Chapter Twelve: Schemes

With a wave of Prince Xuan’s hand, the photograph appeared at Teacher Li’s bedside. Then, with a gentle call, she summoned Lin Xiaowan and took her soul away, putting an end to Lin Xiaowan’s suffering.

As she led Lin Xiaowan into the Underworld, the girl remained just as sweet as ever, a perpetual smile on her face. Seeing this only deepened Prince Xuan’s sorrow.

“Don’t be sad, sister,” Lin Xiaowan said. “It’s fate, after all. But I haven’t spent enough time with you. If it were possible, I’d still want to—”

Prince Xuan cut her off. “If you wish, I can send you back. I can bring you back to life—after all, you’re my contracted companion. There’s still time.”

Lin Xiaowan shook her head. “Let it be. My only family is gone. Living on holds no meaning for me.”

“You still have me! I still need your help,” Prince Xuan protested.

“I believe I can help you here as well. Please, don’t try to persuade me anymore,” Lin Xiaowan replied.

With no other choice, Prince Xuan escorted her to the registration office to complete the formalities, then wandered dispiritedly through the Underworld.

At that moment, a familiar voice sounded behind her. “You’re back. Is everything settled?”

Turning around, Prince Xuan forced a bitter smile. “Big Sister, I—I’m back.”

---

The King of the Underworld spoke up. “Why so glum now that you’re back? Come, let’s have a drink.”

With that, the King of the Underworld dragged Prince Xuan off to a bar. Meanwhile, in an unremarkable little house, Zhong Kui gazed serenely out the window, a figure cloaked in black standing at his side.

“You were right,” the figure said. “The King of the Underworld got the chip, just as you predicted. Everything unfolded just as you expected with Prince Xuan as well. If Heaven finds out, the King will likely be fine, but Prince Xuan… she’ll be in serious trouble. Shouldn’t we—?”

Zhong Kui shook his head. “The King of the Underworld will either resolve the problem for Prince Xuan or shoulder the blame himself. If we intervene, we’ll only draw fire onto ourselves.”

“It’s such a good opportunity—are we just going to let it go to waste?” the black-clad figure pressed.

“We don’t have to act,” Zhong Kui replied. “Let someone else do it! Go and give this information to that fool Bao Zheng. Slip him something extra, but don’t arouse suspicion. Then we’ll just sit back and enjoy the show.”

“Good idea. If Bao Zheng jumps in, at least he’ll give them a hard time,” the black-clad figure said, and with those words, vanished into thin air.

Zhong Kui shook his head. “What a bunch of blockheads,” he muttered.

On Lin Xiaowan’s side, everything went smoothly thanks to Prince Xuan’s arrangements—no ghosts dared trouble her. But when it came time for the final judgment in the main hall, trouble awaited.

---

The courtroom was eerie and intimidating. At the center, presiding over all, sat the chief judge—a stern man with a pitch-black forehead and a crescent moon mark. To his left stood a table where a handsome, scholarly scribe sat recording proceedings. Rows of ghostly bailiffs lined either side of the hall. As Lin Xiaowan surveyed her surroundings, the judge slammed down his gavel and the bailiffs shouted, “All rise!” making Lin Xiaowan jump with fright.

“Ghost before the court!” Bao Zheng roared. “Why do you not kneel in my presence?”

Lin Xiaowan cupped her hands in a respectful gesture. “I beg the lord’s pardon. I am unfamiliar with the court’s customs.”

Bao Zheng turned to the side. “Judge Lu, have you retrieved Lin Xiaowan’s file?”

Judge Lu rose and bowed. “My lord, her records have been brought forth. However—”

“What is amiss? Out with it,” Bao Zheng demanded.

“My lord, it would be best if you reviewed the file personally,” Judge Lu replied, handing over Lin Xiaowan’s Book of Life and Death.

Perplexed, Bao Zheng took the book.