"Underworld?" the female crown exclaid in astonishnt.
Chen Yi nodded slightly and said softly, "Behind your family’s mountain, there’s a hidden door leading to the Underworld. It’s concealed very well."
Yin Weiyin froze, a mix of shock and bewildernt crossing her face. Although she’d heard tales from ghost stories about doors leading to the Underworld, she never imagined such a thing would happen to her.
"I want to uncover the truth about your family, so I brought you here," Chen Yi said.
Yin Weiyin nodded, her heart filled with confusion.
"Let’s move forward, stay close to ."
Chen Yi stepped forward.
"Wait, wait."
Yin Weiyin called out to him.
"What is it?"
Chen Yi turned his head, and saw the female crown take two or three steps forward, her slender fingers clutching his clothing hem.
She turned her face slightly and said, "Okay now..."
Chen Yi smiled. Whether they were in the underground palace or the Scripture Pavilion of the Joyful Sect, she had always held onto his clothing hem just like this.
She was afraid of the surroundings and of herself, yet amidst her fear, she relied on him by necessity.
Chen Yi didn’t say more and started walking again, deliberately slowing his pace so she could steadily hold onto him.
The two moved forward, mist swirling beside them, and the eerie Yin energy piercing their skin. Yin Weiyin ford the spell for the Golden Light Body Protection Technique with one hand, a thin layer of faint light isolating the Yin energy from her skin.
"ng Po Soup, selling ng Po Soup."
A faint voice echoed from afar, causing Chen Yi and Yin Weiyin to stop in their tracks and look ahead.
A woman wearing a soft blue horseface skirt appeared. Her face was thin and drawn, her features neither remarkable nor captivating, and her figure was vague, almost ghostlike.
"ng Po Soup, selling ng Po Soup."
She held a bucket of soup, lightly striking the hanging iron sheet with a ladle, producing a crisp, tinkling sound.
Her ghostly figure drifted closer and closer to Chen Yi and Yin Weiyin.
The female crown swiftly raised the Peach Wood Sword before her, her face full of vigilance.
The ghostly woman arrived before them, her expression carrying a warm smile. Raising the wooden bucket in her hand, she said:
"Do you want ng Po Soup?"
Chen Yi stared at the ghostly woman and replied:
"We are living people; why would we need ng Po Soup?"
Upon hearing this, a hint of disappointnt erged on her face as she muttered:
"Living people can drink it too."
Yin Weiyin’s expression hardened, stepping forward and angrily saying:
"What sort of monster are you, selling ng Po Soup outside Naihe Bridge?"
For the dignity of the Taichua Goddess, she stepped forward and released Chen Yi’s clothing hem.
Yin Weiyin’s Taoist robe made her stand out. The ghostly woman quickly retreated one or two steps, raising her hand and saying:
"It’s not illegal selling. No, it’s not! The Day Patrol Deity sought permission from King Yan for to sell ng Po Soup here."
"Day Patrol Deity..."
Chen Yi recalled soone and continued:
"Is this Day Patrol Deity of yours nad Min?"
The ghostly woman’s reaction showed astonishnt. She tilted her head forward, asking:
"Do you know him, young master?"
From her response, Chen Yi confird that the Day Patrol Deity she ntioned was indeed Min He, then nodded in acknowledgnt.
Chen Yi surveyed their surroundings, unfamiliar and alien. Even with a map in hand, he couldn’t discern where they were in the Underworld, let alone their proximity to Yama Hall.
Yama Hall was the primary goal of this journey.
Not just to erase a na from the Book of Life and Death, but because the book itself contained details about the birthdates, origins, and ancestral bloodlines of all sentient beings.
In other words, the Book of Life and Death recorded a person’s life from birth to death. If Chen Yi managed to find it, besides striking out his na and severing his link to the chronicle of spring and autumn, he could also uncover the origin of the female corpse in the coffin, unraveling the mystery of the Prince Mansion—a multi-faceted accomplishnt.
Chen Yi looked at the ghostly woman and asked, "How do we get to the second hall of Yama?"
The ghostly woman thought for a mont, pointed southeast, and then said:
"Why are you headed there? Things are chaotic there recently, with little ghosts wandering about everywhere. So souls have even escaped from the prisons—I don’t know what’s happening."
Though the ghostly woman seed unaware of the situation, Chen Yi knew better.
All of this was tied to the imminent resurrection of the forr emperor.
So Chen Yi replied, "This isn’t sothing you need to concern yourself with. Thank you for pointing the way."
The ghostly woman then eagerly asked:
"Would you care for a bowl of ng Po Soup? Just two bowls left, perfect for you each to have one."
Yin Weiyin frowned and said:
"What sche are you plotting now?"
The Peach Wood Sword was poised forward; the ghostly woman shrunk slightly and shook her head repeatedly.
Chen Yi turned back and asked, "By the way, why are you selling ng Po Soup here?"
The ghostly woman muttered sullenly, "Nothing much. If you’re not buying, just leave."
Saying this, she lifted the wooden bucket and floated out of sight.
Yin Weiyin gazed at the disappearing figure, twirled the Peach Wood Sword into a half-flower stance, and sheathed it, saying softly:
"She only has one soul and one spirit."
"Oh?"
"Children are the most susceptible to losing souls and spirits, but she is neither a child nor does she resemble a ghost ssenger from the Underworld," the female crown clarified when she noticed Chen Yi’s lack of understanding. "This ng Po Soup surely harbors so sinister intent."
Chen Yi nodded slightly. A mysterious ghostly woman selling ng Po Soup, regardless of how amicable she appeared outwardly, likely concealed so covert sches.
After the minor occurrence, Chen Yi and Yin Weiyin headed southeast.
In truth, Chen Yi wasn’t certain if the direction the ghostly woman indicated was correct. But given their current situation, having a direction was better than none.
Even if the ghostly woman led them into peril or a trap-filled wrong path, Chen Yi’s abilities, albeit insufficient for a complete reversal, were enough to ensure both he and Yin Weiyin could escape together.
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