My best friend found out I had infinite life and a ridiculous amount of money. So, she hired a master of the dark arts to kill me and send me straight to hell, planning to steal my perfect fate. On the rooftop of a skyscraper, I cried my eyes out: "Please don't kill me! I'll give you all my money!" I'm terrified of dying. Really. Because my ex-husband—who happens to rule the underworld—told me when I dumped him: "If I ever see you again, I'm throwing you into a pot of boiling oil and slicing you into a thousand pieces..." 1 "Sophie, we've known each other for ten years. I've always been good to you. Please, just let me go..." "I'll give you everything! Every cent! Just please!" I knelt on the cold concrete of the rooftop, dignity gone, practically banging my head on the ground. Sophie sneered, lifting my chin with the tip of her stiletto. "I don't just want your money, Jane. I want your eternal life." "Aren't we besties? What's yours is mine. If you really cared about me, you'd give it all to me." She winked at the man beside her, dressed in traditional Taoist robes. The Master grabbed my hair and dragged me to the edge. It was a 33-story drop. Directly below where I'd land, they had prepared a ritual array. If I fell and died there, their plan would work. I wouldn't even get a chance to reincarnate. Sophie didn't need to worry about me coming back as a vengeful ghost. She planned to destroy me completely. The cold wind slapped my face. I struggled, trying to pull back. Sophie's greed had been ignited the moment she learned my secret. She rushed forward and helped the Master kick me off the ledge. As I fell, the rushing air blurred my senses. THUD. A massive sound exploded in my ears. My body smashed into a bloody pulp. When I regained consciousness, I was a soul in the underworld. Two minor Reapers stood beside me, holding a thumb-thick soul-locking chain. The other end was attached to my neck. Thick fog surrounded us. Agonized screams pierced the air from up ahead. I knew this place. The entrance to Hell. Thanks to my damn ex-husband, I'd been here before. When I tried to leave him, he dragged me here, eyes red with rage, just to scare me. He didn't actually throw me in back then. But now, I was about to be obliterated here. I struggled, refusing to move. "I died unjustly! I haven't done anything wrong!" Seeing me resist, the Reaper with the little mustache pulled a barbed whip from his belt and lashed me hard. Pain seared through my soul. I collapsed, unable even to scream. "Listen up. Doesn't matter who you were. You're in our hands now. You're done." Rather than go straight to hell, I decided to gamble. Maybe my ex-husband still had some feelings for me? A chance at reincarnation was better than having my soul scattered. Trembling, I said, "I know your King, Hades! I want to see him..." The two Reapers exchanged a look. Crack! Another lash on my back. A crack appeared in my soul. I couldn't speak anymore. Mustache spat on me. "You think you're worthy to say Lord Hades' name? I don't know how you know it, but shut up and save yourself some pain." Powerless, I was dragged forward like a dead dog. The other Reaper looked nervous. "What if she's telling the truth? Could we get in trouble...?" Mustache scoffed. "Scared of what? The Taoist said this broad isn't in the Book of Life and Death. Some occult tricks probably taught her the name. Don't be a coward. Since she's off the books, we take the money and do the job. Hurry up, before things get complicated." I understood now. They were colluding with Sophie and the Taoist. Corrupt Reapers taking bribes! Seeing the towering Gates of Hell, terror gripped my soul. I wouldn't stop shaking. The Reapers chanted, and the gates slowly creaked open. My heart sank. Suddenly, a voice echoed from the fog: "Is this a new arrival? Processed properly?" It was Black Impermanence! He knew me! I stared intensely at the figure emerging from the mist, opening my mouth to scream, "Blackie..." A Reaper's hand clamped over my mouth instantly, dragging me aside. I watched desperately as Mustache intercepted Black Impermanence. Mustache pulled out a pack of cigarettes, smiling ingratiatingly. "Brother Black, what brings you here? Try this, good stuff from the mortal world." Black Impermanence dusted off his robes, looking annoyed. "Cut the crap. I asked you, was