One evening, numerous ministers gather in the often-empty court of Lord Enma. The hall is filled to the brim, within it brewing a mixture of shock, rumour, and anxiety. Whispers fly through the crowd creating a light buzz inside the tense atmosphere. On one side stood the strait-laced officials with their red robes and black headgear, and on the other hand all sorts of eccentric personalities lurked around the dark corners of the vast hall. They lay low in wait, for the people in question to arrive, with their half-baked knowledge of what is to come.
An hour passes by restlessly. The gathered officials shift uneasily, their initial wariness softening into a fragile familiarity—like ghosts relearning the feel of their own bones. Centuries have passed since they last stood in these halls, and the weight of time hangs heavy in the air.
That's when a ripple of pressure breaks their long wait.
"The elders have arrived.", the guard announces.
Five monks descend upon the court's gate, their feet touching the ground in perfect, soundless succession. Their attire and bearing were that of monks, secluded and unrestrained from the cause and effect. Yet, their expressions bear something entirely different.
The murmuring officials snap to attention, their spines stiffening as if pulled by invisible strings. In one synchronized motion, they bow—deep, reverent, their foreheads nearly kissing the cold stone floor.
The elders advance, their sandals snap against the crimson dragon that painted the floor—sharp cracks in the waiting silence.
The five elders stop in front of the empty imperial throne, its obsidian surface glowing, the carved dragons along its arms seeming to coil tighter in the dim light. A man walks out of the left screen, descending the platform.
"It is a prosperous day indeed." Jin Niu smiles, hands folded. "To have all the elders grace their presence on this abandoned hall after centuries, this servant is elated to see such a day again."
"The princes will arrive shortly—Please take your seats." With his practiced calm, Jin Niu placates these difficult personalities, hoping that his skills haven't rusted over the years.
Monk Tsuneo bores his eyes deeply onto this Prime Minister who seemed to be full of flowery talk. "Did the lord not teach his sons basic decency before leaving?"
The monks scoff at Jin Niu's facetious behaviour, not taking a single step towards their seat.
Looking at their stubborn stance, Jin Niu could only sigh and accept that these elders have only grown more troublesome to handle over the years.
"I must apologize for the lacklustre arrangements. The princes were concluding the Goma rites for our lord, and the Pànguān... well, they have not left their seats since the last era. Rest assured; they will receive a full transcript of today's proceedings."
He met the elders' gazes evenly, his posture relaxed yet unwavering. He has given enough face to these old monks. He wasn't obliged to fall at their feet like the other ministers.
Face to face. Head to head.
If they continue to remain stubborn. . . . . .
The elders scoff and mutter under their breath. That's when an airy voice interrupts their ire.
"This court hasn't felt this complete in centuries. Look how lively our ministers make this cold hall, first brother." All eyes turned to the doorway where the three princes stood. The Second Prince, He Bolin, tilts his head, his smile languid but sharp at the edges.
Ren Jiang, the first prince, steps forward. "We regret our tardiness, respected elders. Let us start the court immediately."
The princes and their entourage walk down the court, their robes whispering against the stone, the throne looms ahead—a vast, black silhouette, its surface swallowing the dim light whole. It sat empty, yet its presence was heavier than anyone present in this hall.
He Bolin, who seemed to not have the ability to read the room, quips "We haven't done this in a long time huh? Ever since Kaigan Pit's-"
"What major announcement summons us?" Monk Tsuneo's blade of a voice cleaves through He Bolin's sentence.
Ren Jiang nods at Jin Niu as he takes the centre of the platform. Jin Niu looks at the crowded hall in a thoughtful manner. Most of the major players of this realm were now gathered in this place. Each of them had let loose their character upon the absence of his lord. Maybe the fault lies on the lord himself for creating this situation. And yet, how will the ultimate judge of karma judge his own subjects?
Jin Niu knew his concerns wouldn't change the course of time. He must do what he has to do.
Clearing his throat, the Prime Minister announces "A grand era of Hell, governed by the people themselves. I would first like to applaud each and every one of you for your performance. How brilliantly you've all..."
Jin Niu feels the third prince jeering at him.
"...worked hard in our lord's stead. But the wait for our lord now ends!"
"Lord Enma will soon return back to this throne!"
The hall holds its breath. A hundred eyes widen in unison—Jin Niu feels the air itself crackle with the weight of their shock. This news would have had them crying with joy had it come two centuries ago.
But now—they can run this hell by themselves. Now that he is here in the shadows to run it.
Since Lord Enma's disappearance, the Heavens declared them incompetent. Demons ran rampant, feasting on the lost souls. The damned souls multiplied like vermin, spilling through the cracks of space, seeping into the living world like poison.
Between maintaining Hell's crumbling realm and their power games, the princes had no resources left to track escapees, only one man took the job of scavenging those souls — Zhang Xiyu
Ministers who had staked their fortunes on either one of the princes, dismissed it as mere theatre—a foreigner's ploy to lull them into complacency. Only the disgraced Pànguān saw truth in his actions. For them, he had done the unthinkable: restored their dignity. Now, when the Heavens' gaze fell upon Hell, they could meet it standing upright.
