Every Lifetime I Fall {COMPLETED but undergoing revisions}

Chapter 53: The Underworld - Punishment

Darkness.

Shivering from the cold metal locked around my wrists, I heard dripping sounds of moisture inside a deep cave. Someone pulled me by the shackles, and I mindlessly walked forward.

Slowly opening my eyes, I saw a shadow leading me down a narrow cavern path to a dim opening. I squinted from the sudden glow of light. Unlike the dark skies in the Underworld, this place had thunderous clouds and sparks of lightening overhead, but no rain ever reached the ground.

I was still dressed in my plain beige garments. All bloodied from the moment when I took my last breath, although the wounds of the flesh were gone. However, I couldn't shake the absurdity of living such a life and then to have died in the arms of a man, and having that man be none other than the reincarnation of Kong Shuguang.

Lu Kai... looked so much like Kong Shuguang, like Wu Yi Huai.

My head replayed the last moments I shared with him. I remembered clearly how I felt when he held me in his arm. The feelings resembling a strong desire to stay. I wanted to continue a life with him, and fall in love with him each and every day.

What a fool I was.

An Underworld guard dressed in black with a black hat led me behind a line of people. All of them in shackles as well.

"You may approach the sinner," his low voice alerted a man standing at the side.

Quickly rushing to my side, another person nagged right away, "What did you do to get you sentenced to purgatory?!"

Looking at his face, I remembered the large nose and dark eyes.

"Ji Nian..."

Eyeing the place up and down, he appeared disgusted and fearful.

"This is the first time any soul of mine has received punishment!" Shaking his head, he went on, "You ruined my perfect streak."

"I'm-- I'm sorry..." Staring at the ground, I couldn't look at him. He was right. I ruined everything. I was disappointed in myself. I killed people so many people.

But worst of all, I fell in love with Wu Yi Huai again, and in that very moment, even with all my memories of him from the past, I really missed him. I missed Xiao Kai.

As Ji Nian continued to lecture, I did not hear a word. Silently, my tears fell onto the dirt path.

"H-- Hey, what's wrong? Don't cry." Ji Nian was surprised by my reaction. His nagging turned into appeasing words like how one would comfort a child.

"Ji Nian, I'm sorry I ruined your perfect record. It's all my fault. I'm a terrible person."

"Ah... No, no. I mean. It's just a record... I've got thousands of years to build it back up."

Placing my face into my hands, I sobbed wholeheartedly. All the repressed emotions of anger, sorrow and even joy flowed out with the tears as if the bottled up Luo Na Li had finally allowed me to express what she was feeling.

"Now... can you tell me what happened?"

"Ji Nian... I tried to become immortal and practiced martial arts, but I was used to I kill people. To save someone, I killed even more people. I deserve to be punished."

"Did you... meet that guy Wu Yi Huai?" He hesitated asking me.

Looking up from my palms, I asked, "Did you know?"

Nodding, he revealed, "I--  I may have talked with his case manager for a bit."

"Do you know if he's all right?"

"I really can't tell you."

"I need to know! I died to save him!"

"Okay... well, let's just say he's not due to come back soon."

"I see..."

"Um, anyway since this is your first time being punished, I came to see you off."

"Once I get out, will you still be my Soul Case Manager?"

"I doubt it as you will be reassigned."

"Well then, thank you... for everything thus far."

"I just hope you get the time in there to reflect on your past life. Although in the world of Jianghu, killing is justified, once here you will have to answer for the lives you took."

"I understand."

"You will be punished for three hundred years."

"Three hundred years?"

"Once reassigned a Soul Case Manager, the first few lives you have will not be easy. It is to rectify the wrongdoings you did on earth."

Sniffling, I asked, "So will I be forced to climb the Mountain of Blades or drown in the Ocean of Blood?"

Giving me a appalled look, Ji Nian answered, "You won't be forced to do that. We believe to reform troubled souls, implementation of counseling will heal the part of you that is broken. It will help you recognize your sins, and adjust your character to do better."

"Really?"

"It helps. And you'll also be doing hard labor every day. Okay, bye now!"

"Wait! Ji Nian! Ji Nian!"