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Hidden away from the hustle and bustle is a little-known corner next to the Underworld Judgement Hall, a secluded teahouse where the tranquility contrasts sharply with the busyness of the outside world. It's like a solitary island, isolated from the world, only those souls truly seeking peace would set foot here.
On the walls, ancient paintings and calligraphy capture the passage of time, and the stories of the Yin and Yang realms seem to whisper, revealing the universe's unknown secrets. Gu sha stands in front of the paintings, his gaze lingering on them. He has a natural sensitivity and interest in these stories, and a heart full of curiosity about the myriad phenomena of the human world.
Having shed the constraints of official duties, he could take a brief rest here. He changed into a simple dark-colored robe, which made him appear more like an ordinary scholar. His demeanor remained stern, but his eyes revealed a hint of warmth and curiosity unknown to others.
On the ebony table at the center of the tea room lay a set of exquisite tea utensils, each one showcasing the meticulous work of a craftsman. Gu sha delicately picked up a warm and smooth purple clay teapot, his movements displaying great focus and elegance, as if it were a ritual, a tranquil ceremony for the soul.
He placed a handful of high-quality tea leaves into the pot, then slowly poured in the freshly boiled water. The combination of water and tea released a charming aroma that slowly wafted through the air. As the fragrance of the tea blossomed in the air, the entire tea room was enveloped in this elegance.
Gu sha sat at the table, lightly running his fingers over the cup's surface. The steam and aroma rose from the tea cup, and his gaze seemed to penetrate the tea vapor, looking into another world. His thoughts wandered through the mountains, rivers, and lakes of the human world, the life stories he learned through judgment, giving him more imagination and longing for that world.
On such a night, even a senior Judge of the Underworld would have a moment of relaxation. The tea room became a place for him to have a dialogue with himself, where he would contemplate, reflect, and even dream. And this cup of tea is not just a beverage, but also a reflection and realization of life for the Underworld Judge.
A faint sound of footsteps came from outside the door, and a Judge in a gray robe walked in. His name was Sheng Bai, an old acquaintance of Gu sha. Sheng Bai's eyes held an imperceptible cunning, and upon seeing Gu sha, he smiled and said, "Judge Gu, are you once again pondering the trivial matters of the world in this peaceful place today?"
Gu sha took a sip of tea and nodded slightly: "The affairs of the world may be trivial, but they are also full of variables and wonders. Especially music and stories, they can always make people temporarily forget the worries of the world."
Sheng Bai walked to the table, poured himself a cup of tea, and chuckled: "Music and stories, huh? I remember there's a popular form of storytelling called manga in the human world recently. Are you also interested in that?"
Gu sha's eyes flashed with a hint of interest: "Exactly. The way they use art to tell stories is both intuitive and creative. Some of those stories even made me feel emotions I've never experienced before."
Sheng Bai raised an eyebrow, with a hint of playfulness: "Oh? This is rare indeed. Our esteemed Judge showing interest in the affairs of the human world. But how can this interest be compared to the order of our Underworld?"
Gu sha put down the teacup and replied seriously, "Order is indeed important, but understanding the world of those souls before their lives can also benefit us. After all, our judgments affect the departure or stay of each soul."
Sheng Bai nodded, seemingly agreeing with Gu sha's words. "Brother Gu sha speaks wisely. However, if we want to understand those things more deeply, why not take a trip to the human world ourselves?"
Gu sha fell silent for a moment, then spoke softly, "If the timing is right, I will naturally not miss such an opportunity."
As they were talking, an urgent signal suddenly sounded in the teahouse, it was the alarm from Underworld. Gu sha and Sheng Bai exchanged a glance, both seeing the seriousness in each other's eyes. They got up, put on their respective robes, and prepared to deal with this sudden event.
Gu sha picked up his black longsword, named "Mirror of Judgment," which was not only his weapon but also his tool for judging souls. Sheng Bai then took out his white thin sword, "guilt scissors," and the two of them disappeared in a flash in the tea room.
The tea room returned to silence, leaving only the steaming hot tea and the open comic book on the table, as if waiting for the owner to return and continue the unfinished reading.
The door of the tea room slowly closed, and the figures of Gu sha and Sheng Bai turned into wisps of gloomy wind, flying towards the depths of the Underworld. With their departure, the tea room was filled with a quiet anticipation of reunion.
On the road in the Underworld, Sheng Bai broke the silence: "Brother Gu, your curiosity about the human world is probably not just about comics and music, right?"
Gu sha looked serious and said slowly, "Comics and music are just the beginning. I am filled with a desire to understand everything about the human world. The bustling life of the human world is completely different from the rules and order of our Underworld."
