White Ghost Escort now regretted his decision. If he had only made them all drink the Spirit-guiding tea brewed by Meng Po on the other side of the river, they wouldn't be in this mess! Sure, brewing the tea was a bit of a chore, but it would have been far better than their current situation. White Ghost Escort was both regretful and puzzled. He had escorted people across the Naihe Bridge without drinking Meng Po's tea before, and nothing like this had ever happened. Even though the Oblivion River was known for its venomous snakes and monsters, he had never encountered the beasts they had just faced. Could there be some special reason for this?

Although the young man who had died had nothing to do with them, everyone felt unsettled. The end was finally approaching.

The dark mist had completely dissipated, and the surroundings were gray and hazy. The sudden attack had left everyone frightened and trembling. As spirits of newly deceased individuals, they instinctively took death very seriously, so the recent encounter was truly a terrifying experience.

The long corridor was wide and spacious, stretching into the distance, wide enough to accommodate eight carriages driving abreast. Nobody spoke as they walked silently along.

Gradually, the surroundings brightened, with wisps of mist floating by occasionally. On both sides of the corridor were jagged rocks and all sorts of twisted shrubs, all in shades of gray and black.

As the group progressed, a squad of ghost soldiers approached from the distance.

As they drew nearer, their features became clearer. They wore light armor, with a large character for "patrol" emblazoned on their chests. They held spears in their hands. It was evident that they were a patrol team from the Ghost Realm. The leader of the ghost soldiers came forward, stopped, and smiled as he saluted White Ghost Escort. White Ghost Escort was slightly taken aback, but then smiled and walked towards the man. The man's armor and attire were identical to the other soldiers, but he wore a long sword at his waist. His face was not as cold and stiff as the other soldiers, and his smile was like a warm breeze that comforted everyone.

White Ghost Escort chuckled, "Young man, long time no see. You look quite content. It seems you've been promoted!"

The man quickly replied, "Thanks to the blessings of Elder Bai, Captain Zhang was transferred to the outer camp some time ago. Thanks to Elder Qu's favor, I was promoted from prison guard to take his place. Hehe."

"Well, it seems you've been doing a good job there. Even Elder Qu has personally promoted you. Keep up the good work. Has anything important happened recently?"

"No, Elder Bai, nothing special. There have been some disturbances at the border as usual, but they've all been repelled."

"Ah, that's good to hear. Has your martial arts improved recently?"

"Thank you for asking, Elder Bai. I've encountered some difficulties recently and was hoping to seek your guidance. However, seeing that you're busy with matters at hand, I'll wait for a more convenient time to seek your wisdom."

"Alright, that's fine. You go about your duties, and I'll notify you when I have time."

"Yes, thank you, Elder Bai. You go first."

White Ghost Escort turned back, beckoning the group to continue onward. The patrol of ghost soldiers resumed their march as well. After approximately an hour of walking, a cluster of gray structures finally came into view, indicating that the end of the corridor was near. Everyone, except for White Ghost Escort, who seemed unaffected, was exhausted. Despite the common misconception that ghosts didn't need to eat or sleep, feeling neither fatigue nor hunger, and could float freely wherever they pleased, the truth was far from that.

Ghosts, though they didn't consume food in the literal sense, still experienced hunger and discomfort. They required the absorption of the Yin energy from the Underworld. Once the three spirits and seven souls left the human body, the Yang pulse was severed. Simultaneously, as the Yang pulse waned, the Yin pulse flourished, leaving only the Yin pulse active. And the Yin pulse thrived on Yin energy. Since they were newcomers to the Underworld and hadn't yet learned the essentials of surviving there, they had to endure for the meantime. Besides, there was always the possibility that after the Elder's interrogation, they might be sent back to the human world. That would be the best outcome imaginable.

At the end of the corridor stood a long staircase, as wide as the corridor itself. Each step was 20 centimeters tall, adorned with shallow, ancient patterns. Beyond the staircase loomed a towering three-tiered hall, exuding an air of solemnity. The hall consisted of a main chamber and two side chambers. The main chamber was a muted gray, with a main entrance reaching six meters in height and four meters in width. A pair of monstrous heads held copper rings on either side, and the entire door was adorned with copper nails arranged according to some unknown pattern. The two side chambers, one to the left and one to the right, were slightly shorter than the main chamber. Each had a large incense burner in front, with the fragrant smoke of the burning incense wafting gracefully. The hall was adorned with intricate carvings of flying birds and beasts, giving it a majestic appearance.

