Chapter 48: Butler Jing’s One Day Tour in the Underworld x2

Chapter 48: Butler Jing's One Day Tour in the Underworld x2

After an indeterminate amount of time, Jing Yi opened his eyes.

The familiar desolate scene lay before him. The sky was murky and dim, with no wind or shadows in sight. The pitch-black bridge ahead appeared endless, its eerie silence sending chills down his spine.

Jing Yi: “……”

After a pause of two seconds, he gently laid himself flat, closing his eyes peacefully. This must be a nightmare; otherwise, how could he have arrived at the Naihe Bridge again?

But nightmares were no big deal; another good sleep would fix everything.

Unfortunately, someone didn’t want him to sleep and kept babbling nonstop in his ear—

“Where are we?”

“Is this some new type of prison?”

“It feels so eerie, how did we even get here?”

“This place looks haunted.”

“I want to go home, I don’t want to stay here, it's too terrifying……”

“Shut up!” Qiu Guzheng snapped irritably. His presence radiated murderous intent, his face grim and unsettling. His sharp tone silenced the incessant chatter around him.

Noticing Jing Yi’s calm demeanor, Qiu Guzheng strode over and roughly yanked his collar. “What is this place? Is this part of some conspiracy between you and Li Wenzhao? Why did you bring us here?”

Jing Yi opened his eyes, his clear, round pupils glistening. “If you want to know what this place is, why don’t you go take a look at the words carved on the bridgehead?”

Qiu Guzheng was taken aback. “You’re not stuttering?”

Jing Yi frowned and shot back sarcastically, “Ever seen a stutterer talk this smoothly?”

It finally dawned on Qiu Guzheng, his expression turning fierce. “……”

They had fallen for Jing Yi’s trick.

He had already killed; what were one or two more lives to him? Human lives were nothing more than warm blood in his eyes.

Qiu Guzheng’s glare intensified, and just as he reached for Jing Yi’s throat, a voice shrieked from behind—

“Ahh! I-I-I-It’s…!” Pei Pei, emotionally distraught, pointed at the stone tablet by the bridgehead, her face deathly pale and speechless.

Yang Zailun walked over. “What, did you catch the stutter too?”

Pei Pei hurriedly said, “Look at the words!”

The four of them curiously gathered around. Beside the dark little bridge stood a tall stone tablet, hidden in the black fog. It quietly watched them from its silent corner. Carved on the face of the tablet were three large characters—Naihe Bridge.

“……”

Pei Pei muttered, “Are… are we dead?”

“No way, it must be Li Wenzhao’s conspiracy. He’s trying to save his butler.” Yang Zailun, looking suspiciously around, muttered to himself. “I get it now, there must be cameras here, waiting for us to confess our crimes. Yes, that’s right, I’m not dead, how could I possibly be dead?”

Pei Pei, recalling something, pinched her arm hard, her body trembling violently. “Why isn’t it hurting… why? Why can’t I feel anything?”

Yang Zailun was startled and also pinched his arm.

Fang Heng lost control, thrashing and smashing in the black fog. "Come out! Who's there! Send us back! I see you! I'm willing to go back to prison, come and arrest me, arrest me!"

Fang Heng ran around like a mad bull in the black fog.

Meanwhile, everyone else, including Qiu Guzheng, stood frozen in disbelief, as if someone had pressed the pause button on them.

Jing Yi watched the four from afar, feeling that the first time he met the Black and White Guardians, he had handled it quite well. Compared to these people, he was calm and composed.

But this nightmare seemed to drag on forever. He couldn't wake up.

......Strange.

Fang Heng, now seemingly deranged, begged for mercy in the black fog for a while, and when it didn't work, he went mad. "Li Wenzhao! Shen Shubai! We were tricked by you! Have the guts to come out and talk! What kind of men hide in the shadows! Come out!"

