Chapter 159: The Three Judges’ Audience

The ones kneeling on the floor were precisely the three ghost judges who hadn’t shown up during the last summons. Compared to the previous trio who had appeared in their massive spectral forms, these three were far more cautious and humble. They knelt with perfect posture, the picture of submission.

In just three short days, their attitude had completely changed. After all, the downfall of the former three judges was now common gossip throughout Youling Domain — their influence shattered overnight, their power erased, and even the lowliest ghost no longer acknowledged them. Everything they’d built over centuries had crumbled in mere days — all because of the new Yama, who hadn’t even set foot in the underworld once.

Only now did these remaining three understand: this new Lord was nothing like the ones before. All those tricks — testing authority, playing seniority, asserting dominance — none of it worked. Panic set in. If they didn’t make their loyalty clear right now, their own seats might soon be taken by new souls altogether.

So they had abandoned their alliance with Feng Qing without hesitation. In fact, they hadn’t even waited for an official summons before rushing to pay respects — terrified that if they delayed any longer, it might be too late.

“Your subordinates arrive late. We beg Lord Yama’s forgiveness!” they chorused, bowing low until their foreheads touched the floor. Each one presented a thick stack of ledgers in both hands.

“These contain the complete records of the Youling Domain’s eastern sixteen cities, the southern nine, and the western five — including the listings of all ghost officers, patrol routes, population distributions, and notable events of recent years. We humbly request that Lord Yama review them.”

It was obvious they’d done their homework after hearing what happened to the previous three. This time, they came fully prepared — everything documented and organized, every report accounted for — showing their utmost sincerity and determination to serve faithfully.

Meanwhile, Bai Yu, who had been peacefully asleep moments ago, now sat stiffly in bed, face completely black. He’d been jolted awake by their overwhelming yin aura, and his usual “majestic master” expression looked frozen and awkward. Wrapped in his blanket, he sat as rigid as a statue, mortified beyond words.

Do underworld judges just appear in people’s bedrooms unannounced?! he thought, teeth grinding. And of all times—why when I wasn’t wearing pants?!

w(Д)w

It was into this supremely awkward scene that Yun Jiao arrived.

She took one glance at the half-mummified old man on the bed, bundled in his blanket like a giant dumpling, then at the three kneeling ghosts clutching paperwork — and instantly pieced together what was going on.

Under the old man’s desperate pleading look, she sighed and said, “You three have traveled far to pay respects. Please, follow me to the main hall for now and rest awhile.” She deftly took the ledgers from their hands as she spoke.

The ghost judges exchanged wary glances, then hesitated, eyes flicking toward the man on the bed.

Bai Yu’s mouth twitched. “Go on ahead,” he said quickly, trying to sound dignified despite his obvious misery. “I’ll… change and join you shortly.”

Realization dawned on them a second later — ah, right, mortals needed clothes. Awkwardly, they saluted and followed Yun Jiao out.

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The night air was still. Yun Jiao led them into the main hall. The Qingyang Temple had few residents, and since it was late, the great hall was dark and quiet.

“It’s too dim,” Yun Jiao muttered. She pointed toward the wall sconces and gestured to the shortest of the three judges.

“Could you light a lamp?”

The ghost looked confused. “A… lamp?”

She nodded. “Yes — the green kind.”

Green?

Ghost fire?!

The judge blinked, then raised his hand. Instantly, several small green flames flared to life, casting an eerie glow across the hall.

“Thanks,” Yun Jiao said politely, taking a seat and motioning to the chairs nearby. “Please, have a seat. Your Lord Yama will arrive shortly.”

Then she calmly began flipping through the ledgers they’d brought, completely ignoring the three men.

The ghost judges exchanged nervous glances. What was this? If the Yama meant to punish them, why make them wait here? If not, why the silence? Even this mortal woman — clearly a trusted aide — paid them no attention, writing notes every so often as she read.

The longer it went on, the more uneasy they became. In the end, one of them quietly conjured a few more wisps of ghost fire to brighten the room — anything to make a good impression.

Finally, after what felt like half an hour, Yun Jiao closed the last ledger just as Bai Yu entered, now fully dressed and composed, with the serene aura of Yuan Jiang following close behind him.

The three ghost judges instantly rose, bowing low. They had heard that the Yama was accompanied by a celestial being, and seeing the immortal’s presence only reinforced how high the stakes were.

Once Bai Yu seated himself at the head of the hall, they clasped their hands and said nervously, “Lord Yama, we have presented all relevant reports concerning Youling’s affairs. May we ask what further commands Your Excellency has for us?”

Their voices trembled despite their effort to remain calm. Everything depended on this moment — whether they would keep their positions or share the fate of their predecessors.

Bai Yu, now wearing his practiced “divine authority” expression, regarded them coolly. After a long pause, he gave a faint, mysterious smile and turned to Yun Jiao.

“Well, girl,” he said smoothly, “what do you think?”

In truth, he had no idea what to say — they’d arrived too soon for him and Yun Jiao to discuss anything beforehand.

Yun Jiao set down her brush, her expression unreadable. “I’ve reviewed the records you brought,” she said at last, her voice calm but cutting. “Particularly those from the past two years.”

Her gaze sharpened. “A few months ago, a major incident occurred in the mortal realm — caused by Youling Domain’s reapers stealing living humans’ life force. Yet nowhere in your reports is this mentioned. Not even once.”

The hall fell deathly silent.

“Would any of you care to explain that?” she asked.

All three ghost judges blanched. They had expected a lecture about their loyalty, perhaps a discussion about reinstatement — not this.

The leftmost judge finally stammered, “Th-that incident was indeed our failure, Lord Yama. But it was because someone falsely issued an order under the previous Lord’s name. We merely followed the directive…”

“Yes, my Lord!” another chimed in quickly. “Collecting life force from the living violates the natural order, but we were deceived. We were only following what we believed to be the former Yama’s command!”

Their tones were full of pitiful sincerity — but both Yun Jiao and Yuan Jiang’s expressions darkened.

“‘Following orders,’ is it?” Yuan Jiang’s voice was cold. “The ghost judges of Youling stand just below the Yama himself. You, of all beings, should know the true authority of a Yama’s decree. And yet you claim you couldn’t tell a real command from a forged one?”

The three spirits froze, color draining from their translucent faces.

“Or perhaps,” Yuan Jiang continued icily, eyes narrowing, “you knew it was false — and carried it out anyway. Or worse…”

His tone dropped, heavy with accusation.

“…the so-called false decree came from your own mouths?”

The hall went utterly still.

(End of this chapter)