After Marrying the Lord of the Underworld

The palace was designed wonderfully, with the innermost hall empty and devoid of ghosts, while the outer halls and surrounding buildings were bustling with spectral activity. There were long streets, taverns, stages, and archways, resembling a small city.

 

Of course, ordinary ghosts couldn’t enter here.

 

Those who could move around here were either ghost shopkeepers or prestigious priests.

 

Jing Xian said, “It used to be even more lively here. But in the past few months, I’ve sent many ghosts to find the formation, so there are too many ghosts on business trips, and it’s not as bustling here.”

 

“There are still quite a lot.” Lu Yingjiu said.

 

The flow of ghosts reminded him of the pedestrian streets in big cities on weekends.

 

Jing Xian led him through a black gate tens of meters high, and what came into view was a bustling long street.

 

Lu Yingjiu said that he wanted to stroll around here to experience the local customs of the ghost world.

 

Jing Xian would naturally not miss this opportunity to enhance feelings. He waved his hand, and two little ghosts drilled out from the ground, offering him something in both hands.

 

It was a half-face mask made of jade, with black as the main body and red outlining a wolf-tooth-like pattern on the edge. Overall, it gave people a sense of unease. Jing Xian put it on his face and said, “This is what I use when I go undercover. Do you want one?”

 

There were many other ghosts wearing masks on the street.

 

Some were priests who did not want to reveal their identities, while others were born ugly and unwilling to criticize others.

 

Lu Yingjiu shook his head and said, “No, no one here knows me anyway.”

 

“How could that be,” Jing Xian said, “I’ve posted your portrait for so many years.”

 

Lu Yingjiu: “…”

 

He gave up arguing with Jing Xian on this topic and took the lead to walk forward.

 

The long street was gloomy, with various shops lined up.

 

They walked on the road one after the other, Lu Yingjiu holding hairball in his arms – it looked left and right excitedly, full of curiosity.

 

“Buns! Fresh dumplings on sale!”

 

“Don’t miss it if you pass by! Buns are on sale!”

 

The ghost boss in the dumpling shop greeted enthusiastically. Lu Yingjiu went over and saw that the soup dumplings were filled with black juice, which sizzled when it fell on the ground.

 

Lu Yingjiu asked Jing Xian in a low voice, “What’s in this dumpling?”

 

“Decay water.” Jing Xian said, “It’s refined from corpses. If you eat it, it will cause your intestines to rot.”

 

Lu Yingjiu: “…”

 

He quickly grabbed the eager hairball and walked away quickly.

 

Next, they saw a temporary stage set up on the street.

 

Several actors, dressed in gorgeous costumes, were singing in an ancient ghost language that Lu Yingjiu didn’t understand. He only felt that the tune was full of twists and turns, seemingly filled with resentment.

 

The area below the stage was packed with ghosts, and they couldn’t get in.

 

Jing Xian explained, “This play is called ‘Thirteen More’. It tells the story of a beautiful woman in the mortal world who has been waiting for her lover for thirteen years and finally dies of a serious illness. Her lover has married three wives and four concubines in the capital and has long forgotten her.”

 

Lu Yingjiu was somewhat surprised, “Does the ghost world also popularize this style of opera?”

 

“Not really.” Jing Xian hesitated for a few seconds, then took his hand, “You’ll understand when you listen.”

 

The front row of the stage was full of ghosts, and there’s no place to stand.

 

Just as Lu Yingjiu was wondering how Jing Xian was going to squeeze through, he saw Jing Xian snap his fingers.

 

A gust of cold wind came.

 

The wind, like a sharp blade, lightly swept over the heads of the ghosts. Lu Yingjiu only heard a few “puffs”, and then there were more than a dozen heads flying chaotically in the air!

 

Lu Yingjiu: ?

 

The heads of the ghosts in the front row were cleanly cut off. A large amount of fresh blood was sprayed, but not a drop fell on them. The heads in the air were confused and shouted, “Hey! How did my head fall off!”

 

A group of headless corpses ran away in a panic, each looking for their own head.

 

Lu Yingjiu: ??

 

Isn’t this too underworldly?!

 

Now, there’s no one in front, and the other ghosts seem to be used to it, showing no reaction at all, still watching the play attentively.

