BPIFC -Volume 1 – Chapter 24 A Personal Book of Life and Death

The man in black had his coat collar turned up and wore a black hat on his head. Standing in the shadows, his appearance was completely obscured.

As soon as the old man saw him appear, he hurried over and stood respectfully behind him.

Just as Sun Desheng was about to exchange a few polite words, more people began appearing throughout the Ghost Market.

It was only a little past midnight. Normally, the vendors wouldn’t arrive for several more hours. Yet after the man in black appeared, peddlers pushing carts and carrying oil lamps began pouring in from both ends of the street.

They acted as though they couldn’t see Sun Desheng and the others. Each lowered their head and quietly set up a stall near the man in black.

At the same time, more and more visitors arrived to browse the market.

Between buyers and sellers, there were already around a hundred people present.

Each carried an oil lamp and pretended to haggle over prices, but even a blind man could tell they were all there to protect the man in black.

Unable to make out the man’s face and lacking the oil lamp required for entry into the Ghost Market, Sun Desheng pulled out his phone and switched on the flashlight.

He aimed the beam at the man in black.

An eerie scene unfolded.

It was as if the man was surrounded by some substance that absorbed light itself.

The beam vanished completely the moment it reached him.

Before Sun could speak, Che Qianzi beat him to it.

“What, are you too ugly to show your face? If you’re really that embarrassed, go kill yourself, reincarnate, and come back looking better. I’ve never seen anyone so afraid of being seen before.”

The moment those words left his mouth, the people gathered around the man in black stopped pretending.

One by one, they turned around and glared viciously at Che Qianzi, who remained completely unconcerned.

“Kid, watch your mouth.”

Fatty Sun grinned as he lightly scolded him.

“Just because somebody has no manners doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have any. Can’t you learn some good habits?”

Then he smiled at the man in black.

“Not that I’m saying anything, but my little brother just came out of the countryside. He hasn’t seen much of the world. If you’re upset, take it out on me instead. Don’t stoop to his level.”

The man in black glanced around and then addressed the surrounding crowd.

“Leave. I’m perfectly safe. I don’t need all of you standing here drawing attention.”

Upon hearing that he was dismissing them, the old man hurriedly said:

“That was the order from above. If they leave on their own, they’ll certainly be punished severely. For the sake of—”

“Enough.”

The man in black sounded annoyed.

“If they want to stay, let them stay. Stop rambling.”

Then he turned back to Sun Desheng.

“I’m actually a lot like you. People think I’m important, but I’m just as constrained as anyone else. They depend on me. If I fall, they’re finished too.”

While he was speaking, the old man directed several people to bring over a table and four chairs.

After a moment’s hesitation, he instructed them:

“There is no need for a seat for me. Leave only two chairs.”

“Three chairs. Save one for my brother.”

Sun Desheng interrupted with a grin.

Then he pulled Che Qianzi over and sat down.

Looking at the man in black, he said:

“Not that I’m saying anything, but if you’re willing to come out and meet us, you should’ve already prepared yourself to be recognized. Why bother hiding your face?”

“Fair point.”

The man in black sat down across from Fatty Sun.

“But these are the rules for members of the Underworld when traveling outside. Rules are rules.”

After settling into his chair, he continued:

“You know who I am, and I know exactly why Chief Sun has come. So let’s discuss business.”

As he spoke, he gestured to the old man.

The old man immediately walked over to a nearby stall and carried back a large chest, placing it on the table before the three men.

At the man in black’s signal, the chest was opened.

One by one, its treasures were displayed before Sun Desheng and Che Qianzi.

There were two items inside.

The first was a stone sword.

Its blade was covered in nicks and scars, dirty and weathered. No matter how one looked at it, it hardly resembled a divine weapon.

The second was a small scroll.

Both Che Qianzi and Sun Desheng had already seen photographs of the Guangyuan Underworld Mirror, so they knew this scroll was not it.

However, anything important enough to be placed before them was certainly no ordinary object.

Seeing that the treasures had been revealed, the man in black personally introduced them.

