After Marrying the Lord of the Underworld

The situation was like this.

 

Most of the time, Lu Yingjiu would stay in the human world, taking on commissions, managing the bar and the office. But every once in a while, he would accompany Xian concubine back to his maternal home.

 

They still traveled to and from the ghost world through the array.

 

As time went on, Lu Yingjiu improved the array, and Jing Xian also gained experience. The ghost world’s gate could no longer harm them, and going back was actually quite simple.

 

One night, while they were pillow talking, Jing Xian suddenly mentioned that he had ridden a Qilin before.

 

Lu Yingjiu was immediately interested.

 

To be precise, he was very interested in the ghost world, often studying new varieties of ghosts. And in the Ghost King’s palace, there were many rare species… such as his Rainbow Qilin Squad, Mountain Ghost Band, fluffy Nine-Tailed Fox, and fiery Vermilion Bird.

 

Jing Xian said, “We go for a walk in the upper layer of the ghost world every morning. If you want to hitch a ride, we’ll have to get up early.”

 

So, before dawn, Lu Yingjiu and he had already circled to the back of the palace.

 

That large area full of lush greenery was home to various monsters and ghosts. The Qilins were by the azure spring, looking up at the sky of the ghost world, extremely excited.

 

They were surrounded by auspicious clouds, and there were specks of light under their hooves. With a lion’s head, deer’s antlers, dragon’s scales, and cow’s tail, they were domineering and spirited, and they felt great to touch. Seeing the two of them, they swarmed up and rubbed their big heads against him and Lu Yingjiu.

 

When the sky began to turn white, it was time for them to leave.

 

Several Qilins rose into the clouds, their hair flying, and strands of golden sunlight flowing. Facing the morning sun of the ghost world, they galloped into the distance.

 

Lu Yingjiu was riding a red Qilin, holding onto its soft mane. His body felt light, the ground was far away, the palace was far away, all kinds of streets and ghosts became lines, then dots, and finally were covered by the white clouds.

 

The wind blew, bringing with it moist vapor.

 

When the sun finally broke free from the horizon, the whole world was golden, dazzling, and incomparably bright. They were weaving through the golden clouds, and strands of water droplets that had just condensed were falling.

 

When they broke through the clouds and saw the solid ground again, all the colors between heaven and earth were lit up. He saw lush green forests, sea-blue lakes, towns interwoven with earthy yellow and dark red, and semi-transparent dragons roaming the sky, traveling with them. Looking further, the ferocity of the ghost world was in full view – black-gray mountains, iron-blue plains, blood-red flags fluttering in the wind, eerie bones scattered in the wild, and fierce beasts fighting each other, splashing dark poisonous blood on the ground.

 

Looking at such a scene from a distance, Lu Yingjiu couldn’t help but think, is this what it feels like when the legendary immortals look down on the world?

 

Everything is under their feet, yet they are detached from it all.

 

They are so free that it seems like there is nothing in the world worth stopping for.

 

In a sense, those priests and ghosts are very close to the immortals.

 

The Ghost King is even more so, the most free-spirited among them. He shouldn’t have any worries –

 

But many years ago, on that mountain where ghosts were rampant, a young boy threw himself into the arms of a white-clothed exorcist.

 

It was destined.

 

Love at first sight.

 

Lu Yingjiu turned his head and happened to meet Jing Xian’s gaze.

 

The wind was howling, but he could still hear Jing Xian’s voice, with a smile, “How is it, I told you it’s great, right?”

 

“Mm.” Lu Yingjiu couldn’t help but smile, his tone gentle, “It’s great.”

 

The Qilin raised its hoof and galloped towards another huge cloud.

Soon they arrived at the upper layer of the ghost world, arriving at the boundless wilderness.

 

The upper layer of the ghost world was in full swing of greening, and because the environment was close to the human world, there were thick green grass and flowers everywhere, the air was moist and fresh, it was a holiday paradise. The Qilins got here and scattered, frolicking everywhere.

 

The horses they had ridden before were here.

 

The black horse and the jujube-red horse came up, snorting. The two rode horses and walked side by side through the vibrant land.

 

By the time they had had enough fun, it was already dusk.

 

Lu Yingjiu and Jing Xian rode their horses to find the Qilins, ready to return to the palace.

 

The Qilins were rolling on the grass, huddled together in pairs, rubbing their ears and temples against each other, extremely intimate, as if they were whispering sweet nothings in love.

 

Lu Yingjiu sighed, “Everyone has a partner these years.”

 

“Ah.” Jing Xian cheerfully hugged his waist.

 

The scene in front of them was warm, the orange-red light fell on the Qilin’s scales and long horns, shining brightly. Lu Yingjiu took another look and suddenly felt something was wrong.

 

He pondered for a while, pointing to one of the pairs of Qilin lovers and asked, “I remember the red Qilin and the black Qilin, they are both males, right?”

 

“Ah.” Jing Xian replied.

 

Lu Yingjiu: “…?”

 

“Isn’t it obvious?” Jing Xian said, “They’ve been in love for a hundred years.”

 

The more Lu Yingjiu thought about it, the more he felt something was wrong.

 

He looked at the other Qilin couples again, recalled, and said, “Why do I feel that every pair of Qilins together are of the same sex…”

 

“Ah.” Jing Xian shrugged, “Love is free. When I brought them into the palace, I paired them in male and female pairs, afraid that they would be lonely, I don’t know why it turned out like this.”

