Chapter 352: River of Forgettance
“I see!” Ye Qing exclaimed in realization. He finally understood just how valuable the Yin Token of Forgettance was. A short silence later, he asked, “Generally speaking, what kind of people would receive a Yin Token of Forgettance?”
Considering how precious the Yin Token of Forgettance was, he couldn’t believe that it would be given away willy-nilly. In reality, he had received one practically by accident. It was unusual to put it mildly.
The woman answered, “The Yin Token of Forgettance is automatically created by the Life Death Brazier. The Life Death Brazier is a godly artifact that possesses the power to evaluate one’s good fortune and reverse life and death, yin and yang. Anyone who receives a Yin Token of Forgettance be it human or Stranger generally falls under three categories: the incredibly strong, the exceptionally gifted, and the extraordinarily blessed.”
“You probably fall under the third category.”
The woman waved her bamboo umbrella a little while smirking. “For obvious reasons, you don’t fall under the first category. As for the exceptionally gifted, most of them hail from powerful clans or sects and do not need a weak little woman like me to tell them what it’s for. More importantly, they wouldn’t be stupid enough to show it off in public.”
“That is why you must belong in the third category—though I suppose you could fall in the fourth category known as the dogshit lucky category.”
Ye Qing grunted, “Never say the word dogshit again, and this conversation might still end in an amiable fashion.”
“We will see.” The woman giggled.
“Where is the inner market, and how can I join it?” Ye Qing asked.
“You want to enter the Yin Market? I thought you don’t believe me? Aren’t you afraid I might send you off to a death trap instead?” The woman teased him.
“You would never!” Ye Qing declared with a straight face. “I’m the foolish one who thought you would trick me. A beautiful and kind-hearted woman like you would never send an innocent man to his death, would you?”
“You certainly have a sweet mouth, scion!” The woman couldn’t stop giggling. “It’s very easy to enter the inner market, but you’ll have to do me a small favor. Would you accept my request, scion?”
I bloody knew it, Ye Qing thought with a concealed sneer. He knew there was no way the woman would offer him the knowledge for free.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
The woman’s expression turned a little unfriendly. “I risked my life hiding your murder of Fengdu’s citizens, answering your questions, and even offering you knowledge that would prevent you from tripping yourself in your future endeavors, and now you would spurn my little request? Surely you’re not that ungrateful? You wound me deeply with your stone cold heart, scion.”
Ye Qing was unmoved, however. He said, “Why don’t you tell me what your request is, and I’ll tell you your answer afterward?”
The woman made him sound like an ingrate, but anyone could tell the threat behind her words.
“Relax. I won’t ask you for your Yin Token of Forgettance. I already have my own.” She produced her Yin Token of Forgettance and gave a little wave. “My request is very simple. I want you to join me in the inner market.”
“And why would you want that?” Ye Qing asked doubtfully.
“I’m a weak woman trying to navigate the dangerous waters of the Yin Market, you see. The outer market is already plenty dangerous, and the inner market even more so. If I enter the inner market without sufficient preparation, it is very likely that I won’t walk away alive. That is why I want you to accompany me.”
“Is that it?” Ye Qing raised an eyebrow. The woman’s request wasn’t difficult. On the contrary, it was ludicrously easy, so easy that he found it suspicious.
“Yes? Do you want me to make you an impossible request?” The woman countered. “Surely you won’t turn me down, scion?”
“Very well. I will accept your request.” Ye Qing nodded after a moment of silence. It wasn’t like he had the option to refuse anyway.
“You are most kind and magnanimous, scion! I knew you wouldn’t spurn me!” The woman beamed at him like a flower. “I’ll be counting on you to protect me, scion.”
“You’re welcome. You scratch my back, I scratch yours.” Ye Qing saluted her before asking, “But can I speak with my companions first before I go with you? They would be worried if I disappeared without telling them.”
“But of course! I shall come with you, scion.” The woman giggled and jumped off the wall. Despite being barefooted, not a speck of dust clung to her sole. Seemingly unguarded, she walked up to him like a fairy, hugged his arm as if it was the most natural thing in the world, and breathed gently, “Let’s go, husband.”
Ye Qing stiffened, and not because her curves were wholesome. Before he could pull free, the woman whispered, “A yin guard is coming our way. You don’t want him to see you, do you?”
Ye Qing froze right before a couple of yin guards strode into the alleyway. One of them was none other than the yin guard who tried to buy his Yin Token of Forgettance.
The yin guard was accompanied by three other yin guards, and one of them were dressed differently from the others. He was short, fat, and wearing black robes. What made him stand out among his fellow yin guards was the tall hat he was wearing. The words “Peace For All” were sewn into the hat.
Strangely, the yin guards couldn’t seem to see him or the woman even though they were standing right in front of them.
“Don’t speak, husband. That Impermanence would hear you if you do,” the woman whispered into his ear. Ye Qing turned away because her warm breath made him feel uncomfortable, not to mention that she was anything but his wife despite her words.
He was going to pull away from her again when the woman held him in place and said, “You must stay within Red Dust, or they will detect you.”
The woman didn’t explain what Red Dust was, but Ye Qing instinctively looked at the red umbrella covering their heads. He didn’t know that it possessed such magical qualities.