 

Jing Xian hugged him, and they easily reached the bottom of the stage, choosing a wooden table to sit down on.

 

Immediately, a little ghost came up and served them peanuts, melon seeds, and… chilled cola.

 

Lu Yingjiu, still shocked from the “audience members are looking for their heads all over the ground”, weighed the can of cola in his hand and asked, “Is this also your invention?”

 

“Yes.” Jing Xian nodded, “Cola is so delicious, it would be a waste not to promote it.” After saying that, he opened the cola in his hand and handed it to Lu Yingjiu.

 

The two of them watched the play while drinking cola.

 

Jing Xian acted as a translator, explaining to Lu Yingjiu every line the ghost on stage sang.

 

The general plot was: In the thirteenth year of waiting, the woman contracted a cold and had a high fever for several days, eventually dying of illness.

 

–Normal operas would wrap up around this point, mainly expressing the woman’s “resentment”.

 

But the ghost world version of the play was clearly different.

 

After the woman died, she turned into a vengeful ghost.

 

The sleeve of the actor on stage was raised, and a green-faced, fanged female ghost appeared. She adorned her eyebrows and eyes with rouge, and her appearance quickly returned to normal.

 

She was dressed in a green dress, leaning against the locust tree at the entrance of the village, enticing passers-by with her melodious singing voice.

 

When the passers-by were bewitched, she would possess them and control them to go in the direction of the capital. When the passers-by were exhausted, she would devour them clean and continue to look for the next prey.

 

In this way, she made her way to the capital.

 

The woman learned that her lover had already become a high official, with a harem of wives and concubines.

 

She possessed a maid and sneaked into his mansion.

 

Lu Yingjiu watched attentively.

 

The play was quite exquisite, and the set was well-crafted. Although simple, it was lifelike.

 

Jing Xian was eating peanuts, and soon his hands became restless. He moved a little closer and held his hand under the tablecloth.

 

Lu Yingjiu had become too accustomed to his clinginess these days, so he let him be.

 

On the stage, the lights were bright.

 

Coincidentally, the lover was fickle and had just divorced his wife not long ago. Today, he was preparing to marry his new love. The female ghost just happened to appear at his wedding. With a wave of her sleeve, a gust of cold wind knocked down the guests.

 

The little delicate bride screamed and was blown away by the cold wind.

 

The red bridal veil was still the red bridal veil, and the phoenix crown and rosy dress were still the phoenix crown and rosy dress.

 

But the bride had become a fierce ghost.

 

The man was oblivious to this.

 

The man and the ghost stood face to face, creating a somewhat eerie feeling.

 

A priest next to them sighed, “I love the plays about ghost marriages the most!”

 

“Yeah, yeah, it’s so exciting when humans and ghosts are together!”

 

“Hehehe!”

 

Lu Yingjiu: “…”

 

Jing Xian laughed next to him, and he ate a couple of peanuts somewhat guiltily.

 

The man and the ghost paid their respects to each other and were sent into the bridal chamber.

 

The female ghost sat on the bed with her veil on, not saying a word, her clothes blood-red.

 

When the man sat next to her and gently took her hand, she slowly said, “Xiao Lang, do you remember me?”

 

Xiao Lang was stunned, recognizing her voice!

 

He wanted to run away, but his hand was held tightly as if by iron tongs.

 

The woman’s cold hand held him, and she slowly said, “Xiao Lang, I’ve been waiting for you for thirteen years, a full thirteen years.”

 

“I, I, I…” Xiao Lang was trembling all over, “This is a misunderstanding! I didn’t mean to abandon you! I just… just didn’t have time to go back to my hometown!”

 

“Liar.” The female ghost’s tone was cold. She lifted her veil herself, revealing an extremely pale face, “You are living a life with a harem of wives and concubines. Do you know how I’ve been living these thirteen years?”

 

Xiao Lang shook his head desperately.

 

The female ghost’s nails pricked the back of his hand, and fresh blood flowed down.

 

She took something out of her arms…

 

Lu Yingjiu looked closely.

 

He saw the female ghost holding a can of cola, shouting, “I’ve been living on underworld cola every day!! Thirteen years, every day, I have to drink underworld brand cola!”