 

Lu Yingjiu: “…?”

 

Lu Yingjiu: “Alright.”

 

At this moment, Lu Yingjiu only felt strange and did not realize the seriousness of the matter.

 

It wasn’t until later that he realized that all the rare species in Jing Xian’s palace were in love.

 

Two male Nine-Tailed Foxes were licking each other’s fur, sticking together all day, whispering to each other; two Dijiang, transformed into beautiful little girls, hand in hand all day, laughing like silver bells; even the two same-sex Henggong fish in the pond were blowing bubbles together every day.

 

Lu Yingjiu was deeply shocked.

 

He asked Jing Xian, “Why are all the things you raise bent?”

 

“Love is free.” Jing Xian said, “I can’t control them.”

 

“But it’s too outrageous.” Lu Yingjiu said, “Too outrageous, too outrageous. From a scientific research perspective, those who like the same sex should not exceed… how come it’s 100% in your palace.”

 

“Love is free.” Jing Xian didn’t care about the scientific argument, insisted on the same words, hugged Lu Yingjiu and continued to kiss.

 

After being shocked, Lu Yingjiu began to observe his surroundings continuously, confirming his theory: indeed, all the things Jing Xian raised, all the birds and beasts, were bent and in love.

 

…That’s too scary!!

 

Can love brain be contagious?!!

 

Fortunately, the range of love that Jing Xian can influence is not large.

 

Otherwise, the ghost world would be completely finished.

 

Seeing him shocked for several days, Jing Xian added, “Actually, there is one last pure land…”

 

Lu Yingjiu suddenly looked up and caught a glimmer of hope, “Really?”

 

“Really.” Jing Xian said, “Do you remember, I once smuggled a three-headed dog from hell…”

 

The next day, he took Lu Yingjiu to see the three-headed dog – reportedly the only single dog in the palace now, whose sexual orientation was temporarily straight.

 

The single dog’s kennel was located deep in the layered palace.

 

Jing Xian sent a bunch of little ghosts to take care of it carefully.

 

As soon as Lu Yingjiu arrived at that side hall, he saw a pile of pet toys scattered on the ground: torn dolls, tortured teething sticks, balls that had been soaked in saliva countless times…

 

Taking a few more steps, he saw three pairs of scarlet eyes light up in the darkness of the corner.

 

The color was bloody and rich, making one’s heart chill.

 

The next second, the beast pounced out!!

 

…And fell.

 

“Awoo awoo–” “Wu  wu–” “Woof woof!”

 

Three pitiful dog barks sounded, and the three-headed little black dog lay pitifully on the ground, looking like it had fallen and hurt itself.

 

Lu Yingjiu: “…”

 

What he had imagined to be a terrifying bloodthirsty beast turned out to be such a cute little puppy, not even as tall as his knee.

 

“How did you fall again?” Jing Xian walked over, his tone quite doting, and picked it up.

 

The three-headed dog wagged its tail desperately in his arms, and Jing Xian received three times the kisses.

 

Lu Yingjiu walked over and also scratched its chin, causing a wave of cheers from the three-headed dog, and its tongue licked his palm, bringing a rough texture. He couldn’t help but laugh, “What’s its name?”

 

“San Hei.” Jing Xian answered. (TL: Three or Third Black)

 

Lu Yingjiu: “…The name is quite casual too.”

 

Jing Xian put San Hei on the ground. San Hei jumped around happily, ran a circle in the hall, picked up a toy with its head, and came over to play with them.

 

The time spent petting the dog was very pleasant.

 

If only the three dog heads wouldn’t quarrel, fight, and bite each other’s mouths because of jealousy, it would be even more perfect.

 

Before leaving, Lu Yingjiu pulled Jing Xian and said, “You have to protect this last pure land.”

 

Jing Xian: ?

 

Jing Xian said, “It’s okay, the others all have partners, there’s no chance to bend even if they want to.”

 

Lu Yingjiu asked, “Does the ghost world also have a husband and wife…or should I say, husband and husband system?” He tried to ask as tactfully as possible, “and won’t join others, right?”

 

Jing Xian: “…Probably not.”

 

The two discussed for a while and felt generally relieved.

 

Jing Xian planned to continue smuggling new three-headed dogs next year, so San Hei would have a companion.

 

However, it was said that when husbands are together for a long time, their thinking would slowly assimilate.

 

–They forgot one thing.

 

In the palace, San Hei was not the only single dog.

 

Whenever Jing Xian wanted to share some time with Lu Yingjiu and do some things that couldn’t be written in ‘Jinjiang’, he would throw hairball out to play by itself.

 

Hairball was also bored, walking around with its 3 cm short legs, and finally one day, it accidentally entered the side hall of the three-headed dog…

 

The two dogs played with the ball together, wagging their tails wildly.

 

From then on, they were inseparable, sticking together every day.

 

By the time Lu Yingjiu realized something was wrong, hairball and San Hei had already entered the stage of being a couple, and they would cry sadly every day if they didn’t play with the ball together. The favorite thing for the two dogs to do was to run to the chaotic burial mound to dig for bones, sticking together.

 

Lu Yingjiu: “…How could this happen!”

 

The pure land is gone! His son is gone too!!

 

Jing Xian: “Ahem, love is free, love is free.”

 

After saying that, he pulled Lu Yingjiu, and they happily rode on the Qilin again, riding the clouds and mist towards the morning sun.