The four of them followed the stone path through the forest, crossed a resting pavilion, and headed up the mountain trail.
The mountain rose sharply upward. The carved path was not very steep, but it was rough and uneven, not easy to walk on. Jagged rocks were everywhere, and crooked branches stretched across like eerie shadows.
Maybe because of what Nero had said while crossing the stone bridge, everyone's fear had lessened quite a bit. They had basically started treating all those ghosts and monsters as heroic Cloud Knight spirits.
Now and then, a cold wind blew over, scraping against people's skin before winding through the mountain gaps, making hollow "woo woo" sounds like sorrowful crying that made people shiver.
Guinaifen looked around and felt the atmosphere here was extremely strong, so she could not help starting to record videos.
"Mhm, this place is terrifying. Perfect timing to record some material, hehe.
"Wow, hiss... if I use this photo as the cover, will it pass review?"
The four followed the mountain path on the left. Small weeds growing from cracks in the rocks brushed against their legs.
Along the cliffside, bare black shadows could be seen, like ghost claws. Some toppled stone tablets on the road were covered in dust.
Even when getting close, it was hard to make out the writing on them. Only the soul lamps glowing with dim cold light in the corners beside the road quietly lit the path.
After walking deeper inside, the farther they went, the more creepy and lonely the atmosphere became.
The chill did not feel like it was coming from outside, but from inside their bodies, making goosebumps rise.
Guinaifen could not help slowing her pace and whispered, "Shh, everyone copy me, lighten your steps and slow down..."
Suddenly, Guinaifen abruptly stopped and also blocked the other three, who were about to keep moving.
She listened carefully for a moment, frowned, then quietly said to her companions, "Hey hey hey, there seem to be people ahead. We should go around them."
"What's there to fear? They're just a few underworld guards," Nero said.
"Exactly exactly!" March nodded along. "They're on the right, so we can just go left, right?"
So, under Nero's confused gaze, the four moved together toward the left side. The few underworld guards stationed on the right did not notice anything unusual.
The four passed by a cave entrance. Looking left, there was a cliff with a broad view, but everything before them was covered in dim pale colors.
Thick clouds churned overhead layer upon layer, while mist spread below, hiding the mountains.
Near the edge by the cave entrance, several stone tablets lay crooked and scattered. A few paper kites stood there, and thin smoke rose from a rusted brass incense burner.
After staying there briefly, the four continued forward. Along the way, their footsteps echoed repeatedly.
Occasionally there would be the footsteps of a fifth or sixth person mixed in, with a different rhythm from the four of them, yet still clear and obvious like echoes. But when they looked around, there was no one else.
Nero paid no attention to it at all. It was just heliobi causing trouble. But Stelle, March, and Guinaifen became a little tense, though Stelle was actually fine. Guinaifen and March had the strongest reactions among the four.
After circling to the inner side of the mountain, they saw the Bright Spirit Gate descending along the stone steps of the mountain path. Without much hesitation, they directly walked down the steps.
After crossing two platforms and three sets of stone stairs, the four finally entered the inside of the garden.
Ahead was something arranged like an altar, and farther forward were flower beds and courtyard walls.
Right then, a stern shout came from behind them, "Stop!"
March, Guinaifen, and Stelle immediately felt their backs tighten and stood straight in place. Only Nero remained loose and relaxed without much reaction.
Several underworld guards had surrounded the four from behind, all frowning. One of them examined the backs of the group, and in the end, her gaze landed on Nero.
That height, that figure, and that beautiful long white hair...
Why did it feel like she had seen this somewhere before?
'Where was it again?'
'Small, long white hair...'
While this guard was still thinking hard, Guinaifen, panicking badly, was already trembling as she raised both hands.
"...E-everyone, listen to my explanation!"
Guinaifen's flustered voice, which sounded suspicious no matter how anyone heard it, made the guards give up trying to recall the familiar figure. They sternly questioned them again,
"Who are you people, and why have you come here? Arrest them immediately! Suspicious individuals trespassing in a restricted area are to be captured first and questioned later, no exceptions."
After saying that, the underworld guards rushed forward together, preparing to arrest the four on the spot.
"Wait!" one person suddenly shouted, immediately stopping her steps. The other guards nearby also stopped and looked at her in confusion.
"I remember now. Small and delicate, snow-white long hair, that unbelievably relaxed feeling. Isn't this Fishy Baby... no, isn't this Lord Nero?!"
As soon as that guard finished speaking, the others also realized it after a brief pause.
It already felt familiar before, but now that they looked carefully, it really was.
So the guards put away their weapons.
The four naturally noticed the situation too. After relaxing slightly, Stelle, March, and Guinaifen turned around together with Nero.
The guards casually glanced over the others, then one person stepped forward and stopped in front of Nero. She slowly crouched down.
This was her first time seeing Nero from such a close distance. Before this, the closest she had gotten was going to Sleepless Earl during vacation to look at the standee.
The snow-white long hair was already eye-catching, but only up close could one truly be shocked by the child's features.
Those frost-like eyelashes seemed to lightly wave in front of her eyes, and the gray eyes felt almost capable of pulling people in.
Looking at Nero's face, the guard subconsciously wanted to reach out her hand, but quickly restrained herself.
After awkwardly covering up the movement a little, she finally spoke, "Fis... cough cough, Lord Nero, why did you all come here?"
"Indeed. This kind of cold and lonely environment doesn't seem like the sort of place you'd be interested in, Nero."
Before Nero could answer, another voice had already sounded.
The voice carried no energy at all, like someone who had stayed up through three all-nighters in a row.
Everyone looked toward the source of the voice and saw three people slowly walking over.
The one who spoke was Hanya. Her eyes were slightly narrowed, the dark circles under them looked even worse than Huohuo's, and her complexion was very pale.
On the other side, Xueyi, using her puppet body, looked like the healthiest and most normal one there. She lightly nodded toward everyone.
Huohuo stood in the middle, walking behind the two seniors, then waved at Nero.
At this moment, Tail behind Huohuo lightly shook and quietly said, "Good grief, I was wondering why something seemed to be shining all along the way over here."
"So it was this kid. Wonder if any blind heliobi already threw themselves at him like moths to a flame..."
"Judges."
The underworld guards slightly bowed to the three, then stepped aside.
The one crouching before Nero hesitated for a moment before reluctantly standing up. Right now, she felt some regret inside.
Why was she so strict about rules?
Who cared whether she was on duty or not? She should've just touched him first earlier.
Reluctantly taking another look at Nero, the guard also stepped back.