“These are two of the Underworld’s greatest treasures. The stone sword was the magical weapon used by the Grand Sorcerer to divide the realms of Yin and Yang. It cuts above through the living world and below through the Underworld. In both realms, it is considered a top-tier artifact. As for this Book of Life and Death…”

As he spoke, the man in black personally unrolled the scroll.

The old man immediately raised an oil lamp, allowing Sun Desheng to read its contents.

Written on the page was:

Sun Desheng. Male. Born in the Year of Ding-Si, Month of Ren-Zi, Day of Bing-Wu, at the Wei Hour.

Father: Sun Jiawu. Mother: He Caihua…

After confirming that Sun had seen his own name inside the book, the man in black smiled slightly.

“This is your personal Book of Life and Death, Chief Sun.

From now on, it belongs to you.

Since the founding of the Underworld, throughout all of history, you are the first person to be entrusted with the custody of his own Book of Life and Death.”

While the man in black was speaking, Sun had already rolled up the scroll and tucked it into his jacket.

Then, apparently feeling it was too valuable to leave there, he hesitated before moving it into his pants pocket instead.

Afterward, he laughed loudly.

“You didn’t give me the Destiny Writing Brush or the Wheel-Reincarnation Ink. Without those, this thing is just decoration. What, am I supposed to stare at my lifespan every day while waiting to die at home?”

The man in black laughed as well.

“Talking with Chief Sun is refreshing.

No need for unnecessary formalities.

Very well.

Hand Yang Xiao over to me, and I’ll give you the Destiny Writing Brush and the Wheel-Reincarnation Ink.

Then you can alter your Book of Life and Death however you wish.

Any heavenly punishment that results will be borne by the Underworld.

What do you think?

One Yang Xiao in exchange for several hundred, perhaps even a thousand extra years of life.”

“Since when did Old Yang become that valuable?”

Sun chuckled.

“Not that I’m saying anything, but you’re overpaying. He’s worth maybe fifty years at most.”

He laughed for a while before shaking his head.

“But I have no intention of handing him over.

My daughter and his wife are sworn sisters.

If I give him up, his wife will come crying at my house.

Then my daughter will cry too.

You have no idea how troublesome women can be.

As for that stone sword, you can keep it.

I’ll just take my Book of Life and Death.

After all, it has my name on it. I feel bad leaving it in your custody forever.”

The man in black wasn’t surprised by Sun Desheng’s answer.

Nor did he attempt to stop him.

He simply watched with a smile until Sun finished speaking.

Only then did he say:

“That makes things somewhat troublesome.

Originally, I hoped Chief Sun would hand over Yang Xiao.

Now it appears that isn’t going to happen.

In that case, there is only a second option.”

His voice grew colder.

“You two will stay here. The Bureau can hand over Yang Xiao in exchange for the two of you.”

The moment those words were spoken, the hundred or so people behind him surged forward under the old man’s command.

Realizing things were turning ugly, Che Qianzi acted first.

Leaping to his feet, he grabbed his chair and swung it directly at the man in black.

He had plenty of experience in fights.

When facing a large group, the best strategy was always to capture the leader first.

Once the boss was in hand, the others would be forced to think twice before acting.

However, before the chair could strike its target, the man in black casually grabbed one of its legs.

An immense force suddenly exploded from his hand.

Boom!

The chair instantly disintegrated into powder.

Che Qianzi was blasted backward by the shockwave.

Blood sprayed from his mouth while he was still airborne.

Only then did he crash heavily onto the ground.

Seeing this, the man’s guards immediately rushed forward to attack Che Qianzi.

Sun Desheng hurriedly shouted at the man in black:

“My brother’s backing is someone you can’t afford to provoke.

And your own superiors can’t afford to provoke him either.

Not that I’m saying anything, but if a single hair falls from his head here tonight, the entire Underworld will be turned upside down.

Don’t believe me? Try it.

Out of hundreds of people in the Bureau, I only brought one person with me—Che Qianzi.

Why do you think that is?”