Sheng Bai smiled and said, "That world is indeed full of unpredictable surprises and chaos. In comparison, the order of our Underworld seems particularly cold. But Gu, if you truly wish to experience it, perhaps it will give you a deeper understanding of your judgment."
Gu sha nodded, but then his tone turned serious: "But now, we must deal with the matter at hand first. Allowing that fleeing soul to enter the human world will surely cause great chaos."
On the way to the Underworld, the sound of wind arose, seemingly conveying an impending conflict. Gu sha and Sheng Bai quickened their pace, passing through twisted spaces, and finally arrived at an area shrouded in black mist. This was the border between Underworld and the human world, a place where fleeing souls often roamed.
The silence of the Underworld was shattered by a burst of discordant commotion, as a powerful force of chaos and disorder suddenly coalesced before Gu sha and Sheng Bai. It was a soul, its image distorted and unstable, like an uncontrollable mass of energy, filled with dissatisfaction and resistance to the current state.
Without hesitation, Gu sha raised his black longsword—Mirror of Judgment. This sword was not just a weapon, but also a symbol of judgment, capable of reflecting the essence of a soul. His stance was resolute, the tip of the sword aimed at the center of that soul, the blade gleaming with a cold light in the dim shadows.
The soul became aware of its situation and let out a heart-wrenching scream, the sound waves spreading through the air of the Underworld, attempting to disrupt Gu sha's will and hastily fleeing into the surrounding darkness.
Sheng Bai remained unfazed, his movements smooth and swift, as if he had anticipated the soul's reaction. His white thin sword—guilt scissors—danced in the air, leaving behind a series of intricate and delicate runic traces, which quickly condensed into a force field, like a large net, systematically blocking all of the soul's escape routes.
Gu sha's voice sounded particularly deep in the chaos, his words like a cold judgment: "Avoidance will only prolong your suffering. Now, accept the order of Underworld."
The howl of the soul met the runes in Sheng Bai's swordsmanship, as if sparking an invisible battle in the air. Every flash of the rune seemed to weaken the power of the soul, and every touch of the sword tip made the image of the soul more unstable.
In the end, during a burst of power, the form of the soul was stabilized by Sheng Bai's swordsmanship, and it could no longer move. Gu sha took a step forward and lightly touched the soul with the tip of the sword. The runic symbols on the black sword emitted a bright light, completely sealing it. The image of the soul trembled for a moment, then gradually calmed down, finally turning into a ball of light and being absorbed by the Mirror of Judgment.
The battle was over, and Gu sha and Sheng Bai did not speak, expressing their understanding of each other only through their actions. In this quiet Underworld, order was restored once again, and this was only part of their responsibility.
Gu sha and Sheng Bai brought the souls back to the judgment hall, restoring order to the Underworld.
As the door of the tea room gently closed, Gu sha's figure elongated in the dim light. In his hand, he held a half-opened comic book, a rare find he had brought back from the human world. His expression shifted from the seriousness of the judgment just now to deep contemplation, as if the story in the comic had struck a chord with him.
He quietly turned the next page of the comic, and the life of the human world leaped off the paper. The colorful pictures and vivid dialogues allowed him to glimpse the possibility of another kind of life. For Gu sha, these stories were not just products of fantasy; they were an exploration of life's diversity and a curiosity about the unknown.
His gaze shifted between the exciting battles and profound emotional depictions, and the lively characters and intricate plot made him temporarily forget his own identity and the heavy responsibilities he bore. In this quiet tea room, Gu sha found a rare inner peace.
"The diversity of this world is truly amazing," Gu sha muttered to himself, his voice tinged with a barely perceptible sense of wonder.
At that moment, Sheng Bai walked in, carrying a tray of freshly brewed tea. "You seem quite engrossed in that book. What kind of story does it tell?" Sheng Bai asked, his tone lighthearted and curious.
Gu sha looked up at him, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes. "This is a story of the human world, telling of courage, friendship, and struggle. Their world is much richer than what we see, and every time I read it, I gain new insights."
"Well then, has this story from the human world brought you any inspiration?" Sheng Bai leaned against the door frame, sipping tea and asking eagerly.
Gu sha fell silent for a moment, then slowly spoke: "Every story is like a mirror, reflecting the face of a world and the souls living within it. They allow me to see different states of life, perhaps..." His words were slightly hesitant, "perhaps we can learn some new ways of dealing with soul matters from them."
Sheng Bai smiled slightly, understanding Gu sha's meaning. "Indeed, understanding different worlds may be an inspiration for us."
Tonight, under the starry sky of Underworld, it is indeed quiet, with no new souls being brought for judgment. Gu sha and Sheng Bai are conversing in the tea room, while the starlight outside resembles ancient gazes, quietly observing everything. In this lonely corner, Gu sha's heart finds a moment of relief, and the story of the comic becomes his solace.
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