"What do you mean?"
I pressed further. Jerry Li watched me with a hint of amusement in his eyes, silently sipping his drink as he sized me up.
"You didn’t get tricked into coming here by someone, did you?"
Immediately, the image of Scarlet Ghost flashed through my mind, but thinking it over, this wasn’t really a trick. With so many Hell's Soldiers, Hell's Generals, and Hell Judges at Styx Gate, I truly couldn’t get past. And reaching the outskirts of the Underworld Court was even less realistic—it would mean crossing several great hells.
"Looks like you were, haha."
Jerry Li spoke, but I didn’t answer. Instead, I kept sizing him up. At minimum, he had to be a Blue Wraith of considerable rank—there was no doubt about that.
"The road to the living world runs right through Hollowbelly Manor, in the courtyard of King Hollowbelly. He’s got Junior Registrars, Hell's Generals, and plenty of Hell's Soldiers and Hell's Registrars under him. Forcing your way through is basically impossible."
"And what about you?"
I shot back, staring at Jerry Li in a daze. He pursed his lips and downed another cup of liquor.
"I’m just here to enjoy myself. Once I’ve had enough, I’ll head back. The lady ghosts here are pretty nice—want me to send a few your way?"
Jerry Li gave me a wicked grin before disappearing into the next room. I shook my head as he walked away, his smile lingering, mysterious. I sat on the balcony, thinking hard about what to do next. I’d originally planned to return with Lord Shenyan and the others, but judging by their situation, making it back to the living world any time soon was out of the question.
Sounds drifted from the room next door. I stared ahead, expressionless, my body numb. I started to understand the predicament Howard Zhang used to be in—except now, I was in even worse shape.
After a while, someone came up and swapped out the half-eaten dishes, bringing in new ones and refilling the wine pot. I asked around and learned Jerry Li had rented out the entire place—indefinitely.
A good while later, Jerry Li finally emerged, drenched in sweat and shirtless. I caught sight of his bare chest—there, on the left, was a red mark, like a splash of fresh blood, blooming across his skin.
"Is there something strange about it?"
"Nope."
I answered quickly, but that mark seemed familiar—I just couldn’t place it right now.
Jerry Li sat back down and resumed eating and drinking.
"Working up a sweat makes food and drink taste even better. Not hungry, Ethan Zhang?"
I glanced around instinctively. Jerry Li just laughed.
I had absolutely no desire to seek help from this sly character in front of me.
"Like heading to the world of the living, for example."
I immediately looked at him. He grinned and spoke.
"I can tell you came from the wall side. I've seen plenty of ghosts like you, all wanting to reach the world of the living, hoping to find some crack or hidden door in Hollowbelly Manor. If you squeeze through, maybe you’ll find a passage to the living world."
"How much?"
I asked right away. The pickpocket laughed.
"Hey, talking money hurts feelings, brother. Maybe you could do me a favor? If you pull it off, I’ll get you a free shot at the living world."
I thought it over and nodded. There was no other way.
"You’d better keep that pearl in your arms safe, brother. Otherwise, it might just disappear."
I grunted in reply. The pickpocket started talking—it was Li Jiayuan. They wanted me to dig up something from Li Jiayuan. I followed the pickpocket into a secluded alley, where he admitted he really was a thief.
"What do you want me to do?"
"Nothing much. It’s just that fighting is forbidden here. My crew saw you leave the Blue Lotus Brothel, so you must know that guy. He just got here and started stealing left and right—on our turf, no less. Every district has its rules. If you take too much, some folks end up dead."
"All I know is he’s called Li Jiayuan, and he stole from me before."
The pickpocket grunted and patted me on the shoulder.
"If you find out anything, just say the word at Xianbao House nearby. I’ll come straight to you."
It wasn’t far from the main road by the city gate—just four streets away. I quickly made my way back, ending up under the Blue Lotus Brothel again. I was ready to turn down the thief’s offer. None of these guys could be trusted, especially the one upstairs. Who knew what he was really after, hiding his strength and coming here?
As soon as I reached the door, someone from the brothel pulled me inside. They eagerly ushered me upstairs. On the third floor, Li Jiayuan was still eating and drinking, with a fresh spread of dishes and a new female ghost pouring his wine.
"Something troubling you?"
Li Jiayuan clapped his hands. The female ghosts left the room, and I told him about my run-in with the pickpocket.
Li Jiayuan burst out laughing, took a swig of wine, and looked at me.
"How about this—you just tell them about me. Then you’ll get your chance to leave here, won’t you, Zhang Qingyuan?"
I shook my head.
"Whatever your story is, just tell me—how much do I need to offer to get back to the world of the living?"
I wanted no trouble. All I wanted was to get back soon, use the Heartfruit to help Taomuzi finish the formation, and get myself to the Four Saints Realm as quickly as possible. Most importantly, I still needed to find the marker for the Four Saints Realm.
"About tens of millions, in hell currency."
Li Jiayuan muttered, looking like he knew this place well.
"I used to come here for fun now and then, but this time I ran into trouble and lost all my savings. So I had to take a little from the other ghosts to get by."
I had no objection to Li Jiayuan’s methods. The ghost realm was always survival of the fittest—those with power took everything. Like Yin Choujian once told me in Dream City: no one hears the cries of ants. But I still couldn’t accept that, not before, not now.
"Hey, life’s short—enjoy it while you can, Zhang Qingyuan. Here, this is for you. Consider it payback for what I took from you before."
He tossed a thick stack of hell currency in front of me. I thought for a moment, then took it without hesitation.
"Thanks."
I accepted the money, feeling the weight of the ghost realm pressing down on me.
The oppressive atmosphere in Hollowbelly City never faded, no matter how many times I tried to shake it off.
Li Jiayuan poured himself another drink, eyes wandering as if lost in thoughts only he understood.
I quietly left the table, feeling the chill of the city seep into my bones.
Outside, the streets were still crowded with ghosts chasing after whatever scraps of wealth they could find.
I clutched the hell currency tightly, knowing it was both a lifeline and a curse in this place.
The path ahead was uncertain, but I had no choice but to keep moving forward.
Every step in Hollowbelly City felt like a gamble with fate.
I glanced back at the Blue Lotus Brothel, its lights flickering with a restless energy.
I knew I couldn’t trust anyone here—not the pickpockets, not the brothel keepers, not even Li Jiayuan.
Survival in Hollowbelly City meant playing by rules you didn’t get to make.
I tucked the hell currency away, steeling myself for whatever came next.
The city’s shadows seemed to stretch endlessly, swallowing every hope and secret.
I moved deeper into the night, haunted by the knowledge that in this place, even the smallest kindness could be a trap.
Somewhere in the distance, the gates of Hollowbelly Manor loomed, promising answers and danger in equal measure.
I kept walking, every sense on edge, ready for whatever twisted fate Hollowbelly City might throw at me next.
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