Zombie Bodyguard

"Such a big Ksitigarbha Hall, and there's only you?" Lin Tian asked curiously.

"That's right, I'm the only one in the Ksitigarbha Hall." Yanmo Envoy replied.

"Where's Ksitigarbha?" Zhang Lingyu interjected. Her purpose of coming here was to find Ksitigarbha. If Ksitigarbha wasn't here either, all their previous efforts would seem foolish.

Yanmo Envoy nodded to Zhang Lingyu and said, "Benefactor, it wasn't that I didn't want to tell you the truth just now, it's just that I also don't know where Ksitigarbha is."

"Really?" Lin Tian and the two women exchanged glances, finding it hard to believe that even Yanmo Envoy didn't know the whereabouts of their leader.

Yanmo Envoy didn't mind their surprise and said seriously, "What I'm going to say next, I hope you can keep it confidential, for it involves the biggest secret of the Netherworld."

The biggest secret? Lin Tian was stunned, instinctively feeling that this secret had a great connection with the Ksitigarbha Order. Xiao Manxuan and Zhang Lingyu, seeing that Yanmo Envoy wasn't joking, also became serious.

"Rest assured, Yanmo Envoy, I won't divulge it to others." Lin Tian solemnly promised.

Yanmo Envoy glanced at the Ksitigarbha Order in Lin Tian's hand and said, "Ksitigarbha Venerable has already reincarnated and is no longer in the Netherworld."

"What? Ksitigarbha has reincarnated?" Zhang Lingyu was shocked, then seriously said, "It's said that Ksitigarbha incarnates into the Six Paths to stabilize the Netherworld, swearing not to become a Buddha until Hell is empty. Over the centuries, Ksitigarbha has saved countless evil spirits and resentful souls. If the news of Ksitigarbha's reincarnation gets out, and the evil spirits and resentful souls of the Netherworld find out, the stability of the Netherworld will be at risk."

Though Lin Tian didn't know much about the Netherworld, he understood the seriousness of Ksitigarbha's reincarnation. The two major pillars of the Netherworld, the Netherworld King and Ksitigarbha, now with Ksitigarbha reincarnated, one pillar is gone, potentially stirring up the evil spirits to revolt.

Yanmo Envoy was surprised by Zhang Lingyu's understanding of the Netherworld: "Benefactor seems very familiar with the matters of the Netherworld?"

Zhang Lingyu did not hide, frankly saying, "I am the successor of the Zhang Family's Heavenly Masters."

"Ah, so it's the Zhang Family." Yanmo Envoy realized suddenly.

Lin Tian was quite curious about Yanmo Envoy's attitude. Could it be that the Zhang Family was very famous in the Netherworld, known even to the Ksitigarbha Six Envoys?

Zhang Lingyu seemed to notice Lin Tian's confusion and said, "My Zhang Family has been Demon Exorcists for generations, helping the Netherworld capture many demons and evil spirits."

"Sister Yu, you guys are amazing," Xiao Manxuan said admiringly, and Lin Tian had to admit that Zhang Lingyu and her family were indeed impressive.

"So, what's the story with this Ksitigarbha Order?" Lin Tian asked.

"The other five of the Ksitigarbha Six Envoys have gone to seek the reincarnated body of Ksitigarbha Venerable, and I stayed in the Netherworld's Ksitigarbha Hall to guard the Ksitigarbha Order, waiting for a destined person. Ksitigarbha Venerable once said that the Ksitigarbha Order would choose a destined person, who would then find the reincarnated body of the Venerable," Yanmo Envoy explained the purpose of the Ksitigarbha Order.

"Yanmo Envoy, forgive my boldness, but we both know that everything happens for a reason, and the concept of a destined person is just a way to fool people. The choice of me by the Ksitigarbha Order must have deeper reasons, right?" Lin Tian said straightforwardly.

He truly believed that the so-called "destined person" was just a way to trick the uninitiated, as in no world is there love without reason or hate without reason; this principle applies universally.

"Benefactor is a clear-minded person, but the deeper reasons I do not know. It may relate to your identity or your background? Only Ksitigarbha Venerable knows," Yanmo Envoy replied.

"My identity? If you knew my identity, you might not say that, because as for my background, I don't even know myself," Lin Tian said lightly.

Yanmo Envoy, surprisingly calm, shook his head slightly: "Ksitigarbha Venerable once said that whether it's the Six Paths of Life or outside them, all beings are equal. Benefactor, what do you think?"

Though ambiguously spoken, Lin Tian understood—this Yanmo Envoy saw through his zombie identity. He had to admit, the people he encountered recently were exceptional, like Meng Po, the Ferryman of Wangchuan River, and this Yanmo Envoy before him.

In the human world, his zombie identity needed hiding, but in their eyes, it seemed no different from others. The perspective of those remarkable people was indeed different, and Lin Tian didn't know what to feel about it.

"Lin Tian, what riddles are you speaking in?" Xiao Manxuan asked in confusion.

"Oh, it's just... as the Buddha says, all beings are equal," Lin Tian replied casually, Yanmo Envoy just smiled, not revealing Lin Tian's identity.

"Yanmo Envoy, why does Ksitigarbha need to reincarnate?" Zhang Lingyu asked seriously.

"I don't know either. There must be a compelling reason for Ksitigarbha Venerable's reincarnation, otherwise the Venerable wouldn't leave the Netherworld so easily," Yanmo Envoy answered.

"So we know nothing, and Ksitigarbha just left a token, and that's it?" Lin Tian said helplessly. This Yanmo Envoy didn't seem to know anything, and why couldn't the details be explained at the time of Ksitigarbha's reincarnation?

Yanmo Envoy dared not discuss his superior randomly, just nodded and then said, "Three benefactors, my task here is done, it's time I leave. Until we meet again, if destined."

After saying so, a flash of white light appeared, and the person vanished, leaving Lin Tian without even a chance to say goodbye, with a pile of questions still unsaid.

Great, another task of finding someone, all unclear. Lin Tian was rather speechless—back then, the female zombie asked for help finding someone, now Yanmo Envoy does the same. Why can't these extraordinary individuals just speak plainly?

"By the way, Lingyu, Yanmo Envoy referred to Ksitigarbha as Venerable, but as I recall, 'Venerable' is a title for the Buddha, and Ksitigarbha is at the Bodhisattva Fruit Position, right?" Lin Tian asked puzzledly.

"Ksitigarbha's realm and mana have actually reached the Buddha realm, but due to a previous great vow—hell not empty, vows not to become Buddha—Ksitigarbha hasn't achieved Buddhahood yet. It's Ksitigarbha's great compassion, really," Zhang Lingyu sighed slightly.

"I see," Lin Tian said, suddenly understanding, "Oh well, since Yanmo Envoy is gone, we should leave too. It's just a pity about this Ksitigarbha Hall."

"How do we leave the Netherworld?" Xiao Manxuan asked.

"I've left a mark in your room. Once we exit the Ghost Gate, I can temporarily open the Gate of Hell through that mark and return to the Xiao Family," Zhang Lingyu replied.

"So we really have to fight our way out? I saw Black Impermanence when we came in—they must have set up a Heaven and Earth Net waiting for us to walk right in," Lin Tian said, though he showed no real fear, having faced Ghost Messengers before.

Zhang Lingyu nodded, acknowledging Lin Tian's words. They really would have to fight their way out. Lin Tian and the others took one last look at the empty Ksitigarbha Hall before turning to leave.