Extra – The Past History of Black and White

On a heavy snow day – in the dead of winter – a young man was walking on a deserted mountain path with a two- or three-year-old child on his back. The child was tightly wrapped in a fur coat. It was a stark contrast to the man who only wore a thin cloth. However, the man’s face was still rosy, without any sign of being cold at all…

A series of footprints had been left on the winding mountain road, but it was soon covered by the heavy snow again… The man stopped and put down the child on his back. He dug out a frozen young boy from the snowdrift on the side of the road…

Soon, the man disappeared into the forest with his son on his back and the young boy in his arms…

…………

Cang Sheng lit a fire in a small cave and put his precious son aside. The chubby boy – Cang Ming – has been sleeping soundly. The boy who was found on the road just now had not woken up yet, so Cang Sheng simply hugged him in his arms and kept rubbing his little hands. This boy should be a “freak” in the eyes of others because he has silver-white hair. Cang Sheng could sense the fox spirit in him. It seemed that the fox’s blood was running in this child’s veins.

The child was in a pitiful state – all skin and bones. He was only wearing tattered clothes made up of rough linen on such a freezing day. Also, the straw sandals on his feet were not exactly shaped like a sandal, but – in Cang Sheng’s eyes – more of strands of straws randomly wrapped on the kid’s feet.

Cang Sheng thought of the wine, so he walked to the entrance of the cave and picked up a handful of snow from the ground then lightly blew on it. The snow in his hand turned into a fragrant wine, some of it trickled in between his fingers – just use the mouth as a container for this time!

…………

The following parts of the text will be scrambled to prevent theft from aggregators and unauthorized epub making. Please support our translators by reading on secondlifetranslations (dot) com. If you are currently on the site and and you are seeing this, please clear your cache.

Fssd, vbl uswdt csu kd Uydt Fbldt’p yaxp easopkzu osjl wr. Ebld bl pyo Uydt Fbldt, bkp lulp okeldle kd qlya.

“Ubkze, obyv’p uswa dyxl?” Uydt Fbldt – cu dyvwal – zkjle nbkzeald. Ebld bl pyo vbyv vbl uswdt csu oyp pvyavkdt vs oyjl wr, okvb y pxkzl, bl ypjle ycswv vbl nbkze’p cynjtaswde. Tl yzalyeu elnkele vbyv kq vbl csu oyp bsxlzlpp, bl oswze vyjl bkx kd. Tl dllele yd yrraldvknl yduoyu!

Mbl uswdt nbkze, obs bye fwpv osjld wr qasx vbl wdlmrlnvle oyaxvb, pllxle vs dsv cl ldvkalzu yoyjl yde oyp dsv yczl vs ydpola bkx. Uydt Fbldt bwttle bkx nzspl yde xshle nzspla vs vbl qkal. Tl vsal sqq vbl csu’p asvvkdt pydeyzp yde awccle bkp nsze, pxyzz qllv okvb bkp oyax bydep…

Mbl uswdt nbkze zssjle yv vbkp “tldvzl ckt casvbla” kd clokzelaxldv… ‘Ebu kp vbkp rlapsd eskdt vbkp? Yu qllv yal ps ekavu, nshlale kd xwe yde ewpv. Ebu eslp bl dsv nyal yv yzz…?’&dcpr;

“Yu dyxl kp Uydt Fbldt. Zsw nyd altyae xl yp y… Ulzlpvkyz Yypvla! Llmv vs xl kp xu psd Uydt Ykdt, obs kp vos yde y byzq ulyap sze… Ps usw xkde vlzzkdt xl uswa dyxl? Tso sze yal usw? Eblal es usw zkhl? R nyd vyjl usw vs uswa bsxl.” Uydt Fbldt ypjle nbllaqwzzu obkzl awcckdt bkp qllv.

“R…xyucl… 12 ulyap sze. R byhl ds dyxl…yde ds bsxl…”

“Omnlzzldv!”&dcpr;&dcpr;

“Ebyv?” Mbl csu vbswtbv bl blyae vbl xyd oasdt…

“Oh, oh…I mean it’s very pitiful…” (—__—|||), “You…why don’t you even have a name?”

