"Go away, beggar! Get lost." The Yellow Ghost snarled, its voice rasping with a sinister impatience.
I hurriedly ordered a lot of food. The owner brought it over, and the three looked at me in confusion.
"I just arrived, unfamiliar with the area. But the Li Gui you mentioned is an acquaintance of mine. I'm here to find him. Consider this food my treat to all of you."
The three ghosts looked at me with a hint of happiness, and I sat down. Soon, the butcher brought over a steaming pot of meat and some wine. It smelled oddly fragrant, but I only watched them eat. After all, this was food for ghosts—I had no idea what kind of meat it was, and the thought that it could be human flesh sent a chill through me.
The three ghosts began to revel, their faces twisted with glee, and then the Yellow Ghost snarled.
"Brother, where did you used to hang around? How did you end up at Willow Pond Outpost?"
"Oh, I used to roam the world of the living, moving from place to place."
"Ah, old man, I've heard that the world of the living hasn't been peaceful lately. Although it's easier to survive there and fill your belly, I've heard there are many Blue Wraiths—especially now, rumors say there are beings even more terrifying than Blue Wraiths."
"By the way, I heard you say that Li Gui has found a substitute and is leaving for somewhere else?"
I scratched my head and asked.
"By the way, I heard you say that Li Gui has found a substitute and is leaving for somewhere else?"
"Yeah, that guy got lucky—found a substitute just in time. By now, he’s probably already at Starvation Ridge, about to reincarnate."
The ghost in a tracksuit muttered, looking helpless, while the sickly old ghost sighed even more heavily.
I gasped, the sound sharp in the oppressive air.
"If you want to find him, you'd better hurry. After Starvation Ridge, there's the Gasping River. Walk for a few more days, and once you pass Lord Wraith's territory, you'll reach the Underworld. By then, if he slips into the Bridge of Remorse queue, he’ll be reincarnated."
I looked even more puzzled at the three ghosts. I didn’t understand any of the things they were talking about. Was the ghost world really connected just like the human world?
"So if I go now, isn't it already too late?" I asked again.
"Not at all, young man. Have you never been here before? Sigh, us ghosts have our own world. When you come here, it’s just like people in the world of the living. The poor have to walk everywhere, while those a bit better off can drive, ride in carriages, or even on horseback. But Li Gui and his descendants are all pretty poor, so of course they have to walk."
I responded with an "oh," staring blankly at them, still not understanding much of what they said.
Then I asked where Starvation Ridge was, and the three ghosts burst out laughing, their laughter echoing with a chilling darkness.
"Here, just follow this road for four or five days and you'll get there. Along the way, there's Midway Town and a few small outposts. Li Gui, having found a substitute, will probably spend a few days in Midway Town—after all, he's about to reincarnate."
As I spoke, I hurriedly got up, planning to follow the street lined with stalls toward that direction.
"Wait, young man. I can see you carry a heavy aura of death. You may not know much, but you're quite capable. Since you treated us to a meal, here."
The sickly old ghost said this, pulling a map out of his pocket and handing it to me.
When I unfolded it, I saw countless tiny places, each with a name. Willow Pond Outpost was just a small hub, with marked roads all around. There were many places—Highmount Break, Clumsy Ridge, Square City, and more. To the north was Starvation Ridge, and beyond that, a small river marked as Gasping River.
I kept looking along the river and saw a place called Digbottom Cave, with little around it. Further north was a large area marked as Lord Wraith, and beyond that, a symbol for the Underworld.
I thanked the three ghosts sincerely, then hurriedly took out a stack of Spirit Notes and put them on the table. The three of them happily split it among themselves and tucked it away.
"Kid, your family must be pretty well off. How did you end up in a place like this? Sigh."
I chuckled and left.
I checked my pocket and still had plenty of Spirit Notes left. I figured it would be enough, so I set off along the road.
On both sides, small paths appeared from time to time. After walking for a while, I saw a signpost and kept moving forward. All around were strange, twisted trees with claw-like branches—just like the ones lining the Underworld Path.
After a while, I started to feel thirsty and a bit hungry. Suddenly, I slapped my forehead.
"Damn, what am I supposed to eat or drink?"
I stopped in my tracks, looking around. There were no villages or shops nearby, and this was the ghost realm—what could I possibly eat here?
On both sides, small paths appeared from time to time. After walking for a while, I saw a signpost and kept moving forward. All around were strange, twisted trees with claw-like branches—just like the ones lining the Underworld Path.
