Extra Chapter: My First Meeting with Little Shen Laoye (4)
The sound of the broom scraping across the bluestone slabs has become a habit.
Shen Qing shook his sore arms, and the sweat on his forehead mixed with the mud flowed down and condensed into small drops of water at the tip of his chin.
This is his fifth day sweeping the floor at Naihe Bridge.
The days passed like the water in the Styx, turbid and unchanging——
I was awakened by the sound of a gong by the ghost catcher before dawn (finally I didn't have to have cold water splashed on my face anymore), and was brought to the bridgehead with half a hard black steamed bun in my pocket. I was not taken back to the cell until the sun went down.
The rags on his body had lost their original color.
Sweat stains left dark marks under the armpits, and if you got close you could smell a sour, rancid smell.
Shen Qing sniffed secretly into the crook of his arm, and his brows instantly twisted into knots——
If he continues like this, he will suffocate himself to death without the ghost catcher having to do anything.
"Young man, take a break?"
Meng Po's voice came from the soup shed, along with the sound of pottery bowls colliding.
The old lady always liked to wear a gray cloth coat, with a smile on her wrinkled face.
The soup bowl handed over is always half fuller than the one given to others.
These days she always finds some small talk to chat with him,
From when the bluestone slabs of Naihe Bridge were laid, to what kind of paper money the fish in the Styx like to eat the most,
The chattering made this gloomy place more lively.
Shen Qing put down his broom and walked over, taking the empty bowl (he didn't dare drink the soup that could make him forget the past), and whispered a thank you.
"Meng Po, do you think there is a place in the underworld where I can take a bath?"
He scratched the back of his head and the tips of his ears felt a little hot.
Meng Po paused as she scooped the soup. A hint of surprise flashed across her cloudy eyes. Then she smiled.
"Don't touch ordinary water. Washing with it will corrode your bones."
"If you really can't stand it, walk three miles to the other side of the bridge. There's a hot spring, but it's under close guard."
She suddenly lowered her voice.
"But you'd better not provoke those patrols. Our respected god hates those who don't follow the rules the most."
"God?"
Shen Qingze's heart skipped a beat.
I have heard Meng Po talking about this in the past few days. There is a ghost master in the underworld who lives in the deepest ghost house. He is usually invisible, but he can make the black and white impermanence tremble with fear.
It is said that he can scare away evil spirits with just a glance.
"It is the master of our underworld,"
Meng Po sprinkled some herbs into the soup.
"He has a very strange temper. We little guys should stay away from him."
Shen Qing nodded, but he started to make some plans in his mind.
Stay away? He just wanted to find some water to wash himself clean.
The hot springs are under close surveillance, but what about the River Styx?
He glanced at the black water roiling beneath the bridge.
Even though it looks scary, it's still okay to just wash your face, right?
As the sun sets, the number of ghosts queuing for soup gradually decreases, and the patrolling ghosts also change shifts.
Shen Qing seized the opportunity, crouched down and sneaked behind a secluded stone pier at the end of the bridge.
The railing here is missing a corner, and the river bank is steep below.
The dark river water hits the rocks, splashing cold water.
He climbed up the slippery stone wall and slid down slowly. His trouser legs were cut several times and his palms were bleeding.
But when I thought about being able to wash away the bad smell, the pain was nothing.
After standing firmly on his feet, Shen Qing squatted down, scooped up a handful of river water and wiped it on his face——
The cold water had a slight fishy smell, but it instantly washed away the plaster on my face, revealing the pale skin underneath.
He sighed comfortably and was about to scoop up another handful to rub on his arm.
Suddenly, a bubble popped up on the water surface.
"How dare you, the imprisoned ghost! How dare you trespass into the Styx with the intention of escaping!"
A loud shout rang in my ears.
Shen Qingze looked up suddenly and saw a ghost in black armor emerging from the water.
The iron fork in his hand flashed coldly and pointed directly at his face.
