Chapter 1: The Impermanent Ghost's Witty Words Open the Door to the Mystery "Fairy? Are you talking about me? ...
For the complete and authentic version, please visit | 2022.11.06
"I want to resign!"
The unbearable roar cut through the sky, breaking the gloomy atmosphere of the Reincarnation Department. Wandering souls from all over the world lay on the window sills of the Rebirth Inn to watch the excitement.
Chen Sanniang, the hanged ghost on the eaves, shrank back. This was the umpteenth time she had heard Meng Po's complaints; she was used to it. According to the following routine, the Lord Wuchang would surely offer some comfort.
"Lady Mengpo, please be patient, please be patient!" Bai Wuchang adjusted the high brim of his hat and sat down at the table leisurely.
"You have made outstanding contributions and are renowned in the Samsara Department. The Mengpo soup you make is the signature dish of the Rebirth Inn. You are known as the greatest gourmet in the Three Realms. Why would you leave?"
Wen Yu stood upstairs, soup ladle in hand, her round, almond-shaped eyes meeting Bai Wuchang's gaze through the railing. There was a moment of silence.
She has been working in the underworld for three hundred years and is the head of the Reincarnation Department of the King of Hell's Palace - Meng Po.
She has saved countless ghosts in the Inn of Rebirth, and the two masters, Xie Bian, the White Ghost of Chang'e, and Fan Wujiu, the Black Ghost of Chang'e, who are the necromancers, often go to the Inn of Rebirth on business and have some personal relationships with Wen Yu.
The two of them probably knew where the main entrance of the inn was even with their eyes closed.
"Xie Bian, take it!" As she spoke, Wen Yu swung her arm and smashed the soup spoon towards Bai Wuchang's tall hat. Xie Bian didn't check for a moment and hit her right on the brim of the hat which had the four big words "You're here".
"Oh, our Lady Mengpo has a bad temper." A male voice came from far away, "What are you so angry about? Tell me quickly and cheer me up!"
The visitor was dressed in a black robe, had a handsome appearance, and wore an official hat with the words "Catching You" written on it. He walked into the room steadily.
It was none other than Black Impermanence Fan Wujiu.
Seeing Fan Wujiu going to help Xie Bian, Wen Yu came down the stairs in two steps and yelled at Chen Sanniang who was watching the fun: "What are you looking at?"
"Fan Wujiu." Wen Yu slammed his palm on the table in front of them. "It's been three hundred years. I'm resigning!"
Fan Wujiu calmly adjusted Xie Bian's hat and smoothed down his messy hair. He pushed Meng Po's hand away and retrieved the ceramic tea set that was blocking his view. He poured a cup for Xie Bian and then poured another cup, which he drank slowly.
"Your tea is really rough."
"Three hundred years ago, you two clearly promised to help me find someone!" Wen Yu was furious and snatched Fan Wujiu's teacup.
"This tea of mine is for the ghosts who are still full of resentment. Why are you joining in the fun?" After they finish it, there won't be enough for them next time. She is most afraid of fire and doesn't want to make tea on fire.
Xie Bian smiled, covered his mouth with one hand and pretended to whisper, but he shouted very loudly: "Don't think I don't know that you secretly added water to the Anling tea."
For a moment, the ghost in the lobby of the Rebirth Inn was holding a teacup, not knowing whether to drink it or not.
…
Wen Yu's eyebrows twitched, "Xie Bian..."
The Rebirth Inn is the residence of Meng Po. Wen Yu ferrys ghosts over by the Naihe Bridge every day. If there are still resentful ghosts, she will bring them back to the Rebirth Inn to drink Anling Tea, which helps the ghosts to let go of their resentment and forget their past so that they can be reborn into the six realms and continue their reincarnation.
As for the title of "the greatest gourmet in the Three Realms," it was purely a joke from the ghost messengers about Meng Po soup. Wen Yu's Meng Po soup tasted so strange that Xie Bian once said he couldn't eat for three days after smelling it. Wen Yu simply rolled his eyes. He was a ghost messenger, so he shouldn't eat it anyway. The secrets of Meng Po soup weren't something to be easily grasped.
I remember when Wen Yu first arrived to work in the underworld, Tai-ao, the head of the Reincarnation Department, had fled, leaving the position of Meng Po vacant. The ultimate superior of the underworld's yin officials, the King of Hell, Fengdu, was busy chasing Tai-ao throughout the three realms. He closed his eyes, waved his hand, and appointed the current Meng Po, Wen Yu, without questioning her origins.
It was at that time that a man, named Lu Yun, praised Mengpo Soup for its deliciousness, sweetness and rich flavor.
Lu Yun was a mortal, but when he first arrived at the banks of the Wangchuan River and the Naihe Bridge, he had extraordinary courage and insight.
Wen Yu had just taken up the post, and to scare off the passing ghosts, she transformed into a green-faced, fang-toothed old woman, reciting the words of Meng Po, who purported to bring rebirth into bliss, while her movements were precise. She wished she could pour Meng Po soup down on every ghost—drink it all! Drink it all!