“Are you sure that human is carrying the Yin Token of Forgettance, Cheng Yi?” The Impermanence—the short, fat yin guard to be exact—asked.
“I am certain, my lord,” the yin guard who tried to purchase Ye Qing’s Yin Token of Forgettance answered.
The Impermanence nodded. “If I can obtain that Yin Token, then I will overlook your crime of committing violence in the Yin Market and disrupting the order.”
“Thank you for your generosity, my lord,” Cheng Yi replied in a hurry.
“Strange. I can sense the human and Granny Lampflower’s presence in this alley, but where are they?” The Impermanence muttered while walking past Ye Qing and the woman. They were just ten or so centimeters from each other, but still the yin guards couldn’t sense him.
After the Impermanence reached the spot where Ye Qing had fought against Granny Lampflower, a long, long tongue stretched out of his mouth and swung around the air for a bit.
“It’s not just Granny Lampflower. I sense the Angry Ghost’s presence as well. But again, where is it?”
“Did you find them, my lord?” Cheng Yi asked.
“No. It’s like they had suddenly vanished into thin air,” the Impermanence replied darkly while withdrawing its tongue. His skin was already pitch black, but now he looked even blacker.
“Maybe Granny Lampflower killed that human and escaped?” Cheng Yi suggested cautiously.
“It’s possible.” The Impermanence grunted with displeasure. “Find her. Find her and get the Yin Token of Impermanence. I had waited decades to get my hands on one, and for once, luck is on my side. It’s not everyday you encounter an idiot who doesn’t recognize the value of the Yin Token of Impermanence, so I must grasp this opportunity no matter what.”
“At once, my lord.” The yin guards disappeared in a gust of yin wind after saying that.
You’re the idiot! Your whole family are idiots! Ye Qing glared at the Impermanence while swearing a storm inside his head.
Beside him, the woman giggled behind her hand. “Calm down, husband. Let us leave already.”
They had just taken two steps when Ye Qing recalled something he should have questioned earlier. “Why are you calling me husband?” It scares me like a fickle man being told by his friend-with-benefits that she’s pregnant!
“That’s your fault. You didn’t tell me your name, so how else can I address you?” The woman replied smilingly.
You didn’t tell me your name either, Ye Qing scoffed inside his head before making up a random name, “My name is Bluehill Ye. What is your name, Miss?”
“Bluehill Ye? Hahaha...” The woman giggled charmingly. “What a coincidence! My name is Greenlake Bai. Aren’t we a perfect match?”
Ye Qing: “...” Yeah, right. I’m sure you would call yourself Whitecloud if I say my name is Blackearth!
“Now that we’re done, let’s go, husband.” The woman started pulling him toward the exit.
“Why are you still calling me that? I already told you my name!” Ye Qing gritted his teeth.
“Husband sounds better than Bluehill.” Greenlake giggled. “Also, why do you care when I, an unwed maiden, don't?”
I’m an unwed man myself, you know! Not that telling you that is going to make me look good!
“Why are you bringing me here?” Ye Qing gulped as he stared at the massive river in front of him.
After locating Lin Yuhuai, Chu Nianjiu and Qi Xuanyun, he informed them that he was going somewhere with Greenwater Bai using his demonic thought. He didn’t show himself because he was afraid that a yin guard or other Strangers might be keeping an eye on his companions. After that, Greenwater led him through a series of dizzying twists and turns until they finally arrived at this river.
The river was so vast he couldn’t see the other side of the shore. The water was a murky, bloody yellow, and thick white fog floated above its surface wherever he looked. The waters were also extremely rapid, turbulent and smelly. What really scared him though was the fact that there were countless bodies floating on the river surface and even more unfortunate souls howling beneath the river.
“I-Is this... the River of Forgettance?” Ye Qing stuttered.
“It is. You’re a smart man, husband,” Greenwater smiled brightly.
“You’re not going to tell me that the inner market is past the River of Forgettance, are you?” Ye Qing asked nervously. He couldn’t care less about how she addressed him right now.
“What do you think?” Greenwater asked.
“I think not!” Ye Qing shook his head in a hurry.
It was said that after a human died, their soul must pass through the Gates of Hell and tread the Yellow Spring Road. What lay between the Yellow Spring Road and Fengdu was the River of Forgettance. Infinitely long and flowing toward the southeast, it was a filthy, dangerous place that anyone in their right mind would stay far, far away from. It was because those who fell inside would be stuck for eternity, never to enter the cycle of reincarnation and be reborn. Forget escaping, they couldn’t even die. It was the worst form of immortality.
“Unfortunately, you are wrong, husband.” Greenlake smiled gently. “Why do you think the Yin Token is called the Yin Token of Forgettance? Are you scared?”
“I’m not scared...” My knees are a little weak, that’s all!
“I’m glad to hear that. There’s nothing to worry about anyway. With the Yin Token of Forgettance, you would probably be fine,” Greenlake consoled him.
“Probably?” Ye Qing shot her an incredulous look.
“Well, there is a small chance you might die a horrible, hopeless death.” Greenlake giggled.
“You’re terrible at consoling others,” Ye Qing uttered bitterly. “You know what, I suddenly recall there’s something I need to speak with my friends about. I’ll be back in a moment.”
“I’m afraid you’re too late, husband...” Greenlake’s smile widened. “The ferryman is already here.”
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