BPIFC -Volume 1 – Chapter 27 Helplessness

Inside a pitch-black palace, Peng Hezai lay sprawled on the ground like a lump of mud.

Before him floated a mass of white light.

His face was filled with terror as he stared at the light. His lips trembled constantly, as if he wanted to speak, but under the weight of his fear, the words stuck in his throat and refused to come out.

A somewhat hoarse voice emerged from within the light:

“You’re wondering why I brought you back? You are the successor I personally chose. No matter what happens, I will never stand by and watch you come to harm—even if you are plotting against me.”

Hearing this, Peng Hezai immediately dropped to his knees before the light.

Shivering, he said:

“Your Majesty has misunderstood! I am the heir you personally appointed. How could I possibly plot rebellion? Please don’t listen to Sun Desheng’s nonsense. He was trying to drive a wedge between ruler and minister. Only when the Underworld is divided can the living sleep peacefully.”

The light fell silent for a long moment.

Then it sighed softly.

“You’ve disappointed me somewhat…Judge Peng is known for wisdom; Judge Nan Tang is known for courage. When it comes to great undertakings, you are inferior to Nan Tang. Yet I still chose you as my successor. Do you know why?”

Peng Hezai barely dared breathe, much less answer.

Without waiting for a response, the voice continued:

“Because you are too much like me. If I were gone, there would be no one in the Underworld more suitable for the position of King Yama. For years, I have gradually delegated power to you. And everything you’ve done has pleased me. There is only one flaw: You are too impatient. This position was always going to be yours eventually. Why rush things now?”

Peng Hezai tried to explain.

“Your Majesty—”

“Still unwilling to give up?”

There was a trace of contempt in the voice.

The words frightened Peng into silence.

He no longer dared defend himself.

The light continued:

“You began your scheme eighty years ago. Your first step was swallowing up the Nine Rivers Ghost Market. I’ll give you credit for one thing: During those eighty years, you did nothing else. You advanced steadily and cautiously.

Twenty years ago, to avoid arousing my suspicion, you voluntarily took over the Copying Hall and the Repository of Unopened Fates.

Even then, you made no unnecessary moves.

Then you spent another twelve years replacing members of the Underworld Enforcement Division with your own people.

I’ll praise you again.

You changed personnel so skillfully that even the Supervisory Hall noticed nothing.”

The light paused briefly.

Then it continued: “To find the perfect person to assassinate me, you put in considerable effort.

You intended to become King Yama.

You couldn’t afford to face a war between the worlds immediately after ascending the throne.

That made choosing an assassin extraordinarily difficult.

The best candidate was Yang Xiao.

If I were in your position, I would have chosen him as well.

Behind Yang Xiao stands Wu Mian.

He is also acquainted with Bai Wuqiu of Demon Mountain, as well as Gui Bugui and Ren San, who are overseas.

If those people stepped forward to shield him, even the Underworld would hesitate to declare war.

And that would give you the perfect excuse not to fight.”

By now, Peng Hezai had completely collapsed.

He never imagined the light had seen through every aspect of his plan.

No amount of denial would help now.

All he could do was pray that his soul might be spared complete destruction.

Looking at Peng, who lay there like a puddle of mud, the light sighed again.

“I’ll give you a chance. Do you know where you lost?”

Without hesitation, Peng forced out two words:

“Yang Xiao…”

The moment that name was spoken, the light said:

“Go on.”

“Yang Xiao is clever as well. He guessed my intentions. He didn’t dare accept the offer, yet he couldn’t bear to give up the Guangyuan Mirror Canon. So he simply reported the matter directly to Your Majesty.”

“Worthy of being my chosen successor. You saw through it immediately.”

Applause echoed from within the light.

Then the voice continued:

“The day after you altered his wife’s lifespan, he used an underworld contact he trusted to pass the information to me. Everything that happened afterward remained under my control. Do you know why I’m telling you all this?”

At those words, Peng Hezai’s heart sank to the bottom.

The truth had already been laid bare.

Did this mean he was about to be annihilated?

Keeping his head lowered, he said nothing.

The light sighed softly.

“You’ve spent centuries trying to understand my thoughts, yet you still cannot grasp what I am thinking. You may one day become an enlightened King Yama. Unfortunately, you will never surpass me. Stop imagining the worst. Let us pretend this never happened. You will continue serving as a judge. And if you wish to try something like this again someday, that is your choice. Just make sure your next plan is truly flawless.”

Peng Hezai could scarcely believe his ears.

When the meaning finally sank in, he repeatedly kowtowed.

“I committed a crime beyond forgiveness. I dare not hope for mercy. Please destroy my physical body and send me back into reincarnation. I am willing to suffer through countless evil rebirths to atone for even a fraction of my guilt.”

After Peng finished speaking, the light fell silent once more.

A long time passed.

Then another sigh emerged from within the glow.

The hoarse voice spoke again:

“You are the most suitable person in the Underworld to succeed me. No matter what you have done, I will forgive you. This is not a joke. When you eventually sit upon the throne of King Yama, you will understand what I mean. And if someone like you should appear during your reign, I hope you will treat them as I have treated you.”

Hearing that he had been forgiven without any punishment at all, Peng Hezai collapsed to the ground and began crying.

As he wept, he cursed his own ambition and condemned himself for entertaining thoughts of regicide against one who was like a father to him.

“That is enough.”

The light sighed tiredly and changed the subject.

“I have forgiven you.

You must also forgive them.

Yang Xiao, Sun Desheng…

And especially the one called Che Qianzi.

You must not seek revenge against any of them.

If your actions bring catastrophe upon the Underworld, then I will have no choice but to consider another successor.”

Hearing such serious words, Peng Hezai immediately agreed.

Then he suddenly remembered the incident with the burned Book of Life and Death.

If the matter was being treated so seriously, there was a high chance that the King had already seen Che Qianzi’s record.

He cautiously asked:

“Your Majesty, there is something strange about Che Qianzi. The force backing him—”

“Silence!”

The light cut him off immediately.

“You are forbidden from investigating anything related to that person ever again.”

As it spoke, the light began to dim.

It seemed ready to disappear.

But before vanishing completely, it left one final sentence:

“The power backing him…is not something our Underworld can afford to provoke.”

Meanwhile, in the luxury suite of an upscale hotel in Nine Rivers City, Sun Desheng spat toward Yang Xiao.

“Bah! Yang Xiao, you already got the Guangyuan Mirror Canon, didn’t you? You knew everything from the beginning! And yet you dragged all of us into this mess. Not that I’m saying anything, but tell me yourself—how are you going to explain this?”

Yang Xiao looked at Sun with an expression of complete innocence.

“Great Sage, that’s not fair. Whether Peng Hezai was truly taken away by King Yama or not, neither of us can say for certain. How does that prove I knew everything?”

“I’ve spent my whole life calculating others. Never thought I’d get hit in the eye by the beads of my own abacus.”

For once, Sun Desheng let out a cold laugh.

Then he turned toward Shen La and Che Qianzi, who were watching the spectacle unfold.

“You two stop enjoying the show.

Spicy, you got played this time too.

Brother…

I was too embarrassed to mention it before.

When you were unconscious, Yang Xiao slapped you across the face twice.

If I were either of you, I definitely wouldn’t let that slide.”

Before Sun could finish speaking, someone rang the doorbell.

A familiar voice sounded from outside the room:

“Sun Desheng…Come out and meet an old friend.”