Chapter 103: A Turning Point

“Look, the Mirror of Karmic Retribution isn’t finished yet!” Li Shanshui exclaimed, gazing up at the mirror floating above the crowd.

Within the mirror, images continued to play out.

Inside, Zhang Shengnan was seen lifting the little girl from the scorching bath and placing her on the floor. He then gently dried her off with a towel, moved her to a chair, and placed a toy into her hands.

“Be quiet and good, okay? Taking a clean bath feels the best!” he said.

It became clear that, to Zhang Shengnan, this had merely been a game of pretend. The little girl was just a role he was playing.

The lifeless little girl slumped in the chair as Zhang Shengnan held a cup to her lips. “Princess, please have some tea,” he said softly.

At that moment, Zhang Shengnan’s mother returned and, seeing her sister flushed and unresponsive, panicked and scooped her up.

Realizing the little girl had stopped breathing, the mother frantically dialed the hospital. Zhang Shengnan’s frequently absent father rushed home upon hearing the news.

The four hurried to the hospital for emergency treatment.

Zhang Shengnan looked on at his parents’ anxious faces, seemingly aware of his own mistake and filled with guilt.

His mother covered her mouth, weeping bitterly, while his father scolded her anxiously, glancing toward the hospital doors.

After a long wait, the attending physician emerged. “I’m sorry, the child has passed away. Please accept my condolences, Honorable Mayor.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Shengnan’s parents collapsed in tears. The sight struck Zhang Shengnan so deeply that he fainted.

When he awoke, he was lying in a hospital bed. The doctors explained that Zhang Shengnan was suffering from stimulus-induced amnesia—a psychological defense where one forgets painful memories to protect oneself.

Accepting their daughter’s death, Zhang Shengnan’s parents buried the tragedy deep in their hearts, deciding to focus their love solely on him from then on.

As the Mirror of Karmic Retribution finished reflecting this scene, it slowly faded from the sky.

“Your Majesty, this clearly proves Zhang Shengnan did not intentionally kill his sister. At that age, his mind was immature; in his consciousness, it was merely a game of pretend. He bore no murderous intent, so he must not be condemned to the Hell of Murder!” Fang Chuande quickly interjected.

“Hmm,” the King of Hell hesitated. Indeed, there is a difference between manslaughter and intentional murder. Intentional murder carries responsibility in both the mortal and spirit realms.

However, manslaughter, where no malice exists and the death is a tragic twist of fate, is treated differently. While the mortal world may punish it, the Underworld does not hold the soul accountable if there was no murderous intent, for everything is predestined. One without the intent to kill should not be condemned to the Hell of Murder.

“Your Majesty, if even a young child guilty of manslaughter is sent to the Hell of Murder, how is that different from the most heinous murderers?” Fang Jie added urgently, echoing his leader’s plea.

“We implore Your Majesty to reconsider!” Li Shanshui, clutching his long whip, spoke softly.

The King of Hell looked at Fang You, who was striving to protect Zhang Shengnan’s soul, and after a moment of contemplation, slowly declared, “After my judgment, it is clear that Zhang Shengnan’s killing in childhood was without murderous intent. His mind was immature, and the death was accidental. He shall not be held accountable.

“Furthermore, in the mortal realm, as a police officer, he has performed many good deeds for the people. Therefore, I decree that Zhang Shengnan be deemed a virtuous soul and allowed immediate reincarnation.”

“Wonderful! Another virtuous soul successfully approved!” Fang Chuan’en, Zhou Jie, and Li Shanshui sighed in relief.

“Fang You, little Taoist, am I to be reincarnated?” Zhang Shengnan looked at Fang You with reluctance.

Fang You hesitated but then seemed to recall something and addressed the King of Hell. “Your Majesty, I have one request.”

“You have already been granted leniency by judging Zhang Shengnan a virtuous soul. What more do you want? Don’t think that because Erlang Shen’s spirit resides within you, you can act recklessly. This is my domain!” the King growled in anger.

“I wish to exchange fifty years of my own lifespan for twenty years of Zhang Shengnan’s life in this incarnation!” Fang You’s words stunned everyone. Given that humans rarely live beyond a century, sacrificing half his life to restore Zhang Shengnan’s twenty years on earth was astonishing.

“You have great courage, young man,” the King of Hell admired after his surprise.

“Little Taoist, don’t!” Zhang Shengnan urgently pleaded. “Live well. After I reincarnate, I will have a new life. If fate allows, we might meet again.”

“Fang You, are you mad? If you lose fifty years, you will die immediately!” Li Shanshui warned.

“My mind is made up. I want Zhang Shengnan to return with me to the mortal world!” Fang You declared resolutely.

“Since Zhang Shengnan is a virtuous soul, living twenty more years in the mortal world does no harm. I do not require your lifespan. However, there is one task I wish for you to undertake,” the King smiled.

“What task?” Fang You asked eagerly.

“Under Mount Zhongnan lives a man named Yan E. He has certain ties to me. Recently, I have foreseen that he will encounter a great change in fortune. I hope you can lend him your aid.”

Fang You immediately agreed. “Yan E beneath Mount Zhongnan—I understand. I will do my best!”

“Good. Since some matters in the mortal realm are beyond my reach, the three of you shall escort these two souls back to the living world.”

“As you command, Your Majesty!”

Thus, Zhou Jie, Fang Chuan’en, and Li Shanshui accompanied Zhang Shengnan and Fang You to the Three Paths River, arriving at the Gateway of Return to Life.

“You may now return to the mortal world. I hope we don’t meet here again within ten years,” Zhou Jie joked.

“Thankfully, the elder within Fang You’s body helped us this time. If you ever need assistance within my jurisdiction, do not hesitate to seek me out. I am Li Shanshui, emissary of the Underworld,” Li Shanshui said, holding the Book of Life and Death.

In truth, there are countless copies of the Book of Life and Death. Each Underworld emissary holds only the volume pertaining to their own region, while the complete book is kept in the Pavilion of Life and Death in the Underworld, accessible only to the King of Hell.

Fang You and Zhang Shengnan exchanged smiles before leaping together into the Return to Life Abyss.

Suddenly, in a villa, both Fang You and Zhang Shengnan awoke simultaneously. The soft bed and white walls surrounded them.

They exchanged a glance, their bond long unspoken. The next moment, Fang You pressed a passionate kiss to Zhang Shengnan’s lips, casting aside all Taoist inheritances and precepts.

They shed their clothes, the rain of their reunion marking a turning point. From now on, Fang You would transform from a fully devoted Taoist into a half-Taoist, cultivating the Way from within the mortal world.