We bear people have power

The red spider lily blooms on the other shore, while the Bridge of Helplessness sighs in despair.

Similar to the endless road to the underworld, this is also a giant bridge with no end in sight and a width of a hundred feet.

White and red spider lilies carpeted the riverbank, swaying gently, their delicate petals rising without wind and drifting across the Bridge of Helplessness.

Beneath the bridge lies a deep, dark river. Only the murmuring of the water can be heard, but not a single ripple can be seen, as if all light and shadow have been absorbed, leaving only pitch blackness.

Various figures walked sparsely across the bridge. Some were chained by ghost messengers; some walked alone; some were helping the elderly and children, like a family; and some were crying and leaning on each other.

However many sighs they had, they had no choice but to walk towards the other side of the Bridge of Helplessness.

Guan Bo looked into the distance and saw hundreds of ghosts in just a moment. There were also people everywhere, no matter where he looked, because people were dying all the time.

"Don't just stand there, we're here now, are you still trying to renege on your debt?" the long-tongued ghost said to Guan Bo.

Guan Bo rummaged through his pockets and found that he still had some gold and silver, but according to the exchange rate that the long-tongued ghost was typing on the abacus, it was still far less than three thousand ghost coins.

Guan Bo strongly suspected that the long-tongued ghost was just putting on an act when he used the abacus, and that he was actually just rolling up that long tongue to come up with an exaggerated number. However, this was clearly a business run by the long-tongued ghost, and it would be difficult to compare prices from different vendors. Guan Bo said helplessly, "This is all I have on me. If you two trust me, I'll burn paper money for you when I return to the mortal world. How about that?"

"That's possible, but don't try to fool us. As the saying goes, 'It's easier to see the King of Hell than to deal with his underlings.' If you offend us, the underworld officials, we'll be coming to your house every few days. You'd better think twice," the long-tongued ghost threatened.

Guan Bo found it amusing. If he could become a disciple of Patriarch Bodhi, Fangcun Mountain would be his home. If he failed, he would simply return to Luojia Mountain.

It would be really interesting if these two actually dared to come to collect the debt.

However, Guan Bo had no intention of defaulting on his debt. He couldn't offer paper money now, but back in the mortal world, he could buy a whole house with a handful of gold coins. Was he afraid he couldn't pay it back?

Of course, this was just Guan Bo's wishful thinking. When he actually had to pay off his debts, he realized that the difference between ghost money and paper money was as vast as heaven and earth.

This is something for later, let’s not mention it for now.

Meanwhile, Guan Bo, led by the Long-Tongued Ghost and the Big-Headed Ghost, walked onto the Bridge of Helplessness. Before long, he saw a huge tower standing on the bridge.

The three characters "Wangxiangtai" are engraved on it, making it appear exceptionally majestic and grand.

The ghosts who cross the Bridge of Helplessness can take one last look at the mortal world from the Terrace of Longing for Home. Whether they want to see people or things, they can see them clearly with just a thought.

This is also to allow these ghosts to leave behind a last thought before reincarnation. However, Guan Bo also discovered that none of the ghosts locked up by the ghost messengers were qualified to go to the Looking-Home Terrace. In fact, many ghosts did not even go to the Looking-Home Terrace, either out of fear and cowardice, or because they had no regrets. The reasons were varied, but their steps were just as hurried.

Guan Bo was naturally not qualified to go up to the Looking-Homeward Terrace. In the words of the long-tongued ghost, "Why don't you go see it yourself when you get back to the mortal world? Why are you just joining in the fun?"

That makes sense, but Guan Bo felt a little regretful and left Wangxiangtai with many backward glances.

After all, he can't see the place where he once lived even in the mortal world.

After passing the Terrace of Longing for Home, the Bridge of Helplessness is more than halfway across. Then, countless forks appear on the bridge, and these forks are constantly twisting and changing. Before each fork, small tables are set up, each filled with bowls of Meng Po soup.

The ghosts walked to the fork in the road, picked up the Meng Po soup and drank it all. Then, without any further action, they were naturally sucked into the corresponding fork in the road.

Unless one drinks the Meng Po soup, no matter how far one moves forward, one cannot enter any of the side paths.

The long-tongued ghost and the big-headed ghost, holding onto the chains, poured Meng Po soup down the throats of the ghosts behind them one by one, regardless of whether they wanted it or not. After they finished, they threw them onto the changing fork in the road.

Depending on the severity of their sins, some of these ghosts were sent directly to hell, while others were reborn as animals.

This cycle continues, and as soon as one bowl of Meng Po soup is drunk, another bowl will immediately be born, which seems very mystical.

Seeing Guan Bo's curiosity, the long-tongued ghost asked, "What, want to try a bite? This is free."

"No, please don't be so polite." Guan Bo refused decisively.

Guan Bo himself had won a bowl of Meng Po soup, but he was interested in tasting it.

The two ghost messengers chuckled, then each took out a plaque hanging from their waist and headed toward the fork in the road.

“Take out that sign and follow along. Now you know that those three thousand ghost coins were worth it, right?” the long-tongued ghost said.

Guan Bo suddenly realized that the ghosts had to drink Meng Po soup to enter the corresponding branch paths, and the ghost messengers accompanied them by these signs that indicated their identities.

