So who had died would look back on their own lives and feel no worries. Theirthree hun and seven po soulswould then vanish by over half, and they would follow Soulhook Envoys in a fog down Yellow Spring Road, forgetting as they walked it, not knowing what night it even was by the ti they arrived at the Bridge of Helplessness. After that, they would pick up that bowl of forgetting brew, and their previous lives would be completely gone.
Those who had done good would have their virtuous rits discussed. Those who had done evil would go to the underworld. If they deserved rebirth or transmigration, they would re-enter the reincarnation cycle. After death, everything was settled, and the consciousness would be as clean as white snow, starting over anew.
Therefore, whenever soone shut their eyes, the people that still lived would always do all they could to satisfy whatever desires they left unfinished, to save them the extra hardship as they traveled Yellow Spring Road.
So would still have unresolved obsessions from prior to death, and their souls would follow them in their walk, unwilling, all for the sake of material gains from the mortal plane. They would then be made to bathe in the Yellow Springs, and after getting over themselves, a ferryman would pull up to see them off to rebirth.
The livings events were not for the dead to worry about.
Yellow Spring Road was very long the length it would take one to forget was exactly how long it would be.
The only thing that couldnt be forgotten was love. After walking four-thousand, four-hundred and forty-four zhang, they could still look back and line up in a row beneath the Bridge of Helplessness. Those waiting for soone else would sotis wait a day or two, sotis a decade or two, or sotis an entire mortal lifespan.
So would wait for another to co, but that soone would be so out of it, they couldnt rember them any longer. Occasionally, there would be so that could, but they would be one aged person with one young one, and even though theyshouldntrecognize each other, they would end up clasping each others hands with tears in their eyes, all while a Ghost ssenger would prompt them from nearby: You two, the ti has co. Get going
In love of the mortal world, there was always a fondness for saying so oaths of eternal love, but those were only terms that would last no more than a few decades, no more than one life-and-death cycle of rebirth, and then it would be, You are you, and I am . How was that not laughable?
These words were what Cao Weining was hearing the Ghost ssenger say to ng Po as he crouched beside the Bridge of Helplessness.
The ssenger had stated that his na in life had been the surna Hu, given Jia, and he was a passionate person. Cao Weining listened to him bother ng Po with his non-stop chatter while she ignored him, ladling soup at her own pace. The Bridge never stopped tamorphosing; legend stated that how much forgetting brew was drunk down corresponded to how wide the Bridge would be. One cup forgot an age, dust returning to dust, earth to earth.
ssenger Hu Jia babbled for half the day but never saw ng Po raise her head, so he got in close to converse with Cao Weining. Kid, why arent you drinking the soup? Waiting for soone?
Mortals were insipid in love and luck, and all of them were middling. It was rare to have one that was so clear-headed, where even an immortal ghost of the netherworld would be willing to talk more to him.
Ah This was the first ti Cao Weining was speaking with the ssenger, and he was more or less startled from the favor. Haha, yes. You are
Hu Jia had absolutely no intention of having an exchange with him; he was probably just getting bored from having nothing to do, and wanted to find soone to dump words onto. There was another that waited here before, he straight-up cut him off, and once he started, he was waiting for three hundred years.
Cao Weining was taken aback. Th-three hundred years who has lived for so many years? he trembled out. The one he was waiting for didnt have the surna Ye, right?
Oi, why do you care about what his surna is? A surnas just what youre called. If soones surna is Huang or Di for Emperor in one life, after jumping into that spring of rebirth, their next life might have the surna Zhu or Gou for pig and dog. Who even knows. Hu Jia waved his hand, then pointed at the Three-Life Rock. He sat there, waiting for three hundred years. Then he went back to the place he started, where he first got to et his soone. But, well, you know how that went?
How? the other asked, egging him on.
He chose another, better match. Hu Jia sighed.
Right then, ng Po finally lifted her head to glance at him. ssenger Hu, mind your words, she said expressionlessly.
Hu Jia gave ayeah. Fine. This guy was sowhere in the ranks of Emperors, Princes, Generals, and Ministers. I have to obey the law of karma, and cant talk about it who are you waiting for, young fellow?
