Chapter Five: The Words of the Little King of Hell

Looking at the chaotic bustle of the officials before him, it was hard to imagine that this was the Hall of Judgment in the Underworld.

"Over here," someone called.

"Ah, it’s the Young King of Hell," Summer Dawn hurriedly greeted as the King of Hell approached.

At that moment, a small figure appeared before them.

"Is that really the King of Hell?" Qin Xiaochuan looked in disbelief at the child before him, who was barely as tall as three blocks of tofu and still sucking on a pacifier. Turning to Summer Dawn, he asked incredulously, "Are you kidding me? Come on, that little brat is the King of Hell? I was terrified for nothing!"

"Why would I lie to you, idiot?" Annoyed at Qin Xiaochuan's disrespect, Summer Dawn shot him a warning look and scolded him loudly, "You should show some respect to the King of Hell standing before you. He is the master of the entire Underworld!"

"To be precise, I am the second-generation King of Hell: the Young King," the child replied, a bit displeased by their quarrel. He plopped himself onto the chair behind the desk, clearly hating being called a brat. "Don’t be fooled by my appearance. I’m thousands of years older than you, kid, so watch your mouth."

"Still, you don’t look much older than me."

"Show some respect! You can’t speak to the King of Hell like that," Summer Dawn snapped, truly angry this time.

Just then, an official arrived, sweating profusely as he placed a towering stack of documents on the Young King’s desk. Bowing respectfully, he said, "Young King, these documents also need your signature—and they’re urgent."

"Ugh, even more paperwork to sign," the Young King grumbled, glancing at the stacks that rose higher than himself. It looked like overtime was inevitable tonight. Then, as if remembering something, he reached into his pocket, pulled something out, and handed it to Qin Xiaochuan. "As you can see, the Underworld is swamped right now, so I’ll get straight to the point. You’re here to undertake the Rebirth Trial, aren’t you? This is the object of your test."

"What is this?" Qin Xiaochuan was puzzled as he took the egg, about the size of a chicken egg.

"This is a Spirit Beast egg," the Young King explained, seeing Qin Xiaochuan’s confusion. "Your trial is to hatch this egg. It doesn’t require special care—just keep it close to your body at all times."

"That’s… all? So simple?" Qin Xiaochuan took the egg, examining it closely. It was the size of a chicken egg, its dark gray shell as hard as stone. He wondered if it would break if dropped but didn’t dare try—after all, this egg was the key to his resurrection.

"Listen carefully. From this moment, your heartbeat has been restored," the Young King said gravely as Qin Xiaochuan accepted the egg. "Take good care of it."

"Oh..." Qin Xiaochuan broke into a nervous sweat at the Young King’s serious expression. "How long will it take for the egg to hatch?"

"Let me think… About a hundred years, give or take."

"A hundred years? Are you kidding me?"

"Well, maybe that’s a bit exaggerated. It could hatch in a year or two. Just be patient."

With that, the Young King waved a hand, signaling Qin Xiaochuan to wait outside. Then he called Summer Dawn to his side.

"Listen carefully, Summer Dawn. What I’m about to say must remain absolutely confidential," the Young King said sternly. "You must not tell that guy, understand?"

"Understood." Summer Dawn grew nervous at the King’s seriousness.

"The Spirit Beast egg grows by absorbing the energy emanating from the heart of the one hatching it. Depending on the nature of that energy, the Spirit Beast will become either an angel or a demon. If he continually emits evil energy, the Spirit Beast will become a terrifying demon and appear before him. Spirits will be its food, and with such nourishment, it will grow quickly. Soon enough, you’ll know what kind of creature will hatch."

"If it hatches into a monstrous fiend, then Xiaochuan’s soul won’t return to his body, will it?" Summer Dawn worried, recalling Xiaochuan’s usual mischief.

"No," the Young King replied, "I’ll still let his soul return to his body. But… when he revives, that will also be the moment when both his body and soul are devoured by the Spirit Beast. Do you understand?"

"Yes… yes."

"You can take him now, but don’t ever forget what I told you." With his instructions given, the Young King returned to the endless task of signing documents.

When Summer Dawn emerged, Qin Xiaochuan immediately asked, "What did the Young King tell you for so long?"

"Nothing… really," Summer Dawn replied, unable to hide her concern now that she knew the gravity of Xiaochuan’s fate.

"Oh, I just remembered!" Qin Xiaochuan slapped his forehead. "No one knows my heartbeat has returned. If they don’t know, my body might be cremated! I have to notify them quickly—if my body’s burned, this trial will be pointless. Summer Dawn, do you know how I can let them know?"

