Meng Lange hurriedly said, “Clockwise turning is for removing karmic obstacles and accumulating merit. Counterclockwise turning perhaps… brings immeasurable karmic obstacles. Anyway, Ms. Wu, please remember, do not use that prayer wheel again.”
Wu Yinyu had never actually turned that prayer wheel. But last time at the cemetery, she did see Meng Lange seemingly try to turn it once, though he hadn’t been able to.
So it wasn’t that it couldn’t be turned; it just couldn’t be turned clockwise like an ordinary handheld prayer wheel.
Staying in the hotel room, boredom was inevitable. Wu Yinyu simply turned on the TV and started watching the news broadcast.
Having sound in the room at least kept it from feeling too lonely.
The news finished, and the weather forecast began. The report stated the area north of Wise City would experience heavy rainstorms, possibly triggering flash floods and landslides.
Previously, Wu Yinyu wouldn’t have paid attention to this, but she recalled—wasn’t Ivory Mast Beach located north of Wise City?
Ordinary rainstorms and flash floods wouldn’t require the Two-World Sea to suddenly rush the compilation of the Underworld Register. With so many dead souls this time, it was likely Wuxian’s doing.
Since she had left the Wu family, Wu Yinyu logically shouldn’t need to bother with tasks meant for Living Constables, but unfortunately, all these matters were connected.
The Two-World Sea’s Underworld Register was completed in the afternoon of the Living World, two hours after the weather forecast aired.
Once the Underworld Register was finished, the Judge naturally had to summon all those bearing the Ghost Charter from the Five Gates. This summoning was something even Wu Yinyu could sense.
The wisp of energy that formed the Ghost Charter grew restless, darting wildly around the hotel room, causing such a disturbance it was impossible to ignore.
Wu Yinyu had no choice but to capture it. The gray-black energy spread out in her hand, turning into a blank official document. The words on it were only visible to Ghost Charter Inheritors.
-Summon the Five Gates’ Living Constables to descend to the Two-World Sea immediately.
Wu Yinyu quietly descended again, hiding among the Spirit Bells just like last time. When she saw Yu Zezhi’s figure, she silently attached herself to the other’s skirt hem once more.
Only Yu Zezhi came. Likely, the Five Gates had descended separately this time; after all, the Judge’s summons had come too suddenly.
After a while, Feng Pengqi arrived too, followed by Lu Dongqing, leading the other two along with the Red Cotton Thread—they were Wu Qixing and Song Youzhi.
Wu Yinyu hadn’t expected to see Song Youzhi back in the Two-World Sea. Judging by her expression, she was still afraid, but probably couldn’t rest easy without understanding the past events, hence venturing here.
When Song Youzhi saw Yu Zezhi, she visibly paused again, her hands and feet turning stiff, her eyes fearful.
Wu Yinyu observed closely and discovered that Song Youzhi was secretly glancing at the jade piece at Yu Zezhi’s waist. It seemed Song Youzhi had already noticed something.
After meeting, the five exchanged greetings and walked side-by-side toward the Nether Pagoda. When they reached the pagoda’s top, only the Judge was there; the Ghost Bailiffs who had been crouched on the ground compiling the Underworld Register were now nowhere to be seen.
The Judge looked up, gazing at the arrivals. His sweeping glance abruptly froze, and his masked face was very clearly turned toward Yu Zezhi.
He suddenly straightened his head back, likely because upon recalling that twelve-faced die from twenty-three years ago, he finally understood why Yu Zezhi’s appearance felt so familiar.
Wasn’t it because Yu Zezhi’s figure and posture closely resembled that strange woman who had thrown the twelve-faced die!
But at this moment, that was not what the Judge intended to speak about. In a deep voice, he said, “The Underworld Register has been completed. Circumstances have changed—the great disaster at Ivory Mast Beach will strike sooner than anticipated. I fear we no longer have the time to investigate the root cause. I must ask you to rush there immediately and, according to the register, restrain the Departed Souls.”
Matters were indeed developing rapidly, catching even the Judge off guard. It was as if a muffled thunderclap had fallen from the sky, completely disrupting their plans.
The Judge raised his brush, tapping the air several times. From the towering cabinets in the distance, a rattling chorus erupted as thousands of drawers slid open in perfect unison, the sound shaking heaven and earth.