Im waiting for my wife.
Hu Jia didnt feel that to be strange at all. How old was she when you died?
Seventeen, Cao Weining answered honestly.
Seventeen back when I died, I too had a seventeen-year-old wife at ho. What a sha Hu Jia shook his head. That ti was too long ago, and he could no longer clearly rember how that wife had looked. I advise you not to wait. Shell keep growing up through her life, and by the ti she cos down, shell be an old lady in her seventies. Shell have long forgotten a man from her teens. Ive seen a lot of people before that co waiting and leave waiting, only for a scene of expectation and then heartbreak. You should quit dwelling on things as soon as possible and pour yourself a vat of ng Pos soup. Youll clean forget any sort of wives or concubines you had.
ng Po raised her head again, still expressionless. ssenger Hu, mind your words.
Hu Jia shut up, dejected, but saw Cao Weining start to smile. Thatd be just fine, and I look forward to it. It would be best if she cant rember a bit of what I look like anymore. Once she passes before bright-eyed, worry-free, and happy and I see her move on, Ill have no worries, myself.
You dont feel unhappy? Hu Jia wondered.
Cao Weining looked at him strangely. What would I be unhappy about? he countered. Thats my wife, not my enemy. How would seeing her be okay make unhappy?
The other was mute for a short mont, smiling. Youre taking this well.
Am I? Cao Weining said with quite so embarrassnt, scratching his head. Ive had no other advantages in my life than being able to take nothing to heart well, there is just one thing. I was beaten to death by my own shifu. Im afraid that shes taken it hard, and is never going to let him go.
What sort of scandalous thing did you do, for him to beat you to death?
Cough its probably because of that little thing about the righteous and the demonic being unable to coexist. He said that my wife was a villain of Ghost Valley, and I insisted on being by her. In a fit of anger that his dignity was put on the spot, he killed .
His tone was relaxed to the point that it was like he was talking about soone else, and it was hard to tell just from listening that he was reminiscing about his own manner of death. Hu Jia beca intrigued, then crouched next to him. You dont hold any hatred?
Cao Weining pointed at a Soulhook Envoy that was floating over with a ghost. On the road, I heard that gentlen recite dust returns to dust, earth returns to earth. I then felt that no matter how big my grievances are, theres nothing to hate. Im already at rest in the ground, so what power would hatred have? Wouldnt I just be making things difficult for myself?
Hu Jia looked up to see Hei Wuchang floating past with his black, blank face, and whispered out a complaint. Hey, dont listen to them. Our underworldly Soulhook Envoys only ever say one sentence, and theyve said it for who knows how many years, never once changing it
ng Pos gaze was a fixed glare once more. ssenger Hu, mind your words, she said blankly for the third ti.
Hu Jia sighed, pointing at her as he spoke quietly to Cao Weining. See? That also goes for our ng Po. Ive gone back and forth the Bridge of Helplessness for centuries, and each ti I do, she says that phrase, ssenger Hu, mind your words. This netherworld is a real loneso place.
Cao Weining smiled. As he listened to the lonely Mister ssenger babble in his ear, he gazed out at the traveled road, thinking,If Ah-Xiang beca an old woman, what would she look like? Shed definitely be one with plenty of energy, lively and bold. She
All of a sudden, he stood up, eyes in wide-open circles. He saw that in an area not far away, a familiar girl was currently following a Soulhook Envoy over with a skip in her step. While she walked, she ceaselessly surrounded the Envoy with questions, who was concentrating with their head down as they walked, completely ignoring her. Getting pressed so urgently, they could only say, Dust returns to dust, earth returns to earth.
Cao Weining opened his mouth to call out: Ah-Xiang
Gu Xiang stopped in her tracks, then inclined her head to look over. For a mont, she was stunned. At first, it seed like she wanted to cry, but she ended up stifling it all, transforming it into a face that was smiling wide. She dove at him like a little bird. Brother Cao! I knew you would be waiting for !
