Chapter 9

Chapter 9

T/N: This is a pretty long chapter. Ive been off for a while, but hopefully Ill get a few weeks of respite now, finally. whew.

Come, repeat after me. I said calmly to Zhi Yan. Yesterday I dreamt of Lu Zhao Yao again. She still wanted me to burn Netherworld Money for her. I couldnt enter the Forbidden Grounds, so I had to make do here.

I.I dreamt of Lu Zhao Yao again yesterday, she made me burn Netherworld MoneyI could only come here.to make do. She stammered through such a simple statement, but at least the meaning was still the same.

Mo Qing fixed his gaze on her, looking like he was pondering something, but before I could work out just what he was so intently thinking about, he turned his gaze away. He looked at the cart of Netherworld Money burning at the side, and the other cart full of Netherworld Money close by.

Zhi Yan laughed awkwardly. Haha, its a bit too much. I had no choice, she insisted on so much

Shut up, who said you could reveal so much! I berated her.

For such matters of deception, it is best to be mysterious and vague. You have to keep others guessing; explaining everything clearly would only have the opposite effect.

After being rebuked, Zhi Yan immediately bit her lip, her face full of grievance and frustration.

Just as I thought she had made a mistake, and she also thought she had made a mistake, Mo Qing, who had a cold expression all the while, suddenlyseemed to laugh softly. His lips had not even opened it was more like a light breath of laughter.

It is her style.

I startled, and raised my head to glance at him, only to see that he was gazing at the crackling flames, the embers burning brightly in the darkness of the night. He seemed to have fallen into an absent-minded daze, but it was only a moment later that his gaze darkened.

His gaze was shuttered, hiding his thoughts. His emotions were carefully restrained.

This demeanorit did somewhat match the emotion Zhi Yan was talking about grief.

(Translated by jillaimee at Silent Moon Translations)Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m

Nntheres still some incense and candles here, do youdo you want to burn some for her? Zhi Yan was similarly staring at Mo Qing, and she suddenly spoke, her voice trembling.

I dont want him to burn it.

She would surely not like to see me offering up incense to her.

Mo Qing and I spoke at the same time.

I saw the kneeling Zhi Yans neck turn slightly, as if it took her everything to not glance over at me.

I did not explain my reasons. Mo Qing, too, remained silent, and did not speak further. Only Zhi Yan, who knelt in between us, fidgeted like she was sitting on a bed of needles.

ThenIll continue burning? Zhi Yan seemed to muster all of her courage to ask, and it was unclear if she was asking me, or Mo Qing.

Mo Qing took two steps back. Continue. His back was leaning lightly against the trunk of the tree directly opposite; he faced me, yet was unable to see me. He lowered his head to gaze at the fire, which burned with increasing brilliance, and stared at the ashes dancing in the sky. I could not fathom his deep thoughts.

The Netherworld Money finished burning, and Mo Qing left just as suddenly as he appeared, without any warning whatsoever.

Zhi Yan, after seeing the last of the embers die down, turned around while still kneeling. When she saw that there was no one behind her, she released a breath of relief, and slumped onto the ground as if her legs were paralysed. She lightly pounded on her legs, massaging them. You two Demon Kingsjust what sin did I commit

Be careful with your words in the future, I said. The moment you started burning the Netherworld Money, he appeared. Who knows when he might be watching you with the Thousand Li Gaze.

Upon hearing this, Zhi Yans entire body went stiff and unmoving.

But there is no need to be too afraid, the Sect Leader is always busy. He just came by personally, so now he probably has no time to be watching you. I guessed: When a demonic cultivator reaches Chen Li Lans level, he can easily move between places with simply a thought. Yet yesterday we were able to talk for so long in the Forbidden Grounds; he only arrived after 11pm. He likely saw you when coincidentally glancing across the mountain range, and therefore came over even before anyone reported the matter to him. It is probably the same situation today he noticed you by coincidence. Otherwise it wouldnt have taken him so long.

Zhi Yan finally relaxed slightly, and softly asked, Then in the future, should I come up with an explanation before I do or say anything? So I can at least explain myself if I get seen again.

Lu Zhao Yao of Chen Ji Shan.

Just like the ferocious looking ghosts at the entrance of the Soul Return Store last time, he took out a mirror and conversed with it, then stepped forward, blocking the door. You may not enter.

I startled. Why?

You have insufficient Netherworld Money!

I startled again. Insufficient? Why? I had someone burn so much for me just today!

