Liu Qi had been quite troubled these past few days. Ever since the day Ajiao arrived in the Netherworld and they had their brief meeting, there had been no word from her. He watched as his elder sister abandoned her lethargic ways of the past two years, heading out every day to search for her daughter. If it weren't for the need to report back daily to their father and mother to let them know she was safe, his sister might not have come home at all.
Liu Qi sighed and continued walking toward the government office where he held a post. Having been in the Netherworld for several years, he had finally adapted to a life where he was no longer the Emperor.
"Master Shen!" Liu Qi greeted Shen Zhi as the man approached from the opposite direction, carrying several scrolls of bamboo slips. He had heard that the Netherworld was planning to establish a new Bureau of Reincarnation, and every department had suddenly become incredibly busy. Nowadays, aside from the task of reaping souls from the mortal realm, almost all other affairs in the Bureau of Soul Induction were being dumped onto "temporary workers" like them.
"Ah, Brother Liu!" Shen Zhi returned the greeting. He suddenly remembered how he had closed his doors on Princess Guantao the other day; when he had stepped out a moment later, she was gone, and she hadn't come looking for him since. He couldn't help but ask, "How has Guantao been lately?"
"Er, my sister... she has been out every day looking for Ajiao. She hasn't been home much." Liu Qi was taken aback. Why was he asking about his sister? Had she been bothering him again? "Has my sister been troubling you again?"
"No, it’s just that she came to me a few days ago asking for help to find Chen Ajiao. I was busy with the establishment of the Bureau of Reincarnation and didn't agree. I think she might be angry with me."
"So that's how it is. I truly apologize; my sister simply cares too much for Ajiao! I will advise her later not to disturb you so casually," Liu Qi said, offering an apology.
"..." Shen Zhi paused. "Then how is she searching now? Does she know anyone in the Bureau of Judgment?"
"She doesn't. She told us at home that she would search the ghost cities one by one. She's out there every day now!" Liu Qi sighed again. He had many children, none of whom were by his side now. He found it difficult to truly understand his sister's exhausting devotion to a single child—even though he knew that, for her, this child was indeed different.
Searching one by one? Did she have any idea how many ghost cities there were in the underworld? "How could she possibly finish such a search?" Shen Zhi frowned.
"My sister is incredibly stubborn! I suspect she won't stop until she finds her."
"...When you see her today, tell her to come find me. I'll find a way to help her look into it."
Liu Qi was somewhat surprised but did not refuse. It was certainly better than his sister wandering aimlessly day and night!
***
"Suiyi City." Guantao glanced at the plaque above the gates of this ghost city. In her heart, she silently criticized the laziness of the naming conventions here. Suijia City, Suiyi City... would the next one be Suibing City?
After her official credentials were inspected, Guantao entered the city.
In these ghost cities, the entry and exit checks were not as strict as those in Yidu. To enter or leave Yidu, one required both official credentials and a specialized token, but for these ghost cities, credentials alone sufficed.
When people died and came to the underworld, they often couldn't get used to a life of idleness. Consequently, when the Netherworld was first established, incidents of ghosts brawling and causing trouble were frequent. Later, as ghost cities were built one after another, the situation improved significantly.
Eventually, the Netherworld simply emulated the mortal realm, creating currency and marketplaces for the ghosts living in these cities, allowing them to live in a manner modeled after their past lives.
The city was quite bustling, but Guantao had no heart for sightseeing. She headed straight for the local Magistrate’s Manor.
Upon reaching the gates, she presented her Yidu token and credentials, requesting an audience with the Magistrate. In the previous Suijia City, everything had gone smoothly, though the actual process of checking the records had been quite a hassle.
"Go, go, leave. He won't see you. Don't you know how busy we are?" The guards at the Magistrate’s Manor drove Guantao away directly.
"What are you doing? I have an important matter and wish to see the Magistrate of this city." Guantao felt a fire of rage smoldering in her chest, yet she didn't dare let it out.
"People come every day with their 'important matters.' Do you think this is your mortal realm?" The guard was extremely impatient.
"The laws of the Netherworld state clearly: any ghost with an urgent matter, possessing official credentials and a residence token, may request an audience with the Magistrate of any city. I had no issues when I went to Suijia City!"
"Then go back to Suijia City! What are you doing here in our Suiyi City?"
"You... you are simply too much!" Guantao was fuming, yet she was utterly helpless.
She considered her options for a moment and decided to move on to the next city.
"Princess? Princess! Your Highness!" As Guantao walked quickly toward the city gates, someone suddenly caught hold of her.
She turned around to see a handsome youth with red lips and white teeth.
Dong Yan!
"Princess, I was afraid I had misidentified you just now. I didn't expect it to really be you!" Dong Yan’s face was full of pleasant surprise.
Guantao grabbed Dong Yan’s hand. "Do you know what is wrong with the Magistrate of this Suiyi City? I have business with him, but he refuses to see me."
Dong Yan was stunned for a moment before answering, "He has always been like that. He only handles affairs one day out of every seven. At all other times, he sees no one."
"Princess, what business have you come to attend to?"
Guantao released her grip on Dong Yan and shook her head. "It’s nothing."
Dong Yan knew better than to pry further. He simply said, "If the Princess has any instructions, please just say the word. Yan was raised by the Princess; no matter the time, I must repay your kindness!"
