Chapter 7: The Reluctant Decision

  "Xiao Chen, if it's not absolutely necessary, we wouldn't want to do this either. Alright, between you and me, let's not beat around the bush anymore. Now I'm giving you two choices: either you agree to go to that parallel world, or you can try out the Ten Great Tortures of Hell." Judge Cui sighed.

  "I always thought that the underworld was a fair and honest place, I didn't expect you to do something as coercive as this!" Xiao Chen spat.

  "When the water is clear, there are no fish; when a person is too meticulous, there are no followers!" Cui Panguan said in a low voice, "Xiao Chen, don't you understand? Whether it's the human world or the underworld, a truly pure land doesn't exist. Moreover, for your own sense of justice and indignation, you've implicated many innocent people; how can you bear to do so?"

  "If everything is as you adults say it is, then what's the use of having laws in this world?"

  "Xiao Chen, you are still too young and do not understand some things. I tell you, in any place, at any time, absolutely just and strict laws do not exist. Laws are simply used to restrain the strong and punish the weak." Another sigh of helplessness.

  ……

  "So, with so many people in this world, why did you choose me? The underworld is so big, can't you find someone else who can take on this task?" Xiaochen finally asked after a pause.

  "The reason why the people of the underworld cannot take action is because they have a bitter helplessness!" Judge Cui sighed with a bitter smile.

  "I chose you for two reasons: first, to properly resolve today's troublesome matter, and second, because you are a person with no attachments." Judge Cui's voice became exceptionally low.

  "A carefree person?" Xiao Chen slowly stopped struggling and didn't say another word. Xiao Chen, since he could remember, had never seen what his parents looked like. He was a child who grew up in an orphanage. Thanks to the care and support of the Party and society, he went from elementary school all the way to university, and finally stepped into society. It was also because of the warmth of the socialist big family that Xiao Chen had never felt cold or hungry, never felt lonely or isolated.

  "Xiao Chen, if it weren't for the kindness and care of those good people, could you have lived happily until now? You must understand, in that unknown world I'm sending you to, there are also many innocent and kind people living there. Can you bear to see them suffer misfortune and pain? One can't be too selfish!"

  "Xiao Chen, I'll tell you one more thing. According to our investigation after the fact, we found that there were seven souls that escaped from the underworld. Each of these seven souls has deep resentment in their hearts. Once this resentment reaches an uncontrollable level, it may form a powerful Seven Calamities Formation, which will bring devastating blows to that world."

  Xiao Chen did not answer. In his mind, a series of images kept flashing: although he was an orphan, he had never felt lonely or lacked food and clothing. Every time he wanted to cry, the director of the orphanage would gently stroke his head with his rough but warm big hands, talk to him, and tell him all kinds of stories.

  "Xiao Chen, remember that you are able to grow up happily because there are so many good people around at this time. When you grow up, you must do your best to repay society and those kind-hearted people!" The kind old director of the orphanage said with a smile to Xiao Chen.

  "I will!" Xiao Chen nodded heavily with a childish tone.

  Since going to school, the meticulous care and attention from teachers and classmates have made Xiao Chen feel the warmth of a big social family. "Xiao Chen, how about coming to my home for dinner today?" said the chubby class teacher with a smile.

  "Xiao Chen, come and play with us!" a little friend extended an sincere invitation to Xiao Chen.

  "Xiao Chen, would you like to come to my home as a guest?" This kind of friend is not the only one.

  ……

  It can be said that I have always been growing up in happiness and joy, countless people who know me and don't know me have given me meticulous care and concern throughout my growth. "Put me down!" Xiao Chen's tone became extremely low, indeed, one cannot be too selfish!

  Choi Pan-guan waved his hand lightly, and the ox-headed and horse-faced black-and-white impermanence slowly let Xiao Chen down.