Recalling his past, the child’s expression became flat. “Everyone says I’m a monster and I bring misfortune. I have parents, but I can’t remember what they look like… I don’t have a name. The children in my village would call me a monster, and they bully me…”

Cang Sheng stared at him. The boy’s body was covered with bruises and marks made by nails and branches… “Your parents abandoned you?”

“Maybe… They shouldn’t have given birth to me in the first place …”

“Who said that?!” Cang Sheng hugged him tighter, passing more of his body heat to him. “Every life that descends into this world has its purpose. I believe that God arranged everyone’s life for a reason…”

“I don’t want my life! I don’t want to live! I don’t want God’s arrangement…” The young boy cried silently.

“Do you know what God’s arrangement for you is? He did that so our lives would cross paths.”

The boy looked at Cang Sheng with confusion, ‘What does this person mean?’

“From today onwards, my life, my small family, and even my name will be intertwined with yours, okay?” Cang Sheng picked up a dry branch from the ground and wrote: Cang Cheng. “The word ‘Cheng’ can be pronounced as Sheng and Cheng. My wife calls me ‘Sheng,’ so you will be ‘Cheng’…”

…………

Cang Sheng let go of his Cheng Cheng, picked up a torch, and walked deep into the cave. “You wait for me here for a while!”

“Hey, Cang…Master…where are you going?”

“This is a tomb. I’m here to steal something from the dead!” Cang Cheng thought: ‘(—__—|||)…I thought you are a celestial master, and not a tomb raider…?’

“I want to come with you!” It was the first time Cheng Cheng met a kind-hearted person who didn’t dislike him, so he wanted to be with him no matter what! He was very afraid that the person would never come back.

Cheng Cheng unsteadily stood up and immediately followed Cang Sheng. Cang Sheng smiled, handed him the torch, and went back to carry his son along with him…

…………

The tomb should belong to a wealthy family. Cheng Cheng followed Cang Sheng to the main room of the tomb. Its walls painted with exquisite murals, and the mahogany coffins were inlaid with gold. And it also contained exceptional funerary objects. Without surveying his surrounding, Cang Sheng promptly opened the coffin. The corpse inside was dressed splendidly. After fumbling for a while, Cang Sheng pulled six 3-inch nails from its body and said, “It’s such a waste to use all seven-star nails on you. One should be enough for you. I am taking the rest!”

Just as he was about to close the coffin, Cang Sheng hesitated. He looked at the mummified corpse and then at Cheng Cheng, who was in tattered clothes…

…………

After that, there was only a “naked corpse” left in that coffin… (—__—|||)

*——*——*——*—*——*—*——*——*——*——*——*——*——*—*

A few weeks later, the family of Cang Sheng stayed in the cave again…

“Master… I should not follow you anymore…” Cheng Cheng knew that Cang Sheng could not have any more “business” because of Cheng Cheng’s strange color hair.

“Why? I think you are very smart. You quickly picked up everything that I have taught you. Where can I find such a good apprentice?”

“But… I am a freak. Everyone is afraid of me!… Yesterday, in Chen’s family Village, when the villagers saw my hair… That’s why they didn’t want you to do the ritual!”

“No, I set the price too high…”

“No! It’s me! I’m a monster… I bring disaster wherever I go…” This kind of inferiority complex has been haunting Cheng Cheng’s mind ever since he was old enough to comprehend his situation.

Cang Sheng was empathetic to this well-behaved child. He untied his bun, looked at his black hair, and was silently in a daze…

…………

The next day, when Cheng Cheng woke up, he was stunned by the person in front of him… His master’s black hair became silvery white, shining under the bright sun.

His master gently smiled at him.

“Big… Master…”

“Are you awake? How is it? My hair is now the same as yours…”

Cheng Cheng was in a daze. “Why has master’s hair become like that?

“In this way, you are no longer different. Because we are now of the same kind…” Cang Sheng smiled. He seemed to always smile like this…

—— ‘Could it be that this person is God’s arrangement for me…’ Cheng Cheng thought

…………

*——*——*——*—*——*—*——*——*——*——*——*——*——*—*

Ten years later.

With persevering strength, the name “Silver-haired Celestial Master” became famous in the faction of celestial masters.

