Light footsteps echoed through dimly lit passages. The faint, dramatic lighting from the torch on the smooth rocky ceiling was the only source of visibility. Nian Yue made her way towards the core of her star. The security guards watched as Nian Yue passed by them but none made any objection. The never ending, descending corridors soon led Nian Yue towards the line of cells where the spirits were imprisoned.

  Each star had an imprisonment system within the deepest part of their core. The spirits were imprisoned classified by the type, karma and powers. An example of it would be, lingering and lost spirits, child spirits, and non harmful spirits who might seek reincarnation soon were held within the Moon imprisonment system. While haunting spirits, strong in nature and crime, were often held within the core of the Sun, as in an endless pit of fire. However the energies do not remain there for long. Once the spiritual strength of the evil spirits who could no longer repent, were extracted and shattered, they were thrown out of the celestial system with no way to return to the celestial line frequency, and most likely to the verdant root, as it falls under the protection of the celestial system itself. After that whether the soul ends up in hell or wishes endlessly to be released from the limitless wandering without the feet ever touching the real ground, it is none of the celestial system’s concern.

  Hell, as in the last place for souls who failed to sustain a clean karma, those consumed by evil Qi. In the end they were cursed to face the fire hotter than the sun itself and endure unforgivable punishment of hell. Heaven might show mercy, hell won’t. They do not have a measure for cruelty; it's their law. Ethics do not exist in such a place which was created to house the ethicless.

  Nobody had ever seen hell, because the one who entered it did not return, unless they sustained enough power to break through protection circles. Not even gods fully grasp the meaning of it, as it was a place so unholy it could harm even the most blessed and protected Qi of gods. The place known as the deceiver of the universe, the lord of unbound uncontrol—or so the scriptures recite.

  However, being in heaven there had been quite the mention of the existence of hell. There have been plenty of books referring to it. The very star discarded by the heavens, namely Pluto, the home of souls with no rest, forced to comply and obey the higher demons. When it was discarded, it was the closest star still lingering around the celestial system, hence the demons claimed it. A place full of filth, misery, screams and no way to ever escape. The strongest rise and rule and the weak were forever stuck to serve. The important question now was how much of it was true and how much was just blind judgment.

  Nian Yue blinked the fog away from her eyes. It was not the time to dwell on the fascination of the forgotten star’s existence. She was there for a reason. She realized she had already reached her destination as she paused in front of a cell. The bars were cold as her fingers lingered on them. She gazed in but could not see anything other than the blank darkness and deafening silence, only if it wasn't for the faint crackling of wood on fire, a sound Nian Yue’s ears could never ignore.

  With a long, deep breath, Nian Yue reached for the lock but was immediately interrupted. “Goddess.” The guard beside the cell’s bars reached a hand forward in an attempt to keep Nian Yue’s hand away from the lock. Since when was there a guard? “My apology, You..” he paused.

  Nian Yue was glaring at him, as if the guard had said something impossibly unfortunate. “Why not,” she asked slowly.

  “...General Han Yuelin forbade you to,” the guard replied.

  “He said that?” Nian Yue pressed on, sounding sarcastic. A crooked smile arched on her lips, as if judging the man in front of her.

  “I.. wouldn't make the grave mistake of lying to the goddess,” the guard replied, sounding uncomfortable.

  “Then, tell him I went in anyways. And yes, you open it for me,” Nian Yue said. Her tone was as commanding and as spoiled as a princess who had never heard a ‘No’ ever in her life.

  And the guard obeyed, half willingly but he did. He opened the gate just enough for Nian Yue to enter. Nian Yue immediately stepped inside the cell. Her eyes could barely make sense of the scene in the darkness. But when she did, her expressions fell.

  The child was tucked into a corner of the cell. He shrunk further once he noticed that someone had entered the cell. His face buried into his knees as he tried to curl into himself. The poor thing was trembling and was probably scared. The little ankles were bound with spiritual cuffs pulsing with golden light. They probably sealed his spiritual strength away. This way he was nothing more than a child who does not even possess a body of himself.

  The silence inside the cell was somehow comforting, away from chaos and so Nian Yue did not dare break it. Though she stepped closer until she was beside the child, a comforting distance was still between them as Nian Yue slid down the wall to sit with the spirit. For a long while no one spoke. Nian Yue stared at the ceiling and the child stayed curled into himself. However his trembling body was starting to relax and soon he stilled in silence. This made Nian Yue feel much better.

