Zombie Bodyguard

The red-clothed female ghost in front was escorted to the Ghost Gate. The ghost soldiers in charge of inspection were on high alert, immediately suspending the inspection of the line and becoming vigilant.

Judging by their reaction, they seemed quite afraid of this red-clothed female ghost. In the words of the Netherworld, a red-clothed female ghost is considered a fierce ghost, otherwise, a high-level Ferryman wouldn't need to handle it, and they wouldn't have locked the scapula, which is a method to deal with dangerous souls.

"Lord Niu, Master Ma, what's this female ghost's background that requires your personal intervention?" a small leader among the ghost soldiers asked respectfully.

The two lords glanced at the small leader of the ghost soldiers, and one of them coldly replied, "Don't ask what you shouldn't, just do your job!"

These words were quite impressive, but the small leader of the ghost soldiers was not angry; instead, he replied even more courteously, "Yes, yes, I'll let you two lords pass right away."

Then the small leader shouted loudly towards the inside of the Ghost Gate, "Lord Niu, Master Ma are returning, open the way for them!"

"Yes!" came the resounding response from inside the Ghost Gate. The place was shrouded in thick mist, obscuring the numerous ghost soldiers hidden within.

The two lords didn't stand on ceremony; they didn't even say thank you and directly escorted the red-clothed female ghost into the Ghost Gate. As they entered Ghost Gate, the red-clothed female ghost suddenly turned her head and looked at Lin Tian. But as the Ghost Gate was enveloped in mist, the female ghost quickly disappeared into it.

"Why is that female ghost looking at me?" Lin Tian frowned and said.

"Don't you consider yourself irresistibly charming? Maybe the female ghost was also entranced by your charm." Zhang Lingyu said flatly.

Lin Tian was exasperated, is this a joke? He spoke earnestly, "I'm not joking, I feel like she could see through us. If she reports us to the Ghost Messengers, wouldn't that be terrible?"

"She can't exactly see through us, but she might vaguely sense something. Souls like hers, with strong mana, are indeed not to be underestimated. However, even if she knows, she won't betray us. Souls like hers bear a grudge against the Netherworld. They would never inform on us to the Netherworld; she might even hope we create chaos in the Netherworld." Zhang Lingyu shook her head and said.

"I've heard that the more intense the obsession and hatred, the easier it is for a soul to become a fierce ghost. Is that true?" Lin Tian asked.

"Of course, everyone has a dark side, and when that dark side is triggered, resentment becomes the source of their mana. The greater the resentment, the higher the mana. Ordinary Demon Exorcists and Ferrymen are no match for her." Zhang Lingyu affirmed.

"It seems every fierce ghost has a tragic story behind them." Lin Tian sighed slightly.

As the escorting team departed, the inspections at the Ghost Gate resumed. As the line moved forward, it was soon Lin Tian and Zhang Lingyu's turn.

"Show your Netherworld route pass!" the ghost soldier shouted loudly.

Lin Tian feigned a vacant expression, showing the "Emperor Fengdu of the Netherworld pass" in his hand. After glancing at it, the ghost soldier impatiently waved them through.

Lin Tian, like other souls, continued to walk forward vacantly. Just a few steps later, a ghost soldier suddenly called them to a halt.

"You two, stop right there!"

Lin Tian and Zhang Lingyu exchanged a glance, both seeing the other's confusion. Could it be that they were discovered by the ghost soldiers? Zhang Lingyu's hand quietly moved to her waist, as if ready for action at any moment, and seeing this, Lin Tian was extremely vigilant.

If they were really discovered, they would only have one option: to quickly eliminate the ghost soldiers, then swiftly blend inside the Ghost Gate. The Netherworld is vast; it wouldn't be easy to catch two people.

"Who told you to walk in the middle? Walk to the side, got it? Didn't you learn how to follow rules in the human world?" the ghost soldier suddenly shouted.

"Hey, newbies, clueless." Another ghost soldier mocked.

Damn it, such a big temper, meddling in where I walk. Lin Tian almost couldn't help but want to turn around and bash him until even King Yama wouldn't recognize him.

"Don't be impulsive, keep moving." Zhang Lingyu quickly and softly reminded Lin Tian.

Lin Tian wasn't reckless; of course, he wouldn't be impulsive. He continued to feign a vacant expression and, along with Zhang Lingyu, proceeded into the Ghost Gate.

Inside the Ghost Gate, sure enough, more ghost soldiers were guarding, each keeping a close watch on the newly arrived souls, ready to pounce at the slightest sign of trouble.

Before entering the Ghost Gate, Lin Tian had always imagined what the Netherworld would be like. Would there be mountains and rivers? Would there be stars and moon? Would there be skyscrapers? Would there be fortresses?

As he passed through the Ghost Gate and the mist, he suddenly realized that none of these things existed. There were no sun, moon, or stars in the sky, only a lifeless gray.

However, beneath this lifeless sky was an endless expanse of fiery red. This vast sea of red was actually formed by countless red flowers gathered together.

Each flower stem was devoid of branches or leaves, bearing a flower at the top. The petals were inverted lanceolate, the calyx and corolla curled backward, and the edges were wavy. It was a peculiar flower with only blossoms and no leaves.

The fiery red flowers and the lifeless sky formed a stark contrast, striking every soul entering the Netherworld, including Lin Tian and Zhang Lingyu.

Zhang Lingyu's eyes widened in surprise, and she murmured, "Other Shore Flower, so the Other Shore Flower is this magnificent and tragic."

"Is this the Other Shore Flower?" Lin Tian said in astonishment.

According to the Buddhist Scripture, the Other Shore Flower, also known as the manjusha flower, Mahamandala, blooms red along Huangquan Road, serving as a guiding flower. The Other Shore Flower grows alongside Huangquan Road, looking from afar like a carpet of blood, red as fire, resembling a flowing river, hence it is known as the "Fire Lit Path."

The manjusha flower is the only scenery and color on this long Huangquan Road, where souls follow the flower's guidance to the Heaven. Of course, Lin Tian now knows that going to the Heaven is but a beautiful wish; in reality, it's a path leading to Hell.

"It's said that long ago, there were two people named Bi and An. Heaven decreed that they could never meet. Yet they cherished each other, soon they came together, feeling a profound affection at first sight."

"From then on, they vowed to be together for a hundred years, deciding to stay by each other's side for eternity. However, their love violated the Heavenly Code. The Heaven imposed punishment, casting a vicious curse on them. They turned into a flower's blossom and leaf, but this flower was extraordinary, having no leaves with blossoms, leaving the leaves unseen when it flowers, never to meet, for eternity."

"This is the most poignant legend of the Other Shore Flower, which is why it is as beautiful as blood, as breathtakingly beautiful." Watching the endless sea of manjusha flowers, Zhang Lingyu expressed her sentiments.

Why did the little girl suddenly become so sentimental? Lin Tian was puzzled. Was she implying the story of us—a Demon Exterminating Master and a zombie, destined enemies entangled together? In this place, where there is no cruel and cold-blooded Heaven, there lies an insurmountable destiny.