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墨書 Inktalez
The fierce wind suddenly brought the figures of Wu Sheng and Hang Lin to the gates of the underworld, Hell. A solemn stone statue of a mythical beast sat beside the gate, its gaze carrying a stern judgment. Even for them, who often traversed the three realms, couldn't help but feel a chill in their hearts. This was the place that all beings must pass through after life and death.
"We're not here to visit Hell this time," Hang Lin said lightly, as he touched the hilt of his long sword.
"Hell has its own rules and order, remember not to interfere with things at will, so as to avoid unnecessary trouble." Wu Sheng reminded Hang Lin in a calm yet authoritative tone.
"Don't worry, I know my limits," Hang Lin responded, with a sharp look in his eyes, as if wanting to explore the truth.
Two people passed through several heavy doors and finally arrived at a huge courtroom. The bright lights illuminated every corner, but the coldness here became more apparent.
In the center was a high platform, on which sat an expressionless judge, with several guards standing beside him, holding short swords, creating a solemn atmosphere.
Here is always gloomy, without the shining of the sun, moon, and stars, only the flickering of ghostly lights illuminating the space. Wu Sheng and Hang Lin approached the desk of the underworld officer and presented the token bestowed by Jade Emperor.
"Please have a seat, what brings you here?" The underworld officer inquired, while sneakily glancing at the mark on the token.
"We are here to review the files of those recently judged by The Immortal in the Painting 'Judgment'," Wu Sheng replied succinctly.
The Underworld Judge opened the heavy Netherworld ledger without hesitation, revealing a series of names and reasons before them. Wu Sheng and Hang Lin carefully examined them, their purpose very clear. Finally, they discovered a common point.
"You see, all these defendants are related to the four transformations of The Immortal in the Painting. They are all his enemies," Hang Lin pointed out.
Wu Sheng took a deep breath. "This is the purpose of his transform, he is not just promoting good and punishing evil, but seeking revenge. Each transform identity is a slice of his enemies' past lives."
"In other words, these enemies have all done these things, county officials, wealthy bullies who force themselves on women, cheating gamblers, and even the villain who harmed the pregnant woman," continued Hang Lin.
Wu Sheng nodded, "He uses these identities to pass judgment on these evildoers."
"What should we do then?" Hang Lin asked.
"Since we know his purpose, the next step is to find The Immortal in the Painting and see why he wants revenge, and whether there are deeper secrets hidden within." Wu Sheng steadied himself, his gaze determined.
Just as they were about to leave, Hang Lin suddenly said, "Wait a minute." A barely perceptible glint of coldness flashed in their eyes as they continued, "Since you're here, you must see this through. This trip is not just about browsing data; it's also about finding out what the person who was killed saw before they died."
The two of them walked towards a deeper part of Hell at the same time. The gates opened automatically, as if inviting them into this chilling place. The footsteps of Hang Lin and Wu Sheng echoed in the vast courtyard, their voices Fei Yan ed by the endless darkness.
Hell is like an ancient building inside, with dim lighting, cold air, and a heavy pressure all around. Countless lost souls await judgment here, their eyes filled with fear and confusion.
"These souls still retain a hint of emotion. This is the clue we need," Wu Sheng said after glancing at Hang Lin.
Two people arrived at an area called "Soul Chain Field", where the atmosphere was even more oppressive. They saw a shadow that had just been judged, with a shocked and puzzled expression on its face.
"Tell me, why did you collapse next to that painting? What did you see?" Hang Lin stepped forward, his gaze sharp.
The Yin soul hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice, "It's a painting depicting a lotus pond, and that painting seems to have some kind of power. I saw a weak scholar, he was standing there, and then... and then I don't remember anything else."
Wu Sheng and Hang Lin exchanged a glance, both feeling a shock in their hearts. This description clearly matched their understanding of The Immortal in the Painting.
Hang Lin Speaking again: "During this process, have you felt any psychological changes? For example, suddenly feeling at peace, or feeling like something has been released from within?"
The shadow shook its head: "No, I just felt a chill, and then lost consciousness."