As if he hadnt seen her for a lifeti already, he held her tight, but then got to thinking again:With how she looks, she didnt beco an old lady doesnt that an she died early?After that, he beca worried and upset, hundreds of feelings criss-crossing inside him. His tears started to co down, falling into the water of the Yellow Springs, making circle after circle of ripples, startling even the ferryn.
Hu Jia shut his mouth, watching the mutually-embracing couple with a distant smile.
Only this eting at the head of the Bridge appeared to stretch on forever, until the Heavens were withered and the Earth was aged.
Another Ghost ssenger on the Bridge called out: You two, the ti has co. Get going
Like a pendulum utterly devoted to its duty, that sa sentence alone had co out of their mouth year after year.
Gu Xiang lifted her head out of Cao Weinings embrace, glaring viciously at the ssenger. What are you so impatient for? You fuckin soul-calling over there?![1]
The one on the Bridge froze, thinking to themself,Isnt that exactly what Im doing?
Hu Jia just started laughing. What a bold little lady, he comnted. Thats a dauntless wife you have, young fellow.
Cao Weining sounded happy and polite, despite his tears. Forgive my shalessness.
Standing up, Hu Jia pointed at the Bridge. Alright, be on your way. Dont miss the ti of your rebirth. If youre even a tiny mont off, itll be hard to say whether your vast riches will turn into you being roadside beggars. If your karmic links arent used up, you can continue as you are in the next life.
With that, he led them up the Bridge. Standing before ng Po and her soup, Gu Xiang hesitated. If we drink this, well forget everything. Can we just not, grandma?
ng Po looked at her with a pretty, blank face, silently shaking her head.
Little miss, if you dont drink the soup, youll be a cow or a horse in your next life, Hu Jia said. Drink up.
Gu Xiangs eyes quickly went red again. Lowering her head, she was unwilling to move regardless of any persuasion. Hu Jia couldnt take this, going to speak to ng Po. Look at that. Itd be fine to make things a little smoother, yeah? This isnt easy. In this place, thousands and thousands of years pass, yet its not likely that well ever see a pair of lovers that can find love no matter what. It really is
ssenger Hu
Yes, yes, Ill mind my words, he hurriedly picked up.
She hesitated for a mont, then suddenly took out two lengths of red string from her sleeves, spread them out in her hand, and presented them to Gu Xiang. The latter was caught off guard. Take them quick, young miss, Hu Jia hurriedly piped up from the side. Elder ng Po is showing you rcy. This is a fateful opportunity that even several lifetis wouldnt be able to cultivate. Take them and tie them on your wrists, itll save you from wondering if youll even et up in your next life.
Gu Xiang quickly took the red strings, then clumsily tied them to Cao Weinings and her own wrists. Following that, they held hands, drank down the forgetting brew together, then re-entered the cycle of reincarnation.
Behind them, the faraway voice of that Soulhook Envoy was heard. Dust returns to dust, earth returns to earth
There was also Hu Jias musing. Ask the world what exactly love is[2]even ng Pos broadened her horizons.
ssenger Hu, mind your words.
Fifteen years later, in Luoyang city, the Young Lady of Landlord Lis ho conducted her coming-of-age ceremony. Landlord Lis long-sworn brother, Hero Song, visited with his only son; one reason was to give birthday congratulations, and the other was to propose a marriage.
Back when this pair of children were in swaddling clothes, they had been brought up together, and upon playing with them, the adults had discovered that of the two little tykes, one had a red mark on their left hand, and one had a red mark on their right hand. How could that not be a karmic tie, produced in the womb? A betrothal had consequently been drawn up.
It was now the season of green plums. A lad rode on a bamboo horse[3]
The translator says: ssenger hu, shut the fuck up
Well I hope that softens the blow a little.
[1]A bit lost in context: traditionally, when a person got gravely ill, it was sotis believed that their soul was leaving them, so people would loudly call their na to get their soul to co back. Hence, soul-calling.
[2]From Yuan Haowens poem, Catching Fish. (Heres a full version.)
[3]Based on verses from Li Bais Changgan Ballad. (Full version here.)
