The Grievance Petition Officer of the Palace of Yama (Part 3)
Continued from “Yu’s Reincarnation Story: The Grievance Petition Officer of the Palace of Yama (Part 2)”
Grievance Mediation
The two arrived at the Grand Hall of King Qin Guang. Bu Ying quickly reported Jing Kai’s situation to the judge of the hall.
Soon after, Jing Kai was brought into the Grievance Petition Office. The grievance officer—whose secondary soul served under Yu (Yu Menglong)—brought out a stack of scrolls and explained the causes and consequences behind his death.
Every person is followed by an underworld record keeper assigned to document their words and actions. This is what people refer to as “Heaven sees all actions from above.”
These record keepers continuously transmit everything back to the underworld. Jing Kai’s entire life history was recorded in the scrolls placed before him.
It turned out that the murderer was his elder half-brother, Jing Yue.
During the provincial examination, Jing Yue became overly anxious and failed. In desperation, he decided to assume Jing Kai’s identity in order to obtain his examination success and status.
Jing Kai was a righteous man and refused to agree to such a request. Enraged, Jing Yue, together with his associates, took advantage of the night and killed him.
Upon hearing the full account, Jing Kai was stunned. He never imagined that Jing Yue would kill him for the sake of replacing his identity and achievements.
The grievance officer presented him with two choices: let go of hatred and proceed to reincarnation, or remain attached to Jing Yue’s side and wait for an opportunity for revenge.
The idea of revenge was deeply tempting. Jing Kai’s expression gradually turned cold and dark.
From childhood, Jing Yue and his companions had bullied him repeatedly. Under his mother Zhen’s guidance, Jing Kai had always responded with tolerance and restraint.
Yet now, he realized that his lifelong forgiveness had not prevented his death—it had led to it.
How could such a deep hatred be left unresolved?
The grievance officer spoke gently:
“Jing Kai, think of your mother’s teachings. She is a virtuous woman with strong faith. What would she hope for in this moment of your unjust death?”
His tone was calm and compassionate, like a spring breeze that softened Jing Kai’s darkened heart.
Suddenly, Jing Kai remembered his mother’s words.
“My child, enduring Jing Yue’s actions is not cruelty toward you. Each act of forgiveness is meant to refine your character and elevate your virtue.”
Through her Buddhist understanding, Lady Zhen had taught that tolerance could transform negative karma into positive merit.
Accumulating such merit would eventually allow one to attain success and, in future life, even governance requires a broad and tolerant heart.
As the saying goes: “The sea is vast because it accepts all rivers; a great cliff stands firm because it is free of desire.”
Yet Jing Kai never expected that before attaining his success, his life would already be taken by his brother.
The Cycle of Karma
The grievance officer opened another scroll and read slowly:
“In principle, you should have remained in suffering at the ruined temple until the end of your natural lifespan before being guided to the underworld.”
However, because of his mother’s teachings, Jing Kai had maintained forgiveness toward Jing Yue since childhood. This allowed him, after being murdered, to meet the wandering Daoist Bu Ying and be guided to the underworld ahead of time.
Jing Kai sighed softly:
“But why was I bound to such a hostile karmic connection with Jing Yue?”
The grievance officer took out an old scroll and examined it.
“Look here. In the late Tang Dynasty, you once killed Jing Yue in a previous lifetime, forming this karmic debt.”
These ancient scrolls recorded the lifetimes of Jing Kai as tracked by underworld record keepers.
“Cause comes before effect. This is the cycle of karma. Do you understand?”
Hearing this, Jing Kai felt as though a hidden memory had been unlocked.
He suddenly realized:
“The result of being killed by Jing Yue in this life comes from the cause of having killed him in a previous life.”
If he were to seek revenge again, this karmic cycle would continue endlessly.
In the next life, Jing Yue would once again come seeking revenge. When would such grievances ever end?
The grievance officer nodded gently.
“If you choose to let go of hatred and reincarnate, the underworld will arrange the best path for you. Your injustice will also be reviewed in the human world, evidence will be found, and the murderer will face rightful judgment.”
Jing Kai thought for a moment and said slowly:
“Very well. I choose to end this karmic cycle and enter reincarnation.”
The officer asked one final question:
“And your mother and siblings—can you also let go of your attachment to them?”
The officer paused his brush and waited.
Jing Kai replied with a bitter smile:
“My mother follows the Buddhist path; she will understand my choice. My siblings will take good care of her. I have no remaining attachments.”
As soon as he spoke these words, Jing Kai felt an unprecedented sense of release and clarity.
Without hesitation, he entered the path of reincarnation.
Yu Menglong's Reincarnation Stories: The Grievance Petition Officer of the Palace of Yama (Part 4)