The narrow Huangquan Road was flanked by swarms of snarling Gusha.
In the unseen darkness beyond, more distorted shadows writhed and crawled in excitement.
Many lone ghosts had already been torn from the procession—some devoured, others reduced to ash.
Those remaining were paralyzed with fear.
Some ran back, others desperately pushed forward.
Chaos erupted.
Jia Banxian and the boy were nearly squeezed off the Huangquan Road, but Lu Fei quickly grabbed them.
He grabbed a handful of spirit money and scattered it towards the solitary sha closing in from both sides, then cleaved through a wild ghost that had shoved its way to the front.
"Yin-walkers conducting business! Who dares make trouble!"
He roared furiously, blade in hand.
The wandering ghosts trembled in fear, cowed by those icy eyes. However violently they jostled, none dared push ahead of the group now.
Lu Fei produced several paper sticks and more spirit money.
"Knowing your wandering plight, you may follow. But to safely traverse Huangquan Road and reach Ghost Gate Pass, mere spectating won't do - you must contribute!"
The wild ghosts' eyes burned with desire at the spirit money, yet they shrank back fearfully when glimpsing the ferocious solitary sha flanking the road.
Facing solitary sha was like sheep confronting wolves.
No capacity for resistance whatsoever.
"Limited positions! First come, first served!"
Lu Fei extended the paper sticks towards them.
Eventually, some resolved to gamble.
These powerless wandering ghosts were most pitiful - no incense offerings, no ancestral worship, barred from the underworld, condemned to lonely drifting in the human realm.
They dared not provoke other spirits, lest fierce ones devour them whole.
They dared not haunt the living, avoiding even yang-heavy areas where strong life force might obliterate them.
Truly, less than stray dogs.
Now, this rare chance to enter the underworld had finally come.
Who would want to miss out?
A few wandering spirits stepped forward, trembling as they took the sticks from Lu Fei's hands.
"Opportunities are reserved for prepared ghosts! You're doing well!"
Lu Fei nodded encouragingly at them, then stuffed a thick stack of spirit money into their hands.
Their eyes instantly lit up, bowing frantically to Lu Fei.
The other wandering spirits behind immediately showed envy, eagerly pushing forward to get money too.
But then the malevolent ghosts on both sides closed in again. Lu Fei swung his blade, cutting down several reaching claws.
"Keep up!"
At Lu Fei's command, those who had received sticks and spirit money hurried after him, wildly swinging their sticks at the roadside malevolent ghosts.
Many malevolent ghosts were beaten back. The sticks proved effective, greatly boosting their confidence.
Though a single strike couldn't kill the malevolent ghosts, it was better than bare hands.
With their help, Lu Fei's pressure lessened, allowing them to advance further.
"Banxian, move!"
Lu Fei shielded Jia Banxian and the children while slashing at charging malevolent ghosts.
Strangely enough,
the large rooster leading the way remained utterly unaffected by the danger, maintaining its unhurried pace as it strutted forward with head held high.
The Yellow Spring Road gradually materialized beneath its claws.
"Banxian, what if those malevolent ghosts attack the rooster? That'd be disastrous!"
Lu Fei couldn't help voicing his concern.
"They dare not. Roosters are yang birds by nature, governing the daytime. As the saying goes 'When the cock crows, daylight breaks' - no ghost dares provoke a rooster, unless encountering..." Jia Banxian whispered.
"Encountered what?"
"It's best not to mention that thing. The more you talk about it, the more likely you are to encounter it..."
Jia Banxian shook his head, holding the blade horizontally in front of the child, vigilantly watching the Gu Sha on both sides.
Fortunately, the little one remained dazed. Otherwise, faced with such a terrifying scene, even if his soul hadn't scattered, he might have been frightened into idiocy.
The procession advanced slowly and laboriously.
The blade in Lu Fei's hand had a notch, so he immediately swapped it for a new one.
No wonder Jia Banxian had prepared so many paper offerings and spirit money.
By now, Hu Zi must be diligently burning paper offerings. Lu Fei held several blades but hadn't distributed them to the wandering ghosts.
The most formidable weapons must remain firmly in one's own grasp to prevent them from developing treacherous intentions.
After several rounds of defense, though some wandering ghosts had been lost, the surrounding Gu Sha gradually diminished.
"Kid, once we pass this stretch, the Gu Sha won't dare follow," Jia Banxian said, though his expression grew tenser rather than relaxed.
"What? Is there something more dangerous ahead?" Lu Fei's heart sank.
"Tonight is the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month. All manner of demons and monsters could appear… Let's hope we don't encounter..."
Jia Banxian gripped the child's hand tightly, his face clouded with worry.
But the wandering ghosts around them, unaware of this, fought with increasing ferocity, believing victory was near.
The remaining Gu Sha lingered resentfully on either side.
Ghosts from behind surged forward, gazing pitifully at Lu Fei.
"If you want to join, you'll follow my orders!" Lu Fei stated coldly.
They bowed and nodded incessantly—how could they possibly object?
Now, Lu Fei would have to make his selections.
His gaze swept over these lonely spirits, selecting a few slightly stronger ones and handing out sticks and spirit money.
However, the amount of spirit money was less than before.
The chosen spirits froze momentarily, then glared at Lu Fei with resentment.
"Opportunities won't wait for you. If you don't want it, others will. The later you act, the less money you'll get!" Lu Fei replied coldly.
He was recruiting helpers, not running a charity.
Who would willingly surrender spirit money already in hand?
Hearing this, the spirits hastily pocketed their spirit money, fearing to miss their chance again.
The unchosen spirits watched with envy bordering on tears, desperately currying favor with Lu Fei in hopes of being selected.
"Move out!"
Lu Fei raised his arm in command.
A dozen spirits armed with paper-wrapped sticks formed their escort.
The remaining spirits followed obediently.
"Kid, you're a natural-born leader!" Immortal Jia couldn't help but admit.
"Haha, not too bad," Lu Fei chuckled.
Mainly because these spirits were weak and easy to control.
If any formidable ones had appeared, it wouldn't have been so simple.
The procession continued advancing.
The lonely evil spirits along the path grew fewer.
Lu Fei didn't need to intervene anymore - the stick-wielding spirits handled everything.
The beasts that once chased and bit them were now being beaten by these spirits, who finally felt they'd regained their dignity.
But not for long.
The Gusha on both sides suddenly stopped in their tracks, crawling on the ground as they stared at them with resentment and unwillingness, no longer lunging forward.
The wandering spirits were overjoyed, thinking the Ghost Gate lay just ahead.
However.
Jia Banxian's face darkened.
The visibility ahead noticeably dimmed, while fierce Yin winds began whipping along both sides of the Yellow Spring Road.
"Kid, the hardest part is ahead! If we can get through this, the Ghost Gate awaits!"
Jia Banxian held the child tightly in his arms.
"Steady yourself! If this wind blows you off the Yellow Spring Road, you'll be lost in endless darkness with no chance of return."