chapter 12

Chapter 12

I tiptoed forward, holding my breath, afraid of startling the rabbits.

My footsteps were light, and the grazing rabbits only glanced up, showing no reaction.

The Rabbit Enclosure was not large.

It didn’t take me long to walk out.

Ahead of me was a wide road.

The sky had not yet fully brightened, and a mass of mist loomed ahead, making it impossible to see clearly.

I moved forward cautiously, step by step.

Shan Yuan suddenly appeared before me.

His hair was tied up with a hair crown, he wore a snow-colored Daoist robe, and carried a Soul-Guiding Lantern.

His complexion was also pale, and the exposed part of his wrist was almost translucent.

His sleeves hung down, water dripping slowly from them.

He lowered his eyes and hesitantly asked:

“Does this appearance frighten you?”

I shook my head. “No.”

The corners of his mouth curved up. “Follow me, don’t get lost.”

The light from the Soul-Guiding Lantern in his hand was faint, but it barely illuminated the path ahead:

“This is the Soul-Guiding Lantern to lead you home. Yesterday was the fifteenth of the seventh month, Yama opened the Gates of the Underworld, and the Hundred Ghosts went out, including animals. They are just here today for a stroll. But just like in the Yang Realm(the World of the Living), both animals and people have good and evil among them. You accidentally wandered in here. I wanted to protect you as you left, but I was afraid of disrupting your Karma. So I had you collect money from the Hundred Ghosts as tourists-Spirit Money for fortune-telling.”

His voice was cold and ethereal, as if drifting from afar:

“Now, everything is settled. You have no ties to the Yin Realm. Rest assured and go home.”

I wiped the corner of my eye:

“What about the fans in my livestream room?”

“They’re behind you, seeing you off. But you must not look back.”

I wanted to turn around, but forced myself to resist.

“They’re just out for a bit of fun, not wishing to leave any trace of their visit.”

I looked at Shan Yuan, whose feet did not touch the ground:

“Are you the same?”

He smiled. “I am, too.”

He sighed softly. “Go forward, go back.”

Brilliant rays of dawn shone ahead.

He disappeared behind me.

Step by step, I walked out of the Zoo.