 

Lu Yingjiu: ???

 

He was dumbfounded.

 

With a wave of the female ghost’s hand, Xiao Lang’s head rolled to the ground. Then she took the cola and walked step by step towards the audience, “Underworld cola is good, drink it and you’ll never age; Underworld cola is good, everyone takes a sip and feels good.”

 

A burst of fireworks erupted, and two little ghosts pulled out a banner: [Underworld Cola, buy one get one free today]

 

The applause from below the stage was thunderous, and all the ghosts took out their colas and poured them into their mouths.

 

Lu Yingjiu asked Jing Xian in shock, “This… this play wouldn’t have been arranged by you, would it?!”

 

“How could that be.” Jing Xian said, “I sent the advertising department of the cola company to do it, and those few civil servants came up with this. It turns out to be quite useful. Last quarter, the sales of cola increased by three to four percent.”

 

Lu Yingjiu: “…”

 

Jing Xian said, “There are other plays, do you want to watch? We can book a room and enjoy it slowly.”

 

Lu Yingjiu felt a chill, “No, no.” After saying that, he pulled Jing Xian and squeezed out of the crowd.

 

Next, Lu Yingjiu watched a Cuju match. (TL: ancient game of kicking a ball)

 

A group of ghosts were kicking a skull.

 

He also watched a variety show.

 

The performance failed, and the performer was swallowed by his fierce beast.

 

And there were street stalls.

 

Selling bones, selling eyeballs, selling heads, everywhere.

 

By the time Lu Yingjiu finished walking down this street, he had seen all the scenes that should be in a horror movie.

 

What’s more terrifying was, just as Jing Xian said…

 

He hadn’t walked a few dozen steps before he could see that damn matchstick man portrait at the corner of the street and the entrance of the shop.

 

Lu Yingjiu rubbed his brow bone, “Jing Xian, let’s… let’s just go straight to the inner hall.”

 

“Alright,” Jing Xian was a bit regretful, “I was thinking about having a drink with you.”

 

“It’s okay to drink at your place.” Lu Yingjiu took a deep breath, “As long as I don’t have to see such underworld things for a while.”

 

Jing Xian then whistled.

 

Two horses stepping on ghost fire came to the sound.

 

They mounted the horses, one in front and one behind, heading towards the inner hall.

 

After passing through countless bustling streets and several heavy gates guarded by yin soldiers, the hustle and bustle finally receded.

 

This place was far away from the ghosts, and the road was empty.

 

Gorgeous palaces were scattered around, surrounding the central main hall.

 

The main hall was golden and splendid, with a long staircase in front of it.

 

The pure black staircase was made of jade, carved with patterns, mostly of ferocious ghosts, at least eight or nine hundred steps. This was for the worship of all ghosts, and Lu Yingjiu could imagine the spectacle of priests kneeling here just by looking at it.

 

There was only one thing that wasn’t good.

 

The path was still lined with matchstick figures.

 

Two ghost horses step lightly, stepping onto the steps.

 

But after climbing a few hundred steps, there were clouds and mist lingering in the sleeves, cool and delicate.

 

Lu Yingjiu asked, “Jing Xian, I was thinking about a problem when I was watching that play.”

 

“What?” Jingxian asked, “If you want to drink cola, I have a lot of it.”

 

Lu Yingjiu: “…No.”

 

The surrounding clouds and mist rise and fall, and the horse’s hooves step on the jade.

 

Lu Yingjiu said, “I’m still thinking, first, why haven’t I met servants of Heavenly Way in the past twenty or so years? Second, since the Heavenly Way wants to take my life, why does it want to hold a fake wedding?”

 

He had asked Jing Xian these two questions before.

 

Jing Xian’s attitude was a bit strange.

 

For the first question, he clearly said he didn’t know.

 

But for the second question, he just vaguely passed it by – it was this place that made Lu Yingjiu feel wrong.

 

Sure enough, this time Jing Xian still said, “I’m not sure either. Maybe when you figure out that formation, you’ll know the answer.”

 

Lu Yingjiu responded with an “Oh”, his eyes filled with inquiry.

 

The ghost horse went all the way up to the hall.

