Chapter 1: The King of Hell Visits
Twenty years later, one day. Since Nüwa and Destiny had successively died, humanity seemed to have escaped from the constant threat of annihilation. The passions that had been suppressed for thousands of years burst forth, and everything was so beautiful, everything was so comfortable...
Kuang Tianyou, Ma Xiaoling, and their daughter Ma Tianling lived like an ordinary family: Kuang Tianyou continued working as a police officer, solving odd cases repeatedly. He had many opportunities for promotion, but he refused them all, wanting to stay low-profile, content with just the position of detective. Ma Xiaoling no longer worked as a ghost-catching master because Jiang Chen had been eliminated. She opened a flower shop dedicated to blessing lovers all over the world, living happily every day. Their daughter took over her mother's role, teaching a group of apprentices eager to learn ghost-catching techniques. Like her mother, she was a “cold beauty,” but also mischievous and clever, enjoying teasing people. She loved money, only helping people for a fee, otherwise not bothering. Of course, sometimes she did good deeds—but only when her mother really could not bear it. Her martial arts were decent, having truly inherited Ma Xiaoling's skills, and with Pangu blood in her, she possessed certain supernatural powers, which made her somewhat overconfident. She was extremely concerned with face; if she couldn't handle a ghost, she secretly asked her mother for help, but then claimed the credit herself, boasting everywhere and tricking many people. Luckily, her father Kuang Tianyou was also a legendary “jiang-shen,” and many creatures from other worlds dared not provoke them. Those who encountered her could only consider themselves unlucky, especially those otherworldly beings captured by her to play with—they suffered immensely, hating the fact that they were born in the wrong mother, in the wrong place, encountering this evil girl, a karmic disaster accumulated over eight lifetimes, cursing her countless times in their hearts...
At night, under the bright moon, Kuang Tianyou was attempting to have some excitement with Ma Xiaoling, ¬¬¬¬¬¬ —to be honest, because Ma Xiaoling had mastered the “Preserving Beauty Technique” and, with years of experience, had become even more charming, she often made Kuang Tianyou lose his composure. "A woman's heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea." It turned out that Ma Xiaoling had recently developed a “sense of crisis”: her good friend Zhenzhen had reincarnated as a human. This in itself was not surprising, but what annoyed her was that fate placed Zhenzhen as a police officer, and even in the same team as Kuang Tianyou.She knew that this 'Wang Sizhen' was no longer the 'Zhenzhen' from her previous life: it was simply impossible for her to remember anything from her past life. But her husband, Kuang Tianyou, knew clearly: they had also experienced a deeply passionate love in the past! This was what Ma Xiaoling found most unbearable, even though she knew that Kuang Tianyou loved her the most. It seemed as if fate had deliberately arranged for them to 'revisit their past relationship.' This Wang Sizhen loved to hang around Kuang Tianyou whenever she had the chance, and Kuang Tianyou also liked to chat with her. The first time she came to their house for a meal, she once said, 'On my first day at the police station, I saw Tianyou-ge, and I felt like we were old acquaintances from a previous life.' After hearing this, Ma Xiaoling unconsciously glanced at Kuang Tianyou's slightly unusual facial expression and her daughter's strange smile. A woman's true nature revealed itself; in her heart, she muttered, 'Tianyou-ge? This is the nickname I used for my “Zombies God” in our happy two-person world! Since when did you start calling someone else that? What old acquaintances from a past life? In that past life, you were lovers with that bastard!' Fortunately, Ma Xiaoling had been the best friend of Wang Sizhen in their past life. Perhaps the fond memories of an old friend did not 'explode,' and she looked at Kuang Tianyou resentfully and hastily finished the uninteresting dinner! After leaving, things were entirely different, and Kuang Tianyou received an 'interrogation.'
Ma Xiaoling's ferocity was no less than a demon from the underworld. It was only when Kuang Tianyou repeatedly asserted that he had no connection with Wang Sizhen and swore to heaven that he harbored no ill intentions that she finally let go! This time, Kuang Tianyou truly felt that when a woman went mad, she became a huge tigress, unreasonable and going wild in howling and biting. Even merely running into Wang Sizhen after leaving the bathroom was interpreted as having bad intentions toward 'Zhenzhen,' and thinking about it in his mind was considered... was there any justice in this? Honestly, the person he loved most was Ma Xiaoling. Being with Wang Sizhen was just because she was lively, cute, generous, and cheerful, which could only be considered at the level of liking. Sigh, women! After this, Kuang Tianyou genuinely felt that his wife was keeping a closer eye on him, and she had also become more 'sensible,' mastering everything from cooking to manners, making Kuang Tianyou truly 'happy and reluctant to return home.' Their daughter, Ma Tianling, also felt something unusual and often asked her mother curiously about what was happening, only to always get 'scolded' out of it...
