I Need More Money

"Alright, back to business. You have two options to choose from."

Shamhat patted her white dress, her expression turning serious. She took the clay tablet Lin Xian had rolled up earlier and began carving routes and marking corresponding locations.

"First, Kish, your master is the guardian deity here, so your compatibility is extremely high."

"Not only is there a temple dedicated to her within the city, but this land is also the closest to the Underworld. The path is easy and convenient for a breakthrough."

"Second, Mount Epiph, the oldest sacred mountain in the Mesopotamian world, connecting heaven and earth and reaching directly to the Underworld."

"However, the downside is that the path is quite treacherous. After the death of some ancient beings, fierce spirits linger here. Even after ten thousand years of erosion, these mere residual souls are still troublesome."

"If you're not careful, you'll be torn to shreds by them."

"As for the advantage, Mount Epiph is currently occupied by another goddess. Her relationship with your master is adversarial, so she likely won't be idle enough to meddle in your trivial affairs."

Lin Xian repeatedly looked at the two Underworld exits marked on the clay tablet. After a moment of thought, his gaze intensely fixed on Shamhat.

"Teacher, if I appear in Kish with the aura of a deity, what will happen with Ereshkigal?"

"Hmm, most likely, you won't get far before being caught and then chained up by your own master and dragged back to the Underworld."

Then why are you trying to guide me to pick the first one! Lin Xian thought, unable to resist a sarcastic retort. He unceremoniously tapped his tail towards the Mount Epiph side.

The knowledgeable Saint, without any hint of shame, nodded and began to explain the common sense and taboos for living beings passing through the Underworld.

Such as "your appearance must not be too glamorous," "conceal the scent of a living being," and "loud noises and emotional fluctuations are strictly forbidden."

If you encounter any wandering Garuda Spirits, try to avoid them, otherwise, they will gather in increasing numbers.

As Lin Xian listened quietly, his brow furrowed.

Although he knew escaping the Underworld would be troublesome, he hadn't expected the conditions to be so complicated.

Fortunately, having lived in this place for so long, he had already absorbed the aura of the dead. Hiding his passage should not be a problem.

Then, Shamhat seemed to recall something, and looking at the ancient serpent before her, a pleased curve formed on her lips.

"Of course, if you are fortunate enough to escape to the surface and happen to encounter the goddess who rules Mount Epiph, I advise you to be prepared with toll money."

"That one has a greedy flaw and is particularly fond of gems. However, if you are adept at utilizing it, this flaw can become an advantage."

Lin Xian nodded slightly, quite in agreement.

As long as the money was enough, it wouldn't be a problem to get a certain money-grubbing woman to lower herself and act as a bodyguard.

If you can still see her maintaining any semblance of pride or integrity, it's only because you haven't paid enough.

It requires more money.

This wicked person had precisely found the weakness of the one on Mount Epiph, which was why she was plundering the burial goods of the dead in the Underworld.

"Since you've made your decision, I have nothing more to say. I can only wish you a safe journey."

Shamhat waved her hand listlessly, a hint of helplessness in her tone.

"Aren't you coming with me?"

"Is it really okay if Enkidu is being manipulated by someone?"

The ancient serpent caught the hidden meaning in her teacher's words and rolled his eyes, continuing his temptation.

After a brief silence, Shamhat cupped her chin and quietly looked at the snake coiled before her eyes.

"Little Samael, answer me a few questions first: Can't you just muddle along in the Underworld? Why do you insist on running? I heard your master treats you quite well."

"But if I continue to stay here, I can't do anything."

"This era is heading towards its end, and destiny is already set. You think you can meddle in it with your current capabilities? That's overestimating yourself."

"Someone with a past record has no right to talk to me."

The ancient serpent flicked its tongue in mockery. Shamhat's expression stiffened slightly at the retort, and she impatiently continued her questioning.

"What exactly do you want to do when you reach the surface?"

"Change this so-called destiny and stop the hunt of the Three Goddess Alliance."

"Are you sure you know what you're saying?"

Shamhat looked incredulous.

"Of course, you've also defied gods and destiny before."

Lin Xian's pupils flashed, and he replied calmly, not forgetting to add a jab.

"Uh, doesn't your master treat you well?"

"It's precisely because Ereshkigal treats me too well that I must change all of this!"

Don't you know that among these three goddesses, your master is one of those who hunt humans?

Because of gratitude, you want to cause trouble for the Three Goddess Alliance and stand in opposition to them?

Unlike those on the surface still guessing the origins and roots of the Three Goddesses, the spirits in the Underworld had already deduced the identity of one of them from their experiences of death and the recent actions of Goddess Ereshkigal.

Moreover, the mistress of the Underworld had no intention of deliberately concealing it. Anyone with a little attention could see it; it wasn't much of a secret.

Shamhat felt a bit flustered, and her gaze towards Lin Xian became somewhat peculiar.

The path this serpent wants to take is wilder than I imagined. I should distance myself from it as much as possible from now on.

However, Shamhat, who couldn't stop worrying, reluctantly opened her lips to remind him.

"Having spent so much time with her, you should understand that she isn't a being with inherently malicious intent."

Lin Xian paused, thought for a moment, and then slowly spoke.

"I know very well that although she was born of darkness, she yearns for the light more and cherishes all beautiful things."

"She loves this world, and she loves the humans of Mesopotamia!"

"However, she now wants to use her powers to collect the souls of both the living and the dead into the Spear Cage, protecting them by imprisonment."

"This is fundamentally an escape, an avoidance of facing the problem."

"Once the land of Mesopotamia is destroyed, their homes are gone, and their loved ones are brutally killed, what is the point of these living spirits continuing to exist for hundreds of years?"

"It's likely they will only spend their remaining days in regret and resentment, directing all their blame and curses towards Ereshkigal."

"Therefore, if I don't do this, if I don't stop her from continuing down this path, Ereshkigal will suffer even more in the future!"

"I cannot let this love become a double-edged sword that harms both sides."

Shamhat looked at the ancient serpent, whose words were filled with conviction, and was stunned. After a long while, she slowly came to her senses, her expression one of peculiar astonishment.

"I'm surprised you could articulate such reasoning."

"But why don't you try to persuade her?"

"You are the only living being in the Underworld, and you hold extraordinary significance to her. If even you abandon her, how much pain will she feel?"

However, Lin Xian shook his head firmly, his expression carrying a hint of unspoken meaning.

"Of course, I tried, but words are ultimately pale."

"Moreover, the Three Goddesses Alliance has already forged a contract, and the three-fold storm sweeping across Mesopotamia is stirring up waves."

"Just as we wouldn't reason with ants, trying to change a god's perspective with the concepts of humans and beasts is undoubtedly foolish."

The ancient serpent paused, recalling the threads that connected to Tiamat in his mind, and gazed towards the glowing divine palace at the center of the Underworld, speaking slowly.

"Therefore, do not show understanding to those who harbor hatred."

"Do not show approval to those who harbor joy!"

"Do not show admiration to those who harbor pain!"

"She has her choice, and I have my answer!"

"In the future, whose ideology is more worthy of pursuit will be proven by actions, not words!"

At this moment, Shamhat, who had been sitting cross-legged on the stone, got up at some unknown time. She murmured, her expression fluctuating, and finally looked at the small existence with shining eyes.

Instantly, Lin Xian felt a chill run down his spine and darted into a crack in the stone with lightning speed.