Lu Yun was a very young man wearing a frost-colored robe, thin in build, and walking slowly towards him.
Wen Yu was a little dazed, "It's so similar..." she thought to herself.
"My name is Lu Yun," the man said in a gentle voice, "Greetings, Fairy."
She was stunned for a moment, the spoon slipping from her hand and pointing at herself. "Fairy? Are you talking about me?" The man before her was gentle and polite, with a very graceful demeanor, and even his words were so charming.
"I am Meng Po, not a fairy."
"When I was in the human world, I often heard that Meng Po was a fairy in the sky. Because she couldn't bear to see the souls of people suffer from emotions after death, she went to the Naihe Bridge and cooked a bowl of soup for the deceased ghosts, so that people could forget the pain of their past lives and start a new life." Lu Yun looked at Wen Yu steadily.
Well, Wen Yu thought, he was probably talking about the previous Meng Po—Tai Ai. Ahem! She touched her nose, feeling a bit guilty.
She didn't come here to convert mortals. Tai's mother loved all living things, but Wen Yu was only here for one person.
"Since you have heard something, drink this soup and be reborn." Wen Yu poured out a bowl of soup and handed it to the young man in front of him with a businesslike look.
However, Lu Yun did not take the bowl of soup. He just frowned for a moment, folded his hands, and bowed to Wen Yu.
"Lu Yun's past is over, and he should have drunk this soup. But the road ahead is too long. I once promised someone that I would always hold a light for him." He smiled. "I wonder if I can wait here for a while? I want him to come with me."
After saying this, Wen Yu's hand that was handing over the soup remained frozen in mid-air.
Well, it's common for souls to linger in the River of Oblivion with unfulfilled wishes, but it's generally discouraged. If she, the head of the department, were to take the lead in neglecting reincarnation and causing delays, she'd be constantly rebuked by the Chakravartin, the king of the Tenth Hall, who oversees reincarnation.
But the King of Hell had been out in Fengdu a few days ago, searching for Tai's whereabouts, and she wasn't in the underworld now. Just an insignificant ghost, Wen Yu glanced at Lu Yun again. "Hmm, insignificant. It shouldn't be a problem."
"Fairy?"
As his mind raced, Wen Yu took back the bowl of soup and quietly poured the Meng Po soup back into the pot, thinking that extravagance and waste were not allowed. He said seriously:
"How can you bear it when ghosts gather and wail on the Naihe Bridge?" She put down the soup bowl.
"Why don't you come with me back to the Wangsheng Inn and wait there. As for the person you're waiting for, tell me his name and date of birth, and I'll keep an eye on him for you."
One is enough, two is not too many. Then ask Lord Wuchang to keep an eye out for it, it shouldn't be hard to find.
Wen Yu kept saying to himself: Do more good deeds and reap more good results.
But she never expected that she would have to wait for thirty-nine years.
Whenever Lu Yun was cleaning the inn, he would talk about how he had lived a life of wealth and comfort in the human world, how the man he was waiting for was kind, how he had planted yellow jasmine for him, how they had been together in their youth, and how they had both entered the imperial court.
Now he was sweeping and doing odd jobs here. Wen Yu didn't care at all, and just urged him to clean the tables and chairs quickly, otherwise Xie Bian would come to find fault again.
In the winter of the thirty-ninth year, Xie Bian brought news about that man.
That man's name was Shen Huan, a mortal emperor. It was said that he had made outstanding contributions and accomplished many things, working tirelessly day and night for his country until his death.
When Xie Bian brought him here, Meng Po and Lu Yun were chatting around the fire at the Wangsheng Inn.
Chen Huan's temples were gray, and his face was no longer youthful. Only Lu Yun remained as handsome as ever. Lu Yun rose from the stove, her eyes shimmering with the ripples of water that threatened to form a small boat. She walked over and took his hand, which was a little rough and wrinkled.
Wen Yu didn't hear clearly what the two of them said.
It was time to go, and Wen Yu, as usual, sent them to Naihe Bridge to drink Mengpo soup.
"Fairy, your medicine is truly delicious, sweet, and rich in flavor," Lu Yun bowed to Meng Po, "Thank you for your care for the past thirty-nine years."
Xie Bian, standing by, gave Lu Yun a strange look with an expression of disbelief. Wen Yu glared back at Xie Bian without showing any weakness.
Lu Yun's past was over, and now he had waited for the person to walk with him, so naturally he could not taste any bitterness.
Wen Yu waved his hand, signaling the two of them to go.
After Shen and Lu walked for a while, Lu Yun suddenly turned around.
"Fairy! The person you are waiting for will definitely come to you!"
Wen Yu was stunned when he heard this. Will he wait until then?
Recalling the face in her memory, it was a little blurry, and her eyes lingered on every inch of the imaginary skin.
Why don’t you come yet? If you don’t come soon, I will forget you!
The author has something to say:
----------------------
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
