at all.”
Mulan let her hands drop to her sides. “Ren, we need your help. We need to get to the hundredth level. Do you know the way?”
“I’m afraid I don’t,” Ren said, putting his hat back on. “Truly. You see, this is where ghosts wait until they ascend to Heaven or return to Earth. You only go up when King Yama says you can.”
“We don’t have time to wait,” ShiShi barked.
Mulan was calmer. “One of the ghosts mentioned something about the Chamber of Mirrors.”
Ren made a face. “You want to go there?”
“You know where it is?”
“Everyone does. It’s in the West Pearl Quarter.” Ren must have seen the hope spark in her eyes, for he quickly added, “But don’t get too excited. Legend has it that anyone who goes inside never comes out again.”
“It’s worth a try. Can you take us there?”
“It’s a little ways away. I can show you…if you would be so kind as to, um, stop stepping on my robe, Captain Li Shang.”
Shang glared at him and lifted his foot.
Ren gulped, then started off with a nod. For a ghost with a cane, he moved quickly. He threaded the marketplace deeper into Youdu until they reached a cobblestone path surrounded by grand, gold-tiled pagodas. A line of ghosts curled outside the tallest building.
“What are they in line for?” Mulan said, half running and half walking to keep up.
“That’s the Hall of Justice,” replied Ren, gesturing at the tallest pagoda, which had a large gong swinging in the middle of its courtyard. “They’re waiting for Yama to call them to Heaven.”
At Mulan’s side, Shang looked intently at the line, but there was no sign of General Li.
Ren made a sharp right into an alleyway, then across another square and up seven steps until they arrived at an antique store with a tattered red-brown awning.
“‘The Chamber of Mirrors,’” ShiShi read on the store’s door. “This is a shop!”
“I warned you it was just a legend,” Ren replied. “Now let’s go before the shopkeeper sees us and—”
Ren never finished his sentence. The shopkeeper, an elderly man wearing a black scholar’s hat, appeared at the door. “What are you hooligans doing, loitering in front of my store? Can’t you see we’re closed?”
“We are looking for a way out of Diyu,” Mulan said. “I was hoping you could help.”
The shopkeeper tilted his glasses up his nose and cocked his head at Mulan. “Help a mortal? Mortals are not permitted in Youdu. I’m afraid I’ll have to sound the alarm.”
“No, don’t!” Ren cried, throwing himself into the door to keep the shopkeeper from reaching for the bell inside. “Zhen, this is a special case. She’s my relation.”
At the sight of Ren, the shopkeeper stepped fully outside. To Mulan’s surprise, most of his body was covered with short brown fur—like a monkey. He even had a tail.
“Fa Ren,” said Zhen the shopkeeper with a click of his tongue. “So, after seventy-nine years you finally decide to come back and pay your debts. You owe me eight gold coins.”
“That’s not why I’m here,” Ren said. “But I’ll have the money. Soon.”
“Will you, now?” Zhen glared at the three of them, focusing especially on ShiShi. “There is no exit anywhere on this level. Now go away before I call the guards.”
Zhen spun around to reenter his shop, but Mulan caught the door before he closed it.
“This is the Chamber of Mirrors, isn’t it? All the ghosts in the marketplace said the way out of Diyu is through here.”
“Why, of all the impertinent—” Zhen growled at her, but Mulan wouldn’t let go of the door. “Everyone gets out of Diyu the same way. You die, you do your time, and then you wait by the Hall of Justice for King Yama to call your name.”
“I see,” Shang said, tilting his head to the side thoughtfully. “It is quite strange that a scholar should be in charge of an antique store.”
“Yes,” agreed ShiShi. “I would have thought a man of such impeccable learning would have been more favored by King Yama. You can’t earn one of those official hats unless you are brilliant.”
“Maybe he did something to anger King Yama?” Shang suggested. “Otherwise, he wouldn’t be working in this empty antique store. Look, there aren’t even any customers.”
“It’s not just an antique store.” Zhen pursed his lips, and it became clear he’d said too much. “Go away. The store is closed.”
“Look, Zhen,” entreated Ren, “don’t punish the girl because of me.”
“You said she’s your relation!” Zhen glared at