Chapter One Hundred and Two: Judgment

After crossing the River of Forgetfulness, a magnificent palace appeared before the three of them.

Zhang Shengnan, Zhou Jie, and Fang Chuan de disembarked and walked straight into the palace.

On either side, ghostly generals stood guard, while at the center sat a colossal king on a golden throne.

The jade-carved floor and wooden embellishments created an atmosphere both grand and solemn. Any lesser spirit arriving here would surely be terrified to the point of paralysis.

“Is this the so-called virtuous person you speak of?” The King of Hell slowly rose from his golden throne. Two judges of good and evil immediately presented him with a bamboo slip.

The King of Hell unfolded the slip and read the inscription: “Name: Zhang Shengnan. Crime: Murder. Should be consigned to the Hell of Murderers.”

He folded the slip back and looked at Fang Chuan de and Zhou Jie. Taking a deep breath, he said, “According to the judges’ report, Zhang Shengnan has indeed committed murder. What defense do you have?”

Fang Chuan de spoke first: “Apart from this incident, Zhang Shengnan has committed no other offenses in her life. Born into a noble and wealthy family, she did not squander her privilege but became a law enforcer in the mortal realm, punishing earthly evils.”

“Though she may have no grand achievements, she has performed numerous good deeds. She should not be condemned as a sinner.”

The King of Hell pondered for a moment before saying, “But this does not deny the fact that she killed her own sister.”

Suddenly, Zhou Jie hurried forward to explain, “Zhang Shengnan’s killing of her sister was entirely accidental. She was too young to have developed true consciousness and should not be held culpable.”

“Killed her own sister?” Hearing this, Zhang Shengnan could no longer contain herself. “Are you mistaken? I have always been an only child. Where would a sister come from? You say I killed my own sister? I have never been so cruel. If I truly did such a thing, I would gladly accept damnation in the Hell of Murderers. But I did not do it, and I will not bear the blame.”

“Wait a moment!” Suddenly, at the rear of the King’s hall, Li Shanshui arrived with Fang You.

“Shanshui, why are you only just arriving now?” Zhou Jie said with some displeasure.

“I ran into some trouble on the way,” Li Shanshui replied as he approached.

At that moment, Zhang Shengnan spotted Fang You and, overwhelmed with emotion, broke free from Fang Chuan de’s custody and rushed toward him.

“Little Taoist, you’ve come to save me!” Zhang Shengnan embraced Fang You and kissed him.

Fang You held her tightly and returned the kiss. He knew he never wanted to leave Zhang Shengnan again.

“How dare you behave so boldly in the King of Hell’s palace! Seize them—!”

Before the King of Hell could finish, Li Shanshui quickly interjected, “Your Majesty, please allow me to speak first.”

Leaning close, Li Shanshui whispered into the King’s ear.

Earlier, when the King of Hell of the Murderous Hell, Guangye, intended to cast Fang You into the depths of the Murder Hell, the deity Erlang Shen, Yang Jian, who dwelled within Fang You’s soul, suddenly appeared.

Though Guangye was one of the eighteen minor Kings of Hell, facing the nephew of the Heavenly Emperor, Erlang Shen, he hastened to pay respects.

“I am unworthy to see you, Lord Erlang Shen. What brings you here?”

Erlang Shen glared fiercely. “You dare not kneel and pay homage to me?”

“Yes, yes!” Guangye and the attendant ghost soldiers hurriedly knelt.

“Listen well. The northern god invaded the eastern divine realm and injured many of my eastern deities. I was caught unawares and my sacred body temporarily destroyed. Now concealed within this mortal vessel, you dare lay hands on me?”

Erlang Shen’s voice was firm.

“We dare not. Please allow passage immediately,” Guangye said hastily.

“Where is Zhang Shengnan?” Fang You, barely clinging to life, asked.

“I, Li Shanshui, will take you to her.”

Back in the King’s hall, the King of Hell considered Li Shanshui’s words.

Seeing that the soul of Erlang Shen, nephew to the Heavenly Emperor, resided within this mortal body, he naturally would not harm him.

Yet as ruler of the underworld, unlike the lesser kings, he governed this realm and its countless restless souls.

While the Heavenly Emperor governs heaven and the Emperor governs mortals, the King of Hell rules over the myriad souls of the dead.

As one of the supreme rulers among men, spirits, and gods, he could not simply dismiss this matter.

With that thought, the King of Hell said slowly, “Though unclear whether Zhang Shengnan killed her sister by accident or intent, let the Mirror of Karmic Retribution reveal the truth!”

He gestured, and above them appeared a gigantic mirror. After a brief shimmer, an image formed:

A young girl wielded a toy gun, waving it about.

A woman appeared, holding a small girl, and approached the first girl.

“Zhang Shengnan, mother has something to do. Please watch your sister for a moment,” the woman said, placing the little girl before Zhang Shengnan.

Zhang Shengnan looked at the child but then turned away to continue playing with her toy.

The little girl, bored, wandered about and accidentally crawled into the bathtub, then began to cry loudly.

Zhang Shengnan grew annoyed and went to the bathroom, turning on the faucet to drown out the crying.

The water gradually rose and warmed, amplifying the child’s sobs.

Unable to tolerate it, Zhang Shengnan raised her right hand and pushed the little girl’s head beneath the water.

The girl struggled but suddenly kicked Zhang Shengnan to the floor.

Now enraged, Zhang Shengnan pressed the child into the scalding water again. Gradually, the crying ceased, and Zhang Shengnan smiled with satisfaction before leaving.

Those watching the Mirror of Karmic Retribution were left speechless.

“You see? This was deliberate murder by Zhang Shengnan. There can be no dispute!” the King of Hell declared with a smile.

“Why do I remember nothing at all?” Zhang Shengnan stared at the familiar yet alien scene, her memories hazy and unreachable.

“Childhood Zhang Shengnan committed this crime unknowingly, due to immature intellect,” Fang Chuan de hurriedly defended.

“Do you mean to deny the evil of childhood murder just because of immaturity?” the King asked sharply, leaving Fang Chuan de speechless.

Meanwhile, the ghost soldiers gradually advanced.

“Who dares take Zhang Shengnan away?” Fang You drew his twin swords and stood before her. “I will take her today—who dares stop me?”

“Little Taoist Fang You!” Zhang Shengnan smiled at him.

“Although Erlang Shen’s soul dwells within you, I will not quarrel with you over that. But Zhang Shengnan’s childhood murder cannot be overlooked.”