Chapter 408: A Single Leaf-Like Skiff as Steady as a Mountain

Before the group entered the Netherworld, Bai Wuchang tied a straw to each person's wrist.

Do not underestimate this straw; it extracted one soul and one spirit from each person, imprisoning them within the spiritual path and divine gate of the wrist, so that they would not be affected by the Nether Qi.

Maidong was unable to withstand the Nether Qi, and having already damaged his foundation and suffered injury to his divine sense, he was thus extremely weak; if he stayed any longer, his life would be in danger.

Liu Lan had no cultivation base, and because she had expended much energy on the Strange Gate Incense-Splitting Technique, she would be a burden if she continued to follow.

Because of this, the group decided that Lianqiao would look after the two of them and take them away from the Underworld.

The two door gods, Shentu and Yulei, were easy to talk to; they granted the group's request and opened the Ghost Gate, but Lianqiao refused.

Lianqiao had come on this journey for the sake of rescuing Lingxiang, and after learning that a wisp of Banxia's soul might be in the Underworld, she was even more unwilling to leave.

Zhao Wuyang was clearly the youngest, Adao was also just a child, and Zhanli did not look very old either; why should only she be made to leave? Could it be that they saw she was a woman and were therefore coddling her?

At any rate, she had fought against the Demon Race; who were they looking down on?

Lianqiao had been pampered since childhood, and once her young lady's temper flared, truly no one could sway her for the moment. Fortunately, the eldest daughter of the Liu family was there, and by appealing to her emotions and reasoning with her, Lianqiao reluctantly accepted her proposal.

"We are all here to save people; we should save whoever we can right now. Besides, since we are both women, entrusting Maidong to her is more convenient for both parties, isn't it? Surely you don't expect these stinking men to take good care of him?"

These words were indeed reasonable; Lianqiao was deeply convinced, cast a disdainful glance at the group, especially Liu Xia, and then agreed.

Watching the three of them step into the Ghost Gate, the group finally set off, and before long, they arrived at the ferry crossing.

A boat drifted at the crossing, with an old man lying on it, his face covered by a straw hat, a leaf of unknown origin dangling from his mouth, swinging his legs, looking very comfortable.

Sangmu and the four others with Zhanli knew this person, as they had relied on this person's supernatural powers to cross the river before, but Long Qi and the others did not recognize him.

Yet even though they did not know him, none of them dared to be rude or presumptuous.

On the way, Sangmu had said that to go to the Demon Capital, one had to cross the river no matter what, and to cross the river, the ferry was currently the only way.

Moreover, they knew deep down that anyone who could be so leisurely in the Netherworld was definitely no ordinary person!

Sangmu stepped forward to bow, addressed him as "Senior," and stated their purpose, but the old man did not move at all; if not for his legs still swinging, the group would have thought he was asleep.

Long Qi frowned and was about to step forward, but was pulled back by Chiyanzi. He looked back and saw Chiyanzi shaking his head at him, making a gesture to keep quiet, so he held back.

The old man playfully lifted his hat, revealing only one eye, scanned the group sharply, and then covered himself with the hat again.

"Flowing clouds follow the wind to the abyss of water, clear light floats on the moon covering the cold pool."

What kind of nonsense was that?

A baffling string of pedantic words left the group confused, but Sangmu understood.

It was not just Sangmu; Boluohui understood as well.

"It seems I can only stop here..."

"What do you mean?"

Long Qi was puzzled, and the others were also in the dark; they all looked at Boluohui, only to see his expression was one of relief.

"Being fellow disciples with you all, though our acquaintance was shallow, it still counts as a chance encounter. Now that our fate has reached its end, it is time to part ways."

"Part ways? Where are you going?" Adao blinked and asked, looking up.

Boluohui smiled and ruffled Adao's hair: "I had intended to contribute a little more before finishing, but in the end, it was just a delusion."

Hearing this, how could Long Qi not understand?

Earlier, in front of the Ghost Gate, Long Qi had already felt suspicious; they had to rely on Bai Wuchang's straw to safely step into the Underworld, yet Boluohui could walk on the Netherworld as if on flat ground—this did not make sense.

Now it seemed it was exactly as Long Qi had thought: to be so at ease in the Netherworld, he was likely already a dead man.

Realizing this, Long Qi closed his eyes and turned his head away.

Admittedly, the two had not interacted much, but they were fellow disciples after all; such things were truly difficult to face.

"My heart's concerns are settled. This trip to the human world was not in vain. I only wish you all success in everything." Boluohui's expression was serene: "If fate allows, we shall meet again in the next life."

As soon as he finished speaking, Boluohui's physical body shattered into dust, and following the Yin wind of the Netherworld, it flew toward the direction of Fengdu.

He was going to Reincarnation...

The group felt a sense of melancholy, but the old man lying down sat up, counted the remaining people, and smacked his lips.

"Nine scouts, do you wish to cross the river now?"

Hearing these words, Xinyi lowered his eyes: as expected, there were others coming, but who else could it be?

Long Qi composed his thoughts and looked at the old man, not understanding what riddle he was speaking.

Scouts? What did that mean?

And...

"Old man, it's not that I'm complaining, but with so many people, your little boat..." Looking at the boat as thin as a willow leaf, Long Qi could not help but feel some worry.

Could it hold them all?

The old man smiled: "Is this little Daoist doubting me?"

Long Qi hurriedly said he dared not, but he still harbored doubts, and the old man joked again:

"No matter, no matter, you wouldn't believe it anyway."

Long Qi sheepishly rubbed his nose, but then heard the old man say:

"Do not underestimate this humble skiff of mine; even if it were one hundred thousand divine soldiers from the Upper Realm, it could carry them with ease."

"Eh?!"

Long Qi exclaimed, and Zhao Wuyang and Adao behind him also poked their heads out in surprise.

"Old Senior, please do not deceive us for being young; how could this small boat carry one hundred thousand heavenly soldiers?"

The old man smiled kindly: "Why don't you little ones try?"

Adao had no objections, as he and Zhanli had "secretly" ridden this boat before, but he suspected the old man was bragging, yet he had no proof, so he could only pretend to be casual and curl his lip, though he said nothing.

Zhao Wuyang, however, hesitated upon hearing this; he glanced at Xinyi beside him, and seeing the latter nod, he then hesitantly spoke: "Then this junior will boldly try?"

The old man smiled, took a sip of wine, tilted his head playfully, and signaled for Zhao Wuyang to board the boat.

Zhao Wuyang had been raised in the City Lord Mansion since childhood, had never seen rivers or mountains, and was even less familiar with the water; naturally, he was seven parts afraid of water, but seeing the old man like this, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and board.

Although it was called a river, it was calm and waveless, like stagnant water, and the small boat remained motionless. Seeing this, Zhao Wuyang could not help but feel it was strange, yet his footsteps did not falter.

Zhao Wuyang tried stepping in with one foot, but the boat was as if welded shut, not moving in the slightest; once both feet were planted, it was like walking on flat ground, without the swaying he had imagined.

"Huh?"

Zhao Wuyang jumped in surprise, but the small boat remained as steady as a rock, just as if he were stepping on solid ground.

This...

Is this reasonable?

As for the few people on the bank, apart from the three who had ridden the boat—Sangmu, Zhanli, and Adao—the others were also dumbfounded.

This...

Is this appropriate?