Chapter Sixty-One: Riding the Nether Hound Back to the World of the Living

The Nether Hounds finished shaking their heads at Luo Zhifu, then turned to Wei Xiaoping, barking enthusiastically. One of them gently tugged at Wei Xiaoping’s sleeve with its mouth.

Wei Xiaoping lowered his gaze to the Nether Hounds, crouched down, and gently stroked their two heads. “You six Nether Hounds will follow me from now on, crossing mountains and braving fire, meeting every day. I’ll need to call your names every day. Yet each of your six heads has its own name, but three heads share one body—a real tongue-twister. Why don’t I give you two new names now? One name for you three brothers, and one for you three sisters-in-law. What do you think?”

The two Nether Hounds barked eagerly, nodding their heads, their tails wagging incessantly. They licked Wei Xiaoping’s hand with their tongues.

“Since you agree, let’s use the names of the eldest among your brothers and sisters-in-law. ‘Old Horse’ will be the collective name for the three brothers, ‘Big Flower Cow’ for the three sisters-in-law. Is that agreeable?”

The two Nether Hounds whimpered and nodded again, their tails wagging wildly as if wound tight.

Standing nearby, Luo Zhifu said, “Yes! That’s the easiest way to call you! Ah, Old Horse, Big Flower Cow, we’ve lived here together for nearly a hundred years. Although Yang Zhijin and I often scolded you, now that you’re truly leaving, I find it hard to let go. It seems only in parting do we realize how much we care about each other.”

Wei Xiaoping said, “Alright, alright, Brother Luo, don’t get sentimental with Old Horse and Big Flower Cow! Lest we all end up sad! Hey, where’s Brother Yang? Why hasn’t he come yet?”

Luo Zhifu replied, “When we came out earlier, I asked him to tidy up the back room! He should be returning soon. General Wei, is there something you need from Yang Zhijin?”

Wei Xiaoping said, “I sense my unconscious body in the living world is about to awaken. Once it does, I’ll have to leave here. When Yang Zhijin returns, the Nether Hounds and I will bid you farewell.”

Luo Zhifu sighed, “Ah! General Wei, though our time together was short, your words make it feel as if we’ve known each other much longer! You are truly a man of loyalty and affection!”

Just then, Yang Zhijin arrived, looked around, and said, “Weren’t we expecting Lord Yan to see General Wei? Where is His Excellency?”

Wei Xiaoping and Luo Zhifu recounted the recent events in a few words.

Wei Xiaoping concluded, “I was waiting for you, Brother Yang, to come back so I could say goodbye to you and Brother Luo! Thank you both for your help; I now know more about my past life and my connection to Wei Xiaofan! I’m truly grateful for your warm hospitality. Who knows when we’ll meet again after this parting?”

Before Wei Xiaoping finished, Yang Zhijin interrupted, “Ah, General Wei, stop right there! Do you truly wish to see us again? If you do, it means your body in the living world might have died! Surely General Wei prefers life among the living? Remember, this is where the souls of the dead from the living world are received. I hope you won’t see us again too soon!”

Luo Zhifu added, “Indeed, General Wei! Since Lord Yan entrusted the Nether Hounds to you, it shows you’re a good general in the living world. We should wish you a long and prosperous life, so you can do more good for humanity and all living creatures!”

Hearing their words, Wei Xiaoping was moved. He clasped his hands in gratitude. “Thank you, Brother Luo, Brother Yang, for your care! But I owe you both so much for consulting my past life—if I wait until my lifespan ends in the living world to repay you in the Netherworld, who knows if you’ll still be here then! If by that time you’ve already reincarnated elsewhere, I might be carrying your debt for years to come!”

Luo Zhifu laughed heartily. “Yang Zhijin, go to the office and fetch the IOU General Wei wrote!”

Yang Zhijin immediately rushed to the security room. Soon he returned with the IOU, and, before Wei Xiaoping’s eyes, tore it up.

Wei Xiaoping was startled. “Brother Luo, what does this mean?”

Luo Zhifu explained, “General Wei, usually we charge souls consulting their past lives only if they were corrupt officials or did things against their conscience in the living world! When you first arrived, we assumed you were one of those, so we charged you. But now, seeing Lord Yan entrust the Nether Hounds to you, it proves you are a good general. You’re not our target for collecting fees! Please forgive our misunderstanding.”

Wei Xiaoping said, “So that’s how it is! Brother Luo, Brother Yang, you are truly good souls! I am glad to have met you. It’s a pity I must leave, or I’d love to spend more time chatting.”

Luo Zhifu and Yang Zhijin responded, “Thank you, General Wei, for your appreciation! We wish we had met you sooner. May fate allow us to meet again in the living world! If so, we would surely become sworn brothers!”

Wei Xiaoping, hearing their sincere words, replied quickly, “Brother Luo, Brother Yang, keep up your good work. Lord Yan is a good ruler; I trust he’ll soon let you reincarnate!”

“Thank you for your kind words, General Wei! We will!” Luo Zhifu said. Then he crouched down and addressed the Nether Hounds, “Old Horse, Big Flower Cow, from now on you’ll follow General Wei—protect him well! He’s a good general; never let him come to harm! Do you understand?”

The two Nether Hounds whimpered to Luo Zhifu and Wei Xiaoping, their tails wagging furiously.

Luo Zhifu continued, “Old Horse, Big Flower Cow, General Wei is a friend to all. Though Yang Zhijin and I have a duty to care for him, since he and you are leaving the Netherworld, you must take our place and look after him.”

As he spoke, Luo Zhifu lowered his head, a bit saddened. Yang Zhijin also crouched down and stroked the two Nether Hounds.

Wei Xiaoping, moved by the scene, knelt and placed his arms around Luo Zhifu and the Nether Hounds. Yang Zhijin followed, putting his hand on Luo Zhifu and the Nether Hounds’ waist.

Thus, they all pressed their heads together. After a while, they lifted them.

By then, Wei Xiaoping was enveloped in a red glow, gradually turning pale blue around his feet and fingertips.

Luo Zhifu saw this and said, “General Wei, you must go! Your body is turning pale blue, which means your flesh in the living world is slowly awakening. If the pale blue glow covers your soul before you return, your body will truly die, and you’ll have no chance to return to the living world.”

Yang Zhijin urged, “Nether Hounds, quickly carry General Wei in the direction of his living body! Hurry and bring his soul back—do not delay!”

Old Horse, the Nether Hound, immediately retreated under Wei Xiaoping, barking for him to hold tight. Then it leapt into the air, racing forward at full speed.