Netherworld Retrograde

Chapter 327: Chapter 155: Daughter

”Price?” asked Li Yelai, ”What specifically does that refer to?”

”It depends on the type and the need.” Jing Lin somehow procured a teapot and several rather nice tea cups from nowhere, and as he brewed White Mountain Tea for everyone, he explained, ”These Abnormalities, they go by many names: malevolent spirits, demons, ghosts...”

Everyone nodded, understanding that these were indeed what were commonly referred to as ghosts.

For instance, the Weary Blade Demon that Li Yelai encountered was actually a type of living corpse infused with potent poison.

The Black Zombies he saw at the Ember Church Branch were similar entities.

They were corpses that became ghosts, either due to some special environmental catalysts, or simply born out of some dark ritual.

The records of Ye Boshou spoke of even stranger beings, some of which could trap their targets into bizarre spaces, and harm them undetected, even if bodyguards were right next door.

However, to Spiritual Ability Users, these pure Spiritual Bodies were like natural foes—Spiritual Energy was particularly effective against them!

Compared to the immortal creatures of the Void Realm, these ghosts were merely Extraordinary Creatures with more peculiar abilities.

This reassured the group.

”Moreover, in the Immortal Ruins within the Forbidden Zone, we’ve come across a very special kind of Abnormality,” continued Jing Lin, handing a cup of tea to Li Yelai, ”referred to as ’Returning Soul’ by the Forbidden Zone.”

”Returning Soul? Ghost?” Li Yelai pondered the pronunciation of the two words, ”But tell me, do you still have contact with the Forbidden Zone?”

”Not everyone can make it out of the Disaster Fog alive; those humans and their descendants who are swallowed by it fall under the control of the Forbidden Zone’s order, developing their own civilization and becoming a part of the Forbidden Zone. However, we can infiltrate it for investigation,” Jing Lin explained, ”As for what you mentioned, ’Returning Soul’ and ’ghost.’ Indeed, such terminology exists.”

”Those that can return even after death are called Returning Souls, and also ghosts. After further refinement, we have come to call these kinds of ghosts ’Returning Souls.’”

”They walk between reality and dreams, varying in strength, and the forms they exhibit are all different—handsome young men, gentle women, ferocious strong men... But they all likewise abide by trade and contracts.”

”So, I believe that amongst the nearby residents, someone has entered into a deal with a Returning Soul. Now, the Returning Soul has come to collect its due,” Jing Lin suggested, ”It would be wise for you to investigate whether anyone in this vicinity has recently experienced a stroke of good fortune.”

”Good fortune?” Li Yelai’s ears perked up, ”Returning Souls can bring good luck to people?”

If that was truly the case, Li Yelai would definitely need to catch a Returning Soul himself to counteract his own bad luck.

”My reference to good luck is a generalization, like suddenly winning a large sum of money at a casino, getting a sudden promotion or windfall, or unexpectedly surviving a danger,” Jing Lin clarified, ”Also, judging from the dreamscape, the Returning Soul’s target seems to be to take a bride, so the price is likely to be a girl. This is a clue.”

Li Yelai nodded in agreement, indeed, at least a certain scope had now been defined.

Jing Lin continued, ”Near Yaoqing Giant City, there were villages that experienced occurrences similar to what is happening now, with a vast number of humans witnessing bizarre things in their sleep. After investigation, we learned that it was a group of Scavengers from that village who were unlucky, encountering Extraordinary Creatures on a hunt while scavenging in an abandoned city.

In an effort to survive, they met with a Returning Soul and agreed upon a price in their negotiations to escape from the hunt.

Later, the Returning Souls came to collect their due, first warning the nearby people in their dreams, indicating that they would take away the compensation.

After seeing the strange dreamscape three times, several children in the village disappeared. They were the children of those who had been saved.”

”They traded children?” The group frowned, even if it was for their own survival, it wasn’t right to sacrifice their own children, was it?

Yes, there are indeed cold-hearted parents in the world who disregard the lives of their children.

But surely not all the people from that group were like that? Such scum are in the minority.

”In the follow-up, we learned that they had initially intended to default on their debt.”

Jing Lin smiled, ”After all, they were on the brink of death at the time. Who would think about the price they would have to pay later? Only after barely surviving did they finally calm down and reconsider, attempting to refuse to pay the price or at least change it for something else.”

”So, they prepared a lot, spent a lot of money to hire a Third Awakening Wild Spirit Ability User, and set up a huge amount of firepower at the gathering place. As you know, Scavengers, when they have nothing better to do, either scavenge or occasionally moonlight as bandits or convoy guards. They had prepared quite a bit, several machine guns and such, with the intent to forcibly disrupt the Returning Soul’s trade.”

”Unfortunately, Returning Souls have always adhered to their trades and promises. Rather, these demons all have certain limitations, otherwise they cannot harm others at will. But once a contract is completed, no matter how much the other party pleads or struggles, they will take away the compensation.”

”So, one night, as a large number of people at the gathering place were on high alert. When the third dreamscape ended, the Returning Soul arrived.

Most people did not see the Returning Soul, except for those who had entered the dreamscape, who witnessed the Returning Soul stroll past the unguarded defenses, through the multiple gates. In their presence, the children were taken away.”

”What do you mean...” Li Yelai furrowed his brow, ”Those who haven’t entered the dreamscape are unable to see the Returning Soul? And... when you mention the unmanned alley, could it be that those who have entered the dreamscape were also briefly taken away?”

”It seems to be so, at present. Hold on a moment, I recall one of my kin participated in the investigation,” Jing Lin spoke as he made a phone call, gathering more detailed analysis from the manor, ”That dreamscape seems more like a tag. All those who are tagged will enter a juncture of the dreamscape and reality.”