Mortal realm, Great Xia’s capital.

The bright, warm lights throughout the city had gradually extinguished, and the entire capital fell into silence.

A crescent moon hung at the corner of the city tower, sprinkling cold moonlight across the whole city.

Near midnight, when the city gate soldiers were changing shifts.

A new row of soldiers in heavy armor quickly climbed the city tower from below, replacing the previous wave of exhausted soldiers.

Deep autumn transitioning to early winter, the cold night was bitter, making their armor instantly frigid and causing involuntary shivering.

“Clatter clatter clatter…”

In front of the city gate, in the midst of silence, there was suddenly the sound of horse hooves, accompanied by the sound of carriage wheels rolling on the ground, continuously approaching.

The soldiers on the city tower heard it almost immediately and all looked toward the distance.

Beyond the city gate was a dense forest. Due to the deepening autumn, leaves had withered and fallen all over the ground in desolation.

A black carriage with thick curtains hanging outside gradually approached on the road from the forest’s edge.

The captain currently responsible for guarding the city gate was named Zhou Wu, who had been promoted some time ago.

In recent years, Great Xia’s officialdom had changed frequently.

Since the Xie Marquis Manor’s treason and confiscation, pulling up the radish brought out the mud—countless people suffered.

Not long after, a transcendent figure with vast supernatural powers appeared from somewhere, surnamed Fu, with various miraculous abilities, rumored to be immortal.

Upon his arrival, he was immediately valued by the emperor and appointed as National Teacher, his influence unparalleled for a time.

Even Court Minister Zhang Tang, who had always been regarded as the emperor’s confidant, was actually reprimanded for mocking this man’s heretical delusions. Later, he was imprisoned in the imperial prison for abusing cruel punishments and causing widespread resentment, and was recently executed.

Because of this, Great Xia’s officialdom underwent another round of reshuffling.

Zhou Wu benefited from these events, becoming the newest city gate captain. Though it was just a gate-guarding position, at least he had the title of “captain,” which satisfied him greatly.

The capital had a curfew—once night fell, no one could walk the streets.

Ordinary people knew that the city gates closed at midnight and wouldn’t open until the next day. In the past, who would have carriages coming at this midnight hour?

Zhou Wu watched the approaching carriage from afar, carrying his sword and facing the fierce wind as he walked to the front of the city tower.

Seeing the carriage showed no signs of slowing down, his brows furrowed tightly, and he immediately shouted: “The city gates are closed! Whoever you are, stop immediately!”

“Clatter clatter clatter…”

The hoofbeats remained urgent, still heading straight for the city gate.

Zhou Wu’s gaze instantly became fierce, and he waved his hand directly.

Swish swish swish—

Dozens of soldiers with bows and arrows quickly stepped forward, drawing their bows and nocking arrows. The bowstrings were drawn taut like full moons.

Everyone was at the ready, just waiting for Zhou Wu’s command!

“This is the capital region! Stop immediately!”

Zhou Wu shouted again, his voice rolling and particularly frightening in the night.

At this close distance, they could clearly see that the carriage was pulled by two tall horses with glossy black coats, and the carriage itself looked quite luxurious.

But…

There was no driver!

Only two horses running in front, heading straight for the city gate.

The curtains remained tightly drawn, making it impossible to see who was inside.

Zhou Wu’s heart went cold. With no one driving, this was truly unsettling.

In this day and age, someone still dared to force their way through the city gates?

But the gates were so thick—how could just one carriage succeed?

He couldn’t help but look behind the carriage, and indeed saw no more carriages, only dense forest and deep darkness.

His burly frame began to tremble slightly.

Seeing the carriage wouldn’t stop, Zhou Wu knew he couldn’t wait any longer. His raised palm decisively dropped as he shouted sternly: “Release arrows!”

“Swoosh swoosh swoosh!”

Long arrows immediately fell like raindrops, flying from the archers’ bows on the city tower toward the speeding carriage!

However, the expected sounds didn’t come.

The moment the arrows approached, a point of snow-white light suddenly appeared five feet in front of the carriage.