  "Moreover, Ox-Head and Horse-Face, as the enforcers of the underworld, have diligently carried out their duties for so many years. Whether good or evil, everyone has received their due fate. They have toiled without merit, Xiaochen, think about it. If the underworld were to lose Ox-Head and Horse-Face, those unbound evil-doers would run amok in the mortal realm, wreaking havoc and chaos. Wouldn't that lead to a world of suffering? How could you bear it?"

  "This..."

  "Xiao Chen, there's something else I need to tell you. I'm afraid it's too late for you to return to the world of the living now. Come take a look!" Judge Cui opened the small notebook in his hand. The liquid crystal display screen immediately showed a scene of Xiao Chen's extreme terror: In a spotless white room, on a spotless white bed surrounded by a riot of flowers, lay a person with an extremely peaceful expression. The face was all too familiar to Xiao Chen.

  Isn't that yourself?

  As for the large group of people around who were heartbroken, they were all familiar to him. There was Huang Yaqi who was heartbroken, Yao Liang with tears streaming down his face, and many others he had known before. Seeing their genuine emotions, Xiao Chen's heart almost broke into pieces. Wait a minute, that seemed to be the old principal of the orphanage. In just a few short years, the old man's white hair seemed to have increased significantly, and his back looked even more hunched.

  "That's the funeral home. Xiao Chen, do you understand?" Just at this most critical moment, Judge Cui shut down the computer, "Xiao Chen is already dead. If you want to return to the world of the living again, the only way is to be reincarnated, and being reincarnated means forgetting everything about this life, cutting off all ties with this life. I ask you, can you do it?"

  "No, absolutely not!" Xiao Chen was almost frantic. He still had so many kindnesses to repay, how could he just forget and give up? Why did they want to do this? Why? He wanted to be with the one he loved, he wanted to repay all those good people!

  Just then, outside the Grand Hall of Judgment, several ghostly attendants rushed in carrying a large black wooden coffin. One of the leading ghostly attendants looked around cautiously, hesitated for a moment, and finally stepped forward to whisper something into Judge Cui's ear.

  After listening to Gui Cha's account, the originally calm and collected face of Judge Cui suddenly changed. "Alright, I understand, you can go down first!"

  "Yes." The oni retreated in unison.

  "Xiao Chen, I deeply apologize for everything that the mistakes of Niu Tou Ma Mian have brought upon you. However, the underworld has its own rules, and wanting to return to the world of the living is absolutely impossible. You should know that only those with great merits can return from the underworld, and currently, you do not possess such merits."

  "So what exactly do you want from me?" Xiao Chen asked anxiously.

  "But Xiao Chen, if you are willing to go to that parallel world and bring back the seven souls who escaped from the underworld, then that world will be at peace. This would be a great merit. If you can achieve this, not only will your sin of killing the Yaksha be wiped clean, but you also won't need to reincarnate. I can give you a chance to return to the world of the living with honor. You will be able to see your loved ones and friends again!"

  "The pouch is destroyed! Are you going to revive it? Do you think I'm a fool?" Xiao Chen said angrily.

  "Xiao Chen, there are too many things in this world that you can't imagine. Reshaping the flesh is not a dream!"

  "Really, you're not fooling me?" Xiao Chen's heart couldn't help but beat faster.

  "I don't need to deceive you. This is the new body I'm giving you, a body that's only suitable for that world, a powerful body, and also a mysterious one!" Judge Cui pointed to the black coffin behind Xiao Chen. At this moment, the black coffin mysteriously opened by itself, and a eerie mist slowly rose up, making people feel a chill down their spines.

  When the mist finally dispersed, a man's body appeared in front of Xiao Chen. His physique was incredibly proportionate, his appearance incredibly handsome, and it was exactly the same as Xiao Chen's original destroyed body. Indeed, what Cui Panguan said was true - reshaping one's physical form was not just a dream!

  "Why does his appearance resemble mine so much?" Xiao Chen exclaimed in shock.

  "Since I have something to ask of you, I will naturally do it to your utmost satisfaction!" Judge Cui smiled, but his smile was somewhat forced.

  "You say this is a powerful and mysterious body? I don't see it." Unfortunately, Xiao Chen, who had changed from shock to delight, did not notice the change in Cui's expression.