Cang Ming had grown into a handsome young lad. He was also much taller than Cheng Cheng when he was 12 years old! Meanwhile, Master Cang Sheng was still as handsome as before. And Cheng Cheng – with the fox blood in his veins – became breathtakingly beautiful when he grew older! Ever since Cang Sheng’s hair turned white, their family projected a mysterious persona. With their “half-human, half-god” image, commoners inexplicably and fervently started to worship them! Eventually, the enigmatic Cang family settled down in Chang’an*.

*Chang’an was the capital city for a long time in Ancient China. 

…………

“Cheng Cheng, the food you cooked was so delicious! When you went out to do errands last time, the food dad made was only edible for ghosts!” Cang Ming didn’t like to call Cheng Cheng “Senior Brother.” He would, instead, affectionately call him “Cheng Cheng.” Since that was what his daddy would call him too! Cang Ming always felt that such an endearing name should not only be exclusively said by his father!

“It’s just that I haven’t cooked for a long time. I made everything you ate when you were a child!” Cang Sheng thought: ‘As the child grew older, the unrulier he became!’

“Who knows what you gave to me when I was a child?! You are an old man who can’t even taste rotten food! I feel too anxious just eating the food you cooked!”

“Your mother died early. When you were a child, you grew up eating the white rice porridge and fish soup I cooked!” After speaking, Cang Sheng put a fish in his mouth.

While holding his rice bowl, Cheng Cheng happily watched his master and his son argue. The atmosphere was full of joy and very harmonious. Also, the master really liked to eat fish. It was just that…

“Cheng… the fish bone… got stuck…”

  (-__-)……That was what always happened.

Then Cang Sheng would open his mouth wide and fall into Cheng Cheng’s arms, letting Cheng Cheng help him pinch the fishbone out…

…………

It was winter again. The people of Mingzhou released an enormous amount just to hire a master that could eliminate the demons.

And Mingzhou was the place where Cheng Cheng and the Master first met.

Feeling nostalgic, Cheng Cheng set foot on this land again.

As soon as the three of them arrived, they immediately felt the intense demonic aura in the village. The villagers took them to the foot of a hazy mountain and left immediately when the sun had started to set. The villagers had told them that the monsters would eat children. Moreover, every few months – usually on a full moon – the monsters would come out to look for food. This has already been happening for seven or eight years. At first, the villagers didn’t know why numerous children were missing. Until a tomb raider broke into a tomb three years ago, they saw the countless bones of children scattered everywhere. They finally realized that something sinister was going on!

In the next three years, the villagers invited many Taoist priests to subdue the demons. But unfortunately, the priests never came back. The demons became more and more fierce and began to wreak havoc in the city. So a few rich men in the city collected some money and invited the illustrious Cang family to subdue the demon…

…………

“Master, isn’t this the tomb where you took the six of the Seven Star Nails away?” Cheng Cheng recognized the small cave.

Cang Sheng had a very bad feeling in his heart, “That’s right. I hope the villagers didn’t suffer because of me…”

The young and frivolous Cang Ming didn’t care what his father was thinking. He just wanted to show his skills in front of his father. “Father, I believe the monster inside is nothing special. Let me go in first and fight with it!”

“No!” Cheng Cheng held him back. “You have to at least know what kind of monster is there inside!”

“Wouldn’t you know it once you see it?!” Cang Ming pulled out his sword, confidently treading towards the cave…

“It’s a snake demon.” Cang Sheng suddenly said, “I can smell it!”

“Okay! Now that we know it is a snake demon. It will be easier to deal with it!” Cang Ming has always despised reptiles.

“No way! You stay outside. Let Cheng Cheng and I go in!” Cang Sheng smelled the scent of danger in the air.

Cheng Cheng also felt that something was amiss this time. He suggested that everyone should stay outside the tomb and smoke it out with sulfur. Cang Ming knew that he could not go in, so it would be better to let everyone wait outside, so he kept nodding. Cang Sheng also agreed…

Once the sun had finally set, the sky immediately darkened. The forest was filled with a strong smell of sulfur. After they waited for a long time – similar to exhausting a lit-up incense stick – there was still no movement from the cave…

“Master, maybe it’s.. not a snake demon?” Cheng Cheng was puzzled. According to past experience, the snake demon should “smell the fragrance and come out of the hole”!

“It’s a snake demon. I can’t be wrong. There may be another exit from this tomb…”

“Another exit?”

