The sky was gloomy gray, the earth a deep black, the rolling waves of the Yellow Spring River, the No Return Path paved with white bones, the endless line of the dead, and the red-eyed crows circling above them...
Is this what the afterlife looks like?
Staring through the wide-open Gate of the Deceased, after glimpsing the scenery of the Realm of the Dead, the souls of three cleaners—two men and one woman—fell into silence simultaneously.
Although they had long known that as cleaners, it was unlikely they would live to die naturally and would most probably report here after some highly dangerous task, they were mentally prepared for it.
But when it all truly happened, the three were still somewhat unable to accept it, unable to believe their lives had so abruptly come to an end.
"I... I am so unwilling!"
Breaking free from the Flower Fairy state and returning to his normal human size, Ruben couldn’t help but sob quietly, two lines of hot tears suddenly streaming down the face of the middle-aged man in his forties, full of regret as he said:
"Everything was going so smoothly, why did we suddenly die? We were all beside the director, so why were we killed by that kind of cannon?"
"Forget it, it’s all over now."
Feeling the increasingly powerful force pulling him into the Realm of the Dead, standing—floating by Ruben’s side, Frankie couldn’t help but sigh bitterly.
"Though I don’t know what happened, we should have fallen into some trap, even the director couldn’t escape, half his body blasted apart, perhaps he’ll be here in a while as well.
Alas, the three of us should go first, don’t think about it any further, that’s the business of the living. We’re dead now, no matter how much we think, we can’t go back, it’s time for us to go."
"I still want to try!"
Just as Ruben and Frankie moved towards the Gate of the Deceased, prepared to accept their fate, the only female cleaner amongst them suddenly lifted her head, pulling at the corners of the other’s clothes, her face stubborn as she said:
"My [Forward Path] is an abnormal object at the soul level and is still within my soul; I can still use it!
Ruben! Frankie! Help me! If the three of us can use the effect of [Forward Path] to carve out a way back here, there might still be a chance!"
After hearing the female cleaner Mona’s request, Ruben and Frankie exchanged a look, hesitating before saying:
"But this is the Realm of the Dead, even if the director has died, he can only temporarily resist the rules here; ultimately, he still has to walk the No Return Path, and we’re just Second-level Cleaners..."
Interrupting Ruben, the female cleaner Mona took a deep breath and then firmly said:
"The director hasn’t come to the Realm of the Dead yet, which means he’s still alive!
Even if we can’t go back ourselves, if we can just create a small breach to send my [Forward Path] back, it might help the director escape!
Please! Help me! No matter what the result, I still want to try! If it wasn’t for the director, I would have been here twenty years ago, I can’t not try!"
After exchanging glances, Ruben and Frankie nodded, relying on the soul strength of Second-level Cleaners to resist the call from deep within the Realm of the Dead while standing behind Mona.
Gratefully looking at the two, the whole soul of the female cleaner Mona suddenly lit up, bursting into intense white flame, then turning around, she took a step towards the endless gray fog behind her.
The sound of shoe soles striking the bony ground came, and at the moment Mona successfully took a step, a path appeared in the endless gray fog outside the Gate of the Deceased.
Although it seemed insignificant compared to the endless gray world, the gray fog representing irreversible death indeed made a very small "concession".
Could it be there’s really a chance?!
Noticing this, the originally hesitant other two cleaners immediately felt a rush of spirit, gritting their teeth, their dim souls lighting up as well, undulating like white flames under the impetus of determination.
Compared to the boundless gray fog, the three souls burning at full strength looked as feeble as fireflies lost at sea but were nonetheless carving out a narrow winding path back with each firm step.
It could work! It might really work!
Feeling the faint breeze carrying the breath of the living world through the narrow path, the three cleaners couldn’t help a surge in spirits.
Leon Value is the threshold between gods and men, the dividing line deciding whether one can break free from the rules of the Realm of the Dead, and the three of them, as senior Second-level Cleaners, had an average Leon Value nearing 30, already strong enough in terms of raw power.
Though ultimately lacking that pivotal transformation to cross the threshold of a True God, unable to truly transcend death, with Mona’s [Forward Path], it might still be possible to carve a small path towards life from death!
And just like Mona said, even if they eventually must return, even if they only send [Forward Path] back to save the director’s life, or merely catch one last glimpse of that world, putting everything on the line is worthwhile!
"Quick! Put in more effort!"
Feeling the gust coming from the direction of the living world, Mona gritted her teeth, struggling forward with all her might while shouting desperately:
"Just one more step! Just one more step!"
"Ah... I really can’t ignore this."
Amidst the astonished expressions of the three cleaners, dozens of octopus tentacles suddenly emerged from behind, akin to coiled snakes, firmly wrapping around the three’s limbs and waists.
And the numerous fleshly suckers the size of infant mouths on the tentacles started frantically sucking their strength through soul contact; in just a few breaths, the energy burst from their burning souls was drained completely.
As the three of them, having lost their strength, were pulled backward by the octopus tentacles, their feet leaving the ground, the hard-fought path was swiftly closed by the encroaching gray fog, disappearing entirely.
One step! Just one step was all it took!
"Don’t blame me; it’s just my duty."
Facing the spiteful gazes of the three cleaners, a long-tailed giant horse with octopus tentacles growing where its mane should have blinked and rambled on, revealing its teeth, saying:
"I usually don’t meddle in these things, but the issue is your Clean-up Bureau produced a ruthless one who, for some unfathomable reason, stubbornly devoured the Canine Deity who used to guard this place alive.
And to maintain the order of the Realm of the Dead, to prevent random entries and exits, we death envoys must take turns watching the Gate of the Deceased, and today just happens to be my shift.
Oh, by the way, I must ask one more thing, none of you three are from the Virgin Branch, are you?"