Chapter 747: Extra Chapter 2: Heavenly Curtain Tribulation

It turned out that Yu Nian successfully pulled me and Zhao Zixun onto the ferry at the critical moment.

This was only possible after Zhao Zixun had patrolled the entire Nine Nether, eradicated the remnants, expended all his Merit, and helped the Nine Nether recover.

Yu Nian, meanwhile, immediately sensed the change in the Nine Nether and seized the opportunity.

Otherwise, Zhao Zixun and I might have...

I was still shaken, and just as I was thinking, a huge wave hit, the boat swaying up and down, the black waves blocking out the sky and sun, almost engulfing the entire vessel.

Yu Nian braced the pole, steadied the boat, rising and falling with the waves, and the Thousand Soul Banner on the prow fluttered loudly.

After that wave passed and the ferry stabilized, I realized this stretch of water had already drifted away from the junction of the Wangchuan River and the Nine Nether Waters.

This stretch of water was noticeably more turbulent; at the meeting of water and sky, indigo currents continually darted through the black canopy, wave after wave rising higher, like the gaping maw of a colossal beast, inspiring dread.

That... is the greatest challenge for the ferryman.

As the ferry moved forward, I grew increasingly anxious.

I still had something left undone.

"Yu Nian sister," I steadied myself and finally spoke, "I have something to say to you."

Yu Nian slowed the ferry, turned to look at me, and asked, "What?"

I warned, "Someone in the Nether Realm is still eyeing the pawnshop; Yu Nian sister, you must remind Xiao Jiu to be extremely careful."

If possible, I would dearly love to find out exactly who it is, tell Xiao Jiu myself, and wish I could help her.

Unfortunately, my abilities are limited, and it's already too late.

Yu Nian said, "Wanwan, don't worry; when the Nine Nether erupted in conflict, all of us were watching, and Xiao Jiu didn't make it in time to see you off because she was pursuing suspicious individuals. I believe this time, thanks to the Nine Nether incident, she will surely catch the culprit red‑handed. You and General Zhao can rest easy and go on to your next lives."

Hearing Yu Nian's firm assurance, I finally relaxed.

Zhao Zixun put his arm around my shoulders and comforted me, "Wanwan, trust Xiao Jiu, and trust the abilities of our brothers and sisters."

Yu Nian seemed to recall something and said, "Right, A Cheng asked me to give this to you, Wanwan."

She said, producing a silver ring from her bosom and placing it in my hand.

It was the token of our love from our second life.

Before, A Cheng needed it to cast a spell, and I had thought it might break during the process.

A Cheng had protected it well.

Zhao Zixun took the silver ring, slipped it onto my ring finger, his big hand then wrapping around my hand wearing the ring, and whispered in my ear, "Wanwan, in the next life I will surely find you at once and never lose you again."

I leaned into his embrace and replied, "Zhao Zixun, no matter where you are, I will also strive to find you."

Yu Nian warned, "Past that Heavenly Curtain Tribulation ahead lies the Reincarnation Platform, but the power of the Heavenly Curtain Tribulation rivals a Heavenly Tribulation, and beneath its dark waters lurk countless unmeasurable Xiūwéi‑tainted filth; you two must grit your teeth and push through to have any hope, and of course I will do everything I can to help you."

Zhao Zixun and I immediately rose to our feet, steadied our stances, and stared solemnly ahead, awaiting the challenge that would come like a sudden storm.

I am well aware that both Zhao Zixun and I have problematic identities, entangled across two lifetimes, burdened with much karmic sin; Yu Nian ferrying us inherently consumes great amounts of Xiūwéi and Merit.

Not just anyone can be a ferryman.

And Zhao Zixun and I are also the first ones Yu Nian has ever ferried in the true sense aboard her ferry, which for her is likewise a tremendous challenge.

Like us, she is also feeling her way forward.

As the ferry's prow just entered the Heavenly Curtain Tribulation, I felt a strong force press upon the bow; the whole hull shuddered slightly and then tilted forward.

The stern began to lift up bit by bit.

Yu Nian paid no attention to the boat's condition; she simply tried hard to paddle the entire ferry into the Heavenly Curtain Tribulation.

This trial, we must inevitably undergo.

Thus, all current dangers are secondary; what we must do is first endure the judgment, then seek a chance to survive.

Unfortunately, this level is too difficult.

I saw that the pole in Yu Nian's hands had already been bent, and though the Yīnfēng wailed, the Thousand Soul Banner on the prow seemed frozen, utterly still.

Even the Thousand Soul Banner was cowed by the might of the Heavenly Curtain Tribulation.

Zhao Zixun and I both wanted to go help Yu Nian, but we simply couldn't move.

As the bow kept pressing down, water gradually seeped in, and Zhao Zixun and I felt as if some force had pinned us down, unable to budge an inch.

When a little water flowed into the cabin and reached my feet, a bloody scene suddenly appeared in my mind.

So, had the judgment already come upon us unnoticed?

The next instant, a bolt of lightning's current surged through my whole body, making even my soul tremble, numb and painful.

Meow!

At that moment, a familiar cat's cry came from the stern.

Immediately afterward, we felt the stern pressed down by another force, and the whole boat shifted slightly backward.

Under that force's control, we actually broke free of the Heavenly Curtain Tribulation!

The instant I looked back, a big fluffy cat lunged into my embrace, its big head rubbing insistently against me.

It was a Mysterious Cat!

I could hardly believe my eyes, wondering if I was still in the Heavenly Curtain Tribulation and this was merely an illusion.

Until Yu Nian's delighted voice also rang out: "Xing… Xingchen?"

Xingchen?

Which Xingchen?

I couldn't react for a moment.

When I finally looked back, I saw a boy about thirteen or fourteen standing upright on the stern.

The boy had shaved his head, a precept scar burned on his crown, wore a monk's robe, and had prayer beads around his neck and wrists.

Our eyes met, and he gave me a slight nod.

He was none other than Xiao Jiu's eldest son, Xingchen!

It turned out I wasn't hallucinating; the Xuan cat had come back together with Xingchen.

They… they came back just for me and Zhao Zixun's matter?

Given my relationship with the Xuan cat, I thought it possible for it to rush back to see me off on my final journey.

But that Xingchen would come back with it—that I never could have imagined.

So I couldn't react right away to realize who Xingchen was.

Xingchen's brows and eyes look like Xiao Jiu's, but his whole appearance and temperament are utterly a youthful version of Liu Qiye!

The Xuan cat meowed at me a few more times.

I can communicate with the Xuan cat; I understood what it was saying, and I promptly pulled Zhao Zixun to sit cross-legged in the cabin.

The Xuan cat said, Xingchen and it will help the two of us cross over, together with Yu Nian, to escort us through this heavenly curtain tribulation……