Zombie Bodyguard

"The vengeful souls outside are acting strangely!" Lin Tian exclaimed. At this moment, the behavior of the vengeful souls was too bizarre. Lin Tian first thought of what the red-clothed female ghost had just said; the vengeful souls were very likely surrounding Xiao Manxuan.

Lin Tian felt a surge of excitement in his heart and couldn't wait to swim in that direction. As he swam forward, more and more vengeful souls gathered around him. Strangely, not a single vengeful soul attacked Lin Tian.

"What's going on? Their reaction doesn't seem like they're besieging a lost soul, does it?" Lin Tian frowned.

"It really doesn't seem like that, but I can't figure out what's happening either," the red-clothed female ghost replied in confusion.

Still carrying questions, Lin Tian increased his speed and swam forward. Before long, he saw a dark figure floating in the distance. The figure was flickering in and out of sight in the river, and its shape was very strange, not like a human soul nor any animal.

A few minutes later, the dark figure finally came fully into view, and Lin Tian couldn't help but exclaim, "It's a boat. What's going on?"

There was actually a boat sailing underwater, and it was very stable, unlike a sunken ship. Upon closer inspection, it was clear that this was a small boat, much like a small skiff on a river, with its ends curving upward and a covered compartment in the middle.

A person wearing a straw raincoat and a conical hat was steering the boat at the stern. The boatman held a bamboo pole, and with each touch in the river, the small boat moved steadily forward.

If this scene were happening on the water surface, it would be perfectly normal. However, this person and this boat were stealthily floating beneath the water of the Wangchuan River, an area teeming with vengeful souls. Who had such skill?

Anyway, finally seeing someone who could be communicated with, Lin Tian couldn't help but shout, "Boatman, I need to hitch a ride."

It's uncertain if the boatman could hear him, but Lin Tian called out several times. Perhaps the boatman did hear, as he maneuvered the boat in front of Lin Tian.

"May I ask, what should I call you, boatman?" Lin Tian asked politely, realizing that someone who could steer a boat here must be no ordinary person.

The boatman, with the hat obscuring his face, turned his head as if to glance at Lin Tian and the red-clothed female ghost, and said, "It's been too long. I've forgotten my name. I'm just a boatman in the Wangchuan River; they all call me the Ferryman."

Ferryman? Lin Tian was taken aback. How could a Ferryman be in the Wangchuan River when it's the ones wearing long black robes on the shore who are supposed to be Ferrymen?

As if sensing Lin Tian's confusion, the boatman continued, "Every hundred years, I come here to ferry a soul. Whoever has the fate with me can board my boat. This soul can ferry through the mortal world, without forgetting past lives."

Every hundred years, ferry a soul; capable of ferrying through the mortal world without forgetting past lives. Lin Tian repeated this phrase in his mind, finding it quite curious. Were there such Yin Department officials in the Netherworld?

However, Lin Tian didn't know much about matters of the Netherworld, and he wasn't here to grasp these matters either; he was here to find the Second Miss. This Ferryman capable of ferrying in the Wangchuan River might know where Xiao Manxuan was.

Thinking of this, Lin Tian directly asked, "Honored Ferryman, may I inquire about something? Not long ago, a lost soul jumped into the Wangchuan River. She was an eighteen-year-old girl. Have you seen her?"

The vast Wangchuan River, with countless souls, made it harder than winning a lottery to meet Xiao Manxuan among the multitude of souls. Lin Tian asked with a sliver of hope.

"I did encounter a young lost soul, a cute young girl," replied the Ferryman.

"Really? Where is she?" Lin Tian's heart pounded wildly, asking incredulously.

Unexpectedly, the Ferryman provided this answer. It took all of Lin Tian's willpower to not become overly excited.

The Ferryman, seemingly unhurried, continued speaking slowly, "She is on my boat. I wonder if she is the person you are looking for?"

On the boat? Lin Tian instantly became thrilled and rushed towards the small boat, but when he jumped onto the boat's side, an invisible force field bounced him off, preventing him from boarding the boat.

"As I said before, every hundred years, I only ferry one lost soul," the Ferryman stated.

"I'm not..." Lin Tian tried to argue, but the Ferryman waved his hand, cutting him off.

Still unfazed, the Ferryman said, "You don't need to explain. I know you're not a lost soul, nor a human. So naturally, you can board my boat, but she cannot."

After saying so, with a flick of his hand, the Ferryman withdrew the protective force field, allowing Lin Tian up.

However, he hesitated for a moment before going up, saying, "Ferryman, I have an impolite request. She jumped into the Wangchuan River just to retain her memories and meet her lover one last time. It's possible we are too far from the Naihe Bridge, and she may be lost without a way back. Could you please give her a ride along the way?"

The red-clothed female ghost glanced at Lin Tian and then at Lin Tian in surprise. She hadn't expected Lin Tian to plead on her behalf. After all, they were merely chance acquaintances.

And yet, she understood that without the Ferryman's help, she might truly never reach the Naihe Bridge. It was impossible to discern directions in the Wangchuan River. Without reaching the Naihe Bridge, how could she meet that unfaithful man?

"Alright, since we have met, it must be fate. Given the circumstances, I shall give her a ride," the Ferryman agreed.

The Ferryman's generosity was beyond Lin Tian's expectations. Lin Tian nodded to the red-clothed female ghost, taking her hand to jump onto the small boat.

"The person you are looking for is inside the boat's canopy, take a look," the Ferryman said, then pointed the bamboo pole into the water again, and the boat continued its steady journey forward.

Lin Tian uttered his thanks and quickly went into the boat canopy. Inside, it wasn't dark; a small oil lamp on a table was lit with a bean-sized flame, casting a golden orange glow in the canopy.

At one side of the canopy lay a girl. Upon seeing her face clearly, the stone weighing on Lin Tian's heart finally settled.

Familiar face, familiar brows and eyes; it was indeed the beautiful and headstrong Second Miss lying there, as peaceful as an angel.

The red-clothed female ghost stood by the canopy's entrance, also gazing at Xiao Manxuan. She murmured, "Such a beautiful girl, you are fortunate. There is a man who would do anything for you..."

Hearing the red-clothed female ghost's words, Lin Tian sighed quietly. The deeper the love, the deeper the resentment. It seemed this woman's love was etched into her bones and soul, deep and undying.

"Second Miss..." Lin Tian called out softly, thinking she was merely asleep, as she appeared uninjured.

But after calling a few times, the Second Miss did not awaken, causing Lin Tian's heart to rise with concern once more. He asked the Ferryman outside, "Ferryman, she is just in a soul state, why won't she awaken?"

"Who says souls can't get tired, weary, or need sleep?" The Ferryman shook his head and said, "The young girl, while in the Wangchuan River, was attacked by a hundred vengeful souls, sustained only by her soul's dedication. When I encountered her, she was constantly calling out a person's name, a person named Lin Tian."