This is what an immortal should be like

Chapter 313 Fate
There were already disciples of Yinxian Valley in Xiangyang, so there was no doubt that Xi Zaochi's condition would improve, and more disciples of Yinxian Valley would take care of him.

Finding the most suitable candidate for City God was only one of Zhuang Lin and Xi Miao's purposes on this trip. What the City God represented was the most crucial. Therefore, after leaving the Xi residence, they left Xiangyang and embarked on an equally important journey.

Instead of leaping away as they usually did on long journeys, Zhuang Lin and Xi Miao slowly traveled along the Han River.

"Does Xi Jinping really have two more years?"

As the sun began to set and dusk approached, Zhuang Lin suddenly asked Xi Miao a question. Xi Miao was more authoritative in predicting the secrets of heaven, but when Xi Miao said that Xi Zaochi had two years left, he instinctively felt that something was amiss.

Xi Miao didn't look at Zhuang Lin beside her, but continued walking, her gaze turning to the distant sunset.

"In terms of vitality, it should indeed take two years, but sometimes fate is beyond our control. Sir, there is no need to worry too much. In short, the outcome depends on Xi Jinping himself."

Zhuang Lin nodded; he understood what Xi Miao meant.

As the two were talking, the sun had already set. Instead of following the normal path, they walked directly into the river. However, they did not simply disappear into the water. Instead, they walked through the blurred boundary between the Yin and Yang realms and entered the path of the Yin people.

Rivers, in a way, are also "highways" in the underworld.

However, due to the current chaos in the underworld, many places are occupied by ghosts, and the paths for the dead are not fully open.

Zhuang Lin and Xi Miao could still see water, but it was different from the usual water escape; it was water flow on another level, originating from the yin energy of the world of the dead.

From their perspective at this moment, the real river seems unreal, more like a backdrop.

Even though it was only sunset, the yin energy in the river had increased significantly after passing through the misty atmosphere. Zhuang Lin and Xi Miao could even see some wandering spirits, but they were not complete ghosts.

This also shows that the cruelty of the underworld is even greater than that of the mortal world. Although the mortal world is constantly plagued by war and divided into different regions, there is always some order that exists.

In this broader underworld, apart from the Five Ghost Emperors and the Lord of Mount Tai who maintain some semblance of order, the cruelty in other places is unimaginable to mortals.

"woo woo woo woo."

As Zhuang Lin and Xi Miao passed by, the wandering spirits fled from their vicinity, accompanied by cries, either running away into the distance or hiding.

Although the wandering spirits were already torn apart, they still had the instinct to seek good fortune and avoid misfortune. Let alone any evil spirits or ghosts, just the fact that the two people were clear and complete souls made the wandering spirits feel afraid of being devoured.

Zhuang Lin and Xi Miao kept walking, their pace quickening, while their eyes kept scanning their surroundings.

"Everyone says that death brings liberation, but in this situation, there is no liberation even after death; it might be even more miserable than being alive."

As Zhuang Lin said this, Xi Miao nodded and added a sentence.

"Truly, they are caught between life and death! How ironic! This statement may not apply to the world of the living, but it is so apt in the world of the dead."

Xi Miao had her reasons for saying that. Souls are different from living people; they die from a single cut. Even if they are eaten, it's only through gradual tearing, gnawing, and refining that they survive.
Unless the purpose of eliminating the ghost is to kill it directly, even if it is swallowed alive by a powerful ghost, the ghost is not actually dead. It has simply merged into the larger ghost's body and will gradually fade away over a long period of time.
If the deceased can be gathered by the ghost generals and underworld messengers under the Five Directions Ghost Emperor after death, and together they are sent to the Five Directions Netherworld and eventually go to Mount Tai, that would be better.

If one embarks on a journey alone based solely on feelings after death, one will most likely end up being preyed upon by others.

Zhuang Lin had witnessed the scene of a ghost general, one of the Five Ghost Emperors, chasing away souls. It was actually quite brutal. He wondered what percentage of the ghosts could actually reach Mount Tai.

Zhuang Lin and Xi Miao continued their journey at an increasingly faster pace. Along the way, they saw not only living spirits and wandering souls, but also some things that were clearly evil spirits. However, the two of them ignored them, only glancing at places that were clearly associated with the ghost realm.

Those places are where warlords hold sway in the underworld.

The two of them did not conceal their presence, but they did suppress their aura to some extent, which naturally allowed them to be observed by some ghostly beings.

However, unlike the dangerous paths that other ghosts had traversed, the path that Zhuang Lin and Xi Miao walked was very peaceful, as if it were just a quiet and eerie path with no danger at all.

Near a ghostly place the two passed by, in the dark and misty area connecting to the Han River, many fierce ghosts stared intently at the passing man and woman, and watched them go by under the suppression of a powerful ghost.

