With a soft rustling, two short figures slowly emerged from the bushes.
At first glance, they seemed to be two children, but a closer look revealed two short, hunched adult men.
"Are you looking to enter Heavenly Capital Ghost City? Without us to guide you, you probably won't get anything done..."
Senior Brother Tianyu frowned and was about to rebuke them, but Lü Bufan raised a hand and said, "Who are you? How much do you charge to guide us?"
"Ghostway Gate. Three spirit stones per person!"
Lü Bufan nodded. "Very well. We're here to find someone. First, find us somewhere safe to stay, then take me to find someone called the Ghost-Work Master Craftsman."
One of the men, who stood only about four feet tall, nodded. "The safest place in Heavenly Capital Ghost City is also the most dangerous: our Ghostway Gate ferry landing! It's at Hate-Separation Abyss, deep within the underground river... I wonder whether you dare stay there?"
Little Commandery Princess Jiang Yu asked excitedly, "Hate-Separation Abyss? What kind of place is that? I know about Ghostway Gate's ferry landings, but why is it both the most dangerous and the safest?"
The other short man answered, "Hate-Separation Abyss is dangerous because it's underground, where spiritual power runs wild and there are many deathtraps and deadly grounds all around. It's safe because it's Ghostway Gate territory, and others don't dare act up there... Even the Immortal Sects have to rein themselves in a little."
Lü Bufan said, "We'll stay at Hate-Separation Abyss. Lead the way!"
"Pay up, and we'll be off!"
Lü Bufan turned his hand over and tossed them ten third-grade spirit stones. The two short men accepted the extra stone as a tip without so much as a word of thanks, then turned and walked ahead.