Because, because I've already been officially appointed!
I am Xu Zhengyang, the chief judge under the City God of Fuhe City!
That's the truth.
Earlier in the ward, when Pang Zhong, with a stern face, ordered the police officers to take He Bin and Xu Zeng out one by one; when Dong Yuebu and his family of three looked at Xu Zhengyang with excitement and gratitude; when the mother and daughter on the outermost bed looked at Xu Zhengyang with surprise, joy, and a hint of jealousy and guilt...
A clear stream of thoughts surged through Xu Zhengyang's mind. It was like standing in a light drizzle on a hot day, enjoying the extremely comfortable feeling of the cool rain washing over his body; it was also like the feeling of shivering with pleasure when he would ride his bicycle back to the village after exchanging millet, drenched in sweat, and buy a bottle of ice-cold beer from the small shop and drink half of it in one go.
The verdict flashed through his mind, reminding him:
Xu Zhengyang
Zodiac sign: Pig
People from Shuanghe Village, Huaxiang Township, Cixi County, Fuhe River City
Twenty-one years old
personal
Position: Chief Judge under the City God of Fuhe City (to be officially appointed)
Chapter 129 of Volume Three: The Judge, Before Departure, Feels Hesitant
Half a month has passed... and the weather has turned to deep winter.
Snowflakes danced in the air. The north wind howled, and the fields were blanketed in silver, a truly beautiful sight of everything draped in white. Yet, no one would stand on the riverbank in the dead of winter to admire this magnificent spectacle of snow falling for miles.
In Xu Zhengyang's home in Shuanghe Village, an electric heater was installed in his parents' bedroom, and a humidifier sat on the windowsill, making the room warm and cozy with fresh air. Yuan Suqin, lying in bed, started nagging again: "Zhengyang, I'm all better now, why are you still staying home with me every day? Go do your thing! By the way, have you learned to drive yet? Have you gotten your driver's license? Hurry up and buy a car..."
"Mom, it's nothing, I'll just spend more time with you." Xu Zhengyang sat down on the edge of the bed with a smile and turned to massage his mother's shoulders.
Xu finished smoking in the outer room, lifted the thick cotton curtain and entered the house, muttering, "Zhengyang, your mother is right. You should go about your business. There's nothing much going on at home, so you don't need to worry about it."
"Yes. I might have to go on a long trip in a couple of days, so I'll spend more time with you all." Xu Zhengyang smiled as he spoke, but a subtle, unreadable look flashed in his eyes, a hint of worry that was hard to decipher.
Yuan Suqin held her son's hand, which was resting on his shoulder, and smiled happily, "You're busy, aren't you? Of course you'll be busy when you grow up. If you want to be filial to your parents, you should hurry up and find a wife and give your parents a few big, healthy grandsons. Then my husband and I can stay home and take care of the children for you every day..."
"Where are we going?" Xu Neng asked.
Xu Zhengyang paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "I'm going to Anxi. I need to bring back some good antiques and curios there."
"Oh, be careful on the road." Xu Neng sighed. Even though he was inexperienced, he knew that antiques and curios were extremely valuable, so he was still worried.
"It's alright, hehe." Xu Zhengyang smiled.
Even without Chen Chaojiang by his side, he wouldn't take seven or eight burly men seriously unless they were armed with guns or grenades and ready to fight him to the death. Because he is now… the Chief Judge of Fuhe City!
Not to mention that the supernatural abilities usable only within the Fuhe River region cannot be used elsewhere, the fact that he became the Chief Judge meant that, because he was in human form, the divine power automatically enhanced his physical strength. According to the case file, there have always been three people who, in human form, held the position of Chief Judge under the City God. All of them started as scholars, and overnight, with divine power boosting their bodies, they became individuals skilled in both literature and martial arts, brave generals on horseback and refined commanders on foot.
However, when Xu Zhengyang asked who these three people were and what their names were, the case file did not provide an answer.
Xu Zhengyang had privately tested his current physical strength and explosive power behind Chen Chaojiang's back. He was pleasantly surprised to find that although he did not have the legendary strength to fight against thousands of men, he could still break bricks with his palm and crack stones with his fist. The sudden burst of power and speed was so great that even Xu Zhengyang himself was astonished.
Upon discovering an unprecedented leap in his physical abilities, Xu Zhengyang was overjoyed, but he also considered that he should try not to display this extraordinary ability. Firstly, Chen Chaojiang was by his side, and considering Chen Chaojiang's extremely strong sense of pride, if he knew Xu Zhengyang now possessed such abilities, he would probably resign immediately without hesitation. Secondly, Chen Chaojiang's martial arts skills were already formidable enough; barring unforeseen circumstances, there was no need for Xu Zhengyang to unleash terrifying power. Thirdly, he himself was already quite skilled; in a hand-to-hand fight, he could easily hold his own against two ordinary people.
Since he switched to Xiaomi, he has no longer been the reckless, belligerent, and self-righteous young man who used to enjoy fighting and considered himself a hero.