So who had died would look back on their own lives and feel no worries. Theirthree hun and seven po soulswould then vanish by over half, and they would follow Soulhook Envoys in a fog down Yellow Spring Road, forgetting as they walked it, not knowing what night it even was by the ti they arrived at the Bridge of Helplessness. After that, they would pick up that bowl of forgetting brew, and their previous lives would be completely gone.
Those who had done good would have their virtuous rits discussed. Those who had done evil would go to the underworld. If they deserved rebirth or transmigration, they would re-enter the reincarnation cycle. After death, everything was settled, and the consciousness would be as clean as white snow, starting over anew.
Therefore, whenever soone shut their eyes, the people that still lived would always do all they could to satisfy whatever desires they left unfinished, to save them the extra hardship as they traveled Yellow Spring Road.
So would still have unresolved obsessions from prior to death, and their souls would follow them in their walk, unwilling, all for the sake of material gains from the mortal plane. They would then be made to bathe in the Yellow Springs, and after getting over themselves, a ferryman would pull up to see them off to rebirth.
The livings events were not for the dead to worry about.
Yellow Spring Road was very long the length it would take one to forget was exactly how long it would be.
The only thing that couldnt be forgotten was love. After walking four-thousand, four-hundred and forty-four zhang, they could still look back and line up in a row beneath the Bridge of Helplessness. Those waiting for soone else would sotis wait a day or two, sotis a decade or two, or sotis an entire mortal lifespan.
So would wait for another to co, but that soone would be so out of it, they couldnt rember them any longer. Occasionally, there would be so that could, but they would be one aged person with one young one, and even though theyshouldntrecognize each other, they would end up clasping each others hands with tears in their eyes, all while a Ghost ssenger would prompt them from nearby: You two, the ti has co. Get going
In love of the mortal world, there was always a fondness for saying so oaths of eternal love, but those were only terms that would last no more than a few decades, no more than one life-and-death cycle of rebirth, and then it would be, You are you, and I am . How was that not laughable?
These words were what Cao Weining was hearing the Ghost ssenger say to ng Po as he crouched beside the Bridge of Helplessness.
The ssenger had stated that his na in life had been the surna Hu, given Jia, and he was a passionate person. Cao Weining listened to him bother ng Po with his non-stop chatter while she ignored him, ladling soup at her own pace. The Bridge never stopped tamorphosing; legend stated that how much forgetting brew was drunk down corresponded to how wide the Bridge would be. One cup forgot an age, dust returning to dust, earth to earth.
ssenger Hu Jia babbled for half the day but never saw ng Po raise her head, so he got in close to converse with Cao Weining. Kid, why arent you drinking the soup? Waiting for soone?
Mortals were insipid in love and luck, and all of them were middling. It was rare to have one that was so clear-headed, where even an immortal ghost of the netherworld would be willing to talk more to him.
Ah This was the first ti Cao Weining was speaking with the ssenger, and he was more or less startled from the favor. Haha, yes. You are
Hu Jia had absolutely no intention of having an exchange with him; he was probably just getting bored from having nothing to do, and wanted to find soone to dump words onto. There was another that waited here before, he straight-up cut him off, and once he started, he was waiting for three hundred years.
Cao Weining was taken aback. Th-three hundred years who has lived for so many years? he trembled out. The one he was waiting for didnt have the surna Ye, right?
Oi, why do you care about what his surna is? A surnas just what youre called. If soones surna is Huang or Di for Emperor in one life, after jumping into that spring of rebirth, their next life might have the surna Zhu or Gou for pig and dog. Who even knows. Hu Jia waved his hand, then pointed at the Three-Life Rock. He sat there, waiting for three hundred years. Then he went back to the place he started, where he first got to et his soone. But, well, you know how that went?
How? the other asked, egging him on.
He chose another, better match. Hu Jia sighed.
Right then, ng Po finally lifted her head to glance at him. ssenger Hu, mind your words, she said expressionlessly.
Hu Jia gave ayeah. Fine. This guy was sowhere in the ranks of Emperors, Princes, Generals, and Ministers. I have to obey the law of karma, and cant talk about it who are you waiting for, young fellow?
