Opening my eyes to see a ghost

The eleventh layer is the Stone Press Hell, where people are driven to the top of a spire, holding aloft a huge rock the same size as their bodies, unable to put it down. At the same time, they must be careful not to fall off the tower, for below are steel spikes; if they fall upon them, they will be pierced into pulp.

The twelfth layer is the Pounder Hell, targeting those who squandered food in life. After death, they are brought here and thrown into a mortar to be pounded like grain, until they are smashed into meat paste. Once turned into meat paste, they are restored by a spell and pounded again, in an endless cycle.

The thirteenth layer is the Blood Pool Hell, where those who disrespected the elderly in life, or followed crooked paths, are brought after death to soak in the foul-smelling sea of blood, slowly rotting away.

The fourteenth layer is the Accidental Death Hell, and by accidental death, it doesn't mean death by misfortune. It refers to those who committed suicide. The King of Hell gave them the chance to be reborn as humans, but they didn't cherish it and took their own lives. Those who enter this layer are truly beyond redemption, unable even to be reincarnated as filthy insects.

The fifteenth layer houses the Crucifixion Hell, which has very few occupants. It is said that only the gravely wicked and evil are subjected to the suffering of this level.

The sixteenth layer is the Volcano Hell. This level encompasses a wide range of sins: embezzlement, bribery, petty theft, robbery, arson, and others. After death, the offenders are thrown into the volcano to be burned alive without dying. In addition, monks and Taoists who have broken their precepts are also cast into the volcano. The number of people in this layer is the most I have ever seen; it feels as if people are so packed that they can't even move.

The seventeenth layer is the Stone Mill Hell, which is the place commonly referred to when people speak of little demons turning the mill. This level mainly targets those who desecrated grains, thieves, corrupt officials, and those who oppressed the common people. After death, they are sent to the Stone Mill Hell to be ground into mincemeat. After being ground, their bodies are reconstructed only to be ground again. Above, the mill works, and below, there is a black dog licking the blood.

The eighteenth level, Saw Blade Hell, involves affixing a person upside-down to a wooden plank, then two Ghost Soldiers each holding an end, saw from the groin down, until even the head is split in two. This level is mainly for those who cut corners in work, deceived their superiors and subordinates, or trafficked women and children.

Having just finished visiting the Eighteen Levels of Hell, the Judge returned to us in an instant, appearing before us. He dismissed the Ghost Soldier and asked what feelings I had after observing the Eighteen Levels of Hell.

I said that these things had little to do with me, that I would simply encourage others to do more good deeds in the future to avoid such fleshly sufferings.

He nodded in agreement, then spoke of my situation. He said he had discussed with the King of Hell, who stated that such a case was rare, and by special decree, granted permission for me to return to life.

Upon hearing I could return to life, I was quite excited. To be able to go back to the Mortal Realm, breathe the fresh air—no ghost would want to stay in this wretched place.

Suddenly, something occurred to me. I had been here for quite a while; they wouldn't have buried me already, would they? If that were the case, it would be a tragedy.

The Judge calculated with his fingers and announced that my physical body had not been buried but was lying in a place called the emergency room. He said we must hurry, or things could change for the worse.

With a stroke of the Judge's Brush in the void, a glowing screen appeared out of nowhere, pulling me through with a single step.

A flash of white light, and the scene changed. I was standing once again in the hospital stairwell, but this time it was not the little girl by my side, but the Judge.

The Judge led me through the wall, and I found it incredibly novel. Passing through walls was something I never even dared to think of before.

In a few quick movements, we arrived at the hallway in front of the emergency room. The red light above the door of the emergency room was on, looking somewhat glaring.

To my surprise, on the bench outside the emergency room, I saw the figure of my master. He seemed restless, continuously tapping his feet on the ground as if keeping time.

He seemed to sense something and abruptly turned around, locking eyes with me.

He glanced at me and then at the Judge beside me, who raised an eyebrow in surprise that the man before him could see him.

My master stood up, bowed to the Judge, and said, "Thank you for your efforts, your honor."

I quickly introduced him, explaining that the man before us was our master, the Yin Yang Master, Li Lianying.

After hearing my introduction, the Judge's furrowed brow relaxed. He returned the bow to my master and said that I had taken on a good disciple and instructed him to teach me well.

My master wanted to say more but was stopped by the Judge, who said there was no time to waste and that we must hurry to return my soul to my body.

My master stepped aside to clear a path, his expression visibly relaxed.

The Judge then took my hand and we burst into the emergency room; by "burst in," I actually mean we passed through the doors.

As soon as we stood still, a voice filled with regret rang out, "Ah, we've done all we can. After an hour and thirty-seven minutes of resuscitation efforts, there's nothing more we can do. It's such a pity, to die so young and so soon."

Then I saw a nurse stick a white label on the inside of my left wrist with the words: "Time of Death: December 24th, 18:37, died after unsuccessful resuscitation." Next, she gently pulled up a white sheet covering my head.

I stood there dumbfounded, with a black line across my face. I'm not dead yet, I'm standing right here, why are you covering my head? Are you trying to murder me?

Seeing my daze, the Judge kicked me in the butt and scolded me for standing around foolishly. He urged me to return to the living promptly, for if I failed to return by daybreak, I would either be reduced to ashes and my soul scattered or follow him back to the Underworld, to experience the Eighteen Levels of Hell.

I had just taken a tour there and knew full well the horrors of that place, so I hurried to the bedside and lay down on my physical body. Slowly, I opened my eyes and sat up, tossing aside the sheet that had been covering my head.

"My God, a corpse has come back to life!" The doctor shouted upon seeing me sit up abruptly, turned, and ran away, while the nurse simply fell to the floor, hands covering her eyes, peeking at me through the gaps between her fingers.

I moved my hands and feet and hopped off the bed, but suddenly felt something was amiss. I felt a chilling breeze below me. Looking down, I quickly grabbed the sheet and wrapped it around my body.

Seeing that I had returned to life, the Judge turned and disappeared in an instant, as hurried in leaving as in coming.

My master, hearing the commotion from outside, rushed in. He had feared some misfortune had befallen me, but seeing me standing there well, he couldn't help but laugh joyfully.

I told the nurse that I hadn't been playing dead but had actually been resurrected, and if she didn't believe me, she could feel my chin; after all, ghosts, as legend has it, have no chins, though it was a rather impractical theory.

The nurse, trembling with trepidation, reached out and felt it, then placed her hand under my nose. Indeed, I was very much alive. She ran out excitedly to fetch the doctor, for this could be called nothing short of a miracle—the return from the dead.