Chapter 46 Meng Po and Huang Daopo: I Once Passed by the River of Oblivion

Before going to find Meng Po, Jiang Yuzhi first went to visit the Black and White Impermanence, who were also in the Fengdu Hall.

The training grounds in the main hall are located further back; they are newly developed areas. Originally, there was no such thing as a training ground.

Newly appointed ghost messengers are few in number; after a few training sessions with experienced ghost messengers, they can work together to complete the task of summoning and capturing ghosts. In recent years, in order to cope with the large number of deaths among mortals, the number of ghost messengers has also increased significantly.

There are fewer old ghost messengers than new ones, and the new messengers are inexperienced and often make mistakes. Therefore, in response to the earnest expectations of the Black and White Impermanence, the newly arrived ghost messengers are gathered together for training before being released to be assigned to specific ghosts.

Passing through a sea of ​​red and white spider lilies, and over a thick white fog, you can see dozens of shadowy ghostly figures, neatly arranged, waving something.

Upon entering, one can clearly see that they are a group of newly recruited ghost messengers.

Some waved mourning sticks, others swung soul-hooking chains, and in front of them were dummies made of torn yellow paper, which were extremely sturdy. No matter how the ghost messengers knocked and pulled, they remained intact, without even a single scrap of paper falling off.

The leader of the ghost messengers was neither Xie Bi'an nor Fan Wujiu, but an unfamiliar female ghost with a serious face, also dressed in the uniform of a ghost messenger.

Most of the ghost messengers trained here don't know Jiang Yuzhi, but those who can get in here are naturally not ordinary ghosts.

The leading female ghost glared fiercely at the trained ghost messengers, signaling them not to lose focus, and then went to meet them.

The female ghost stopped five or six steps away from Jiang Yuzhi. "Who are you looking for, sir?"

Jiang Yuzhi was still watching the ghost messengers train when she heard this. She pointed to herself and said, "Me? I'm looking for Master Xie and Master Fan."

Even in the mortal realm, people who are unaware of her identity call her "Sir," but this is the first time it has happened in the underworld.

"The two gentlemen have just left to inspect the eighteenth level of hell."

"Oh, no need to call me sir. My name is Jiang Yuzhi. You can call me whatever you want."

The ghost messengers suddenly realized why they were able to enter the sea of ​​flowers in Fengdu Palace on their own.

Jiang Yuzhi is not in the underworld, but her rumors are everywhere.

Legend has it that there was a young lady who was greatly favored by the Emperor of Fengdu, who treated her better than his own daughter. Master Xie and Master Fan regarded her as a younger sister, she was the beloved pet of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, and even the Di Ting (a mythical beast) was willing to be her mount and play with her.

This young lady is beautiful and kind-hearted. If you accidentally offend your superior, you can ask her to intercede on your behalf and you might be spared from death.

Familiar ghosts can even be called by their names, such as Jiang Xiaoniangzi, Yuzhi, and Xiaozhi, but they are not allowed to call her Zhizhi, because Lord Diting forbids it.

Unfamiliar ghosts usually address her respectfully as Miss Jiang.

The female ghost readily complied, "Yes, Miss Jiang."

Jiang Yuzhi wasn't in a hurry at all. She hadn't been back for a long time and was very curious about the new ghosts in the underworld, especially the female ghosts who were rare among the ghost messengers.

"What's your name? How long have you been a ghost messenger?"

"Miss Jiang, you can just call me Ake. I was just promoted by Master Fan a few days ago to help you two train new ghost messengers."

Ake? Isn't that Zhang Wanying's personal maid, Yicheng Township Lady Zhang Ke? The name matches, and the timeline matches too.

The examination for ghost messengers in the underworld is not simple. First, it tests one's merits and conduct; second, it tests the strength of one's soul; and finally, it tests one's familiarity with the laws of the underworld.

If the first two items are passed, but the last item is not perfect, the candidate will still be eliminated.

When there's still free time in the underworld, the ghost messengers undergo another test—accuracy, strength, and agility. Passing any one of these three tests is sufficient.

Things are different now. Passing the law exam allows one to take up a post, which is why there's an extra training ground for ghost messengers.

Jiang Yuzhi suddenly understood why Ake, a newcomer, was able to become a small leader in charge of managing the ghost messengers.

