Chapter 43 043 The Book of Fate: Two guests, would you like to stay in the water villa or...?
Is the ghost realm so short-staffed that they have to hire a judge to work part-time as Meng Po (the goddess of forgetfulness in Chinese mythology)?
And that's Meng Po, you know! You can't find an old woman anywhere in the entire ghost realm, so why did you have to find a handsome young man to impersonate her?!
Yun Tianjiao's complicated expression was written all over her face. Judge Xiao Yan glanced at her, clearly guessing what she was thinking, but he was too lazy to explain. He still had that world-weary expression, treating the two of them as if they were nothing, picked up the carrying pole again, and silently walked out of the alley.
Zhiwei gestured for Yun Tianjiao to continue following Xiao Yan, and took the initiative to explain: "Xiao Yan used to serve as Meng Po, but because of his photographic memory and skill in solving cases, he was transferred by the Ghost King to be a judge."
Xiao Yan then let out a sarcastic laugh, the meaning of which was unclear.
Unable to fathom this person's temperament, Yun Tianjiao whispered to Zhiwei, "But shouldn't Meng Po be an old woman? That's how it's described in mortal stories."
Unexpectedly, Xiao Yan had very sharp ears and overheard what Yun Tianjiao was saying. He complained impatiently, "It's because of this rumor that it's been widely spread in the mortal world that many mortal souls who cross the Bridge of Helplessness don't believe I'm the real Meng Po when they see me. They even suspect I'm a fraud and refuse to drink the Meng Po soup."
So that's why she had to disguise herself and dress up as Meng Po in people's minds?
Yun Tianjiao suddenly felt a sense of irony.
"Is it funny?"
Xiao Yan's deathly pale face suddenly appeared in front of Yun Tianjiao, and a sheep's hair brush soaked in ink appeared in his hand without him noticing.
Zhiwei silently shielded Yun Tianjiao behind her and said to Xiao Yan, "Since the person we are looking for has not crossed the Bridge of Helplessness to be reincarnated, let's check her fate book first."
The three of them had arrived at the entrance of a government office. The plaque above read "Hall of Yama". Many people dressed like Xiao Yan were going in and out, but Xiao Yan's official robe was a deep red, unlike the dark green of the others.
"I'm very busy today, I don't have time for such trivial matters." Xiao Yan refused all extra work.
"No rush, you go ahead with your official duties for today, we can wait," Zhiwei said calmly.
"No, after I finish my official duties, I still need to go home and brew the Meng Po soup." Xiao Yan refused all extra overtime.
Zhiwei wasn't annoyed. She looked at Xiao Yan with a smile in her peach blossom eyes, as if she had suddenly thought of something: "I heard General Youwei say some time ago that there seems to be an excellent candidate for Meng Po, and he wants to recommend her to His Majesty the Ghost King to relieve your burden of having to do both jobs. Why don't I talk to General Youwei about it, or maybe we should just forget it. Our Lord Xiao seems to really like being Meng Po."
Xiao Yan, like a snake whose vital spot had been seized, glared resentfully at Zhiwei for a moment before finally giving in.
"Come with me."
So the two followed him into the Hall of Yama, and arrived at the Book of Fate.
Inside the Book of Fate office were rows and rows of endless shelves of files, densely packed with the fate books of mortals.
Xiao Yan searched for a while before finally finding Shen Qiongzhi's Book of Fate, which was just a thin little booklet.
"How old is this Miss Shen you're looking for?" Xiao Yan asked.
Yun Tianjiao said, "Fifteen years old."
Xiao Yan nodded: "Then that's it. Her lifespan was exactly fifteen, specifically, she passed away two days ago."
Two days ago, Yun Tianjiao and his group were in the Puppet Bride's Secret Realm.
"So, Shen Qiongzhi really is dead." Yun Tianjiao was somewhat disappointed. "She didn't cross the Bridge of Helplessness to be reincarnated, so could she really have stayed in this ghost realm? This is a bit troublesome."
It is extremely difficult for a person to establish themselves in the ghost realm after death, especially for a new soul without relatives or friends and no one to help them. Unless they have an extremely deep attachment, no one is willing to endure this suffering.
"What's so difficult about that? Just have His Majesty the Ghost King send out more ghost messengers to search the entire Ghost Realm. Are you afraid we won't find a... little girl?"
Xiao Yan suddenly felt a chilling gust of wind, causing him to stammer the rest of his words. Only then did he belatedly realize that Zhiwei was looking at him coldly from the side.
Yun Tianjiao was puzzled. "His Majesty the Ghost King? How could someone like that concern himself with such a matter?"
Xiao Yan glanced at Zhiwei somewhat guiltily, then added, "What I meant was that you have a good relationship with General Youwei. General Youwei is a confidant of His Majesty the Ghost King, so perhaps you can say a few words. It's just a matter of mobilizing some ghost messengers; it's not a big deal."
Yun Tianjiao hesitated and looked at Zhiwei, "Is this method feasible?"
Zhiwei nodded: "It's worth a try."
"That's good." Yun Tianjiao breathed a slight sigh of relief. Just as she was about to leave the Book of Fate, she suddenly stopped, looked back, and hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but couldn't.
“I know what you want to ask.” Xiao Yan spoke first this time, his eyes, which always seemed tired and impatient, looked at Yun Tianjiao and finally became serious. “I have been on the Bridge of Helplessness for hundreds of years, but I have never seen you. There is no record of your fate in the Book of Fate.”
Yun Tianjiao raised an eyebrow; this was unexpected.
Why is this happening?
