These words made it difficult to tell if he was a friend or foe.

Meng Wan’s expression grew solemn, her mind filled with countless thoughts, while Er’er remained quite relaxed. She acknowledged him with a sound, then stepped past him to glance into the deep darkness behind.

She couldn’t see anything, but she sensed someone was there.

She stood up, took a light breath, and walked quickly toward the darkness with her hands clasped.

Her robe swept over the jagged, strange rocks of the Netherworld path, bringing a gust of wind that stirred up decayed, withered leaves. The leaves twirled a few inches before settling lifelessly by the roadside.

Er’er held her breath as she stepped into the darkness, already thinking of what to say.

However, once her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she turned her head left and right, seeing only empty stone walls with purple-green vines growing from the crevices.

“Who is the young lady looking for?” Zhong You asked with a smile.

Er’er turned around, instinctively saying: “Just looking around.”

…

…

After speaking, she paused, then felt annoyed. If Li Ye had truly come, Zhong You would certainly know. If he didn’t want to see her, then Zhong You’s question was merely to mock her.

That person was probably still angry, thinking she didn’t know her place.

Pouting, Er’er returned to Senior Brother’s side.

Having known her for many years, Meng Wan could tell at a glance that she was unhappy. He sheathed his long sword and asked: “Are you hungry?”

After journeying for so long, Er’er hadn’t eaten a single bite. Although immortals didn’t need to eat the five grains, she found it hard to break years of habit and still felt her stomach rumbling: “Mm.”

But in this place, where could they find food that mortals could eat?

Meng Wan glanced at Zhong You, who was still standing not far away, then pulled Er’er to a small hut behind them. With a flip of his long sleeve, he produced a variety of fruits and vegetables.

“Jin Yu Man Tang?”

Her eyes brightened, and Er’er immediately nodded: “Less sugar.”

“How about pumpkin soup?”

“Make it savory!”

After all this time, her taste hadn’t changed at all. Meng Wan shook his head and sighed, but his hands moved deftly as he prepared everything. He made a stove from the small mound of dirt by the doorway and conjured two pots.

Er’er happily created a small flame to light the firewood for him, then crouched beside it, waiting, just like in the old days.

In the entire Taihe Immortal Sect, Senior Brother was the best cook. Although Er’er didn’t understand why a gentleman who practiced sword cultivation didn’t stay away from the kitchen, she often came to eat his food since it always tasted good.

With food to look forward to, Er’er temporarily forgot her troubles. If Li Ye didn’t want to pay attention to her, so be it. She’d figure something out after eating.

Meng Wan worked efficiently, and soon, cooking smoke rose from the small mountain dwelling.

Zhong You watched and laughed: “If they weren’t your people, I would have slaughtered them already.”

This realm wasn’t supposed to accommodate mortal fire and smoke.

Li Ye stood expressionlessly beside him and asked: “Do you intend to keep them here indefinitely?”

“What use would keeping them serve?” Zhong You chuckled lightly. “If the Upper God wants them to leave, he need only escort them away himself.”

A clever scheme—if he were to escort them out, he would have to leave himself and then return, which would introduce countless variables in the Netherworld.

Zhong You wanted to keep Er’er as a hostage.

But how could a little girl like her threaten him?

Li Ye gave Zhong You a fleeting glance and tugged at the corner of his mouth.

His smile was somewhat eerie, causing Zhong You to shudder, not daring to make a sound. Li Ye was too difficult to control, so Zhong You needed to hold onto something for security. He wasn’t sure how useful the little girl would be, but having her was better than nothing.

He certainly couldn’t deliver the million vengeful spirits immediately; to keep Li Ye here, he would need many more tactics.

As the food was ready, Er’er licked her lips, ready to pounce on it, but Meng Wan held the dishes high, saying irritably: “What’s the rush? Let’s eat inside.”

“Isn’t it the same out here? Let me taste it first.” She stood on tiptoe, trying to reach him, bouncing like a small rubber ball. “Just one bite.”

“Stop fooling around, you’ll spill it.”

“Senior Brother, are you bullying me because I’m short?”

So he’d been found out. Meng Wan laughed softly, which made Er’er puff her cheeks in anger. She stomped her foot and pushed him, but he dodged skillfully, his movements agile and effortless.

If not for the towering Netherworld cliff behind them, the scene might have resembled a pastoral idyll in the mortal world.

Li Ye watched indifferently, his lips curling slightly downward before he turned and vanished into the darkness.

Zhong You hurriedly followed, his black robe dissolving into mist, drifting apart in the wind.

After finishing the meal, Er’er wandered around the vicinity.

The Netherworld was as vast as the mortal realm, spacious but never seeing sunlight. Luminous crystals provided light everywhere, and evil spirits were locked behind the Gate of Life and Death. The rest of the Netherworld, though frightening in appearance, was not so different from the mortal world in terms of daily living.

The only difference was that everywhere she went, she could see throngs of souls carrying luminous crystals, converging in a particular direction.

“There’s a high-ranking person here who has taken a fancy to a female immortal from the Celestial Realm and is building a palace for her,” Meng Wan gave her a cloak to wrap around herself and said in a low voice. “I’ve asked around. If there’s a wedding, we might be able to take the opportunity to leave.”

After tying the cloak’s silk ribbon, Er’er mumbled: “I need to find someone.”

There was no need to ask who she was looking for. Meng Wan shook his head: “He may not need you.”

Though he said this, Er’er lowered her eyes: “Since we’re already here, I should at least see him once.”

“Given his position, if he wanted to see you, you’d be standing in the Netherworld Palace right now,” Meng Wan said. “If he doesn’t want to see you, even if you stayed here for a hundred years, it would be useless.”

The Netherworld Palace? Er’er’s eyes brightened, and she turned to ask him: “Where is the Netherworld Palace?”

Rubbing his brow, Meng Wan sighed: “Right now, the Netherworld is in a period of recovery and doesn’t want conflict with the outside world, which is why we can still stand here safely. But if you try to force your way into the Netherworld Palace, I won’t be able to protect you.”

Glancing at the souls moving forward like ants carrying luminous crystals, Er’er raised an eyebrow: “Who said we have to force our way in?”

“…”

Years of experience cleaning up messes told Meng Wan that his little junior sister had another bad idea.

In the past, he would have gone along with her antics since they were in the immortal sect, where no matter how much trouble they caused, it couldn’t lead to serious problems. But now, in such a dangerous place, Meng Wan shook his head—he absolutely couldn’t indulge her recklessness.

Half an hour later.

Two more people had silently joined the end of the procession transporting luminous crystals.

Er’er pulled the fabric over her nose and mouth, looking ahead furtively with shifty eyes. Meng Wan followed at her side with a grave expression, whispering: “It’ll be trouble if we’re recognized.”

“Have you seen ghosts before, or have ghosts seen you?” Er’er was unconcerned. “Besides Li Ye, no one here knows us.”

Letting out a long sigh, Meng Wan adjusted the luminous crystal on his back, looked at her again, and couldn’t help reaching out to help support some of the weight of her heavy stone.

As the burden on her back lightened a bit, Er’er paid no attention, excitedly blinking her eyes as she caught sight of the distant palace eaves rising into the air.