The Bai Family

The woman in front of him had snow-white skin, a pair of almond-shaped eyes, and a rounded chin. She wasn't stunningly beautiful, but she was presentable enough.

What chilled Zhao Ke to the bone, however, was how this woman had appeared behind him.

When he saw that the clothes the woman was wearing were identical to the paper figure from earlier, Zhao Ke's heart rate began to accelerate. He quickly glanced back with his peripheral vision and, sure enough, the female paper figure he had been using as a coat rack was gone.

Seeing this, a grim light flashed in Zhao Ke's eyes. He placed one hand behind his back, summoning the dark, heavy dagger from his Post Album. He calculated his chances of taking her down without alerting the two flower children outside.

However, the woman's next words made Zhao Ke freeze. She gently took a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from Zhao Ke's forehead, asking softly, "Master, why are you crawling?"

"Master!"

Zhao Ke was taken aback at first, then immediately understood. The "Master" the woman referred to was likely a male paper figure. Zhao Ke's eyes darted around, and he tentatively asked, "You call me Master?"

"Master, are you confused? Besides you and me, is there a third person on this boat? Hurry up and get up, we're almost there."

Hearing the woman's words, Zhao Ke's tension eased slightly, but he didn't let his guard down. He nodded, "I might have lost my balance earlier and fallen."

As Zhao Ke spoke, he got up. At the same time, he subtly touched the woman's hand. He found her hand to be ice-cold, feeling like a stone – cold and hard.

Just as Zhao Ke sat up, he heard a commotion outside. Pushing aside the bamboo curtain, he saw that activity had begun on the other boats.

Zhao Ke paid close attention. He heard a clamor from several boats, but it quickly subsided. Without looking back, he asked, "You said we were arriving soon. Where are we going?"

This horror space was completely different from the last time. Coupled with the fact that two Postmen, just like himself, had simply become corpses, Zhao Ke had a very bad feeling.

"To home, of course! Don't you remember?"

"Home?"

Zhao Ke's expression remained unchanged, but he was even more confused internally.

"Yes, I think I hit my head and can't remember some things," Zhao Ke said, rubbing his head and feigning a headache.

"Master, are you alright? It's okay if you don't remember, I'll tell you."

Upon hearing that Zhao Ke had injured his head, the woman immediately stepped forward to show concern. At the same time, she quietly explained their identities to Zhao Ke.

It turned out they were all part of the dowry for this **. Her name was Cui Lan, and Zhao Ke had another identity: Wang Gouzi, the steward among this batch of paper figures.

Originally, they were all paper figures. But now that they had crossed the Yellow Springs River and passed Yang Pass, arriving in the Underworld, they could neither be considered ghosts nor humans. They were merely spirit mediums to be commanded.

"Passed Yang Pass? Arrived in the Underworld!"

Zhao Ke's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't expected the background of this horror space to be the Underworld itself.

Just then, Zhao Ke noticed a spark flickering in the pile of paper ashes used for roasting bear meat beneath his feet. The spark reignited, and a line of text gradually became clear within the embers.

[Task: Prevent the **]

[Task Hint: The master of the ** is the Bai Family of the Underworld. Find a way to stop this ** and leave the Underworld. However, be aware that you carry the yang energy of a living person. You can use the ashes of spirit mediums to conceal it.]

(Note: Consuming the paper ashes of a spirit medium can conceal your yang energy for three hours.)

Seeing the task prompt, Zhao Ke's eyes lit up. While Cui Lan wasn't paying attention, he grabbed a handful of paper ashes and quietly transferred them into his Post Album.

"Master, look, the Bai Family is just ahead. How grand! Truly worthy of a wealthy family."

Cui Lan parted the bamboo curtain at this moment and walked to the bow of the boat, pointing forward. A look of joy appeared on her snow-white face.

Zhao Ke looked and indeed saw an old mansion standing by the riverbank ahead. Its pure white high walls and vermilion gate certainly looked very grand.

What caught Zhao Ke's attention even more were the figures emerging one after another from the smaller boats beside them. Judging by their attire, they were clearly not spirit mediums.

Zhao Ke's eyelids twitched. "Postmen!"

He didn't know how many Postmen were participating this time, but he was certain they had also received the task prompt.

