BPIFC -Volume 1 – Chapter 28 Tying Up Loose Ends

Che Qianzi had heard that voice earlier that evening. It belonged to Ya, the somewhat talkative fellow.

But why was he here now?

Shen La walked over and opened the door.

Sure enough, Ya stood outside wearing a business suit.

The two of them were not particularly close, but they exchanged a few polite greetings.

Seeing Ya appear, Sun Desheng’s expression turned strange.

He glanced at Yang Xiao and said:

“Not that I’m saying anything, Old Yang, but he’s here for you, isn’t he? Ya, if I’m not mistaken, someone sent you here to deliver something to Old Yang, right?”

“You truly are Sun Desheng. Is there anything in this world that can be hidden from you?”

Ya smiled faintly.

Then he pulled a scroll from inside his coat and handed it to Yang Xiao.

“The King Yama asked me to deliver this. His Majesty also asked me to tell you that the Guangyuan Mirror Canon isn’t all you’re getting. He’s also reserved a position for you as a Great Underworld Official. Of course, you’ll only be able to assume the post after your death.”

“Now what was it I just said?”

After hearing this, Sun turned toward Yang Xiao.

“Not that I’m saying anything, but you used me as a weapon. Surely you’re not planning to use me for free? Money would be too vulgar. Old Yang, you ought to split whatever you’ve gotten with me.”

For the first time, an embarrassed expression appeared on Yang Xiao’s face.

He hadn’t expected King Yama to send the Guangyuan Mirror Canon so quickly—and right in front of Sun Desheng and the others.

The message was obvious:

King Yama had completely sold him out.

Apparently, the ruler of the Underworld also wanted to improve relations with the Bureau.

In the end, Yang Xiao realized that he too had merely been a pawn.

The more embarrassed he became, the more awkwardly shy his smile looked.

As he tucked the scroll into his robes, he scratched his head and said:

“Great Sage, if you were in my position and King Yama personally approached you, you wouldn’t refuse either. The Guangyuan Mirror Canon is simply too important to me. When we get back, I’ll prepare a gift for—”

Before he could finish, Sun interrupted with a strange smile.

“Old Yang, you just said how important that thing is. You’re simply going to accept it without checking? Not that I’m saying anything, but I don’t covet it myself. Still, after all the help I’ve given you, you should at least reward me with a mountain of gold or silver. Go ahead and inspect it. Ya still has to report back.”

Although Yang Xiao disliked exposing such a treasure in public, Sun’s reasoning made sense.

After a brief hesitation, he pulled out the scroll.

In front of everyone, he carefully opened it.

The main seal of the Mirror Canon appeared immediately.

It matched exactly what had been shown in Ouyang Pianzuo’s photograph.

Seeing the seal, Yang Xiao finally relaxed.

Then he continued unrolling the scroll.

To his shock, everything beyond the opening section was a blurry mess.

It looked as though the scroll had once been soaked in wine or some other liquid.

Not only was the text unreadable—even the diagrams and talismanic illustrations had become impossible to distinguish.

He had risked everything for this scheme.

And in the end, he had received only a fragment of the Guangyuan Mirror Canon.

His face instantly turned deathly pale.

He slowly turned toward Ya, staring in disbelief.

Protected by his powerful patron, Ya showed not the slightest trace of guilt.

Using an official tone, he explained: “I was just about to tell you. In the one hundred and thirty-third year of the Underworld’s Chunming Era, the then-King Yama, Bai Mo, accidentally stained the Mirror Canon while drunk. Only about one-fifth of it remains intact. His Majesty felt this was unfair, so he compensated you with the position of Great Underworld Official.”

“I used my own life as bait…”

Yang Xiao’s voice trembled with rage.

“And all I got was one-fifth of the Guangyuan Mirror Canon?”

In a fit of fury, he tore the scroll apart and threw the pieces onto the floor.

Then he stepped right up to Ya, almost nose-to-nose.

“What use is some damned Great Underworld Official position? Who cares?! I’m immortal! Why would I ever live long enough to need it?”

“Old Yang, why take it out on Ya?”

Seeing Yang Xiao’s elaborate plan end in complete disappointment, Sun’s eyes narrowed into slits from amusement.

He walked over and draped an arm around Yang Xiao’s shoulders.

“Look on the bright side. You used me thoroughly, and I didn’t say much about it. Not that I’m saying anything, but why don’t we just let this go?”

