Zombie Bodyguard

"Is the Netherworld really boundless?" Lin Tian asked incredulously.

"Does the universe of our Human World have a boundary? Maybe it does, but at least for us, it's boundless. The Netherworld is the same," Zhang Lingyu explained metaphorically.

"Alright, you've convinced me. Let's walk Huangquan Road together. With company, it won't be lonely on Huangquan Road," Lin Tian sighed inexplicably. Indeed, the Second Miss must be very scared alone.

What an inauspicious remark. Zhang Lingyu rolled her eyes at him, too lazy to respond, and continued walking with the compass in hand.

The place was indeed as Zhang Lingyu described, seemingly endless. After walking for a long time, Lin Tian still saw nothing but the unchanging mist.

"Lingyu, is this really the Netherworld? Why is it so quiet? Not even a single ghost is in sight. At least let us hear some ghostly wails," Lin Tian asked, puzzled.

"It's still early. We're still at the edge of the Netherworld and haven't even reached the Ghost Gate," Zhang Lingyu replied without turning her head.

"We don't have much time. The Second Miss has already been taken inside the Ghost Gate and could be in danger at any moment," Lin Tian said worriedly.

"No matter how urgent, you can't reach Huangquan Road instantly. It's my first time seeing someone in a hurry to go to Huangquan Road," Zhang Lingyu shook her head.

Of course, Lin Tian knew the Netherworld wasn't a game world where you could use a Return Scroll or walk through a portal to arrive. There were no cars, no planes, and you couldn't run around wildly. It was enough to drive someone mad.

After all, the living world burned so many paper cars and horses; the Netherworld should be filled by now, yet it was so empty without a single ghost.

Lin Tian didn't know how many hours had passed, but just as he was about to run up to check Zhang Lingyu's compass, a shadow appeared from the side and disappeared into the mist ahead.

"What's that?" Lin Tian asked warily.

"In the Netherworld, of course it's a ghost, what else could it be?" Zhang Lingyu replied irritably.

"Damn, that's really a ghost sighting, why was it in such a hurry without scaring us?" Lin Tian asked, still puzzled.

"Who says ghosts must scare people? Have you watched too many ghost movies? Everyone's rushing to reincarnate," a voice suddenly sounded behind him.

Lin Tian was startled, not out of fear but because it was too sudden. He turned around to see a person—oh no, there's no one here; it must be a ghost—pale and bloodless, a spiritual body in Lin Tian's eyes.

This ghost silently appeared and spoke to Lin Tian. Zhang Lingyu glanced back, also seeing the ghost, but wasn't very surprised.

"Are you a ghost?" Lin Tian hesitated.

"Brother, isn't that obvious? In a place like this, what else could I be?" The spiritual body rolled its eyes and looked at Lin Tian like he was an idiot. The ghost then suddenly remembered something and said, "By the way, why are you guys so slow? Just arrived? Still not used to it?"

Just arrived? Lin Tian was momentarily stunned, then realized it meant they had just died. It was uncomfortable to hear, but Lin Tian had to nod helplessly.

"Brother, all newcomers are like this, unable to accept reality and a bit confused. You'll get used to it soon enough. Anyway, I won't chat for long; I have to keep moving. See you later," the spiritual body unexpectedly comforted Lin Tian, then walked around and continued on its way.

Lin Tian curiously called out, "Hey, brother, why don't you seem confused at all? Aren't all the souls outside the Ghost Gate newly arrived?"

"Hehe, that's a secret," the ghost grinned smugly, turned around, and disappeared into the mist.

"Damn it, I'm actually talking to a ghost. If I tell anyone about this, would they send me to a mental hospital?" Lin Tian said helplessly, feeling very strange.

He always thought ghosts were supposed to be creepy and terrifying, but he hadn't expected there to be little difference between ghosts and humans. On further thought, it made sense; ghosts were once humans, after all. Apart from the body, they're essentially the same.

Zhang Lingyu gave him a look and said, "No one will send you to a mental hospital; they'll just think you're an idiot."

"By the way, that ghost didn't seem new, did it? Why was it outside the Ghost Gate?" Lin Tian asked curiously.

"That ghost was from inside. The Netherworld is vast and has indigenous inhabitants and some spiritual bodies lingering there; they live in the Netherworld just like people live in the Human World," Zhang Lingyu explained.

Lin Tian became even more confused and asked, "Isn't the Netherworld free for access?"

"Of course not; it would be chaos otherwise. But, you know, money makes the world go round, and this applies in any world. These spiritual bodies find ways to enter and exit the gates, but they can only move around the Netherworld; they can't reach the Human World," Zhang Lingyu replied.

"I see. It's completely different from what I imagined the Netherworld would be like," Lin Tian shook his head, still not fully comprehending.

"The Netherworld is a complete world, just like the Human World, only it appears differently. The knowledge you have about the Netherworld was created by ancient rulers to control people's minds. The real Netherworld isn't as monstrous as you imagine, but it's not that benevolent either," Zhang Lingyu said, revealing some truths.

Zhang Lingyu's narrative unfolded a completely new world before Lin Tian's eyes, a place he had never seen or been to before.

After the ghost passed by earlier, Lin Tian hadn't walked far before encountering more spirits. The further he went, the more wandering souls he saw, though most of them walked forward aimlessly, unlike the previous ghost who greeted Lin Tian.

"There are more and more ghosts, it's like a parade of spirits in the night," Lin Tian couldn't help but say.

"Whether it's a hundred or a thousand ghosts, it only means we're getting close to the Ghost Gate," Zhang Lingyu said.

Indeed, not long after she spoke, a towering arch suddenly appeared ahead. The arch was wide and tall, with no end in sight on either side. At the center, a large door bore the inscription "Ghost Gate," written in an ancient and vigorous script.

On either side of the door, ghost soldiers stood guard. These ghost soldiers weren't as easy on the eyes; each looked fierce and menacing, making the Soul Ferryman seem much more handsome by comparison.

Every soul passing through the Ghost Gate was stopped and checked by the ghost soldiers, causing a long queue of souls outside the Ghost Gate. Of course, evil souls turned ghosts weren't exactly dear, and these ghosts didn't want to stand in line.

As for those who didn't follow the rules, the ghost soldiers showed no mercy, mercilessly whipping them with long whips seemingly designed to restrain ghosts, drawing anguished cries from those whipped.

Afterwards, some ghost soldiers would drag the unruly ghosts away. As for the punishment they would receive, only the ghosts themselves knew.