A master of comedy!

Chapter 207 The Ghost Bride

The deepest hells are locked away, their years forgotten; a single stream of the Netherworld connects to the Yellow Springs.

The cold moon hangs heavy atop the city wall, where the innocent have died; the stench of blood seeps into the smoke beside the mirror of iniquity.

Bai Juyi once mentioned in "Song of Everlasting Regret" that "I searched high and low, from the heavens to the netherworld, but could not find it anywhere." The netherworld he referred to was the great river that Zhou Sheng was standing on at this moment.

Its waters flow swiftly, its wind howls.

After changing routes, boarding the boat at the ferry terminal was significantly faster.

This legendary underworld is filled with an eerie atmosphere that sends chills down your spine.

Ghostly figures could be seen flashing by from time to time beneath the bottomless yellow liquid, as if they had caught the scent of the living souls on the ship and were following it all the way.

Zhou Sheng could sense that deep beneath the riverbed, there were pairs of longing eyes.

It was as if they desperately wanted to pull themselves off the ship and take their place.

"Boss Long, be careful. These are all drowned ghosts who committed suicide by jumping into the lake in the human world. According to the laws of the underworld, the souls of those who commit suicide by jumping into the lake will be sent to the Yellow Springs and suffer punishment for decades before they can be reincarnated."

"Torture?"

General Lu nodded and said, "The waters of the Yellow Springs are unfathomably deep and icy cold. Even a feather falling into them would have difficulty floating. Once you fall in, your soul will be constantly eroded by the cold, causing extreme pain."

Zhou Sheng's eyes flashed, and he said, "So that's why they followed the ship, wanting to replace the living souls so they can be reincarnated?"

"That's right. Moreover, over the years, many powerful ghosts have been born in the Yellow Springs. Ordinary ghost messengers rarely travel this waterway."

"No matter what, Boss Long must be careful not to fall into the water!"

General Lu repeatedly emphasized that he was guarding Zhou Sheng, one hand on the hilt of his sword at his waist, his expression unusually solemn and vigilant.

Bai Wuchang chuckled and said, "General Lu, there's no need to worry. With us brothers here, these mere water ghosts are nothing to worry about."

Black Impermanence also said, "Moreover, our treasure boat is engraved with the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra, which is blessed by the Buddha, so these water ghosts dare not touch it at all."

General Lu glanced at the two of them without saying a word, but inwardly he sneered.

It is because of you two brothers being here that this journey is dangerous.

Fortunately, the underworld seemed relatively calm today. The small boat moved with the wind and sped forward, soon passing a ferry crossing.

"Boss Long, there are four crossings to get to Fengdu City by water. This is the first crossing, Wangchuan Ferry."

Zhou Sheng looked around the old ferry crossing and could see many souls waiting for a boat on the riverbank.

Just like the living world, the underworld has its own order and rules.

When a person dies and becomes a ghost, after being escorted to the underworld by the ghost messengers, they are not immediately rewarded for good and punished for evil, or reincarnated. Instead, they undergo a screening process to determine their lifespan in the underworld.

Humans have a lifespan in the Yang realm, while ghosts have a lifespan in the Yin realm.

If one's lifespan in the underworld has ended, they will be taken to the judge to determine their good or evil deeds. Those who have done good deeds will accumulate merit and be able to be reborn into a better family.

The wicked are sent to hell, where they are first tortured and then sentenced to reincarnation, with a high chance of being reborn as animals.

If a ghost's lifespan has not yet ended, it will be taken to Fengdu City and live like a normal person until its lifespan is exhausted. Then, its good and evil deeds will be investigated, and it will be reincarnated.

Therefore, Zhou Sheng was not surprised when he saw that Wuyaijin was crowded with ghosts, as these ghosts were similar to working people waiting for buses on Earth.

Yes, according to Bao Ying, even if one becomes a ghost, one still needs to make a living in Fengdu City. The paper money burned by one's descendants, even if it amount to hundreds of millions, can only be exchanged for a few incense coins in the underworld.

It's simply not enough.

Houses in Fengdu City are too expensive, so many ghosts can only rent houses far outside the city and risk being dragged down by the vengeful ghosts of the underworld, taking a boat into the city every day to work.