At this moment, Qiu Guzheng noticed Jing Yi’s eerily calm, almost amused expression, as if he had been detached from the fear the others were experiencing. He stammered, "Why... why aren't you afraid of death?"

Jing Yi looked serious. "Why should I be afraid? It's just a dream."

Qiu Guzheng: "......"

Jing Yi blinked and realized, "Oh right, it's your first time. It's normal to be afraid."

He said kindly, "Don’t worry, after a few deaths, you’ll get used to it."

"......"

Is that even English? How come I don't understand a single word?

Qiu Guzheng staggered back, unable to accept the reality. "Impossible..."

"Nothing is impossible." Jing Yi said calmly, "Maybe you should think more openly and just be a corpse... oh no, a ghost."

"......"

At this moment, the black fog began to churn, and two tall, lanky figures emerged from the thick mist, their limbs long and their proportions somewhat strange, speaking vaguely.

"How did this girl manage to run so far? She died on the mountain and ran home within half an hour, making us search the whole world for her."

"Enough, it's sufficient that we've caught her. All five members are here."

"That's right, but there's an extra one there."

"......"

"Who! Who's there!" Fang Heng eyed the two figures warily. "Is it Li Wenzhao and Shen Shubai? You finally came out, hurry and send me back, or I'll kill you——ah!"

The slender figure grabbed Fang Heng’s frenzied body and kicked him toward the bridgehead. "Shut up, you're too noisy!"

The black fog dissipated, and the figures of the Black and White Guardians appeared before everyone, accompanied by Cen Mingming, whose face was covered in blood.

"Ah——" Pei Pei screamed in fright.

Cen Mingming turned and saw Qiu Guzheng, her eyes bulging with rage, and she quickly pounced on him, viciously grabbing his neck. "You dare to kill me... You bastard, I'll strangle you!"

"Enough, stop making a scene." Bai Wuchang pulled out the Book of Life. "Come over here and confirm your identities. I'll guide you across the Huangquan."

The five-member group immediately fell silent. Pei Pei shook his head and backed away: “I’m not going, I’m not going…”

“That’s not up to you,” said Hei Wuchang. “Your time is up. The Yellow Springs is your destination now. Move on and get reincarnated quicker; no delays. Don’t hold up our work.”

Bai Wuchang casually flipped through the fate register and said: “You handle Jing Yi. I’ll take care of these five.”

Hei Wuchang: “……”

He glared with his bulging eyes: “Why don’t you go then?”

Bai Wuchang remained expressionless: “I’ll send them off first. Souls shouldn't linger on the Naihe Bridge. Meng Po will give us hell if she catches wind of this.”

Hei Wuchang: “Then why do you get to send them, and I have to talk to Jing Yi?”

“……”

The two ghosts stared at each other.

Then, in perfect sync, they said: “Fine, let’s go together.”

After all, they had been good colleagues for years, sharing the good and the bad.

Bai Wuchang pulled out the soul-locking chain and secured the five ghosts at the bridgehead, locking them in place. He handed each of them a piece of underworld paper: “This is your death notice. If there are no issues, sign it. We have other things to do, so take a look.”

“……”

Not far away, a young man sat at the bridgehead, his chin cradled in his hands. His large, watery eyes made him look particularly innocent.

But only those familiar with his personality knew that this seemingly well-behaved person, once stubborn, was as unyielding as a mule.

Hei Wuchang and Bai Wuchang pushed each other as they approached Jing Yi. Before they could speak, the young man in front of them said, “Haven’t seen you two in a while.”

Jing Yi: (OvO)

Bai Wuchang coughed: “Uh, yeah, long time no see.”

Seeing how easygoing Jing Yi was, Bai Wuchang swallowed his anxiety back into his chest. It seemed the matter of mistakenly capturing his soul could still be covered up…

Before Bai Wuchang could find the right words, the young man in front of him said with a cold smile: “I’ve finally caught you.”

Hei Wuchang and Bai Wuchang: “?”