…………

Cang Ming didn’t have much patience. He was originally full of enthusiasm and energy. But after remaining in place for a while, his eyes began to almost roll up… However, he still listened to the conversation between his father and Cheng Cheng…

“Dad! I want to shit…”

“Do it here!” Why wasn’t his son as well-behaved as the young Cheng Cheng?

“No! What if the monster comes out and bites my ass? I’ll hide behind the bushes!”

“Okay, go ahead!” Cang Sheng quickly focused on the tomb again…

Cang Ming hid behind the bushes and ran away immediately… “I want to find the other exit, kill the snake demon, and cut it into pieces for my dad to see! Hehe…“

…………

Cang Ming meticulously searched under the pitch-dark night. Using his sensitive nose, he sniffed the ever-changing scent of sulfur in the air. As long as there was a sharp scent of concentrated sulfur in a specific area, there must be another exit! 

…………

On the other side of the cave.

“Master… are you worried about the nails you took away ten years ago…”

“Yes… I didn’t think about it that much at the time… Maybe this tragedy happened because of me…”

“That may not be…Maybe the monster later occupied this cave…”

“You don’t need to comfort me. I believe it’s time to return those nails. It’s all because of my greediness…By the way, where is Ming Ming? What’s taking him so long?

“Oh, I’ll go look for him.” Cheng Cheng ran to the bushes but found no one. He called a few times before he was sure that Cang Ming was gone! “Master, Ming Ming is gone!”

…………

Cang Ming discovered a small hole. It was enough for a person to crawl in. Nevertheless, for a snake, this size should be no problem. Clenching the sword in his hand, he discreetly hid behind a tree downwind, priming himself up as he waited for the snake…

While Cang Ming was secretly delighted over his imminent contribution, a black figure was lying in wait from a tree…

…………

“Master, I’ll stay here. You go find Ming Ming!”

“No! I’m worried about you being here alone! We should look for him together…” Although Cheng Cheng had lived with him for ten years and had learned everything, he still didn’t feel at ease leaving him alone.

“Ah~~~~~Daddy~~~~~!!!” Cang Ming’s frightened cry for help came from the west side of the forest!

Ming Ming!

The two immediately ran toward where the scream came from and saw two entangled figures in the darkness. It was Cang Ming and…a mummy?

Cang Ming’s martial arts training didn’t end in vain. He straight away got rid of the mummy before his father and Cheng Cheng could help him! However, his face and neck were covered in bloody scratches left by the mummy’s nails!

“Father!” Cang Ming stumbled to his father’s side. What happened to him this time scared him to death. He thought he was over!

“Stupid! How could you run out here alone?!” Cang Sheng regretted that he was not strict enough with his son. He could have died!

Meanwhile, Cheng Cheng tore off a piece of cloth and immediately bandaged Cang Ming’s wound, “Scold him later. We should subdue the monster first!” Some of his wounds were too deep; they may leave scars in the future.

Cang Ming pointed at the mummy and said breathlessly: “Father, you are a liar. It is not a snake demon at all! I stabbed it several times, but he didn’t respond at all! Huh…huh…”

The three of them calmed down and stared at the strange mummy. Tonight was a full moon. Under the moonlight’s brilliance, a spot on the back of the mummy’s left hand was illuminated. Cang Sheng deduced that this was the mummy where he pulled out six of the Star Nails from, and the bright spot was the seventh nail that didn’t take with him.

“I understand…” Cang Cheng finally understood, “You are a snake demon. However, since your body was destroyed, you were then attached to this person’s body. In addition, you were nailed by someone with the Seven-star nails, so you’re stuck inside that body and left to slumber here forever. Later – because I pulled out most of the nails – its power was greatly reduced. Thus, enabling you to temporarily come out during the full moon and harm people!”

“Oh… that’s right… that damn Taoist priest has sealed me here for seventy years. And this mummified corpse belonged to that stinky Taoist priest! Thank you very much…” The mummy spoke, putrid air coming out of its shriveled mouth. 

“Monster! I will return the other six nails to you!” Cang Sheng took out the six of the Seven-star nails from his sleeve.

The mummy laughed loudly, “Monster? Are you not a monster yourself? Haha…”

“Monster? How dare you say that my father is a monster?!” Cang Ming suddenly raised his sword and rushed forward. There no time to stop him! The mummy raised his stiff, left hand to block the sword…

“Ming Ming——stop!”

