Chapter Ten: Slaying the Wolf King

At this moment, Wei Xiaoping’s soul, along with the spirits of Luo Zhifu and Yang Zhijin, arrived at the entrance of the Human Reincarnation Inquiry Office.

Wei Xiaoping looked ahead and saw two massive doors standing wide open. On either side of the entrance stood two ghostly soldiers, clad in black and white armor and helmets, their posture straight and unyielding.

Each soldier held a black-and-white spear, which, like the soldiers themselves, stood upright and motionless by their sides.

Upon recognizing Luo Zhifu approaching with his companions, the two soldiers greeted him, saying, “Brother Luo, you’ve come in person again, I see. Is this person another one of your relatives or friends? Usually, if you take the trouble to bring someone here yourself, they must be close to you!”

Luo Zhifu stepped forward and flicked the helmets of both soldiers with his finger, saying, “Nonsense! Are you wishing all my friends and family in the mortal world dead? How could I have so many relatives and friends coming here? If every guest I brought in for consultation was one of my kin, wouldn’t that mean they’re all dead already? And if they were all gone, who would there be to burn incense and offer sacrifices to me during the Ghost Festival when I return to the world of the living?”

The two soldiers quickly apologized, “Sorry, Brother Luo, we didn’t mean that. We only meant to say that you’re always loyal to your kin and friends, but…” They scratched their heads awkwardly, clearly uncomfortable.

Luo Zhifu patted one of the soldiers on the shoulder and said, “Alright, I know what you meant. I was just joking with you. Don’t take it to heart. Just be more careful with your words in the future. Now, tell me, who’s on duty at the Human Reincarnation Inquiry Office today?”

The soldiers replied, “Li Jinluan is on duty today. Originally, it was supposed to be Yang Xiaolan’s shift, but she took leave, so Li Jinluan is filling in.”

“Alright, I understand. Get on with your work. We’re heading in now,” Luo Zhifu said.

The three of them stepped inside. As soon as they entered, Luo Zhifu turned to Wei Xiaoping and murmured, “Oh dear, looks like things just got complicated.”

“What’s wrong?” Wei Xiaoping asked.

With an apologetic tone, Luo Zhifu explained, “There’s an extra fee to make an inquiry here. I’m actually acquainted with Yang Xiaolan; if she were here, I might have been able to talk your way out of the fee. But since she’s not on duty today, you’ll probably have to pay.”

“How much is it? And is it like the gatekeepers—can I owe it?” Wei Xiaoping inquired.

Luo Zhifu replied, “You can write an IOU here too, and it’s not much, but I’m not exactly sure of the amount. Wait here, I’ll go ask and see if I can bargain for you. Yang Zhijin, carry on with the story about the Nether Hounds I was telling—General Wei enjoys it. I’ll go talk to Li Jinluan about the fee.”

“Alright, Brother Luo, go ahead!” Yang Zhijin responded. “Come, General Wei, let’s go sit down somewhere.”

Wei Xiaoping had thought that after reaching the Inquiry Office, he could immediately ask about his past and present lives. He hadn’t expected there to be another fee, but resignedly said, “Very well, I’ll listen to the rest of your tale about the Nether Hounds. Did the two hounds manage to defeat that pack of wolves?”

Yang Zhijin continued, “When the wolf pack saw the two monstrous hounds rush in and kill more than a dozen of their kind in an instant, they were terrified and didn’t dare pursue the villagers any further.

The wolf king, enraged at the loss of so many wolves, howled furiously.

The remaining wolves immediately gathered around their king.

The two hounds approached, barking thunderously at the wolf king and the pack as they swung their heads in one direction, as if telling the wolves to get lost.

The wolf king responded with a fierce howl of its own, as if to say, ‘If anyone should leave, it should be you; we’re just here for food—it’s none of your business.’

After a tense standoff, the two hounds suddenly leaped at the wolf king, six dog heads snapping at him all at once.

Seeing the monstrous hounds lunging with gaping, bloody maws, the wolf king showed no fear. He stared them down, and just as the hounds were about to reach him, he dropped low and darted in the opposite direction, dodging the attack. He stopped short, then whirled around and leapt at the back of one of the hounds that had just missed and landed.

As the wolf king closed in on the grounded hound, the other hound sprang from the side, intercepting the wolf king mid-air. When the wolf king was only about a foot from the hound on the ground, the second hound collided with him, three heads biting hard into the wolf king’s side.

The impact knocked the wolf king aside, and both beasts crashed to the ground, but the hound kept its jaws locked on the wolf king’s flank.

As they fell, the hound’s three heads tore in different directions, ripping open a bloody gash in the wolf king’s side. The wolf king’s body was torn wide, spilling intestines and organs onto the ground.

The hound tossed the wounded wolf king aside and barked fiercely at the pack.

The wolves looked at their dying king, twitching on the ground, and then at the two hounds with bloodied jaws. Realizing they were no match for the hounds and that their king was finished, they scattered and slunk back into the mountains.

The villagers, seeing the wolf king dead and the pack gone, were still too scared to come out from their hiding places. Those who had hidden in their homes continued to watch in silence, while those in the trees didn’t dare come down. Many were still frozen with shock at the sight of the two monstrous hounds stained with wolf blood, uncertain whether the hounds would turn on them.

After about fifteen minutes, the two hounds surveyed the villagers, then turned and began to walk into the hills. When the villagers saw the hounds leaving, the dogs’ owner, Luo Wenguang, ran out. He rushed to one of the hounds, hugged it, and wept bitterly, stroking the hound’s three heads as he sobbed. The other hound also came over and gently licked Luo Wenguang’s hand.

Seeing someone boldly embrace the hound, the villagers began to feel the monsters might not harm them. Gradually, they emerged from their homes and climbed down from the trees. Some began to count the wounded and dead, others dealt with livestock lost to the wolves, and some, curiosity and gratitude overcoming fear, hesitantly approached the hounds, wary but compelled to draw near.

Noticing a few people coming closer, one hound panted with all three tongues and wagged its tail rapidly, making soft, friendly noises. The villagers, seeing the hound’s wagging tail and gentle sounds, realized it meant no harm. Though still daunted by its three heads, they cautiously reached out and touched its body.

The hound, sensing their trust, licked their hands with its tongues and sniffed their scent, tail wagging nonstop. This encouraged more villagers to approach, and soon, many were stroking the hounds. In response, the hounds licked every hand that touched them, sniffing the villagers and whimpering softly, tears streaming from each of their eyes.