Isn’t that the line they always use when catching stray souls?

Jing Yi hadn’t forgotten how he had been deceived by these two ghosts. First, they captured his soul by mistake, causing his untimely death. Then, they threw him into a novel world without delivering the cheat ability they had promised. They were old con artists, after all.

And con artists deserve what’s coming to them.

Since these ghosts were now in his dream, shouldn’t he take the opportunity to get back at them?

Jing Yi stood up and took a step forward. The two ghosts immediately backed away with strange expressions on their faces.

Huh?

Was it working?

It seemed that even Hei Wuchang and Bai Wuchang felt ashamed of their dishonest actions.

Jing Yi subtly puffed out his chest, having claimed the moral high ground! As long as he didn't come down, Hei Wuchang and Bai Wuchang could only look up at his chin.

"You two lying ghosts," Jing Yi pressed his lips together and said, "You promised to help me reincarnate, so why did I end up in a novel world?"

Bai Wuchang looked embarrassed. "Mainly because the real world is tightly regulated. With our ranks, we can't dominate it for now, so the novel world was the best choice."

Jing Yi's train of thought was derailed. "Is the novel world free from oversight?"

"For now, yes," Hei Wuchang said. "Besides, we've already chosen a suitable rebirth identity according to your requirements. A monthly salary of $100,000, no overtime, and a great boss, right?"

Thinking of the employer, Jing Yi's face involuntarily turned slightly red... Well, meeting Li Wenzhao had been quite fortunate for him, making this rebirth not in vain.

"But you didn't deliver the cheat ability you promised!"

"We did," Hei Wuchang pointed at his own Adam's apple. "A megaphone. The mark is right here; I saw it."

Jing Yi: "..."

Jing Yi: "???"

Wait, he had a cheat ability?

So, Li Wenzhao could hear his thoughts, not because of some special ability, but because he himself was babbling?

All because he had a megaphone embedded in him.

Jing Yi: "..."

Hei Wuchang, noticing his strange expression, reached out and touched his shoulder. Jing Yi yanked his hand away as if scalded, clutching his palm and stepping back.

Bai Wuchang quickly supported him. "Idiot, he's a living soul—why did you touch him? You got burned by the yang energy, didn't you?"

Hei Wuchang cursed. "I just forgot... Ouch, damn it hurts."

Jing Yi, watching Hei Wuchang's drastic change in expression, thought of something, and his own expression turned grim. "You can feel pain?"

Hei Wuchang said, "A dead ghost is still a ghost. Why couldn't I feel pain?"

Jing Yi: "..."

So, this isn't a dream?

Jing Yi's muddled thoughts gradually cleared, and scenes from the past began to replay in his mind, with the last memory being the bitingly cold clifftop.

That's right, he had been kidnapped and fell off the cliff with Qiu Guzheng, plunging into the sea.

So...

Jing Yi, unable to believe it, looked down at his hands. "So, I'm dead again?"

And Li Wenzhao...

"Actually, not exactly," Hei Wuchang scratched his head. "Same as last time, you were—Mmph?"

Bai Wuchang quickly covered his partner's mouth. "No worries, Mr. Jing. You accidentally stumbled onto the Naihe Bridge; we'll get you back, alright?"

Jing Yi: "..."

He squinted and began to chatter, "You two... messed up my soul again, right?"

Black and White Wuchang: "..."

Jing Yi suddenly realized upon hearing this and understood that it was indeed the case.

Since that was the case, he wasn't in a hurry to leave. As an unlucky guy who had been wrongfully killed twice, he felt that he should have some bargaining power with the Wuchangs.

After deciding this, Jing Yi sat down leisurely at the bridgehead, resting his chin on his hand and asked softly, "Can I meet Old Lady Meng Po this time?"

Black and White Wuchang: "..."

Impatient and without guile, Black Wuchang said, "No."

