Chapter 20: Ghost Runners Seize a Soul, the Underworld Court

"Don't you remember...?"

"That night, five years ago..."

"You pushed me into the well and drowned me..."

Liao Xiu'er stared at Liao Xiong with cold, hollow eyes, a bone-deep hatred radiating from her pale, whitened gaze.

If not for him—

She would surely have married by now, perhaps even had children of her own.

But this beast had shoved her into a well and drowned her!

He had drowned her brother too!

Their entire bloodline had been utterly extinguished!

"It's you..."

"It really is you—!"

"You... you... stay away from me!"

"I didn't want to! You forced me! If you had just given in to me, I wouldn't have pushed you in!"

"It's all your own fault!"

Liao Xiong stumbled and fell to the ground in terror, crawling backward while screaming in a frenzied breakdown.

His heart was consumed entirely by fear.

Liao Xiu'er had actually become a ghost!

And now she had come for him!

"You beast!"

Liao Chengping burst out from beside her, dressed in ghost runner's garb, his face dark and grim. He swung a phantom soul-binding chain viciously at Liao Xiong.

The talisman hanging around Liao Xiong's neck flared briefly with light.

But a glimmer of Divine Power flashed across the phantom chain, and the talisman shattered instantly.

The talisman that had blocked the siblings' vengeance for five long years crumbled before the phantom soul-binding chain without the slightest resistance!

"Liao Chengping!!"

"You've become a ghost too!!"

Liao Xiong screamed in terror and wet himself on the spot.

He had never imagined it.

The brother and sister he had pushed into that well all those years ago had both become vengeful spirits, and now they had come for their revenge!

And the talisman that Daoist had given him had actually shattered!!

"Brother—!"

Liao Xiu'er grabbed Liao Chengping's arm, pulling the phantom chain away before it could strike Liao Xiong.

"Hmm?"

Liao Chengping looked at his sister, puzzled.

This beast had killed them both — a thousand cuts wouldn't be enough to vent his hatred!

"The honored deity's order was only to bring his soul back in custody."

"Until the honored deity commands otherwise, we cannot resort to private punishment."

Liao Xiu'er took a deep breath and shook her head.

Though she hated Liao Xiong to the marrow of her bones and longed to lash him with the phantom soul-binding chain and torment him thoroughly—

She had heard many storybook tales during her lifetime.

She knew that those in high positions never liked their subordinates acting on their own initiative.

Now that she and her brother served under the honored deity, they had to abide by the honored deity's rules.

And she believed—

The honored deity would surely deliver the punishment this beast deserved!

"Sister is right."

Liao Chengping gave a nod.

Then he turned his cold, grim gaze upon Liao Xiong — who had already soiled himself and was staring back at him in sheer terror —

The phantom soul-binding chain in his hand shot forward, stretching out like a great phantom black serpent uncoiling, and in an instant it coiled around Liao Xiong's body.

Then—

He gave the phantom soul-binding chain a sharp tug.

Liao Xiong's soul was wrenched free, bound tight by the chain!

"I... have I become a ghost too?"

Liao Xiong stared down in horror at his own body lying on the ground, utterly still and lifeless.

"Let's go."

Liao Xiu'er's white dress transformed in an instant into ghost runner's garb, and she set off toward Four Seas Village.

The soul-binding chain stretched out ten meters, dragging Liao Xiong's ghost behind her.

The quiet town remained utterly silent.

Though Liao Xiong's terrified screams had surely been heard by nearby townsfolk—

No one dared come out to investigate.

No one dared make a single sound.

Many of the townspeople had gone pale, trembling where they stood.

They had just heard the word "ghost"!

Someone had encountered a ghost?

Please, just don't come to our house!

The nearby townsfolk prayed silently.

* * *

Outside the Land God Shrine.

Li Youming, deep in slumber, suddenly felt a wave of cold, sinister energy wash over him. He jolted awake at once.

