies it, Heavenly Envoy Xie Lingling can testify.” “Heavenly Envoy?” The fat man collapsed instantly.

“Zheng De, do you admit your guilt?” The City God’s imposing presence—his spirit, complexion, and black beard—was reminiscent of a Wealth God. His eyes shone as he calmly regarded the fat bailiff.

“Zheng De? Isn’t that the name of the truck driver who killed Xie Jiaying?” Hearing the name, I recalled the driver who had run over the female ghost Xie Jiaying, sharing this name—but he wasn’t fat and big-eared! I shook my head in confusion as I looked at this bailiff.

“Xie Lingling, silence! The City God is presiding; you must not interrupt!” The two glared fiercely at me. “Abugu, Haobaye, let her speak if she wishes. Perhaps she knows something useful for the case.”

The bailiffs lowered their heads as the City God chuckled and asked, “Xie Lingling, do you know Zheng De as well?” I wasn’t sure how to answer, but I nodded anyway.

“City God, I do know a man named Zheng De; he was a truck driver in life. I was young then, but I’d heard of him—he was a man quick to fight and argue, who used his little money to buy influence and oppress others.”

My words aroused the City God’s suspicion. He glared at the kneeling bailiff Zheng De, then turned to me.

“Xie Lingling, are you saying that Zheng De has died?” I nodded in response. “Oh, in that case, to fully investigate Zheng De’s matter, we will need to consult the King of Hell.”

As he spoke, the City God waved his hand. The ghost soldiers wailed, “Court dismissed, the case will be retried another day.” Two bailiffs escorted us into the underworld’s prison.

This prison was extraordinarily constructed—no mortal technique could replicate it. Its walls were made of ice, shining with a blue glow. Bailiffs carried green torches, watching ahead, while another line of bailiffs patrolled outside with the same torches.

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“Meal time!” Two bailiffs brought food that I found impossible to swallow. Was this even food? I saw locusts crawling in the plates.

I recalled that the food of the netherworld was much like ours; they merely smelled it, while we ate it. I pinched my nose, feeling nauseous, and remembered what the Fox Immortal had once told me.

“Xie Lingling, never eat the netherworld’s food. If you do, you’ll become a ghost yourself.” Hearing this, I shuddered and resolved to endure. Meanwhile, the fat bailiff Zheng De ate with relish.

“What delicious noodles, truly exquisite.” When I glanced back, the locusts had transformed into noodles. No, this must be some trick of the bailiff. I turned away.

“Xie Lingling, why won’t you eat these delicious noodles?” Wait—how did this bailiff know my name? First, I wasn’t dead and hadn’t appeared in the Earth God’s temple; how could he know me? I was bewildered.

“How do you know my name? I, Xie Lingling, am a nobody. How would a bailiff know me?” He laughed, “A nobody? You may be small, but your reputation isn’t! When I was driving, you were still a little girl in split pants.”

Could he really be that Zheng De? I glared at him, thinking, “You must be mistaken. The Zheng De I knew didn’t have such a big head!” As soon as I finished, he reverted to his original form, and his appearance terrified me.

“Xie Lingling, you are Xie Jiaying’s cousin. When I ran her over, you were there…” “You killed Xie Jiaying, but why is your own face bloodied?” Seeing the blood on his face and his restless spirit, my heart raced in fear.

“What do you think? I didn’t mean to kill her, but she deliberately caused my death. She threw me from the truck, smashing me against a tree, and still wouldn’t relent. I pleaded and begged, but she gripped my neck, banging me against the tree until my soul left my body!”

Listening to Zheng De, I realized his death wasn’t simply an accident—the crash was merely a cover for the injustice he suffered.

“You are the heavenly envoy sent by the Fox Immortal to seek justice for wronged souls—so who will speak for my injustice? I spent a fortune bribing the bailiffs, just managed to regain my human form, and now you’ve ruined it! Let me show you what it’s like!” The bailiff Zheng De seized my neck, slamming me viciously against the wall.