【Volume One: The Yellow Turban Strongman】

Chapter One: The Court of Shadow Judgment

　　A mournful yin wind blew, thunder rumbled overhead. William Carter silently followed behind a group of drifting souls, moving forward against his will. He felt dazed and confused; though he had been walking for a long time, he still had no idea where he was.

　　In the distance stood a towering city gate, at least a hundred zhang high. The city walls stretched out on both sides, their length unknown. William Carter strained his eyes, but could only see a misty expanse.

　　“Wandering souls, state your names so this judge may take count.”

　　A man in ancient attire, dressed in a black robe and wearing a tall feathered hat, his face pale and clean, stood beneath the city gate and shouted loudly. William Carter found it amusing at first, but suddenly his heart tightened as he thought, “Aren’t I dead? How did I end up here!”

　　As he recalled the last sliver of memory from his life, he was jolted awake. His feet floated, not touching the ground. Wasn’t the man before him the legendary judge of the underworld?

　　……

　　“William Carter!”

　　“Present—”

　　As William Carter spoke, his whole body trembled, not knowing how to respond. The judge didn’t mind, merely nodded slightly and muttered under his breath, “Only three in this batch of new ghosts? The quota has been getting emptier lately.”

　　“Ninety-seven new ghosts, follow me!”

　　As soon as they entered the city gate, a sudden commotion erupted. The previously silent world was now filled with noise. Countless judges shouted from above: “Number ninety-eight, Yao Jingjing, where is that Li Ying… Who is Gu Bai, who is Gu Bai…”

　　William Carter looked around. Countless wronged souls and fierce ghosts, lonely spirits and wandering wraiths drifted around him. He was just one among the many, but unlike the others, every ghost except him wore a blank, lifeless expression, their faces dead and emotionless, following the judges without thought. The sight made William Carter shudder deep inside.

　　He only knew that this seemed to be a great city, with neither streets nor houses, packed with spirits coming and going under the guidance of the judges, with no idea where the road ahead led.

　　William Carter followed the leading judge, drifting for a full seven or eight hours before finally seeing a grand hall, above which hung three large characters: Court of Shadow Judgment.

　　The leading judge exchanged a few words with the ox-headed guard at the entrance, then led nearly a hundred ghosts inside, calling out loudly, “Judge Brian Cooper receiving, delivering ninety-seven souls. Three souls lacked enough yang energy in life, so after death their spirits dissipated and did not come to the underworld.”

　　William Carter heard an aged voice sigh, “These days, people’s hearts are cunning and their bodies weak. Some die without even leaving a soul—such a thing hasn’t happened in hundreds of years. You may go!” The judge hurriedly bowed and left, abandoning the group of ghosts there.

　　After dismissing the receiving judge, the aged voice began calling names, summoning a young female ghost named Eleanor Clark. In just a few words, her good and evil deeds in life were judged, and she was assigned to be reborn into a poor family in her next life. Her parents would be kind, and her fortune or misfortune would depend on her own diligence or laziness.

　　The second called up was a cook, a naturally flirtatious man who had affairs with many women. He was assigned to be reborn as a woman. For his past life’s flirtations, he would repay his debts in this one. All his former lovers would be reborn as men, entangling with him again, a lifetime of romantic chaos.

　　The aged voice quickly dispatched most of the group. Suddenly, William Carter heard his name called. Nervous, he gathered his robe and floated forward, finally seeing atop the grand hall a long jade table, behind which was only a mass of rolling black smoke, no visible form. He dared not look closely, but heard the aged voice behind the jade table shout, “You are William Carter!”

　　“That’s me!”

　　“Oh! According to your record, your life was ordinary, neither good nor evil. But in your past three lives, you accumulated good deeds and virtue, so you should receive blessings in your next life. I happen to have a task at hand. The Heavenly Court has sent down a quota for menial workers. I have gathered nine, but need one more. Normally, your fortune and good deeds would not be enough, but for nine batches in a row, the most virtuous souls have all dissipated. You are the best among the rest. William Carter, are you willing?”

　　“To be a menial worker in the Heavenly Court?”

　　A flash of lightning seemed to strike through William Carter’s mind. Memories of his life returned, and a thought urged him from within. Without hesitation, he replied, “I am willing to serve as a menial worker in the Heavenly Court.”

　　“Good! I knew you were a clever one. To serve in the Heavenly Court as a menial worker means you are exempt from reincarnation—a rare opportunity that others can only dream of. Take this item and go to the back of the Court of Shadow Judgment to find Judge Judge Thompson. He will take you to the Six Paths of Reincarnation!”

　　From behind the jade table, an object was tossed out—a heavy iron token. William Carter grabbed it, and a gust of yin wind rose behind him, as if someone was pushing him forward, drifting straight toward the back of the Court of Shadow Judgment.

　　Just ten days ago, William Carter had been eagerly preparing to be a groom, about to marry his girlfriend of five years. But after work, when he called to ask her out for dinner, he couldn’t reach her no matter what.