Chapter 130: Swearing Brotherhood with the Ghost King (Request for Monthly and Recommendation Votes)

Deep within the subterranean palace of the Black River Prison, Wei Xiaoping and the Gaoyang Ghost King continued to discuss their respective experiences in the mortal realm. Just then, the shade of Wei Xiaoping’s soul began to shift, as the pale blue hue—which had previously covered only a third of his spectral form—began to spread and intensify with increasing speed.

Observing this, the Gaoyang Ghost King grew vigilant. "General Wei," he said, "the color of your soul is deepening and expanding far more rapidly than when you first arrived. It seems some divine healer in the mortal realm has been treating your physical body. At this rate, you will be fully recovered and resurrected within two days. I shall delay you no further, lest you miss your window to return."

Wei Xiaoping looked down at his own spectral form. Just as the Ghost King had noted, the pale blue glow now covered nearly his entire body. His two Hellhounds looked up at their master, noting that everything below his shoulders was now saturated with that azure light.

"Master, we must depart at once," urged the Hellhound, Ma Laoda. "If we wait any longer, it may be too late."

Niu Dahua added anxiously, "Master, let us move immediately. We have at most a day or so before you return to your body. The sooner we set off, the better."

***

On the chaotic Black River, where prison ghosts swarmed, bubbles suddenly broke the surface at the spot where Wei Xiaoping and his hounds had previously battled the Wolf-Lion Beast. From the churning water, an increasingly brilliant, phantom blue light began to emanate.

The prison ghosts, sensing the light and the rising bubbles, knew the Gaoyang Ghost King was emerging and scattered in all directions. Within moments, a large, circular space had cleared around the bubbling water.

Soon, the Prison Ghost King, Jiming—who had originally led Wei Xiaoping to the palace—surfaced, wielding a curved blade. He was followed by six other ghosts brandishing strange weapons, their eyes darting about as if facing a formidable enemy. Then, the Gaoyang Ghost King emerged with his back-slung sword, walking alongside Wei Xiaoping. Behind them followed the remaining six prison ghosts and the two Hellhounds, all keeping a wary watch on their surroundings.

As the nearby ghosts saw their King, they knelt and struck their heads against the ground three times in unison. Once they had finished, they parted to clear a wide path through the water.

"General Wei," the Gaoyang Ghost King said, leading the way with a touch of wistful melancholy in his voice, "congratulations on your rapid recovery. Your kin in the mortal realm must have found a divine physician to treat you. I had hoped to talk more, but given the urgency of your soul’s return, I will not keep you. Your Qingfeng Kingdom lies to the east of the Black River. Follow this path to the bank, and once you emerge, travel east for a day or two, and you will reach home."

"Though our acquaintance has been brief, these words have benefited me greatly," Wei Xiaoping replied, bowing with cupped hands. "I feel as though I have met a kindred spirit too late! Were it not for the time, I would gladly stay and converse for weeks. Alas—" He gazed toward the east and continued, "Thank you for your guidance. As a newly departed soul, I am like a blank slate regarding the paths of the Underworld; in this dark Black River, I would not know east from west."

"Hahaha! General Wei, though we have known each other less than a day, our exchange makes me feel as if we have been friends for years," the Ghost King said, clapping a hand on Wei Xiaoping’s shoulder. "In my eyes, you are a soulmate. Do not stand on ceremony; such formality creates distance."

Wei Xiaoping felt flattered and quickly bowed again. "You are too kind, Ghost King! I am truly unworthy of such praise."

"General Wei," the Ghost King laughed, "if you say that again, it proves you look down on me! I shall simply call you my younger brother, and as your elder, I shall have the authority to lecture you as I please!"

Wei Xiaoping mused to himself: *The Gaoyang Ghost King is surprisingly easygoing. To offer brotherhood so readily—the ancients say a ruler’s word is bond, and as a King of the Black River Prison, he surely speaks with sincerity.*

Reflecting on their conversation and the Ghost King’s demeanor, Wei Xiaoping realized that the Gaoyang Ghost King was, in fact, a man of great loyalty and kindness. Having been imprisoned by the King of Hell for thousands of years, he had clearly shed the cunning and cruelty of his mortal life, replacing them with a legacy of helping new souls find their way. To call such a ghost brother would be a true honor.

"Ghost King," Wei Xiaoping asked, bowing once more, "was what you said just now sincere?"

The Gaoyang Ghost King smiled. "I said much today, General. To which part do you refer?"

"The part about... taking me as your younger brother so you could lecture me as an elder."

The Ghost King laughed heartily. "That was indeed sincere, though I phrased it as a joke to save you the awkwardness of a refusal. I feared you might reject me because I am a prisoner of the Black River, destined to never reincarnate. I wanted to give you an 'out' should you not wish to swear brotherhood with a ghost such as me."

The two Hellhounds, fearing that a formal ceremony of brotherhood would waste precious time—or that the Ghost King might make unreasonable demands later—began to growl in protest.

Wei Xiaoping waved them silent. He turned, knelt before the Gaoyang Ghost King, and declared, "I, your younger brother Wei Xiaoping, pay my respects to my elder brother, the Gaoyang Ghost King!"

He bowed three times, low and deep.