Chapter 60: The Subtle Words of the Yama Envoy

Outside the gates of the Transmigration Advisory Office, two spectral hounds noticed the emissary with the horse-face, along with Wei Xiaoping and Luo Zhifu, making their way towards them. Instantly, their tails began wagging with mechanical fervor, and they emitted a series of welcoming “woof-woof” sounds.

As the emissary, Wei Xiaoping, and Luo Zhifu approached, the two spectral hounds—who were, in truth, six—immediately dropped to their front knees, their tails wagging all the more vigorously, ears flicking from time to time, and their eyes wide as saucers as they gazed at Wei Xiaoping and the emissary. Their mouths let out howling cries, tongues stretching out now and then to lick at Wei Xiaoping, the emissary, and Luo Zhifu.

The emissary spoke: “Old Horse One, Old Horse Two, Old Horse Three; Big Flower Cow, Second Flower Cow, Third Flower Cow—I've already explained your situation to General Wei, and he’s agreed to take you in. From now on, General Wei is your master. You must obey and be loyal to him. No matter what hardships you encounter on the road ahead, you must assist him tirelessly, until General Wei achieves greatness.”

The two spectral hounds nodded and wagged their tails, howling in acknowledgment toward Wei Xiaoping.

Wei Xiaoping bent down and helped the spectral hounds to their feet.

The emissary continued, “Old Horse One, Old Horse Two, Old Horse Three; Big Flower Cow, Second Flower Cow, Third Flower Cow—you six share a similar history with me and the Ox-Head. When I first served the King of Hell, I too was punished: my human head was transformed into that of a horse. Only after centuries of loyal service, enduring hardship without complaint, did I move the King of Hell. I accomplished much for him, learned many truths about being human and spirit, and in time, the King of Hell was so moved that he restored my human visage. He now hopes that, by following General Wei, you too will serve with unswerving loyalty. In time, the King of Hell will reward you for your dedication. What those rewards may be, I do not know; I am only to give you this small hint.”

The two spectral hounds bowed their necks to the emissary, whimpering their thanks.

With that, the emissary entered the building, with Wei Xiaoping and Luo Zhifu following after.

“General Wei, my instructions for the handover of the spectral hounds end here. I have other duties to fulfill, so I must take my leave,” said the emissary, bowing respectfully to Wei Xiaoping.

Wei Xiaoping and Luo Zhifu hastened to return the bow.

The emissary was just about to depart when he seemed to remember something. Turning back, he said, “General Wei, in our conversation I nearly forgot to unlock the spectral hounds.”

He reached into his robe and withdrew two keys, then approached the spectral hounds. From a few yards away, he pointed each key at a hound.

With a pair of metallic clanks, the chains tethering the spectral hounds to the gate fell to the ground, though one end remained fastened around each hound's neck.

“General Wei, come here and I’ll teach you the incantation to lock and unlock the chains from the hounds’ necks. This incantation must be known only to you; do not let anyone else learn it,” the emissary said.

He leaned close to Wei Xiaoping’s left ear, whispering softly for a while, then added, “General Wei, take great care—if this incantation is leaked, it could endanger the lives of the spectral hounds, or let evildoers control them, turning them against you. Remember my words well.”

Wei Xiaoping bowed deeply and said, “Thank you, Emissary, for your guidance. I will remember your words and never let a syllable of the incantation slip. Emissary, may I trouble you with one question?”

The emissary replied, “I still have a little time. Speak. If I can answer, I will; if I cannot, I’ll take my leave.”

Wei Xiaoping said, “It’s about the Magic Mirror. I wish to continue viewing my past lives through the mirror, but my body in the living world is about to be revived. Once that happens, my soul will have to return, and I won’t be able to see the mirror here. Is there any way to prolong my coma in the living world, so I can continue learning about my past?”

Regretfully, the emissary said, “General Wei, I truly cannot help you with that. It’s beyond my authority. I cannot lengthen your time in the living world. But I can offer you this: everything significant that happens in your present world—every person, every object—is connected to your past lives. Remember that. My time is short; we must part here. If fate wills it, we shall meet again.”

With those words, the emissary leapt into the air, floating over the office complex and drifting westward.

Wei Xiaoping and Luo Zhifu, in turn, raised their hands and heads in farewell, bowing until he vanished from sight.

Freed from their chains, the two spectral hounds came to kneel beside Wei Xiaoping, bowing as well.

Wei Xiaoping, Luo Zhifu, and the hounds all bowed until the emissary had completely disappeared. When they finished, Luo Zhifu turned to Wei Xiaoping and the hounds, saying,

“So, spectral hounds, it turns out that the destined one the King of Hell spoke of, the one you were to wait for, is General Wei Xiaoping! You are free now—free to return to the living world!”

The two spectral hounds barked joyously at Luo Zhifu, then whined softly, coming over to lick his hands and nuzzle him, as if scratching an itch, their eyes glistening with tears.

Seeing the tears, Luo Zhifu squatted down and stroked their heads and backs. “Why are you crying, spectral hounds? Do you hate to part from me? I used to scold you so often that I thought you’d be glad to be rid of me. I thought you’d be happy to leave.”

The hounds nodded.

Seeing this, Luo Zhifu grew a little melancholy. “I should have known you’d be eager to leave, after all the times I scolded you. If I were in your place, I’d feel the same.”

The hounds shook their heads, tears flowing more freely.

Witnessing the hounds’ reluctance to part with Luo Zhifu, Wei Xiaoping was reminded of the bond he’d seen in the Magic Mirror—his friendship with Wei Xiaofan in a past life. He longed to see more: to witness the moment when he and Wei Xiaofan swore brotherhood, to discover whether they finished high school together, to know if he, Wei Xiaofan, Zhang Liying, and Zhang Xiaoyan made it to university, to learn how their friendships evolved, and to understand how they eventually met their end in that previous life.

“Alas, there is so much I wish to know of my past, but my body in the living world is about to awaken, and my soul will soon have to return,” Wei Xiaoping sighed deeply.

He recalled the emissary’s parting words: “Though I cannot lengthen your time unconscious in the living world, remember that everything significant in your current world is connected to your past lives—people and things alike.”

What did the emissary mean by this? Could it be that everything happening in his current life is linked to what occurred before? What kind of connection is there, indeed?