"Ethan Zhang, I never expected you to still be alive. But the aura around you is completely different now."
Mr. White stood before me, scrutinizing me closely. The fight between the Wraith Enforcer and him had ceased at my intervention. Styx Gate was now in utter chaos. We had returned to the Underworld Path, and time was running short. The others kept their distance; behind me, a blood-red barrier shimmered.
I nodded, looking at Mr. White. He gazed back at me, helpless.
"I'd heard rumors before that you'd died at the hands of the Night Warden. The Fifth Tribunal Yama even sent William Fan to investigate, but your aura truly did vanish at Styx Gate. And after returning to the realm, you were indeed dead—your Ghost Soul completely scattered by the Night Warden."
"It's a long story. I owe it all to Cecilia."
As I spoke, I took Belle—the beauty—off my back. Mr. White glanced at it.
"It looks as if it's being absorbed. This sword called Belle is truly rare. Just looking at it makes you feel drawn in."
I nodded again.
"Please, help us. We need to find Lady Meng now, but things have already spiraled out of control. The underworld may be moving against us."
Mr. White nodded.
"Alright. What you've seen here, I'll report back to the Fifth Tribunal Yama. I never thought you'd really find them—the one reading the Blank Desire Tome, the one striking an unbreakable Pillar of Light, and the one endlessly searching for an end that doesn't exist."
I grunted in acknowledgement. Mr. White took out a token and pointed it toward the side of Styx Gate.
"Be careful. That Wraith Enforcer—he's not ordinary. A thousand years ago, a major incident shook the underworld. Led by the Nightshade King, the Wraith Enforcers started a rebellion, trying to overthrow Hell itself. It took the combined might of the Ten Judges to wipe them out. I can't believe some survived."
As Mr. White spoke, he glanced at the Wraith Enforcer. Remembering what had just happened, he realized how strong the Wraith Enforcer was—and the deeper we went into the underworld, the stronger he became. Earlier, the Wraith Enforcer had likely been affected by Ethan Zhang's Earth Soul's End Force, his power drawn toward destruction. That's why he was so weak when we first met him.
"Enough talk. Ethan Zhang, I'll go call over the Hell's Registrar stationed by the Bridge of Remorse. Wait here a moment, then head down quickly. Once you reach Lady Meng's home, there's no need to worry. Without a direct order from the King of Hell, no one from the underworld can go near Lady Meng's place."
Mr. White left. The ones behind us followed after him.
"Boss, not bad—you managed to handle Mr. White. He and his brother, the Twin Reapers, are supposed to be completely impartial. Who would've thought..."
"Enough. Everyone, suppress your ghost aura. We're heading to Lady Meng's place."
As I spoke, we waited a while. Then another small path appeared on the Underworld Path. We set out, and in an instant, Felix Zhou cried out in surprise.
"It's beautiful."
Before us was still a scene of sunset. The waters of the River of Forgetfulness were crystal clear, and clusters of Red Spider Lilies bloomed along the banks. As the breeze swayed, petals danced over the river, accompanied by the constant murmur of running water. Yet the Bridge of Remorse was empty—no one in sight.
We walked down slowly. Across from the Bridge of Remorse, we could already see Longing Terrace and Lady Meng's home, with those six-petal flowers inside, and further ahead, the enormous Eternity Stone.
All of us paused on the Bridge of Remorse, admiring the petals swirling in the sunset. It was like a painting unfurling before our eyes. Far away, endless fields of Red Spider Lilies stretched on, a stark contrast to the Underworld Path. Suddenly, Isabelle Frost leapt down, her white gauze dress fluttering as she changed back into her previous attire.
She looked like a fairy—Isabelle Frost was delighted, stretching out her hand as a petal gently landed on her fingertip. She smiled, as if she’d returned to a long-lost hometown, happy as a child.
"No matter how many times I see it, the beauty before reincarnation is truly intoxicating."
Ray Lin muttered, and I saw a trace of helplessness in his eyes.
"What's wrong, thinking of reincarnation? The road to rebirth is just ahead."
I joked, but Ray Lin just nodded, his face devoid of any smile.
"I'm just kidding."
As I spoke, I noticed Isabelle Frost, Deathcurse, Victor Duan, and even the Ghost Painting Book Immortal—all wore expressions of deep helplessness.
"Hmph, you evil spirits, if you want to reincarnate, you're at least several hundred thousand years too early. With the sins you've committed in the mortal world, just one of them is enough to keep you imprisoned for eternity."
Everyone turned to look. Across the Bridge of Remorse stood an old woman, leaning on her cane. The sight of that cane filled me with resignation, memories flooding back—Lady Meng, swinging her cane like a bat, ruthlessly knocking would-be reincarnates back onto the Underworld Path.
