“Pfft—hahaha! You’ve been here for so long, yet you still don’t know what the Netherworld is? That’s absolutely hilarious…”
Zhi Can clutched the table, laughing so hard he could barely catch his breath.
Nanshan retorted with a straight face, “I’ve only been here for about a month at most. Half of that time, I was hiding in a small courtyard, and for the rest, I was either trapped in the snowy plains or wandering alone in Canglan Palace with no one to talk to. Isn’t it normal that I don’t know?”
Just moments ago, she had been seriously discussing her escape plan with Ling Ye, only for Zhi Can, who had been eavesdropping the whole time, to burst into uncontrollable laughter.
He then took the opportunity to explain what the Netherworld actually was.
Thanks to him, Nanshan finally spent half an hour gaining a clear understanding of this place.
According to them, this wasn’t a land of immortals—it was the Eighteen Levels of Hell.
However, it wasn’t exactly the same as the Eighteen Levels of Hell she knew.
In general, it resembled the mortal world, complete with emperors and commoners.
The only difference was that while mortals were all human, the majority of the inhabitants here were ghosts, along with a few outsiders like demons and monsters.
So…
Ling Ye was a ghost too?
Nanshan looked up at the man who had started eating seriously after the sundial gave a soft click, suddenly feeling a bit nervous.
“He’s not.”
Zhi Can saw through her thoughts instantly.
Nanshan hesitated.
“Then what is he?”
“He was originally from the Netherworld but later became a mortal. He carries half human blood.”
Zhi Can explained.
Recalling the gentle woman she had seen on the green stone platform, Nanshan nodded. “Half-human, half-ghost.”
“Well, not exactly.” Zhi Can carefully refuted. “Rather than calling ourselves ‘ghosts,’ we prefer to be known as the people of the Netherworld. After all, we are born with breath and bodies, and after death, we reincarnate just like mortals. Aside from the fact that we have an easier time cultivating compared to most humans, there’s not much difference. The ghosts you speak of are more like the souls of the dead from the Three Realms.”
Nanshan frowned, cradling her teacup.
“This is too complicated. I don’t get it.”
Zhi Can casually raised his wine cup and clinked it against her cup.
“It doesn’t matter. As long as you know he’s not a ghost, that’s enough.”
Nanshan pursed her lips.
Just then, a dancing girl approached to pour wine, and she instinctively leaned closer to Ling Ye, cautiously observing the girl.
“Madam Young Master.”
The dancing girl covered her lips with a shy smile before retreating.
She looked just like an ordinary human—except she had no feet, floating eerily above the ground…
Though, come to think of it, the guards and maids in Canglan Palace, with their ox noses and goat eyes, were actually more frightening than someone without feet.
“The majority of the people in Zhu Yue Tower are souls of the dead who, for various reasons, remain in the Netherworld until they are ready for reincarnation,” Zhi Can patiently explained after finally laughing enough.
“However, if they manage to refine their soul bodies into a true form before reincarnating, they can delay their cycle for a while longer.”
Since he kept talking about reincarnation, Nanshan couldn’t help but ask, “Do you guys have a Naihe Bridge?”
Zhi Can scoffed. “
That’s just a made-up story from your mortal world.”
Nanshan blinked.
“Then there’s definitely no Meng Po either.”
“The things you speak of don’t exist in the Netherworld. However, there is a River of Reincarnation for the cycle of life and death. All beings, aside from lowly succubi that live and perish within a day, are born with souls. As long as their souls remain intact after death, they can reincarnate into a new life.” Zhi Can finished his wine in one gulp. “The duty of each successive Lord of the Netherworld is to guard this river and ensure the endless cycle of life and death continues.”
Nanshan sneaked a glance at Ling Ye.
Seeing him still focused on his meal, she quietly scooted her chair closer to Zhi Can.
“So, if the Lord of the Netherworld controls life and death, then why…”
She glanced at Ling Ye again and signaled toward him with her eyes.
Zhi Can smirked. “When the previous Queen of the Netherworld was gravely ill, the Lord tried many ways to save her, but nothing worked. He could have prevented her from reincarnating and kept their family together as souls, but he didn’t. Because of that, the young master resented him for years.”
“Why didn’t he do it?”
Nanshan didn’t understand.
“Wouldn’t it be better for their family to stay together?”
Zhi Can shrugged.
“How would I know?”
Nanshan sipped her sweet tea. Just as she met Zhi Can’s gaze, a sudden thought struck him.
“I just remembered something.”
“What?” Nanshan asked curiously.
Zhi Can squinted at her.
“When you were discussing your escape plan with the young master earlier… you didn’t plan to bring me along, did you?”
Nanshan: “…”
“You forgot about me, didn’t you? Or worse—you remembered and still planned to leave me behind as bait?”
Zhi Can scoffed.
“Sun Nanshan, you really have no sense of loyalty! Have you forgotten who invited you out in the first place? Who specifically asked Zhu Yue Tower to prepare a table full of desserts? And who—”
“Hey, uh—”
Nanshan grabbed Ling Ye’s sleeve in a hurry.
“Didn’t you say you wanted to go out for a walk? Let’s go now!”
Ling Ye looked at his now wrinkled sleeve, then got up cooperatively.
