Eh?
What was happening?
Ah Jiao stared blankly at the Reincarnation Platform before her. Had she not just been reincarnated? She had clearly heard people speaking and seen blurred figures, yet in the blink of an eye, she was back here!
Could that experience just now have been a mere hallucination?
She looked around; Man Yin and the others were there as well. Was it truly just a trick of her mind?
"What are you dazing off for? If you're finished, get down quickly." Yuan Deng was somewhat surprised that this cycle of reincarnation had ended so abruptly, but he recovered quickly, urging them off the stage to make room for the next group.
"We’re already done with reincarnation?" Man Yin let out a long sigh. "I didn't even get a clear look at a single person!"
"Me neither," Ah Jiao echoed in a small voice.
Yuan Deng led them down from the platform, where a ghost official holding a ledger sat behind a desk, beckoning to them.
"Yuan Deng, over here. Bring your group for registration, then go verify their Soul-Guiding Plaques."
"Line up. State your names one by one, then press your handprint into the ledger. Behave yourselves; this is a major matter concerning the reduction of your future punishments."
The ledger was bound with an unknown material that felt soft and supple. It didn't seem like silk or cloth, yet it was very comfortable to the touch.
Ah Jiao thought to herself that if the mortal world had such a thing for writing, it would be far more convenient than bamboo slips!
...
"Chen Ah Jiao."
"Mhm, here. Just press your hand directly onto it."
Ah Jiao pressed down, and sure enough, a fingerprint appeared on the page.
"Wait off to the side for a moment. Lord Shen wants to see you." Ah Jiao was just about to turn away when she heard the ghost official’s voice. She glanced back and saw that the others looked unperturbed.
Yuan Deng’s eyebrows shot up, but he didn't ask questions. "Then wait here for a bit. I’ll take them to finish their business first." He paused. "I'll come back for you."
Yuan Deng was no fool. Who was Lord Shen? He was one of the Twelve Magistrates of the Soul-Seizing Department. He had already noticed that the jade pendant hanging from this female ghost's neck was no ordinary object; it likely had been a gift from Lord Shen.
*Tsk, tsk!* He wondered what their relationship was.
Yuan Deng pondered this as he led the other ghosts away.
Ah Jiao stood by the edge of the Reincarnation Platform, peeking stealthily at the stage.
Another group stepped up!
Suddenly, several figures appeared upon the platform.
Lord Yama shook his head. "The entry and exit on this side are far too chaotic. Let's continue the modifications today—enter from this side, exit from the other. However, there were indeed fewer ghosts whose souls dissipated within the Reincarnation Mirror today. Four groups have gone in now, and only seven souls have been lost. Junior Brother, what do you think?"
"Let's leave that as it is for now. But the duration of a single reincarnation is far too short. That group just now, and this one as well—they returned in less than fifteen minutes. This must be changed!"
"Changing that will take a few days. After all, our previous design was that the greater the merit, the longer the lifespan after reincarnation. These ghosts are all burdened with punishments, so naturally, they won't live long. But how should we change it? Shen Zhi, Yun He, do you have any ideas? Especially you, Yun He—you're full of clever tricks!"
"Hehe, that's because I'm brilliant!" Yun He’s eyes darted around. "Aha! I have it. Why don't we change it so that every ghost has the same lifespan upon reincarnation, but if they commit evil in the mortal world, we subtract a year from that lifespan for every deed? How about that?"
"The idea is sound," Shen Zhi mused, "but if we do that, the connection between the previous life and the next will be severed."
"If it's severed, it's severed. Regardless, every life has to be judged at the Prefecture anyway. We'll just judge them clearly before they reincarnate again."
"This... my Junior Brother and I will think on it further."
***
Ah Jiao waited below the platform for a while. Seeing Shen Zhi and a group of high-ranking ghost-deities deep in discussion, she could only settle her heart and continue waiting.
The Reincarnation Platform was a hive of activity, but Ah Jiao was beginning to find it boring.
She closed her eyes, recalling the brief moments she had just spent back in the mortal world. Though she had only cried for less than fifteen minutes before returning to the Underworld, it was still better than being a ghost who couldn't even manage a tear!
"What are you doing?"
"Lord Shen! Oh, I saw you were busy, so I was waiting for you here and taking a rest."
"Mhm. This reincarnation... how did it feel?"
"It was alright, just a bit short."
"It was indeed short, but that should be changed in the future. I came to find you today to give you this."
Shen Zhi took out a small wooden plaque and handed it to Ah Jiao.
"This is?"
"This is from your mother... She asked you to keep this close to your person. When you reincarnate into the mortal world, keep a good eye on it."
The plaque was only the size of a palm, carved with a line of small characters: *My name is Chen Ah Jiao. No matter where I am born, I have only one mother, and her name is Liu Piao.*
...
"Mother, she..."
"She is fine, though her mood has been a bit poor lately."
"My Lord, please help me comfort my mother. This wooden plaque... I will keep it safe with me!"
"Good. Then take care of yourself. Keep the jade pendant I gave you safe as well. I am still busy here, so I... I'll find a ghost official to escort you back."
"No need, no need. Lord Yuan Deng said he would come find me in a bit."
"Very well. Wait here then. I must return to my duties."
"Mhm! Safe travels, My Lord!" Ah Jiao said obediently.
After seeing Shen Zhi off, Ah Jiao continued to wait for Yuan Deng.
*This Lord Shen... he couldn't actually have feelings for my mother, could he? Tsk, tsk, that's too hard to imagine!*
"Chen Ah Jiao, what are you daydreaming for? Let's go!" Yuan Deng arrived to find Ah Jiao lost in thought.
Ah Jiao snapped back to her senses and followed Yuan Deng.
"Young lady, you dropped something!"
Ah Jiao froze. Realizing there were no other women around, she turned back. She saw a lady dressed in red holding a jade pendant—the very one Lord Shen had given her.
Ah Jiao reached for her neck; sure enough, it was empty.
"Lady Hong Sang. Greetings, My Lady. Chen Ah Jiao, hurry and thank Her Ladyship."
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 引魂牌 | Soul-Guiding Plaque | An identification token for souls in the Underworld. |
| 勾魂司 | Soul-Seizing Department | The bureau responsible for collecting souls. |
| 十二令官 | Twelve Magistrates | High-ranking officials/officers within the Underworld bureaucracy. |
| 阎君 | Lord Yama | The King of Hell/Underworld. |
| 云合 | Yun He | A high-ranking ghost official/deity. |
| 刘嫖 | Liu Piao | Ah Jiao's mother (historically Princess Guantao). |
| 红桑 | Hong Sang | A new female character, addressed as a high-ranking official/lady. |
