Zombie Bodyguard

"Bold mortal, how dare you summon souls without permission and attempt such defiant return-to-life actions? Come back with me for judgment!" A muffled voice emerged from the black hole, leaving no room for doubt.

As soon as the voice fell, something flew out from the black hole, pitch-black, it was a dark iron claw connected by a clinking iron chain, aiming for Zhang Lingyu's scapula.

Lin Tian didn't care about defying the heavens, his figure moved to block in front of Zhang Lingyu, swiftly reaching out to catch the flying iron claw. With a strong pull, the iron chain straightened, but the "person" in the black hole also pulled hard, resulting in a snap, breaking the chain into two.

Once the chain broke, the iron claw in Lin Tian's hand turned into a wisp of black air, disappearing without a trace.

"Dare to resist! Your crime is now even greater!" The muffled voice rang out again, this time two iron claws flew out from the black hole, each targeting Lin Tian and Zhang Lingyu.

Lin Tian's face darkened, ready to snap the iron claws again when Zhang Lingyu suddenly shouted, "Don't resist, let it grab us in. Only this way can we enter the Netherworld and then find a way to bring back Xuanxuan."

"Alright, facing an enemy, this is the first time I surrender without a fight." Lin Tian withdrew his hand, saying helplessly.

Without resistance, the two iron claws caught Lin Tian and Zhang Lingyu's shoulders, and with a pull of the chain, pulled them into the black hole.

Going through the "Gate of Hell" was not a pleasant feeling, the entire world seemed to flip upside down, with the flowing light reversing all around, making one dizzy.

Fortunately, this feeling didn't last long; Lin Tian felt firm ground beneath his feet, and the spinning scene disappeared. Replacing it was a hazy view, the ground black and solid, with no sky above, no end in sight from all directions, just a gray mist.

The visibility was only a few dozen meters, even Lin Tian felt as if his eyes were covered, unable to see clearly, and his night vision seemed ineffective.

A few meters away stood two people, one tall, one short, with features no different from humans, each wearing a long black robe, which looked rather strange, making it unclear whether they were from the modern era or the ancient past, each holding a chain, the other end of which was the iron claw that locked Lin Tian and Zhang Lingyu.

"You actually want to steal souls from the Netherworld, you must be tired of living." The tall one said coldly.

Tired of living? Lin Tian sneered, reaching out to snap the claw again, with his current strength, it wasn't difficult, and Zhang Lingyu somehow silently freed herself as well.

Lin Tian patted his clothes, smirking, "You folks from the Netherworld, oh no, ghosts from the Netherworld talk like this? So arrogant."

"They're not ghosts, but Ghost Messengers." Zhang Lingyu softly said.

"Damn, I see, so they're officers, no wonder. But why do these two look like modern people? They've got all their features and no horns or long tongues." Lin Tian unapologetically examined the two Ghost Messengers, commenting at will.

Zhang Lingyu wore an expression of resignation, sighing, "Common knowledge can be deadly, that's a misconception. They're not just Ghost Messengers, but also Ferrymen of Souls, also known as Black and White Impermanence. However, they don't call themselves Impermanence, but rather Ferrymen."

"They are responsible for ferrying souls from the Human World to the Netherworld after people die, hence the name Ferrymen." Zhang Lingyu explained.

"Ferrymen? Is this how they ferry souls?" Lin Tian mimicked the claw soul seizing motion, expressing dissatisfaction.

"Soul Ferrymen have seen countless farewells and deaths, with hearts cold and ruthless as stone; moreover, souls often linger in the mortal realm after death, so they're compelled to use force to take them. They strictly abide by the Netherworld's rules." Zhang Lingyu said.

The two Ferrymen probably were confused by Lin Tian and Zhang Lingyu's actions, holding the iron claw without moving for a long time. They had never seen anyone caught to the Netherworld, who could calmly comment like nothing mattered.

"Bring out your souls, let's see you act so conceited." The tall one said again.

After speaking, he and the short one simultaneously threw out the iron claws. Lin Tian, impatient, wanted to break the chains again, but to his surprise, his hand passed through as if void; the chains looked visible but untouchable.

As he hesitated, the iron claw had already reached his heart, penetrating his chest without blood or wound. Lin Tian felt a chill in his chest, then the claw retracted.

The tall one looked at the returning claw, visibly dumbfounded, for the claw was empty, having failed to seize any soul.

The short Ferryman encountered a similar problem, his iron claw aimed at Zhang Lingyu, but as it was about to pierce to seize her soul, her purple dress flickered, repelling the claw and leaving it empty-handed.

The two Ferrymen were now shocked because it was their first soul-seizing failure right in the Netherworld, their own territory, unheard of before.

"Who are you?" The tall one asked coldly.

Lin Tian glanced at them, responding coldly, "Do you know what politeness is? When you ask someone a question, you should say please, didn't your dad teach you?"

"Oh, right, you two don't have a dad, but your King Yan should teach you some, terrible professionalism." Lin Tian mocked them, leaving the two Ferrymen stunned.

Zhang Lingyu was embarrassed listening, was there anyone else who dared speak to Soul Ferrymen like that, truly risking their life, but then again, zombies need not fear Ferrymen.

She tugged Lin Tian's clothes, then said to the Ferrymen, "There was a reason we summoned the soul back to life; my friend hadn't truly died, one of her souls merely got lost outside. Perhaps you caught the wrong one, her name is Xiao Manxuan."

"We've been Ferrymen of Souls for over a hundred years. Among those we've taken, those named Xiao Manxuan, if not a hundred, then dozens. Who cares what you're called. Regardless if you're lost, once a soul enters the Netherworld, there's only one way out, and that's reincarnation." The short Ferryman said coldly.

"Reincarnation, schmincarnation, I don't care; I'm just here to take my person. Did you seize a soul named Xiao Manxuan today, female, eighteen?" Lin Tian impatiently said.

These Ghost Messengers misjudge courtesy as weakness; indeed, every world is the same, like those in power outside, bullying the weak.

Ferrymen, to be blunt, Lin Tian saw them as mere grassroots, on par with street committees, yet this tier is often the most arrogant; there's a saying, the village head is the most powerful, indeed accurate.

Listening to Lin Tian, the two Ferrymen exchanged a glance, from their expressions, Lin Tian knew he asked correctly; these two Ferrymen had seized Xiao Manxuan's third soul.