When the white light appeared, it wasn’t blinding, but it had a magical attraction, like a hurricane that instantly drew in countless arrows!

Whoosh!

The arrows disappeared without a trace in the blink of an eye.

“What?!”

Zhou Wu nearly thought he was seeing things. All the arrows had actually disappeared? Where did that white light come from?

“How is this possible?”

“What is that?”

“Where are the arrows?”

…

Everyone on the city tower panicked.

The fear in Zhou Wu’s heart was also expanding. He raised his hand, wanting to call for them to calm down, redraw their bows, and try again.

Unexpectedly, an archer beside him immediately pointed below and shouted: “It’s flying up!”

Flying up?

Zhou Wu immediately couldn’t think of anything else and quickly looked down toward the city gate.

Indeed, that point of white light was gradually rising from in front of the carriage and gradually brightening.

White light illuminated the black carriage.

Outside the city was eerily quiet; Zhou Wu could only hear his own pounding heartbeat.

Thump, thump.

One beat after another.

The tightly closed curtains, without anyone moving them, actually opened a corner by themselves! The white light shone down, revealing the vague silhouette of the person sitting in the carriage.

Wearing loose, pale blue-green robes with ancient embroidered patterns, like someone walking from antiquity, with an aura as ancient as his clothes.

Black hair hung loose, his features delicate and handsome.

Among thousands of people, you might not notice him at first glance, but if you saw him once, you’d never forget.

He held a bamboo fishing basket in his hands, inside which lay a black fish lazily—whether dead or alive was unclear, as it didn’t move at all.

A small insect carefully perched on the edge of the basket. When the curtains opened, it quickly climbed toward the top of the basket, poking out its head to look up in amazement.

Slowly rising from inside the carriage, he moved to the unmanned front.

This young man stood straight, looking up at the city tower with its blazing torches, immediately seeing those terrified faces and the burly city gate captain.

There was actually someone in the carriage, such a handsome young man?

Everyone truly hadn’t expected this, but they were all too frightened to move.

Because that white light floated not far in front of the young man, like a lamp illuminating the area within a zhang radius below.

The moment Zhou Wu saw the young man’s face clearly, he began trembling uncontrollably, immediately recalling what he had been fortunate to see at the Temple of Heaven.

At the beginning of the year, there had been a long drought without rain. Inside and outside the great river, the people suffered.

The emperor asked the National Teacher to cast spells to bring rain. At that time, he was still just a small soldier following everyone to protect the civil and military officials.

It was then that he personally saw that National Teacher Fu, who had appeared less than a year ago but already enjoyed deep imperial trust.

The face of the person who had raised his hand and commanded clouds and rain on the Temple of Heaven now appeared completely and clearly, perfectly matching the face of the young man below!

Even if he couldn’t remember the features clearly, those eyes were unforgettable for life!

They were the most ancient yet youngest eyes, as if wandering in the cracks of time and space, roaming the edges of the universe, giving people a sense of being lost when they encountered them.

Cold sweat immediately broke out on Zhou Wu’s body.

Seeing the soldier beside him about to demand the person’s identity, he quickly grabbed him and threw him behind.

Walking quickly to the front, he bowed toward the bottom of the city tower, suppressing his terror: “National Teacher has returned! This lowly officer and others have given offense! Please forgive us, National Teacher!”

“What?!”

The person from before was immediately frightened into crying out, then quickly realized and shut his mouth.

Seeing their leader kneel, countless others dared not hesitate.

In an instant, nearly a hundred soldiers above and below the city tower knelt on the ground, crying out in unison: “National Teacher, forgive us!”

His pale fingers gently touched the little bookworm’s head, indicating it should behave. Fu Chaosheng glanced casually at Zhou Wu and withdrew his gaze: “I’ve returned from wandering the clouds. I need to enter the city now—open the gates.”

“Yes!”

Zhou Wu dared not hesitate and waved his hand directly.

“Quickly open the city gates!”

The soldiers below manning the gates immediately ran up, slowly opening the massive gates and standing on both sides, not daring to move.

