Chapter 103 - My Costar Sends Me Something Shocking

That's not a surprise, but Yao Shen still widens his eyes in wonder. "Really? How did that happen?"

The woman nods towards that place with the different coloured wood. "It's related to that. As the story goes, the tenth king liked to disguise himself as a common courtesan and entertain clients."

Yao Shen coughs into his elbow to disguise the sudden flush that climbs up his neck and ears. He knows she's probably recounting centuries old hearsay, but still! 

"Were the other kings angry about that?"

She shrugs. "Who's to say? But I guess he was ignoring his duties as a judge of souls in order to fool around here." She fans herself, smiling a little conspicuously. "That was before my time, so I have no idea."

"Do you know if there's anyone around that still remembers that time?"

She thinks this over for a moment, and then points at the upper floor with her fan. "Qing Yu. He's one of the oldest courtesans here." She smirks and leans in conspiratorially, whispering into Yao Shen's ear, "They say he was an Emperor's lover when he was alive."

Yao Shen doesn't care if he was an Emperor's personal back-scratcher, but if this guy has information, Yao Shen is going to talk with him.

He thanks the girl for all her assistance. "I think I might pay Qing Yu a visit, he must have a lot of interesting stories to tell a newcomer like me."

She lets out a little condescending giggle. "I'm afraid young master really will have to pay if he wants to talk with Qing Yu. Some other courtesans might exchange a word or two for free, but no one can even gaze upon Qing Yu without paying first."

He sounds humble, and agreeable. 

Yao Shen's smile is strained. "And how can one pay, around here?"

She blinks at him rapidly. "With paper money of course."

Of course. "And how do I get that?"

She lowers her fan with a sigh, no longer interested in keeping up a demure appearance now that it has become clear that Yao Shen has no money to his name. "Your living relatives are supposed to burn it for you. If what they burn isn't enough, young master can always find work."

Something glints in her eyes, she looks him up an down. "We're always looking for new talent, if young master is interested."

---

Yao Shen leaves the Fragrant Peony feeling like he didn't accomplish anything. Now, he has the extra task of finding a way to get money, on top of everything.

Can he burn paper money for himself? Can he just take it from the mortal world into the underworld in his pockets, or something?

He's wondering through the streets trying to get his thoughts into order. He sees a woman exchange a few bills with a street vendor. This time he pays attention to the money itself. To his surprise it doesn't look like paper money, it's not circular or have any cutouts.

Instead it's cut in large rectangles, like old fashioned banknotes. From what Yao Shen can tell at a distance, in the center there's a portrait of someone who looks distinctively like Er Wang.

Great, so somehow, paper money turns into banknotes with the faces of the ghost kings in the Underworld.

Is he going to need to find a job here? On top of his day job on the mortal realm! What kind of capitalist hellhole is this?

There are only so many places he knows in Youdu, and eventually, his feet lead him back to that administrative building.

He discards his costume before going inside. 

Yao Shen expects to find the ghost kings milling around like always, but to his surprise he finds only one. Si Wang.

He's the one ghost king Yao Shen can't get a read on. There's something about him that is unnervingly familiar.

Si Wang notices him before he can make a discreet exit.

"Wait," he shouts, bounding over towards Yao Shen.

Reluctantly, Yao Shen stays back. "What is it?"

"What are you doing here?" Si Wang asks, looking him up and down.

"You said I could."

"Yes, but I meant...I didn't expect you so soon."

Yao Shen frowns. What's that supposed to mean? 

"Listen, do you have money?"

He's taken aback by the sudden question, but Yao Shen trudges on, "There's not much for me to do around here, without money."

"Did you mean what you said? About becoming a ghost king?" Si Wang asks, looking deeply into Yao Shen's eyes.

Yao Shen is confused by the intensity of his gaze, but something at the back of his mind sounds an alarm.

"Yes," he says, keeping his voice steady. "I meant all of it."

Si Wang doesn't look like he fully believes him. His white robes make his youthful face look even younger and more guileless. He looks like someone who is easily fooled, but appearances can be deceiving.