 

At the end of the stairs, the large characters like dragon flying and phoenix dancing were written on the plaque: [Nameless Hall]

 

Below was a pitch-black throne, it was not clear what material it was made of. It only felt murderous, as if it was condensed from countless bones and souls.

 

Jing Xian said, “Do you want to sit up there?”

 

“…No.” Lu Yingjiu said, “I haven’t cleared the shadow of the underworld sofa.”

 

Jing Xian was very sorry, and said again, “Then there is nothing good to see here.”

 

Lu Yingjiu took it seriously.

 

Until Jing Xian hugged him and went straight to a place like an imperial bedchamber.

 

He instinctively felt dangerous, “…Why directly to a bedchamber place?”

 

“Where is it.” Jing Xian walked quickly under his feet, “It’s your illusion, I’m just taking you around for a visit.”

 

After speaking, he took Lu Yingjiu to the harem.

 

Large and small palaces stood in abundance.

 

All were harems.

 

What Shuangyue Tower, what Jiang Zi Pavilion, what Qinghua Palace, what Rumen Palace, they were all extremely gorgeous.

 

“…..” Lu Yingjiu squinted his eyes, “Jing Xian, why do you have so many harems?”

 

Jing Xian paused, feeling a chill in his heart, stiffening his back, and his scalp tingling.

 

–He was busy taking Lu Yingjiu to the sleeping chambers, and he forgot about this!

 

Meet with a mishap!

 

Meet with a big mishap!

 

He turned his head and grabbed Lu Yingjiu tightly. “Misunderstanding! All misunderstandings! I didn’t design this part of the harem!”

 

Lu Yingjiu: “Oh.”

 

Jing Xian spoke quickly, “I have had several periods of deep sleep. Some of these palaces were completed while I was asleep. That’s why there were so many harems built!”

 

Lu Yingjiu: “Oh.” He raised his eyebrows, “It seems that your subordinates understand your intentions very well.”

 

Jing Xian: ?!?

 

He felt like he was about to kneel on a durian… No, if he didn’t explain clearly, he would lose his wife!

 

He pulled Lu Yingjiu and rushed into the Shuangyue Tower.

 

As the name suggests, Shuangyue Tower was a beautiful building. The top was immersed in the clouds and mist, and when it was deep at night, there was a romantic feeling of picking stars and exploring the moon.

 

The two went in.

 

Jing Xian pointed to the wall and said, “Look!”

 

There were exquisite scrolls hanging on the wall.

 

A small stick figure was painted on the scroll.

 

The title: [My Love, Lu Yingjiu]

 

Lu Yingjiu: “…”

 

Jing Xian said, “This is your building!”

 

He pulled Lu Yingjiu again and took a tour of the large and small buildings in the harem.

 

Jiang Zi Pavilion, Qinghua Palace, Rumen Palace, Luoyu Pavilion…

 

All have a stick figure in the middle.

 

Jing Xian said, “These are all for you to live in.” He pulled Lu Yingjiu to the corner again.

 

There was also a building in the corner, but it was simple and shabby, and the painting style did not fit in.

 

Jing Xian emphasized: “This is the cold palace. Even your name is written in the cold palace!”

 

Lu Yingjiu: “…”

 

Lu Yingjiu: “….…”

 

Jing Xian was extremely nervous: “My love for you is endless and everlasting, and it can be seen in the sun and the moon…”

 

“Stop stop stop.” Lu Yingjiu interrupted him, “Stop.”

 

He rubbed his brow bone, and after a few seconds, he couldn’t help but lower his head and laugh.

 

Jing Xian looked at his face, “Are you still angry?”

 

“No.” Lu Yingjiu kissed him and laughed, “I never was. I was just teasing you. How could I doubt your sincerity?”

 

–However, this tease, this kiss, caused something to happen.

 

That night, hairball was thrown outside the palace by Jing Xian, munching on a pile of skulls, feeling extremely happy.

 

There was a saying called ‘spirit dog protecting the master’.

 

But it obviously couldn’t do it, give it something to eat and it would forget the master cleanly.

 

And Lu Yingjiu experienced how soft the bed and bedding in the sleeping chamber were.