"Oh, crossing the bridge needs real-name verification," Jing Yi said calmly. "I can't cross."

Upon hearing this, Black and White Wuchang breathed a sigh of relief, but the next second, the ancestor in front of them said innocently, "Then I'll pull up a banner, write a blood letter, and kneel at the bridgehead crying. That way, will Meng Po come over?"

Black and White Wuchang broke out in cold sweat.

White Wuchang hurriedly said, "Mr. Jing, let's talk; everything is negotiable, why bother disturbing Old Lady Meng Po?"

Jing Yi pursed his lips. "Then let's negotiate."

Jing Yi's attitude changed so suddenly that White Wuchang was stunned. After thinking for a while, he cautiously probed, "Why don't you just say what you want?"

Jing Yi didn't hesitate. "That's your sincerity; how can I make the request?"

After a pause, he lifted his chin. "But first, you need to remove this loudspeaker."

White Wuchang frowned, looking cautious. "Mr. Jing... this cannot be removed until the host is completely dead, and no buffs can be added."

What?!

Jing Yi widened his eyes. "So I'm going to be a loudspeaker for life?"

Being a big sieve, with no secrets.

Isn't that like being naked in front of Li Wenzhao?

He looked at Black and White Wuchang displeasedly. "Your cheat ability has no boundaries."

"But I can help you adjust it a little..." White Wuchang thought for a moment and whispered something to Jing Yi.

Jing Yi's eyes lit up, tempted. "...Alright then."

White Wuchang breathed a sigh of relief. "Then we'll send you back first."

Jing Yi turned his head. "When did I say I was leaving?"

"Didn't you agree just now?" Black Wuchang said, horrified. "So now you're just playing with us?"

Jing Yi shot back, "And you've wrongfully killed me twice!"

Black and White Wuchang were speechless, stuck in a moment of silence.

Indeed, having been afflicted by high-tech products, they had made two major mistakes with Jing Yi, leaving him unable to return home and forcing him to be reborn into a novel world.

Jing Yi didn't hold their negligence against them; they should be happy about that.

He pressed his lips together and looked away. "What else do you want?"

Jing Yi said, "Money."

He looked at the two in front of him. "You should be able to get the currency of this novel world, right?"

White Wuchang couldn't help but ask, "How much do you need?"

Jing Yi, in his endless greed, said, "Of course, the more, the better. It's not easy for me to come here. You can't let me go back empty-handed, right?"

White Wuchang: "..."

Do you think this is a casual visit? You’re not just grabbing some souvenirs on your way out, are you?

Black Wuchang gritted his teeth. "Fine, we’ll help you get the money."

"How long will I have to wait?" Jing Yi asked.

White Wuchang glanced at the chaotic mist on the horizon, his expression turning serious. "Mr. Jing, time moves differently in this fictional world. By now, ten days have passed in the world you're in."

Jing Yi: "...!!!"

As soon as Jing Yi heard this, he couldn't sit still. "I’m leaving then. Don’t forget to give me the money, or I’ll send a bloody message to Old Lady Meng."

"..." White Wuchang was speechless for a few seconds. "Alright."

Once the deal was sealed, Jing Yi followed White Wuchang towards the Pool of Rebirth. As they passed the bridgehead of the Naihe Bridge, Jing Yi asked curiously, "Are all five of them going to drink the soup and be reincarnated?"

Black Wuchang said, "No way. Two of them are going straight to hell. Especially that Qiu guy. Rape is an unforgivable sin down here. He’ll probably have to descend to the fifteenth level, and only after he's atoned for all his sins can he be reincarnated. However, he most likely won't be reborn as a human."

Jing Yi felt no sympathy for Qiu Guzheng. Right now, he was anxious to return to the Li family. His soul had been out of his body for ten days. Li Wenzhao must be very worried, right?

Lost in thought, Jing Yi's steps halted. Black Wuchang almost bumped him into the Pool of Rebirth. "What's wrong?"