  Nian Yue smiled with a turn of her head towards the spirit. “Xiaoyu.” No response came. Nian Yue understood it. Her smile slowly faded into one filled with guilt. Her gaze lowered with weight. “I’m sorry. I failed to protect the trust you placed on me.” Again no response, so Nian Yue took a pause. Until the child raised his head just slightly and bared his glistening eyes.

  Nian Yue was satisfied by the simple response and so she continued. “You won't have to stay here for long, I promise you. But for that you have to let me know a few things,” she said, making her voice as gentle as she could. “We get to know the powers you're using are not yours. Which potentially means you are being used and to help you and the people you have harmed.. knowingly-unknowingly, we need to know.”

  Xiaoyu dragged his gaze upwards until he met Nian Yue’s. He wasn't sure and it was clear on his face, but something gave away that he was willing. And so Nian Yue asked again. “Could you do it?” The child, Xiaoyu, nodded hesitantly.

  Nian Yue hummed and waited for a moment, giving Xiaoyu the time to adjust, before asking. “Why did you do all this? Why did you haunt the village?”

  “I was looking for someone..” Xiaoyu replied. His voice was so low one would assume it never came out, but Nian Yue heard it.

  “You were looking for someone? Who were you looking for?” Nian Yue asked just as softly.

  “...” Xiaoyu’s gaze dipped again. His eyes threatened to brim with tears.

  “Xiaoyu, I know it is difficult. But If you won't tell me, how will I be able to help you?” Nian Yue said sympathetically.

  “...Hua jie,” Xiaoyu said finally.

  Nian Yue blinked, immediately taking a mental note of the name. “Hmm. And, did you find her?”

  Xiaoyu nodded with the smallest tilt of his head and then buried his face into his knees once again. Nian Yue hummed, satisfied. Then with a lingering moment of silence, she asked again. “Is there any other purpose you would still want to linger for?”

  Xiaoyu shook his head. “No, that was all. At first..” He hesitantly gazed up at Nian Yue, watching as the goddess blinked at him. He knew it must have been confusing knowing that the purpose of a lingering spirit doesn't change so easily. He continued anyway. “I had a purpose beyond that, decided by her. When I found her, she already had hopes for me.”

  “Who had hopes for you?” Nian Yue asked.

  And Xiaoyu replied. “Hua Jie..”

  Nian Yue’s eyes narrowed in thought. “Does this Hua Jie have any connection with the powers you have?”

  And all together Xiaoyu fell silent. His gaze planted on the ground. Nian Yue watched as Xiaoyu fidgeted with the dirty pants he wore. Understanding the unwillingness Nian Yue puffed out a sigh but did not force him either. Instead she slowly reached a hand forward. It didn't touch, only hovered over Xiaoyu's head, as if waiting for permission. When the child didn't seem to pull back, she gently lowered her hand. Her fingers carefully parting the bloodied hair. There it was—the wound, a painful reminder of the child’s fate. Her eyes dropped with fragility. Suddenly she remembered something. She quickly tucked a hand inside her long sleeve and pulled out a lotus flower. Its petals were wet with fresh droplets of water.

  Nian Yue lowered the flower over Xiaoyu's head. Watching the strange object nearing him, Xiaoyu flinched and then relaxed right away as Nian Yue's affirming words reached his ears. “This will make you feel better. It won't hurt anymore.” And so the child stilled. Nian Yue rubbed the petals over his open wound. The flower dissolved into a shimmering golden light. A healing energy with a lively scent flooded Xiaoyu's body. His eyes widened in awe. The child had beautiful brown eyes that shimmered with newfound relief and disbelief.

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  The blood disappeared from the boy's body. His wound was clean and healed. Nian Yue chuckles in satisfaction and mentally thanked Goddess Qingyin for her truly blessed healing remedies.

  Once each petal was used, leaving behind the stem Nian Yue threw it to the side as instructed by the healing goddess. She then turned to Xiaoyu. But when she did, her smile disappeared. The boy was starting to sob. Fat tears welled in his eyes and then rolled down his cheeks. He hiccuped and then began suddenly, “I am scared.. I don't want to be here anymore.” He sniffed into his dirty sleeves and a heavy silence fell over both of them. “...Hua Jie is no longer the same. She's not there.. She's..” His voice trembled as he struggled to form words, then at last he mumbled. “I miss my jie jie..”