"I won't bother you anymore, Ake. You must do your job well." Jiang Yuzhi took two steps forward, patted her shoulder, and solemnly instructed her.

Ake didn't understand, but still nodded emphatically.

...

The eighteen levels of hell are not a place Jiang Yuzhi can go to alone. Although she has people protecting her in the underworld, she has no official position and is not protected by the underworld's laws specifically for ghost messengers.

Going there without authorization, without the protection of a powerful demon, would easily result in being harmed by the fierce winds and chilling demonic power of hell.

Jiang Yuzhi decided to go directly to Meng Po.

Meng Po was a young and beautiful woman.

When Jiang Yuzhi first entered the underworld, besides the Black and White Impermanence, the first ghost she saw whose name she could recognize was Meng Po.

At that time, the Black and White Impermanence had just discovered that she was not being drawn by the River of Oblivion and was wandering aimlessly in the underworld, her soul on the verge of dissipating.

Fan Wujiu immediately noticed that something was wrong with Jiang Yuzhi and personally took her to find Meng Po.

Ordinary ghosts, after entering the underworld, are drawn by the River of Oblivion to the Bridge of Helplessness, where they drink a bowl of Meng Po soup to stabilize their souls and await reincarnation.

Drinking another bowl when reincarnated will allow one to forget their past life and enter the cycle of reincarnation.

When Meng Po saw Jiang Yuzhi, she didn't have time to examine her carefully before giving her a bowl of Meng Po soup. Only after Jiang Yuzhi finished drinking it did she begin to observe her soul's state.

The soul is stable, but there is no sign of it being reincarnated.

It was only after the Emperor of Fengdu came to see her that he secretly told the Black and White Impermanence that Jiang Yuzhi possessed a naturally formed treasure—the "Map of Mountains and Rivers," which, though incomplete, could still easily imprison her soul, preventing her from entering reincarnation.

Jiang Yuzhi was able to stay in the underworld permanently and had her own room in the Fengdu Palace.

"Why did you come, Xiao Zhi? Don't you miss your mother-in-law? She's getting on in years, and every meeting is one less." Meng Po was beautiful and loved beauty, but she was keen on calling herself her mother-in-law.

“Mother-in-law…” Jiang Yuzhi was at a loss.

"Alright, alright, I'm just teasing you. What do you want to see Grandma about? Let's go over there and talk. You guys keep an eye on this place. One ghost, one bowl. Don't take more than one bowl. Wait until you hear your name called before you come forward. Anyone who cuts in line can go play in the River of Oblivion."

The little devils and ghost messengers nodded in fear and agreed, no longer daring to be curious about the identity of the ghost.

Along the banks of the River of Oblivion, most of the plants are red spider lilies, swaying in the wind.

In the sea of ​​flowers, there is a small couch for Meng Po to rest on, covered with a carpet.

On the small couch, there was a pot of tea and three teacups.

"Sit down. I know you love Crystal Orchid tea, so I always keep some on hand. I even gave some seeds to Xie Bi'an to take to the mortal realm for you. They've been improved so they can survive there too."

Meng Po gestured for Jiang Yuzhi to sit down and poured her a cup of refreshing flower tea.

Jiang Yuzhi held the tea in her hand, but hesitated to drink it, wondering how to start the conversation.

Meng Po chuckled softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Still being polite with me? Do you treat your mother-in-law like an outsider?"

"I'm just... your mother-in-law. Do you know Huang Daopo?"

"Why did you suddenly ask her?"

"I need her to answer some questions, but we're complete strangers, so I'm just venturing out to her..."

Meng Po looked at her with an ambiguous expression, "You little girl, you worry too much. Granny Huang is the kindest person you can be. Just go, she will definitely like you."

Jiang Yuzhi remained silent; Meng Po always had great faith in her.

Seeing that she didn't speak, Meng Po added, "I haven't said this before, but you and Granny Huang look very similar when you were young."

"Similar?" Jiang Yuzhi asked, puzzled.

“Hmm,” Meng Po gazed at the dark sky, her thoughts drifting away, “However, you are not as brave as her.”

Yes, I am indeed a coward. Jiang Yuzhi lowered her eyes, looking at the petals floating and sinking in the teacup.

