Chapter 735: Long Live Senior Tang Mu

For some reason, after hearing the conversation between Li Ang and Auntie Auntie Ai Ma, the red-haired director, who had previously looked unconvinced and seemed about to say more, suddenly fell silent, sitting atop the Crocodile God's forehead without moving.

After chatting with Li Ang for a few moments about her daughter's situation, Auntie Auntie Ai Ma also seemed touched by memories, looking up at the Death Omen Crows circling above her, saying no more; the three on the Crocodile God's back thus fell silent, returning once more to the entrance of the Death Realm.

"You should go back."

Waving her hand toward Li Ang and the other, the red-haired director said calmly:

"The three directors have already issued the 【Directive List】; in a three-versus-one situation, the Aquarius Director won't resist for long and could be dragged into the Death Realm by the 【Death Realm Streetlamp】 at any moment. I must wait here for him to take the Road of No Return, so I won't see you off further."

"Afterward, just walk back along the Road of No Return; pass the 'Black-and-White Bridge' and the 'Death Omen Crow Nest,' then walk a bit further, and you'll see the Dog God guarding the Death Realm's entrance. Have it bark once to send you back... Remember to keep walking forward the whole way, and do not look back!"

"Alright, I understand."

Since Senior Auntie Auntie Ai Ma was a "regular" in the Death Realm, having apparently traversed it many times before, while Li Ang was visiting for the first time, Li Ang knew these instructions were specifically meant for him; he replied aloud, then couldn't help but ask curiously:

"Director, why can't we look back? If we do, will we be unable to leave the Death Realm forever?"

"Something like that."

Patting the Crocodile God's large head and pointing to the beach chair placed by the River of Worry, indicating it should take her there, the red-haired director, with her back to Li Ang and the other, waved without turning around:

"For the dead, the Road of No Return is a path that only goes forward; there is no option to walk back."

"And living beings who accidentally fall into the Death Realm and step onto the Road of No Return can still walk back, but this road greatly dislikes such things happening, so it will do everything possible to make those walking back stay."

"Occasionally looking back isn't a big deal; you'll just see some illusions. But if you look back too often, seeing too many things you can't bear to leave, and your soul is bewitched by this road, then you might not be able to leave at all."

Sounds quite dangerous...

After hearing the red-haired director's words, Li Ang's throat moved slightly, then he immediately chose the safer option without hesitation.

"Director, why don't you just send us..."

"I'm busy; I don't have time to see you off."

After jumping down from the Crocodile God's head, the red-haired director comfortably lay on the beach chair by the River of Worry, then picked up a magazine from the small table beside her, waving people away without looking up:

"Don't worry; Auntie Auntie Ai Ma has been to the Death Realm many times. With her walking with you, nothing will happen to you... I'm right, aren't I, Auntie Auntie Ai Ma?"

That's true... Senior Auntie Auntie Ai Ma has been here so many times and returned; there definitely won't be any problems... right?

Seeing Senior Auntie Auntie Ai Ma beside him, her lips bitten pale and her arm, tinged with a faint green, beginning to tremble involuntarily, Li Ang blinked in confusion, then said somewhat blankly:

"Senior Auntie Auntie Ai Ma? What's wrong with you..."

"I'm fine!"

Giving Li Ang a somewhat forced smile, Auntie Auntie Ai Ma looked up at the red-haired director reading the magazine, her face slightly pale as she questioned:

"Olivia! Are you suddenly doing all this to make me give up?"

"No."

Turning a page of the magazine in her hand, the red-haired director said without looking up:

"I'm just a bit busy and can't spare a hand to see you off."

"But rest assured, I'll wait right here by this river, going nowhere. If either of you can't bear the pain in your heart and gets dragged back by the Road of No Return, I'll fish you out."

"You... I won't look back! I've already made up my mind!"

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

"..."...

I feel like... they both have hidden meanings in their words...

Looking at the red-haired director, who was clearly lying on the beach chair flipping through a magazine yet insisted she was too busy, and then at Senior Auntie Auntie Ai Ma, who claimed she had made up her mind but whose feet seemed rooted to the spot, refusing to move no matter what.

Sensing the atmosphere was off, Li Ang clicked his tongue, tentatively suggested:

"Um... Senior Tang Mu is still in the crocodile's mouth. Why don't you let him out, Director, and the three of us walk back together?"

"Can't do it."

"Why can't you?"

"Because he's already dead."

After loudly flipping a page of the magazine with great force, the red-haired director glanced at Li Ang, then said expressionlessly:

"When I went with you to find His Lordship the Third to forge the abnormal object, Tang Mu was already digested by this crocodile, turned into feces and excreted into that lake before, then eaten by a big fish and swallowed into its belly. You don't need to worry about taking him back."

"Ah?"

"What 'ah'? Do you want to go back and keep him company?"

"..."

I get it; the Director and Senior Auntie Auntie Ai Ma are indeed holding a grudge against each other over something.

Since Senior Auntie Auntie Ai Ma seems very afraid of taking the "Road of No Return," the Director deliberately won't see her off, forcing her to walk back via the Road of No Return, hoping to pressure her into changing her mind.

As for Senior Tang Mu, who has become crocodile feces, he either has a way to help her or a means to directly traverse the realms of life and death, so the Director forcibly banned him, preventing him from coming out of the Crocodile God's mouth.

And considering the Director's style of planning ten steps ahead, it's possible that as soon as we two seniors and I entered the Death Realm, she already had this plan in mind, which is why she didn't treat Senior Tang Mu's broken bones and deliberately didn't take him to find His Lordship the Third...

But why make me stay beside Senior Auntie Auntie Ai Ma?

Also, Director, what exactly are you planning? Although I trust your mind when you're not drinking, couldn't you have given me a heads-up about this kind of thing so I could be slightly prepared?

"What's wrong? Why haven't you left yet?"

After a silence that made Li Ang feel uncomfortable all over, the red-haired director, who had finished flipping through the entire book titled "Disassembly of Four-Wheeled Boxed Light Horse Structure" and seemingly learned carriage repair techniques, looked up, her expression slightly surprised as she gazed at him:

"Li Ang? Why aren't you moving yet? Even though you keep saying you've made your decision, do you still have regrets you can't let go of in your heart, so you dare not step onto the Road of No Return, fearing it will expose the fragility and wavering within your heart?"

"..."

Ah yes, yes, it's me, it's me, it's definitely me!

Li Ang, who had been inexplicably loaded with a bunch of reasons for being "too afraid to start the journey" due to lingering regrets, was just about to speak when a great force yanked him off balance.

"Senior Auntie Auntie Ai Ma? What are you doing... hey... slow down! Slow down!"

(End of Chapter)