Master, This Poor Disciple Died Again Today

Chapter 535: Yellow Springs Bathing Club

Sighing, the reaper kicked him up, then caught him over one shoulder. I dont know what happened up there, but I can guess. Si Wang?

Mhm. I think he redirected my emergence from the Underworld, then captured me, Hui explained. He hung there limply, tired. Ive given up on figuring out whats happening, but Im not being stepped on anymore, so thats nice. Hopefully Elder Sister isnt kidnapping me someplace horrible.

Haa, Ive spent a long time being kidnapped today.

Si Wang is the most familiar with the Underworld of the three of us. It doesnt surprise me that he successfully redirected you. What did he do once he had you?

He dragged me along for a while, then attacked me, Hui said honestly.

That madman, the reaper muttered. She shook her head. Zhu Diyu ought to have put him down long ago.

Why hasnt he? Hui asked.

Theyre old comrades, she said, shrugging.

Is that all? Si Wang said so, but I cant exactly trust him.

The reaper sighed. I think Zhu Diyu did something, a long time ago, that Si Wang cannot and will not forgive. I dont know everything, but I know this: when Zhu Diyu became Lord of the Underworld, Si Wang was already dead.

Oh, Hui murmured. That unforgivable thing could it be that Zhu Diyu killed Si Wang? Id find it pretty hard to forgive my killer!

Though who was my killer?

Oh, right. It was me. Me and my own bad decisions.

Er

Well, you know. Forgive and forget, and all that. Hui nodded to himself, putting the matter behind him.

The reaper shook her head. She leaped into the air, carrying Hui as she flew. Cant he give up and reincarnate, already? Im tired of seeing his face. If you arent going to do your job, go home.

I agree, Elder Sister, Hui said, nodding. The Underworld passed by beneath him, almost sickening. After a few seconds of watching it flash by, he shut his eyes. I dont want to puke on Elder Sister. If nothing else, I need to keep what remains of the Underworld water I have inside of me to suppress the flames!

Abruptly, the world shifted around him. He opened his eyes in midair as the reaper tossed him away. Flying backward, Hui gave her a betrayed look. Elder Sister, throwing me away?

He splashed down and sank. Icy black water closed in over him. Watching silvery bubbles drift away, Hui hung in the water for a moment, dumbstruck. Eh?

Ah! The Sanzu! He opened his mouth and gulped down water. The flames in his gut died back down, suppressed once more. Kicking his feet, he swam for the surface and burst free with a gasp, shaking his hair out of his face. Mopping it back with one hand, he untied the ribbon holding his ponytail up, then shoved his hair up and retied it more firmly.

Have you suppressed the flames? the reaper asked. She dropped down, delicately landing atop the dark water.

Hui nodded. He leaned back, grinning at the reaper. Elder Sister, want to go swimming?

She scoffed. What youre doing would be impossible if you remained a mortal. Even most Immortals would struggle to overcome those waters.

But I can do it right now, so why not? he asked, offering her a hand.

Spending time around Si Wang has rotted your brain, the reaper muttered.

Elder Sister, I was already wasting it thinking useless thoughts. Whats the difference? Hui asked.

At that, the reaper laughed. She shook her head at him and walked off. Even for us, the Sanzu can erode our conscious and soul. Although it served to join your soul together, too much medicine becomes poison. Dont spend too long. Once youve finished suppressing the fire, you should leave.

Eroding my soul? I just healed it! Hui bolted out of the water and landed atop the river. He ran after the reaper. Never mind, never mind. Im coming!

The reaper looked back, waiting for him to reach her. When he did, she nodded. Well postpone your first solo reaping for later. After Si Wang intercepted you, I dont want to give him the opportunity to intercept you again so easily. Im more practiced at entering and leaving the Underworld. If he tries to redirect me, hell fail and if he succeeds, Ill give him a good thrashing. She clenched her fist, and a light gleamed in her eye.

Er, it seems Elder Sister holds a bit of a grudge against Si Wang.

Though, to be fair, if someone harassed me as retaliation against a third party totally unrelated to me Id not hold a grudge, but I completely understand holding one! Thousands of years is far too long to be a middleman in two mens grudge!

Mmm I think I prefer a Fen Long and Chen Wuya sort of grudge to this rivalry! At least the two of them didnt bring anyone else into it.

Probably. I dont er, what they do in their private time is not my concern! I certainly cant throw stones when it comes to involving others

Anyways, I feel like Im busy thinking useless thoughts right now.

So then, what should I do? Hui asked, tilting his head.

The reaper looked at him. She paused, thinking, then sighed. Haaaa. And here I wanted to push off some of the work onto someone else, at long last

Im sorry, Elder Sister, Hui said sheepishly.

She waved her hand. No, no. Its better than you being corrupted by that useless Si Wang. After I give him a thrashing or two, he ought to give up.

Well I wouldnt mind meeting him again. If nothing else, we havent resolved the situation with the resentment demon yet. I dont have a good way to capture the resentment demons, but Si Wang does. But he attacked me last time he might attack me on sight, now. Its unlikely, but then, its not likely to attack someone over a single accidental insult where Im from!

Plus, he mentioned something about the phoenix fire I dont want him to try stealing the fire from my stomach! It wont come out, it wont! Ugh, hes going to try to cut my stomach out of me, for sure! Hes a madman, after all.

No, no. If I keep thinking of him as a madman, itll slip out again! No, no! Think of him as something good. Something good, Hui! A a rogue reaper! Yes, yes. Ill call him a rogue reaper in my mind from now on to avoid calling him a madman!

Hui sighed. Is Si Wang always this hard to deal with?

Yes, the reaper said.

Hui sighed again, deeper this time. Elder Sister, youve dealt with this for centuries?

She snorted. It isnt always this bad. I think hes aggravated because youve replaced him as the second reaper. He gets annoyed every time

Hui waited, but she shook her head, refusing to finish her sentence.

Every time? Hui asked.

The reaper shook her head.

Every time a new reaper arrives? How often does that happen, Elder Sister? Hui asked. Why is she acting so suspicious about it? Theres nothing odd about there being other reapers before me who passed on into the next stage of their lives unlives, but the way she cut off now Im curious. Why not say it outright?

Its not important, the reaper said. She turned on her heel, dark hair swirling behind her. You stay here in the Underworld. Feel free to wander the town or hide in your quarters, as usual. Ill go deal with the reaping and handle Si Wang. Ill let you know when its safe to return to the surface again.

Hui nodded obediently. Yes, Elder Sister!

Hmm, suspicious. Ill have to poke around after she leaves! I cant let this stand. I need to find out. If my poor little unlife is in danger, Ill have to address that before anything else!