  Nian Yue listened to Xiaoyu's ranting with a gentle, almost fragile gaze, as if to cradle the little child’s emotions ever so gently to not hurt them. She then asked carefully, “Your jie jie? Do you have any hunch where she might be?”

  Xiaoyu nodded. “Still in the village.. with.. with more people who love her. She surely.. she surely hates Yu now.” Yu was probably the name of his endearment given by his loved one.

  Suddenly, Nian Yue pulled back. A sudden painful throb around her head forced her to grasp her forehead in her palm. From behind the blur of the stinging pain, the screams of that young girl emerged. The desperate plea to the boy to come back. Yu. That was the name she called out repeatedly hoping he would listen. It all broke with a deafening vibration in her ears, like a straight line that rang inside the void of her head and blurring any other voices playing in the background. Then silence.

  “Xiaoyu..” Nian Yue called out in a whisper. “Who is Wanshu to you?”

  “.....” Xiaoyu looked at Nian Yue as if she had revealed a deep buried secret. Then with stealing the eye contact, he replied. “My Jie Jie.”

  Nian Yue took an inner breath and then smiled. The smile was nothing but a cover to whatever was going inside her head. Perhaps even a formality. “Mn. You did great. You can rest now.”

  “Jie..” However Xiaoyu was already gripping on Nian Yue's sleeve before she could get up. His eyes were pleading, scared and dependent. “You will help me get out.. right? You help the souls, you will help me too, right?”

  Nian Yue blinked and then her gaze softened. Sincere in her stance. “Mn. Of course.” She hummed and then asked with a thought. “Where is your essence vessel?”

  And together Xiaoyu and Nian Yue stared at each other, both confused for different reasons. Before Xiaoyu spoke with self consciousness. “I don't know..”

  Nian Yue chuckled awkwardly and then patted Xiaoyu's shoulder. “It's okay. Don't worry about that..” With that Nian Yue stood up and casted a last glance at Xiaoyu, who stared up at her with immense hope. She smiled and said reassuringly. “I will come back.”

  Even if the child was hesitant, he nodded. “Don't break the trust again.”

  Nian Yue held her breath in her throat. She could only smile brokenly at Xiaoyu's innocent request. She pursed her lips and turned around, her gaze falling over the dirty wall behind her. Her fingers brushed against the uneven surface for a brief moment before pulling away.

  She made her way out of the cell where the guard was still standing, steady and emotionless. Nian Yue gave him a disgusted look, raising an eyebrow before walking past him. The guard looked like he would cry if his job wasn't to be strong and unbothered of any cruelty. He then turned to lock the cell after Nian Yue left.

  ~~~

  Lord An Xu stood under the large, looming ceiling of the Mercury literature Hall. He was tending to the celestials visiting to grab their essentials, the reports to their prayers, the total of their merits, the opportunities in their name and the condition of their domain.

  Having quite the assistance from both male and female literary gods and goddesses, it was somehow still useless. The celestials were only eager for Lord An Xu’s help in hand. Often, they would turn down the literary deputy gods and goddesses, refusing to listen. In the end Lord An Xu had to step in and take over the last task which was explaining the report before handing them over. It was truly tiresome.

  “Oh thank you so much lord An Xu!” said one of the celestials, so happy about the fact that his prayer merits have been increased by a significant amount.

  “It's my duty. Congratulations on your rise.” An Xu replied with a professional smile.

  The Celestial laughed, exchanged the bow with Lord An Xu before taking off. Truly it doesn't take much for a celestial to be happy.

  “Lord An Xu.”

  Lord An Xu turned to the voice. Nian Yue stood in front of him. He smiled and bent his back. “Welcome goddess Reincarnation.”

  “Did you find anything?” Nian Yue asked.

  “Yes.” An Xu pulled out a scroll from his sleeve and handed it to Nian Yue. “The list of new souls in the palace of Lord Fertility. But unfortunately it seems the three souls you were looking for have still not arrived yet. It's possible they have lost the path.”

  “It is fine. I'm going down anyway,” Nian Yue said as she tucked the scroll into her sleeve.

  “Oh. May the great lord’s blessing be upon you, goddess– What?” Lord An Xu couldn't even process the situation before he saw Nian Yue eyeing him and walking off right away, leaving him gaping in his place. “....G–Goddess!” Was he supposed to list that or not?

