Chapter Six: The Three-Headed Hound Is the Reincarnation of a Human

Wei Xiaoping followed the two ghostly gatekeepers into the guardroom to the right of the main gate.

As soon as he reached the doorway, he saw two square nameplates hanging above the entrance, each carved from bamboo and wood, bearing engraved portraits and names. Beneath these two wooden plaques hung the position tags of the two spectral hounds stationed outside. Unlike the plaques above, the hounds’ position tags were each made from a square piece of black-and-white paper, bordered with ancient decorative patterns.

At the top of each tag was the holder’s name, written in an archaic script, with the current post and rank listed below, followed by the date of appointment, marked in the Underworld’s lunar calendar. Though the color of the tags appeared only in shades of black and white due to the absence of sunlight in this realm, the intricate antique borders lent them an air of delicate craftsmanship.

Wei Xiaoping examined the names and images on the position tags, finally understanding their titles. The older ghost was named Luo Zhifu, the other Yang Zhijin. As for the two spectral hounds, their tags listed six names in total—from left to right: Ma the Eldest (male), Ma the Second (male), Ma the Third (male); then Niu Dahua (female), Niu Erhua (female), and Niu Sanhua (female).

Wei Xiaoping was puzzled by the comical names listed under the two monstrous hounds. After entering the guardroom with Luo Zhifu and Yang Zhijin, he surveyed the surroundings. The room was about fifteen to twenty square meters. Along the upper section of the wall, from left to right, hung strange portraits of the various officials of the central Underworld, each labeled with gender and position. Below were photographs of the heads of the Crossing Registration Office, marked similarly. Further down were the images of Luo Zhifu and Yang Zhijin, and beneath them, portraits of the two three-headed spectral hounds stationed outside.

Wei Xiaoping mused that, surely, the lowest-ranked among them were these hounds. Yet he couldn’t fathom why these three-headed beasts, clearly a kind of livestock, would be listed alongside human ghosts and given such odd names.

While Luo Zhifu was still occupied and had not yet produced the ghostly paper, Wei Xiaoping took the opportunity to examine the illustrations of the hounds on the wall. Each hound possessed three distinct dog heads, making six in total—each head bearing subtle differences. The three heads of the hound on the left were similar in shape, but each bore scars of varying sizes. The three on the right differed in form as well, and each showed patches of bald, white skin, seemingly never to grow fur again.

Noticing Wei Xiaoping staring in a daze at the portraits of the spectral hounds, Yang Zhijin asked, “Are you wondering why these two spectral hounds, though classified as livestock, have their names and positions posted here in the office, alongside human ghosts?”

Wei Xiaoping replied, “It’s not just that—I’m also puzzled by how there are only two hound bodies but six heads and six names.”

Yang Zhijin laughed. “In fact, these two—or rather, these six spectral hounds—are the reincarnated and transmigrated souls of human ghosts just like us!”

Wei Xiaoping was taken aback. “Six people reincarnated and transmigrated into six hound heads? And three heads share one body?”

“Surprised, aren’t you? There’s even more to shock you,” Yang Zhijin replied.

“Brother Yang, if you don’t mind my curiosity, could you tell me more? I’m quite intrigued!” Wei Xiaoping urged.

Yang Zhijin continued, “The three heads on the left belong to males, the three on the right to females.”

“I suspected as much, given the nature of the names on the tags,” Wei Xiaoping said.

Yang Zhijin went on, “And not only are they three men and three women, but before their transmigration, they were all members of a single family—three brothers and their sisters-in-law.”

Wei Xiaoping was even more astonished. “That’s truly unexpected. No matter how imaginative someone might be, they’d never guess such a relationship! But Brother Yang, why did this family all reincarnate together, and why did they all become monstrous hounds?”

Yang Zhijin replied, “Their fate is the result of punishment by King Yama.”

“Punishment by King Yama? For what reason? To be reborn as dogs is harsh enough, but to have three share a single body—how inconvenient!”

Yang Zhijin nodded. “Indeed, it’s a heavy sentence. Aside from having separate mouths, all other bodily functions are shared—how awkward! Ha ha!”

Wei Xiaoping, catching his meaning, let out an embarrassed laugh.

At that moment, Luo Zhifu produced a sheet of spirit paper and handed it to Wei Xiaoping.

Wei Xiaoping took it and saw it shimmer with black and white light, yet there was not a single character written on it. He asked, “Brother Luo, how should I write this IOU? Is there a sample I could follow?”

Luo Zhifu was surprised. “You’re a general of the living world’s army and don’t know how to write an IOU? You must have been wealthy in your lifetime—never buying on credit or owing money, I suppose! Had I known, I’d have raised the consultation fee for you!”

With a chuckle, Luo Zhifu went over to a cabinet resembling a safe, crouched down, inserted a key-like object into a small hole, twisted, and the cabinet opened.

Wei Xiaoping, a little embarrassed by Luo Zhifu’s misunderstanding, glanced over his shoulder and saw the cabinet was filled with all sorts of currency and stacks of IOUs—each pile nearly a meter or two high.

Luo Zhifu took a ready-made IOU from the stack and handed it to Wei Xiaoping as a template.

Using the sample, Wei Xiaoping wrote his own, signed his name, pressed his whole palm as a seal, and handed it back to Luo Zhifu.

Luo Zhifu checked the document, then passed it to Yang Zhijin for verification. Yang Zhijin reviewed the details, nodded, and placed it back in the cabinet, locking it securely.

Luo Zhifu couldn’t help but regret not charging more upon discovering that Wei Xiaoping, a general in life, didn’t know how to write an IOU—surely a sign of wealth. Still, he thought, knowing a man of means might prove useful one day.

“Come, General Wei,” Luo Zhifu said, “let’s take you to the archives so you can review the records of your past and present lives. The human ghost archive is some distance away—let’s chat along the way about anything you wish to know.”

Wei Xiaoping saluted the two ghosts. “Thank you both for your help!”

The three left the guardroom. Outside, Luo Zhifu addressed the two spectral hounds, “We’re accompanying General Wei to his records. You six must watch the gate closely. If anything happens, bark loudly and we’ll return straightaway.”

The two spectral hounds gave several loud barks, then, with faces showing both pleading and embarrassment, whimpered softly after them.

Luo Zhifu laughed heartily. “Don’t worry—we won’t gossip about your past lives’ scandals. Just keep a close watch on the gate!”

With that, Luo Zhifu led the way, with Wei Xiaoping and Yang Zhijin following.

He added, “General Wei, from what Yang Zhijin has just told you, you must be hungry for more. Why don’t we discuss the spectral hounds’ past and present lives as we walk? Their family’s story, though not an auspicious one, holds valuable lessons for the living.”

And so, as Luo Zhifu, Yang Zhijin, and Wei Xiaoping made their way to the archive for those who had transmigrated, they conversed about the strange and instructive history of the spectral hounds’ former and current lives.