Zhang Xiyu and the Princes, now had a firm grip on this realm of spiritual justice.
Monk Masashi sat beside Monk Tsuneo; head bowed in silent calculation. Every elder in that room understood—the balance of power had shifted irreversibly. Centuries of loyalty to Enma stirred unease in their ancient hearts, but they were no fools. Fear, voiced aloud, was a death sentence.
What power did monks truly wield anymore? Piece by piece, the princes had stripped it away. And where they left cracks, Zhang Xiyu had slithered in, turning ghouls, spirits, even the very winds of Hell to his will within decades.
Their sole purpose remained: maintain the balance. Officially, they were Heaven's ambassadors to the underworld. In practice? They were relics—too entrenched to leave, too weakened to act.
A hand touches Masashi's shoulder.
"Court is adjourned." Monk Shiraishi's voice was a whisper in his mind.
Monk Masashi breaks out of his reverie and looks at the smiling Monk on his right.
The hall stood nearly empty now, only the princes and their sycophants lingering like vultures over carrion.
As one, the monks rose. Monk Tsuneo clutches his prayer beads "We await our lord's return. Until next time." The words were rote, hollow. Jin Niu bows deeply as the elders file out, leaving only the official court ministers behind.
But one monk does not follow the other four to their summit.
"So," Yutao's voice dripped with contempt as he cornered the remaining monk in a shadowed alcove, "you learned nothing of their plans?"
Monk Shiraishi lowers his head.
Yutao exhales sharply, caught between bitter amusement and exhaustion.
"Alright then. You may go back now. Later."
Monk Shiraishi grabs his shoulder. "Wait—what does he plan to do?" the old monk's eyes brimmed with uncharacteristic worry; the deep creases of his face suddenly vulnerable.
Yutao notes the overflowing concern on the old monk's face and his heart softens just a bit. "We will take care of it, Monk Shiraishi. We can't turn away from this."
Monk Shiraishi was touched beyond words. Such noble dedication! What a pragmatic approach! These new kids are really the harbingers of revolution.
Yutao did nothing to discourage this new found pristine image. He had other things to do. As the monk retreated, the rooftop tiles clattered. A figure leaps down and lands at his feet. "That monk, he is trustworthy?"
Renhu intently watches the monk go back to his summit. His nails growing sharper with every second.
"Do you think he is hiding their plans from us?"
Yutao nods "No, I asked the demons too. The elders are no longer in the inner circle of the royal court. Only Lord Enma gave them face. With him gone, these monks have no real value."
"Get this back to Zhang Xiyu. I am off to the next one."
The surroundings changes swiftly as he turns around and walks away. Yutao now stands before a wooden door of a studio apartment.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The door swings open and a dishevelled looking man leans out. "Zach!" he gasped with evident relief.
'Zach' enters the cramped apartment wearing a thin smile. "Benny, great to see you."
Benny, who reminded Yutao of a drooling dog, restrains himself and curls up on his tattered sofa. "I have a gift for you Zach . . . . . . I know you- you will like it ha-ha."
Yutao claps his hands once and sits down, "Bring it in then."
Benny slouches up shyly. His greasy blonde hair had grown past his chin, meeting with his shaggy beard. All that hair and it still couldn't hide the raging madness contained in his bright blue eyes. His hands quiver as he grins at Yutao.
"You are my only real friend Zach. We just- we just click you know? This understanding. You are the best person I have ever met."
Yutao's smile strains even more.
"Why can't they all be like you huh? So- hah so judgemental! I hate them!"
"Even my own mother can you believe it? You would think that she would definitely love me but no!"
"Why what happened?" Yutao rubbed his back in a comforting motion.
"......she saw my toys. "
"..."
"She threatened to call the police. Told me I was nuts and that- "Benny choked while sobbing.
"-she wished she had killed me in her womb. How could she say that Zach?"
Benny grabbed Yutao by his lapels and cried on his chest. The tears, sweat, and grime rubbed all over Yutao's white shirt. Yutao reluctantly pats Benny's back while he fantasizes about grabbing Zhang Xiyu by his neck and choking him to reincarnation.
"Where's the gift Benny?" Yutao shoved him away as gently as he could manage.
Benny looks confused for a second but then lights up like a two-watt bulb.
"Ooh yes come with me!"
Yutao drags his feet to follow the man. They walk into the closet sized bedroom where Yutao smells a familiar scent.
Benny enthusiastically opens a small trunk. "It's not my best work Zach you know 'cuz my mom walked in on me."
In it lay a 3- to 4-foot-long doll. No, it looked a little too real for a doll. Yutao controls his breathing when he realizes that Benny here has a hobby of making "toys" out of dead children.
Slam!
The trunk was closed. Yutao smiles again, "Wouldn't want it to get dirty."
Benny was touched beyond words. If only Yutao was aware of how many people's hearts he had touched today.
Yutao pushes himself to speak. "What. . . did your mom say about this?"
