Chapter 735: Tom Senior, Rest in Peace

For some reason, after hearing Li Ang and Emma's conversation, the Red-haired woman, who had just been defiant and seemed ready to say more, suddenly fell silent, sitting motionless on the Crocodile God's forehead.

After chatting with Li Ang for a few moments about her daughter, Emma too seemed stirred by the topic, gazing upward at the Death-Bringing Crows circling above her, and said nothing more; the three on the Crocodile God's back remained silent, returning near the entrance to the Death Realm.

"You two go back."

Waving at Li Ang and Emma, the Red-haired woman said calmly:

"The three directors have already sent out the 【List of Designations】. Under a three-to-one situation, the Water Bearer Director won't hold out much longer—he could be dragged into the Death Realm by the 【Death Realm Streetlamps】 at any moment. I have to wait here for him to take the Path of No Return, so I won't see you off any further."

"After this, just walk back along the Path of No Return. Once you pass the 【Black-and-White Bridge】 and the 【Death-Bringing Crow Nest】, keep going a little farther—you'll see the Dog God guarding the Death Realm's entrance. Have it howl once, and it'll send you back… Just remember: keep walking forward, never look back!"

"Understood. I know."

Since Emma was a frequent visitor to the Death Realm and had crossed it many times before, while Li Ang was there for the first time, he knew these warnings were meant specifically for him, so he replied, then couldn't help asking curiously:

"Director, why can't we look back? Does looking back mean we'll never leave the Death Realm?"

"Something like that."

Patting the Crocodile God's massive head and pointing to the beach chair beside the River of the Dead, the Red-haired woman signaled it to carry her over, then, facing away from Li Ang and Emma, waved without turning her head:

"For the dead, the Path of No Return is a one-way road—there is no going back."

"For the living who accidentally fall into the Death Realm and step onto this path, though they may still turn back, the path hates this, and will do everything it can to make those who turn back stay."

"Occasionally glancing back isn't dangerous—just a few illusions. But if you turn back too many times, see too many things you can't let go of, and let the path confuse your soul, you might not be able to leave at all."

It sounded incredibly dangerous…

After hearing the Red-haired woman's words, Li Ang's throat moved slightly, then he immediately chose the safer option.

"Director, maybe you should still send…"

"I'm busy. No time to see you off."

Jumping off the Crocodile God's head, the Red-haired woman lay comfortably on the beach chair beside the River of the Dead, picked up the magazine on the nearby table, and waved them off without looking up:

"Don't worry—Emma's been to the Death Realm many times. With her accompanying you, you won't get into trouble… Am I right, Emma?"

That was true… Emma had returned many times before, so there shouldn't be a problem… right?

Watching Emma's lips turn white, her arms tinged with green trembling involuntarily beside him, Li Ang blinked in confusion, then asked hesitantly:

"Emma? What's…?"

"I'm fine!"

Giving Li Ang a strained smile, Emma looked up at the Red-haired woman flipping through her magazine, her face pale as she demanded:

"Olivia! You're doing this suddenly—do you want me to give up?"

"No."

Turning a page of her magazine, the Red-haired woman said without looking up:

"I'm just busy. Can't spare the time to see you off."

"But don't worry—I'll be right here by this river, nowhere else. If either of you can't bear the pain inside and the Path of No Return pulls you back, I'll fish you out."

"You… I won't turn back! I've made up my mind!"

"Mm-hmm, I believe you. So when will you start walking back?"

"..."

It felt like… they were speaking in riddles…

Looking at the Red-haired woman lying back on the beach chair, flipping through her magazine yet claiming she was too busy, then at Emma, who insisted she'd made up her mind but stood rooted to the spot, Li Ang frowned.

Sensing the tension, he ventured cautiously:

"Uh… Tom's still inside the crocodile's mouth. Why not let him out, and the three of us walk back together?"

"Can't."

"Why not?"

"Because he's dead."

With a loud flip of the magazine page, the Red-haired woman glanced at Li Ang, then said flatly:

"When I went with you to find the Third Generation to forge the anomaly, Tom was already digested by this crocodile, turned to shit, and excreted into that lake before—then swallowed by a giant fish. Don't bother trying to bring him back."

"Huh?"

"What 'huh'? You want to go back and join him?"

"..."

Got it. The Director and Emma were clearly at odds over something.

Since Emma feared walking the Path of No Return, the Director deliberately refused to escort her, forcing her to walk back alone, hoping to make her change her mind.

As for Tom, now turned into crocodile shit, either he had a way to help Emma, or a method to traverse between life and death—so the Director had forcibly banned him from leaving the Crocodile God's mouth.

Considering the Director's habit of planning ten steps ahead, she probably had this plan ready the moment they entered the Death Realm—hence why she didn't heal Tom's bones or bring him to the Third Generation…

But why did she make me accompany Emma?

And what exactly is your plan, Director? I trust your mind when you're sober—but can't you at least warn me before pulling something like this? Give me some warning?

"What's wrong? Why aren't you leaving yet?"

After a silence that made Li Ang feel uneasy, the Red-haired woman finished flipping through the entire volume of *Disassembling the Four-Wheeled Light Carriage*, as if she'd learned carriage repair, then looked up, surprised:

"Li Ang? Why are you still standing there? Did you say you made your decision, but deep down still have regrets you can't let go of—so you're afraid to step onto the Path of No Return, afraid of exposing your inner weakness?"

"..."

Yeah, yeah, it's me, it's definitely me!

Before Li Ang could speak, suddenly overwhelmed by a flood of unjustified accusations about his "unresolved regrets," he was yanked off-balance.

"Emma? What are you—hey! Slow down! Slow down!"

(End of Chapter)