Jing Yi pressed his lips together, his expression complicated. "I just want to know... is my body still there?"

White Wuchang checked the Book of Life. "It’s still there. The Book of Life says your body is in Room 806 of the ICU at First City Hospital."

Jing Yi breathed a sigh of relief. He was really afraid that Li Wenzhao had already buried him.

"Then let’s move."

At the chains by the bridgehead, Yang Zailun saw Jing Yi being sent off and hurriedly said, "Why does he get to leave?!"

Without thinking, Jing Yi turned around. "Ha, you didn’t know I have connections down here, did you?"

"Mess with me, and you’re messing with someone backed by ironclad support!"

Upon hearing this, Fang Heng, with hope in his eyes, lunged forward but was blocked by the chains. "Butler Jing! Assistant Jing! Please take me with you, I want to go back! I beg you!"

"Can’t do that." Jing Yi shook his head. "One resurrection is already pushing it. If there were two more, it would be too scary."

Wuchang: "..."

White Wuchang lightly tapped the Pool of Rebirth, and the stagnant water began to move. The mysterious light of the underworld flew in from all directions, forming a light gate. White Wuchang stepped aside. "Mr. Jing, step through this gate, and you’ll return to your body."

Jing Yi stared at the gate for a few moments, looking at Wuchang suspiciously. "I won’t come back again, right?"

"Definitely not." Black Wuchang said. "How often does someone fall in the same place three times?"

Jing Yi narrowed his eyes. "Swear it."

White Impermanence: (Silent)

Impatiently, Black Impermanence said, "Alright, alright, I swear."

Jing Yi was only satisfied then. He walked two steps forward but suddenly thought of something and turned back. "Last time, I don't think I passed through like this. Which one of you kicked me?"

White Impermanence: (Silent)

Black Impermanence, unable to take it anymore, slapped Jing Yi into the door.

Seeing this, White Impermanence pinched a complex hand seal, and a bank card chased after Jing Yi into the darkness.

"Done. The Plague Deity is gone," Black Impermanence said with satisfaction, clapping his hands before returning to the bridgehead. "I don't want to go to hell. You take them there. I'm going to find Meng Po."

The chains automatically separated into two makeshift cells, separating Pei Pei and Qiu Guzheng, who were dragged away from the Naihe Bridge.

Pei Pei screamed in terror, "Where are you taking me? I was supposed to cross the Naihe Bridge to be reincarnated, right?"

"Reincarnated?" Black Impermanence sneered coldly. "You wish. Both of you have blood on your hands and haven't been punished in the mortal world, which adds to your crimes. You need to see the Judge first, then go to hell to serve your sentences. Only after your sentences are completed can you be reincarnated, and you'll be reborn as dogs or pigs. Remember not to do bad things again."

Qiu Guzheng desperately grabbed the chains. "No, no, I'm not going!"

The chains, without a shred of doubt, coiled up, wrapping them into two black fogs, and disappeared in an instant.

The Naihe Bridge became quiet again, with dark clouds rolling in the sky, swallowing all the sins.

·

·

Capital City Hospital, Intensive Care Unit 806.

The machines by the bedside beeped, and the pale, thin person lying on the bed had been silent for half a month.

The ward was empty and quiet. A tall man sat silently by the bedside, his face gaunt and his clothes disheveled. Though he still wore a suit, he lacked the vigor from half a month ago.

Outside the ward, just a door away, Fan Ming was struggling with a headache as he tried to block the three young masters of the Li family.

"Sorry, Mr. Li said no one can disturb him."

"Not even us?" Third Young Master Li tiptoed to peek through the window. "I'm anxious about Jing Butler's accident too, but Big Brother won't let us see him. How's Jing Butler?"

Fan Ming was momentarily stunned.

How was he?

