Rabbit Must Die
Chapter 474 - 86: The Heavenly Court Holds a Meeting_1

Chapter 474: Chapter 86: The Heavenly Court Holds a Meeting_1

Having spoken, Li Jing tried to leave, but Taibai Star Monarch grabbed him and said, "Heavenly Lord, calm down. You won’t be able to catch up even if you go now."

Li Jing, anxious, said, "Am I supposed to just do nothing then?"

Taibai Star Monarch said, "Heavenly Lord, don’t panic. Judging from my investigation of that road over the years, although there has been a problem, there hasn’t been any deaths so far. It shouldn’t pose a life-threatening danger."

Li Jing asked, "Really?"

Taibai Star Monarch nodded and affirmed, "Truly!"

Only then did Li Jing breathe a sigh of relief, but still said with concern, "I’ll go find my master for help. No matter what, I can’t let anything happen to him."

After speaking, Li Jing hurried off.

When Li Jing was far away, Mighty Spirit God carefully said, "Star Monarch, although no one has died on that road, a lot of people have gone missing. The Works Department..."

"You know that’s enough, don’t speak out of turn," Taibai Star Monarch interrupted Mighty Spirit God’s words.

With a bitter face, Mighty Spirit God nodded and said, "Fine... What about Lord Haihui of Three Realms?"

Taibai Star Monarch rubbed his temples and said, "I’ll think of a solution, ah... I also don’t know what exactly happened in the Netherworld. How could such a well-constructed Sky-reaching Road run into problems?"

Having spoken, Taibai Star Monarch left as well.

Meanwhile, in Emperor Gouchen’s palace, Emperor Ziwei sat opposite Gouchen with a helpless expression and said, "You really don’t plan to repair the Three Immortals Road?"

Emperor Gouchen replied with a wry smile, "What can I do now? Shall I let that rabbit return? If he comes back, will the Heavenly Court ever have peace again?"

Emperor Ziwei said, "Your conduct today..."

Emperor Gouchen waved his hand dismissively and cursed, "That bastard, the Jade Emperor, ran off without even telling me the rabbit’s background! Damn it, I’m in a real bind now. Although I made a fool of myself today, as long as that rabbit doesn’t come back, I’m satisfied."

Emperor Ziwei was left speechless for a while before he finally said, "My friend, I’ve also looked into the rabbit’s past. Although he has no regard for the laws, he’s not inherently evil. If you sincerely admit your error, you should..."

Gouchen glared and said, "Apologize to him? Impossible! Absolutely impossible! It’s already a miracle I haven’t killed him."

Emperor Ziwei challenged back, "Do you dare?"

Emperor Gouchen was left speechless...

After a long moment, Emperor Gouchen sighed and said, "Let me think some more."

Emperor Ziwei smiled and said, "You better think quickly. You’ve seen it yourself; the rabbit’s strength is rapidly increasing. If he ascends to heaven on his own, an apology won’t be enough to fix things. Moreover, the rabbit can’t continue to cultivate. Otherwise, the trouble will be endless."

Emperor Gouchen nodded, closed his eyes, and fell silent, evidently struggling with himself.

Emperor Ziwei got up to leave, returning to the Ziwei Star.

At the same time, in the Netherworld, inside the grand hall of the Judicial Division.

A man with a black gauze hat on his head and a rhinoceros horn belt around his waist, was holding a tablet made of ivory. He was dressed in a netted robe, with powdery-soled boots on his feet, wisps of cloud and mist swirling under him. His hair and beard were disheveled and fluttering around his ears and cheeks as he leaned over the desk. On the desk lay a large book, his hand grasping a writing brush, and his drunken eyes blurred as he shook his head, with the brush in his hand similarly wavering...

Muttering complaints to himself, he grumbled, "Called back in the midst of a drinking session to check this damn lifespan? An annual check, what’s there to check?"

This person was none other than the head of the Judicial Division of the Netherworld, one of the Four Divisions of the Netherworld, Judge Cui Jue.

Cui Jue was originally a high-ranking official during the prosperous Tang Dynasty and was posthumously appointed as a judge because of his merits. He took charge of the Judicial Division managing tasks such as extending the lifespan of the righteous and sending the wicked to the Yin Realm. There were minor inspections monthly and a major one annually.

Of course, with countless beings between heaven and earth, not even the immortal Cui Jue could inspect each and every one personally. Thus, he would randomly select a few to scrutinize; it was just a matter of who was unlucky that day.

Perhaps, one might curiously ask, isn’t the lifespan of all creatures predetermined in the Book of Life and Death?

That being said, the preordained lifespan isn’t fixed.

The lifespan noted in the Book of Life and Death is automatically generated after a being’s reincarnation and is usually set at the maximum. For example, if a human can live up to 120 years, then the lifespan noted would be 120 years.

After which, the Judicial Division adjusts this lifespan based on a variety of factors reflecting the deeds of the creature in the mortal world, whether to increase it or decrease it. When the allotted time expires, if the individual has died, they are managed by another division. If not, the Judicial Division sends someone to forcibly take the soul to be processed by another division.

Today happened to be the day of the annual major inspection, but Cui Jue had been pulled away to drink by another judge, Zhong Kui. He only returned to work, shouted by his subordinates, after becoming utterly intoxicated.

Now, Cui Jue was looking at everything in front of him with a befuddled face. In a daze, he spotted that a rabbit’s lifespan was blank!

Cui Jue snorted and said, "How could a rabbit’s lifespan be blank?"

So, Cui Jue carelessly filled in fifteen years.

Then he saw, appearing behind the Book of Life and Death, the words "Lifespan Exhausted" in large letters!

Smacking his lips, Cui Jue said with a bit of pride, "Keen observation, heh... Little rabbit, go reincarnate."

After finishing, Cui Jue called out, "Where are Black and White Impermanence? Go, bring back this rabbit!"

Black and White Impermanence, who stood by the door playing their timeless game of seeing whose tongue was longer, upon hearing this, hurried in. After understanding Cui Jue’s order, the two glanced at each other, then bowed and accepted the order before leaving.

White Impermanence, known as Xie Bi’an, represented positive forces. Often showing a smiling face, he was tall and thin with a ghastly white complexion, a long tongue hanging from his mouth. His official hat bore the words "Wealth upon sight," bestowing good fortune to those respectful of deities in the human realm and honored with titles like "Living Impermanence" and "Lord White." He drew out female souls and dissipated female spirits.

Black Impermanence, named Fan Wujiu, represented negative forces. He had a fierce appearance, being broad and fat with a short stature, dark face, and his official hat read "Peace throughout the world," indicating no mercy for those who defied the law and bore guilt, hence being honored as "Lord Shorty" or "Lord Black." He absorbed the masculine souls and scattered masculine spirits.

White Impermanence perpetually stuck out his tongue, and Black Impermanence always felt he was showing off. Therefore, Black Impermanence would also stick out his tongue from time to time, then compare lengths with White Impermanence.

Of course, Black Impermanence was thoroughly beaten every time, but he possessed a stubborn spirit of never yielding, regardless of countless defeats!

At this moment, White Impermanence Xie Bi’an and Black Impermanence Fan Wujiu walked along while sneakily glancing back at the slowly receding Judicial Division, quietly discussing.

"Well... The boss is drunk again," said Black Impermanence, Fan Wujiu.

White Impermanence nodded in agreement and added, "Indeed, you hear him speaking? His tongue is even bigger than mine."

Black Impermanence said, "Next time, I’ll go and compete with him to see whose tongue is longer..."