There wasn’t much choice.

Yang Xiao certainly wasn’t about to offend King Yama.

Yet he needed someone to vent his frustration on.

Among everyone present, only Ya was a safe target.

A dangerous gleam appeared in his eyes as he looked at the young underworld official.

Fortunately, King Yama had anticipated this as well and provided Ya with protection.

“Yang Xiao, I almost forgot. His Majesty has promoted me to Acting Great Underworld Official. Starting today, I’m responsible for correcting lifespan errors reported by the Great Underworld Office.”

Yang Xiao had already reached out to grab him.

Hearing this, his hand abruptly changed direction midway.

Instead of grabbing Ya, he brushed a few imaginary specks of dust from the man’s clothing.

Then he smiled warmly.

“Acting Great Underworld Official is an excellent position. As a matter of fact, I have a small favor to ask. My wife’s lifespan still hasn’t been corrected…”

To everyone’s surprise, Ya had actually received a promotion from this entire affair.

The person who had worked hardest while gaining the least was Yang Xiao.

Watching the usually fearless white-haired man suddenly become so cautious, even Sun Desheng found it difficult to mock him further.

Still, there was one thing he wanted to ask the newly promoted official.

Given Ya’s status, he might have heard something.

“Ya, I’ve got another question. Did anything major happen in the Underworld recently? Maybe some high-ranking official suddenly disappeared? Or perhaps King Yama dealt with someone important?”

“Not that I’ve heard.”

Ya shook his head.

“Before I left, King Yama summoned several Great Underworld Officials. Left Judge Peng Hezai and Right Judge Nan Tang were both present. His Majesty even promoted Judge Peng, granting him the additional title of Chief Coordinator of the Royal Hall. From now on, Judge Peng may enter and leave the Royal Hall freely for matters both great and small.”

The moment those words were spoken, Sun Desheng’s gaze became distant.

He muttered to himself:

“So he’s absolutely certain Peng Hezai won’t rebel again…A mind like that is terrifying. Never make an enemy of someone like him…”

Thus, the Nine Rivers Ghost Market incident finally came to an end.

After spending the night at the hotel, the group boarded an early-morning flight back to Beijing.

Sun Desheng had originally planned to use the Bureau’s private aircraft.

Unfortunately, he was one step too late.

In the middle of the night, Fifth Office Director Ouyang Pianzuo had already taken his people and departed first.

Strictly speaking, Ouyang Pianzuo had been deceived by both King Yama and Yang Xiao just as much as Sun Desheng had.

However, Director Ouyang blamed the entire affair on Sun.

Having been tricked by Sun Desheng too many times in the past, he was convinced that Sun had secretly orchestrated everything.

As far as he was concerned, the Guangyuan Mirror Canon had ended up in Yang Xiao’s hands because Sun had privately handed over the genuine version while pretending it had been ruined.

After all, how could such a priceless scripture really be destroyed so easily?

Still furious, Ouyang never contacted Sun at all.

Instead, he simply commandeered the aircraft and left.

Throughout the return trip, Che Qianzi never stopped pestering Sun Desheng about his Book of Life and Death.

The record contained information about his origins.

Surely it would reveal who his parents were.

Sun could only smile bitterly.

“Brother… how many times do I have to tell you? Shen La sneaked into the Underworld and subdued that old official beforehand. He didn’t have time to search for your Book of Life and Death. The one you saw was a fake made by Old Yang. The real one is still in the Underworld. Once we get back to the Bureau, I’ll find a way to get it for you.”

To support his story, Sun even asked the seemingly honest Shen La and Yang Xiao to testify.

Both gave the same explanation.

Shen La wasn’t part of the Underworld.

There were tens of billions of Books of Life and Death stored inside the Repository of Unopened Fates.

There was no way he could locate Che Qianzi’s specific volume.

The scroll they used had been fabricated by Yang Xiao beforehand.

It had been coated with phosphorus powder and poison, specially prepared for Peng Hezai.

Although Che Qianzi still had some doubts, he had no proof.

In the end, he had no choice but to let the matter rest.

After returning to the Bureau, Sun Desheng told Che Qianzi to rest in the First Office.

He then took Shen La back to what had once been his own Chief Director’s office.

The moment they entered, Sun immediately locked the door.

Then he stretched out a hand toward Shen La and said:

“Spicy…Did you get that kid’s Book of Life and Death?”