Xie Bian didn't understand why Yanluo, who acted like he could barely stand to be in the same room as him wanted him to be his General. But clearly, more questions weren't a good idea, so he followed him at a distance while he zipped through the corridors of what seemed to Xie Bian like a palace that had seen better days.
While the construction was exquisite, every corner showed its age. There were torn panels in multiple rooms, missing boards on the floor, paintings taken over by colourful spores of mold and waterlogged until nothing of the original portrait could be seen.
And then there was the smell, the sweet scent of decay that permeated everything – like fruit that had rotten under the sun.
If this was Yanluo's personal residence, it truly wasn't fit for a King.
He was familiar with it, at any rate, as he navigated the walkways as if he had done so for decades.
They walked out onto a veranda, overlooking an overgrown courtyard of dark, thin trees and wilted flowers. Yanluo crossed it instead of going around.
He came to a stop in front of a wax paper door and knocked against the wooden frame. The glow of a candle flickered inside.
No one answered.
Yanluo knocked again, more insistently. "Fan Wujiu, I have no patience for your sulks this late at night!"
The door flew open with sharp woosh. "It's always night in Hell," Fan Wujiu said, his crimson gaze resting first on Yanluo before moving to Xie Bian.
Xie Bian shrunk under the blaze of that fiery gaze. If Yanluo's attitude towards Xie Bian was frosty, Fan Wujiu's was a blizzard.
His arrogant mouth was curled in disdain, his crimson phoenix eyes narrowed in an indolent scowl that conveyed only the purest scorn. Along with his striking eyes, his hair was the colour of spun silver and fell in a long sheaf down to his slender waist.
He was very beautiful but only in the way a blade is beautiful – as long as it wasn't pressed against one's neck.
Xie Bian would be lying if he said he wasn't intimidated by him, but he straightened his shoulders after the initial shock and met Fan Wujiu's fiery gaze head on.
In the end, Fan Wujiu was the first to look away.
"Xie Bian, meet Fan Wujiu," Yanluo said, gesturing between the two of them. "Fan Wujiu, well..."
Despite his assessment that it was always night in the Underworld, Fan Wujiu was clearly dressed for bed. He tightened his thin under robes around his waist with a sharp tug. "Let's get this over with."
Yanluo cleared his throat. "Fan Wujiu is our current General. He's responsible for ensuring that the spirits of the dead and all other Underworld citizens remain within its boundaries." He paused. "As well as preventing any of the living from reaching Youdu."
"Does that happen often?" Xie Bian imagined that most living people would rather not test their luck by approaching the Underworld.
It was Fan Wujiu who answered him, "You'd be surprised." His cool voice stole across Xie Bian's skin like a silk whip, making him flinch.
Yanluo cleared his throat again, this time more pointedly. "Anyway. Those are duties that you'll share as well, but there's a bigger issue right now. The very one that made us realise we'd need two generals."
"Made you, you mean," Fan Wujiu said.
Yanluo ignored him. "The souls of the dead aren't reaching us. Not all of them, at least. Some of them are being trapped in the mortal realm. We need the two of you to investigate."
"I could do that on my own," Fan Wujiu said. This was an argument he'd had before with Yanluo. Xie Bian chose to stay out of it.
"Well, there's nine other judges, along with a council of ghosts, demons, and imps, and they all agreed that we needed another general!"
Fan Wujiu scoffed. "So many people, and yet they always seem to share your opinion. Curious."
"Fan Wujiu, it's been decided."
"Bao Yan, don't test my limits."
They each stood their ground, their bodies poised for violence.
Xie Bian found it all very boring. He yawned loudly making the other two turn their disapproving glares his way. "If it's all the same to you, I'd like to rest." He stretched his arms above his head. "It's not every day that you die."
Fan Wujiu scoffed and stepped back into his bedroom. "Do as you like. Both of you," he said, and slid the door shut in their faces.
Yanluo turned to Xie Bian with a pleased smirk. "Bian, I see a bright future ahead for you as a General." He clapped Xie Bian on the shoulder and led him around the veranda. "Remember that attitude just now when dealing with Fan Wujiu. Don't let him intimidate you."
"He must really hate having someone else to split his duties with."
"Er, something like that." Yanluo came to a stop in front of a door on the left side of the courtyard, perpendicular to Fan Wujiu's. "This is your bedroom."
He slid the door open with his foot and waited for Xie Bian to walk inside. The room was dark and dusty, but it had a bed, a low table, a high desk, and a sleeping couch, along with a few chests to store all the belongings Xie Bian didn't have.
It would do – assuming he was allowed to light some candles and clean up.
Yanluo rubbed the back of his neck, feeling some guilt about the state the room was in. "It could use some upkeep...we weren't expecting you so soon."
Xie Bian shot him an inquisitive look. "Why would you be expecting me at all?"
Yanluo's good humour vanished as quickly as it came. "You and your questions. Shut up and go to sleep."
He made to leave but stopped in the doorway. "Oh I almost forgot," he said, sounding not at all casual despite his best efforts.
He fished inside his sleeve and pulled out a rolled up book. "Here's some light reading you might enjoy."