After some inner deliberation, Si Wang nods. "Come back tomorrow, I'll get you some money."

That's not what Yao Shen wanted to hear. "Why can't you get it now?"

"It would draw too much attention, the other kings can't know I got it for you."

"Why are you trying to help me?" Yao Shen asks, his suspicions raised.

"I've always tried to help you."

Yao Shen can't make sense of his words at first, but then realization dawns on him. "You're the System!"

Slowly, Si Wang nods.

"Ho-How?" Yao Shen stammers, his mind reeling.

Before Si Wang can say anything they hear the sound of approaching footsteps.

His eyes widening, Si Wang pushes him away. "Go, I'll tell you when it's safe to return. If I can, I'll talk with you."

Still stunned by the revelation, Yao Shen stumbles out of the building and back into the crowded street.

He debates whether he should walk around Youdu some more and find other information, but his thoughts are too scattered for that. 

Dazed, he makes his way back to the doorway to the mortal realm.

---

In his cramped apartment, the early morning has long turned into dusk without Yao Shen even noticing. 

He didn't think he spent that much time in Youdu, but now that he's back he realizes he's starving and that his legs feel sore, as if he has walked for kilometers.

He drags himself towards his sofa and falls down on it with a tired sigh.

In a way, he should have seen it coming. He only met Si Wang after the other kings, and at that time they all asked him to confirm what Yao Shen was saying. The only way for that to make sense, is if they knew he had access to Yao Shen, in ways the rest of them didn't.

It sends an unpleasant shiver down his spine, to think that another person could have had so much access to his own mind. 

He reassures himself with the knowledge that at least, it didn't seem like he could do it all the time, if the 'System's' absences, were anything to go by. There were also the places he couldn't reach Yao Shen, like Xin Hulei's apartment, and 'Hell on Earth'. 

From what little Yao Shen knows, and what the System let slip, it's clear Si Wang is lying to the other ghost kings, and possibly trying to doublecross them. 

Yao Shen still doesn't understand the convoluted dynamics of Youdu, but he plans to exploit them to his own benefit.

It's in his best interest that Si Wang thinks they're on the same side for now.

His words imply that he doesn't have the same unfettered access to Yao Shen as he did before -- perhaps the other kings are keeping a closer eye on him.

Yao Shen's stomach grumbles, reminding him that he has only had breakfast, for the entire day. He's scrolling a food delivery app, when he gets a message from Xin Hulei.

[Xin Hulei: I'm done with my photoshoot, do you want to come over?]

He's very tempted to say yes. He misses Xin Hulei's delicious cooking, and most of all he misses Xin Hulei himself. 

But he still hasn't found anything to clear his conscience, let alone his name. Nothing he can present to Xin Hulei and say, 'look, it wasn't me. We were both tricked.'

[Little Menace: it's late, I don't want to be a bother]

[Xin Hulei: did something happen?]

The problem is that Yao Shen doesn't want to hurt Xin Hulei's feelings, especially considering he's putting aside all his misgiving and choosing to trust Yao Shen, despite the red flags.

[Little Menace: nothing, just hungry]

[Little Menace: what about the videos? did you find something]

Moments later, Xin Hulei sends him a short video file and a cryptic message.

[Xin Hulei: see for yourself]

The video is only a few seconds long, but what it shows is enough to make Yao Shen gasp in shock. The cameras Xin Hulei installed must have been plugged into a wall outlet, at around shin level. 

It's possible to see a black cat walk into frame and then disappear. Seconds later, a man's bare legs appear in view, walking towards a desk by an open window. The billowy curtains hide the man's features, but Yao Shen can tell he's young and in good shape. 

He can also tell he's Heimao by the two fluffy black ears on top of his head, and the fluffy black tail swaying behind him.

That sight would have been shocking enough, but moments later, another man enters the frame, making his way towards the first one just before the video cuts off.

Yao Shen's curiosity wins over his morals in the end.

[Little Menace: when can you come pick me up?]