As the twelfth lunar month approached, the offerings at the various shrines in the mortal realm grew much more abundant. The City God was beaming as he distributed the sacrificial offerings to the various divine officials within the City God Temple.
Suddenly, a figure appeared abruptly inside the temple.
The City God was startled at first, but when he regained his composure and looked closer, he saw a man clad in black. His robes were embroidered with continuous water-cloud patterns that seemed to shimmer like ripples under the sunlight, captivating the soul yet exuding a silent, heavy pressure. His countenance was stern and his presence majestic.
"This humble subordinate greets the Department Head." By rights, the head of a department in the Underworld should be addressed as a Ghost Emperor—such as Ghost Emperor Fei Kang of the Judgment Department or Ghost Emperor Dong Fu of the Soul-Hooking Department. However, when the Reincarnation Department was established, Shen Zhi had declined the title, claiming his cultivation was insufficient to be called a "Ghost Emperor." Thus, he was referred to as the "Department Head."
Yet, as far as the City God knew, the authority held by this Department Head Shen was no different from that of the two Ghost Emperors.
Shen Zhi merely gave a casual grunt of acknowledgment and walked straight into the inner chambers. The City God led a few divine officials to follow him, while the others tactfully dispersed.
With a wave of his hand, Shen Zhi sent a glow flying from his palm to one side, where it expanded and transformed into a human form.
"The Little Immortal Official!" the City God exclaimed.
"I was originally at the Judgment Department when a warning suddenly indicated she was in danger, so I rushed to her aid," Shen Zhi explained. While he was at it, he had retrieved the red pearl he had placed on the mortal Emperor two years ago.
After all, it was an object imbued with spiritual power; leaving it on a mortal for too long was not a viable solution. He had forgotten to take it back last time, so he had simply collected it now.
The City God nodded and asked, "Shall I fetch the temple’s physician to examine her?"
Seeing Shen Zhi nod, one of the divine officials hurried out.
"Also, I intend to investigate someone while I am here. City God, summon the official in charge of Chang'an's internal affairs to accompany me."
The physician entered shortly after and hurriedly inspected Chen Ajiao’s soul. Finding no abnormalities, he reported, "There is nothing wrong. She simply fainted from exhaustion. A single pill to restore her spiritual energy will suffice." As he spoke, he produced a black pill and fed it to her.
A short while later, Ajiao let out a soft moan and opened her eyes.
"Master Shen!" She propped herself up, attempting to sit.
Seeing her complexion gradually returning to normal, Shen Zhi said, "Sit properly and regulate your breathing. Keep your mind free of distractions."
"Yes." Ajiao sat cross-legged and began to circulate the spiritual power within her body. She wondered if it was just her imagination, but her internal spiritual power seemed to have increased slightly.
After guiding the power through a full circuit, Ajiao confirmed that her spiritual reserves were indeed more substantial. Once the energy settled throughout her body, she slowly exhaled.
Opening her eyes, she said, "Master Shen, I feel that the spiritual power within me has become more vast."
Shen Zhi nodded slightly and smiled. "You exhausted your entire strength to cast a spell just now; it is not surprising that you achieved a breakthrough." Seeing Ajiao’s eyes suddenly light up, he guessed her thoughts and said in a heavy tone, "However, such things are a matter of chance and cannot be forced. You must never recklessly put yourself in danger just for this, do you understand?"
Feeling a bit guilty, Ajiao nodded obediently.
Shen Zhi continued, "Regarding the matter of Lin Gao you mentioned last time, I returned to the Underworld to check the records. There were no obvious anomalies, but it is better to investigate such things in person. If there is no major issue, we need not concern ourselves further. You shall come with me."
Hopping off the small couch, Ajiao stood obediently behind Shen Zhi.
The City God here managed the capital and its surrounding commanderies, appointing a divine official to oversee each county. Once Chen Wei, the official specifically in charge of Chang'an City, arrived, the three of them set off toward the city.
Ajiao had the lowest cultivation and the shortest range for instantaneous movement, so to avoid delay, Shen Zhi simply brought her along with him.
Once inside the city, they headed straight for the Chen family estate in Guanshang Li.
Ajiao suddenly remembered something. "Master Shen, Lin Gao is no longer at the Chen estate. Liu Che transferred him to the vicinity of Baling to manufacture paper."