"Where is that eerie chill coming from?"

He was somewhat startled.

This was the Land God Shrine, under the watchful gaze of Lord Zhangyue!

Could there really be some ghostly thing bold enough to come here?

He pushed open the door.

A great surge of qi within his body flowed into his eyes.

And immediately he saw—

Two figures in runner's garb knelt reverently before the Land God Shrine. One of them held an iron chain in hand, and at the chain's end was bound another ghostly soul.

That bound soul wore an expression of utter terror.

"Liao Chengping? Liao Xiu'er?"

"Liao Xiong?"

He spoke in surprise.

Five years ago, hadn't the siblings Liao Chengping and Liao Xiu'er fallen into a well and died? That incident had caused quite a stir across all four villages at the time.

There had even been rumors that Liao Xiong was responsible — but with no evidence, the matter had simply faded away.

What was going on now?

Liao Chengping and Liao Xiu'er had become ghosts?

And they had captured Liao Xiong's soul?

Could it be that Liao Chengping and Liao Xiu'er really had been pushed into the well and drowned by Liao Xiong?

"Uncle Youming."

"You can see us?"

Liao Xiu'er said in astonishment.

The four villages were not far apart, and her mother had been a woman of Li Family Village, so she had often visited there.

"I am Lord Zhangyue's Temple Priest, walking the mortal world in his stead. Of course I can see you."

"You wear runner's garb and kneel before Lord Zhangyue's shrine — could it be that you have received Lord Zhangyue's blessing?"

Li Youming's eyes flickered with a flash of insight as he ventured a guess.

"So the honored deity is Lord Zhangyue!"

"And Uncle Youming has become the honored deity's Temple Priest!"

Liao Xiu'er exclaimed in sudden understanding, then quickly said:

"Uncle Youming, we have received Lord Zhangyue's blessing and now serve as Ghost Soldiers under his command."

Ghost Soldiers!

Li Youming nodded, his expression warm with relief:

"You two siblings suffered a terrible fate, but to serve as Ghost Soldiers under Lord Zhangyue after death — that is a blessing in itself."

After all, he had watched these two grow up.

Their maternal grandfather had even been a cousin of his, though within the fifth degree of kinship — long since passed away.

Having said his piece, he returned to his room and asked no further questions.

He was Lord Zhangyue's Temple Priest, walking the mortal world on his behalf and overseeing mortal affairs.

But Liao Xiu'er and her brother had become Ghost Soldiers — what they were doing now no longer belonged to the mortal realm!

What did not belong to the mortal realm—

He should stay well clear of it.

Having lived more than fifty years, he still understood that much.

* * *

Within the Divine Domain.

Li Yue observed the Ghost Soldiers Liao Xiu'er and Liao Chengping kneeling outside the Land God Shrine, along with the soul of Liao Xiong they had brought in custody.

A trace of satisfaction crossed his face.

This Liao Xiu'er — though she had been only sixteen when she died — knew when to advance and when to hold back, and was remarkably sharp-minded.

She was worth cultivating carefully in the future.

He gave a light wave of his hand.

Instantly—

The Divine Domain, which had already expanded to a radius of thirty meters, shifted and transformed into a solemn underworld courtroom.

Great pillars rose throughout the hall, while all around swirled black, impenetrable mist — dark and gloomy, radiating an awe-inspiring authority that made one's heart tremble.

He donned the Earth God Vestment and the Earth God Crown, and took his seat at the head of the court.

Before him stood a table, upon which rested the Earth God Seal and the Earth God Registry.

"Bring Liao Xiong in."

He spoke in an unhurried tone.

His voice carried out of the Land God Shrine, and in an instant Liao Xiu'er and Liao Chengping felt the world blur before their eyes — they had already appeared inside the Divine Domain, now transformed into an underworld courtroom.

Liao Xiong, bound by the phantom soul-binding chain, was brought in along with them.