After arriving at the Underworld, Niannian didn't go looking for the Black and White Impermanence as usual, nor did she go to see the Judge. Instead, she made a beeline for the eighteenth level of Hell.
All the ghost guards, whether they knew Niannian or not, were shocked to see her charging towards the eighteenth level of Hell. They thought the scene of the Great Sage Equaling Heaven causing chaos in the Underworld back then was about to be reenacted.
They tried to stop her but couldn't. In a panic, they all rushed to find the Judge and ask for his advice.
Amid all the chaos, Niannian had already reached the eighteenth level of Hell. There, she found the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha.
"You, child, have a pure soul, a clear mind, and good deeds to your name. Moreover, you're a living person. Why have you come to Hell? I only save the most heinous ghosts here. I don't save the living or the virtuous," said the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, looking at Niannian kindly. It was the first time he had seen this little girl, but he liked her right away. After all, who didn't like people with clean souls?
He had once vowed that he would not attain Buddhahood until Hell was empty. If everyone were as pure - souled as Niannian, evil in the world would never have a chance to grow.
Little Tuanzi knelt down respectfully and bowed to the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha. She knew that this was not a good place. It housed the most evil souls in the world. These people had committed countless heinous crimes in their lifetimes and deserved to die a hundred times over. They were trapped here, listening to the Bodhisattva's teachings until they had a great awakening and repented. Only then could they be released to receive other punishments and be reincarnated.
Staying here was no different from being in a void. As long as they didn't sincerely repent, they would never get out. Most of the evil people in the world had psychological problems. They didn't think the mistakes they had made were wrong. Deep down, they believed they were right. So, very few people could leave this place.
Little Tuanzi was the first person to come to this level of Hell voluntarily.
"I've come to ask a favor, sir. My master and senior brothers have gone missing. I don't know where they've been taken or who took them. So, I'd like to ask your mount, the Heavenly Ear - Piercing Dog, to help me find out," said Niannian.
This was the fastest way Niannian could think of to get news of her master and senior brothers. Although the Book of Life and Death could reveal a lot of things, they were all practitioners of the Dao. Practitioners of the Dao had ways to hide their fates. It would take a long time to find them using the Book of Life and Death.
Only the Heavenly Ear - Piercing Dog could know everything in the world with just a listen. Nothing could escape his ears, not even a person's breath.
If this didn't work, she would have to look for the Bai Ze. But the Bai Ze was not easy to find. After much thought, only the Heavenly Ear - Piercing Dog could help her.
Although she didn't know the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha or the Heavenly Ear - Piercing Dog well, and she wasn't sure if the dog would help her.
Little Tuanzi knelt on the ground devoutly, looking as cute and obedient as could be.
Over the years, except when the Monkey King needed to distinguish the real and fake monkeys, no one would come to the Heavenly Ear - Piercing Dog for help unless there was an urgent matter in the Underworld.
This little girl could enter Hell unhindered. Regardless of her cultivation, she must have a very good relationship with the Underworld.
The Bodhisattva liked this little girl and was willing to help, but...
"Little girl, I do like you. But although the Heavenly Ear - Piercing Dog is my mount, he's also my partner. He hasn't done much for years and has a bit of a temper. I don't want to force him. So, you can discuss this with him, but he may not help you. I can summon him here and let you talk to him directly," said the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha.
The Bodhisattva was kind - hearted and didn't want to refuse Niannian, even though it was against the rules.
He knew the Heavenly Ear - Piercing Dog's temper. If this little girl just asked casually, she wouldn't be able to convince him. In this way, if the little girl gave up when she encountered difficulties, no one would be in an awkward situation.
But Niannian thought differently. As long as she could find the Heavenly Ear - Piercing Dog, she believed she could meet any difficult requirements.
Her master and senior brothers had been missing for half a month. A lot could happen in these fifteen days. What Duan Qiu had said really worried her.
"Okay, I'll talk to him myself!" Niannian nodded. Then, the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha waved his hand, and a huge black figure appeared in front of her in an instant.
"The Heavenly Ear - Piercing Dog, this little girl has something she wants you to help with. Take her away. This is not a place for her," said the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, pointing at Niannian. The arrogant Heavenly Ear - Piercing Dog just snorted and turned to leave Hell.
Little Tuanzi quickly chased after him, afraid of losing sight of him the next second.
Finally, in a place where there were no ghosts around, the Heavenly Ear - Piercing Dog stopped and asked, "Little girl, my master has a good temper, but I don't. Hell is not a place where just anyone can come. If you're so rude next time, don't blame me for being merciless. Now, tell me, what do you want from me?"
The Heavenly Ear - Piercing Dog scolded Niannian first, then raised his head proudly and turned the topic to the matter at hand.
"My master and senior brothers are missing. I want to know where they are and if they're safe. I have to go and save them," said Niannian anxiously.
"You want me to find out the whereabouts of a few people? Hmph..." The Heavenly Ear - Piercing Dog snorted, looking like he was about to refuse immediately.
But somehow, he stopped halfway. His eyes rolled around, and it seemed he was up to something. He sized Niannian up and down for a long time before slowly saying, "I can tell you're a living person. I know there are a lot of delicious and interesting things in the human world. I'm so bored staying in the Underworld. How about this? You go and collect some delicious and interesting things from the human world and bring them to me. As long as I'm satisfied, I'll immediately help you find out where they are. Deal?"
Just bring some delicious and interesting things? Little Tuanzi was stunned. This request was neither too difficult nor too easy.
Buying some delicious and interesting things was within her financial means. She could afford whatever the Heavenly Ear - Piercing Dog wanted. The difficult part was bringing the things to the Underworld.
The Underworld and the human world were two completely different spaces. Bringing things from the human world to the Underworld, unless they were magical artifacts, was considered smuggling.
This Heavenly Ear - Piercing Dog always talked about rules, but asking her to bring things from the human world to the Underworld was also against the rules of the Underworld's goods - handling process.