Chapter 189: Another Way Out

Ji Yuan now knew that while the Underworld had laws, they were not entirely inflexible. For a great benevolent person like Qin Zizhou, many infernal emissaries were willing to wait here for his family to complete the rites before escorting him on his way.

Even the Earth God had voluntarily come from his temple. Logically, since the Underworld's escorts were already present, the Earth God only needed to wait at his temple for the funeral procession to arrive.

The saying, "Virtue commands the reverence of spirits and gods," was once again perfectly demonstrated here.

Ji Yuan's request, though not in line with the Underworld's regulations, came from an obviously highly cultivated practitioner who had shown ample respect. Crucially, if he insisted on entering, they couldn't stop him.

The infernal emissaries looked at the Earth God, who resembled an old squire. The latter simply nodded slightly.

As a local deity connected to the earth's ley lines, the Earth God, while still unable to discern Ji Yuan's true origin, could faintly sense that after Ji Yuan entered, the entire courtyard was enveloped in pure energy, with all impure auras receding. This made it highly unlikely that the person was a malevolent spirit or demon.

Observing the Earth God's reaction, the infernal emissaries felt reassured, and the Day Wanderer spoke again.

"Since the immortal master wishes to see Qin Zizhou, we shall certainly accommodate you. However, as it is our duty, please allow us to go in first and explain the matters after death to Qin Zizhou. His soul must be bewildered at this moment."

Ji Yuan activated his Dharma Eye to look towards the room. Qin Zizhou's soul was already beginning to leave his body. Ji Yuan once again bowed to the spirits and gods.

"That is perfectly reasonable. Please go ahead, and you may call for me when it is appropriate!"

"Very well, please wait a moment, Immortal Master!"

All the infernal emissaries bowed in return, then stepped on an eerie wind and entered the large room where Qin Zizhou lay.

The Earth God took a step closer to Ji Yuan, and they exchanged bows. He tentatively engaged Ji Yuan in some small talk, and they both waited outside the courtyard.

The Qin family compound, excluding the kitchen and woodshed, had eight rooms. There was no distinction between a front and back yard; all rooms surrounded the main courtyard. Qin Zizhou was in the largest room in the center.

At this moment, Qin Zizhou's descendants and his favored students were gathered around the bed. While the body was not yet stiff, they worked together to dress the old man in burial clothes. The sounds of weeping nearby had lessened, though occasional sobs could still be heard.

Tong Xian was Qin Zizhou's most esteemed student, practically regarded as his own son back then. Since Master Qin's eldest son had passed away long ago, Tong Xian and Qin Zizhou's second son were primarily responsible for dressing him in his burial clothes, with others lending a hand.

"Oh, Father... you spent your whole life healing and saving people. Now that you've passed, please rest well!"

"Master has reached his natural end today, having lived over a hundred years. How many in this world can live to such an advanced age as he did? This is already a good reward from heaven, and he will surely receive blessings even after death!"

At that moment, a chilling wind rose indoors. Many people felt a cold sensation. The older, more experienced individuals, having heard of or encountered similar occurrences, instinctively understood, even though they had never witnessed such a thing directly. They all subtly pulled back, giving some space.

According to folklore passed down by the older generation, a sudden chill indoors around the time a loved one passes away could indicate the arrival of infernal emissaries.

At this moment, Qin Zizhou's soul stood beside his body, somewhat bewildered, watching his disciples and son dress him in burial clothes, and observing his weeping relatives around him. His ghostly spirit felt disoriented.

"Qin Zizhou, your mortal lifespan has ended. We are here specifically to guide you!"

Upon hearing this, Qin Zizhou's mind suddenly cleared. He looked sharply towards the bedside, where six emissaries, dressed in black and white, stood.

Qin Zizhou, with a faint sense of dread, cautiously asked, "Are you... infernal emissaries?"

To Qin Zizhou's surprise, the two Day Wanderers bowed to him.

"I am the Right Emissary of the Day Wanderers, under the jurisdiction of the City God of Desheng Prefecture. Beside me is the Left Emissary of the Day Wanderers. Behind us are two Soul-Reaping Envoys and two Umbrella-Shading attendants. We are here by command to receive you. We will only escort you on your journey after you have partaken of your family's ritual offerings!"

