Chapter 156: Who’s in Charge Here

Yun Jiao, who had been quietly sitting at the side, calmly drew a cross at the end of the paper she was grading and wrote down the score — 62. Only then did she look up at the scene in the hall.

“Since that’s the case,” she said evenly, “let’s start the report and handover with you three.”

“Report and handover?” The three ghost judges blinked, completely baffled.

Yun Jiao, however, spoke in all seriousness. “Yes — the detailed situation of the Youling Domain’s ghost gates, staff distribution, reincarnation rates, resource analysis, and the ten-year management plan. You’ve prepared those, right? You can hand them to me directly.”

The three ghost judges: “……”

Σ(°△°|||)︴

“Don’t worry,” Yun Jiao added helpfully, “I only need a general overview, not something 100% precise. Just like your usual management summaries from previous cycles.”

The three ghost judges: “……”

“Then you must at least have your workforce development files, right?”

“……”

Yun Jiao frowned slightly. “Don’t tell me you don’t even know how many souls are in your domain?”

“……”

What kind of administration was this? Was the underworld really this chaotic? Where was the so-called official order and structure?

Yun Jiao was stunned, scanning the three from head to toe before asking slowly and clearly, “Just how did you become ghost judges?”

“……”

The ghostly faces before her went several shades paler. Were they just… despised?

After a moment, the one in the middle — apparently the leader — finally came to his senses. With an offended glare, he said angrily, “We ghost judges of the underworld earn our rank through power! When one’s cultivation reaches the level of a ghost judge, one becomes a ghost judge. And who are you to speak so rudely here?”

“I’m merely assisting our sect leader in asking about the current state of the Youling Domain,” Yun Jiao replied evenly. “We just want to know how you’ve been managing it.”

The man shot her a glance and, noticing her mortal aura, his tone grew increasingly condescending.

“Evil souls are imprisoned, benevolent souls are cleansed. Once they’ve repaid the sins of their previous lives, they’re allowed to reincarnate. Every soul’s path of birth and death is clearly recorded in the Book of Life and Death.”

“Oh…” Yun Jiao nodded calmly. Then she said, “Then hand over the Book of Life and Death for review.”

“What!”

The three ghost judges froze, their eyes snapping wide open in disbelief. The lead ghost judge’s expression twisted in fury, waves of yin energy rolling off him.

“The Book of Life and Death records the judgment of all souls under heaven! How dare a mere mortal demand to see it!”

The other two ghost judges joined in immediately, turning toward Bai Yu with their complaints.

“Lord Yama, do you mean to take our Books of Life and Death from us?”

“The seven underworld domains follow one order — the Yamas command, the ghost judges judge life and death. That’s a law of ten thousand years! Will you break it as soon as you take office?”

“Even with support from the Celestial Realm, the underworld is still the underworld. No matter how powerful the immortals are, they have no right to interfere with our realm!”

“There has never been a Yama Lord who confiscated the ghost judges’ Books of Life and Death!”

Their voices rose, growing increasingly indignant, their eyes flicking pointedly toward Yuan Jiang — their tone implying that Bai Yu had betrayed the underworld and defected to the heavens.

The old man’s brow furrowed deeply. Rage churned in his chest. He glared at the three, who were practically frothing now. Given their reaction, he no longer believed for a moment that their Books were clean. His voice dropped low.

“So what you’re saying,” he said coldly, “is that I’m not even allowed to look at the Book of Life and Death?”

The three exchanged uneasy glances before the middle one replied carefully, “Of course, Lord Yama may view it. But these Books are Nether Relics — they’ve been bound to us for ages. Ordinary beings cannot handle them.”

“That’s right!” another added quickly. “Lord Yama, the Book carries heavy yin energy. With your… mortal body, I fear it would harm your lifespan.”

“Yes, Lord Yama,” the third chimed in. “We say this for your own good. You’re newly appointed and unfamiliar with the domain — take your time. There’s no need to rush.”

They spoke with such earnest concern — but their words were nothing but excuses.

Now it wasn’t just the old man frowning; even Yuan Jiang’s expression had darkened. These ghost judges clearly did not recognize Bai Yu as the true Lord of Youling. Even with a celestial present, they had no intention of sincerely submitting.

But Yuan Jiang couldn’t act. As an immortal, if he struck directly at underworld officials, it would ignite a conflict between the realms — a disaster for their current plans.

So the air in the hall turned tense and still.

The three ghost judges realized this too, and their arrogance grew. The leader even smirked, his tone dripping with mockery.

“Lord Yama, surely you understand our difficulties. There are countless souls awaiting judgment. The Books of Life and Death cannot leave our hands even for a moment.”

“Is that so important?” Yun Jiao suddenly interjected.

Unlike the old man and Yuan Jiang, who were struggling to suppress their anger, her expression remained perfectly calm and composed — as though the tension didn’t touch her in the slightest.

“Of course it is!” the ghost judge sneered.

“Oh…” Yun Jiao said lightly. She then stood up and walked slowly toward the old man, stopping at his side. Her tone was quiet but steady.

“Master, I think they make a good point.”

“Ah?” The old man blinked, completely bewildered. Has she lost her mind?

But Yun Jiao continued, “The Book of Life and Death is indeed vital — the Youling Domain can’t function without it. But as for the rest…”

Her gaze swept across the three ghost judges.

“…they’re not exactly essential, are they?”

“……” What? The three ghosts froze.

Then Yun Jiao suddenly pulled out a talisman and pressed it onto the old man’s forehead. A burst of white light flashed, and a lotus-shaped mark appeared where the Yama Decree’s seal once was.

In the same instant, the three ghost judges felt a stabbing pain in their souls. Something was torn from within them — three streaks of light shot out, converging in front of the old man. Slowly, they condensed into a black book glowing faintly red. Three bold characters shimmered on the cover:

Book of Life and Death.

“……”

“I think you all made one mistake from the very beginning,” Yun Jiao said calmly, patting the old man’s shoulder.

“He is your superior. If you can’t do your job without the Book, that only proves your incompetence. So…”

Her eyes met theirs, steady and cold.

“Sorry — you’re fired.”

Yuan Jiang: “……”

The old man: “……”

The ghost judges: “……”

Wait… you can do that?!

(⊙_⊙)

(End of this chapter)