Benny's face turns grim; his gaze akin to a wronged dog. "She refuses to speak to me, Zach. I talk to her all the time but mom just keeps ignoring me!"
Yutao just keeps nodding absent mindedly. Now that he has seen the dead child, shouldn't the fragment be visible in Benny's soul? The fragment should be the one to show off its handicraft. Why is it still hidden?
"See for yourself. The woman even refuses to cook for me these days, let alone clean the house. I mean just look at the state this house is in!"
". . . . . . your mother's still here?"
"Of course she is. She hasn't left the house in days. Come."
Yutao follows Benny out of the room and to another. The door is ajar and no light enters the room. Luckily for Yutao, he was used to the dark now. With his perfect night vision, he gets yet another surprise.
"Mom, would you at least welcome my friend Zach? You've always wanted to meet him."
Oh yes, she will, just not in this realm...…
Needless to say, the poor woman was also lying dead on her bed. Yutao promptly switches the light on and fixes his sight on Benny.
"Mom?"
"She- she looks a bit like my toys…"
Yutao couldn't care less about what Benny was saying because it was here. The fragment pulsed in his vision; its blue radiance embedded tightly in Benny's worthless soul, drowning out all else—the blood on his hands, the stench of Hell, even the distant call of his name.
"Yutao."
Must be an illusion. The only real thing was this beautiful gem. A piece of power.
"Yutao."
"Yutao!"
Yutao snaps back to reality. He can't recollect how exactly he got back to hell. It was almost as if he had dreamt about the mortal world. But the glowing fragment in his blood-stained hands said otherwise. He looks up to find a man shaking his shoulders with concern in his eyes.
Zhang Xiyu looks equally drained out and haggard as he felt. His black robes are in tatters and he is covered in blood and grime. Yutao lets out a laugh when he notices a sword sticking out from his back.
"Are you okay?" He asked lightly.
Zhang Xiyu yanks the blade free with a snarl. The blade falls to the ground with a clang.
"Here." Yutao passes the fragment to him.
Zhang Xiyu puts it away in his interdimensional ring. "Too troublesome?"
"No, it was okay. Same old manipulation when I caught it."
Zhang Xiyu nods and walks to his room to change into a new set of clothes. His voice carried through the door: "You were not this effected by it before."
"The fragments are getting more desperate to hide." Yutao slumps down in his chair.
When he sees Zhang Xiyu walk out with a polished appearance he groans "Must we go to this party?"
"Most definitely, this is not just a mere party. Everyone in hell would be there to make sure that they remind the others of their places. It's a display of power. From time to time, those idiots should also know who they should bow to. And-"
Zhang Xiyu smiles "I also believe that we might do some interesting things while we are there."
The warmth in his smile only made Yutao freeze. Display of Power? It cannot be that simple.
"I never imagined Hell would… festoon itself," Yutao mutters, watching demons cavort like drunken nobles.
"I could have never guessed that hell would look like this before I died."
Yutao closes the carriage curtain and settles back in his seat. The scenery outside, still itching in his head. Due to the grand news of Lord Enma's comeback, the normally brutal atmosphere has turned down into a grand party. Surprisingly, the atmosphere reminds Yutao of his life before death.
"There would be a whole other civilization that would call this place their home. I thought that the concept of hell would solely revolve around 'humans'"
"Confining yourself in the mould called "human" was the very first mistake." Zhang Xiyu closed his eyes and leans his head on the backrest.
"We do not belong to Earth. Before our birth on that planet, we still existed. And after our mortal death we continue to exist. Among these trillions of galaxies, our next destination might not be Earth after all."
The luxurious carriage rolled through the grand gates of the Third Prince's residence.
"We may not be "human" again after all." Zhang Xiyu's eyes locked with Yutao's.
In his eyes Zhang Xiyu saw a miniscule resistance before it settled down in acceptance.
The carriage door slams open, revealing a simpering figure bowing too deeply. "Welcome! Welcome esteemed guests! Mr. Zhang! General Yutao! We are truly honoured!"
These words from the man, who looked like a perverted hermit, were not empty under any circumstances. In the past ten decades since Zhang Xiyu's return from the Kaigan Pit, this man has gone nowhere! Countless invitations from all sorts of big shots have been used to feed his torture stove.
And now he's here!
But why does this hermit look so familiar?
"You are ….?"
"The announcer. From at Kaigan Pit." Yutao whispers.
"Oh…."
"Please come in!" The man escorts them to the hall. The same man who was enthusiastically making snide comments for entertainment while the two of them desperately tried to claw their way out of their doom in the Kaigan Pit. The same man was now licking their feet to win their grace. Fate truly works in mysterious ways.
As if reliving that day which ruined their entire life, the gates opened to meet even more familiar faces. The First Prince held court like a spider at the centre of its web; the Second Prince halts his passionate affair with a woman. And then there was the Third Prince.
"Liu Xue" Zhang Xiyu smirks.
The Third Prince raises his glass in mock salute. One can only make a guess on who falls in whose trap as this night of trepidation goes on.