Qin Zizhou quickly bowed in return to the infernal emissaries. He then felt a pull on his ghostly body, drifting automatically towards the other side. When he regained his senses, he was standing beside the two Soul-Reaping Envoys.

"Esteemed Qin, your worldly affairs are concluded. You are not permitted to touch your kin nor cling to your old body. You may only return home for a visit on the seventh day. For now, please wait quietly by our side before your family's rites begin!"

"Understood, understood. Thank you for informing me, Emissaries!"

Qin Zizhou was now filled with anxiety mixed with a faint fear. He simply followed whatever the infernal emissaries said, not daring to raise any objections.

Two shade-blocking umbrellas opened, enclosing the infernal emissaries and Qin Zizhou's ghost. The two Day Wanderers exchanged glances and nodded to each other. The one who had spoken earlier addressed Qin Zizhou again.

"Esteemed Qin, did you ever encounter an immortal during your lifetime?"

Qin Zizhou looked at the white-robed emissary wearing a tall hat.

"An immortal?"

"Yes, or perhaps an extraordinary person or event that left a profound impression on you. They might not necessarily have displayed astonishing powers, but they could very well have been a divine being."

Qin Zizhou pondered deeply. He had been called a "living immortal" countless times, but he had no recollection of meeting an actual immortal. Wait, there might actually have been one such person.

"Indeed, it seems there was such a person. He was a Taoist priest who, when he first arrived at my pharmacy years ago, was on his last breath, his soul about to depart. It was I and a skilled martial artist who worked together to save his life..."

Not just the Day Wanderers, but also the other grim-faced infernal emissaries were surprised. Life-threatening condition?

They had instinctively begun to imagine possible confrontations between immortals and evil spirits.

"What was peculiar about that Taoist priest?" The Day Wanderer pressed him.

"Of course! That Taoist priest was incredibly accurate at fortune-telling. While he was recuperating, every divination he performed for people was spot on. Even when he came for his regular check-ups at my pharmacy, he couldn't resist telling fortunes for other patients. I remember one time..."

Qin Zizhou hesitated for a moment, then continued.

"One time, a man with a sallow complexion came for treatment. The Taoist priest happened to be there. Before I even took the patient's pulse, the priest bluntly told him, 'Beyond salvation, beyond salvation. From now on, perhaps if you perform good deeds and accumulate virtue, you might live another six months to a year. Just eat well and drink well. Even a divine doctor cannot save you; only an immortal might...' The pharmacy almost broke into a fight that day..."

Even in his ghostly form, Qin Zizhou still felt a lingering sense of trepidation before continuing.

"After my diagnosis, I indeed found that this person was terminally ill. But I refused to believe it and still tried my best to save him. Unfortunately, he passed two months later."

The infernal emissaries were somewhat puzzled. Initially, hearing "every divination was spot on" made them think it might be the person they were looking for, but then hearing about the near-fight in the pharmacy made them doubt it.

They couldn't delay much longer, so they had to tell Qin Zizhou the truth.

"Esteemed Qin, there is an immortal master outside who wishes to see you. He claims to be an old acquaintance from your lifetime. We shall now invite him in."

Having said this, the Day Wanderer exited under Qin Zizhou's bewildered gaze. A moment later, he led a white-robed gentleman into the guest room.

The first thing Ji Yuan saw upon entering the room was Qin Zizhou's body, extremely emaciated and skeletal. Clearly, he had been unable to eat for a considerable time before his death.

Next, he saw Qin Zizhou's soul standing among the infernal emissaries. It had the same complexion as he remembered from years ago, with surprisingly little ghostly aura, almost like a living person.

While the infernal emissaries and the Earth God might only perceive this soul as peculiar, Ji Yuan saw it as truly extraordinary. Remarkably, it contained a vibrant, pure spiritual essence, feeling much like a human spirit-god, a type rarely seen in the world.