that soul processed?" Mustache gulped guiltily. "Of... of course! Would we dare break the rules? You and Sister White are always so busy, take a break. Have a smoke." Black Impermanence took the cigarette and lit it, saying nothing. The fog was too thick; he couldn't see my face. Terrified of missing my chance, I bit down hard on the hand covering my mouth. The Reaper yelped and let go. I bolted toward Black Impermanence but was kicked to the ground. The Reaper's foot stomped on my face, grinding my head into the dirt. Sand filled my mouth. I couldn't spit it out or make a sound. But the commotion caught Black Impermanence's attention. He took two steps closer. "What's going on?" The Reaper who I bit pressed down harder, almost crushing my skull. "Nothing, sir. Just a unruly ghost struggling at the end. None of the ones sent here are good people. Don't dirty your eyes." Black Impermanence stopped. "Be careful. These souls were wicked in life. Don't make mistakes. Send her in." Watching him turn and disappear into the fog, my heart died. Mustache bowed and scraped as Black Impermanence left, then turned and kicked me viciously. Still not satisfied, he whipped me until my soul was littered with wounds, unrecognizable. Finally, he grabbed my chin. "Bitch, you almost ruined everything. Don't worry, once we're inside, I'll take care of you personally!" Like a rag doll, I was thrown into the First Level of Hell. The Hell of a Thousand Needles. Countless torture racks stretched as far as the eye could see. Every single one held a soul, pierced with thousands of needles like a human hedgehog. Here, souls didn't dissipate yet, so the screams were endless. I gasped, gathering my last bit of strength to stutter out one sentence: "I really know... Hades. If you do this... he won't forgive you..." It was mostly a bluff. Hades probably didn't care if I lived or died. He really didn't want to see me again. Otherwise, he wouldn't have given me eternal life, leaving me to wander the mortal world alone, ageless and deathless. He was just afraid I'd die and come back to the underworld to annoy him... Stepping through the gate, the Reapers weren't afraid of me causing trouble anymore. Mustache patted my face mockingly. "You got quite an imagination. Watched too many soap operas? You think you can dream about Lord Hades?" His slap knocked my head to the side. I retched, spitting out a mouthful of yin energy. My soul felt a little more transparent. I was strapped to a rack. Mustache grinned, picking up a soul-severing needle as long as my forearm. "Hang in there. Seventeen more levels waiting for you. Let's take our time." He aimed the needle at my thigh. "Down here, even the hardest bones turn soft for me." The needle sank half an inch into my soul. The sharp, piercing pain made my entire being shudder uncontrollably. "AHHH—" Just then, someone ran over. "Hold it!" The needle was pulled out. I gasped, trying to focus my eyes. It was the Manager of this level, Wong. When Hades was threatening me back then, Wong had been there, advising him: "Lord Hades, the Little Lady is just young. No need to be so angry, don't hurt her." Hope reignited. I prayed he remembered me after all these years. "Manager Wong... it's me... help me..." After the torture on the road, I was exhausted, my voice raspy. But I'm sure Wong heard me. He stared at me, squinting. Then his eyes widened in horror. He recognized me. Before I could relax, he looked away quickly, pretending not to know me. "Orders from above. They want to watch this woman scatter into nothingness personally. They're almost here. Wait a bit." I was stunned. Wong was in on it too! Corrupt to the core! Hope extinguished again. I laughed bitterly. Hades, oh Hades. This is the underworld you rule? Your subordinates are deceiving you, acting like lawless tyrants. But I was surprised Sophie dared to come here. Was she brave or cowardly? Brave enough to come to the land of the dead. Cowardly enough that she needed to see me obliterated to feel safe spending my money and using my lifespan. Soon, Sophie and the Taoist arrived. They had temporarily abandoned their physical bodies to come here as souls. At first, Sophie was scared, clinging to the Taoist. seeing how friendly the Taoist was with the Reapers, she got bold again. After all, she was the VIP client. She picked up a