After emerging from the desert, Xiao Man found herself still within the Ghost Realm. The daytime here was perpetually hazy, and the surrounding trees appeared withered and dead, making the place resemble another barren land.
At least she could see people here!
Xiao Man's eyes curved into a smile as she looked at the robbers blocking her path. "Brother, may I ask where this place is?"
"Kid, you don't even know where this is?" The man blocking the road was somewhat surprised. Those who entered here either came on their own or were brought in, yet every single one knew where they were! Besides the most vicious criminals, there were only demons and monsters here!
"I don't know, please enlighten me, brother."
"This is the Ghost Realm."
Ghost Realm, Xiao Man frowned. The name sounded somewhat familiar, as if she had heard it somewhere before, but she couldn't recall where.
"Please tell me how to leave here?"
"Haha." Xiao Man's question drew boisterous laughter from the crowd. "Brothers, she actually asked how to leave here. Do you know how to leave?"
"We do!" Everyone laughed until their sides ached. "No one who can leave the Ghost Realm has ever done so. Only ghosts can leave the Ghost Realm!"
Xiao Man was confused. "What is a ghost?"
The leader of the group extended his hand towards Xiao Man, gesturing for her to offer a bribe.
Xiao Man produced a bag of spirit stones. "A small token of my appreciation, nothing much. Please accept it, brother."
"You're a sensible one." Seeing the bag of spirit stones, the man's eyes gleamed with delight. He pointed towards a mountain peak in the distance. "See that?"
"I see it."
"That is Ghost King City," the man said ominously. "To leave the Ghost Realm, one must first become a ghost servant. With the Ghost King's permission, you can leave. Otherwise, even if you manage to get out of the Ghost Realm, you won't be able to walk the Yellow Springs Road or pass through the Ten Thousand Ghosts Forest."
"What exactly is the Ghost Realm?"
"How did you get in here, kid?"
"I stepped on a formation, and with a whoosh, I was here."
"Hahaha..." Laughter erupted from everyone, tears streaming down their faces. People who came to the Ghost Realm were those who couldn't survive in the outside world, or rather, those who were not tolerated by the outside world, came here.
"Brother, do you know who founded the Ghost Realm?"
"Who?"
"The Demon Lord!" The man patted Xiao Man's shoulder. "So, do you know what kind of place the Ghost Realm is now?"
Xiao Man nodded as if she understood and yet didn't. Seeing that she had generously handed over spirit stones, the group didn't trouble her further and left. Xiao Man looked at Ghost King City on the highest peak. To leave here, she would have to go to Ghost King City, but perhaps it wasn't as simple as just wanting to enter.
Xiao Man wanted to find a small inn to stay in. She remembered that when she was teleported, Nangong Yu had come along. There was no trace of him in the desert, so he should be here. She needed to find him first.
As soon as she entered an inn, the patrons looked at Xiao Man as if she were a plump sheep ripe for slaughter, each eager to take a bite.
"Innkeeper, a room."
"We're full," the innkeeper said lazily from his reclining chair behind the counter.
Hearing this, Xiao Man didn't argue and turned to leave. As soon as she stepped out, several people got up and followed her. Xiao Man pretended not to notice them trailing behind. Although her strength was suppressed, it didn't mean she was someone to be trifled with.
Xiao Man led the group through sparsely populated areas until they reached a desolate spot. She stopped and said, "You've been following me for a while. Aren't you tired?"
"Kid, you're an outsider, aren't you?"
"So what? Outsiders aren't allowed here?" Xiao Man crossed her arms. "Or do you think outsiders are easy to bully?"
"Kid, did you come alone?" The group stared at Xiao Man and inquired.
"Yes."
"How did you come?"
"In the blink of an eye, I was here," Xiao Man said unhurriedly. "You've followed me for quite some time, why not state your purpose?"
"We're short on cash and want to borrow some from you." Seeing that Xiao Man was alone, the men's confidence grew. With so many of them against one, it shouldn't be a problem.
"Borrow money from me..." Xiao Man couldn't help but sigh. It seemed outsiders were truly unwelcome in the Ghost Realm, and the locals liked to teach them the rules. "Did you consider the consequences before coming to borrow money?"
"She's asking if we considered the consequences?" The leader burst into laughter. "Did you consider the consequences?"
"We didn't!"
"If you didn't, you can think about it now," Xiao Man said with a slight smile. "Once you've thought about it, I'll give you a quick end!"
"This newcomer is quite arrogant. Brothers, attack! Let's teach our new friend some manners!" As the group was about to charge, they fell to the ground one after another, foaming at the mouth and convulsing.
"What... what's going on?" The leader was terrified. He swallowed hard and retreated step by step. After only a few steps, he too collapsed to the ground.
Xiao Man walked over and squatted beside the man, confiscating all his valuables. "Next time you bully someone, be sure to investigate their background first. Don't offend an alchemist, or you'll die mysteriously."
After taking the valuables, Xiao Man returned to the inn. Seeing her back, the innkeeper, without waiting for her to speak, threw her a key. "Room 'Liang' upstairs, one spirit stone per day, for as long as you wish to stay."
"Have someone bring up a bucket of hot water and some food."
"It will be delivered shortly."
Xiao Man went upstairs and found her room. Just as she was about to enter, the door to the adjacent 'Mei' room opened, and a woman emerged. She wore a black hollowed-out long dress that exposed her slender waist, and her makeup was somewhat alluring, with dark red lips that looked a bit unsettling.
"Little brother, new here?"
Xiao Man nodded at the woman and pushed open her door to enter.
The woman approached and used her foot to block Xiao Man's door, preventing her from closing it. She stuck out her tongue and licked her dark red lips, then slowly said, "Sleep with one eye open tonight. In the Ghost Realm, newcomers often run into trouble."
"Thank you for the reminder, miss."
The woman extended her hand towards Xiao Man, but as she touched Xiao Man, she was repelled by a force and fell downstairs in a sorry state.
Xiao Man was startled. She quickly went out to check. The woman had already gotten up from the ground. She brushed the dust off her clothes, looked at Xiao Man with deep eyes, then let out a cold laugh and turned to leave. As soon as she stepped out, she entered a secluded alley and spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Bad luck, I ran into a tough opponent!" The woman rubbed her aching chest and staggered away in another direction. To be able to repel her attack so effortlessly, this person must possess a great treasure. She couldn't let this chance slip away!