"Kree!"
Hearing the cry imitated by Xie Zi'an's remnant soul, Ding Songyan's scalp suddenly prickled, as though he had been struck by lightning.
He had heard a similar birdcall before!
When he had wandered through the Netherworld Grounds, muddled and insensible, he had retained only vague impressions of his surroundings. It was only after hearing such a birdcall that he had gradually recovered a little awareness. Following the source of the sound, he had returned to the world of the living step by step, borrowing a corpse to restore his soul!
After waking, he had still heard a similar birdcall outside the Ruined Temple, so he had instinctively assumed that a sound from the outside world had "awakened" him. Thinking back now, the birdcall in the Underworld and the one outside the temple in the living world probably had not been the same. The former must have been guiding him out of the Netherworld Grounds!
Had that birdcall come from the mysterious person lodging at Xie Zi'an's home?
Ding Songyan's thoughts surged beyond his control, interrupting his questioning of Xie Zi'an's remnant soul. Zheng Zhuxi, too, briefly lost herself in thought, but she was mainly considering which sect or school could have produced a birdcall connected to the Underworld.
Seeing Xie Zi'an's remnant soul grow ever thinner, Ding Songyan reined in his chaotic thoughts and asked gravely:
"Were there any other unusual things?"
Xie Zi'an's remnant soul answered fearfully:
"No."
After a moment's thought, Ding Songyan changed his question:
"During that time, did you see an exceptionally beautiful girl near your home, one not yet of age?"
"Yes. Although she was young, she was fresh-faced and graceful. She left a deep impression on me." Xie Zi'an's remnant soul trembled as he spoke. "I only saw her once. She passed my