Controlling mountains and rivers since the Warring States Period

Chapter 420 A peaceful life will numb ghosts
"There have been many changes here too!"

He Bo and Lao Guixi walked slowly through a city in the underworld, their hands behind their backs.

Just like the ghosts who died in the war in the New Summer Ghost Kingdom, appearing somewhat eerie and terrifying.
In the Central Plains,

As the Han Dynasty reached its zenith, the underworld, closely associated with it, also became more prosperous.

After all, during prosperous times, the population grows rapidly, which in turn leads to an increase in the number of people who die from old age and illness.

If there are not enough people,

That's something even Bai Qi couldn't satisfy.

But as the number of "ghost mouths" increases, some things that existed before will also be revealed.

"Some of the dead are nearing the end of their lifespan!"

When He Bo and Xi climbed a high mountain belonging to the underworld, they looked at the white figure floating in the dark forest and said...

These things are all dead ghosts who have lost their descendants to offer sacrifices for many years and are no longer missed by anyone in the mortal world.

They lost their support, their minds became muddled, and their bodies could no longer move as nimbly as before.

slowly,
Her appearance also dimmed.

Unable to speak, unable to act, and devoid of all thought.

then,

They were reduced to thin sheets of paper, gradually gathering in the mountains and forests under the influence of the cold wind, which became their final burial place.

When He Bo saw these "traces" that couldn't even be considered ghosts, he felt a little sad.

When a person in the mortal world dies,

There's also the chance to become a ghost and live a second life in the underworld.
Therefore, He Bo was somewhat "happy to see it happen" and would ask his friends whom he had made in the mortal world without any hesitation: "Brother, when are you going to die?"

But if a ghost does this, then it has truly vanished.

The laws of heaven and earth are always so merciless.
Even if ghosts and gods try to persuade it to stay, they cannot make it remain for long.

"And regardless of life or death, people love to run to the mountains in times like these!"

According to the customs of the mortal world,
Before a person dies, they will choose the location of their grave.

The emperor was rich and powerful, and could build his own mausoleum as tall as a mountain.

Ordinary people, lacking such power, would simply point to the mountain and say, "I want to be buried high up!"

It's probably because from such a high vantage point, one can see more of the world's prosperity!

right now,

Even if a dead ghost loses all its senses and reactions, it will use its last instinct to run up the mountain and become part of the vegetation.

"Yes, that's the law of nature."

Old Gui Xi watched this scene and sighed as well.

He thought of some friends he had met after he died.

The other party were all commoners who farmed the land, some of whom had never had children in their lifetime.

After arriving in the underworld, one will need Xi's help to be a stable dead ghost.

But later on, they all chose to refuse Xi's support.

"Actually, there's no point in 'living' like this."

Those equally aged friends, with calloused hands from hard work, said to Xi:
"When we die, we have no regrets. We are already satisfied to be able to enjoy a leisurely and carefree time after death. There is really no need to pursue such a grand goal as eternity."

"Therefore, when it's time to let go, you should let go. What's the point of being too attached?"

Xi respected their opinions and withdrew his helping hand, but sadly held another funeral for them.

"Actually, I think it's also possible that life in the underworld is too peaceful."

He Bo followed Lao Guixi and sat down in a spot with a good view on the mountain.

The former grabbed a big, fat tiger that was passing by and hugged it tightly without any hesitation.

While Tiger King, who was the overlord of the mountains and forests both in life and death, was being rubbed and kneaded by He Bo with a numb expression, the latter suddenly cupped his face and said.

He Bo looked at Xi with confusion.

The old ghost scratched his head and said to the spirits:
"Actually, sometimes I have those thoughts too..."

Because of He Bo's protection and compassion, the underworld is actually very peaceful.

Even if they had a huge grudge during their lifetime, and argued for decades, they would eventually get tired of shouting and would naturally stop holding on to it, never thinking of sharpening their knives for revenge.

Over the years, Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King of Western Chu,

They've all given up on hunting down that cunning old fox Liu Bang.

But this hot-tempered young man still couldn't help but say to the other party, "Liu Laosan, don't let me catch you on the street!"

But this also proves that even the deepest and most complex feelings will gradually fade away over time, just like words engraved on a stone.

For ordinary people, life is uneventful, so how can they have intense emotions after death?

If there is a bloodline to continue the lineage, then one can still say a few words about it, as a sign of lingering affection.

If you have relatives and friends around, you can visit them and keep in touch.

But... but what if all these things are gone?
The living are the vessel for the dead.

The dead also need the living to remind them not to forget certain things.

"Moreover, after living a peaceful life for a long time, one will also crave some excitement."

"People always like to overthink."

Xi glanced at the big tiger in He Bo's arms and said, "Beasts turned into ghosts. Because their wisdom is not very profound and their thoughts are not complicated, they can happily walk and play in the mountains and forests, and roll around on the ground."

"But humans can't be as simple and happy as animals all the time."

He Bo knew the meaning of "joy".

"Peaceful days can indeed make people feel numb."

He nodded and said, "Besides, the atmosphere of the underworld makes it impossible for people to become lively."

Although He Bo could occasionally take the dead to the mortal world to bask in the warm sun.

But such favors are not something everyone can receive.

He sighed with delight and said, "Yes."

"Moreover, Dr. Ximen and I have also calculated that the lifespan of a dead ghost is generally as long as a hundred years."

Through the offerings of descendants,
Through the commemoration of others,
With the help of my dead friend...

all in all,
As an ordinary ghost, it takes quite a while to die in the underworld.

Ordinary ghosts didn't have much ambition in life, and they didn't find any extra enjoyment in death. They usually just farmed, chatted, and slept, occasionally going out along the Weak Water to other cities to broaden their horizons.

If this continues for a hundred years, one will inevitably feel tired and bored.

……

"Or, I'll send these guys to reincarnation too!"

After He Bo and Lao Guixi lamented that "it's too chaotic and I hate the chaotic world, but it's too peaceful and I feel bored. Human nature is really strange and bizarre," He Bo suddenly slapped his forehead and an idea popped into his head.

Xi said, "They're not even considered ghosts anymore, so they can still be reincarnated?"

"Of course not!"

"Then how does reincarnation work?"

He Bo simply pointed to the ethereal, ghostly figures in the woods and asked, "What do you think these look like?"

Xi scratched his head and thought for a moment, "Like grass and trees."

Drifting aimlessly in the mountains with the wind

What else could it be but grass and trees?
Surely it couldn't be that someone had nothing better to do than hang white silk all over the mountain, could it?

So He Bo put his hands behind his back and said smugly, "If I can't be reincarnated, I can become a seed!"

"Plants can also grow and sprout; this is part of the cycle of nature!"

Xi was very surprised, "You can do that? But..."

You didn't mention this before?

He Bo waved his hand and said, "It just came to my mind suddenly."

"Let me try this method first. If it works, then many dead souls will also have a new benefit in the future!"

(End of this chapter)