Who didn’t know the National Teacher?

In recent years at court, was there anyone more influential than him?

The Three Dukes and Nine Ministers—those who offended him either lost their official caps, were thrown into prison, faced family destruction, or wife and children separation. Even worse was someone like Zhang Tang, who was actually pushed onto the executioner’s block!

The emperor had said that seeing the National Teacher was like seeing the emperor himself—who would dare block him here?

Some time ago, the National Teacher said he had business and would wander the clouds for a while with an uncertain return date. After that, he disappeared without a trace. Everyone thought he was a transcendent figure who had merely come to the mortal world for amusement.

Who would have thought he would actually return now!

The carriage, robes, bamboo fishing basket, and an ordinary black fish seemed no different from the National Teacher of old.

He seemed to be returning from fishing in the suburbs, like an old angler, leisurely and carefree.

Seeing the gates wide open, Fu Chaosheng nodded.

Without any visible movement from him, that point of white light flew straight forward as if leading the way. The two horses stepped forward, pulling the carriage ahead.

“Clatter clatter clatter…”

The hoofbeats resumed, but no one dared to block them again.

In the fearful, silent stillness, the tall black carriage thus passed through the dark city gate, onto the broad streets within the city, heading toward the imperial palace.

On the city tower, Zhou Wu was so frightened he wiped away cold sweat.

A soldier had just regained his senses and said somewhat dazedly: “So that’s what the National Teacher looks like…”

Zhou Wu didn’t speak, only feeling grateful in his heart that he hadn’t offended the National Teacher.

He just didn’t know…

What kind of storms would this National Teacher’s return bring to Great Xia?

Regarding this National Teacher Fu, Zhou Wu always had a particularly inexplicable thought: Were there really immortals in the world? Was National Teacher Fu what immortals were like?

“Sigh, I’m just a gatekeeper—why am I thinking so much…”

Zhou Wu cursed himself and quickly called for everyone to close the gates again.

Inside the city.

Ten thousand households’ lights were all dim.

The carriage traveled down the long road, turning west at the third intersection, then north at the next intersection ahead.

The prosperous capital was now deep in sleep.

Wind continuously blew against them, but it couldn’t lift even half a corner of his robes.

The little bookworm had been captured by him for some time now, terrorized daily by that big kun in the fishing basket, frightened to tears every day.

Now that the big kun was sleeping, it finally had the courage to climb out and look around.

Seeing the carriage running straight ahead, the little bookworm became confused and whispered: “Where are we going?”

“Taking you where you should go.”

Fu Chaosheng smiled, looking at the gradually visible buildings ahead, and casually waved his hand, stopping the carriage.

The Imperial Examination Hall.

The Imperial Academy.

Two neighboring places on the same street.

Plaques hung high with thick scholarly and literary atmosphere, as well as heavy commercial odors.

The little bookworm sniffed carefully and immediately became excited, wanting to shout, but remembering the kun sleeping in the fishing basket, it quickly covered its mouth with its small feet.

It lowered its voice: “It’s the smell of books!”

“Correct.”

He smiled slightly, tapped its head, and said: “You’ll live here. There are many, many books for you to eat. Cultivate well.”

“Wonderful!”

The little bookworm immediately became happy, leaping out from the basket’s edge and actually jumping onto the steps at the Imperial Examination Hall’s entrance.

It turned back and waved at Fu Chaosheng: “Then I’m leaving?”

“Go ahead.”

Fu Chaosheng nodded, standing in the carriage without getting down, only watching the little bookworm.

Perhaps having been hungry too long, the little bookworm joyfully chattered, “You should come visit me later—but preferably don’t bring that fish,” and directly squeezed through the door crack, disappearing from sight.

On the cold, lonely street, only the curved moon illuminated Fu Chaosheng’s solitary shadow.

He looked back at this mortal street, a few traces of contemplation flashing in his eyes.

The black fish in the basket flicked its tail, its voice weathered: “Releasing this little one inside—how is that faster than you acting personally?”