As they stepped onto the small plaza in front of the main chamber, the group looked up. On each of the thick columns flanking the door was a couplet. The upper line read, "Welcoming All Beings of the Human World into the New Realm," while the lower line stated, "Guiding the Spirits of the Dark Realm to Their Next Life." Above the main entrance hung a large plaque with three bold black characters on a gray background: Hall of Guidance!

Seeing White Ghost Escort leading the group to the entrance of the main chamber, four sword-bearing guards on either side stepped forward, bowed, and chorused, "We greet the Elder!" White Ghost Escort waved them off without stopping and led the group inside. Ordinarily, ghosts entering the Hall of Guidance would need to be reported by the spiritual officials and escorted by designated guides after their credentials were checked. However, since this time it was the Elder himself leading the group, and the members, men, women, old and young, all emanated an ominous aura that penetrated straight to their knees, giving them an unwholesome appearance, the guards wisely chose to remain silent.

As they entered the main chamber, a towering deity statue greeted them at the center. A benevolent Bodhisattva sat cross-legged on a lotus throne, adorned with a five-sided monk's hat and holding a lotus dharma seal. Next to her lay a statue of a beast that was neither dog nor leopard, its fierce yet mysterious presence adding to the aura of the Bodhisattva. In front of the statue stood a gigantic censer, its smoke curling and intertwining, further enhancing the deity's enigmatic aura.

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On either side of the Bodhisattva statue stood two smaller figures, about half the size of the main deity. The one on the left was a young man with a humble gaze, one hand raised in a respectful gesture, while the other held a tin staff. The figure on the right was an elderly man, his face creased with the marks of age but still bearing a kindly expression. His hands were clasped in front of his chest.

White Ghost Escort strode directly to the altar, knelt on a mat in the center, and bowed several times. Rising, he turned to the group and said, "This is the compassionate Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, whom I'm sure you've heard of in the mortal world. She entered the Underworld in her fleshly form to save all beings, vowing, 'Until hell is empty, I shall not become a Buddha. Until all beings are saved, I shall not attain enlightenment.' She is the guardian deity of our spirit realm. You should also bow to her in reverence."

The group hurriedly approached and knelt down. White Ghost Escort spoke slowly, "In this world of impurity and evil, the Buddha Shakyamuni teaches and guides all beings. To tame our hearts, free us from suffering, and guide us to righteousness, he manifests in countless forms, offering diverse methods of salvation. Those who remain unenlightened suffer in the three evil paths due to the sins they have committed through countless lifetimes. It is Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva who shoulders the heavy burden entrusted to her by the Buddha before his Nirvana, offering salvation to all beings, freeing them from pain and suffering. Her great vow is truly, 'Until hell is empty, I shall not become a Buddha. Until all beings are saved, I shall not attain enlightenment.' Moreover, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva compassionately saves all beings until the emergence of Maitreya Buddha. Her compassion is not limited to the spirits of the Underworld; she tirelessly saves beings in all six realms of existence within the Buddha's domain. Whenever and wherever beings encounter Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, they bow to her in gratitude and respect for her great compassion and dedication to teaching."

After hearing White Ghost Escort's words, the group bowed even more devoutly. Some silently recited sutras or whispered prayers. Qin Shi, who had never believed in such things, stood motionless. Suddenly, he felt a tug on his sleeve. Glancing sideways, he saw his wife urging him to bow. After a moment's hesitation, Qin Shi took a mat, knelt down, and joined the others in worship.

Once they had finished bowing, the group rose and followed White Ghost Escort forward. Shortly, they arrived in a spacious square hall with four large doors on each side, each with a horizontal plaque indicating its name. They were led into a room labeled "Hall of Judgment," which was also spacious and resembled a mortal courtroom. A landscape painting of mountains and rivers hung on the wall opposite the entrance, and a long table stretched across the center. Behind the table sat an official-looking figure, while on either side of the open space stood a dozen or so court officials holding soul-destroying sticks.

White Ghost Escort instructed the group to stand and then approached the official to speak with him. The official nodded continuously and assented. Then, unexpectedly, White Ghost Escort retreated and left, abandoning the group alone. Qin Shi felt a sense of unease. Though he was unfamiliar with White Ghost Escort, he had found the elder to be amiable during their journey, and they had shared a trying experience on the Naihe Bridge. However, now, upon reaching the Hall of Guidance, White Ghost Escort had abandoned them.

The court officials standing around looked grotesque and menacing, and Qin Shi couldn't help but wonder what tortures they might be subjected to.