Im waiting for my wife.
Hu Jia didnt feel that to be strange at all. How old was she when you died?
Seventeen, Cao Weining answered honestly.
Seventeen back when I died, I too had a seventeen-year-old wife at ho. What a sha Hu Jia shook his head. That ti was too long ago, and he could no longer clearly rember how that wife had looked. I advise you not to wait. Shell keep growing up through her life, and by the ti she cos down, shell be an old lady in her seventies. Shell have long forgotten a man from her teens. Ive seen a lot of people before that co waiting and leave waiting, only for a scene of expectation and then heartbreak. You should quit dwelling on things as soon as possible and pour yourself a vat of ng Pos soup. Youll clean forget any sort of wives or concubines you had.
ng Po raised her head again, still expressionless. ssenger Hu, mind your words.
Hu Jia shut up, dejected, but saw Cao Weining start to smile. Thatd be just fine, and I look forward to it. It would be best if she cant rember a bit of what I look like anymore. Once she passes before bright-eyed, worry-free, and happy and I see her move on, Ill have no worries, myself.
You dont feel unhappy? Hu Jia wondered.
Cao Weining looked at him strangely. What would I be unhappy about? he countered. Thats my wife, not my enemy. How would seeing her be okay make unhappy?
The other was mute for a short mont, smiling. Youre taking this well.
Am I? Cao Weining said with quite so embarrassnt, scratching his head. Ive had no other advantages in my life than being able to take nothing to heart well, there is just one thing. I was beaten to death by my own shifu. Im afraid that shes taken it hard, and is never going to let him go.
What sort of scandalous thing did you do, for him to beat you to death?
Cough its probably because of that little thing about the righteous and the demonic being unable to coexist. He said that my wife was a villain of Ghost Valley, and I insisted on being by her. In a fit of anger that his dignity was put on the spot, he killed .
His tone was relaxed to the point that it was like he was talking about soone else, and it was hard to tell just from listening that he was reminiscing about his own manner of death. Hu Jia beca intrigued, then crouched next to him. You dont hold any hatred?
Cao Weining pointed at a Soulhook Envoy that was floating over with a ghost. On the road, I heard that gentlen recite dust returns to dust, earth returns to earth. I then felt that no matter how big my grievances are, theres nothing to hate. Im already at rest in the ground, so what power would hatred have? Wouldnt I just be making things difficult for myself?
Hu Jia looked up to see Hei Wuchang floating past with his black, blank face, and whispered out a complaint. Hey, dont listen to them. Our underworldly Soulhook Envoys only ever say one sentence, and theyve said it for who knows how many years, never once changing it
ng Pos gaze was a fixed glare once more. ssenger Hu, mind your words, she said blankly for the third ti.
Hu Jia sighed, pointing at her as he spoke quietly to Cao Weining. See? That also goes for our ng Po. Ive gone back and forth the Bridge of Helplessness for centuries, and each ti I do, she says that phrase, ssenger Hu, mind your words. This netherworld is a real loneso place.
Cao Weining smiled. As he listened to the lonely Mister ssenger babble in his ear, he gazed out at the traveled road, thinking,If Ah-Xiang beca an old woman, what would she look like? Shed definitely be one with plenty of energy, lively and bold. She
All of a sudden, he stood up, eyes in wide-open circles. He saw that in an area not far away, a familiar girl was currently following a Soulhook Envoy over with a skip in her step. While she walked, she ceaselessly surrounded the Envoy with questions, who was concentrating with their head down as they walked, completely ignoring her. Getting pressed so urgently, they could only say, Dust returns to dust, earth returns to earth.
Cao Weining opened his mouth to call out: Ah-Xiang
Gu Xiang stopped in her tracks, then inclined her head to look over. For a mont, she was stunned. At first, it seed like she wanted to cry, but she ended up stifling it all, transforming it into a face that was smiling wide. She dove at him like a little bird. Brother Cao! I knew you would be waiting for !