Guantao looked at Dong Yan and nodded. She truly hadn't expected to see him again. From the age of thirteen when she took him into her manor until his death at thirty, he had always been respectful, meticulous, and devoted to her.
"Where is your home? Lead me there so I may rest for a while." Guantao patted Dong Yan on the shoulder.
"As you command," Dong Yan answered softly. He supported Guantao as they walked through the marketplace toward his residence.
Guantao glanced at her surroundings; it truly did resemble a mortal marketplace. She had heard that ghost cities had markets and streets, but she had been too lazy to look before. Today, she finally saw it for herself.
Passing through the bustling streets, they turned into a small alley. The first courtyard belonged to Dong Yan. It wasn't large, consisting of only a main room and a side room. It looked rather meager.
Dong Yan smiled. "I hope the Princess will not mock me. This courtyard was only possible thanks to the funerary goods the Princess provided for me back then; it is just enough for one person to live in. Is the Princess faring well these days? Is your residence comfortable? This place is, after all, far inferior to the Princess's wealth in the mortal realm."
"I am well. I am staying with my father and mother." Guantao followed Dong Yan into the house and sat in the seat of honor.
Dong Yan served tea.
Guantao took a light sip and said, "Actually, I came to find Ajiao. Ever since Ajiao entered the Netherworld, her whereabouts have been unknown. I am truly worried about her!"
"Please do not worry, Princess. New ghosts are randomly assigned residences upon entering the Netherworld. The Wengzhu must have simply been assigned to another city. Do not worry too much, lest you harm your health!"
***
After finishing his paperwork, Shen Zhi took a moment to visit the Bureau of Judgment, specifically the section known as "The Whither."
This place held records of the destinations of all ghosts who entered the Netherworld; it was very convenient for searching.
"Oh, Master Shen, a rare guest indeed!" Hongsang poked her head out from between the towering bookshelves. "Could it be that there is some urgent matter?"
"Greetings, Lady Hongsang. I have come here wishing to check the destination of a certain ghost."
"Certainly. Give me the official documents, and I'll record it."
Shen Zhi was momentarily embarrassed. "I am here for a private matter. I have no official documents."
Hongsang’s eyes darted around as she smiled. "Master Shen, you are making things difficult for me. The laws of the Netherworld forbid ghost officials from searching the records of mortal ghosts without authorization. Since you have no documents, how can I check for you?"
"Lady Hongsang, please help me. I have been entrusted by another. Should you have any requests in the future, I will certainly do my utmost to assist you."
Hongsang pursed her lips slightly, one hand gently stroking her cheek. "When you put it that way, it makes it hard for a young girl like me to refuse. Fine, fine, I’ll help you this once, but you must remember this favor. Tell me, who are we looking for?"
Hongsang formed a hand seal, and the books on the shelves began to vibrate gently.
"Chen Ajiao. Entered the Netherworld seven days ago. Ancestral home: Donghai Commandery."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. A girl? Could she be... your sweetheart?" Hongsang asked with a half-smile.
"No, she is a relative of a... friend," Shen Zhi replied.
Hongsang drew another seal in the air, and a book flew out from the shelves behind her. "There, look! Remember, don't touch anything else. These books are linked to the three souls and seven po of these mortal ghosts."
Shen Zhi accepted it carefully. He hadn't flipped through many pages before he saw the name Chen Ajiao. On that page, there was only a single, simple line of text: *Hard Labor, four hundred and sixty-eight years.*
Shen Zhi was stunned. How could she have been sentenced? Didn't Liu Piao say her daughter was merely a bit willful in the mortal realm? To cause the loss of so many lives... if that was "willful," she would have to be insane!
Seeing that Shen Zhi’s expression was poor, Hongsang tapped on the bookshelf beside her. "What’s wrong? Why does Master Shen look so pale?"
"It’s nothing!" Shen Zhi returned the book and took his leave in a hurry.
He went to "The Whence."
"Qiao Han, I want to check the past records of two people. One is Princess Guantao, Liu Piao, of the current Han Dynasty, and the other is her daughter, Chen Ajiao." The records in "The Whence" were not as critically sensitive as those in "The Whither" and could be consulted more freely.
"Alright, wait a moment." Qiao Han used his arts to locate the scrolls for these two. "Here they are, these two. See for yourself!"
"Thank you!" Shen Zhi took them.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 祟乙城 | Suiyi City | One of the ghost cities, named using the Heavenly Stems (Jia, Yi, Bing, etc.). |
| 祟甲城 | Suijia City | Another ghost city (City A). |
| 董偃 | Dong Yan | Princess Guantao's famous lover/favorite in history. |
| 去处去 | The Whither | A department/record office in the Bureau of Judgment tracking where souls are sent. |
| 来处来 | The Whence | A department/record office tracking the mortal origins and past deeds of souls. |
| 红桑 | Hongsang | An official in the Bureau of Judgment. |
| 乔函 | Qiao Han | An official in the Bureau of Judgment. |
| 苦役 | Hard Labor | A form of punishment/sentence in the Netherworld. |
| 翁主 | Wengzhu | A title for the daughter of a Princess (specifically used in the Han Dynasty). |
| 东海郡 | Donghai Commandery | Chen Ajiao's ancestral home/place of origin. |