Suddenly, the scene of the ghost stall owner driving away the starving ghosts flashed through my mind. I looked at the trees, walked over, and broke off a piece of bark. It was tough and hard.
"This doesn't seem edible, does it?"
A soft sigh drifted through the air, followed by a burst of giggling that sounded almost inhuman. A cold shiver crawled down my spine.
"Who? Who's there? Come out!"
"Oh, don't be so fierce." As she spoke, a girl ghost of about seventeen or eighteen emerged from the bushes. She had long twin ponytails, each tied with a little cat hairpin, leaves stuck in her hair, and a cute smile that revealed sharp little tiger teeth—a rather pretty little ghost girl.
The little ghost girl before me wore a white gauze dress, hands behind her back, tiptoeing over with a slight smile.
"Big brother, do you need a guide? I'm the prettiest, smartest, most thoughtful, cutest, most beautiful, most gentle, most..."
"Alright, alright, just tell me—why are you following me?"
I glanced at the girl in front of me.
"Hey, big brother, I saw you smear ghost mud all over your face and body—so dirty! And you looked so anxious, so I kindly wanted to help. How about I show you the way?"
I responded with an 'oh,' glancing around. Snowy didn’t seem to have any ill intent.
"By the way, my name is Snowy. I'm seventeen and have been here a long time. What about you, big brother?" The little ghost girl called Snowy leaned closer. I looked at her awkwardly—she really was cute, especially the smile at her lips and the two sharp little tiger teeth, which she deliberately bit her lower lip to show.
"Oh, my name is Ethan Zhang."
As soon as I finished speaking, Xue Xiu pinched her nose and pursed her lips.
"You stink, big brother! You smell awful all over—go wash up. There's a little lake ahead, you should clean yourself there."
She was right—I really did smell bad.
"Come on, big brother, hurry! It's not far." Snowy grabbed my hand, skipping ahead cheerfully. I could barely keep up—my legs were getting tired.
Snowy led me down a small path.
"So, big brother, if I act as your guide, um, when it's all over..."
Snowy looked a bit embarrassed, stammering. I scratched my head, unsure what she wanted.
"It's just... just now, Old Wang said your family was well off. So, um, could you..."
Snowy trailed off again, leaving me anxious.
"What do you want, exactly? Can you be clear? Stop mumbling."
Snowy stopped, her face flushed, looking at me with embarrassment.
"My family is pretty poor, big brother. Could you give me a little money? Just a bit is fine. You seem so generous—you must've been rich when you were alive, right? So..."
I responded with an 'oh' and laughed, then handed Snowy a stack of Spirit Notes. She let out a joyful cry, her sharp little tiger teeth fully exposed as she jumped three feet high in excitement.
"Thank you, big brother! Thank you! With this money, I can help my mom and ease her burden. She can take care of my Xiao Huang, Xiao Long, Xiao Meng, and..."
"Wait, wait—what? Where's your mom?"
"My mom's in the world of the living. Sigh, I died from illness. Those are the animals I raised. My family's poor, not much money, and I was always sick. My mom worked outside, and only the animals kept me company. But I still died. I worry about my animals and my mom, so I try to earn money. Now that I'm dead, at least I'm not stuck in bed all day."
I responded with an 'oh' and kept walking with Snowy. She happily led the way, and soon I saw a small, clear lake.
My stomach rumbled loudly, and Snowy giggled.
"Big brother, why didn't you get something to eat earlier? You're so rich."
"Well, I'm not used to eating human flesh," I said.
Snowy responded with an 'oh.'
"Human flesh is expensive, but I've heard it's delicious. I've never tried it myself. Some stalls sell it, but most of it comes from offerings collected in the world of the living."
Hearing Snowy say that, I breathed a sigh of relief. She told me there was a place to buy food half an hour away to the east. I gave her some money and asked her to buy something to eat for me—repeatedly reminding her, no human flesh, preferably vegetarian.
Snowy happily left. I took off my clothes and washed in the lake. At first, I was a little scared, but after a while, I found the water was just like in the world of the living—pleasantly warm, not too cold.
After washing for a while, I put my clothes back on. The smell on me wasn't as strong. I waited for a long time, watching the small road to the east—why hadn’t Snowy come back yet?
Did that little girl trick me? My eyes widened, suspicion gnawing at me. After a moment's thought, I sighed, the hunger in my belly growing unbearable. With no other choice, I headed down the eastern path, the shadows closing in around me.