"Long time no see, Lady Meng."
Yixue Han, surprisingly respectful, placed both hands in front and bowed gently, her manners impeccable. At that moment, Nightshade strode over, his face contorted with anger.
"Meng..."
With a loud thud, I was stunned, mouth agape. Everyone else wore the same look of shock as Lady Meng suddenly sprang up and, wielding her cane, struck Nightshade hard on the top of his head. He clutched his head and collapsed onto the Bridge of Remorse.
"Dream on, you big-headed ghost! Was it you who wrecked the Styx Gate? With all this chaos today, has your brain turned to mush? Well? Speak up—has it gone soft or not?"
Lady Meng didn't let Nightshade argue. Her cane came down on his head again and again until his scalp was covered in lumps. Only then did she calm down, turn away, and beckon us forward with a wave of her hand.
"Hurry up and come over. Soon, the souls from Yin Cao will descend."
We arrived at Lady Meng’s residence, serene and elegant as always. The six-petaled flowers in the courtyard were in full bloom.
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"Here, have some river water."
Lady Meng poured us tea. I had just picked up my cup when I noticed none of the others moved. Staring at the tea, a strange uneasiness crept over me, as if something was wrong. I hesitated for a long moment before deciding to drink.
"Don't drink it, Boss. This water is an ingredient in Lady Meng's Soup. Though it's not as potent as the soup itself, drinking it will still make you forget some things."
I had just brought the cup to my lips when I let go immediately—the tea burned me. Grimacing, I felt as if a part of my mind had been severed. I remembered drinking this tea before, and then I stared at Lady Meng in horror.
"Forgetting is better, anyway. Saves you evil spirits from bringing more disaster to the living world. Hmph."
Lady Meng wiped the table with a cloth. I sat far away, nervously eyeing the water, convinced I'd drunk it before—and probably without knowing.
"Enough with the nonsense, Lady Meng. Where is it—Ethereal Isle? You know, don't you?"
Nightshade asked fiercely, drawing everyone's attention. Yixue Han looked especially eager for an answer.
"Of course I know. When people die, they go to Hell. But when ghosts die, they reach the Ethereal Isle."
All of us were a bit excited. The Ghost-Painted Book Sage even pulled out his yellowed manuscript, ready to take notes.
"Then please, Lady Meng, tell us quickly."
"You might die, you know. Most likely, if you go there, you won't come back."
Duan Wentian laughed, while Zhou Fulai looked utterly helpless.
"Can I back out?"
I glanced over. At that moment, Death Curse glared at Zhou Fulai.
"Fulai, what's wrong? Getting scared over something this small?"
"Die? So, there's a chance we might not make it back alive. I don't want to take that risk, Boss. Can you leave me out of this operation?"
Zhou Fulai's eyes were serious—he meant every word.
"It's up to you. In Blackfang, no member is ever forced. If you want to come, follow me."
As I spoke, Lady Meng sighed and stood up.
"Normally, when people die, they face judgment in Yin Cao and descend to Hell. But what about when ghosts die? No one ever asks or seeks the answer. In fact, ghosts do have a place to go after death—it's called the Ethereal Isle. It doesn't exist anywhere, yet it truly exists."
My heart skipped a beat, and I thought of Luoyin Temple and Master Fuyuan.
Humans are flesh and blood, and the soul animates the body. But ghosts are different—they're born from resentment after death, somewhere between a soul and a ghost. Ghosts suffering in Hell are not the same as either.
Like humans, ghosts also possess a kind of flesh, though it's visible but intangible to mortals—impossible to understand or touch except for ghosts themselves or through special arts. And all this is reasonable, because existence is reason enough.
When ghosts die, they turn to ash, drifting away. This has always been the case, perhaps since the very birth of ghosts. But these ashes vanish after a while, and no one knows where they go.
"The burial ground for ghosts is much like a ghost mound."
I stared wide-eyed at Lady Meng.
"Since the dawn of ghosts, only one person has unraveled this mystery. That's why he created the Ghost Mound, known to all as Mr. Wraithshade."
"He's the leader of the Ghost Mound?"
Lady Meng nodded.
"About three thousand years ago, that man came here and even reached the Ethereal Isle. That's what he called it, but the burial ground for ghosts is real."
In that instant, I stood up, excitement flashing in my eyes. A surge of hope erupted within me, and I bowed deeply.
"Please tell me, Lady Meng, how do I reach the Ethereal Isle? I must go there—and I must come back."
"Why?"
"Because I have to find my woman and bring her back."