CHAPTER 99: CHAPTER 98: IF YOU JUMP, I JUMP TOO!

"I must bring my son back from the Netherworld!" Tears shimmered in Hua Niang’s eyes, maternal love driving her forward, "I’ve affixed the Soul Chasing Talisman to his corpse. His soul has always lingered on the Netherworld Road; he’s been waiting for me to find him. That road is so lonely; he has always been afraid of the cold. Finally, I can bring him back home."

Hua Niang seemed to see a bright future, she suddenly smiled, then resolutely turned and leaped onto the Netherworld Road.

"Xiao You, Hang’er..."

Mrs. Zhao let out a stimulated scream, her eyes rolled back, about to faint, but Mr. Zhao quickly supported her.

"The Netherworld Road? Is that a path you can only walk after death? No, my children are still so young; let me go find them." Mr. Zhao gritted his teeth and was about to follow onto the Netherworld Road.

"Mr. Zhao, don’t be reckless. Living people who walk the Netherworld Road will have their souls hooked away. Even if you can come out alive, you will inevitably lose your three souls and seven spirits."

Yu Nianzhao stopped Mr. Zhao, preventing him from entering the Netherworld Road.

"What should I do then? My children!"

"Dongfang Chenyuan, set up a Soul Summoning Array, wait for me to return." Yu Nianzhao turned back with a reminder, then, under their shocked gazes, directly turned around and also entered the Netherworld Road.

"Zhaozhao!"

Yu Nianzhao did not look back; only heard Xie Jiuxiao’s worried shout.

"Prince, it’s dangerous!"

"Prince, you mustn’t go!"

The voices of Mu Hongxuan and Dongfang Chenyuan intermittently conveyed.

Yu Nianzhao turned her head and saw Xie Jiuxiao also stepping onto the Netherworld Road; after a moment of astonishment, she hurriedly grabbed his hand.

"Xie Jiuxiao, are you crazy? This is the Netherworld Road, where countless wandering souls and wild ghosts abound. Someone like you is a delicacy in their eyes. If they target and catch you, you will have your soul devoured and become their substitute."

Yu Nianzhao couldn’t help but reprimand.

Xie Jiuxiao grasped her hand tightly in return, his thin lips pressed firmly, "Why did you jump down? I saw you jump, so instinctively followed; are you risking your life? Even if you’re skilled in mystical arts, you shouldn’t joke around. Can you go back now?"

Yu Nianzhao was taken aback, her clear eyes fixed upon Xie Jiuxiao’s serious expression, an indescribable feeling in her heart.

It felt like ants were crawling at the tip of her heart.

"The way back has vanished, but I can take you out." Yu Nianzhao shook her head, "But I don’t want to return empty-handed. Xie Jiuxiao, I’ll throw you back; I’m going to bring those two children back. Their life spans haven’t ended; King Yan doesn’t want them dead; they must continue living."

"Then I’ll accompany you." Xie Jiuxiao immediately responded, using an indisputable tone, "You’re not allowed to throw me out."

Yu Nianzhao awkwardly paused her grip on his arm, silently released her hand, and gently patted the creases in his clothes that she had caused, "Fine, since you’re already here, I won’t make you leave. You better stick close to me; if you get lost here, you’ll remain trapped. The Netherworld Road stretches endlessly; without the guide lamp, you can’t smoothly enter reincarnation and would only become a wandering soul."

"Alright!"

Xie Jiuxiao interlocked his fingers with hers, holding tightly. He raised them, showing off, raising his eyebrows, "This way, we won’t get separated."

Yu Nianzhao gave a forced smile, "Okay, you clever one!"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

A gust of cold wind blew around them, a misty white fog before them, interspersed with layers of green light.

Wandering souls and wild ghosts roamed within, their eyes hollow, moving forward aimlessly.

"Where are they?"

"I don’t know, I’m searching. Hua Niang wants to find her son on the Netherworld Road, but it’s quite challenging. There are far too many wandering souls; there must be tens of thousands. Finding each one will take her a long time."

"Is this the Netherworld Road? Leading to the Underworld?" Xie Jiuxiao looked around, "Why are there so many wandering souls and wild ghosts? Shouldn’t the soul hook take care of them?"

"Various reasons really; those slain by ghosts, and some ghosts clinging to the mortal world, escaping the soul hook’s capture only to become wandering souls."

"What happens to them without a guide lamp?"

"They’ve set foot on the Netherworld Road, accepting the path, wanting reincarnation. Unfortunately, they’ve missed the chance for soul hook guidance and need family members still in the living realm to light the guide lamp. Without it, they’ll wander aimlessly until forgotten and ultimately perish here."

"Sounds quite tragic."

"It’s their choice, like Hua Niang’s. Originally her son could be reborn normally, yet she forcibly detained his soul, turning him into a wandering ghost. Tsk, ignorance is terrifying."

In conversation, they had walked into the midst of the wandering souls and ghost army.

Xie Jiuxiao’s body emitted strong evil qi, masking his human aura, their movements gentle, unnoticed by the wild ghosts.

A commotion suddenly erupted ahead, nearby ghosts sensed human scent, showing fierce glow, baring teeth and rushing forward.

"This is bad, surely Hua Niang and them have been discovered." Yu Nianzhao furrowed her brow, pulling Xie Jiuxiao toward the gathering wild ghosts quickly.

"Wah, wah..."

Nearby, Xiao You’s cries were heard, and she soon saw Hua Niang and Xiao You surrounded by wandering souls.

Xiao You had woken up; seeing the scene startled her into tears.

Such crying attracted the wild ghosts, who had wandered here for an unknown length of time.

Eager for someone to become their substitute ghost, wanting to return to the living realm.

"It’s a human, a little girl, tsk, this kind of girl’s flesh must be delicious."

"You damned ghost, I want this body. I want to return to the living realm; don’t fight with me!"

"Away with you! Scram elsewhere; here you can’t speak. Such fresh young life surely belongs to me. All of you get lost!"

A group of ghosts had not seen a living person on the Netherworld Road for decades, their eyes glowing green, slobbering with desire.

Unfortunately, there’s only one Xiao You. They fought over her body, granting Yu Nianzhao enough time to rush forward.

"Boo hoo, I want to go home, I want to find my mom." Xiao You, frightened by the grim ghosts, wailed and grabbed Hua Niang’s arm, "Aunt, please take me home, I’m so scared!"