 

Soft enough to sink the whole person into it, soft enough to muffle the vague moan. The body couldn’t find a point of force, sinking and floating in the wild waves. In the dim light, only Jing Xian’s hand propped next to his head, the beautiful muscle lines were tight, and the deep eyes were burning with fire.

 

It wasn’t until the middle of the night that the two finished tossing.

 

After a simple wash, there was a faint fragrance on the body. There was also a sleep aid incense burning in the room, which made people feel calm.

 

Jing Xian held Lu Yingjiu, as usual, his posture was like a male beast guarding his territory.

 

Lu Yingjiu lay in his arms with his eyes closed.

 

After a while, he asked, “Jing Xian, what’s the matter with the fake wedding? You know the truth, right?”

 

Jing Xian didn’t answer.

 

It took a long time.

 

Until Lu Yingjiu was about to fall asleep, until he thought Jing Xian would not speak…

 

Jing Xian said softly, “If the Heavenly Way wants to take someone away, it has to cut off all the connections in the world. And the connection is also divided into three, six, nine, etc., like the connection between master and apprentice, or the connection between friends which is more minor, the most important is the close blood connection.”

 

“You met a fake wedding before, didn’t I save you once? If it were your parents, it would be the same – but it wouldn’t be easy, and there would be casualties.”

 

Lu Yingjiu thought for a while.

 

His mother, Zhuang Xue, died early, and his cheap father hadn’t shown up for more than ten years.

 

He had no blood relatives.

 

He said sleepily, “But what does this have to do with the wedding?”

 

Jing Xian was silent for a few seconds, “Marriage is also included in important connections.” He reached out and gently stroked Lu Yingjiu’s temples, “You and I are connected, and if the Heavenly Way wants to take you away, it will take a lot more effort. The purpose of the fake wedding is to let you pay respects to another person. Once a new marriage contract is forcibly formed, the connection with me will disappear.”

 

By then, I’m afraid no one in this world can stop the Heavenly Way.

 

Lu Yingjiu’s face changed slightly.

 

He was now completely awake, but he didn’t know what to say.

 

Then, he quickly had a bad premonition in his heart.

 

–This premonition did not come out of thin air.

 

As early as when Jing Xian repeatedly took action for him and confronted the Heavenly Way, this uneasiness had always existed.

 

His thoughts turned, and he quickly thought that there was not only one way to untie the marriage contract.

 

…If Jing Xian died, the effect would be the same.

 

He knew that Jing Xian’s strength was far superior to him, and far superior to any ghost and gods.

 

But…

 

Born as a ghost, born as a god.

 

Without a physical body, floating between heaven and earth.

 

The constraints of the Heavenly Way on priests and humans were different.

 

Lu Yingjiu has been flipping through various classics of the ghost world these days, and asked Jing Xian many details, and he has a general conclusion in his heart: the Heavenly Way must send servants to pursue and to kill humans, and when facing ghosts, there were many methods. Such as thunder tribulation or heart demon, any kind was more deadly.

 

His heart was a mess, then his frowning brows were slowly smoothed by Jing Xian.

 

Jing Xian laughed and said, “You see, this is why I didn’t want to tell you. You will definitely worry if you know.” He kissed Lu Yingjiu’s forehead, “Go to sleep, don’t think so much. Your husband is very powerful, how could he lose to such a brutal and unkind thing?”

 

—He said so, but that night, Lu Yingjiu didn’t sleep well.

 

He was holding Jing Xian tightly in his dream, fearing that if he relaxed a little, Jing Xian would disappear.

 

And Jing Xian comforted him over and over again when he was half asleep and half awake, loosely grabbed his hand, and lightly kissed his eyebrows.

 

The next day, the sky was dimly bright.

 

Lu Yingjiu woke up, opened the window, and the fresh air came oncoming.

 

His head was groggy, and he still remembered what happened last night.

 

This can’t go on. He thought, he must return to the human world immediately and make a break with the Heavenly Way.

 

The decision was made.

 

Lu Yingjiu turned his head to discuss with Jing Xian, but suddenly stopped.

 

In the sky, a huge eye slowly opened.

 

This time, its gaze swept past Lu Yingjiu.

 

And looked straight at Jing Xian.