Chapter Ninety-Six: Intricacies and Uncertainties (Third Watch)

Chains appeared, not to drag Old Zhu Fourth down to the underworld, but merely for Xu Cheng to demonstrate his own authority.

Now that Xu Cheng had unleashed the formidable aura of his Transformative Spirit Realm, the previously agitated Old Zhu Fourth immediately calmed, contemplating the two choices Xu Cheng had offered him.

Either become a ghost official or reincarnate.

After much thought, Old Zhu Fourth finally asked, "If I become a ghost official, can Chunhua become one too?"

Could it be that this fellow had feelings for Chunhua? Xu Cheng thought silently. Becoming a ghost official and bringing along a spirit companion?

Turning to look at Chunhua, Xu Cheng noticed that the eight spirits were all hiding behind him, each like a loyal follower.

The surrounding ghosts looked at Chunhua with a tinge of envy.

"Chunhua, you have accumulated enough merit. Whether you want to become a ghost official is up to you!" Xu Cheng said solemnly.

"I..." Chunhua, distressed, felt fresh blood flowing turbulently through her seven orifices.

"Chunhua, stay with me!" Old Zhu Fourth extended a hand, speaking urgently.

After a long while, Chunhua seemed to have made a significant decision and nodded firmly.

But to become a ghost official, one must at least have a physical body, and Chunhua now only had her spirit, with her corpse whereabouts unknown.

"Chunhua, do you remember where your body is?" Xu Cheng asked, knowing well the requirements for becoming a ghost official.

When Xu Cheng asked, fresh blood poured from Chunhua’s orifices like a waterfall. She whimpered, "Those two strange people said I was a monster, that I killed Zhu Chenghua, and they burned my body!"

So this was the truth. Could it be that Xu Cheng must become a grave digger now? To find a corpse for Chunhua to inhabit?

"Does that mean I can't become a ghost official with Lord Zhu Fourth?" Chunhua asked cautiously.

"Of course not, Master, you surely have a way, don’t you?" Old Zhu Fourth stepped before Chunhua, grasping her hands. Despite being a ghost, he could actually hold her hands, something ordinary people could not do.

As Xu Cheng pondered how to help, he glanced at his own arm and thought of the Five Elements Creation Technique he still possessed. Though unsure of its effect, he said immediately, "It’s worth a try!"

Pointing a finger at the ground, he released the Five Elements Creation Technique. The earth was soon covered with a radiant, multicolored light.

From the ground sprouted a blade of grass, which grew continuously until it became a tree. The tree bore many large fruits, unknown in type, one of which grew largest and largest.

Eventually, the fruit became taller than a person, bending the branch down to the earth. Then the fruit cracked open, revealing the figure of a graceful young maiden.

Quick as a flash, Xu Cheng transformed the giant fruit using the Five Elements Creation Technique into a garment, draping it over the body he had created.

The figure resembled Chunhua almost exactly, but creating this body had drained much of Xu Cheng’s magical power.

"Get inside, Chunhua!" Xu Cheng said, suppressing the hollow feeling within.

Chunhua glanced at the body Xu Cheng had made. At the thought of becoming a ghost official alongside Zhu Chenghua, she could not help but smile, though the smile was strangely eerie.

Without hesitation, she hurried into the body Xu Cheng had formed.

She controlled the body as it moved smoothly, showing no discomfort, hopping about like a little rabbit.

"Many thanks for the body given by Master!" Chunhua bowed deeply.

"No problem. From now on, you and Zhu Chenghua shall jointly maintain the balance between the Yin and Yang realms of this small town. If either of you neglect your duties, you know the consequences," Xu Cheng said, while a yellow underworld token floated into the air from his hand, splitting into two ghost official tokens.

"Go!" With a gesture from Xu Cheng, the ghost official tokens entered their hands, emitting a faint black light that enveloped them—an underworld transformation.

After a long moment, their forms appeared from the black glow. Chunhua wore a white ghost official uniform; Zhu Chenghua, a black one—truly the embodiment of the Black and White Impermanence!

"Your subordinate Chunhua greets the Underworld Envoy!"

"Your subordinate Zhu Chenghua greets the Underworld Envoy!" they said in unison.

"Very good. From now on, there is no longer maid Chunhua of the Zhu household nor Young Master Fourth of the Zhu family. Only Ghost Official Chunhua and Ghost Official Zhu Chenghua!" Xu Cheng declared.

"Yes, Master!" they answered respectfully.

...

Chunhua and Zhu Chenghua immediately familiarized themselves with the contents of the ghost official tokens.

Xu Cheng then turned to the remaining spirits and said, "That mysterious person and his monsters—I will investigate them myself. You others should proceed to reincarnation. Those with greater merit might be reborn into wealthy families as noble sons next life!"

Hearing this, the remaining spirits felt a faint hope. What if they were reincarnated into a royal household?

"Begin your journey!"

The underworld flame chains appeared out of thin air, pulling the remaining few into reincarnation.

The Chrysanthemum of Life and Death recorded their merits and sins; these were ordinary people without merit or sin, so reincarnation was the proper path.

Turning to Chunhua and Zhu Chenghua, who were now familiar with their ghost official tokens, he said, "You two must quickly master the role of ghost officials. Report to me promptly through the tokens if anything arises!"

"Yes, Master!" they replied with respect.

Using his object manipulation technique, Xu Cheng restored Zhu Chenghua’s grave to its original state.

Then, together with Yan Mengdie, they proceeded onward.

Along the way, the most perplexing matter was that someone was creating monsters.

Xu Cheng was eager to uncover who was manufacturing these creatures right under the watchful eyes of the Underworld Envoy.

Their next destination was Shan’an Town. Upon arrival, the town seemed peaceful, as if nothing had happened.

After a long search in the outskirts, they found the town’s cemetery. Several graves had small holes behind them, and the air faintly carried the scent of ghosts and monsters.

"Who is it? Who exactly?"

Extremely angry, Xu Cheng’s body was surrounded by flickering black light, the underworld flame chains spinning around him.

"Right Envoy, perhaps we should, as before, question the local spirits," Chrysanthemum suggested.

"Agreed, there is no other way for now!" Xu Cheng responded, summoning a faint yellow light from the underworld token.

After some time, numerous ghosts appeared, their forms vague but numbering in the hundreds.

"To think there are so many spirits!" Chrysanthemum exclaimed in surprise, looking at the ghosts around them.

Some were old spirits who had lingered here for a long time; most were newly born.

Xu Cheng, deeply troubled, flickered with dark light. Not wanting to question why these spirits lingered any longer, he immediately absorbed them into the underworld. Those heavy with yin energy were cast into hell; the rest were sent into reincarnation.