Night fell low and heavy. Cold wind howled across the darkness.
Outside the gates of Fengdu City, a small, lonely shrine stood in silence.
Three thin sticks of incense burned in front, their smoke curling into the night.
The shrine door creaked open.
A man slowly stepped inside.
He wore a simple, faded blue robe, his body thin and pale.
But his eyes were bright and clear.
His name was Li Fang.
In life, he had been a poor scholar from Laizhou. Though his family had little, he had always walked the path of virtue, doing good whenever he could.
But fate was unkind—he died one cold winter night from illness.
Even his coffin had been paid for by kind neighbors.
After death, Li Fang was taken by underworld guards, thinking he would be quietly reborn into a new life.
But instead, a decree came from Fengdu:
The underworld needed a new City God for Laizhou.
The one overseeing the selection was none other than Judge Cui, the chief examiner.
Now, Li Fang stood alone in the shrine, uneasy and confused.
He didn't understand—he was just a nobody. Why had he been chosen for such a high role?
On the altar lay an old book.
On the cover, a few large characters read:
"The Duty of a City God: Guard the balance of life, death, good and evil. The just shall rise; the selfish shall fall."
A tall, thin judge dressed in blue robes approached him, holding a crimson brush in hand.
The judge looked at him coldly.
"Li Fang," he said, "Your heart holds no evil.
Are you willing to take on the role of City God?"
Li Fang was stunned.
A City God? That was a great and terrible responsibility—to guard the souls of the dead, oversee the records of life and death…
He hesitated and asked quietly, "I'm not very wise… What if I fail in my duties?"
The judge snorted.
"The weight of a City God's duty is heavier than mountains.
One wrong choice, and lives may be lost.
Best case, you are punished. Worst case—your soul is destroyed, never to return."
Li Fang bit his lip, then slowly knelt down and bowed his head deeply.
"I may be small and weak," he said solemnly,
"but I am willing to guard this land with all I have.
If I fail the heavens, I accept their punishment."
The judge nodded and handed him the crimson brush.
"Drip your blood onto the tip, and write your oath."
Li Fang pricked his finger, letting a drop of blood fall onto the brush.
It began to glow faintly red.
Carefully, he wrote on the page:
"I, Li Fang, swear to protect the souls of Laizhou. I follow Heaven's command, and I serve with clarity and justice.
If I break this vow, may my soul be scattered and cast into eternal torment."
As soon as he finished, the book closed itself and turned into a beam of golden light, which flew into his body.
In that moment, Li Fang felt something shift inside him.
His body grew light, almost floating.
He could feel a mysterious connection with the shrine.
The judge spoke softly:
"From this day forward, you are the City God of Laizhou.
When mortals pray—you may listen.
When injustice cries out—you must judge.
Every deed of good and evil—you must weigh without error."
As he spoke, the shrine's old statue slowly changed—
Its face began to take on Li Fang's features.
The new statue looked calm, with kind eyes and a quiet strength.
Li Fang's heart trembled.
He knew—he was no longer just another lost soul.
From now on, he would carry the fate of countless lives on his shoulders.
Outside, a low drumbeat echoed across the darkness.
Boom… Boom… Boom…
The underworld drums were sounding—announcing the rise of a new City God.
Li Fang stood tall in the center of the shrine, staring into the night beyond the door.
His gaze grew steady and firm.
No matter how dangerous the road ahead,
he would protect this land.
Even if that road led into endless darkness and blood.
—
But at the same time, in another corner of Fengdu City, a dark current began to stir.
From the shadows, a pair of cold, glinting eyes watched the new City God.
A twisted smile appeared.
"So… a new City God, huh?
Heh. We'll be meeting soon enough."
The wind howled past the walls of Fengdu,
casting long, distorted shadows—
like a sleeping monster slowly waking.