The frequency of the sweeping sound became faster and faster, which inevitably irked me. I donned my clothes and got out of bed, opened the door to the hospital ward, and went out to investigate.
I saw an old woman, about seventy years old, earnestly sweeping the hallway, but the floor was as shiny as a mirror and there wasn't even a speck of dust. My curiosity grew, and I couldn't help but ask.
"Granny, why are you cleaning so late at night? You should go back and rest."
The old woman continued to sweep the floor, seemingly deaf to my words.
I deliberately raised my voice and repeated myself, but she remained indifferent.
I shuddered. Suddenly, I remembered—delusions! This old woman must not exist; she was surely a figment of my imagination. That's right, who would be cleaning the hospital in the middle of the night?
As I was about to turn back and re-enter my ward, the old woman spoke up.
"Young man, don't try to be overly assertive in everything, it brings misfortune. Take care of yourself."
I was momentarily taken aback. What did her words mean? Why tell me not to be assertive? Just as I was about to ask for more details, the hallway was empty—no old woman, no broom.
I returned to my ward sullenly, leaning on the windowsill and admiring the night view outside. Under the moonlight, the land was unusually bright and didn't appear dim at all.
Glancing down by chance, I spotted about a dozen people on the open ground in front of the building. Their hands were bound with ropes, standing in a row and perfectly still, which seemed rather eerie.
I was curious—why were people tied up like that in the middle of the night? I watched them with interest for a good ten minutes. Then, from the hospital building, two more people emerged, one leading the other, with a rope around the neck of the one in the rear, guided by the person in front.
Upon reaching the end of the line, the person in front removed the rope from the neck of the person behind and then bound his hands, causing him to join the line of the others. Oddly enough, once his hands were tied, he became motionless as if his soul had been taken.
Just as I was engrossed in the scene, the person doing the binding looked up and our eyes met. I was startled—it looked like I had been caught.
Actually, I had already guessed—they were Ghost Soldiers reaping souls. My master had once told me never to watch Ghost Soldiers during soul-taking, or I would be taken along with them. If I ever accidentally witnessed it, I must pretend to see nothing at all.
The Ghost Soldier glanced at me again and floated off the ground, drifting in my direction. I became somewhat panicked, my eyes wildly scanning around, as I realized I had no choice but to pretend I saw nothing.
The figure circled outside the window a few times before entering through it and staring me down, inspecting me closely and then loudly rebuked.
"Ghost Soldiers are conducting their business. Why are you mortals peeping? Don't you fear being taken along?"
It's said that pretending is an art, and even though I wanted to act as if I saw nothing, when it stood right in front of me, shouting at me, I couldn't help but feel nervous, and large beads of sweat slipped from my face.
"Hmph! Still playing dumb, are you? Let's see if I don't take your soul." The Ghost Soldier, seeing that I was ignoring him, became angry and, from seemingly nowhere, took out a rope and looped it around my neck.
Is this where my life ends? No, I am young and certainly don't want to die. I grabbed the rope around my neck, ducked down, and escaped.
Just as I was about to flee out of the room, it stopped me.
"Hehe, young man, have you forgotten me already?"
I paused slightly, could it be that he knew me? I put aside the thought of escaping and took a closer look, finding the person somewhat familiar, but I couldn't remember where I had seen him.
Suddenly, it hit me. Wasn't this the same person from the chaotic graveyard before? Wasn't he taken away by Black and White Impermanence?
After some conversation, I learned that after being taken back to the Underworld by Black and White Impermanence, the King of Hell saw that he had done many good deeds in life and knew some spells, so he took a liking to him and asked if he would like to escape the pain of the cycle of rebirth forever. When he agreed, the King of Hell granted him a golden body, restored his mana, and promoted him to the position of Judge.
This trip to reap souls was like an internship for him, and once he reaped nine hundred and ninety-nine souls, he could take office formally.
I, of course, congratulated him. After all, we were acquaintances, and when I would eventually go down, at least I would have someone to look after me.
After some idle chat, he scolded me, saying that the thing most taboo when Ghost Soldiers handle a case is being spied on. If any onlooker is discovered, their soul could be directly reaped and brought to the Underworld to await judgment.
The reason he had looped the rope around my neck before was just to scare me, also to remind me. He said that if it had been someone else, by now they might be drinking tea in the Underworld.
Suddenly, he sniffed hard with his nose, turned, and walked through the wall. Not long after, he led someone back into my hospital room, and the person he was leading was the old cleaning lady from before.
I, of course, wanted to understand the meaning behind the words she had said before, but no matter how I inquired, she remained silent.
I looked at the Ghost Soldier pleadingly. He shook his head and said it was impossible; once bound by the Soul-binding Rope, one would lose consciousness, like a walking corpse, only recovering their senses after reaching the Underworld.
Then why was I unharmed? His explanation was simple, because before, he had only put the Soul-binding Rope around my neck without binding it.
I suddenly recalled the time at the chaotic graveyard when he mentioned that there would be a great calamity concerning my life and fortune. Hence, I asked what it was and how to break it.
He sighed, shook his head, and said that now that he was a Ghost Soldier, he couldn't reveal the secrets of heaven or he would suffer eternally and never be able to turn over a new leaf.
When there was a chance to speak before, he didn't have the opportunity, and now that he had the opportunity, he couldn't speak. It seems I was destined to face that great calamity alone; it was all fate.
Before leaving, he left me with one piece of advice, saying one mustn't be overly persistent in all matters and should act according to one's capabilities. He also warned that this hospital was not very peaceful and that I should be careful.
After saying these things, he led the old lady through the window, slowly drifting towards the row of people. With a flash of silver light, he and the others sank into the ground like dropping into a swamp.
His words seemed to be intricately connected with the old lady's reminder, but I couldn't figure out what they were trying to convey. Could it be related to the great calamity? That remains unknown. I'll just have to take it one step at a time.
Wuuu wuuu wuuu wuuu
Hmm? It seems I heard someone sobbing softly. Who could it be? A relative of the old cleaning lady?