“Let’s go, let’s go.”
Nanshan quickly dragged him away.
Behind them, Zhi Can shouted in frustration, “Get back here and explain yourself!”
Nanshan ran even faster.
She didn’t stop until they had gotten far away from Zhu Yue Tower.
“Did he… did he chase after us?”
Nanshan let go of Ling Ye’s hand, leaning against the wall to catch her breath.
Ling Ye glanced back.
“No.”
“Good.”
Nanshan finally relaxed.
Ling Ye: “Why did you run?”
“You didn’t hear him saying he was going to settle the score with me—oh, right, you don’t hear anything when you eat.”
As she calmed down, Nanshan took a look at her surroundings.
The deeper the night grew, the livelier the streets became.
Strange-looking people crowded the road, children laughed and played, and one little kid accidentally ran straight through a passing man with ram horns.
The horned man shuddered and scolded the child, but no one else seemed to find it odd.
If she had only learned about the Netherworld from Zhi Can before, then seeing it with her own eyes now made the realization hit much harder.
Looking at the peculiar crowd around her, Nanshan couldn’t help but feel a chill down her spine.
After bidding farewell to Ling Ye, Nan Shan hugged the wine jar and slowly walked toward her room, cautiously observing her surroundings.
She was so on edge that even kicking a small stone and making a slight noise startled her.
She was too focused on being paranoid that she didn’t realize until she was already inside the courtyard that someone was still following her.
Nan Shan paused, took a step forward, and Ling Ye followed at the same pace. She took another step, and he followed again.
Seeing that he was about to enter the room with her, Nan Shan couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you going back?”
Ling Ye didn’t answer. Instead, he walked straight into the bedroom.
The moment he stepped in, all the candles in the room lit up soundlessly.
He turned back with a calm gaze, the flickering flames reflecting in his pupils.
“Aren’t you afraid?”
Under the candlelight, his features were noble and refined as he stared directly into her eyes.
Nan Shan was stunned for a long moment before she slowly blinked.
A quarter of an hour later, after the palace attendants finished preparing the bedding and left, Ling Ye lay down and covered himself with the quilt.
He turned his head and saw Nan Shan sitting on the floor, staring straight at him from the makeshift bed she had just prepared.
“No need to thank me,” he said slowly.
“…” Who was going to thank you?!
Nan Shan snapped her fingers, and instantly, all the lights in the room went out.
Resigned, she lay down on the hard floor, pulling the blanket over herself.
After getting used to soft beds, suddenly sleeping on the cold, hard floor felt incredibly uncomfortable.
The thought that someone else had taken her bed only worsened her mood.
The night was silent except for the faint sound of the wind.
Thinking about the masked man who had appeared and vanished earlier that day, Nan Shan felt a sudden chill in her heart.
She was just about to shrink further into her blanket when, out of nowhere, a hand dropped down from the bed above her.
Earlier, when preparing the bedding, Ling Ye had specifically asked her to place it right next to the bed. Now, with his arm hanging down, his hand landed right beside her pillow.
“You can hold my hand.”
His clear voice sounded in the darkness.
Nan Shan’s heart stirred slightly, but she lowered her voice and replied, “No need, I’m not that scared.”
Ling Ye was silent for a moment but did not retract his hand.
“Then I’ll wait until you fall asleep before I do.”
“…Thanks.”
Nan Shan was a little surprised by his thoughtfulness.
A quarter of an hour later, the sound of Ling Ye’s steady breathing came from the bed—he had already fallen asleep.
Nan Shan was speechless for a moment before letting out a quiet chuckle and closing her eyes as well.
Throughout the night, Ling Ye’s hand remained beside her pillow.
When she turned slightly, she could feel the warmth from his palm. Unexpectedly, she had a good night’s sleep.
When Ling Ye woke up, the first thing he saw was Nan Shan resting her head on his hand, looking peaceful and serene.
His heart started beating faster again.
Ling Ye’s eyes flickered slightly—perhaps it wasn’t just because he had been neglecting his medicinal baths recently.
As the dim morning light filtered into the room, Nan Shan, still half-asleep, had an uncanny feeling that someone was staring at her.
Her brows furrowed slightly. She wanted to ask, “Ling Ye, what are you doing now?” but for some reason, she couldn’t bring herself to say it.
So, she simply let him continue staring.
She had intended to sleep a little longer, but the sensation of being watched was too strong. Her consciousness gradually surfaced, and finally, with a small effort, she forced her eyes open.
Their eyes met.
The man sat leisurely with his legs crossed, resting his face in his hands as he smiled at her.
His wide, luxurious sleeves were folded at his elbows, revealing his slender wrists.
On his wrist was a red string—identical to Ling Ye’s.
Nan Shan looked at the man’s breathtakingly handsome and enchanting face.
Then she looked at the red string on his wrist.
Then back at his face.
Then his wrist.
Finally, she silently pulled the blanket over her head, praying that Ling Ye would appear soon.
The blanket was lifted, revealing the same fox-like alluring face.
Nan Shan licked her dry lips and forced out a weak smile.
“Y-You’re the one who put flowers in my hair last night.”
The man curled his lips into a smile.
“I am also your fiancé,” he said lazily.
“One of them.”