  "Xiao Chen, in this new body of yours, you possess a heart that is ten times stronger than that of ordinary people. This allows you to have ten times the strength and recovery ability of ordinary people. Moreover, the blood flowing through this body is nothing short of miraculous. You will understand later." Cui Panguan said as such, "Xiao Chen, rest assured, I have no need to deceive you. Now, can you tell me your decision?"

  "I can go if you want, but you have to promise me one condition." Xiao Chen fell into thought for a moment, and suddenly, he seemed to remember something.

  "Is it that you want wealth?" Magistrate Cui sighed endlessly, pitiful humans, even after arriving in the underworld, they still can't let go of their greed for money.

  "Xiao Chen, I know what you mean, but I still want to advise you to change your request. In the underworld, money is abundant, and you can have as much as you want. However, I must remind you that in the mortal world, there's a custom where the living burn large amounts of paper money for the dead on festivals. Over time, this has caused the wealth in the underworld to increase at an alarming rate every year, but the growth of goods and materials is limited. Xiao Chen, what is inflation? I don't need to say more, do I? Let me tell you, in the underworld, money is as valuable as toilet paper."

  "Director Choi, you're overthinking!" Xiao Chen shook his head, "I didn't mean it that way. I suddenly want to know who my parents are? Are they...are they okay now?"

  "Xiao Chen, your parents abandoned you when you were young and have been missing ever since. They never cared about your life or death, so why should you worry about their safety?" Judge Cui slightly furrowed his brow.

  "No, Lord Choi, although my parents abandoned me when I was young, I know they must have had their reasons for doing so. I don't blame them. I just want to know where they are now and if they're living well?" Xiao Chen tried to appear nonchalant. After all, who doesn't miss their own parents? Who doesn't want to snuggle up in the warmth of their parents' arms and playfully tease them? The blood ties between family members are something that no one can sever."

  "Is that true? Xiao Chen, you want to know your parents' whereabouts, just to know if they're living well or not? You never intended to find them, scold them for ruthlessly abandoning you?" Cui Panguan stared tightly at Xiao Chen's eyes.

  "That's right, it is! Lord Choi, you're being overly cautious!" Xiao Chen's voice became barely audible. He slowly moved his head away, he didn't have the courage to face Judge Choi's wise and all-seeing eyes.

  "I trust you, Xiao Chen!" Judge Cui smiled, "You wait here, I'll go to the Yama Temple to check the Book of Life and Death for you."

  "Thank you!" Xiao Chen said gratefully.

  ……

  Choi Pan-guan left quickly and returned even faster. "Lord Choi, how was the investigation?" Just as Choi Pan-guan's figure appeared, Xiao Chen rushed up to him.

  "Xiao Chen, I know you won't believe what I'm about to say next, but I have to tell you that it's all true." Cui Panguan took a deep breath and spoke slowly, "Xiao Chen, I've investigated. Your parents are indeed still alive, but they're not in your original world anymore. They've gone to a new world, the same one I'm sending you to."

  After finishing speaking, Judge Choi calmly looked at Xiao Chen. He understood that what he had just said was too far-fetched and unbelievable. Who would believe it? First, you use a combination of kindness and intimidation to force someone to take a risk that could result in their death, and then tell them that their parents are also there, so go ahead, maybe you'll find your parents there. What kind of coincidence is this? Are you trying to deceive a child? Is it fate? Could all of this be the will of heaven?

  However, the usually wise Judge Cui made a rare misjudgment. After staring at Judge Cui's bright eyes for a long time, Xiao Chen finally spoke up in an exceptionally calm tone, "Although this news is unbelievable, I believe it must be true, because you have no need to deceive me."

  "Alright, Judge Choi, I should be on my way too. Hope you keep your promise!" Xiaochen gritted his teeth and slowly approached the corpse. A massive suction force came from the body. Xiaochen was involuntarily sucked in. His soul finally began to perfectly merge with the new flesh.

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