Nether Warrant

"A nether warrant?" Sha Lifei swallowed hard, his gaze toward Wu Laosi brimming with awe. "I hear those belong to nether bailiffs. Senior, you actually robbed a nether bailiff? Respect, sheer respect!" Wu Laosi stared blankly before waving his hands in a fluster. "Bah, watch your mouth! My cultivation is only at the second story. I don't have that skill, let alone that kind of guts." With that, he hastily shut the box, as if stealing one more glance might bring disaster upon him. Li Yan frowned. "Is this item... related to Senior's troubles?" "It's not trouble..." Wu Laosi sighed, his face turning pale. "It is a debt. A debt owed to the Netherworld!" Sha Lifei's curiosity flared even more. "The Nether Court runs a usury racket too?" Wu Laosi was stunned again, staring at Sha Lifei in disbelief, bewildered by the bald, bearded man's bizarre train of thought. "Quit interrupting!" Li Yan gave Sha Lifei a tug, then nodded respectfully. "Senior, please continue." Wu Laosi shook his head. "This nether warrant concerns the heritage of my lineage. "Most who practice underworld crossing revere innate Yin deities. In my lineage, our ancestors received this nether warrant and passed it down through the generations. We worship Great Emperor Beiyin of Fengdu. On occasion, one of us receives a decree from the Nether Court to help nether bailiffs apprehend major fugitives." Li Yan frowned. "What is the Nether Court... like?" "I don't know." Wu Laosi wore a bitter grimace. "How could a mortal fathom the affairs of the Netherworld? Every time I cross into the underworld, I can remember nothing of it afterward except the task I must carry out." Sha Lifei couldn't help chiming in again. "Nether bailiffs need help from mortals?" Wu Laosi nodded. "According to my master, throughout the divine realm of Shenzhou, wherever mortals dwell, deities are worshipped and divine astral qi gathers. "Not to mention those grotto-heavens and blessed lands where innate astral qi converges. There are places even nether bailiffs cannot set foot in. "Holding a nether warrant grants certain benefits—for instance, one needn't maintain spirit soldiers, yet can still command the ghost legions of the Netherworld. But it also imposes obligations: hunting down nether fugitives. "Some of these nether fugitives are already dead, yet their departed souls refuse to leave, transforming into virulent specters to wreak havoc. Others are cultivators who used heaven-defying arts to return to the living, or hid away in grotto-heavens and blessed lands to linger as living dead. "Our duty is to track them down and issue the nether warrant to cast them into the Netherworld. Because of this, even the Taixuan Orthodox Sect treats nether warrant holders with courtesy." Sha Lifei asked in wonder, "With so many perks, why are you hiding here, Senior?" Wu Laosi gave a bitter smile. "Because I botched an assignment. "Once, the Nether Court issued a dream decree commanding me to capture an escapee from the Netherworld who had returned to life. It turned out to be an old family friend. I gave in to personal sentiment and used a method to fake his death. But ghosts and gods are not so easily deceived; the truth came out in the end. "Worse still, I misjudged his character. That family friend's resentment refused to disperse; he became a virulent specter and butchered my entire family. Though he was cast into the Netherworld, I had violated the taboo. "To save myself, I sealed my supernatural abilities and spiritual apertures, hiding away in this place. "The moment I cross into the underworld again, death is certain!" "So that's how it is." Li Yan's heart sank. "If that is the case, we will not trouble Senior any further." Taking action meant forfeiting his life. Wu Laosi had hidden in the opera troupe for years, and he clearly wouldn't throw his life away for strangers. Li Yan had no wish to force an impossible demand on him. "You misunderstand, young brother." Wu Laosi shook his head. "If I told you this, it means I intend to act." With that, he untied his garments and slowly revealed his back. Li Yan and Sha Lifei sucked in a cold breath. Covering his back were dense bluish-purple marks like tattoos deeply etched into his skin, faintly forming an image: in the center was the nether warrant from before, encircled by chains! Putting his clothes back on, Wu Laosi let out a heavy sigh. "The human heart is easily fooled, but ghosts and gods cannot be deceived. Some things cannot be dodged forever. This day was bound to come sooner or later, and my days are already numbered. "I will step forward this time, but I have two conditions." Li Yan nodded solemnly. "Please speak, Senior." Wu Laosi drew a jade pendant carved with fish playing among lotuses from his breast. His eyes reddened, and his voice trembled. "I was originally a native of Fengyang County, possessed of modest family wealth. When tragedy struck, fear gripped me and I fled in panic. I hastily buried my deceased wife and daughter without even erecting a tombstone. Over all these years, guilt has gnawed at me day and night. "After I die, I hope you will take my remains back to my hometown so the fallen leaf can return to its roots, and hold a proper funeral for my wife and