Admittedly, by nature, he still prefers to vent his anger through the most direct violence, as it brings him a sense of satisfaction.
But who would want to encounter things that annoy them and make them irritable all the time?
And now he's already conspicuous and unique enough. In many people's eyes, too many of the things he's experienced are incomprehensible, seeming bizarre and unpredictable. Therefore... it's still necessary to try to act like a normal person. Be humble, be a good person, steadily accumulate strength, get promoted and make money, enjoy life, and strive towards your ultimate goal. And in this process, try to avoid touching on sensitive topics. The taller the tree, the more the wind will blow! As I said before, he hasn't reached the point where he can do whatever he wants without fear, and where others are afraid of him.
Of course, doing good deeds is still necessary, and punishing evil and promoting good is also essential, because... these are all important factors that can improve divine power and promote one's rank!
If it weren't for these reasons, driven by curiosity, he would have loved to have a friendly competition with Chen Chaojiang to see whether the mad Chen Chaojiang was more powerful or the current chief judge was superior.
Now that he has become the Chief Judge, Xu Zhengyang's greatest desire is naturally to visit the Underworld. He wants to see what it's like there, whether he can encounter King Yama or other judges, or high and low officials like Ox-Head, Horse-Face, Meng Po, and Zhong Kui. He also wants to exchange experiences and insights on governance.
However... what Xu Zhengyang least wanted to see was that if the underworld was already empty, then where would he go?
Because all along, he had been speculating and pondering a question: that there were no more immortals in the Three Realms.
This possibility is extremely high; Xu Zhengyang has almost confirmed this guess on countless occasions.
So he wanted to go to the underworld to see what the current situation was like there, and whether it was the same as the underworld in legends and classical records.
But once he became a judge and gained the authority to travel to the underworld, Xu Zhengyang was surprised to find himself filled with reluctance and worry. In myths and legends, a day in heaven is equivalent to a year on earth; whether the underworld's time was similar was never described. Xu Zhengyang genuinely worried that after a few days in the underworld, three or four years would have passed on earth. How worried his family would be! And what would happen to his physical body? Who knew what strange and wondrous things he might encounter in the underworld? If his soul couldn't be retrieved, it would be a tragedy.
Human beings' fear and anxiety about the unknown are no less than their innate curiosity.
These are two contradictory and completely different natures.
But I definitely have to go!
Therefore, Xu Zhengyang has been trying his best to suppress his inner impulses and anxieties these days, and spend more time at home with his parents.
"Zhengyang, what are you thinking about? You seem so lost in thought." Yuan Suqin suddenly asked, waking Xu Zhengyang from his reverie.
Xu Zhengyang smiled and said, "It's alright. I'm just thinking about whether to take you to Beijing first, or to Zhonghai, or perhaps we should take a plane and go on a trip abroad after we buy the car?"
"Hehe, let's go to the capital first," Yuan Suqin said with a smile, without any doubt.
Xu Neng nodded and said, "Yes, yes, let's go to the capital and take a look. Good."
"Well, let's go to the capital and visit Rouyue School..." Xu Zhengyang said with a smile, gently massaging his mother's shoulders with both hands. "Mom, does the incision on your neck still hurt?"
"It doesn't hurt anymore," Yuan Suqin said cheerfully.
"I'm going to buy some meat and cook a few dishes. I'll have a couple of drinks with my dad at noon, and then I'll head to the city this afternoon. If nothing comes up, I won't be coming back these next few days..."
"Go ahead." Yuan Suqin patted Xu Zhengyang's hand.
Xu Zhengyang got up, smiled, and walked out.
"Zhengyang has been acting strangely these past two days," Xu Neng muttered.
"It's all because of what you said," Yuan Suqin complained. "It's just a minor surgery and a few days in the hospital, and you're already nagging the child about how you're getting old, wanting to see the next generation as soon as possible, and being afraid that something might happen and you'll pass away... Isn't that just making the child feel bad?"
"Hey, why are you complaining about me again? Didn't you say that yourself?"
"We can talk about this in private, but we can't tell Zhengyang this!"
"Okay, okay, whatever you say makes sense."
"That's exactly right!"
...
In the afternoon, the wind and snow gradually stopped, and the world was covered in a white blanket.
Xu Zhengyang and Chen Chaojiang did not ride motorcycles, but walked on foot along the river embankment, heading west towards National Highway 107.
The snow on the riverbank was more than half a foot deep, and the two men's leather shoes and trouser legs were quickly covered with snowflakes. However, the two men did not mind, and walked in the snow with a contented expression on their faces.
"Chaojiang, have you ever thought about opening your own shop and being your own boss?" Xu Zhengyang asked with a seemingly casual smile as he smoked a cigarette.
"I thought about it before, but then I stopped thinking about it," Chen Chaojiang replied coldly. After a slight pause, he added, "You're right, my personality isn't suited for anything else, but following you is quite good."
