Chapter 131: The Approaching Wolf-Lion Beast King (Requesting Votes and Recommendations)

The Ghost King of Gaoyang was momentarily stunned when Wei Xiaoping knelt before him and addressed him as “brother.” Coming to his senses, he asked, “General Wei, do you truly acknowledge me as your brother?”

Wei Xiaoping replied earnestly, “Little brother sincerely accepts the Ghost King as my brother! Brother, you have selflessly guided countless new souls through the Black River Prison for thousands of years. Few can maintain such benevolence for so long, especially as a duty without reward. This alone proves how noble your character is. To be able to call a ghost king of such high virtue my brother is my greatest honor—I only fear you might disdain me.”

Hearing this, the Gaoyang Ghost King immediately bent down to help Wei Xiaoping to his feet. Stammering slightly, he said, “Virtuous little brother Xiaoping, I am a guilty spirit, imprisoned here for millennia. Whether I will ever leave this place, reincarnate, or continue my legacy is uncertain. You, however, are a new soul favored by Lord Yama, which shows your moral character surpasses mine both in the living world and the underworld. Yet, despite my uncertain future, you still take me as your brother. I am deeply grateful—this is what I have longed for! Since that is so, I gladly accept the honor of being your brother. Normally, sworn brotherhood requires a ceremony, but time is pressing, so we shall forgo that. I shall call you ‘Virtuous Brother Xiaoping,’ and if you respond, you shall call me ‘Brother Gaoyang.’ When I answer, our bond is sealed. Does this sound agreeable?”

Wei Xiaoping, moved, immediately said, “Brother Gaoyang!”

The Gaoyang Ghost King clasped Wei Xiaoping’s hands and happily responded, “Ah! Virtuous Brother Xiaoping!”

Wei Xiaoping echoed, “Ah! Brother Gaoyang, your little brother is here!”

Upon hearing this, the Gaoyang Ghost King embraced Wei Xiaoping and laughed heartily. Then he shouted aloud, “Ha ha ha ha! I have a brother now! Ha ha ha! I never imagined that even though I am imprisoned forever in Black River Prison, I could gain such a virtuous brother! Ha ha ha, I am overjoyed!”

Nearby, two Netherworld Hounds and Gaoyang’s subordinate, Wang Jiming, along with other prison ghosts, watched the Ghost King hug Wei Xiaoping and laugh like a child who had suddenly found a treasure. They could see clearly that Gaoyang truly delighted in having Wei Xiaoping as his sworn brother.

“I have served the Gaoyang Ghost King for thousands of years in Black River Prison and never once saw him laugh or praise me like this. Yet today, he is ecstatic, almost mad, to take a new soul he just met as his sworn ‘younger brother.’ And this soul is about to leave Black River Prison and return to the living world, separating us forever as old ghost and new soul, yin and yang. Has the Gaoyang Ghost King lost his mind—to be so joyous over a soul soon to be irrelevant? We have served him for millennia and never witnessed such happiness,” Wang Jiming thought resentfully.

The two Netherworld Hounds considered this unexpected joy of the Ghost King. It seemed truly sincere that he wanted to accept their master as his sworn brother, and their master was equally pleased. This could be a good thing; as the saying goes, “Many friends make the road easier.” Now that Gaoyang had accepted their master, when they left Black River Prison, if they encountered difficulties, Gaoyang would surely help.

With this in mind, the two hounds barked several times toward Wei Xiaoping and the Gaoyang Ghost King, conveying congratulations on their brotherhood.

“Master, to return to your physical body in the living world as soon as possible, we must hurry. Time grows short, and if we encounter obstacles en route and have to fight them, it may delay us,” the two hounds said in unison to Wei Xiaoping.

Gaoyang Ghost King heard this and immediately said, “Virtuous Brother Xiaoping, in our excitement to swear brotherhood, we forgot to hurry. The hounds speak wisely. We should press on quickly to avoid encountering other prison ghosts who might block our way and cause unnecessary disputes or battles that would waste time.” After a brief thought, he instructed, “Wang Jiming, summon five hundred elite ghost soldiers at once. They may prove useful shortly.”

Wang Jiming knelt quickly before the Ghost King, then rose and left in haste.

“Virtuous Brother Xiaoping, let us talk as we go,” Gaoyang said, floating side by side with Wei Xiaoping toward the eastern bank of Black River Prison.

“Brother Gaoyang, why summon five hundred ghost soldiers? Is there a powerful prison ghost ahead intending to block our path?” Wei Xiaoping asked suspiciously when he saw the command.

Gaoyang replied, “Every year, many new souls whose earthly lives are unfinished pass through this Black River on their way back to the living world. Their destinations differ, so they travel different routes, each governed by different ghost kings. I am only one of the ghost kings managing the nearby area. Normally, any new soul I personally escort out faces no obstruction from other prison ghosts. However, virtuous brother, you have offended the lieutenant of the Wolf-Lion Beast Ghost King and even killed some of his subordinates. It is quite likely that the Wolf-Lion Beast Ghost King will use this as a pretext to threaten you on the way out.”

Wei Xiaoping said, “We did not wish to confront those four Wolf-Lion Beast ghosts, but we could not bear to see them indiscriminately slaughter and even devour innocent prison ghosts. Lord Yama imprisons us here without sentencing us to death because our crimes do not deserve it. Every prison ghost has the right to live here. So those Wolf-Lion Beasts killing and eating others is unjust, even against the rules. Besides, they attacked us first—we had no choice but to defend ourselves. Had we not fought back, they might have killed or devoured us.”

Gaoyang Ghost King nodded, “Indeed, virtuous brother, your reasoning is sound. Lord Yama confines us here without the death penalty because our crimes do not warrant it. Therefore, every prison ghost has the right to life within these walls. It is wrong to strip others of their right to live. So your opposition to those Wolf-Lion Beasts is just.”

Wei Xiaoping asked anxiously, “Then, brother, do you think the Wolf-Lion Beast Ghost King will appear to confront us halfway?”

Gaoyang Ghost King said, “From what I know of him, he likely will. Since his imprisonment here, to replenish his own power and strength, he frequently kills other prison ghosts to absorb their energy. Aware of his grave sins and that Lord Yama will never forgive him, he has lost hope for his future and has adopted a ‘damned if I do, damned if I don’t’ attitude, committing all sorts of evil while trying desperately to escape Black River Prison.”