“What should we do? The time for reincarnation is approaching. If he keeps pestering us, will our family never be reincarnated?”
Emily Shaw’s lips trembled, her eyes glistening as she stamped her foot in frustration. “Victor Young, what do you want from me? I’ve given you enough! You’ve haunted me long enough. I only broke up with you—I didn’t destroy your family. Do you really hate me this much?”
I stared at her coldly, murderous intent radiating from my gaze. “Let me ask you, Emily… do you dare to gamble?”
The entire hall fell silent. No one expected me to be so ruthless.
Whispers broke out among the assembled spirits:
“Why is he so persistent about Emily Shaw?”
“To risk his life and descend into the underworld… could it really just be for a mere debt?”
“There must be more to this than he’s letting on.”
Even the Judge of Souls, seated on his obsidian throne, stroked his beard and lowered his gaze in thought.
Emily raised her chin, her voice trembling but defiant. “Fine. Let’s bet.”
I turned toward the Past Mirror that loomed in the hall and spoke word by word, my voice cold as steel:
“The truth lies in the mirror. Emily Shaw, you claim to be righteous—then let the mirror show who you really are. If I lose, I will willingly remain in the underworld, condemned to eternal torment. But if you lose, then you and your family will be cast into the eighteenth level of Hell. Do you dare?”
Emily sneered, lifting her head proudly. “A person of integrity fears no shadow. Do you think your baseless accusations will convince anyone?”
I smirked. “Good. Then let’s see your true face.”
She glared at me venomously before stepping toward the Past Mirror. At once, ripples of light spread across its surface, revealing her reflection. The image that appeared was flawless: Emily giving alms, Emily donating her allowance, Emily smiling kindly at her classmates.
Gasps rose from the crowd.
“What a virtuous soul!”
“She’s so kind-hearted… how could she be guilty?”
Emily turned back to me triumphantly. “Do you see? What else do you have to say now?”
Her voice cracked as she burst into tears, looking every bit at the picture of innocence. At once, angry cries filled the hall.
“Victor Young is slandering her!”
“Someone like him deserves punishment!”
“Beat him until his soul shatters!”
At the Judge’s command, the Bull-headed Warden and Horse-faced Warden yanked the chains that bound me. The barbed links tore into my flesh, blood spilling down my arms. Flames erupted from the floor, scorching my bones, and I let out a guttural scream.
But through the searing agony, I roared back: “One vision cannot erase the truth! Have you seen all the past, or only what she wishes you to see?”
The Underworld Clerk adjusted the Book of Deeds, and the Past Mirror rippled again. Another memory appeared—
The day Emily broke up with me. Her twin sister, Nina Shaw, lay sick with leukemia. Emily had insisted on donating bone marrow to save her. I had disagreed, fearing her health, and Emily had stormed away, declaring our relationship over.
The crowd erupted again, moved to tears.
“What a noble sister!”
“She gave up love for family!”
“Victor Young is truly heartless.”
Charles and Julia Shaw stepped forward, glaring at me with venom. Charles spat at the ground. “Victor, you selfish wretch! You never deserved our daughter!”
Julia clasped Emily’s hand protectively, the family united in false harmony.
The sight sickened me.
Through the blood and fire, I laughed hoarsely, my voice laced with scorn: “Judge of Souls… tell me, is this how the underworld works? A place that calls itself just, yet is so easily blinded by false appearances?”
"Even now, you don't even know who the ghost standing before you is. There must be a lot of wrongful convictions in the underworld!"
"Nonsense!" Judge of Souls's patience had completely run out.
"You've trespassed into the underworld and are acting recklessly. Now that you've lost the bet, I will fulfill it, take away your soul, and charge you with the crime of openly defying and disregarding the laws and order of the underworld!" The Bull-headed and Horse-faced Wardens were already rubbing their fists, eager to send me to hell.
But I wasn't afraid at all. I struggled to stand up and pointed a hateful finger at Emily Shaw before me:
"What about the Judge of Souls? They're all blind!"
