Chapter 2174: The Underworld

Chapter One Hundred: Yin Cao

The wind carried the scent of sulfur. Ahead, a massive, imposing gate stood, surrounded by an ethereal black fog. Two hulking figures, their faces hidden by shadows, stood guard. Their eyes glowed with an eerie red light.

"Welcome, newcomer," one of the guards rasped, his voice like grinding stones. "You stand before the gates of the Yin Cao."

He Fan looked around, bewildered. He remembered being in his apartment, preparing dinner. There was a sudden jolt, and then... this.

"Yin Cao?" He Fan repeated, a tremor in his voice. "Is this... the underworld?"

The second guard chuckled, a hollow, chilling sound. "Indeed. The realm of the dead. Prepare yourself, mortal. Your journey has just begun."

He Fan felt a shiver run down his spine. He had heard tales of the Yin Cao, the Chinese underworld ruled by King Yanluo. It was a place of judgment, where souls were processed and dispatched to their next destination, be it reincarnation or eternal punishment.

"What happens now?" He Fan asked, his voice barely a whisper.

"You will be guided to the Hall of Judgment," the first guard said. "There, your life will be reviewed, and your fate decided."

He Fan swallowed hard. He wasn't a saint, but he wasn't a villain either. He had made mistakes, yes, but he had also tried to live a good life.

"Can I... can I go back?" He Fan pleaded, hope flickering in his eyes.

The guards exchanged a look. The first guard's gaze seemed to soften slightly. "That is not for us to decide. That is the purview of the judges."

"Come," the second guard said, gesturing towards the gate. "There is no turning back now."

He Fan hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath and stepped forward. The massive gates groaned open, revealing a vast, dark expanse stretching out before him. The air was thick with the cries of countless souls, a mournful symphony that sent a chill to his very core.

He had entered the Yin Cao. His journey into the afterlife had begun.