The Underworld was not an endless expanse of barren wasteland, but rather mountains upon mountains, littered with peculiar dark stones exuding a cold, somber hue. A forest of stones loomed menacingly in every direction, with desolation where not even a single blade of grass grew. Along the path, one could also see skeletal remains, and beside the bones, grew a poisonous grass known as "Heartbreak Herb."
Following the path, faint footprints began to emerge from the ground. Upon seeing them, Yin Weiyin asked in puzzlement:
"That means someone—or rather, something—is ahead," Chen Yi replied. The most update n0vels are published on novelꞁire.net
He raised his head to look into the distance and walked further. Soon, between the crisscrossing stone forest, he saw ghostly blue flames flickering, and not far from the path ahead, the sounds of boisterous drinking and dicing could be heard.
Chen Yi felt a sense of relief upon witnessing this scene.
The path was not wrong.
Yin Weiyin followed closely behind Chen Yi as they weaved through the stone forest. As they approached, they saw the eerie blue flames burning, accompanied by raucous laughter and singing. A group of figures, some even singing "Drunken Brawl with Jiangmen God," reveled amidst the flickering flames.
These individuals all wore patched long robes, their faces bluish-purple, dressed like mountain hunters wrapped in animal hides, with bows and spears lying by their sides.
As the two approached, a burly man within the group noticed them. He straightened up warily and asked, "Who goes there?"
Chen Yi responded politely, "Just a pair of weary travelers passing through. We hope to borrow the path ahead from you fine folks."
The men picked up their weapons from the ground—some long spears, others short clubs—and watched the two cautiously. One of them shouted:
"There are living people here?"
"Living people? Tsk, truly living people."
"Rare... so rare... other than the Demon Extermination Day that comes every 360 years, we’ve hardly seen the living."
One day on the surface was equivalent to a year underground. For Chen Yi and Yin Weiyin, only a few months had passed since the last Demon Extermination Day, but for these hunter-like men, it had been decades already.
Their eyes circled around the pair without blinking. Yin Weiyin, dressed in a Taoist robe, placed a hand upon the Peach Wood Sword at her side. Seeing this, several of the hunters hissed sharply and retreated a few steps.
The leader of the group, a man named Liu Ting, quickly stepped forward to apologize profusely:
"My name is Liu Ting. My brothers and I have guarded this path for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Seeing living people again after so long piqued our curiosity. Forgive us for the excitement. May I ask where the two of you hail from?"
Chen Yi clasped his hands in a respectful gesture and replied, "There’s nothing much to tell. My surname is Chen, given name Yi. As for this one, she’s a Daoist from Taihua Mountain and is a close friend of mine, accompanying me on this journey."
The burly Liu Ting immediately flattered, "Ah, so the pair of you must surely come from esteemed origins. Especially this lady Taoist—such National Beauty, akin to a heavenly celestial being. If you’re passing through, , and we’ll lead the way."
Yin Weiyin cast her gaze into the distance and saw that the mountain path was treacherous, the stone forest layered and winding with numerous branching trails. The road was dotted with uneven terrain, coupled with lingering mist that shrouded the view. Without a guide, it would be impossible to know when they’d reach their destination.
Their goal was the Second Yama Hall.
This was because the ledgers of life and death for the Great Yu Capital had been entrusted to the Second Yama Hall for safekeeping.
Along the way, Chen Yi had told her that they needed to visit the Second Yama Hall to unravel a mystery surrounding the Prince Mansion of Jing. As for the exact nature of the mystery, Chen Yi seemed deliberately vague.
Since he refused to elaborate, Yin Weiyin could only silently interpret it as him underestimating her. His sights were set so high, yet for all his airs, he was still just an ordinary mortal. In a place , teeming with phantoms and demons, how could someone like him manage? Ultimately, it would be up to her, an authentic Taoist, to showcase her prowess and resolve any crises.
The group of hunters continued to stare unblinking at the pair.
Chen Yi broke the silence, saying, "Since you all sincerely offer your help, we kindly accept your guidance."
"No trouble, no trouble at all," Liu Ting assured, rubbing his hands together before adding, "But... do the two of you happen to carry any money?"
The female crown gave a side glance, her voice frigid as she spoke, "I thought you were Good Samaritans, but it turns out you’re charging a toll."
Her tone carried just enough sarcasm to make her point, leaving the rest to the so-called "ordinary mortal" beside her to handle.
Liu Ting pounded his chest with a laugh, saying, "You know, leading the way may not be a big deal, but it’s not a small matter either. Let’s not forget we need paper money to survive here. If we don’t charge you, you might even mistrust our sincerity. A little token fee is all we ask."
Yin Weiyin remained silent.
Chen Yi, however, pulled out a large denomination of paper money from his pocket and handed it over with a solemn expression. He said, "Then we shall trouble you."
"No trouble at all, no trouble." Liu Ting took the paper money and stuffed it into his clothing. Turning back, he shouted to his companions, "Alright, brothers, let’s get moving!"
The group quickly gathered their belongings and proceeded ahead, Liu Ting staying at the rear, motioning for Chen Yi and Yin Weiyin to follow.
Chen Yi walked slowly, watching the scene. Yin Weiyin sighed quietly and shook her head.
He still didn’t see it,
that this group of people—with their sparse brows, gapped teeth, darkened tendons, and bloodshot eyes—
bore the features of... man-eaters.