Xu Zhengyang laughed and said, "Didn't you think about anything else? Following me is just being an employee, I'm the boss!"
"Why think about anything else?" Chen Chaojiang countered, then continued, "How many people in our village want to work for you right now?"
"I've been feeling uneasy about it, haha," Xu Zhengyang said self-deprecatingly.
"No need. I consider you a brother, and you consider me a brother, that's enough." Chen Chaojiang said this very decisively.
Should I be moved?
Chen Chaojiang gave him a disdainful look and said, "You should be glad."
"That's true."
"The better you do, the more face I feel," Chen Chaojiang said out of the blue.
Xu Zhengyang paused for a moment, then laughed and said, "If you open any more shops in the future, I'll let you invest and become a part-owner."
"I know."
"Know what?"
“You’ll make me the boss eventually.” Chen Chaojiang smiled, looked up at the pale sky, as pale as his face, and said softly, “You seem to have a lot on your mind lately! I won’t ask you too much. If there’s anything I can do to help, just ask. It’s just a life.”
Xu Zhengyang didn't speak, but lowered his head and took a deep drag on his cigarette, stepping on the thick snow.
"Crunch, crunch, crunch,"
Suddenly a cold wind blew out, the treetops on both sides of the riverbank swayed, and the accumulated snow fell down in a flurry, landing on the two people's heads and bodies, spreading out like flower petals.
As the two walked slowly along the riverbank, they left deep footprints in the vast expanse of snow, each step leaving a deep indentation.
A new chapter in the clergy is about to begin!
Volume 3, Judge, Chapter 130: First Arrival in the Underworld
Room 402, 4th Floor, Building 7, Limin Residential Area, near the antique market in Fuxing District, Fuhe City.
Xu Zhengyang lay on the bed in the bedroom, quietly smoking. The pale blue curtains were drawn, and the lights were off. The streetlights outside shone through the glass onto the curtains, casting the floral pattern on them indistinctly into the room.
Xu Zhengyang had previously told Chen Chaojiang that he needed to do some things inside and not to be disturbed. The timeframe could be a day, a few days, or even longer. He told Chen Chaojiang, "If it takes more than ten days, then you can break down the door. But if my body is healthy, you must protect it. If it rots, then consider me dead."
Chen Chaojiang hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement, his face calm but his narrow eyes icy cold.
He didn't like asking too many "whys," and now that he knew Xu Zhengyang was a living deity, he knew what he was going to do. Even if it was strange or bizarre, it was understandable. Chen Chaojiang thought to himself, "I don't need to think about things I'm destined to never understand. I'll just stay in this house for the ten days Zhengyang has agreed upon." So he told Xu Zhengyang to wait, then went downstairs to the supermarket and bought a huge amount of stuff: bottled water, instant noodles, ham, vegetables... the kitchen was overflowing, and the refrigerator was packed full.
Even with a relationship with Chen Chaojiang that was comparable to that of brothers, Xu Zhengyang should have completely trusted him. However, at the last moment, he still used his mind to sense Chen Chaojiang's thoughts and confirmed that he was not thinking anything else. Only then, with a sense of guilt and self-reproach, did he go to the bedroom, close the door, and lock it from the inside.
Lying quietly on the bed, Xu Zhengyang finished his cigarette and casually stubbed it out in the ashtray on the bedside table.
With a wave of his hand, Xu Zhengyang summoned the verdict book. Holding the judge's pen, he pondered the steps and methods suggested in the verdict book.
Then, Judge Xu Zhengyang waved his pen and softly recited, "Xu Zhengyang, the chief judge under the Fuhe City God, holding a divine position and performing divine duties, is now on his way to the underworld to order the gates of hell to be opened!"
The moment he finished reciting the sentence, he felt a soft sound in his mind. His consciousness instantly detached from his body and drifted in a direction he couldn't discern—up, down, forward, backward, left, or right. The speed was extremely fast, as fast as a shooting star streaking across the sky, yet he only felt the speed but couldn't perceive any movement of his body. Even with his mind's eyes wide open, he couldn't see anything, only a chaotic void.
In my ears, the sounds of crying, screaming, cursing, laughing, sighing, and exclaiming filled the air, yet they seemed faint and indistinct, creating a contradictory feeling.
As he gradually got used to the feeling, he suddenly felt his feet were firmly planted on the ground.
The scene before me was completely chaotic, and the light seemed somewhat dazzling.
Xu Zhengyang's eyes narrowed involuntarily as he looked around. At that moment, he was stunned and shocked.
Is this the underworld?
The dark sky above seemed low, almost within reach, yet also profound and distant. In the vast darkness, a bright "sun" hung in the distance, like a pure white jade, dazzlingly bright, but unlike the sun on earth, it did not illuminate everything; it merely hung there like a decoration. Below, mountains and rivers stretched for miles, a desolate wasteland, overgrown with weeds and scattered rocks…