The crowd was in a state of trepidation, their hearts thumping with unease. Suddenly, a loud clap of the wooden gavel echoed throughout the hall, sending a shudder through the entire assembly. A gentle, yet resonating voice floated through the air, "Folks beneath the dais, were you all natives of Jiayu County? And what were the reasons for your demise?" Silence followed, with no response forthcoming.

Qin Shi cast a puzzled glance at his mother, who was usually eager to speak her mind. But today, she hung her head in silence. Turning his gaze to his father, the elder man in the brocaded robe, Qin Shi noticed that he showed no intention of answering as well. Left with no other choice, Qin Shi stepped forward and declared loudly, "We are indeed natives of Jiayu County, Your Honor. Our deaths were caused by a dispute over wealth. My father had served as an official for three decades, accumulating considerable riches. But it was these riches that ultimately led to our tragedy."

Just as he was about to continue, his wife tugged his sleeve, interrupting him. She quickly took his place and said, "My husband is the one who spoke earlier, Your Honor. He spends most of his time away, so there are some matters that I am more familiar with. Let me tell you the story. When my father-in-law had served as an official for ten years, he took a second wife. Half a year later, they had a son named Qin Xiao. Initially, we all lived in harmony, but things began to change over time."

Qin Xiao had been a bright and obedient child, his intelligence and keen wit earning him the praise of neighbors as a prodigy. His father, a man of letters, was naturally delighted. At the beginning, the family lived in harmony, but as Qin Xiao grew older, Qin Shi's mother began to feel uneasy. She saw how much Qin Xiao was loved and admired for his talents and elegance, while her own son was content with hunting, chopping wood, and practicing martial arts. Given that Qin Shi's father held a high regard for scholars and believed that reading and learning were superior to all other pursuits, it was becoming increasingly apparent that the position of the family patriarch might eventually fall to the second wife and her son. This realization filled her with resentment, and she gradually became colder towards Qin Xiao and his mother. Cold words gave way to arguments and insults, and the relationship between them grew increasingly tense. Qin Shi, a man of integrity and kindness who preferred the life of the mountains, disapproved of his mother's actions. This, however, only angered her more, and she became even more abusive towards the mother and son.

While Qin Xiao and his mother were kind-hearted, they were not ones to be bullied. Qin Xiao, inheriting a sharp mind from his mother, initially tried to endure their abuse with patience. But as the harassment escalated, they began to fight back. Thus, a silent war broke out within the household. Whenever the conflict escalated, Qin Shi's father would step in to assert his authority as the patriarch. However, his favoritism towards his concubine and his often flimsy reasons for defending her only exacerbated the conflicts. Gradually, Qin Xiao's mindset began to change under the constant strain of the abusive environment.

Finally, when Qin Xiao turned fifteen, a banquet was held at home. Qin Shi's father announced that the family wealth would be divided in half, with each son receiving an equal share. Qin Shi's mother vehemently opposed this decision. After all, her son was the eldest and should naturally inherit the position of the patriarch. She believed that she and her son deserved a larger share, and that the concubine's son should be grateful for whatever scraps he was given. So, she began to shout and rage, and some of the guests also voiced their support for her, arguing that seniority and status should be respected, and that everyone should not be treated equally. It seemed that the wealth that was supposed to be theirs was slipping away. That night, Qin Xiao, consumed by resentment and desperation, made a decision. He sneaked out when no one was looking and poisoned the evening tea. Qin Shi and his wife, being honest and unsuspecting, drank the tea without realizing its danger, and the entire family of four fell victim to the poison. Coincidentally, a servant named Xia Qi had come to deliver food before dinner. Since it was a festive occasion, he was invited to stay and eat with the kitchen staff. After dinner, he intended to bid farewell to the patriarch and his wife, but instead, he stumbled upon the grisly scene of the poisoned tea. Without hesitation, Qin Xiao decided to eliminate any witnesses and killed Xia Qi as well.

As entire story unfolded, and Qin Shi's mother, exhausted from the telling, panted heavily. Qin Shi quickly supported her, gently tapping her back. Meanwhile, the woman clad in red, her memories stirred by the narrative, glared daggers at the elderly man in his brocaded robe. Suddenly, "Crack!" the sound of the gavel echoed through the chamber, startling the woman, who shuddered and lowered her gaze, muttering prayers under her breath.

A soft voice rang out, asking, "Is your account truthful? Do any of you dispute her assertions?"

"Your Honor, every word is true!" came the reply.

After a moment of silence, during which no other voice was raised, the official turned to a man with a scholarly mien beside him and instructed, "Fetch the tome of judgment."