But it was too late… The dry left hand of the mummy was easily cut off by Cang Ming…

“Hahaha!! Finally! Such an opportunity has come to me! Hehehe…Hahaha…” The mummy suddenly toppled over. Its eerie laughter filled the gloomy forest, and the demonic atmosphere suddenly heightened.

“Father! What’s going on?” Cang Ming was terrified.

“It came out…” Sheng Sheng replied, “There was a nail embedded on the hand that you just chopped off. By cutting off the hand, the nail’s restrain on the demon was also severed, setting it free…”

Cang Sheng looked around calmly, “Cheng, Ming, stay close to me…”

Now, Cang Ming obediently did what his father told and quickly stuck to his side.

The snake demon kept wandering around them, looking for an opportunity to attack… Children were the easiest to control…

Sensing that the demon snake had stopped, Cang Sheng suddenly transformed himself into a ball of white light and shot out to the sky. The calm wind instantly became turbulent. Sand, stones, and other debris flew everywhere. They couldn’t clearly see anything, only the vague images of the ongoing fight between the white light and malevolent shadow. Cang Ming shouted in fear: “Father! Cheng! What is happening?!”

“I don’t know… I don’t know…” Cheng Cheng tightly held the frightened boy and hid behind a large tree, sheltering themselves from the stormy wind. He was aware that the opponent this time was formidable. No wonder the predecessor had to restrain him with seven nails!

…

“What should I do… what should I do…” Cheng Cheng knew that he couldn’t help the master now. Maybe the only thing he could do was not to cause trouble!

Cang Ming suddenly saw the mummified corpse’s amputated hand flying from the strong wind and dropped close to where he was at. He then broke free from Cheng Cheng’s clutches and rushed over to pick up the severed hand – the nail was still in it!

Noticing this, the evil spirit approached him in an instant!

“Cheng! Take Cang Ming away!” It was the master’s voice! Cheng Cheng understood that the snake demon’s target was Cang Ming! It was looking for a new body! But it was too late. The dark shadow was rushing swiftly; the white light behind it couldn’t stop it!

“Ming——!” Cheng Cheng flew towards him… Cang Ming just pulled out the nail when he was pushed a few feet away by a great force. Moreover, he dropped the nail in his hand!

Recovering from the shock, he hurriedly rose from the ground, only to see his father standing there and staring at Cheng Cheng stupidly. Blood was trickling down from the corner of Cang Sheng’s mouth, dripping onto his clothes. ‘Daddy is injured?! What about Cheng Cheng? Why is he trembling?’

“You monster! You will perish with me!” —— Cheng Cheng suddenly took the nail that Cang Ming had dropped on the ground and stabbed it hard into his left hand!

“Great–great master…give me the remaining nails…”

“I can’t!” Cang Sheng’s head went blank. He had clearly thought about it just now, if the snake demon got into Cang Ming’s body, he had to definitely kill his son righteously! “Why? Why can’t I do it when it’s already unfolding before me? Is it because it’s Cheng Cheng?”

The snake demon in Cheng Cheng’s body yelled in pain: “Ah~~~~~!! Why do you have the bloodline of that thousand-year-old fox?!! Let me go! Let me go!”

“You can’t control me…” Cheng Cheng smiled in pain. His pale face covered with cold sweat. “Stop struggling…”

…………

“Father…Father…” Cang Ming could only call out helplessly at this time. He already roughly understood what was going on…

…………

“Give it to me! I can’t control it anymore!” Cheng Cheng yelled in pain. The snake demon was scurrying around inside him! However, his master was still hesitating…

“Then I have to do it myself!” Resolutely, Cheng Cheng rushed up to knock Cang Sheng down, grabbed the nails, and immediately drove one into his right leg! The snake demon screamed in pain…

“Stop!” Cang Sheng rushed over and hugged Cheng Cheng, “No! You are my Cheng! I can’t lose you! This is all my fault. Let me bear all that pain…”

“Go away! Go away! Didn’t you always say that the world is the most important before everything? For me… ‘Cang Sheng’ will always be my priority… I want to carry those burdens of yours…” 

The two were in a stalemate. Cheng Cheng’s gaze turned to Cang Ming: “Ming Ming, if you have any sense with you, quickly pull your father away. Your father is seriously injured. If I lose control, you and master, and many other poor people may die too…so please…”

Cang Ming – drastically maturing – rushed forward and tried his best to pull his father away. He recalled that his father was indeed injured. On the other hand, Cang Sheng didn’t even have the strength to break free from his son’s hold.

