Chapter 99: Soul Rebirth (1 / 2)

As I stood closely behind the Yin officers, I watched as they happily ate their meal. But what struck me as odd was that after finishing, the tall officer said he was tired and wanted to nap. Surprisingly, the chubbier one agreed, claiming he was tired too. And then, they actually lay down and closed their eyes.

Just as I thought about sitting down to rest, I suddenly realized that the shackles on my feet had come undone. Then, with a click, the neck collar also loosened. In that instant, I understood what they were up to. If they had released me on their own, it would have been considered an abuse of power, and no one would believe their explanation if they went back to report it.

But if I escaped while they were transporting me back, they wouldn't need to make any excuses. As soon as they reported back, the authorities would check and find there was no record of me in the registry. This would clear them of any wrongdoing. The officers would then be able to justify themselves without saying a word.

I had to admit that the saying "An old man is crafty, and an old horse is slippery" held some truth. These two Yin officers had likely lived for countless years. What had they not seen? Even in the past, many souls had escaped along the Yellow Springs Road, but those with memories of their past lives rarely survived long, since their reincarnations were always registered. Once the underworld authorities checked, they would find out where they were reincarnated.

But I was different. My name wasn't even in the registry.

So, I immediately began running back along the same path, desperately fleeing. I ran and ran until I was completely exhausted. At that point, I crouched down to rest. I cursed under my breath, "Why do ghosts get tired too? Aren't they supposed to float along like the ones on TV?"

As I was running, I also paid close attention to the souls around me. They were all minding their own business, none of them paying any attention to me. I knew that the Yellow Springs Road had no return path, but I was walking it. I couldn't help but think of Wang Yi—was he alive or dead? I had no way of knowing. If he was dead, would I ever meet him here in the afterlife?

The road was treacherous, and I felt worn out again. So, I sat down to rest and watched the souls pass by. Some cried out, refusing to continue; others flattered the Yin officers, trying to curry favor; some were muddled and walked straight ahead. No matter how much the souls begged, how hard they tried to escape, they couldn't break free from the iron chains held by the Yin officers. Everyone had to continue their journey.

There were also some souls riding fine horses, followed by carts filled with gold and silver. The Yin officers accompanying them were all smiling with pleasure.

After resting for a while, I continued on my way, but for some reason, the road seemed much longer going back. No matter how far I walked, I couldn't seem to reach the end. The sky was vast, and I suddenly felt like I was lost.

Just as I stopped to rest for the sixth time, I heard the sound of dogs barking in the distance. At that moment, I was stunned. I had been walking back, so how had I bypassed the Wangxiang Terrace and ended up at Evil Dog Ridge?

For those who understand, the dog and rooster are important mediators between the living world and the underworld. Dogs can sense the souls of the dead, and the golden rooster crows to signal that spirits must avoid sunlight to prevent their souls from scattering.

Evil Dog Ridge, as its name suggests, was not a place to be trifled with. Countless vicious dogs roamed there, and any soul that passed through would be devoured by these dogs. The Yin officers wouldn't interfere or care; it all depended on the food sent by the deceased's family. But there was a problem—I didn't have any dog food with me!

The ridge was covered in mangled limbs and bloody remains. Few souls made it through, and I was terrified.

As I stood up, preparing to flee, I heard the barking grow louder and louder. I turned around and saw, to my horror, hundreds of snarling black dogs charging toward me, saliva dripping from their mouths as if they were seeing a tasty meal.

I ran as fast as I could, but if I was surrounded by those dogs, I would surely die again. Within seconds, one of the dogs had bitten my backside, and the pain made me scream. I kicked it away, but another dog quickly replaced it.

All the spells and techniques I knew were useless at this moment. The sound of barking was deafening. I fought for a while, but I was getting exhausted. Was I really going to be eaten by wild dogs?

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew around me, and I found myself lifted off the ground. A voice spoke in my ear, "Don't resist, I won't harm you. Just do as I say."

"Who are you?" I asked in surprise, but the figure didn't answer. It didn't seem like the Night Walker God either.

I didn't hear the voice again, but I realized I was flying through the air. The gray sky turned pitch black, and then I found myself thrown into a crevice in a rock. As I landed, I saw a massive, pitch-black cauldron before me.

This cauldron was huge—at least ten meters in diameter. Below it was a brick stove with small flames flickering beneath it. Seeing that I was no longer in Evil Dog Ridge, I shouted, "Whoever saved me, I am truly grateful!"

The voice came again, this time seeming to echo from all directions, "Once you heat this cauldron to boiling, you will be able to return to life. This is the debt I owe you."