"Thank you for your cooperation, you may leave," Wu Sheng waved his hand and sent him away.
The two then headed towards the place where the name was registered, their footsteps echoing in the spacious courtyard. The ancient lanterns on the walls swayed in the wind, casting unstable shadows like restless souls.
Glancing around, Hang Lin said, "The bricks in this courtyard are all made of millennium-old underworld stone and frozen soil. Although it may not be apparent to mortal eyes, it actually stabilizes this space and prevents evil spirits from escaping."
Wu Sheng After listening, I couldn't help but sneer, "So, this courtyard is more important than it looks."
The two gradually approached a grand hall, in front of which were several bronze lions with gemstone eyes that sparkled and seemed ready to roar at any moment. Hang Lin whispered, "I heard that these bronze lions not only serve as decorations, but also have protective powers."
"Hmph, as expected. In this unknown place, it's impossible for it to be just for show," Wu Sheng glanced at the bronze lions and said calmly.
Hang Lin Pushing open the heavy doors, I stepped into the great hall. There was a huge stone table with a thick book on it, recording thousands of names and crimes. On both sides of the stone table were two rows of black long benches, on which sat several fierce-looking Judge.
A Judge immediately walked over, his face carved with seriousness and indifference, but Hang Lin and Wu Sheng both felt that this was a superficial seriousness, more of an unfathomable wisdom.
"Are you here to judge or to investigate?" Judge asked in an unquestionable tone.
Hang Lin replied, "We are here to search for the traces of someone named 'The Immortal in the Painting.' He appears in the mortal world under multiple identities and uses paintings to punish the wicked."
Judge, upon hearing this, slightly contracted his pupils, evidently recognizing the name. He turned to look at the book on the stone table, flipping through several pages before stopping at a name. As he read, he sighed.
"The Immortal in the Painting His real name is Liang Jing."
Judge closed the book, took a deep breath, and then slowly said, "This Liang Jing, or rather, 'The Immortal in the Painting', was actually an extremely talented scholar. However, he was framed in the imperial examination and his whole family suffered a tragic fate, with only he surviving. It was from that time that he harbored deep hatred and began seeking revenge in the mortal world."
Wu Sheng couldn't help but ask curiously, "How did someone like this end up going astray and becoming a demon, and even learning the skill of transform?"
Judge sighed and replied, "The records only mention the misfortune that befell his family, and nothing more."
Hang Lin A cough broke the solemn atmosphere, "Hmm, it seems there are things even the Book of Life and Death doesn't know."
Wu Sheng Furrowing his brows slightly, a hint of contemplation appeared in his eyes, "The tragedy experienced by Liang Jing is indeed enough to completely change a person. But his transformation far exceeds the imagination of ordinary people."
Judge nodded, with a hint of inexplicable heaviness on his face, "The human heart is unpredictable. When subjected to a great blow, one often tends to go to two extremes. Liang Jing clearly chose the latter, letting hatred blind his eyes."
Hang Lin fell silent for a moment, then spoke, "So, what should we do next?"
Wu Sheng meditated, "We need to return to the mortal world and delve deeper into Liang Jing, especially after he became 'The Immortal in the Painting.' Perhaps we can find clues he left behind."
Judge closed the book, stood up, and said, "If there's nothing else, I need to continue attending to jurisdictional matters."
Wu Sheng and Hang Lin exchanged a glance and nodded in agreement. Then, they both bowed in unison and said, "Thank you for your assistance, Judge."
"You two don't need to be so polite," Judge replied, with a hint of seriousness in his tone. "But I must remind you both that this mission is not an easy task. Liang Jing, or should I say The Immortal in the Painting, is no longer understandable by ordinary people. His abilities and mindset have surpassed that of ordinary individuals, and may even exceed our expectations."
Wu Sheng and Hang Lin listened, and their eyes met with even greater determination. Hang Lin asked, "So, where do you think we should start?"
He stood up and walked to a nearby cabinet, taking out a worn book. "This ancient book contains some legends and records about The Immortal in the Painting, which may be helpful to you."