Even more remarkably, Qin Zizhou was clearly dead, yet this pure essence did not dissipate. Even a human spirit-god would immediately dissipate or return to the cosmos upon death.

Ji Yuan's heart stirred greatly. He suddenly recalled a concept from the *Tongming Scroll* that even its author considered outlandish. Some of his original thoughts shifted.

"Doctor Qin, we meet again!"

Qin Zizhou no longer recognized Ji Yuan's appearance, but he remembered those eyes, and the ailment they suffered from.

"You are... you are that martial arts master whose eyes were clearly blind yet could still perceive things? You are an immortal!"

Ji Yuan bowed to him, smiling.

"Doctor Qin, you have an excellent memory. You spent your life practicing medicine and saving lives. Now, at your end, the Earth God oversees your household outside, while six infernal emissaries come to escort you. Furthermore, the Right and Left Chief Emissaries of the Day Wanderers from Desheng Prefecture have personally come. This is truly an honor among mortals! I presume the Underworld has already arranged a position for you?"

Ji Yuan's last sentence was clearly directed at the Day Wanderer, who replied without delay.

"This matter will be decided by Lord Judge and Lord City God, but given Esteemed Qin's virtues, he will certainly be offered a position."

This reply was vague, and the Day Wanderer seemed to realize it, adding:

"For a great philanthropist and physician like Esteemed Qin, whose ethereal lifespan also approaches a hundred years, he would typically spend a few years in peaceful repose in the Underworld, accepting offerings from his descendants. Once his soul body is refined, he will be granted the position of Chief Clerk and taught the methods of ghostly cultivation. If there is a vacancy among the twenty-four departmental chiefs, it is highly probable he will fill it!"

"Good, thank you for the information!"

This was information Ji Yuan wanted to know, but he also intentionally asked it so Qin Zizhou could hear. After the Day Wanderer finished speaking, Ji Yuan then addressed Qin Zizhou.

"Doctor Qin, taking a position in the Underworld allows you to look after your descendants and preserve your ghostly form for a long time. Given your virtues, it's quite possible that your townsfolk will later build a shrine or temple for you, allowing you to serve as a minor deity."

A "minor deity" (闲神, xiánshén) is a term used by cultivators, referring to a deity who is neither a formal god of mountains, rivers, or land, nor an underworld deity like a City God.

For instance, some places might build a general's temple to honor a deceased local military commander, hoping to suppress malevolent energy. For a divine physician like Qin Zizhou, it's also possible to have a temple built for worship, with the hope of suppressing miasma and disease, and ensuring the health of the villagers.

Ji Yuan paused here, glanced at the infernal emissaries, then turned his gaze back.

"Of course, your venerable ghostly form has condensed and naturally contains a pure essence. In my opinion, there is another path for you. If a righteous Water God with abundant incense and profound cultivation were to intervene, your ghostly form could be refined, transforming its extreme Yin into Yang. At that point, you would be unaffected by sunlight or cold, capable of cultivating true spells and spiritual paths, possessing a substantial body even without a physical form..."

As Ji Yuan spoke, the Earth God, who had been standing at the doorway, could no longer contain himself and blurted out, "Is the immortal master referring to a Boundary Wanderer God?"

Legend speaks of a type of deity capable of traveling in all directions without being confined by earthly boundaries. They can enjoy incense offerings from temples and receive worship in mortal homes, and are not burdened by dynastic changes. More wondrous than even the Ming Kings of Buddhism, these are Boundary Wanderer Gods. Over time, their magical powers become boundless, and they can be ranked among the "True" deities alongside the Mountain Gods.

"Earth God, you have good insight. However, the path of a Boundary Wanderer God is too vast. How could Doctor Qin achieve that in one go with his current condition? One can only hope for it in the future."

Ji Yuan's understated remark greatly astonished the Earth God. How could one become a Boundary Wanderer God overnight? The immortal master's words were akin to saying, "Yes, that's exactly what I meant."

"But... those who become Boundary Wanderer Gods do so only through a series of coincidences and the convergence of heaven and earth's favor. How could it be possible..."

The Earth God was somewhat incoherent at this point, unsure how to articulate the tumultuous thoughts in his mind.