This is quite intelligent. I originally thought the place would be like the one in the movie, like an ancient city, but I didn't expect this kind of cultivation technology to be so advanced and convenient.

Guan Bo imitated the two ghost messengers, holding up the plaque worth three thousand ghost coins, and followed the long-tongued ghost into the side path.

The feeling is quite peculiar, like stepping into a space filled with funhouse mirrors, where everything is exaggerated and distorted. But as long as you close your eyes, you feel nothing else.

Guan Bo followed closely behind the long-tongued ghost, watching the ghost messenger transform into a giant, a dwarf, a sphere at the waist, and a cone at the head... the various forms were quite amusing.

Not far away, Guan Bo found that the scene before him had returned to normal, and then it became a tall and magnificent palace.

The three characters "Yanwangdian" (Hall of the King of Hell) were on the central plaque, but Guan Bo looked to both sides and did not find the legendary couplet that had caused countless arguments.

Therefore, Guan Bo asked the long-tongued ghost curiously, "Shouldn't there be a couplet in front of the Yama's palace, with the first line being 'Those who do good with good intentions are not rewarded, and those who do evil without good intentions are not punished'?"

The long-tongued ghost replied without turning his head, "I have never heard of such a couplet, and what kind of logic is this? Good and evil are rewarded accordingly, and the Book of Life and Death has its own judgment. Where does this pretentious statement come from?"

"What if someone becomes an official and seeks fame and fortune by donating money to save people, but in reality it's just to gain prestige and promote themselves? Would that be considered a good deed?" Guan Bo asked curiously.

“If it is said to be good in the Book of Life and Death, then it is good,” the long-tongued ghost said without hesitation.

Guan Bo persisted, asking, "What if someone intends to save someone but accidentally kills another person? Is that evil?"

"Naturally, the records in the Book of Life and Death shall prevail."

The gossipy devil's words were truly flawless.

"What if the Book of Life and Death is wrong? Who can guarantee that the Book of Life and Death is definitely correct?" Guan Bo asked, sounding a bit like he wanted to get to the bottom of things.

"Even if the Book of Life and Death is wrong, who will be the judge?" the long-tongued ghost retorted.

Guan Bo was speechless.

When the entire underworld, and indeed all living beings in heaven and earth, believe that the Book of Life and Death cannot make mistakes, then it becomes the sole standard, and indeed no one can judge its right or wrong.

At most, the Monkey King only crossed out the name from the Book of Life and Death; he didn't change the contents of his own life, which shows the profound authority of this magic weapon.

The casual conversation came to an end. The Long-Tongued Ghost and the Big-Headed Ghost were busy reporting to the King of Hell, so they pointed Guan Bo to a shortcut, leading him directly to the location of the Black and White Impermanence.

Entering the Yama King's Palace, one finds all sorts of ghosts and monsters. If one is not brave enough, one might be scared to death in no time.

However, with that small tag on him, Guan Bo, though a living being, didn't attract the attention of these ghosts. He quickly found the person he was looking for as he continued his journey.

The Black and White Impermanence were drinking tea in a side hall of the Yama King's palace. One was tall and the other short, one was fat and the other thin, and they sat facing each other, sipping their tea. The tea was vibrant in color, but it was icy cold and devoid of any warmth.

When Guan Bo appeared, Black Impermanence was also taken aback, while White Impermanence pointed to the seat next to him and said, "Sit down."

Guan Bo bowed and said to Hei Wuchang, "I'm sorry to bother you, Seventh Master and Eighth Master. I've come here today to discuss important matters with you both."

Guan Bo naturally wouldn't go into details about restoring Baihua Xiu's memories, only telling the Black and White Impermanence that the Three Lives Stone was needed.

Upon hearing this, Black Impermanence slapped his forehead: "Look at my brain, I actually forgot about that."

At the time, everyone was only concerned about the life and death of Baiwaer and Nie Shuhuan; who remembered that not-so-worthy bet?

Now that Guan Bo has brought it up, Hei Wuchang will naturally not renege on his promise. The Three Lives Stone is like the Four Treasures of the Study to him; he can get a batch from the Underworld at any time.

He took the Three Lives Stone from Black Impermanence's hand. It was a small stone, only the size of a finger, with black and white stripes and intricate patterns.

This looks like the so-called Tibetan dzi beads I've seen online.

"When you need it, just stick it on your forehead," Black Impermanence instructed.

Guan Bo carefully put away the Three Lives Stone and then asked Black Impermanence, "Seventh Master, this is the underworld that a friend brought me to. But I don't know how to get back. Could you please show me the way out?"

"That's simple. Once you leave the Yama's Palace, head towards the Six Paths of Reincarnation. There's a special path back to the mortal world there. You have this token in your hand, right? Just hand it over, and you can go back," Black Impermanence explained familiarly.

So this card is like a subway ticket; you swipe it to enter and it's collected and reused when you leave.

After bidding farewell to the Black and White Impermanence, Guan Bo didn't want to waste any more time. The key was to return to the mortal realm as soon as possible to help Bai Huaxiu restore her memories.

But after leaving the Yama King's Palace, Guan Bo suddenly remembered—Yingcao was somewhere in the underworld.

Shouldn't we take this opportunity to go and take a look?