Back to the main point. Just as Kuang Tianyou was about to have a 'joyful symphony' with Ma Xiaoling, suddenly a flash of light appeared—the King of Hell had appeared.Yama let out a chuckle, glanced at the four eyes that were about to spew fire, and quickly said, "Sorry, please forgive my rudeness for barging in without notice. Actually, I have some serious business to discuss with you."
Upon hearing this, Ma Xiaoling felt a surge of anger in her heart. "Serious business? Isn't what I have right now serious business? This is truly serious business, very important business!" However, Ma Xiaoling held back because her daughter constantly caused trouble, sometimes even violating the rules of the Heaven Realm. If it weren't for this "dead person" here helping, her daughter would have long been 'sent by Heaven.' She turned her face and smiled, "Since Yama is in such a hurry, there must be something very important to discuss with us. Please, have a seat."
Seeing Ma Xiaoling being so polite, Yama felt relieved and instinctively wiped the sweat from his forehead. Strangely enough, he thought, I am a genuine deity after all, so why am I afraid of this 'monster'? She is a very difficult person to kill, and not exactly human since she has already died several times... it's better to call her a monster. Perhaps, because she successfully fought against Pan Gu's people several times with Kuang Tianyou, they respected her a bit. Yes, they only respected her, not feared her. Damn it, I am a genuine deity—how could I be afraid of such a monster? Hehe, Yama chuckled proudly, unaware that he was experiencing a moment of an 'Ah Q spiritual victory.' In fact, everyone knows that last time Ma Xiaoling caused chaos in the Underworld, Heaven also didn't take it seriously, but instead told him a world-shocking secret, and left it unresolved. Yama no longer dared to provoke this 'female demon.' What the secret is will be mentioned later.
Seeing Yama rush over yet sit there grinning foolishly, Kuang Tianyou was suspicious: Are you not here to be serious? Then go sell your smiles elsewhere so it doesn't interfere with my 'serious business'!! Kuang Tianyou helplessly patted Yama on the shoulder and said, "Brother Yama, what happened to you?"The King of Hell suddenly woke up in alarm, realizing he had lost his composure a bit. He hurriedly said, "Tonight, your esteemed lady has a certain charm..." Ah, seeing the astonished expressions of Kuang Tianyou and Ma Xiaoling, the King of Hell knew he had said the wrong thing again—damn, why did he come across as so lecherous, how could he be so blunt, especially talking about someone else's wife in front of her husband, and in such a strangely cheesy way. "This, this, I mean, Madam Kuang is very beautiful, adding a lot of grace to this place, much better than the gloomy and dark underworld of mine. I really like it here." Hehe, the King of Hell smiled awkwardly and foolishly.
Loving beauty is a woman's nature. Hearing the King of Hell's uninhibited praise, her mood instantly lifted, like after clouds disperse following rain and the sky glows with boundless golden light. “The King of Hell flatters me. If you like it here, you are welcome to come up often.”
"Ah, ah, ah, definitely, definitely!" she said, while the King of Hell's heart was drumming: if a ghost shows up again and encounters this kind of situation, your good thing will be ruined, and it would be no surprise if I tore you apart! That's right, I will flatter this woman more often in the future, telling her she is beautiful, graceful, like Athens, like Xi Shi, and so on, just to make her happy, so she won't cause me trouble again! Haha, I didn't expect that I, the King of Hell, have come up with another trick!
Because of the King of Hell stirring things up like this, Kuang Tianyou's desire for "the main business" cooled down. “Brother King of Hell, what exactly is the matter that you personally came to see us?”
Quickly freeing himself from the awkward situation in front of him, the King of Hell answered seriously: "There is something unusual in the underworld now. Recently, spirits who were zombies in life have become restless, even charging at the underworld guards several times, trying to escape. Most of these zombies have been quiet for decades, and after going through the 'purgatory' in the underworld, they had already redeemed the sins they committed as zombies. If they just escape, all their meritorious deeds will be lost."