"Why doesn't the general go for it? The man is handsome, the woman is beautiful; they're exquisite for pleasure, and even consuming them would be a great tonic. Ah."

Before the vengeful ghost could finish speaking, it let out a scream. The great ghost above, whom it called a general, had ripped off its scalp, leaving its body covered in blood, but the air was filled with yin energy.

"Fool! Those two are far beyond our reach. Do you believe that if you try to touch them, you'll be reduced to ashes!"

"General, who are they?"

The ghost general stared intently at the departing figures, his eyes filled with greed and desire. Though ferocious, reason prevailed over lust. Once the two were far away, his mind cleared, and he spoke with lingering fear, "These two were neither ghosts nor ordinary people; they were beings with truly great supernatural powers, beings residing in the heavens."

"why?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Because of the reaction of those wandering spirits, the turbid energy on the road didn't get close to them. They weren't casting any spells; the turbid energy was instinctively avoiding them. I've lived for over five hundred years and have never seen anything like it."

Never touch any strange or eerie scenes you've never seen before; this is an ironclad rule for survival in the world of the dead.

This ironclad rule, which the great demon has witnessed countless times to be true, is also the key to his long-lasting existence.

"Go back and report to the King what happened here. I'll stay here and keep watch!"

"Yes!"

Some vengeful ghosts left, but the great ghost remained, not because he feared the two would return, but because he feared that the "ghost soldiers" around him would not be able to resist their desires and greed and would cause trouble. If they sought death, that would be one thing, but if they brought disaster upon themselves, the outcome was uncertain.

Zhuang Lin and Xi Miao walked along, the latter glancing back at the large ghost realm they passed.

"These ghosts do know how to avoid misfortune and seek good fortune?"

Zhuang Lin remained expressionless.

They can't avoid it!

This statement doesn't mean that Zhuang Lin wants to cause trouble, but rather that he needs to clean up the underworld, a place where ghosts and demons are inevitable to confront.

The two traveled further and further away, until they reached the distance. Their purpose was to first reach a place where they could have some connection with Zhuang Lin, namely the place of Wang Zhenren, one of the Five Ghost Emperors, and finally to go to Mount Tai!
-
After some time, Xi Zaochi's health improved significantly in Xiangyang City. He was able to walk around the house on his own, and eating, dressing, reading, and writing were no longer a problem.

After examining Xi Zaochi's body, the physician in Xiangyang couldn't help but marvel, feeling that his understanding had been overturned. However, medicine is inherently mysterious, and he gradually came to understand that Xi's body was not simply suffering from an ordinary illness, but also had "fate" behind it.

On this day, Yin Zhongkan, who had just returned from the capital, stayed at his residence for a few days. After discussing it with his son repeatedly, he finally had no choice but to bite the bullet and come to the Xi residence again.

Early in the morning, at the Xi residence, Xi Zaochi, who had just finished breakfast, was reading in his study when a servant came to report. He got up early, and as soon as Yin Zhongkan arrived, Xi Zaochi bowed respectfully.

"This humble subject greets Your Excellency the Prefect!"

Yin Zhongkan was the governor of Jingzhou and a favorite minister of the emperor. Moreover, he was known for his virtue and filial piety. It was only natural for him to show respect to Xi Zaochi.

"Oh, Mr. Xi, you flatter me."

Yin Zhongkan hurriedly stepped forward to help Xi Zaochi, but then bowed to him himself.

"What brings you here, Your Excellency? By the way, His Majesty asked me to compile history last time. Does that still stand?"

Xi Zaochi had actually been waiting for Yin Zhongkan for a long time. He still remembered what happened last time, but he was afraid that Yin Zhongkan had said something nice because he was critically ill, rather than because the emperor really meant it.

At this point in his life, there are not many things that Xi Zaochi can care about in terms of personal desires, but this is one of them, and he has to ask it even if it means swallowing his pride.

Upon hearing this, Yin Zhongkan sighed inwardly.

"Oh, Mr. Xi's health is the most important thing, you must take care of yourself."

"It's nothing. The doctor said I'm in excellent health. Besides, I'm just wasting time eating and sleeping. You should understand my long-cherished wish, sir."

"But the wise man said that one should not overwork oneself, otherwise..."

"I know, but knowing is one thing, doing is another!"

Yin Zhongkan shook his head.

"I did indeed bring His Majesty's words with me this time, regarding the matter of compiling history. His Majesty hopes that you will come to the capital to take charge of the overall situation, but Mr. Xi..."

Xi Zaochi's eyes lit up; he was no longer listening to what Yin Zhongkan was saying next.

Make history, make history!
(End of this chapter)