For a living person, they can only burn a thousand dollars for a ghost in a day. The excess amount dont count, they are all confiscated. He lazily replied me. You only had one person burn money for you today right? You have a hundred dollars in your account. Our store only allows those with at least ten thousand dollars to enter.

Recently there has been too many things that made me want to puke blood. I feel that my throat is parched now, with no more blood to spare.

I massaged my forehead to stall for some time.

I felt that my calculations were a little lacking. Putting aside how dastardly the Netherworld rule of only allowing a living person to burn a thousand dollars a day for a ghost was, just this one thousand dollars, other people can have a thousand dollars added to their account, but why is it that my account only has a hundred dollars? Before I could ask, the store assistant pointed to another store opposite and said Any questions, go ask the Big Netherworld Money Store.

I followed his finger, and turned, only to see a tiny and cramped little store, with a crooked sign proclaiming Big Netherworld Money Store.

Are you trying to cheat ghosts here?

I floated over to that store, and saw a dried up and shriveled little ghost sitting at the cramped counter, his fingers like withered bamboo sticks as they flew over an abacus with loud clicks. He raised his head up to gaze at me. What name, and what occupation?

Lu Zhao Yao of Chen Ji Shan My temper has been grinded down to nothing by these ghosts. Today someone burned two large carts of money for me, but I only had a hundred added to my account.

The ghost gazed towards a huge standing mirror by the side. Lu Zhao Yao, is it, mm, when you were alive you commited the sins of massacre, making outlandish claims, lying and cheatingHn, there are too many sins, I wont recite any more. For every sin, ten percent is deducted from your account. It would have deducted everything, but because you also have virtues of redemption and doing good deeds, there was also an addition of a few percent. Combining everything together, if others burn a thousand dollars for you, you can get ten percent of it.

He spoke quickly and I was befuddled at first, but eventually I managed to piece the general meaning together. Meaning, this Netherland money store operated based on the deeds a person did when they were alive, dividing them into virtue and sin.

If there was a sin, the money burnt by a living person, would be deducted. If there was a good deed, the money burnt by a living person, would be increased. Basically, it was just a single principle, which was

The amount of wealth one has in the Netherworld, is based on ones character and deeds.

Based on how many people were willing to burn money for you. Based on how many good deeds you did when you were alive.

I finally understood. Why, upon becoming a ghost, I was stuck in such wretched poverty. It was because, I, Lu Zhao Yao, when I was alive, I lacked for nothing; the only thing lacking, was my character and deeds.

The world of ghosts, towards demons like me who oppressed others and threw the world into chaos when we were alive, was full of discrimination and malice.

Having understood this, I pondered deeply on the possibility of using my current incorporeal form to kill Yan Wang(3), overthrow the current regime of the Netherworld and take over then thought that I should just obediently go back and find people to burn money for me.

I floated back, feeling vexed. Why had I rejected the opportunity of having Mo Qing burn money for me today? If he had burnt some for me, then I would at least have two hundred dollars now! A mosquito might be small, but it is still meat! If I dont accumulate the little, how can it gather into a lot?

I found Zhi Yans body still lying under the tree and possessed it, standing up and brushing myself off, thinking. Now that there is no more hope for getting a Godly Speed Pellet, it looks like I still have to go over and meet Mo Qing, and get permission to enter the Hidden Books Chamber.

And heres the problem now: tonight, just how am I supposed to flatter and seduce him

(Translated by jillaimee at Silent Moon Translations)

Ive decided to use Netherworld instead of Hell in translation as it is a slightly more encompassing term (also to avoid the popularised meaning of Hell, in terms of Biblical interpretation. The context is different here.)

(1): This scholar gives salutations (this scholar) (salutations, greetings). A formal way of greeting by scholars. There is a play on words here as one can also introduce himself as (this scholar) (named, You Li) hence why Zhao Yao calls him (gives-salutations/You Li). Obviously the scholar isnt called You Li, so she is essentially calling him gives-salutations.

(2): Eight Characters () comprised of 4 pairs of characters stating the year, month, day, and hour of someones birth. The exact art of interpretation is pretty complicated, but essentially it is believed that you can calculate someones compatibility, luck, fate etc based on these characters, and especially before marriage, one must make sure the Eight Characters of the bride and groom dont clash, which will bring huge misfortunes.

(3): YanWang () King Yan, the God of Death, ruler of the Netherworld, oversees the Ten Kings of Hell. Passes judgement on all the dead. Also known as Yama or Yan Luo Wang.