Wisps like smoke seemed to drift out of the drawers, circling the Five Gates members once before flying back.
The open wooden drawers then slammed shut together with a thunderous boom.
“Remember these souls. Before the fifteenth of next month, restrain and bring them all to the Two-World Sea!” The Judge paused. Unlike before, he didn’t send them away with a sweep of his sleeve. Instead, he said, “You may return via the Lone Log. Compiling the registers recently has drained my energy; I have no strength left to send you back to the Living World.”
He spoke euphemistically, but Wu Yinyu understood the implication—he didn’t want to expend any more effort. She suddenly grew curious: exactly how much Yin Lifespan did the Judge have left?
Lu Dongqing and the others all cupped their fists in salute and withdrew from the Nether Pagoda, retracing their path back.
Wu Yinyu was still attached to Yu Zezhi’s skirt hem. Being attached was effortless, saving her the trouble of walking on her own.
Yu Zezhi walked slowly at the back. Attached to her skirt, Wu Yinyu naturally observed that Song Youzhi ahead secretly turned her head several times.
Panic still lingered in Song Youzhi’s eyes. She seemed to want to speak with Yu Zezhi but was also burdened by worry.
As they approached the Single-log Bridge, she finally stopped, looking at Yu Zezhi fearfully. “Boss Yu, you’ve worked hard. Returning all the way from Tranquil Isle must not have been easy.”
“It was manageable,” Yu Zezhi said flatly.
Song Youzhi hesitated. “We outsiders have heard something about the Yu family’s current situation. If Boss Yu needs help, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
“Thank you,” Yu Zezhi replied, very distantly.
Song Youzhi seemed anxious. She added, “I heard the Yu family now only has you and a little girl left. And those branch families…”
She faltered slightly, realizing she’d been too blunt, and corrected herself: “Why hasn’t anyone from the branch families returned to help the Yu family?”
“The Yu family has no branch families,” Yu Zezhi answered calmly.
“No aunts, older or younger cousins or such?” Song Youzhi asked, trembling.
Yu Zezhi gave a cold smile. “If there were, I wouldn’t have needed to return from Tranquil Isle.”
“I apologize.” Song Youzhi’s gaze flickered aside. She then added, “Speaking of which, you and Yinyu seem quite close?”
Yu Zezhi waited for her to finish her remaining words.
Song Youzhi hesitated. “I asked at Jade Gathering. There were two jade pieces—one was won at auction by Yinyu, and the other, without going through auction, ended up in your hands.”
“That’s correct,” Yu Zezhi said.
Song Youzhi’s scalp tingled. Lowering her voice, she finally asked, “You… what exactly is your current age?”
Yu Zezhi said flatly, “You don’t seem to trust me. Asking me won’t be as reliable as asking the Underworld Register.”
Once past the Single-log Bridge, they left the Two-World Sea.
After waking, Wu Yinyu specifically checked the weather at Ivory Mast Beach. To her surprise, the rain had already started, and it was an unprecedented downpour.
Ivory Mast Beach was remote, with difficult roads. Once this rain fell, likely not even vehicles could enter, let alone the Five Gates going to restrain souls.
Wu Yinyu pondered for a long time. Should she go, or not? Before she could reach a conclusion, Yu Zezhi called.
She lay on the bed to answer, her voice soft as she called out “Boss Yu,” then asked, “Have you returned from the Two-World Sea?”
“You still left attached to my skirt. Do you even need to ask?” Yu Zezhi countered flatly.
“I thought I hid well enough that Boss Yu wouldn’t notice.” Wu Yinyu teased.
“Then Ms. Wu still needs to try harder,” Yu Zezhi chuckled lightly.
Wu Yinyu fiddled with a corner of the blanket, asking slowly, “What does Boss Yu want with me?”
“The Wu, Feng, and Lu families are sending people to Ivory Mast Beach,” Yu Zezhi said. She was here to deliver intelligence.
Perhaps because Yu Zezhi was too magnanimous, it gave Wu Yinyu the illusion that this person was standing on the same side as her. She let out an “Oh,” and asked, “Boss Yu isn’t going?”
“I’m staying in Wise City. Suhan is still young,” Yu Zezhi said.