"I'm not! I'm not!"
Shen Qing stepped back subconsciously, but was held down by the two ghost messengers who came from behind.
The cold iron chain wrapped around his wrists with a clang, causing pain in his bones.
"How dare you quibble!"
The leading ghost kicked him in the knee, and Shen Qing staggered to his knees.
His knees hit the sharp rocks and the pain made him feel dizzy.
"The Styx is a forbidden place. You are lingering here. Are you planning to jump into the river and escape?"
The ghosts around had already been scared away.
Meng Po stood at the end of the bridge, rubbing her hands anxiously, but was stopped by the ghost next to her and could not get close.
Shen Qing watched as more and more ghost officials gathered around him, with only one thought in his mind:
It’s over. Even jumping into the Yellow River (oh no, the Styx) won’t clear me of all guilt.
He was dragged by the chain to the other side of the bridge, his knees knocked on the ground and left several bloody marks.
The ghost officials' scolding sounded like whips in my ears.
"You dare to act wildly on the master's territory? Wait for your trial in the hall of the ghost house!"
"Let the gods see your courage!"
Shen Qingze was dragged so hard that he stumbled and cursed himself a thousand times in his heart.
I just wanted to take a shower, why did I get into so much trouble?
Would the deity who even Meng Po fears really use the ten cruel tortures on him?
Cold sweat trickled down my spine, mixed with the sour smell on my body, giving rise to a sense of absurd despair.
If I had known this would happen, I would rather continue to be a stinky salted fish!
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The dome of the ghost house's lobby is so high that you can't see the top.
Gilded ghost patterns are coiled around the ebony beams, and each line seems to be wriggling.
The golden brick floor shone with a cold and hard light, reflecting Shen Qingze's distorted shadow as he was forced to kneel.
The ghosts who were originally standing on both sides had already scattered like birds and beasts, and only the ghost fire burning in the niche was still flickering.
The plaque with the words "Pure and Just Under Heaven" flickered.
The sound of the iron chain dragging across the ground echoed in the empty space, hitting the beams and bouncing back, like countless wronged souls grinding their teeth.
"Your Excellency! I have captured a ghost slave who was trying to escape in the Styx. Please give me your orders to deal with him!"
The ghost escorting him knelt on one knee, and the copper ring on his armor hit the gold brick, making a crisp sound.
The flattery in his voice was hotter than the ghostly fire in the alcove.
Shen Qingze's gaze passed over the shoulders of the ghost messengers and fell on the throne at the top of the hall.
The chair was carved from a whole piece of black jade, and the back of the chair was embossed with a nine-headed snake spitting out its forked tongue.
The red agate inlaid with the snake's eyes flashed fiercely in the black fog.
A gaze shot out from the fog, with a chill like ice chips.
The hair on the back of his neck stood up instantly, like a frog being stared at by a poisonous snake.
There was a sudden sharp pain in my wrist. The golden light from under the rag sleeve was spreading little by little, like cinnabar dripping on rice paper.
"Roll up his sleeves."
The voice from the throne was wrapped in ice particles, and the corners of the black robe swayed gently in the mist.
The exposed silver-gray hair looks very much like frost flowers condensed on branches in winter.
The ghosts rushed over and tore at his sleeves. The sound of the rough linen being torn was particularly harsh.
The golden light of the talisman suddenly exploded and circled around his wrist like a startled golden snake.
Shen Qingze's heartbeat hurt his ribs.
The silhouette of the man in the fog became clearer and clearer. The star pattern embroidered on his black robe was exactly the same as the ghost figure he saw when he signed the contract that day.
That's the liar!
Just as he was about to open his mouth to scold, he saw the fingertips of the "Honorable God" lightly touch the armrest, and the red agate eyes of the nine-headed snake relief suddenly lit up.
"Take him to the palace, and ask Aunt Ghost to clean him up. Wait for my decision."
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