Chapter 5: The Netherworld

Jiang Xiaofei returned to the medical hall and immediately took out his phone to check the time. It was already six o’clock, and a faint pale glow had begun to spread across the horizon. Calculating the time, he wasn’t in a hurry, so he allowed himself a brief nap in the hall.

When he awoke, he stretched lazily before beginning the process of opening the Gate of Ghosts that led to the Underworld. With his hands forming intricate seals and strange incantations whispered from his lips, a black door slowly materialized within the room, deep and abyssal. Faint, eerie sounds echoed from within, but Jiang Xiaofei was accustomed to such interference. He stepped forward without hesitation, and as his body was fully engulfed by the gate, a brilliant flash of light followed, and the gate vanished from the room.

Upon his reappearance, Jiang Xiaofei found himself in a vast, dim world, boundless and shrouded in darkness. There were mountains, rivers, and forests, but unlike the world above, the rocks were pitch black, the trees a tall, unnatural gray, exuding an air of strangeness. This was the Underworld, also known as the Netherworld, a realm belonging to spirits. Here, there was neither day nor night—only endless terror.

Flying westward, Jiang Xiaofei gradually saw the outline of a city—its architecture all ancient. This was one of the three principal cities of the Underworld: Ghost Marshal City, so named because its rulers had always been Ghost Marshals.

Even before approaching the city, Jiang Xiaofei could sense its overwhelming ghostly energy, hinting at the multitude of fierce spirits dwelling within. His purpose was to visit a shop on West Street owned by Li Dachuan and purchase materials.

Ghost Marshal City had a longstanding rule: no one was allowed to fly above the city. Of course, those with sufficient strength could ignore the city lord entirely. Although Jiang Xiaofei possessed such power, he preferred to avoid unnecessary trouble and landed at the city gates, mindful of the many old monsters residing within.

At the gates, two armored guards stood watch. Upon seeing Jiang Xiaofei approach, they hurried forward. Since Jiang Xiaofei was no stranger to Ghost Marshal City, and the city lord had already informed the guards of his identity, they bowed respectfully and said, “Master Fei, you’ve come to purchase materials again.”

“Yes, business has been booming lately—serious shortages,” Jiang Xiaofei replied coolly, glancing at the guards and tossing each of them twenty ghost coins.

The two guards looked at the coins in their hands, barely able to contain their joy. Guarding day and night, their monthly wage was only fifty ghost coins. To receive twenty at once was cause for celebration.

“Take care, Master Fei. If you encounter any danger, remember to inform the city lord immediately,” they said as they watched Jiang Xiaofei enter the city.

Within the city, Jiang Xiaofei saw wandering fierce ghosts everywhere, their aura weak. Such ghosts were usually homeless, with nowhere to settle. Feeling pity, Jiang Xiaofei casually scattered a thousand ghost coins, instantly sparking a frenzy among the ghosts.

“A good man! Truly a benevolent soul. Good deeds will be rewarded,” exclaimed an elderly-looking ghost, gazing at the hundred coins in his hand. By the time he looked up, Jiang Xiaofei had already vanished from sight.

Jiang Xiaofei continued down West Street, familiar with the route, and soon arrived at Li Dachuan’s shop.

Inside, an elderly man with grizzled hair sat in a master’s chair near the wall, dressed in coarse linen, a tuft of goat beard on his chin, leisurely humming an unknown nursery rhyme. Before him was a small table, atop which stood a sign: “Closed for Business.”

He noticed Jiang Xiaofei standing at the door, and his eyes lit up. “I heard magpies singing this morning—so it was you, Master Fei. Please, come in and sit.”

Jiang Xiaofei glanced at the sign and took a seat in a grand chair. “Li Dachuan, what are you playing at? Not open for business? I don’t care; whatever I need, you’d better prepare it for me quickly.”

With that, Jiang Xiaofei tossed the black crystal ghost card given by the Ghost King onto the table.

Li Dachuan’s eyes gleamed at the card. Black crystal cards usually represented substantial deposits—at least a million, and only then could one obtain such a card from the Ghost Bank.

Yet he shook his head, troubled. “Master Fei, to be honest, all the goods have been monopolized recently. I can’t get any stock—otherwise, I wouldn’t have closed my shop.”

“Who dares to seize the goods I want?” Jiang Xiaofei was startled and furious.

A monopoly would cut off his livelihood. He knew Li Dachuan’s status—he was one of the local powers of the Li family in Ghost Marshal City. For even him to be unable to procure goods, the opponent’s background must be formidable.

No matter who it was, anyone who dared to block his path to wealth would not have an easy time.

Seeing Jiang Xiaofei’s anger, Li Dachuan hurried to explain, “Master Fei, please don’t be angry. That person is very influential—rumored to be from the Directorate, acting under direct orders from Lady Ghost Immortal herself to monopolize the goods.”

Learning that his wife had issued the order, Jiang Xiaofei was both astonished and relieved. If she was behind the monopoly, he still had ways to get what he needed.

But he found it odd—why would his wife want to cut off his supply and disrupt his business?

He frowned and asked, “Why does the Directorate want to monopolize the goods?”

“Don’t you know? Something major has happened in the Underworld.”

In fact, Jiang Xiaofei truly didn’t know what had occurred. He frowned again, “What happened? Speak up. Don’t beat around the bush.”

Li Dachuan sighed, “A few days ago, the Underworld went to war with the Ghost Domain. The frontlines are tense; all medical supplies are being sent there.”

“What? The Underworld is at war with the Ghost Domain?” Jiang Xiaofei was shocked, and worry for his wife’s situation filled his heart.

He knew of the Ghost Domain—a place where countless spirits gathered, fraught with danger. It was said to be home to powerful ghost clans, including ghost kings, and their chieftain was reputed to be a ghost emperor.

Wouldn’t his wife be in grave danger?

“Wife, please don’t let anything happen to you. Wait for me,” Jiang Xiaofei silently prayed, abandoning any thoughts of buying materials, and vanished from Li Dachuan’s sight.

Li Dachuan was left dumbfounded, unable to believe that Jiang Xiaofei was a hidden master. No wonder—he knew nothing of Jiang Xiaofei’s true identity, though he had tried to investigate. But all he ever found was a blank slate.