Otherwise, they wouldn't be walking out so brazenly. As for the spirit mediums in their boat sheds, although Zhao Ke couldn't see them, a faint smell of burnt char in the air had already given him the answer.

Zhao Ke noticed them, and naturally, he was also noticed by the others. Eyes fixed on him.

Some were curious, some disdainful. Zhao Ke could even feel some hostile gazes scanning him up and down.

What puzzled them, however, was why a spirit medium was standing beside Zhao Ke.

"Jingle, jingle..."

At this moment, a series of bell sounds made Zhao Ke's heart tighten. Following the sound, he saw that the vermilion gate of the Bai Family slowly opened, and the sound of gongs and drums began. A dark sedan chair was slowly carried into the Bai Family residence.

Although it was clear their task was to prevent this **, seeing the sedan chair carried through the Bai Family's gate, no one dared to make a move.

The fate of the previous two Postmen was still fresh in their minds. Trying to fight them head-on, with just a few Postmen, would likely be suicide.

"Cui Lan, do you know how to return to the living world?"

"Return? We can't go back. Our true forms were burned. How could we possibly go back? Master, why are you so confused?"

Hearing Cui Lan's words, Zhao Ke's brow furrowed, and he couldn't help but curse inwardly, "Damn it!"

The real difficulty of this mission wasn't just about disrupting the **. The true challenge was finding a way back to the living world first.

At least until they found a way to leave, they couldn't act. Otherwise... they would face endless pursuit and be trapped in this place for eternity, until they themselves became wandering spirits.

One by one, the small boats began to dock at the pier near the Bai Family residence. Zhao Ke first ate a mouthful of paper ashes, then followed Cui Lan off the boat.

As soon as they disembarked, they looked back to see the small boats behind them sinking. In the blink of an eye, they sank into the river and disappeared.

Clearly, the idea of returning by boat was not an option.

"Hey, follow me."

At this moment, a person dressed in white mourning clothes walked up to Zhao Ke, their face expressionless. They waved for Zhao Ke to follow.

"Sir, that's the Bai Family's steward. Let's hurry and follow him."

Cui Lan, afraid Zhao Ke wouldn't understand, quickly urged him to keep up.

As spirit mediums accompanying the bride, Zhao Ke and the others naturally didn't have the right to enter through the main gate. Instead, they were led to a side entrance.

Upon arriving at a small courtyard, the Bai Family's steward pointed with his hand and said, "This is where you will stay from now on."

Cui Lan glanced at the courtyard, then walked to the steward's side. Without anyone noticing, she took out a stack of paper money and slipped it into his hand, smiling apologetically. "Esteemed steward, our master..."

"Your master doesn't lack servants like you. From now on, your task is to serve the various masters and madams of the Bai Family here. If anyone dares to be negligent or lazy, I'll throw them into the Yellow Springs River."

Cui Lan was taken aback. This wasn't what she had expected. She quickly said, "No, Steward, this... this isn't according to the rules, is it?"

"Rules?"

The steward let out a cold laugh, his eyes scanning Zhao Ke and the other spirit mediums. With a fake smile, he said, "In the Bai Family, I am the rule."

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Although Cui Lan's face showed difficulty, she repeatedly nodded in agreement.

"You'll stay here for tonight. Tomorrow morning, we'll arrange your work. I'm telling you, don't wander around. If you go to the wrong place, even King Yama himself can't save you."

The steward said this and turned to leave.

After the steward left, Cui Lan began to arrange the rooms. Zhao Ke looked back and saw that the other postmen also had no intention of gathering together.

Zhao Ke wasn't surprised by this. He had already confirmed this with Qi Liang before.

The more people involved in a mission, the fewer rewards they received. What he could have obtained alone would be divided among others, leading to less and less.

Rather than that, it was better to separate for now and decide whether to join forces once the situation became clearer.

"Sir!"

At this moment, Cui Lan pulled Zhao Ke into a room. The room wasn't large, but it was clean.

Cui Lan closed the door and turned to Zhao Ke, saying, "Sir, it's time for us to rest." As she spoke, Cui Lan slowly unbuttoned her collar and walked towards Zhao Ke with a seductive expression.

Good thing I made it. Starting tomorrow, I must wake up early and write. I can't stay up this late anymore.