“I am a great demon…”

Fu Chaosheng spoke leisurely, and the carriage, as if knowing his intentions, turned around and headed in the other direction.

The hoofbeats clattered, but couldn’t mask his voice.

“When the little bookworm brings disaster to the mortal realm, no one will notice me. When many people die, I can fish in troubled waters, sneak into the underworld, and explore its secrets perfectly.”

Though the Universal Eye was good, it ultimately couldn’t glimpse that most hidden layer.

Perhaps someone had detected his previous peeping attempts—when he looked again, the entire underworld was shrouded in blur…

His cultivation came from the wish power of the mayfly clan and was also affected by this clan’s rule of being born at dawn and dying at dusk—it wasn’t stable.

Sometimes he could easily crush those in the Octagonal City, sometimes he had to be constrained by them.

After all, this concerned the secrets of reincarnation—how could it be easily obtained?

Fu Chaosheng was very clear: one couldn’t enter the tiger’s den without risking danger. When it was time to take risks, one had to go.

He sighed deeply: “Life after life, mayflies live one day, born at dawn and dying at dusk…”

Why?

The underworld controlled the six paths of reincarnation—he would eventually find the answer.

Clatter clatter clatter…

The hoofbeats faded, and the figure carrying the fishing basket soon disappeared into the lonely long night.

Extreme Domain.

Edge of the underworld, before the City of Unjust Deaths.

The lava rolled red-hot, as if burning, churning in the moat’s channel. Its bright glow became the only light source in this place.

Zhang Tang’s face was also illuminated, but held no warmth.

After Jian Chou asked that question, he had been silent for so long that Jian Chou thought he wouldn’t answer. Then he actually said: “Monsters run rampant, great chaos approaches.”

“…”

Jian Chou was stunned by this statement and couldn’t speak for a moment. She looked at Zhang Tang with an indescribable expression, completely unable to understand: how had a perfectly good cruel official become a mystic?

Zhang Tang didn’t explain either.

Regarding his own death, it naturally wasn’t a glorious topic.

When the ruler demands a minister’s death, the minister has no choice but to die.

The emperor’s blade, having blocked his other paths, naturally could only be discarded.

Only regarding that mysterious National Teacher, he remained persistently resentful.

Too mysterious an appearance, too eerie abilities—for Zhang Tang, who had been to the Killing Red Small Realm and witnessed various strange phenomena, even if he truly was an immortal, he shouldn’t meddle in those affairs.

Conflicts and contradictions were unavoidable.

He wasn’t the first unlucky one, nor would he be the last.

Those who had applauded his death in the past…

Zhang Tang gazed at the City of Unjust Deaths, his gaze indifferent: now he was a ghost official. While alive, he had various punishments; when they died, they would likewise fall into his hands.

Everything was just a matter of sooner or later.

All would eventually come.

Under that red firelight, Zhang Tang’s expression was inscrutable.

On his neck was a vaguely neat scar that showed in the firelight, though it wouldn’t be noticed without careful observation.

Big Head Ghost and Little Head Ghost both knew Zhang Tang was a “severed head ghost.” When they heard Jian Chou’s question, they couldn’t help but tremble on the side. Fortunately, they didn’t see Zhang Tang lose his temper, so they quickly patted their chests.

So frightening!

They quickly ran over, grinning at Jian Chou: “Aiya, why ask so much? There’ll be countless time to reminisce later. Come, come, let’s hurry into the city! The gates will close soon!”

This was true.

Jian Chou nodded, thinking that death wasn’t a glorious matter after all. Better not to ask too much. She simply walked forward.

Getting closer, she could see inside the City of Unjust Deaths’ gates, though it was all misty, at most revealing what seemed to be an endless long road.

As Jian Chou and the others approached, a tall round mirror slowly rose from the boiling lava of the moat, as if it had just been washed by lava, glowing red throughout like red jade.

Zhang Tang said: “This is the Self-Reflection Mirror. Human souls and ghost souls are no different—just walk directly across the bridge. After entering the city, this official will take you to the registry office.”