Chapter 520: Sister…… you really don't want A Cheng anymore?

Sister, I'm going to die, right?

No, A Cheng will surely live a long life!

But I'm in so much pain, sister, my head feels like it's going to fall off, I'm bleeding a lot, I'm scared.

A Cheng isn't scared, isn't scared, sister is here……

In the memory, on a small road paved with white bones and soaked in fresh blood, I was sprinting while carrying a seven- or eight-year-old boy.

The boy leaned against my back, eyes closed, tightly gripping a cloth bag in his hand, constantly talking.

He had a deep knife slash on his neck, blood pouring out, and he could only distract himself by talking.

I saw myself bringing him into a cave-like place beneath a small hill.

Below the cave, everywhere was pitch black.

Black water flow, black stalactites, black…… vines.

I shoved him into a hidden corner, grabbed his shoulders and urged: 'A Cheng, behave, stay here and wait for sister; sister will come back soon to get you.'

The boy seized my hand, blood and tears streaming from his tightly shut eyes: 'Sister won't abandon A Cheng, she'll definitely come back to get him, right?'

I nodded firmly: 'Sister swears……'

I saw myself stuff a bead into his mouth, and instantly a ring of light appeared around his body, protecting him.

I repeatedly promised I would definitely come back to get him.

But I broke my promise.

Later, it seemed many things happened, A Cheng…… was completely forgotten in that dark corner.

I don't know where his head went, why he collected so many eyes, or how he's survived these years.

I can't even remember whether we're truly brother and sister.

All I recall is that I lost a little boy named A Cheng.

'Xiao Jiu, what's wrong?' Feng Wu suddenly asked.

I hesitated for a moment; Feng Wu seemed not to know A Cheng.

So A Cheng appeared by my side earlier than Feng Wu did.

I steadied my mind, shook my head: 'Nothing, let's go.'

I spread my wings and flew over the hilltops, pressing forward without looking back.

I'm not sure whether this memory has been altered.

But regardless of whether this A Cheng is my real younger brother, I can't bring him out into the world right now—it would be too dangerous.

I can't drag him into trouble.

He's managed to survive many years in this remote little hill; this place is absolutely safe for him.

Just wait a bit longer……

Once I've dealt with Dìshì, I'll come back to find him and ask everything directly!

In the dim corner of the small hill, a headless youth stood aloof, gazing in the direction the Nirvana Phoenix had departed.

The mouth of the cloth bag he held was open, and one pitch-black eye after another fell onto his shoulder, arm, and the surrounding plants…… the scarlet eyeballs rolled about, then in an instant they all drooped, as if tears of blood were about to spill.

After a long while, the headless youth turned, entered the dark cave, and squeezed his now-grown body into that tiny nook.

Sister…… you really don't want A Cheng anymore……

·

After crossing that small hill, ahead lay ridge after ridge of continuous mountains, seeming to stretch on forever.

Fortunately I have wings.

Having learned from the earlier low flight where I almost got tangled in vines, I stayed high for the rest of the journey.

Experience shows that flying can be addictive.

That feeling of soaring alone through the vast heavens and earth is truly exhilarating.

I flew high like that for a good half hour, after passing who knows how many hilltops, a powerful barrier suddenly appeared ahead, forcibly sealing off the space.

I landed steadily and resumed human form.

When I stood on the ground, I could no longer feel that barrier.

Across was a river; on the river sat a suspension bridge; opposite the river stood high city walls; at the gate below the walls, soldiers in soft armor, weapons in hand, were checking the pass tokens of those preparing to cross.

And those crossing the bridge…… well, not all of them were human.

I carefully distinguished: the bridge-crossers were a mixed lot—there were souls, sprites, and…… possibly yin officials?

I instantly realized that ahead was another border zone between the Feng Clan and the Nether Realm.

Behind Cangwu Mountain lies the border with the Seven Halls Yama's utopia, but one cannot come and go as they please.

Last time it was my aunt who brought me there, and the seal there was open then.

Once the seal is closed, it's absolutely impassable.

Even if you sneak across, it'll cause big trouble—unless the Seven Halls Yama turn a blind eye.

Just like when Xue Feng once sneaked over to gather herbs.

I crossed the suspension bridge, and while waiting in line, I peeked at the pass token in the hand of the person ahead, recalling that I seemed to have one inside my bronze casket as well.

I quickly stepped back, found a secluded spot, summoned my bronze casket, opened it, and indeed found the same token inside.

It seems Di Luan used to frequently enter and exit the Nether Realm, just not through this entrance.

But this kind of city-entry token should be universal.

Otherwise, with the Nether Realm so vast, having countless entrances would require countless different tokens, which would be inconvenient.

I took the city-entry token and got back in line.

When the gate guards inspected the token, I was still a bit nervous, but everything went smoothly.

The other side of the city gate was also a barrier, with mist everywhere in a hazy blur, only the road beneath my feet was clear.

After just twenty or thirty meters I passed through the barrier, and ahead lay another bridge.

On the far side of the bridge, many forked roads corresponded to it, each leading in a different direction; for a moment I didn't know which to choose.

But soon I saw, on the treetop at one of those forked paths, a small willow‑branch bracelet hanging.

That was a hint left for me by Liu Junyan.

I walked onto that road without hesitation.

Going forward, before I reached the end, I saw a wide moat, with reddish‑tinged willows planted on both banks.

It was the City of Wronged Death!

Has Liu Junyan already returned to the City of Wronged Death?

And what about Hu Sanmei?

I went around the side of the City of Wronged Death, all the way to the outside of the main gate and moat, observing along the way whether any trace of Liu Junyan remained around the city.

In the end I saw no trace, but on the great road outside the moat I spotted a familiar figure.

It was Hu Yulin!

I don't know why, but seeing him here at this moment filled me with intense excitement.

Ever since I learned that the Five Blessings Immortals were also part of Dìshì's scheming from the start, I've been worried about those in Wufu Town and the Nine‑Flame District.

Although Hu Yulin is not one of the Five Blessings Immortals, he is a rising star of the Yin Mountain Fox Clan.

If anything happens to the Five Blessings Immortals, he certainly cannot remain uninvolved.

So seeing him still made me feel excited.

Hu Yulin also spotted me at once, immediately waved at me, and came striding over……