needle from a Reaper and walked over excitedly. "Jane, thank you. If not for you, I'd never know the joys of being rich. Money really makes the devil push the millstone. With money, I can even tour Hell." "You've lived enough. I'll take over the rest of your years. Go in peace, so I can have peace." I looked at her coldly, voice hoarse. "Was I not good to you?" A redundant question. If she had a conscience, she wouldn't be here. Sophie laughed like she heard a joke. "Hahaha... You think you were good to me? I was your maid! Wearing your hand-me-downs, always your sidekick. You really think that was kindness?" I didn't argue. Proof that you can't feed a wolf and expect it to be a dog. When she met me, it was snowing. She was wearing a thin shirt. She came from a poor village, couldn't find a job at the end of the year. I took her in. I didn't need a maid. I was used to being alone. I gave her the job out of pity. I treated her as a friend. Whatever she asked for, I gave. Her salary was way above market rate. Gradually, she stopped acting like a maid and started demanding things. Maybe I indulged her too much. She started thinking she was my equal, or could replace me. My mistake was trusting her with my secret. My silence only made her crazier. "Nothing to say? You know it's true! You never saw me as a friend. Die!" She aimed the needle at my heart. She really wanted me gone immediately. The Reapers seemed to think this was improper but didn't stop her. I was leaking more and more yin energy. My soul was turning translucent, my mind foggy. Sophie kept stabbing me, especially ruining my face. In a trance, I thought I saw Hades walking toward me. Still so handsome. More handsome than any man I'd seen in a hundred years. Black robes embroidered with cloud patterns, symbolizing supreme power. Ink-black hair, sharp, deep features. A face you'd fall for instantly. Hallucination? Must be... He doesn't want to see me. But why were the Reapers kneeling? "Lord Hades, why are you here personally?" Wong was panicking, shaking like a leaf on the ground. Taking bribes from the living was a taboo. Allowing the living to roam Hell freely was a capital crime. Caught red-handed, he was doomed. The Taoist turned pale, dragging Sophie away from me and kneeling. Hades' gaze swept over everyone, imposing and terrifying. The Eunuch behind him screeched, "Audacious! If Lord Hades hadn't come today, who knows what you bold scoundrels would have done!" The two Reapers buried their heads lower, not daring to breathe. I wanted to speak, but my mind was chaos, the pain too sharp. Would he recognize me? And then? Save me, or throw me in the oil pot and slice me up like he promised? Honestly, even if he didn't, I was about to dissipate anyway... Finally, Hades spoke, voice laced with ice. "Wong, I entrusted the First Level to you. Is this how you govern?" Wong banged his head on the floor faster than I begged Sophie. "I was wrong, I was wrong... those two Reapers brought the living here! I didn't know! I was just about to chase them out before you came!" The two Reapers, hearing Wong throw them under the bus, were pissed. Mustache retorted, "This is your turf! Living people entering is your negligence! Don't bite us!" Wong gritted his teeth. "You found the way to extort the living! I was dragged into this!" I got it. Hades came because he caught wind of their corruption. I was just collateral. Right now, I was an invisible bystander. The Taoist and Sophie were the ones in the storm. Watching them turn on each other, Hades scoffed. "Enough. Since they're here, the two living ones don't need to go back. Detain them for trial. As for you lot... reincarnate into the Animal Realm. Never to be human again!" Hearing this, Wong collapsed, face gray. The Reapers slumped too. Sophie finally realized she wasn't going back to the living world. She freaked out. "My lifespan isn't up! Hell has rules too, right?!" She couldn't bear to lose the life she stole from me, or the money. The Taoist tried to grab her, scared she'd drag him down further. She shook him off, screaming. "I want to go back! Send me back!" The Taoist didn't dare use magic in front of Hades. He closed his eyes and played dead. Sophie grabbed his collar. "What are you doing?! I paid you a million! Send me back now!"
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