Shen Zhi replied, "I know. But to investigate such a matter, one must visit the place of his birth. Whether it be immortal, demon, god, or ghost, the place of birth will always retain a person's most primal aura. Have you remembered that?"
Ajiao nodded to show she had.
Upon arriving at the Chen estate, they saw servants and maids passing by with expressionless faces, moving in a great hurry.
"Tsk, could it be that the Chen family has some distinguished guest?"
Ajiao and the official Chen Wei exchanged a glance, only to see Shen Zhi walk directly toward the outer courtyard where the servants resided. He stopped outside a particular room.
"Chen Wei, have there been any anomalies here in recent years?"
Chen Wei replied, "None. All has been well."
Ajiao was also puzzled.
A jade-green bamboo slip slowly appeared before Shen Zhi, covered in dense, tiny characters.
As Shen Zhi read, he explained, "On the twenty-seventh day of the second lunar month in the third year of Yuanding, during the hour of the Dragon, Lin Gao fell into the water. His name appeared in the Underworld's ledgers, yet on the first day of the third month at the hour of the Horse, he came back to life!"
"..." Ajiao was silent for a moment before asking, "Did no one come to hook his soul?"
"Er," Shen Zhi paused. "He was an insignificant person; perhaps they forgot at the time."
Ajiao felt like clapping her hands in exasperation. Whether from Yun He or Shen Zhi, she could sense that although the Underworld governed mortal affairs, its rules and regulations were not meticulous, and loopholes appeared frequently.
Then she thought about how the Underworld was constantly short-staffed, and it began to make sense. The Underworld was currently trying to recruit the "Kings, Dukes, Generals, and Ministers" who entered its gates; the shortage of personnel was likely a major reason for that.
However, despite the loopholes, everything was gradually being perfected—the establishment of the City God system was an example of this.
After a brief probe, Shen Zhi said, "No abnormal objects have appeared here. On the contrary... it is too clean. Lin Gao’s aura cannot be found here at all."
Chen Wei remarked, "That is the greatest anomaly of all."
Ajiao asked, "But didn't Master Qi say before that after a person dies, their aura gradually returns to their soul? Could it be that his aura has all returned to his ghost?"
Shen Zhi looked up toward the direction of Baling and said, "Only mortal ghosts who are officially registered in the Underworld can attract their worldly aura back to them. Wandering spirits and lonely ghosts in the mortal realm do not have that ability. Let us go to Baling."
"Alright." A surge of heroic excitement rose in Ajiao’s chest; this was her first time participating in an investigation!
After walking a few steps, Shen Zhi suddenly stopped and said to Ajiao, "Your Liu Che is here. Do you want to see him before we leave?" Before he had come to the mortal realm, A-Piao had nagged him repeatedly, insisting he find a way to create opportunities for Ajiao and the mortal Emperor.
He knew that A-Piao and Dou Yifang in Yidu both desperately hoped Ajiao could stay in Yidu by their side.
But he felt it was unnecessary. They had forgotten that Ajiao was already a ghost messenger of the Underworld; in the end, she could not remain in Yidu forever. When Liu Che, this Emperor, grew old, the name "Chen Ajiao" would not appear among the choices for his Empress.
Tsk, he seemed to have forgotten to tell A-Piao this. Oh well, it must be because he had worked with Yun He for too long.
Ajiao blinked. "Huh?"
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
司主 | Department Head / Sizhu | A title for the head of a department in the Underworld (Difu).
鬼帝 | Ghost Emperor | A high-ranking title in the Underworld, usually held by department heads.
轮回司 | Reincarnation Department | The department managed by Shen Zhi.
审判司 | Judgment Department | The department managed by Fei Kang.
勾魂司 | Soul-Hooking Department | The department managed by Dong Fu.
神力 | Spiritual Power / Divine Power | The energy used by deities and ghost officials.
元鼎 | Yuanding | A reign era of Emperor Wu of Han (Liu Che).
霸陵 | Baling | The location of the tomb of Emperor Wen of Han, where Lin Gao is working.
臣炜 | Chen Wei | The divine official in charge of Chang'an City.
王侯将相 | Kings, Dukes, Generals, and Ministers | A collective term for high-ranking nobility and officials.
阿嫖 | A-Piao | The nickname/informal name for Princess Guantao (Ajiao's mother).
懿都 | Yidu | The ghost city/capital for the spirits of the Han elite.
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