“Cheng… Cheng…” Cang Sheng started crying helplessly like a child…

Cheng Cheng gritted his teeth and quickly drove the nails into his left knee, right abdomen, left shoulder, and right arm… The blood that spewed out almost converged  into one river on his body… The snake demon let out a desperate scream. At the bottom of the mountain, the villagers heard the shrilling sound from the forest, and could not help but shudder…

“Master… You said that what God has arranged in people’s lives has its own purpose… I am very satisfied with how special my life became. I will forever remember it… Thank you, my master…  Please don’t feel sorry for me in the future…” He raised his head, smiled, took the last nail with both hands, and stabbed it at the top of his head…

…………

The life I shared with you started and ended here…

Thank you for letting me be part of your life…

…………

I think I love you…

…………

*——*——*——*—*——*—*——*——*——*——*——*——*——*—*

“Father… where are you going to bury Cheng Cheng?”

“To a place that no one can reach…”

“Where is that?”

“There is no need to tell you……”  

“Father…I’m sorry…it’s all my fault…but…”

“No, it’s my fault. Cheng took responsibility for the mistakes I made. And I have to carry the pain he had left me… I’m leaving. Wait for me back home.”

*——*——*——*—*——*—*——*——*——*——*——*——*——*—*

“The lifespan that you had was not yet over. Sadly, you don’t have another chance for another lifetime. Do you want to stay here in the Underworld and work as an official?”

Facing the “consolation” from the judge of the Underworld, Cheng Cheng remained silent.

“Everyone’s life has already been preordained. Maybe this encounter of ours is already fated to happen…”

“Preordained fate? Was your offer also foreordained? My life doesn’t end here?

Cheng Cheng gazed at this gentle judge. With the judge’s innocent eyes and smiling mouth, Cheng Cheng did not have the desire to refuse.

…………

Cheng Cheng stood by the Styx River, watching the boats ferry the souls of the dead every day. The Judge seemed to know what he was thinking so sent him here and said to him: “Maybe… You will meet the person you want to meet one day!”

Since then, one more reflection of loneliness was waiting on the bank of the long river of Styx. Cheng had waited by the river for six years…

The butterflies of the Underworld often draw water from the river and would stop on Cheng Cheng’s shoulder to rest. When Cheng Cheng felt lonely, he would tell these little fluorescent butterflies who he had been missing in his heart…

“Master, I miss you so much… Do you know it? I will always be here waiting for you…I am sure I will see you again…and then I will tell you…”

…………

*——*——*——*—*——*—*——*——*——*——*——*——*——*—*

“Father, I’ve always wanted to ask you. Why did your hair turn black?”

“Because there is no need for it being white.”

“Father, what is in your hand? It doesn’t seem to be something from the human world…”

“It’s the butterfly of the Underworld…it conveys the dead’s longing for their loved ones…”

“Then will they see Cheng Cheng?”

“Yes, they should be… Of course… Ming, how old are you this year?”

“Eighteen years old! Why do you ask me this?”

“Eighteen… You are an adult now…You don’t need your father’s care anymore…”

“Father, what do you mean?!”

“Actually, I’m not a human being. I’m a spirit… It’s time I should go back to where I came from.”

“Father, what are you talking about? I don’t understand!”

“It doesn’t matter if you understand it or not. Anyway, I hope you live well in the future…”

“Father…”

  “Sleep early!”  

…………

The next day, Cang Ming never saw his father again. Only a heron’s feather remained on his bed…

*——*——*——*—*——*—*——*——*——*——*——*——*—*

When the ferry boat docked, another batch of souls came to the Underworld. Afterward, the boat rowed back to the other side to fetch the next batch. Cheng Cheng just stood in place, never stopped looking and waiting for that missing figure…

“Hey! Something is wrong! There’s a monster breaking into the Underworld! Little Cheng (Cheng Cheng), let’s go together and take a look!” The talking one was the new ghost guard Ah-Fu who guarded the Styx river. He idled around all day, liked gossips and spreading gossip.