Wu Sheng and Hang Lin received the ancient texts and nodded in gratitude. Judge continued, "I will give you a special talisman that can help you sense the aura of The Immortal in the Painting, perhaps providing assistance at crucial moments. But remember, this talisman can only be used a limited number of times. Once it's used up, you will have to rely on your own abilities and wisdom to find and confront The Immortal in the Painting."
With that, Judge took out two small talismans from his sleeve and handed them to Wu Sheng and Hang Lin. After thanking Judge, the two of them prepared to leave.
At the moment they turned away, Judge added, "And don't forget the humanity of The Immortal in the Painting. Although he has now fallen into a demon, he was once human. Perhaps those past emotions and memories are the key to getting close to him."
Wu Sheng and Hang Lin nodded, their expressions solemn. As the two of them stepped out of the netherworld, Judge watched them leave, silently praying in his heart, hoping for a peaceful resolution this time, one that could appease The Immortal in the Painting's resentment and not cause more suffering to living beings.
In the mortal world, Wu Sheng and Hang Lin arrived at a small town and heard about a young merchant who was very grateful to The Immortal in the Painting.
"At that time, I was heavily in debt and faced the danger of losing my family and everything. Just when I was in despair, a gambler walked in and gave me enough money to pay off my debts. Later, I found out that he was one of the identities of The Immortal in the Painting."
Wu Sheng said to Hang Lin: "It seems that this Liang Jing is not just a vengeful ghost; he is also doing some righteous deeds."
After several days of investigation and analysis, Wu Sheng came to a shocking conclusion.
" Hang Lin, look here. I've been going through historical records for centuries and found that every person The Immortal in the Painting has transformed has had some deep-seated animosity towards him."
Hang Lin hurried over and gazed at the ancient texts in Wu Sheng's hands, shocked. "Are you saying that he's doing all this just for revenge?"
"Not just about revenge, but more like an extremely personalized judgment," Wu Sheng slowly concluded, his fingers gently brushing over the ancient parchment, as if sensing the profound wisdom hidden within.
In a private inn, Wu Sheng and Hang Lin were deeply engrossed in studying the case.
In addition to books, there is also a scroll on the desk, which is a database composed of artworks left by The Immortal in the Painting, including Wu Sheng and Hang Lin.
"Based on the clues we currently know, we already know that he has four different transform identities." Hang Lin mentioned this, involuntarily recalling the chilling cases they had investigated before.
For example, there was an official named Tsai Rong, also known as Rong Gongzi, who had gained a reputation at a young age, but often oppressed the people and extorted money. Just as he was about to forcibly marry a village girl as a concubine, he received a painting from an anonymous sender.
The landscape in the painting was like a poem, enchanting. He happily accepted it, but the next day he was found dead in his study, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth, never to wake up again.
There is also the wealthy businessman, Mr. Zhou, who has caused many families to break up due to usury. He met a plain-looking but extremely lucky gambler at the casino and lost everything in one night.
The next day, Mr. Zhou was found dead in her own vault, with a terrified expression and stiff body.
"Since he is seeking revenge, can we find a common enemy or factor behind these victims?" Hang Lin raised a question.
Wu Sheng smiled bitterly and said, "That's the problem. These victims seem to only have one common point, which is that they have all done something wrong. But these wrongdoings were done to the public, and some were done to specific individuals. It's difficult for us to find a common enemy."
"Does that mean that the enemy of The Immortal in the Painting might not just be a person or an organization, but a more widespread, more abstract 'evil'?" Hang Lin slowly uttered the words.
"I'm afraid that's the case," Wu Sheng said with certainty.
Suddenly asked, "But theoretically, the enemy of the 10th generation of The Immortal in the Painting should have died long ago. Why is this scholar still so resentful?"
Wu Sheng's tone is getting heavier, and everything is pointing in an unsettling direction.
"What should we do now?" Hang Lin asked.
"Investigate what happened to Liang Jing in the beginning and see if we can find more clues. Only then do we have a chance to get close to the real purpose."
Wu Sheng and Hang Lin decided to take immediate action, and now time is extremely precious to them.
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