  ~~~

  Candles lit the little sack with gentle bloom. A cozy atmosphere spared around as if the little house was someone’s whole universe. The silence of solitude was so comforting that it would be such a misfortune to have it broken.

  Wanshu was walking around the little place with gentle steps, lighting up the white candles in each corner. And then came the turn of the furniture.

  A mirror was placed above a table. Wanshu patiently lit another candle there. And then in an instant the solitude and tranquility she was preserving was broken as she spotted weightless sparkles floating from the corner of her eyes. Her back felt cold as emerging moonlight filled the room from behind her. Not at all surprising. The old lady turned around and saw the goddess of reincarnation standing in front of her.

  Wanshu eyed the goddess with disdain. Nian Yue did not have words either to defend herself so she let the old lady be.

  “Weren't you gods supposed to not show yourself to mere mortals? And as far as I know, I'm not at all blessed, “ said Wanshu.

  “Heaven is unaware. Until they know I'll be ready to take accountability,” replied Nian Yue.

  “Mn.” Wanshu turned back to her unlit candles and resumed the lighting ritual. “Take a seat. The bed is right there.”

  “No thanks, it's fine.”

  “Sit.” Wanshu said sharply. And with the grandma tone of voice it seemed no less than a roar of a lion. And so Nian Yue did, quite quickly.

  Silence fell over them. It didn't seem as if a goddess had descended to visit a mere mortal. Or perhaps the celestials just have big egos and assume a huge drama, for them to step into where they once took birth.

  No one spoke for a long moment. Nian Yue sat with her hands folded into her lap. While Wanshu, after finishing lighting up the preferred amount of candles, started placing beautiful rocks over the arranged table. Each stone was polished, smooth and shiny. With different colors, patterns and quality they seemed no less than expensive gems.

  As much as Nian Yue knew, it had been a long preserved tradition of the tribe residing in Yincu and Huancheng village. The stones and worshiping to the mother earth were one of the beautiful aspects of the tribe. Nian Yue loved them once as well.

  Suddenly Nian Yue turned her gaze away with unease. She was aware that she was running out of time, which made all these thoughts useless. Finally, regaining enough courage she spoke. “Your.. brother is under heaven's seal.”

  Wanshu stopped suddenly. Her hands froze in mid air. When she turned to Nian Yue her gaze was filled with hatred, so full of hatred and bruised sorrow, it sent chills down Nian Yue’s spine. She felt so small under the gaze of the old lady.

  But that gaze didn't last long. As if suddenly aware of her expressions, Wanshu busied herself in polishing the stones with a white cloth. Her eyes may have been fixed on the stones but her mind wasn't stable. The fragile gaze in her eyes gave away the only meaning—mourning.

  Nian Yue pursed her drying lips. “Were you aware?”

  “With a pathetic figure like you around, something terrible was bound to happen.” The cutting words came from Wanshu. Nian Yue peacefully accepted them.

  “He wants to go. And for that I will need his essence vessel. I think you may have it, because he doesn't,” said Nian Yue.

  Wanshu let out a shaky breath. Her eyes fluttered close. “He said that?” She asked with a shaking voice.

  “Mn..” Nian Yue nodded.

  “What else did he say?” Wanshu asked.

  “He misses you,” Nian Yue replied and saw Wanhsu’s eyes flutter open with wet eyelids. Nian Yue took a moment before finishing. “But he believes you may hate him.”

  “What??” Wanshu abruptly turned to Nian Yue. Her eyes wide with desperation. “That's not true!”

  At that Nian Yue smiled. “I’ll let him know,” Nian Yue said reassuringly. “Would you want to meet him?”

  “....” Wanshu turned away from Nian Yue, hiding her face. She stretched her arm forward and reached for her coat before picking it up. “No.” She said once and then turned to the exit door. “Come with me. You need his essence vessel, right?”

  Nian Yue blinked. “Oh.. yes.”

  ____ ____ ____

  To be continued:-

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