“No, I’m not interested… You can go alone.”

“You are so boring! You are like a lifeless dead man all day long!”

“I am of course a dead person…”

(—__—|||)…

In the Underworld, everything has nothing to do with Cheng…

…………

About two hours later, Ah-Fu came back with a devastated face…

“What’s wrong?” Cheng Cheng asked.

“That damned evildoer! He injured the White Impermanence!”

“How about that evildoer?”

“Let him leave so easily! He was injured and fell into the Six Paths of Reincarnation, probably reincarnated!”

“Why is there a monster?”

“I heard that he came to the Underworld to ask for someone! That beast who thinks he is benevolent and righteous, relying on his own magic power, acts without order and law, and comes to the Underworld to make trouble! He should be punished to death?! Don’t you think so?”

“Oh, oh…” Cheng Cheng was too lazy to talk to him…

…………

On the second day, Lord Judge Shi appeared in front of Cheng Cheng for the second time.

“I want you to take the position of the White Impermanence…”

“What happened to Master White?”

“Yesterday, his soul was scattered by a goblin. In desperation, he had to be reincarnated as a human being. In this way, his souls can be preserved, but one soul completely dissipated… I think Little White will never come back….so…”

“I don’t have that ability.”

“I think you have. Besides, the Black Impermanence will help you…”

“I just want to stay here…”

“Do you want to wait until he comes? Rather than waiting here, you might as well go to the Human World to look for him…”

…………

Hence, Cheng Cheng became the new Little White.

The Black and White Impermanence were high-ranking officials in the Underworld that would often travel to the Human World. Since becoming the White Impermanence, Cheng Cheng did not need to keep waiting in the Underworld. He could go out and possibly meet his master.

…………

*——*——*——*—*——*—*——*——*——*——*——*——*—*

“Senior, there is still time before the next switch. Can I go someplace?” After perfectly completing a task, Little White made this request to senior Little Black.

This Black Impermanence liked acting and often entertained himself with it. In addition to teaching Little White his work experience and boxing skills, he often taught Little White acting skills. The melancholic Little White became more cheerful because of him!

  “Where are you going?”  

“Chang’an.”

“Alright. Anyway, this is a personal matter of yours. I’ll wait for you at the gate of the Underworld…” Little Black smiled mischievously.

  “Thanks!”

…………

Little White returned to Chang’an where he had left ten years ago. “Has the Master turned old? Ming should be an adult now…”

Little White went straight into into a particular yard where Cang Ming was busy washing diapers. It seemed his Master was a grandfather now…

“Ming Ming…” Little White called softly.

Cang Ming raised his head and looked in disbelief at this person in snow white color! This beautiful figure was a mark that he could never erase from his heart. His departure was the deepest regret in Cang Ming’s life. But now, he was really standing in front of him…

“Cheng…you are Cheng Cheng…” The excited Cang Ming was speechless, his hands also stopping from washing the diapers.

Little White smiled. Little Black had ever said that one’s own happiness could be transmitted to others! “Yeah, I came back to see you! I’m the White Impermanence of the Underworld now!”

“Ah?! That’s amazing!”

“Where’s the Master?”

“Father? Father… He left four years ago…”

“Left? Where did he go?” Little White stopped laughing. After waiting for so long, he finally had the opportunity to come out to do his own private affairs. But why did his master suddenly disappeared?

“I don’t know… Dad said he was a monster, and left me behind after saying some inexplicable words! Oh! There is an item Dad left. I’ll show it to you!”

Cang Ming rushed into the house and then ran out again, holding a white feather in his hand. “This is it!”  

Little White took the feather, looked at it carefully, and sniffed it…it smelled like the Master. He understood a little bit.

“Cheng Cheng… I think it’s better for you to take the feather…”

“Why? Isn’t this what your father left you?”

“Since your death, Dad has changed a lot. He would often stare at the sky in bewilderment and repeat your name every night. Every time he ate, he would place an extra bowl and a pair of chopsticks on the table. Every time he washed clothes, he would also wash an article of your clothing, dry it, and then wash it again. If torn, he would make another one according to its original size. And after he left, this feather was placed on the pillow you had used.”  

“Master…” Tears started rolling from his eyes. “Is this the kind of life I left for Master?”

