Huh? Isn't this an adventure kingdom building game?!-Chapter 105: Grandfather and Grandson

"What should I do?" Wan Mingchuan waited anxiously, looking bewildered at what he said.

"The Netherworld is vast, and there are many places for ghosts to go. If it’s just about meeting once, when your grandfather’s spirit returns to the Netherworld, he will still do what needs to be done. Ordinary people like them, with a little bloodshed in their actions and no understanding of accumulating merit to atone for their sins, even if they don’t end up in Hell, they still carry some guilt, often being sent off to do hard labor in various places."

Bai Yunqi continued with narrowed eyes, explaining slowly: "If the work done offsets their sins, they will be brought to a town. If relatives burn paper and occasionally get some money, they can barely survive; without paper money, they’ll have to find a way to find work to sustain themselves while waiting in line for reincarnation."

This was fresh knowledge, and Jiang Yuan, who was resting by the riverbank after his Origami People and Horses got tired, also perked up his ears to listen to the sound brought by the wind.

"Then... should I burn more paper for my grandfather?"

"Ordinary paper is useless; didn’t you see the Yin Messenger grinning from ear to ear when he received the Venerable Family’s gold ingots? It’s because most people have lost the tradition and can’t make effective paper money anymore since there are no real Paper Makers left. Moreover, you’ve cultivated to the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining and are considered a Cultivator; do you want your grandfather to wait in the Netherworld for reincarnation until the end of time?"

Bai Yunqi sneered at him and answered his own question, "Do you know how difficult it is to reincarnate in the Netherworld? First, it takes unknown years to offset sins, then you wait for those with priority to reincarnate, relations from all sides to be placed, virtuous and benevolent ones to go first, and you’ll wait a hundred or eighty years without dying for a chance. And even then, you probably won’t reincarnate into a good life."

Having never heard of so much happening after death, Wan Mingchuan scratched his head awkwardly, "What should I do? Even the Yin Messenger only helped me see my grandfather again because of respect for my master..."

As his voice lowered, Bai Yunqi rolled his eyes and reminded him, "Go beg your master! Now that there are no True Gods, spending more money can accomplish many things. Either cleanse the sins by donating to become a Yin Messenger, though don’t expect to be regular, at most doing better work than hard labor and accumulating merit for a good reincarnation;

or find a powerful force in the Netherworld to take shelter under, and live comfortably in a city with enough money;

or if the Venerable Family’s connections are strong enough, perhaps your grandfather could have a chance to tread the path of cultivation to become a proper Ghost Cultivator. Not just a little fierce ghost of gibberish, but truly seeking the Great Way as a ghost. With luck, he might even become a Ghost Immortal and ascend."

Pausing, he added with a smile, "If your future cultivation path is bumpy and you unfortunately fall, as long as your soul isn’t utterly annihilated, with support from insiders in the Netherworld, you’ll have a chance to rise again."

Wan Mingchuan listened with his heart swelling with emotion.

He had always thought that death was the absolute end, not realizing that death was actually a new beginning, albeit in a more challenging environment than the mortal world.

But how could he bring himself to ask?

He had already been greatly cared for by his master since becoming his apprentice, and the debts of gratitude were still unpaid. Now, asking him to also help his grandfather seemed too much to ask.

Bai Yunqi knew that this volume would be surely heard by the Venerable Family. His words were meant to test the character of the young Venerable Family, considering how to get along in the future when unable to escape from the constraints of the rules. Satisfied, he continued to smile slyly, narrowing his eyes.

"Hahaha, Fellow Daoist Jiang, your young disciple is really lucky!" Wan Mingchuan was torn trying to figure out how to ask his master for help when suddenly a gust of wind carried laughter to him, making him turn around in surprise.

A smooth-operator Ma Hongtu, along with Wan An and Lin Dayou, who could transform back to their living appearances after having ghost food, walked out of a whirlwind, greeting, "Young friend, come quickly and see if this is your grandfather?"

He intentionally had them revert to their original looks for easy recognition, yet made them wear the tattered clothes they died in, hinting that they weren’t having a good time in the Netherworld. Want them not to suffer? Then pay up!

"Grandfather!" Wan Mingchuan, having prepared himself mentally for the ghostly appearance of Han Ya, burst into tears upon seeing his grandfather’s kind and gentle face and rushed forward to embrace him.

His hands passed through thin air, leaving him bewildered, only to touch the void shadow in front of him and crying uncontrollably.

Ma Hongtu hurriedly asked for credit, "If the old man had some cultivation, you could have touched him; it’s normal that you can’t touch an ordinary ghost like your grandfather. Your grandfather has it tough, being assigned labor at the lowest level. I went to great lengths to find him, going through many favors to bring him up here. Time is short, so let’s keep it to the essentials and make it quick!

Also, the old man mentioned that this one is your compatriot and has been taking good care of him. I made the effort to bring him up to see his family too."

The grandfather and grandson, along with Lin Dayou, quickly thanked the Yin Messenger once more.

Jiang Yuan suddenly picked up on the hint of wanting benefits. Previously, he had little opportunity to earn a living and engage with various people, often missing the undertones due to his limited worldly experience.

Now, having experienced some time in the Wilderness World and gained more insight, he felt slightly more perceptive.

If this were before, he would have been immeasurably grateful to Ma Hongtu, giving whatever was asked. But now, his Paperman and Paper Horse Skill was not without costs. Making these items, especially in large quantities, quickly depleted his Mana and Health Bars, and judging by the attitudes of the Yin Messengers and Yin Mountain female corpses, these skills were evidently very valuable in the Netherworld.

If held under the other’s thumb, wouldn’t the amount of benefits be up to them to demand?

Old Man Wan changing into Ma Hongtu’s hostage of a ghost, he could demand anything, leaving master and disciple in a passive position.

Luckily, Wan An wasn’t a greedy person. On hearing that young master’s master both sheltered and taught him cultivation techniques, seeing his grandson in clean and beautiful new clothes, he wiped his tears of comfort, "Good child, knowing you are doing well is enough for me, grandfather! The night Han Ya pushed me out and I encountered the mouse demon, I feared you would follow and end up harmed too.

Later on the Yellow Springs Road, I met Dayou and found out you were taken by the mouse demon while trying to help. I was so anxious, asking all around but finding no trace of you; I could only hope you were still alive."

He wanted to touch his grandson, but his hand passed through instead, having to give up, "The Yin Messenger took us out from the deepest mines, putting in good words with the Ghost Messengers, giving copper coins, and even feeding us something to fill our bellies, which allowed us not to appear like ghosts when meeting you.

I think the Yin Messenger also acted for your master’s sake, Mingchuan. Your master is good to you, so we must not push our luck.

Seeing you once, I feel at ease; the sins I’ve committed, I will atone for slowly myself. Don’t bring trouble to your master, cultivate well, and someday, when you’re stronger, we grandfather and grandson will meet again!"

He knew that returning to the mines as a laborer meant he wouldn’t last long, but Wan An didn’t want to burden his grandson.

Encountering a good-natured master was a rare blessing, not something a useless old fool like him could ruin. The child still had a bright path ahead, and all these years of raising him to now weren’t in vain; he felt content. freewēbnoveℓ.com

"Grandfather, I killed Han Ya myself to avenge you! I’m sorry, if I had stayed with you that night, nothing would’ve happened!" Wan Mingchuan sobbed uncontrollably.