"But getting to the Fourth Tribunal is no easy task. The only way out is during the shift change, Green Warden."
Red Warden spoke, and Green Warden started laughing.
"That's simple. We'll spread the word that we saw that ghost heading to Sector 50 of the Lava Sector. Once everyone gathers there, we slip away. The Fourth Tribunal isn't far from here anyway, and I know some guys—the route through Needle Hell is the closest, Green Warden."
Needle Hell? I stared at the two of them in surprise. In my memory, the first time I died, I took the road toward the City of Unjust Death. I saw Blood Pool Hell, Frostbite Hell, and Needle Hell there, all close to Styx Gate. If you break through, that's the only way.
I've seen the situation at Styx Gate more than a few times, and I've already decided where my only escape route lies—where they dispose of the Outcast Wraiths, that garbage pit. If I jump down, I can reach the Yin-Yang Realm. They probably won't chase me there.
A whole series of plans had already formed in my mind. I murmured to myself, sorry to those two, but it seems they're determined to make a name for themselves and get promoted, just to leave this Lava Sector.
"I'll keep watch here. You go ahead, Green Warden. I'm no good with words, so it's up to you."
So the green-haired ghost's name was Green Warden. Then Red Warden got up and ran toward the distance, where flames burned.
"Keep an eye on this guy. No matter what, he's still a ghost. Green Warden, it's up to you here."
The red-haired ghost was called Red Warden. He glanced around, then simply grabbed a chain and tied me up.
"Look, I'm not going anywhere. There's no need to tie me up like this. It's uncomfortable."
I muttered. The chain wrapped around my body, and I immediately felt a powerful suppressive force interfering with my ghost energy recovery.
"We've been around long enough. We're all old ghosts here, you know. Rumors are dangerous, better to keep you tied up."
I responded with an 'oh,' then quickly smiled.
"Aren't you taking me over there soon? If you tie me up like this, it's basically announcing to everyone that I'm a ghost who fell from the upper realm. If your boss finds out, can you still take me away?"
My words made the Red Ghost think it through. He then untied the chain, and I breathed a sigh of relief, though he still kept a close eye on me.
"Listen, you'd better not try anything. A ghost of your level—I could handle you with one hand."
I nodded and grinned at the Red Warden.
Sure enough, it wasn't long before Green Warden returned, looking flustered.
"Hurry up, those guys trying to steal credit have all gone to Sector 50. Let's get moving."
Red Warden started dragging me away, but Green Warden quickly stopped him.
"Red Warden, dragging him out like that will be tough. Hey, you're a ghost, right? It shouldn't be hard for you to look like one of us."
I nodded, watching as they released their ghost threads, but strangely, mine felt weak—I couldn't release my ghost energy.
"Almost forgot—any ghost or soul that's been punished will turn into a spirit, and it's basically impossible to use any power."
"Why didn't you say so earlier?"
I grumbled, but Green Warden just laughed, his bright red tongue lolling out.
"Don't worry, I've got a way. It's risky, but for a small problem like this, we can just say it was a mistake later."
Green Warden spoke, then reached out. A red glow appeared—it was a small notebook. He opened it; every page was blank.
"Green Warden, this might not be a good idea. The Judge comes to audit every year. If they find out, we're finished."
"What are you afraid of, Red Warden? You think the Four Great Judges—Zhong, Cui, Lu, and Wei—have time to audit such trivial stuff? If there's a mistake, just pay them off and it's settled."
I watched as lines of text appeared on the notebook, but suddenly they blurred, leaving only the character 'one.'
"Strange. Normally, you can trace the origins of any punished ghost in Hell. This guy is odd. Whatever—I'll just change it to 'sentence served,' and he can go."
Green Warden pulled out a stamp and pressed it onto the notebook. Instantly, I felt much lighter; my form began to turn transparent and my ghost energy started to recover.
"You're not ordinary—the speed you recover ghost energy is impressive. But listen up: if you try to run, don't blame us for being rough."
"I know, relax. I'll help you get promoted."
As I spoke, black ghost threads started extending. I asked about the notebook—they explained it could check every soul in their sector of Hell: past lives, current sentence, everything. Only the wardens here can stamp 'sentence served' and let prisoners go.
There are two types of stamps: one lets you out for a bit—to Longing Terrace to see family, wander during Ghost Festival, then return for the next punishment. The other, the one Green Warden just used, means full release.
But at the end of every year, the Judges from the Underworld come to audit these records, just like checking accounts. Unless the Four Great Judges come, the lower wardens sometimes take bribes from well-off ghosts.
The way it works: you go to Longing Terrace, see your family, give them a dream, and they burn paper money for you. Grease the wardens' palms and you'll get lighter punishments. Over time, bribery has become rampant—everyone, from wardens to Judges, is greedy.
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In recent years, Zhong Kui, one of the Four Great Judges, has gone missing, and the other three have their own troubles. So the work has been handed off to lesser judges—mostly greedy types, rarely honest. The wardens bribe these judges with money scraped from the living world, hoping for better evaluations and faster promotions.
"Hey, we've saved up enough to grease some palms, but still can't get promoted. This time, though, our luck's finally turning."
Green Warden glanced at me as he spoke. I used my recovering ghost energy to transform, focusing on the image of the evil ghost inside me. Gradually, I took on its form, and the two of them stared in surprise.
"Nice, kid. You can turn into that—let's go."
I followed Red Warden and Green Warden. The green-haired ghost was Green Warden, the red-haired one was Red Warden. They'd worked together for years, hoping their transfer from escort duty would help them climb higher, but ended up stuck here for over two thousand years with no chance to move up.
Staring at the roaring flames ahead, I felt a surge of fear. This fire was no joke—I still remembered the agony of being burned alive in the lava, the pain as my senses returned. The memory was vivid as ever.
"It's fine. Let's go. You're officially released now."
Green Warden said, and I replied with an 'oh,' following them through the flames into another nearly identical Lava Sector. I saw ghosts with blue or green fur torturing prisoners. Green Warden greeted them, and we moved on.
After a while, I saw what looked like a door. Green Warden led me out, and I was stunned—a long corridor stretched out, four or five meters wide, with endless red walls and rows of doors rising layer upon layer, each marked with writing.
I couldn't read them. Red Warden explained: these were entrances to the smaller hells, and the quickest way through the Scorching Inferno was via the Dog-Bite Sector.
After a long walk, I saw Green Warden push open a door. Suddenly, I heard wild barking and screams.
I swallowed hard. The scene below was brutal—many ghosts, much like Green Warden and Red Warden, except for their fur, stood on distant platforms connected by narrow paths. On the square platforms, ghosts appeared from time to time. I saw a Blue Ghost grab a newly arrived soul and drag it to the edge.
"Please, sir, stop! I just paid last month!"
I stared in shock as the Blue Ghost held the soul, begging for mercy. Below, vicious black dogs with red eyes barked furiously at the high platform.
The hellhounds, seeing the warden lift the soul, rushed to the edge of the platform, whining excitedly—almost like wolves, but not quite, their howls drawn out and wild.
"Your last relative is dead. Last month's payment means nothing. I'll throw you farther away—run fast."
With a forceful motion, the Blue Ghost hurled the soul into the distance. As soon as it landed, it screamed and ran, while packs of red-eyed hellhounds pounced.