Suddenly, a baby’s cry came from the house.

“Ming! Come here quickly!” Ming’s wife called him.

Cang Ming hurried inside, “Cheng Cheng, come in and see my son! Cheng—” He turned around. The yard was empty…

…………

“Master must be concentrating on practicing somewhere in this world. As long as he achieves immortality, there will be a day when we can be reunited again! From the Underworld, I will definitely protect every child of the Cang family!”

*——*——*——*—*——*—*——*——*——*——*——*——*—*

Fifty years have passed in a flash. Little White has already come out of his hazy past. Coupled with his talent and excellent bloodline, he has already surpassed Little Black, earning the title of “Master White.” Maybe one day – when someone would call him “Cheng Cheng” – he would most likely not respond anymore.

One day, when he passed King Yama’s room, he saw the tall Little Black kneeling and sobbing! Both the Judge and King Yama frowned, looking heartbroken!

  “What happened? Little Black was fine just now! If something happened, why didn’t I know about it?” 

Little White could not leave. He was nailed in place right after he heard the name “Little White”…

“I can’t watch it anymore! I can’t watch Little White like that anymore…let me go…let me take care of him…” Little Black’s words were filled with heavy sorrow…”Every time he reincarnated as a human being, he is either an idiot or a fool. I watched him being strangled to death by his own mother… I watched him being bullied by other children and pushed into the river to drown… Or he lived on the street begging and was bullied by normal beggars! I have endured all of this… But in this life, he was sold to a brothel by his parents! Do you know that!? He is a fool. And in that kind of place, he will undergo something worse than death! He was your old subordinate as well as your friend… I know it’s not convenient for you to intervene, and you can’t intervene… But I can! As long as you let me go, you can find another Black Impermanence! You can do this! Please!!” 

Little White understood the person Little Black mentioned was not himself…

Neither King Yama nor Pan Pan answered. The room was filled with Little Black’ crying. His tears would well up, he would wipe them off with the back of his hand, welled up again, and wiped away again…

It turned out that the Black Impermanence, who usually joked and laughed around, had such a heavy load in his heart… Life was really like a play. And when it came to love, true feelings would not show themselves at the most crucial time…

…………

In the end, Little Black left the Underworld, heartbroken. He said that he would come back. Because from the moment he arrived in the Human World, he would always be with that former Little White, like a shadow. Whether it was in the Human World or in the Underworld…

Before leaving, he left behind a whip made out of white bones. He said, “This is originally a gift I wanted to give to Little White. But it’s not done yet. I wanted to give it to Little White as a gift for our thousand-year anniversary, but I don’t need it now… I’m giving it to you and hope you can finish this bone whip…”

  “I see……”  

“You are quite powerful now. That is why I can leave with confidence. Don’t lose your spirit just because I’m gone. Soon there will be a new Little Black who will work with you. Lord Shi’s choice has never been wrong… From now on, take good care of yourself, and don’t make everyone who loves you feel sad like my Little White…”

…………

Finally, Little Black left. He went to accompany his Little White. Even if his Little White was a fool or an idiot, it was better than their missing each other in two different places.

*——*——*——*—*——*—*——*——*——*——*——*——*——*—*

Fate’s arrival would sometimes take a long while.

The new Little Black didn’t appear until fifty years later. This was all due to Pan Pan’s picky nature. He often said to Little White – who was burdened with an overwhelming workload: “Quality over quantity! Quality over quantity!” However, Little White often complained that the Underworld just wanted to save money!

…………

On that day, a man (ghost?) named Bai Lu was tricked by Pan Pan to be taken to the Temple of King Yama. While he was considering whether to take the offer to become the Black Impermanence, Little White jumped in front of him and held his hand, saying: “You must be the new Little Black! I am Little White! I will be your work partner from now on! Please take care of me from now on!” —— Bai Lu thought: ‘A senior asking his junior to take care of him?! It’s also funny that a person surnamed Bai* will be a Black Impermanence…(—__—|||)’ 

*Bai means white in Chinese

For some reason, this future Little Black couldn’t resist Little White’s smile and instinctively wanted to get close to Little White, so he absentmindedly nodded… In this way, a new pair of “Black and White” was born, and it was still them up to this day……

THE END ^ ^