daughter." With that, he pressed a hand over the lacquer box. "And this nether warrant. My lineage's ancestral temple lies in the Qinling Mountains. The clan has withered away, and incense is sparse. Please return this nether warrant to the altar of Great Emperor Fengdu. "If you agree, young brother, I can pass away in peace." Li Yan was silent for a moment, then cupped his hands with grave sincerity. "I will not fail your trust!" Wu Laosi nodded. "The underworld crossing ritual can be carried out tonight. However, if the living soul is trapped within a wandering soul jar, I cannot bring it back; I can only determine its location for you." "Knowing the location is plenty!" Sha Lifei beamed with delight. Shopkeeper Wan had already said that once the location was pinned down, they could fetch reinforcements from the City God Temple. No matter how formidable Chen Fakui's sorcery was, it would be useless; the people from the Enforcement Hall were itching to make arrests and claim merit. Wu Laosi rose to his feet. "In that case, let us make preparations. "Xianyang has numerous temples and bustling incense, and Sheling nether soldiers from the City God Temple are stationed about, which could cause interference. We must go outside the city to perform the rite. "In addition, I will need a coffin, a rooster, a bell, five-colored soil, yellow wine, and three jin of paper money and sycees..." Li Yan and Sha Lifei committed each item to memory. Fortunately, these were ordinary goods and required no magical artifacts. Once everything was settled, they stepped out the door. Before leaving, Wu Laosi tidied up the room, put everything neatly in place, and even locked the door. When they reached the main courtyard, the attendant was already waiting. Smiling, he cupped his hands. "Gentlemen, Troupe Master Luo has prepared food and wine." Wu Laosi shook his head. "Zhuzi, take me to see the troupe master." "Yes, Uncle Wu, please follow me." The attendant did not dare delay and hurried ahead to lead the way. Passing through a corridor, they entered another courtyard. This one was far more grand, featuring a small pavilion in the rear, rockeries and a pond within the grounds, and a small stage built right in the middle of the water. Evidently, this was a venue for entertaining distinguished guests. One could easily imagine what a pleasure it would be under a bright moon and over the mist-veiled pond, with actors portraying joys and sorrows on stage while guests sang over wine below. "Hahaha..." Before they even entered the garden, Luo Shihai's laughter drifted over. He strode forward, smiling as he cupped his hands. "I was truly blind, failing to realize a man of extraordinary talent like Brother Wu was concealed right here in my troupe! If I have neglected you in the past, please forgive me." Some things in the jianghu were no secret. Youngsters like Zhuzi knew nothing, but Luo Shihai was well aware that Shopkeeper Wan of the Carpenters Guild was a true Xuanmen practitioner. The Zhou family's downfall was directly linked to him. Since Li Yan had arrived bearing Wan's visiting card, it went without saying that Wu Laosi, who had kept a low profile in the troupe, was also a man of the Xuanmen. Wu Laosi remained silent for a moment, then dropped straight to his knees in a deep bow. "Ah, Brother Wu, what are you doing?" Flustered, Luo Shihai rushed forward to help him up. Yet Wu Laosi insisted on kneeling, his voice low and firm. "All these years I hid in the troupe with meager skills, able only to do odd jobs. It was entirely thanks to Troupe Master Luo's benevolence that I had food to eat and wasn't turned out. "I have nothing with which to repay your kindness, so I can only offer this bow of gratitude." Rising slowly to his feet, his expression turned grave. "That the Longsheng Opera Troupe has flourished over the years is largely due to the century-old statue of the founding master, which anchors its fortune and allows talent to emerge in abundance. "Yet as time has passed, a treasure has nurtured within the statue. I fear wicked people have already set their eyes on it. A few days ago, someone crept inside secretly, but I frightened him off. "After I leave, Troupe Master, you must remain vigilant." "What?!" Luo Shihai was both shocked and delighted. "Brother Wu, did you see who it was?" Born into generations of wealth, he was familiar with heavenly spirit earthly treasures, yet he never expected one to emerge inside his own opera garden. Wu Laosi lowered his voice. "A Jiangzuo sorcerer who normally bunks with the Iron Saber Gang and helped Zheng Heibei murder several people. Troupe Master, you must be careful." With that, he cupped his hands, took his leave alongside Li Yan, and departed. Luo Shihai was left rooted to the spot, his appetite entirely gone, his eyes flickering with indecision. Finally, he gritted his teeth. "Zhuzi, take me to the Taixing Coach House! Tonight, I shall make my move as well! "They go too far, daring to plot against my treasure!" * * * Without realizing it, night fell. Outside Xianyang, amidst the woods on the banks of the Wei River. Beneath an old locust tree, Li Yan and Sha Lifei steadily swung their shovels. Soil piled up on either side, gradually forming a deep pit...