Not good at all. When Jing Yi was first fished out of the sea by Mr. Li, he still had a faint heartbeat. After half a month of treatment in the hospital, his condition worsened. Since yesterday, his autonomous breathing was almost gone, and the hospital had sent five critical notices to Li Wenzhao.

Fan Ming had watched his superior deteriorate day after day, anxious and unsure of how to help.

"Third Young Master, sorry, I don't know," Fan Ming said, blocking the door and not letting anyone near. "Wait for Mr. Li to come out and ask him yourselves."

"But he's not coming out," Li Ting said anxiously. "The Jing family got wind of this somehow and have been calling me non-stop for the past few hours."

Fan Ming had only one reply. "Sorry."

A cool breeze wafted in through the slightly open window, and before long, the boy on the bed flickered his eyelashes and slowly opened his eyes.

What greeted him was a plain white ceiling, and the pungent smell of alcohol filled his nose. Jing Yi strained to shift his gaze and saw Li Wenzhao sitting by the bedside.

It seemed like he hadn’t slept in days. His once handsome face was now haggard and gaunt, with dark shadows under his eyes and stubble on his chin. He sat motionless, staring at the monitor by the bedside, not noticing that Jing Yi had woken up.

Jing Yi opened his mouth, feeling that his body functions had deteriorated significantly since he returned. Even a simple movement felt more exhausting than before.

He slowly raised his hand, and his cool fingertips touched the wide, warm palm beside the bed. Hoarsely whispering, he said, “Young master…”

Li Wenzhao was momentarily stunned.

Then slowly turned his head, his eyes meeting Jing Yi’s. Disbelief filled his gaze.

Jing Yi softly said, “I’m back.”

Li Wenzhao stood frozen, stunned. He had imagined and longed for the moment Jing Yi would wake up for so long, only to be disappointed time and again. When the long-awaited surprise finally came, he found himself unable to react immediately.

After regaining some strength, Jing Yi propped himself up against the headboard and smiled, “Eldest young master?”

Li Wenzhao’s eyes never left his. Feeling the familiar presence, he gently bent down and pulled Jing Yi into his arms, his movements tender, as if afraid of breaking him.

“You’re back…”

“Mm,” Jing Yi nodded, obediently letting himself be held.

Li Wenzhao must have been terribly frightened. In just over ten days, he had lost a lot of weight. Cuddled in the comforting embrace, Jing Yi closed his eyes, feeling a twinge of guilt.

“I’m sorry, did I wake up too late?” Jing Yi’s voice was muffled.

He shouldn’t have wasted so much time with those two underworld guards. It kept Li Wenzhao waiting far too long.

“It’s alright that you’re back,” Li Wenzhao gently stroked his thin back, his touch light yet unyielding as he held him tight. “Just don’t disappear again.”

“Mm,” Jing Yi nodded.

He never wanted to leave again.

After embracing for a short while, a strange noise rang out. Something had fallen to the ground.

Li Wenzhao snapped out of his trance and turned his head to see a black-and-gold card on the floor beside the bed. The card itself had no markings. “What is this?”

Jing Yi blinked in surprise, then his eyes lit up with excitement. Trying to get out of bed, he said, “Eldest young master, this is something good! It’s mine! I need to get off the bed…”

“Don’t move,” Li Wenzhao pressed down on his restless shoulders. “I’ll call the doctor for a full check-up first.”

But Jing Yi couldn’t sit still, his hips anxiously inching toward the edge of the bed. “Card, card, my card.”

“Money, money, my money!”

Li Wenzhao raised an eyebrow, picked up the card from the floor, and pressed the call button by the bed. Turning back, he saw the young butler holding the card with an excited expression, a look of pure joy on his face.

Li Wenzhao rubbed his head. “What is this?”

The boy on the bed grinned mischievously, his face lit up like he was hiding a precious secret. He carefully stuffed the card into Li Wenzhao’s hand. “Eldest young master, I’m going to use the money from the underworld guards to take care of you.”

Li Wenzhao: “…??”