General Yue Fei: “Rise. No need for formalities, Shangguan Yuhua. Speak your mind freely.”
General Yue Fei’s complexion was swarthy, his countenance stern. Yet he was not as fierce-looking as many Yama Kings of the Netherworld. There was a solemn dignity about him, saturated with a sense of justice. He wore the grey robes of a netherworld official.
General Yue Fei: “Shangguan Yuhua, you must faithfully complete The Inexorable Nether Laws. Let mortal beings in the human world understand that those who commit hellish evil karma shall inevitably fall and endure boundless karmic suffering. To sink into hell is easy, yet to escape is exceedingly difficult. What questions do you wish to put to me?”
Ayù: “Yes, General! Numerous legends about you remain widespread in the human world. For example, who caused your death? Was it Qin Hui, or the Emperor? How do you view the injustice you suffered back then, and what are your thoughts now? Is the eternally celebrated ci poem Man Jiang Hong truly your creation? There is a legend stating you are the reincarnation of Zhang Fei from the Three Kingdoms period. Is this account true? I wish to pose these questions to you. Furthermore, you are serving as a general in the netherworld at present. Where can Qin Hui be found? I humbly ask the General to clear up my doubts.”
General Yue Fei: “I was indeed slain by Qin Hui during my mortal lifetime. At first, Qin Hui was simply jealous of me. He begrudged the Emperor’s high regard for my devotion to the nation. He constantly schemed and spoke to the Sovereign to hinder my battle plans. On numerous occasions right before battles, he raised objections against my strategies, yet his attempts ended in failure time and again.
“I never thought he would harbor murderous intentions back then. I merely thought Qin Hui was driven by jealousy, and that our ways of handling affairs simply differed. Disagreements inevitably arose at work due to conflicting perspectives. I believed he only yearned to achieve great deeds to earn the Sovereign’s special favour.
“In hindsight, I misjudged Qin Hui completely. I merely thought our approaches diverged, and thus took almost no precautions against him. My whole heart was set upon serving the nation with unwavering loyalty. I thought that when people differed in their ways of doing things, mutual forbearance would see conflicts fade away. I focused on the bigger picture — how to defend our homeland. Personal grudges and struggles were never worth dwelling on, nor was there any need to quarrel over trivial matters. My heart was utterly sincere, and I saw no need for explanations. A true man ought to prove his innocence through deeds.
“I harbored no resentment when I was put to death. Victory and defeat are common in warfare. I might prevail today, yet face death upon defeat tomorrow; such things could happen at any time. The timing matters little. What counts is that my sacrifice carries meaning, and my death brings no dishonor to the nation. Though I was framed and killed, I accepted the order to die. I feared death not in the slightest.
“As I drew near my end, I still bore in mind my mother’s teaching to serve the country faithfully. The thought filled me with sorrow. As a son, I had yet to repay my mother for raising me, nor fully fulfilled my duty of loyalty to the nation. The realm would lose one warrior who truly strove to protect its people. In my final thought, I vowed that if reincarnation awaited me, I would better uphold the duty of loyal service to my country. Then I was executed. I bear hatred toward no one. I do not resent Qin Hui for plotting against me with slander, nor do I blame the Sovereign for his lack of discernment and ordering the execution of a loyal subject. None of these things hold any importance to me now.
“When I passed away and arrived at the judgment hall of the netherworld, the Nether Sovereign Yama King saw that I held no resentment or desire for vengeance despite being wrongfully killed. As I remained devoted to protecting the homeland until my last breath, he appointed me as a general of the netherworld. I oversee military affairs here. Three months before wars break out in the human world, the netherworld makes preparations for the conflicts in advance.