"That was before. Now, Xiaozhi is still a brave and good child."

"Me? Brave?"

"Don't doubt yourself. When Granny Huang first came, she was all smiles to everyone. When asked what she was so happy about, she wouldn't say. She would mend the little ghosts' clothes from time to time, chat with me, and always sit by the bridge asking me when it would be her turn to be reincarnated."

"How would I know? The list of those to be reincarnated only includes those born on that day. I just fooled her. Whenever she asked me, I would say tomorrow. Even though Granny Huang knew I was lying to her, she still sat next to me the next day mending clothes."

"Oh my, isn't it infuriating? Granny Huang couldn't be reincarnated in the end. She was right next to me, mending clothes as usual, when the light of her ascension to godhood descended. The underworld hasn't been this bright in a long time."

"She was quite generous; even the ghosts who were reincarnated that day could benefit from her merits in ascending to heaven. When she left, I was quite reluctant to see her go, but she comforted me, saying that it didn't matter if she couldn't be reincarnated. She just wanted to go back to the human world as soon as possible. Even if she became a god, it would be the same as her goal, and she could still find time to come back and see me."

"However, I heard that Granny Huang did not stay in Heaven, but went back to her temple in the mortal world. She even burned paper money for me and said all sorts of pretentious things, which made me feel embarrassed to watch."

Meng Po, holding her teacup, took a sip with restraint and mimicked Huang Daopo's tone, "I came from the mortal realm, entered the underworld, passed the River of Oblivion, but failed to cross the Bridge of Helplessness. I also brushed past the gods of Heaven. I understand that the mortal realm is my true home. But being in the mortal realm, I cannot come to see you whenever I want. Ah Meng, I know you miss me, and I miss you too. Don't worry, I'm doing very well in the mortal realm." Jiang Yuzhi knew Meng Po was being stubborn; she called Huang Daopo pretentious, but she memorized the message verbatim.

Meng Po pondered for a long time, "So, go find her with peace of mind. And while you're at it, please pass on a message for me: tell her not to be so generous, and to learn from those stingy gods in Heaven, to conserve her divine power and live longer."

It's not uncommon for minor deities to exhaust their divine power and vanish into nothingness in order to help mortals.

Jiang Yuzhi nodded thoughtfully.

Suddenly a familiar figure appeared in her sight, and she stood up abruptly.

Following Jiang Yuzhi's gaze, Meng Po narrowed her eyes and said, "How come there's a living soul here? What are the ghost messengers doing? This is outrageous."

"Grandma! I recognize him, I have to take him back!"

Jiang Yuzhi was unusually eager, and Meng Po didn't ask any further questions.

The young man in white stood blankly among the ghosts, his eyes lifeless, being driven by the ghost guards maintaining order to queue up at the Meng Po soup place.

Jiang Yuzhi practically floated to Bai Yan's side, grabbed his wrist, and pulled him out of the line.

"Hey!" The ghost messenger tried to stop him, but was glared at by Meng Po and immediately fell silent.

They returned to the small couch, Bai Yan stared brightly at Jiang Yuzhi's back, and obediently let Jiang Yuzhi pull him away, then pressed him down to sit on the couch.

Meng Po looked at the two ghosts with great interest.

Jiang Yuzhi placed her hands on Bai Yan's shoulders. "What are you doing here?"

Bai Yan pointed to himself. "Me?" He shook his head. "I don't know."

Jiang Yuzhi sighed and met Bai Yan's eyes. "It's alright, I'll take you back right away."

Bai Yan looked bewildered. "Go back?"

Jiang Yuzhi then realized something was wrong, "Do you know where this is?"

Shake head.

Do you know who you are?

Shake head.

Do you know who I am?

He shook his head, paused, then nodded, but remained silent.

Just as Jiang Yuzhi was about to withdraw her hand and turn to ask Meng Po for help, a pair of slender hands cupped her face and turned her back.

These hands were not warm as usual; they were cool, which sobered the ghost up.

Her pale eyes were bright, and her thin lips parted slightly as she spoke words unfamiliar to Jiang Yuzhi.

"You are my wife!"

"What?"

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Author's Note: Bai Yan: Since I couldn't wait for my wife, I had no choice but to come find her myself. [Thumbs up]