“What, is it just this?” Kuang Tianyou was astonished. “Brother King of Hell, isn't this quite normal? It must be some high-level zombies who slipped through the net causing trouble for the spirits.”
“You probably didn't hear me clearly. I mean that all the spirits in the underworld who were zombies in life are restless.” The King of Hell was quite displeased with Kuang Tianyou always thinking about "the main business" and emphasized his tone. This was indeed a bit unfair to Kuang Tianyou.“The only thing that can make all the zombies in the underworld restless and uneasy is an emperor-level zombie like you secretly causing trouble. Those zombie spirits must have sensed his aura.” After listening to the King of Hell, Ma Xiaoling immediately felt a sense of foreboding and hurriedly explained.
“Me?” Kuang Tianyou smiled and said, “Ling'er, Brother King of Hell, you know that none of the zombies in the underworld were turned by me, and I simply have no interest in meddling with such trivial matters. I was once human too, and becoming a zombie was extremely painful; not a single day goes by that I don't wish to be human and experience the joys of being human.”
Seeing that her words stirred painful memories in her husband and realizing that he misunderstood her meaning, she quickly comforted him: “Tianyou, even the King of Hell knows it's definitely not your doing. Don't forget, Brother King of Hell came looking for both of us.” Seeing her husband's puzzled expression, Ma Xiaoling continued, “Besides you, ghost hunters like me, or even stronger than me, could also accomplish this.”
“Why is he doing this?”
“He wants to collect these zombie spirits to refine them into a miraculous pill, and then create a Zombie King under his control!” Ma Xiaoling revealed the answer.
“Isn't doing this too contrary to the natural order?”
“It's just greed overwhelming reason. That's why Brother King of Hell came to us—to ask us to find this person and stop his defiance of heaven's law. Am I right?” Ma Xiaoling glanced at the King of Hell.
A chill rose in the King of Hell's heart, and he hurriedly replied, “Correct, that is indeed the purpose of this journey.”
Kuang Tianyou said, “Brother, rest assured, I will do my best. I'll notify you as soon as there's news.”
Seeing Kuang Tianyou agree, the King of Hell stood up to leave, but Ma Xiaoling stopped him: “Brother King of Hell, is this a matter of duty or a personal affair?”
“Fate is bewildering and hard to predict. This time, I just do not want the souls in the underworld to accumulate further sins and wish to preserve the merits they have accumulated over the years. I was sent by Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva to privately request your help. So, it can be considered a personal matter.” The King of Hell said enigmatically, deep in thought. Suddenly, he was struck by a sudden realization and looked at Ma Xiaoling in horror.Sure enough, Ma Xiaoling, whom he regarded as a terrifying beast, made a gesture he was all too familiar with and often had nightmares about: she stretched out her right hand flat in front of her and said two words that sounded like thunder exploding in his ears: 'Price?'
Kuang Tianyou helplessly looked at Yan Wang, thinking in his heart that it was strange he hadn't learned his lesson after suffering so many losses, and that he still didn't listen. She only did things for money, which was the nature of this madam. Well, I can't help you now. Kuang Tianyou quickly avoided Yan Wang's pleading eyes and used the excuse of going to the restroom to slip away immediately.
Yan Wang cursed in his heart: 'You damn zombie!!!' Then he turned his face and smiled, 'Madam Kuang is so beautiful, how could she have such thoughts? It's totally unbefitting your status. I know you are the most loving person in Athens, a living Bodhisattva on earth, you are...' No matter what words came out, Yan Wang just hated the fact that although he was a god, his command of the human language was too poor, and he could not think of any new words.
Ma Xiaoling watched Yan Wang spew words and could only smile, forcibly holding back, 'The price is for you to help me answer a question!'
What, just answer a question! Wonderful. Yan Wang was delighted and hurriedly said, 'Madam Kuang, please ask, I will tell you everything I know.'
'It's not convenient here. Let's go somewhere else to talk.'
'Ah?' Before he could recover from his excitement, a sense of foreboding hit him.
Ma Xiaoling used magic to carve out a transparent space completely cut off from the surroundings. 'Brother Yan Wang,' a coquettish voice came, 'I want to ask you, what's going on with Wang Sizhen?'
Yan Wang thought for a moment, he seemed to have some impression of Wang Sizhen but wasn't very clear, and on top of that, he didn't know what this 'sorceress' before him wanted to do, so he responded with a <
