Chapter 736: The Road Back Is Hard (Part 1)

【Name: The Path of No Return (the Dead, Souls)】

【Appearance: A road paved with bone bricks of yellowish-white hue, beginning at the entrance to the Underworld, passing through the "Gate of the Dead," "Nest of the Death Crows," "Bridge of Black and White," "River of the Yellow Springs," "Corridor of the Undertakers," "Mirror Lake of Buried Garments," "Black Forest of Corpse Soil," "Bone Palace," "Garden of the Sages," "City of Regret," "Misty Bog of Wraiths," and dozens of other famed sites of the Underworld, extending all the way to the deepest point: "Cliff of Finality."】

【Ability: Flesh Dissolves, Soul Purifies】

【Cost: Cannot be used by the living. If utterly slain, or if one's Corruption Level is below 60 at death, they automatically become a user of the Path of No Return.】

【File: This ancient road, nearly as old as the Underworld itself, was forged by the First Dead, the ruler of the Underworld, after his death—he ground his own corpse-bones into powder, burned them with his soul-fire into bricks, and laid each one by hand.】

When newly deceased souls walk upon it, they gradually shed all remnants of their former lives as they venture deeper into the Underworld.】

They shed clothing and skin, dissolve flesh and muscle, erode bones and organs, purge will and memory, and become purest souls, finally leaping from the "Cliff of Finality" to return utterly to the world.】

Among the users of the Path of No Return, those who refuse to believe they are dead wander the "Corridor of the Undertakers," endlessly retracing their own deaths within this labyrinth with no exit, even witnessing the world after their death, until they finally accept death.】

Those clinging to their former identities and appearances, unable to shed the soul-formed garments or forget their living faces, are left beside the "Mirror Lake of Buried Garments," gazing at their own reflections until they relinquish all false illusions.】

Those obsessed with power or still yearning for their fleshly bodies, insisting on retaining their physical forms, are taken into the "Black Forest of Corpse Soil" and forced to traverse it…】

【Evaluation: Don't touch—it's not something you should be handling now.】

【Corruption Level: Matches the user's, granting every deceased soul an equal end.】

…

Garden of the Sages… Mirror Lake of Buried Garments…

Isn't that the graveyard holding three generations of Directors, and the great lake where Senior Emma always stays?

Recalling the scene from before, Li Ang furrowed his brow slightly.

According to the system's description, the surface of the "Mirror Lake of Buried Garments" reflects the deceased's face in life. But Emma's entire clan is dead, and she inherited their lives.

So when she looks into that lake, does she see her own face—or the original owners of the Death Crows?

"Sorry."

Understanding now why Senior Emma so often lingered by the lake, Li Ang slowly withdrew his hand from the bone bricks, shook his head at her, and offered a faintly apologetic expression.

"Senior Emma, my ability's information leans toward the 'user' side, and this path can only be used by the dead—I found no way to shield the living from its effects. I'm sorry."

"I see…"

Hearing Li Ang's words, Emma's eyes flickered with disappointment, yet she still shook her head, her voice gentle:

"You don't need to apologize to me. Facing something like the Path of No Return, having no solution is normal. It's I who should apologize—I shouldn't have made you touch such a dangerous thing because of… certain reasons."

"It's fine." Recalling the solitary figure by the lake, Li Ang shook his head to dismiss it, then spoke earnestly:

"You saved my sister's life. When I first joined the Bureau, you gave me weapons, told me what to watch for on missions, taught me how to protect myself, and even sacrificed yourself alongside the Goddess of Wealth to save me."

"Senior Emma, I won't say thanks again—but if there's anything I can do for you, please tell me. If it's even possible, I'll give everything I have."

"I… I do have something I want to ask of you."

After glancing at Li Ang with gratitude, Emma—still pale—inhaled deeply, then took his hand in hers, biting her lip:

"Li Ang, my regrets are too many. This path is too hard for me. If you can, I want you to walk it with me."

"When we reach the Bridge of Black and White, if we go further, we'll provoke the Path of No Return. If I suddenly stop or try to turn back, you must wake me up!"

"Mm."

After hearing Emma's plea, Li Ang nodded slightly, clasped her cold hand firmly, and declared with solemn seriousness:

"I will!"

"Thank you…"

Having made their pact, the two—having paused not far from the Red-haired Director—held hands and stepped forward again, walking toward the distant, grand bridge of black-and-white stone slabs spanning the murky yellow river.

Along the broad, winding Path of No Return, one after another newly dead soul walked forward under the company of Death Crows—some wailing, some bewildered, some lost—staggering toward the depths of the Underworld.

Compared to these drifting, often incomplete souls, Li Ang and Emma were the only two with living flesh, the only ones who could "reverse" the path—and thus should have been the heavier presence.

But when one of the wandering souls, unable to dodge, collided full-force with an old man hunched over, and they passed through each other, Li Ang was startled to find himself like water—or even air—while something profoundly solid had passed unimpeded through his body.

"Don't worry. This is the rule of the Underworld: souls reign supreme here; flesh does not exist."

After carefully avoiding a young dead man sprinting toward them, his body riddled with weapon wounds, Emma noticed Li Ang's confusion and explained:

"The world's rules govern all. When traveling between worlds, our souls and flesh—or rather, our very 'existence'—must actively adapt to the rules of the current world."

Just as a descended spirit or true god must condense flesh and breathe and eat, a living being entering the Underworld must abide by its rules, their very existence reshaped by the world's nature.

As she spoke, she knelt slightly, blocking the path of a little girl weeping as she walked forward, and gently embraced her.

Yet the young soul passed through Emma's body like wind, continuing onward into the depths of the Underworld.

(End of Chapter)