Li Ye stood up, methodically putting on his outer robe: “Now.”

“Now?” Er’er raised an eyebrow, looking at the sky outside. “Wasn’t it said that the best time to enter the netherworld is when it’s dark? It’s completely bright now.”

“We’re not going to the netherworld.”

His cloud boots touched the ground, the barriers around them fell, and the furniture in the inn returned to its original state. Li Ye tidied his collar and said slowly, “We’ll stay in the mortal realm.”

Hmm? Er’er blinked, taking a good while to react.

The Gate of Life and Death was in the mortal realm?

The great master had said that wherever the Gate of Life and Death appeared, there would be countless deaths. If so, wouldn’t many innocent civilians suffer?

Her expression changed slightly. Er’er quickly ran to Li Ye, tied up his black hair, placed his crown, then grabbed his hand and rushed outside urgently.

Li Ye stumbled as she pulled him, slightly frowning: “What’s the hurry? Aren’t you having breakfast?”

…

…

Who could think about breakfast now? Er’er shook her head: “The sooner we find it, the fewer people will die.”

“What difference does it make whether more or fewer die?” Li Ye snorted dismissively. “Mortals multiply endlessly. Even if ten Gates of Life and Death fell from the Nine Heavens, some would still survive, plowing in spring, harvesting in autumn, and making offerings to heaven and earth.”

“…” Her grip on his hand stiffened, and Er’er suddenly let go.

She turned back, her expression unusually serious: “Each one is a life.”

Lives that have nothing to do with him.

Li Ye wanted to say this, but seeing that she seemed angry, he swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

She was an immortal who had cultivated from being a mortal, so naturally she would feel compassion for those of the same origin. Fine, fine.

Turning his head away, he grunted lightly: “Let’s go.”

Hesitating to speak further, Er’er pressed her lips tightly and ran ahead of him, letting go of his hand.

The day had just dawned, and the innkeeper and attendants were yawning as they wiped the counters and tables. Seeing them coming downstairs, the attendant hurriedly said: “Are the guests planning to travel? The city is under martial law today, and carriages are not allowed on the official roads. If you’re not in a hurry, you can wait for the ox carts that will pass through after the market opens.”

“That won’t be necessary.” Er’er waved her hand, rushing out the door like the wind.

Li Ye followed behind her but asked an additional question: “Why is there martial law?”

“There was an urgent report yesterday saying that a city to the west had some trouble. They sent messages to eighteen nearby towns overnight, and carriages are not allowed through the city. Several roads have also been blocked,” the attendant placed a handkerchief on his shoulder and sighed. “You two won’t be able to walk very far on foot alone. You might as well stay for a couple more days.”

“Thank you.” Nodding to indicate he understood, Li Ye also stepped out the door.

If a city to the west was in trouble, that would be the place they needed to find. Since it wasn’t good to travel on foot, Li Ye immediately thought of summoning a cloud to ride.

A hand reached over from the side and firmly pressed down on him with a fierce demeanor.

“Do you want to frighten all the citizens in this city to death?” Er’er stamped her foot. “The rules of the Nine Heavens forbid causing panic in the mortal realm without authorization.”

“Then what should we do?” He released the seal and looked down at her.

Her cheeks puffed up. Er’er pulled him into an empty alley, looked around, and pulled out half a broken jar and a bundle of straw from a pile of miscellaneous items.

“Form be my servant, spirit be my driver—”

Her clear incantation was much more powerful than before. In just a moment, the miscellaneous items in front of them transformed into an ox cart. A grizzled yellow ox chewed on grass, swished its tail, and looked back at him.

Li Ye was silent.

Her immortal techniques had improved greatly, which was indeed praiseworthy, but…

“You want me to ride an ox cart?”

Er’er had already quickly climbed onto the cart. Hearing this, she looked back at him with confusion: “In the human world, most people travel by ox cart, and only wealthy families can afford it. What’s there to dislike?”

He disliked that the ox wasn’t as majestic as a spiritual beast, that the cart was too small and the seat not imposing enough, and that there was no canopy overhead.

—If he said these things directly, this little thing would drive off alone immediately.

After frowning and struggling for a moment, Li Ye still lifted his foot and stepped up.

The grizzled ox began to trot toward the outskirts of the city. Er’er sat in the cart and arranged the great master’s sleeves: “Not everyone is born with everything. Look at this mortal world—many people never ride an ox cart in their entire lives.”

“They don’t travel far?” Li Ye couldn’t understand.

Er’er smiled lightly: “Of course they do, but you and I can blink and go from the Upper Bing Palace to the Lower Xin Palace. For mortals, two places that far apart would require traveling without food or drink for a year. So for mortals, separation often means parting for a lifetime.”

Li Ye pressed his lips together and grunted softly, not particularly moved.

The ox cart ran swiftly on immortal wind when there was no one around, but when human shadows appeared, it slowed down, creaking along small roads like a normal cart. Er’er was feeling uncomfortable from the jolting and was about to climb to the front of the cart to sit when she was unexpectedly pulled into an embrace.

The bumping suddenly ceased, and she looked up in surprise.

Li Ye was leaning back lazily, one hand supporting his brow bone, the other holding her. Though they were in the cart, his body was as stable as if he were sitting on flat ground.

“You’re cheating,” she said with mixed laughter and exasperation. “How can you secretly use immortal power?”

“It’s not violating heavenly rules if it doesn’t disturb the mortals.” he didn’t even lift his eyelids. “If you’re tired, sleep for a while.”

Her heart softened. Er’er glanced at him and couldn’t help asking: “Are you this close with others too?”

Like holding them in his arms at any time, so close that she could hear his heartbeat?

Li Ye paused for a moment, then vaguely responded with a “Hmm.”

What did “hmm” mean?

Er’er was slightly annoyed. The strange feelings from the entire previous night could no longer be contained. She looked up and turned his face toward her with her hand, thinking she might as well ask outright.

However, before she could speak, a tearful shout came from the roadside: “Stop! Please stop!”

Her body stiffened, and Er’er quickly sat up, looking outside the cart.

An elderly gentleman, richly but disheveled, was waving at their ox cart. A servant stood beside him with a helpless expression.

The grizzled ox slowly stopped, and Er’er stuck her head out curiously, asking: “What’s the matter?”

Pulling out a stack of banknotes from his sleeve, the elderly gentleman stuffed them into her hand and said with a contorted face: “Take me with you, take me with you.”

Li Ye rose unhappily, about to refuse, but the little creature in front of him said: “Alright, come up.”

The elderly gentleman hurriedly and anxiously climbed onto the cart, shouting to the servant who looked back: “Go back, I don’t need you!”

He was fierce, with a robust voice.

Li Ye frowned and turned to look at Er’er, who smiled at him and said softly: “He needs help.”

Looking at the banknotes in her hand and then at the jade pendant hanging on the elderly gentleman, Li Ye rolled his eyes: “He’s not short of money.”

“But he needs a cart.” Pointing at the old man’s feet, Er’er said, “Let’s help if we can.”

Following her direction, Li Ye pressed his lips together.

The seemingly wealthy elderly gentleman was wearing only one shoe. His other foot was covered in dirt and grime, with traces of blood.