As Zhou Sheng and his companions' treasure ship passed by, the ghosts all looked on with envy.

However, upon seeing the Black and White Impermanence on the ship, as well as the Yin Generals clad in golden armor, they quickly lowered their heads, not daring to offend them.

But one figure caught Zhou Sheng's attention. She was dressed in red, but it wasn't the Night Wanderer; it was... a bride?

Wearing a phoenix coronet and a red veil, she stood out conspicuously among the ghosts.

The ferry crossing was crowded, but the other ghosts kept their distance from her, creating a clear space, and didn't even dare to glance at her.

As the treasure ship sailed past the ferry, Zhou Sheng looked at her, and under the red veil, she seemed to look up at Zhou Sheng as well.

In an instant, a faint sense of oppression came over, and the terrifying yin energy seemed to have reached the level of a ghost king.

No wonder the other ghosts didn't dare to get close.

Their eyes met. After Zhou Sheng looked away, she continued to gaze at him. Beneath the red veil, her dark eyes silently stared in the direction the treasure ship had departed, and...

Beneath the Yellow Springs, the figures following the ship seem to be gathering in ever-increasing numbers.

……

A gentle breeze rustles the river, and the water murmurs softly.

Although the treasure ship was small, it was exceptionally stable and swift. Feeling the slight chill of the river breeze on our faces, we gazed at the boundless river in the distance.

Zhou Sheng suddenly felt a sense of "I will drift away on a small boat and spend the rest of my life on the rivers and seas." If he could succeed in this journey, he would be able to break free from the heaviest shackles and be free to fly like a bird in the sky and leap like a fish in the sea.

"This is the second ferry crossing, Guixu Ferry."

General Lu secretly transmitted his voice: "Boss Long, be careful. If the other party is going to make a move, it is most likely to be in the Guixu Ferry Basin or the next Wuyajin, because the last ferry is too close to Fengdu City, making it difficult to make a move."

Zhou Sheng nodded silently, but when he scanned the ferry crossing, he suddenly paused.

That eerie bride has reappeared.

Although shrouded in a faint mist, the phoenix coronet and embroidered robe were still strikingly visible.

A chill ran through Zhou Sheng's heart, and his gaze became unusually wary.

Could this bride be the assassin sent by Judge Lu?
General Lu, as expected of a well-trained ghost general from Fengdu, also sensed something was wrong and said coldly, "Be careful of the bride at that ferry crossing. She appeared at the last ferry crossing as well."

The Black and White Impermanence were somewhat surprised. They exchanged a glance and remained silent.

The treasure boat continued forward, but Zhou Sheng felt that the speed seemed to be slowing down little by little, whether it was his imagination or not.

After an unknown amount of time, the treasure ship arrived at the third ferry crossing, Wuyajin.

The sea of ​​suffering is boundless, but turning back is the shore.

Upon arriving at Wuyaijin, everyone's eyes immediately turned to the shore.

It's still there!

Zhou Sheng was slightly startled. Under his divine eyes, he saw the familiar red-clad bride again. She still stood quietly among the ghosts, appearing so conspicuous and special.

Clang!
General Lu drew his sword from his waist and stared intently at the bride.

The Black and White Impermanence also straightened up, revealing solemn expressions.

The bride was quite powerful; the yin energy around her was so strong that she was undoubtedly a ghost king. How could someone with such strength be crowding at the ferry with these poor ghosts?
Could it really be a secret assassin sent by Judge Lu?
While everyone's attention was drawn to the bride, they failed to notice that the boat was not only slowing down but also sinking little by little.

Beneath the Yellow Springs, thousands upon thousands of ghostly figures surged densely towards the bottom of the ship. They clung to each other like anchors. Although the ghostly figures at the front were scorched by the scriptures on the ship and even turned to ashes, those behind them always took their place.

One after another, they fell, their resentment eroding the scriptures on the ship's hull.

Deep within the underworld, a pair of enormous, scarlet eyes quietly opened, and a sound reached the ears of every ghostly figure.

"Drag this ship down, tear that pretty boy to shreds, and I swear, all those who participate today..."

"They can all escape the sea of ​​suffering and be reborn as humans!"

(End of this chapter)