Chapter Two: Transcended

One crisis had barely settled before another erupted, and the Great King of Hell felt his head swell like an ox's, his mind swirling as if a hundred thousand wild horses were galloping through it. "Damn it! Why do all the troubles have to pile up at once? The Jade Emperor sends those useless star officers down to earth for training just for his own peace and quiet, but all the extra work falls on my underworld. How many more bureaucratic burdens will we have to bear? This is just chaos!"

Yet, with many hands, even difficult tasks become manageable—especially when those hands belong to seasoned Kings of Hell who have lived countless years and are all masters in their own right. One quick-witted king suddenly had a clever idea, which he shared with the others. The ten Kings of Hell immediately applauded, exchanging sly grins.

The Great King of Hell turned to one of the little ghosts and commanded, "Send Ox-Head and Horse-Face to deliver the soul of the Greedy Wolf Star to the body of the woman who died under the curse of the Misfortune Star. Make sure the job is done cleanly. If there’s another slip-up, you can all go home and farm fields instead."

He chuckled inwardly. "With two great stars of misfortune together, if she still gets cursed to death, I’ll smash my own head on a block of tofu." The Great King of Hell thought darkly.

Suddenly, a panicked cry broke out. "Something terrible has happened! Sir, please hurry! The young lady has lost hope and thrown herself into the lake!"

A servant dropped to his knees before a tall, imposing general, nearly clutching his leg in desperation.

Liu Rufeng’s heart skipped a beat. He snatched up the servant like a chick. "Is Ling’er all right? If anything happens to her, it’s not just the explanation to the Prince’s household that worries me—disobeying the Emperor’s command could cost you your heads!"

The servant trembled even harder, unable to get the words out. "I think... maybe... probably... perhaps... possibly... oh, I’m not sure!"

Hearing this, Liu Rufeng trembled, his grip loosening as his face twisted with rage. He kicked the servant so hard he flew several feet away. "Useless fool! Can’t you speak properly? Damn it! How were you all watching over the young lady?"

Liu Ling’er, dazed and groggy, felt her clothes clinging wetly to her body, the discomfort rousing her a little. "Didn’t I save a little girl and then get hit by a car? Wasn’t I bleeding all over? Given that, I’m probably paralyzed for life."

"Damn it, does this mean I’ll be bedridden for the rest of my days? I’d rather have died in that accident! No good deed goes unpunished," she thought, already regretting her impulsiveness.

Just then, frantic voices rang in her ears. "Miss! Miss, wake up! Miss, you can’t die! What will we do if you’re gone?"

Miss? Liu Ling’er’s eyes snapped open. "What the—! Who are you calling Miss? I’m Liu—"

She stared at the circle of girls in ancient dress gathered around her and was utterly bewildered. What was going on? Glancing around at the pavilions, the winding corridors, the old-style houses, and the blooming gardens, she realized this wasn’t the modern world. Was she dreaming?

She pinched herself—ouch, that hurt! Was this real? Had she transmigrated? The mere thought startled her. Though she wasn’t like those online fangirls who obsessed over transmigration novels, she had read a few out of boredom.

This scene, this setting—didn’t it prove the truth? Had she really transmigrated?

In the distance, a group of people hurried over. At their head was a sturdy man dragging along an elderly, white-haired gentleman, nearly hauling the old man off his feet.

Liu Ling’er didn’t have time to process this. A stabbing pain shot through her head as an unnatural flood of memories surged into her mind. Her vision went dark, and she fainted once again.