"I do," she replied, narrowing her eyes with a sly smile. "You can send them a dream."

"A dream?"

"Yes. Sending dreams is a way for gods, Buddhas, or the dead to communicate with the living. You can use a dream to tell whoever you want that you’re still alive."

"Is that so? Then let’s hurry," Qin Xiaochuan grabbed Summer Dawn’s sleeve, urging her toward the door. "If I don’t tell them in time and my body’s burned, that would be no fun at all. Let’s go!"

Seeing how anxious he was, Summer Dawn didn’t argue. She mounted her paddle and took Qin Xiaochuan to hover outside his home.

Together, they drifted above his house. Through the window, they saw Qin Xiaochuan’s mother clutching a bottle of red wine, drinking and berating his photograph. "You heartless brat, how could you leave your mother all alone? You—gulp—Xiaochuan, you big dummy! Hit by a car so lightly and you die? I don’t remember raising you to be so frail, you little… scoundrel… gulp…"

Watching his mother rant drunkenly, Qin Xiaochuan scratched his head and sheepishly explained to Summer Dawn, "Heh, my mom’s always like this—she starts saying nonsense whenever she drinks."

"Shall we wait until she’s passed out drunk to send her a dream?"

Qin Xiaochuan shook his head at the suggestion. "If it goes as usual, my mom could drink for three days and nights straight without sleeping…"

"......"

That left only Fan Fan. With that in mind, they soared overhead, crossed two streets, and came to Fan Fan’s house—a place Qin Xiaochuan hadn’t visited in a long time. Passing through the walls, he approached her bedside. Perhaps from crying too much that day, she had fallen asleep, her red cheeks still streaked with the faint traces of tears—tears for Qin Xiaochuan’s passing.

'Her place is tidier than before,' he mused, glancing around the room. Staring at Fan Fan sleeping on the bed, he thought, 'Still, she looks as annoying as ever…'

As if she heard his teasing, Fan Fan furrowed her brow in her sleep, looking slightly aggrieved.

Seeing the tear tracks on her cheeks, Qin Xiaochuan seemed to feel flashes of memory in her mind.

"Go to hell, you pervert! Idiot, you hateful jerk!" "I’m sorry, Xiaochuan." "I didn’t mean to say those things, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry…"

At that moment, another sorrowful tear trickled down from the corner of her eye.

"Idiot, it wasn’t your fault," Qin Xiaochuan thought, a warm feeling rising in his chest as he watched her silently apologize for the angry words she’d said that morning.

"Hurry up and send the dream, or she’ll wake up soon," Summer Dawn urged.

"Oh," Qin Xiaochuan recalled his task and quickly sat beside Fan Fan. "Hey, I’m Qin Xiaochuan. Fan Fan, listen to me. I don’t know what’s got you so worked up, but I’m not so weak that I’d die just because of something you said! Anyway, my soul had some business to attend to, but don’t worry—I’ll be back soon. If you don’t believe me, open the chest where I’m sleeping and check if my heart’s beating again. Also, tell my old lady at home—let her know I’m not dead, and for heaven’s sake, don’t let her cremate me! That’s it for now."

"Xiaochuan…"

As if hearing his message, Fan Fan suddenly awoke with a start.

'No, this isn’t a dream—this feeling…'

Touching her cheeks, she found her tears had been wiped away. Everything felt so real. She could still sense Xiaochuan wiping her tears in her dream—this guy she both loved and hated, who always made her cry, and yet…

Remembering his words, Fan Fan rushed to get dressed. Despite the hour, she ran straight to Qin Xiaochuan’s house.

"Aunt Suxu, Aunt Suxu, please open the door—it’s me, Fan Fan!"

After a long round of knocking, the door opened. Suxu, still tipsy, stared in surprise at Fan Fan. "Fan Fan, what’s wrong?"

"Aunt Suxu, please listen—Xiaochuan, he sent me a dream just now. He said… he’s still alive…"

"Xiaochuan…?" Suxu’s eyes filled with doubt.

Fan Fan nodded emphatically. "Yes, Aunt Suxu…"

Suxu wiped the tears from her eyes and continued, "I just wanted to open the coffin one last time to give that little brat a punch, but when I opened it, his… his face… it was so rosy…"

"Yes, Aunt Suxu, yes. Xiaochuan’s heart…"

"It’s beating… Xiaochuan, he…?"

"Yes, Aunt, yes! Xiaochuan, he…"

"He’s alive!"

"He’s alive!!" They embraced, weeping with joy—the overwhelming relief of a loved one returned from the dead, the realization of what truly matters only after loss. The two of them clung to each other, overjoyed, for yes—Xiaochuan was still alive.