As if he hadnt seen her for a lifeti already, he held her tight, but then got to thinking again:With how she looks, she didnt beco an old lady doesnt that an she died early?After that, he beca worried and upset, hundreds of feelings criss-crossing inside him. His tears started to co down, falling into the water of the Yellow Springs, making circle after circle of ripples, startling even the ferryn.
Hu Jia shut his mouth, watching the mutually-embracing couple with a distant smile.
Only this eting at the head of the Bridge appeared to stretch on forever, until the Heavens were withered and the Earth was aged.
Another Ghost ssenger on the Bridge called out: You two, the ti has co. Get going
Like a pendulum utterly devoted to its duty, that sa sentence alone had co out of their mouth year after year.
Gu Xiang lifted her head out of Cao Weinings embrace, glaring viciously at the ssenger. What are you so impatient for? You fuckin soul-calling over there?![1]
The one on the Bridge froze, thinking to themself,Isnt that exactly what Im doing?
Hu Jia just started laughing. What a bold little lady, he comnted. Thats a dauntless wife you have, young fellow.
Cao Weining sounded happy and polite, despite his tears. Forgive my shalessness.
Standing up, Hu Jia pointed at the Bridge. Alright, be on your way. Dont miss the ti of your rebirth. If youre even a tiny mont off, itll be hard to say whether your vast riches will turn into you being roadside beggars. If your karmic links arent used up, you can continue as you are in the next life.
With that, he led them up the Bridge. Standing before ng Po and her soup, Gu Xiang hesitated. If we drink this, well forget everything. Can we just not, grandma?
ng Po looked at her with a pretty, blank face, silently shaking her head.
Little miss, if you dont drink the soup, youll be a cow or a horse in your next life, Hu Jia said. Drink up.
Gu Xiangs eyes quickly went red again. Lowering her head, she was unwilling to move regardless of any persuasion. Hu Jia couldnt take this, going to speak to ng Po. Look at that. Itd be fine to make things a little smoother, yeah? This isnt easy. In this place, thousands and thousands of years pass, yet its not likely that well ever see a pair of lovers that can find love no matter what. It really is
ssenger Hu
Yes, yes, Ill mind my words, he hurriedly picked up.
She hesitated for a mont, then suddenly took out two lengths of red string from her sleeves, spread them out in her hand, and presented them to Gu Xiang. The latter was caught off guard. Take them quick, young miss, Hu Jia hurriedly piped up from the side. Elder ng Po is showing you rcy. This is a fateful opportunity that even several lifetis wouldnt be able to cultivate. Take them and tie them on your wrists, itll save you from wondering if youll even et up in your next life.
Gu Xiang quickly took the red strings, then clumsily tied them to Cao Weinings and her own wrists. Following that, they held hands, drank down the forgetting brew together, then re-entered the cycle of reincarnation.
Behind them, the faraway voice of that Soulhook Envoy was heard. Dust returns to dust, earth returns to earth
There was also Hu Jias musing. Ask the world what exactly love is[2]even ng Pos broadened her horizons.
ssenger Hu, mind your words.
Fifteen years later, in Luoyang city, the Young Lady of Landlord Lis ho conducted her coming-of-age ceremony. Landlord Lis long-sworn brother, Hero Song, visited with his only son; one reason was to give birthday congratulations, and the other was to propose a marriage.
Back when this pair of children were in swaddling clothes, they had been brought up together, and upon playing with them, the adults had discovered that of the two little tykes, one had a red mark on their left hand, and one had a red mark on their right hand. How could that not be a karmic tie, produced in the womb? A betrothal had consequently been drawn up.
It was now the season of green plums. A lad rode on a bamboo horse[3]
The translator says: ssenger hu, shut the fuck upWell I hope that softens the blow a little.
[1]A bit lost in context: traditionally, when a person got gravely ill, it was sotis believed that their soul was leaving them, so people would loudly call their na to get their soul to co back. Hence, soul-calling.
[2]From Yuan Haowens poem, Catching Fish. (Heres a full version.)
[3]Based on verses from Li Bais Changgan Ballad. (Full version here.)
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