The Left Door God continued: “Our Lord City God has given us instructions. He said that you, Magistrate, would bring Shangguan Yuhua, the mortal author of The Inexorable Laws of the Nether Realm, who bears a nether‑world token on her person, to visit our Lord City God. Presumably, the mortal standing beside you is Shangguan Yuhua!” The two door gods simultaneously cast their gaze toward the token hanging upon me.
The Magistrate said: “Rise! This is none other than Shangguan Yuhua, Lay Buddhist Ayù, author of The Inexorable Nether Laws. Let the Left Door God lead the way to audience with the City God.”
The two door gods were not ferocious in appearance, merely tall, robust like ancient warriors. The mansion was vast, befitting a official’s residence in the underworld. Several attendants dressed as Earth Gods walked about the grounds, smiling and offering polite bows upon seeing the Magistrate.
Straight ahead stood two large paifang (archways). The left bore the inscription: Blessings Endure through Hidden Virtue; the right bore: Blessings Fade Swiftly through Manifest Virtue. Centered above the main hall were three large characters: Palace of Blessing and Virtue.
The Left Door God gestured: “Please enter, Magistrate and Lay Buddhist Ayù. His Honor the City God is attending to official affairs within the main hall.”
The City God took the form of a benevolent ancient elder clad in heavy traditional robes. He greeted us with a gentle smile.
“I, Shangguan Yuhua, am paying my respects to you, the City God. I have come today to ask you a question: What karmic conditions led the Nether Sovereign Yama King to hold the highest authority in the netherworld?
I have known of the impartial Yama King since childhood. I first heard tales of him from my grandmother. When I was little, I often watched her being bullied, shouted at and beaten by her daughters‑in‑law, yet she endured everything quietly and never complained to my father or uncles. She firmly believed that the stern Yama King presides over the netherworld, and constantly taught me that forbearance ought to guide all interpersonal relationships. Her words often linger in my mind: ‘Child, remember this. Do not fear suffering losses or being wronged and misunderstood. We act in the mortal world, and heaven watches all deeds. Everyone must die one day, and the Yama King in the afterlife will judge everything fairly. As long as you never wrong others, there is no need to care about unfair treatment. Within a family, someone must shoulder burdens to ease tensions. Though your aunts spoke and acted harshly, as an elder I ought to bear it alone to keep the household harmonious. Never imitate their vicious, abusive conduct, or you will be disliked in your future marital home. A woman must cultivate forbearance. Never harm anyone. Let others wrong me, but I will never wrong them. Let go of petty grievances, for heaven and Yama King see all things.’ I grew up hearing how omniscient and just Yama King is. I wish to enquire why he chose to serve as the ruler presiding over hell.”
The City God: “Welcome to the netherworld, Ayù. All officials here fully support the publication of The Inexorable Nether Laws. Every single thing in existence follows the law of karma and retribution. In one past life, you and your grandmother were mother and daughter. Back then, she mocked you for worshipping the Buddha, though she did nothing more harmful. When the karmic conditions from that mockery ripened, it caused her hunched posture and the mistreatment she endured within her family in this lifetime.
Yet amid all these adversities and stress at home, she never harbored angry resentment that would generate heavy black karma. By patiently accepting hardship, she gradually expiated her past karmic debts and accumulated blessings for her later ascent to the heaven realms.”