Returning Home

The sedan chair was carried by Zhou Sheng, who sat upright with his eyes tightly shut.

It wasn't that he didn't want to open his eyes and look at the other party, but rather that after a fleeting glance, the divine radiance had already caused his eyes to ache.

Mortals could not look directly at gods; at best, they would be blinded, and at worst, they would die.

Zhou Sheng had his Dao cultivation to protect him, and he had practiced his Eye technique since childhood, which was why he hadn't gone blind. However, if he looked for too long, even if he didn't go blind, his eyesight would be damaged.

Of course, if he had opened his Wise Eye now, he would have been able to see the appearance of the fierce god before him clearly.

But the perilous situation gave him no such opportunity.

"If Your Excellency feels it's deception, then it is deception. I just wonder what they will think when they meet the Judge and pay respects to King Yama?"

Zhou Sheng wasn't acting with impunity; in fact, he was afraid, but he knew even better that fear couldn't solve problems.

The tougher his attitude was at this moment, the more unyielding and humble he appeared, the more he could truly turn danger into safety.

Since the other party was wary of the Underworld Law, he would cling to this point and refuse to budge, putting on a tough front: "You can kill me, but even if I reach the Yellow Springs Underworld and meet the Judge and King Yama, I will still file a complaint against you!"

What's more, that faint floral scent should be the fragrance of the so-called Shore Flower.

Shen Jinhua's case... that person was definitely involved, and was even likely the mastermind behind it!

Zhou Sheng didn't believe that if he met King Yama, He would truly feel no guilt?

"Young man, you have guts. I rarely see someone with such a hard backbone... a Ghost Opera Performer."

A moment later, a light laugh rang out, followed by the terrifying pressure receding. The Yin wind left the sedan chair.

"Your blood is very delicious. I've already noted your scent."

"Hurry up and finish your apprenticeship. I'm starting to look forward to hearing you... sing opera."

Phew!

As the Yin wind departed, the terrifying malevolent energy and pressure completely vanished, and the surroundings became quiet again.

Zhou Sheng's tense body suddenly slumped, and beads of sweat trickled down his cheeks, accompanied by a hint of blood.

His face had been cut by the other party, leaving a small bloody gash, but he could feel an eerie coldness drilling into his flesh.

He had finally survived!

Zhou Sheng loosened his grip on the Startling Hall Wood, his pale fingertips gradually regaining their color.

"Young Master Zhou, why did you have to talk back to that malevolent star just now?"

"Yeah, I was so scared my head almost fell off..."

A Ghost Messenger picked up his severed head from the ground and reattached it to his neck, still looking shaken.

There was a hint of complaint in their voices, thinking Zhou Sheng was too arrogant. What harm would it have done to dismount and bow in apology?

Ignorance is no crime, and Zhou Sheng didn't blame them. He just smiled and said nothing.

The sedan chair continued to move forward. After a while, when the Ghost Messengers had complained enough, he finally asked, "Brothers, may I ask who that person was that we just passed?"

"Uh... to be honest, we don't know either."

The Ghost Messengers coughed and continued, "Their divine radiance was too dazzling, and their malevolent energy was too strong. We didn't dare to look up at all. Even if we did, we couldn't see clearly."

"But who cares who they are? Even though they didn't have an entourage, with that kind of power and presence, they are definitely a big shot in the Underworld!"

"It's right for us to kneel..."

Zhou Sheng nodded and fell silent.

The one-year pact still echoed in his ears, but reality immediately doused him with a bucket of cold water.

This world was truly dangerous. Even the True Gods of the Underworld seemed to harbor hidden dangers. Dealing with ghosts and gods, every step was indeed like walking on thin ice.

His pride, which had swelled somewhat due to his rapid increase in Dao cultivation, vanished instantly. Zhou Sheng resolved to cultivate even harder!

He calmed his mind and continued to practice his Eye technique.

After another half an hour or so, Zhou Sheng suddenly heard a rooster crow.

"The rooster crows, and the world turns white!"

Hearing the rooster's crow, Zhou Sheng knew he had returned to the mortal realm. This was definitely not the Yin-Yang Road.

As expected, the sedan chair landed again, but this time it was light, silent, and exceptionally stable.

"Young Master Zhou, Qinggu County is just ahead. The sky is about to brighten, and we cannot stay here long. We'll have to trouble you to walk the rest of the way."

Zhou Sheng picked up his opera trunk, lifted the curtain, and stepped out of the sedan chair.

Familiar scenery greeted his eyes. The low houses not far away, the locust tree forest, the pear blossom river, and the Dwarf Mountain – all places he had frequented since childhood.

Although he had long known about the magic of the Yin-Yang Road, he couldn't help but feel amazed after experiencing it firsthand.

He had traveled over six hundred li of mountain road before dawn.

Considering he had set out from Yangcheng late at night, it had only taken him a little over an hour, even with the delay caused by encountering that fierce god.

"Thank you for your hard work, gentlemen. Please leave your names and hometowns. I will burn more paper money for you to show my gratitude."

"Haha, easy enough!"

The Ghost Messengers exchanged glances, looking quite excited. Their gazes towards Zhou Sheng grew a little friendlier.

This young man, though a bit arrogant, knew how to behave.

After leaving their names and hometowns, they lifted the sedan chair and walked away, quickly disappearing into a hazy mist.

Zhou Sheng observed carefully but couldn't find the entrance to the Yin-Yang Road. The surroundings were picturesque, with only a mountain path and no other roads.

He wasted no more time and hurried towards Qinggu County.

Although the opera trunk was heavy, Zhou Sheng, having taken the Mica Formula, felt as if he had wind beneath his feet. He moved with lightning speed. Moreover, with the sky just beginning to lighten and hardly anyone in sight, he let himself run.

Crossing rivers and bridges, weaving through streets and alleys, he was like a gust of wind. Often, with just a touch of his toes, he could leap three to four Zhang.

Even after he had passed, a few wild cats licking their fur in a corner only suddenly noticed, their fur standing on end.

Knock, knock, knock!

Seeing the familiar courtyard, Zhou Sheng subconsciously smiled and reached out to knock on the door.

"Master, I'm back!"

Knock, knock, knock!

He knocked a few more times, but no one opened the door.

Zhou Sheng frowned slightly.

Although his master no longer performed Ghost Opera, the ingrained habits remained. He never overslept and slept very lightly; any disturbance would wake him immediately.

His master said this was an old habit from years of performing Ghost Opera, not daring to sleep too deeply, fearing he might never wake up if he wasn't careful.

Could something have happened to his master?

The thought startled Zhou Sheng. He opened the opera trunk, took out the Eighteen-Foot Serpent Spear, and with a nimble leap, he flipped over the wall, landing silently.

The sky was still dim, and the surroundings were silent. A cool breeze occasionally blew, making the willow trees in the courtyard rustle.

Zhou Sheng caught a faint scent of blood, casting a shadow over his heart.

In the southeast corner of the courtyard, the goldfish his master had kept in the water tank for years was also thrashing restlessly, bumping against the tank wall.

He adjusted his posture, making his breathing even lighter, his footsteps as light as a cat's, and slowly approached the main hall in the center.

That was his master's room. Through the window paper, he could vaguely see a figure.

As he reached the door, he noticed scattered chicken feathers on the ground and bloodstains everywhere.

He picked up a drop of blood with his finger. It was still warm and sticky to the touch, with a strong, pungent smell and a faint scent of rust.

This must be rooster blood!

He focused his gaze, peering through the gaps in the door and window into the room. The next moment, his pupils contracted sharply.

Because he saw a pair of scarlet pupils.

The other party... was also looking at him!