Crossing the Veil: A Tale of the Afterlife

As the words of Master Thornton echoed in my mind, I couldn't help but feel a strange mix of anticipation and dread. When Liam Blackwood solemnly declared that I was someone of great potential, I instantly realized that the path I was on was anything but ordinary. People like me, who were neither truly dead nor fully alive, must be rare indeed. My arrival here, pulled by Emily—now Emily—in a whirlwind, meant I had bypassed the usual trials of the underworld. Given that only the exceptionally old or those who had died in particularly horrific ways could make it to this point without being fully deceased, I was starting to understand the gravity of my situation.

If I were to analyze it in modern terms, my current predicament was akin to being a rare commodity. Liam Blackwood had essentially put me on a pedestal, but I was keenly aware that this advantage also meant I had leverage. I hoped to negotiate something better. I flashed my most innocent, wide-eyed look at Liam Blackwood, trying to appear both endearing and earnest, though my mind raced with the possibilities of rejection.

To my surprise, Liam Blackwood furrowed his brow and said, "Here's the deal. I won't make you work for nothing. Once I become the City God, the position will be yours. It's better than being a lost soul in the underworld, where everything is dark and grim. At that time, you could find someone like you—a bit of a misfortune case—and build up some good karma…"

This offer seemed reasonable on the surface. After all, knowing there was an actual underworld and having connections there would be valuable. Still, the lack of tangible benefits at the moment left me feeling a bit unsatisfied. I couldn't help but ask, "Sir, can we make it something more concrete?"

Liam Blackwood's expression darkened immediately, his face contorting into a look of displeasure. He picked up the red document Emily had given him and muttered to himself, "Everything's in order, but I can't show favoritism. I'll approve this. However, Fengdu City is currently repairing its walls and is short on manpower… I've also heard that drinking expired Meng Po soup makes one remember past lives. If someone ends up reborn as a pig or a dog, it would be quite a miserable fate…"

The implication was clear: Liam Blackwood was trying to take advantage of my situation. Despite not being offered a grand role or extraordinary powers, he wasn't offering anything more than a vague future promise. I decided it was best to play along and make the most of what was offered. I urgently sought a way out of this grim setting and, with a sense of urgency, I pleaded, "Sir, I meant no offense. I'm just saying that dealing with hungry ghosts and lost souls isn't something easily done without some special abilities. It would be helpful to have some kind of power or tool to assist you."

Liam Blackwood, realizing that I had some understanding, nodded with approval. "You might be smooth-talking, but you're not completely useless. I'm a Daoist from the Shenshao Sect, and I have a volume of sacred scriptures from the Shenshao Heavenly Altar. These contain various mystical techniques you can study and use to capture ghosts and dispel evil."

I immediately focused on the mention of "mystical techniques" and asked, "Sir, do you have any useful 'cheat codes,' so to speak? Like mind-reading, invisibility, a super-powered ring, or a handy old mentor? If nothing else, could you at least elevate me to the Nascent Soul stage?"

"Get lost," Liam Blackwood snapped, finally showing some irritation. "I didn't even reach the Nascent Soul stage before I died." His frustration was palpable, and I realized I had pushed too far. I quickly adapted, kneeling and exclaiming, "Master Xu Lang greets my teacher!"

Liam Blackwood, taken aback, stared at me in disbelief. My thick skin, honed from reporting days, had served me well. I seized the moment and continued, "Thank you for the teachings, Master. By the way, how do I return? I'm eager to start my mission of saving souls."

Liam Blackwood rubbed his temples, looking pained. His gaze was less than kind, and I began to worry if I had overstepped. After a long pause, he sighed and relented, "Fine, I'll accept you as my disciple."

"Let me tell you about the Shenshao Sect," Liam Blackwood began, explaining that the sect practiced the Five Thunder Technique, which could command spirits, summon thunder and rain, and dispel disasters. This was their distinguishing feature compared to other Daoist sects. The theoretical foundation rested on the concept of harmony between heaven and humanity, emphasizing that human spirit and celestial forces were interconnected. The practitioner's internal cultivation allowed them to command natural phenomena.

The patriarch once said that practicing the Five Thunder Technique could enable one to exorcise ghosts and gain celestial status through internal cultivation, while externally, it could combat demons and evil spirits. Liam Blackwood handed me a thin volume and instructed, "This book contains various mystical methods. Study diligently and you'll find it useful."

Looking at the thin, ancient-looking book, my disappointment was palpable. I had become a disciple and received nothing more than a book to deal with malevolent spirits. This was hardly the grand adventure I had envisioned. I nodded begrudgingly, hiding my dissatisfaction, and prepared to leave.

Liam Blackwood, noticing my displeasure, muttered to himself, "I'll keep this document for now. If you don't perform well, I can always have the ghost messengers bring you back."

Panic surged through me. "Master, studying these techniques will take time. You wouldn't want to see me back here so soon, would you? Time is of the essence…"

Liam Blackwood considered this and finally said, "Alright. You should be able to live until eighty, but after sixty, you'll be nearly useless. You're twenty-two now, so you have thirty-eight years. You need to redeem at least three ghosts a year. If you don't meet this quota by sixty, you might just end up back here."

The threat was explicit. I nodded in resignation, accepting my fate. Liam Blackwood, seeing my compliance, seemed satisfied. He took out a small mirror and said, "The road to the underworld isn't easy. You should find someone to dream of you and alert the authorities. Don't let Emily's father actually kill you."

His concern for himself was evident. I thought about who I could contact. My parents, being ordinary and not yet retired, would be terrified by such a dream. In this city, I had few close ties, and the only person I could think of was Evan Cole, a cab driver with whom I had a decent relationship.

"I'll contact Evan Cole, Master," I said dejectedly. Liam Blackwood nodded and performed a series of incantations over the small bronze mirror. The mirror fogged up, and he told me to step inside, indicating that it would transport me into Evan Cole's dream.

I stepped into the mist and found myself in Evan Cole's dream. It was a luxurious bar, with Evan Cole and several scantily clad women in a private room. Evan Cole was living it up, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. However, I had more pressing matters. I appeared beside Evan Cole, startling him.

"Ethan, come on in! Tonight, I'm treating everyone," Evan Cole greeted with enthusiasm.

"This is a dream, right?" I asked urgently. "I've been tricked into the underworld. You need to report this to the police right away. Otherwise, Emily's father might actually kill me, and I won't be able to return. Forget the three hundred bucks you owe me."

"Stop joking. The underworld? That's my grandma's place. Sit down and have some fun before it's too late," Evan Cole replied skeptically.

I understood his disbelief. It was hard to accept that one could be dragged into an otherworldly realm based on a dream. Seeing his nonchalant attitude, I grew frustrated and grabbed a bottle, smashing it over his head. I then began wrecking his dream, shattering the illusions around him.

The dream world fragmented, leaving me with a sense of finality. I had done what I could. Now, all that was left was to face the reality of my situation, with Liam Blackwood's teachings and a new mission ahead of me.