Zombie Bodyguard

"Ferryman, no matter what, thank you." Lin Tian stepped onto the shore, speaking sincerely.

"No need to thank me, it's just fate. Take care on the journey ahead." the Ferryman said.

Lin Tian picked up Xiao Manxuan and was about to turn away when the Ferryman suddenly called again: "Young man, wait a moment, it's fate that we meet, I have a gift for you."

Lin Tian was surprised, and as he turned, he saw something flying toward him. With one arm holding Xiao Manxuan, he reached out and caught the object.

He opened his hand to look; it was a blood-red bead, cool to the touch, otherwise unremarkable. If tossed onto the street, it would likely be mistaken for a glass bead.

It was curious to receive such a gift abruptly, and Lin Tian looked up to ask the reason when he suddenly found the Ferryman was nowhere to be seen, along with the small boat.

He hastily used the Eye of Clarity but saw nothing, not even a ripple in the surface of the Wangchuan River; both man and boat vanished utterly. What's happening? It's so mysterious that even after thinking hard, Lin Tian couldn't figure it out.

"Lin Tian? Is that you?" A soft murmur brought him back to reality.

Lin Tian quickly looked down to see Xiao Manxuan opening her eyes and staring at him.

"Of course it's me, besides me, is there a second Lin Tian as handsome as I am?" Lin Tian was happy, unable to resist joking.

Hearing such a narcissistic reply, Xiao Manxuan finally smiled, saying, "I don't know about a second Lin Tian, but there surely isn't anyone as narcissistic as you."

"By the way, after you fainted, what happened? Do you remember where this is?" Lin Tian asked.

Xiao Manxuan stood up, glanced around, and frowned, saying, "Is this still the Netherworld? I don't know what happened, just recall being brought here by two strange people, who claimed they were Soul Ferrymen of the Netherworld."

"Later, I met a beautiful lady at the bridge, who offered me Forget Love Soup, saying it would erase all memories to enter the cycle of reincarnation sooner."

"Of course, I refused. Then the beautiful lady told me that to retain my memories, I needed to enter the Wangchuan River. So I went in and saw many terrifying things, feeling dizzy, someone rescued me onto a boat, and then I was unconscious until now, seeing you." Xiao Manxuan recounted her experience.

Finishing, she seemed to remember something, surprised: "Lin Tian, why are you here too? Did you also..."

"Don't worry, I'm not dead. I'm hard to kill, not so easily gone. This is the Netherworld, the Underworld, the world of the dead. The beautiful lady you saw is not some sister; she's far senior than your grandfather's grandfather; she's Meng Po of the Netherworld." Lin Tian explained.

"I know, but why are you here?" the little girl asked, still puzzled.

"Here's how it is: your Sister Yu, Zhang Lingyu, noticed your soul was taken, so she and I broke into the Netherworld to rescue you..." Lin Tian recounted the events in detail.

Of course, Lin Tian omitted his being a zombie, not yet the time to reveal this publicly, only Zhang Lingyu knows for now.

"Lin Tian, you're really foolish, why jump into the Wangchuan River for me? You must have suffered a lot to find me." Xiao Manxuan said softly, her gaze seeming to melt steel.

Whether steel melted or not, Lin Tian felt his heart had melted; the little girl's youthful passion was overwhelming.

"If given another choice, I'd do it again, because you are my Second Miss." Lin Tian replied firmly.

"Who's your Second Miss? How shameless..." Xiao Manxuan, ultimately thin-skinned, blushed and lowered her head, then raised it again, saying, "By the way, where's Sister Yu? Wasn't she with you?"

"The Naihe Bridge was chaotic, without much thought, I jumped down; at that moment, we got separated. If she didn't act rashly, leaving the Netherworld should be no problem." Lin Tian slightly frowned, uncertain if Zhang Lingyu might act brashly.

"Sister Yu bravely came down, how can you call her rash? Furthermore, she almost jumped into the Wangchuan River for you; you can't speak of her like that." Xiao Manxuan shot Lin Tian a glare, rebuking.

"Alright, let's find her. Without her, we can't leave the Netherworld." Lin Tian said helplessly, their friendship too strong.

Lin Tian and Xiao Manxuan left the riverbank, walking further inside. After a few steps, the little girl asked again: "Lin Tian, was the female ghost sister who went down the Wangchuan River with you pretty?"

"Uh, not bad, but not as pretty as Second Miss." Lin Tian replied truthfully.

"She's so pitiful..." the little girl sighed.

As they chatted, they soon arrived at the main road of the Netherworld; behind the main road, Naihe Bridge was still faintly visible, ahead lay a vast shadow, too huge to see the edges, seemingly outlined as towering walls.

Many lost souls marched ahead on the main road, following them, Lin Tian soon arrived at the base of the city wall.

Approaching revealed it was truly a city; the walls were weathered, countless ages leaving innumerable marks on them. Yet, even so, they could not hide its majestic aura. Standing before it, the primal force was keenly felt. The three words "Fengdu City" announced the city's identity.

The city gate was wide open, but guarded by ghost soldiers. Every passing soul had to undergo inspection by the ghost soldiers, the checks here stricter than those at Ghost Gate. Several squads of ghost soldiers stood by the gates, seemingly ready to arrest any trespassing souls.

Lin Tian and Xiao Manxuan walked calmly forward, presenting their travel documents, but this time the ghost soldiers checked their permits and still didn't let them through, pulling out a portrait to compare with the two.

Seeing this setup, Lin Tian understood the ghost soldiers were hunting a certain soul. He discreetly stole a glimpse and was instantly stunned; the portrait was Zhang Lingyu. Xiao Manxuan, seeing the portrait, nearly gasped but quickly restrained herself.

The portrait was as lifelike as a photo; Lin Tian wouldn't mistake it. Yet, he marveled at the Netherworld's artistry, definitely masters of realistic painting if placed in the human world.

Seeing the wanted portrait, Lin Tian's heart slightly eased, at least showing Zhang Lingyu wasn't caught yet. Why only Zhang Lingyu was wanted, Lin Tian guessed his plunge into the Wangchuan River led them to consider him beyond reach, unwarranted to be hunted.

After comparing, the ghost soldiers impatiently waved them through, admitting Lin Tian and Xiao Manxuan.