That was quite a good reason. Wu Yinyu turned over to lie on her back, her voice slightly muffled. “This rainstorm probably isn’t the reason for the heavy casualties. I want to go investigate. But if I’m alone, I’ll hold off for now. Traveling is inconvenient without someone to look after each other.”
She’d hinted to this extent, yet Yu Zezhi only said, “That’s fine too. There’s no shortage of people to restrain souls.”
“Indeed,” Wu Yinyu chuckled. “Wu Qixing and… my mom, they’ll probably go too.”
The person on the other end of the phone fell silent for a long time before finally speaking. “I heard Elder Lu and Old Feng say they once heard from their ancestors that there’s a place near Ivory Mast Beach that must not be approached. Has Ms. Wu heard of this?”
This was something Wu Yinyu had never heard before. She murmured, “Must not be approached?”
“Yes. And it seems that area frequently has fatalities. Whether natural disasters or man-made calamities, when Yin souls were abundant, there were even reports of Yin Beings going out at noon to buy Paper Money for themselves.”
That was horrifying to hear. Wu Yinyu shook her head. “Just how heavy must the Yin Energy be for ghosts to not even fear the noon sun?”
“That I don’t know.”
Wu Yinyu, uncharacteristically, didn’t hang up immediately. Listening to the other’s breathing, sometimes there, sometimes not, last night’s damp dream surfaced in her heart again. She raised an eyebrow and asked, “Did Boss Yu sleep well last night?”
“Alright.” Yu Zezhi paused. “Why ask so suddenly?”
“I didn’t sleep too well.” Wu Yinyu hooked the hem of her skirt, her bent finger scraping lightly against her leg.
Yu Zezhi asked, without much inflection, “You had a dream?”
“Yeah. It was very damp in the dream. I felt uncomfortable all over.” Wu Yinyu spoke deliberately.
“What’s this?” Yu Zezhi let out a very faint, cold laugh, her tone so calm it seemed detached from all desire. Then she added, “You still want me to wipe it for you?”
“I couldn’t ask for more.” Wu Yinyu climbed right up the pole offered to her.
Yu Zezhi merely smiled and didn’t respond further.
After hanging up, Wu Yinyu had a sudden impulse. She picked up that prayer wheel and weighed it in her palm.
To her surprise, it seemed… even heavier.
A very strange suspicion suddenly rose in her heart—could it be that someone else had been trapped inside? But she hadn’t heard Yu Zezhi mention anyone else missing from the Five Gates.
Come nightfall, the TV broadcast almost nothing but news of the floods. Many people were reported missing around Ivory Mast Beach.
Unsettled, Wu Yinyu looked at the prayer wheel by her leg, really wanting to pry it open to see what was inside, but she had her reservations.
At this moment, Lu Yiqi and the others still showed divination signs indicating their lifespans weren’t yet exhausted. If she directly dismantled the prayer wheel, would the souls inside be directly extinguished?
She didn’t dare take the risk.
The rain at Ivory Mast Beach still hadn’t stopped. The Wu, Feng, and Lu Three Sects had been there for two days, and Wu Yinyu had stayed in the hotel for two days.
Over these two days, she was growing increasingly prone to fatigue and hunger. Yet no matter how much she ate, that hollow feeling in her stomach wouldn’t dissipate.
Only with great effort did she manage to climb out of bed. Supporting herself against the wall, she walked to the mirror and saw the sickly face reflected back at her.
From birth until now, she had never been so severely ill. Her legs were weak, she was ravenously hungry yet nauseous. After two steps she was on the verge of collapse, as if she could only manage one more gasping breath.
This couldn’t go on. Putting on a hat, Wu Yinyu simply hailed a taxi to the hospital.
Unexpectedly, after a full round of examinations, not even a minor illness was found. She’d only wasted a good sum of money.
While the doctor reviewed her test results, she asked from the side, “Am I really not sick?”
“Could it be psychological? Why don’t you go out here, turn right and go straight, then at the first staircase go up?” the doctor suggested.
Wu Yinyu, panting after a few steps, supported by the wall, made her way upstairs. She raised her eyes and saw the sign for the Psychiatry Department.
This was not funny at all.
The hospital was clearly of no use to her. She simply walked out. Before she collapsed, by sheer coincidence, she ran into Yu Zezhi.
She’s here to call in a favor, Wu Yinyu thought.