Xiao Yan said, "The Book of Fate only manages the Book of Fate for mortals, and crossing the Bridge of Helplessness is merely a complete rebirth to sever ties with the mortal world. In other words, you are not an ordinary person, and even if you have been reincarnated, you are not a reincarnation of an ordinary mortal."
After leaving the Yama Palace, Yun Tianjiao kept pondering Xiao Yan's words.
According to the memories of her past lives in the Reincarnation Mirror, after Yu Meng died and her soul dissipated, she did not truly disappear completely from the world. Otherwise, she would not exist now, nor would she have the vague memories of her previous two lives.
But Xiao Yan said she should never have been reincarnated. So what are her vague memories of the two lifetimes?
Before they knew it, they had arrived at General You Wei's residence. Unfortunately, General You Wei was not at home this time, but had gone out with his wife.
Yun Tianjiao originally thought that the matter of borrowing the ghost messenger was hopeless, but unexpectedly, things took a turn for the better. Zhiwei found another acquaintance in the Ghost Realm's Ministry of War who could also speak to the Ghost King. In less than an hour, they received the Ghost King's order to dispatch them.
The two found a teahouse and waited for news while enjoying tea.
"Zhiwei, you really do have quite a few connections in the Ghost Realm. You wouldn't happen to be a ghost cultivator who entered the divine path, would you?"
Zhiwei paused slightly in the teacup, but quickly regained her composure and joked, "If I were truly a ghost cultivator who had entered the Dao, would Your Highness find me distasteful?"
"Why would you look down on it? When people die, they all become ghosts, and after being reincarnated, they become flowers, trees, birds, and beasts. After cultivating, they become demons. Humans, ghosts, and demons can all ascend to become gods after cultivating the Tao. What's the difference?"
Yun Tianjiao spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world, which made Zhiwei's momentary nervousness seem rather funny.
“Your Highness is right,” Zhiwei smiled gently. “I was narrow-minded.”
Yun Tianjiao: "Speaking of which, I've never heard you mention anything about before your ascension."
Zhiwei thought for a moment and said, "I don't remember much about what happened before I ascended. I was probably too weak after ascending and damaged my original essence. I only have a vague impression of many past events."
Yun Tianjiao sighed, "In that case, we are in the same boat."
Zhiwei's eyes seemed to speak volumes as she gazed tenderly at Yun Tianjiao, making her feel somewhat embarrassed and causing her to look away.
About two hours later, after Yun Tianjiao and Zhiwei had finished their dinner, the head of the Ministry of War returned with a message saying that they had searched the entire Ghost Realm but still couldn't find Shen Qiongzhi.
Yun Tianjiao frowned. "How could this be? The person is already dead. They haven't crossed the Bridge of Helplessness, nor are they in the Ghost Realm. Where could they have gone?"
After pondering for a long time, Zhiwei said, "Within these six realms, there is another place for the departed souls."
Yun Tianjiao: "Where is it?"
Zhiwei: "Together with the Pagoda of Sorrow."
The Tower of Sorrow is a place in the Heavenly Realm where evil ghosts and demons are imprisoned, and it is not under the jurisdiction of the Ghost Realm.
Yun Tianjiao asked in confusion, "Shen Qiongzhi was just a mortal girl. Even if she became a vengeful ghost after dying unjustly, she shouldn't have become an evil ghost, right? Zhiwei, do you have a way to take me into the Tower of Sorrow? If she is really imprisoned there, I must demand an explanation from the Heavenly Realm."
Zhiwei said, "There is a way to get in, but the Tower of Sorrow is filled with extremely dangerous creatures. I need three days to make something to protect Your Highness."
"Three days? Are we going to live in the ghost realm for three days?"
Zhi smiled and said, "Your Highness only passed through the Ghost Realm briefly last time. Why not stay for a couple more days this time? I know an excellent inn that will not disappoint you."
Yun Tianjiao thought that if he returned empty-handed, it would be difficult to explain to the Shen family. So he decided to stay and let Zhiwei prepare to enter the Tower of Sorrow.
"Would you two prefer to stay in a water villa or a beach villa?"
As we entered the inn recommended by Zhiwei, the owner at the counter greeted us warmly. Although he was a man, he was handsome and charming. A loose robe draped over his frail body, and the front of his robe was half-open, revealing a large expanse of his snow-white chest.
Yun Tianjiao was stunned by the question. As the eldest princess of Yun Chi Kingdom, she was used to being extravagant and licentious. She had seen all kinds of novelties, but she had never heard of inns being divided into water rooms and sand rooms.
Zhiwei, on the other hand, seemed quite familiar with the place and calmly said, "I need two water houses."
"Two rooms?" The owner winked and made the word "two" sound convoluted. "Are you sure you want two rooms? Our view is perfect for two people to enjoy together!"
The Ghost Realm has an open-minded culture, and Yun Tianjiao understood the innkeeper's implied meaning, making his face flush slightly.
Zhiwei confirmed again: "Two rooms."
The innkeeper pursed his lips, seemingly quite disappointed, but quickly cheered up and muttered to himself, "It's alright, it's alright. There were two rooms at first, but they'll become one room soon!"
Zhiwei ignored him, changed her room token, and followed the waiter through the inn's lobby toward the back door.
When Yun Tianjiao stepped out of the back door of the inn, he was shocked by the scene before him and realized that this place was a hidden paradise.
Behind the inn was an endless expanse of blue-purple water, its surface shimmering like scattered diamonds.
Where the water meets the shore, there is a moon-white sand beach. A row of exquisitely designed houses on the beach must be the "sand houses" that the owner mentioned. There are also several rows of houses on the water, which are the so-called "water houses".
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