After the soul left its shell, the entire world turned ashen.
Though houses and roads remained visible, the path to Ghost Gate remained unknowable.
Only the dim yellow glow of a small candle flame persisted in Jia Banxian's courtyard.
"Boy, stay close to the rooster."
Jia Banxian shouted.
"Hmm!"
The two men led the bewildered boy, following the rooster's advance.
The rooster maintained its confident, unhurried pace.
As they walked, Lu Fei suddenly noticed a path materializing beneath their feet.
This was an extremely narrow road, swallowed by darkness at both ends without visible conclusion.
The rooster marched resolutely forward along this trail, never looking back.
"Banxian, is this the Yellow Spring Road?"
Lu Fei felt a sense of wonder.
Jia Banxian nodded, his expression growing tense rather than relieved. "Be careful. The spirits around us are multiplying. If any start following us, we'll need to stay vigilant."
"Understood."
Lu Fei also heightened his alertness, scanning their surroundings.
To his surprise, the number of wandering spirits had indeed increased.
Phantom shadows drifted everywhere, spirits floating restlessly between buildings.
Lu Fei never realized Jiangcheng harbored so many ghosts - it must be because of this special day.
Some spirits greedily inhaled incense offerings by the roadside.
Others fought over scattered pieces of spirit money.
After a moment's consideration, Lu Fei stuffed the thickening stack of spirit money into his robe.
Wealth should not be flaunted.
This principle held true in the spirit realm as well.
Keeping the boy protected between them, they followed the rooster cautiously. With no idea how long the journey might be, they could only press forward.
After some time passed,
Lu Fei noticed several lone spirits trailing behind them.
Their eyes stared vacantly, spectral forms tattered and torn, seemingly drawn to this path.
"Leave them be unless they act aggressively," Jia Banxian whispered. "Most wandering spirits mean no harm - they just want to follow to the underworld."
"Right."
Lu Fei nodded, though the growing entourage behind them felt increasingly unsettling.
As they walked endlessly onward, the spectral procession swelled into a dark, terrifyingly long chain of spirits.
Before long, commotion erupted from behind.
Lu Fei turned around to look.
It turned out two rule-breakers had joined the procession.
Using their massive size to their advantage, they shoved aside lonely spirits and wandering ghosts, charging forward recklessly.
Trying to cut in line?!
Lu Fei's brows knitted together.
Without physical form, he couldn't carry magical tools - effectively leaving him unarmed. Confronting these two fierce ghosts head-on would be risky, especially while protecting an elder and child.
"Would money work?"
Lu Fei felt the spirit money in his robe and pulled out two notes.
The two brutes barged through until reaching Lu Fei's group, their clawed hands reaching hungrily.
Shielding Jia Banxian and the child behind him, Lu Fei forced a smile and offered the banknotes.
The ghosts paused, eyes gleaming as they snatched the money. After marveling at their prize, their greed only intensified - they loomed closer, demanding more.
Other wandering spirits watched with envy, but fear of the two bullies kept them at bay.
Lu Fei spread his empty hands in refusal.
The ghosts' faces darkened instantly, taloned fingers lunging for him.
Lu Fei dodged cautiously.
This defiance enraged the specters. They manifested their most terrifying forms, ready to tear him apart.
"A tiger fallen on flat land bullied by ghosts? So be it!"
Gritting his teeth, Lu Fei prepared for a desperate fight.
Then suddenly, he felt the weight of a blade materialize in his grasp.
Huh?
Where did this knife come from?
He froze for a moment before snapping back to reality.
Wasn't this the paper offering Jia Banxian told us to burn?
He couldn't help chuckling.
No wonder Jia Banxian prepared so many paper offerings.
As expected of a Yin walker—he's experienced.
After death, unless one has accumulated great merit, everything depends on worldly tributes.
These two evil spirits were clearly homeless ghosts with no possessions.
"You've refused the face I gave you. Don't blame me for being ruthless!"
Lu Fei sneered coldly, swinging the long blade directly at the two evil spirits.
The two spirits couldn't resist at all. They were instantly reduced to ashes, leaving two pieces of joss paper fluttering down.
The entire road fell deathly silent.
The wandering ghosts who had been coveting the paper money earlier retreated fearfully.
After all, most homeless ghosts just wanted to use this chance to take the Yellow Spring Road to the underworld.
This temporarily deterred them.
Lu Fei picked up the two joss papers and nodded at Jia Banxian.
Jia Banxian let out a relieved breath.
The two continued leading the little one forward.
The rooster maintained its unhurried pace, as if following its own rhythm, indifferent to whatever happened behind.
"Banxian, how much further?"
Lu Fei couldn't help asking.
"Hard to say. Normally we should arrive before the rooster crows." Jia Banxian shook his head.
"This underworld journey is different from usual. We must take the little one through the Yellow Spring Road so ghost officers can register him, granting qualification for reincarnation."
The road stretched endlessly ahead. Lu Fei glanced back at the ever-lengthening procession, forcing himself to stay composed.
When overwhelmed, people often say 'I'd rather die'.
But being a ghost isn't any easier.
They walked onward for what felt like ages.
Time became immeasurable.
Twisted shadows gradually emerged along both sides of the path.
They crawled on the ground like sinister beasts, eyeing the spirits on the road with ill intent.
The wandering spirits all revealed expressions of terror.
"These are the lingering Lone Sha—people who committed heinous crimes in life, unworthy to tread the Yellow Spring Road, forever denied reincarnation... This means we're nearing the Ghost Gate."
Jia Banxian felt both anticipation and dread.
"These Lone Sha overflow with resentment, especially hating other spirits' chance at rebirth. Normally they wouldn't dare make trouble with ghost officials guiding the way, but today they'll surely cause chaos."
"I understand."
At this moment, Lu Fei produced another broadsword and handed it to Jia Banxian.
The two men shielded the little one between them, gripping their blades tightly as they warily guarded against the Lone Sha along the roadside.
Like starving wolves, the Lone Sha prowled along the edges of the path, their venomous gazes alone enough to send chills down one's spine.
Suddenly, a Lone Sha lashed out with its claws.
Caught a lone ghost and dragged it off the Huangquan Road.
The lone ghost didn't even have time to scream before it was torn apart and devoured by the Gusha.
The remaining lone ghosts were terrified.
Some began to retreat, not daring to advance further, while others gritted their teeth and pressed forward, unwilling to abandon this rare opportunity.
Several Gusha crawled near Lu Fei at the front. One of them eagerly reached its ghostly claws toward his legs.
Lu Fei moved like lightning, severing the Gusha's neck with his blade. The creature instantly disintegrated into ash.
The other Gusha paused, their shadowy eyes flickering with fear.
But they refused to back down.
More Gusha closed in from all sides.
Lu Fei alone couldn't hold them off for long.
Jia Banxian's heart clenched with dread.
Lu Fei grabbed a handful of spirit money and hurled it at the Gusha. Several immediately lunged to fight over the offering.
But it wasn't enough.
Lu Fei produced another bundle of spirit money and several sticks, turning to address the cowering ghosts behind him.
To reach the Ghost Gate safely, they needed to unite.