Chapter 449: Chapter 408: Reunion with an Old Friend (Revised)

Jiang Yuebai scanned the souls of the children on the island, numerous in quantity, most of them under the age of three, sitting blankly around the island.

On the surrounding visible islands, there were faint human figures, and some island souls were not humans, but various beasts.

Jiang Yuebai felt a bit anxious, unsure of how to reach other isolated islands to find people; she walked toward the shore, as the seawater brushed against her feet, a heart-piercing pain struck her, she saw a layer of blue glow being ’scraped’ off her feet by the seawater, speckled bits scattered into the water,

her feet became somewhat transparent, Jiang Yuebai quickly retreated, not daring to go near the seawater again.

She tried to use the Demon Clan’s Method to mobilize Spiritual Energy, only to find there was none at all, and she keenly sensed some very strong Power of Laws were restraining her soul here.

"You have to wait for the Merfolk’s Fishbone Boat to come to leave this island."

Jiang Yuebai turned around and saw a frail ten-year-old girl, half her face stained with blood, standing behind her, looking at her with curiosity and confusion.

"Why were you sent to this island? It’s my first time seeing someone over ten being left on this island."

Jiang Yuebai walked over, "How long have you been on this island? When might the Merfolk’s Fishbone Boat arrive?"

The little girl shook her head, "I don’t know how long I’ve been here, the Merfolk’s Fishbone Boat might come soon or maybe won’t come for a very long time."

The little girl finished speaking and walked away by herself, despite Jiang Yuebai calling her from behind, she didn’t respond.

Jiang Yuebai couldn’t just wait; she circled the island, picked up stones from the ground and threw them into the water, calling Xie Jingshan’s name, all with no response.

At this moment, the Merfolk’s song came from afar, Jiang Yuebai saw a swarm of luminous jellyfish carrying newly deceased souls arriving here, taking them to different islands.

Jiang Yuebai shouted toward the direction of the Merfolk’s song, "Did you make a mistake or what, even if I look young, I’m almost forty as a soul, what sense does it make to throw me on a children’s island?"

The Merfolk’s song paused, shortly after, two female Merfolk emerged from the seawater in front of Jiang Yuebai.

Seeing the Merfolk up close, their finely sculpted beauty left Jiang Yuebai amazed.

Being stared at closely by the Merfolk’s azure eyes, Jiang Yuebai felt as if her soul was completely seen through, she dared not move.

The Merfolk uttered low mutterings, conversing in a tune Jiang Yuebai couldn’t comprehend, occasionally inspecting her.

As they talked, there seemed a trend to argue, Jiang Yuebai was worried they might tug each other’s hair if they disagreed.

Moments later, one of them turned angrily and dove into the sea, leaving the other to splash seawater at Jiang Yuebai; she stepped back startled.

The seawater in mid-air transformed into blue jellyfish, lifting Jiang Yuebai’s body, sending her to a larger neighboring island.

Here were people of all ages, Jiang Yuebai was put down, immediately began searching the island, carefully identifying each soul, ensuring nothing was missed.

But after searching for a long time, she still didn’t find any trace of Xie Jingshan.

"Jiang Yuebai?"

Suddenly an elderly female voice called her name, Jiang Yuebai turned sharply, seeing an elderly woman with silver hair and graceful demeanor standing among the crowd, staring deeply at her.

The crinkle between the woman’s brows gave Jiang Yuebai a notably familiar feeling, she examined for a while, pupils shrinking.

"Mr. Shen?"

The elderly woman was Shen Jinghao, nearly sixty, who taught her to read and renamed her Jiang Yuebai at Lin Mansion.

Later, during her Foundation Establishment travels, she rescued Shen Jinghao from the Lin Family upon returning to Yong’an City, sending her to Yun Country Capital to pursue fame and enter officialdom.

Thinking back, they hadn’t met for twenty-four or twenty-five years, Jiang Yuebai didn’t expect to reunite here, implying Shen Jinghao had... reached the end of her earthly life.

Jiang Yuebai walked up, Shen Jinghao frowned at her unchanged youthful appearance, "How come you’re here? Could it be you also..."

Jiang Yuebai shook her head, wary of curious onlookers, pulled Shen Jinghao to a sparsely populated spot, speaking softly, "I’m here looking for someone."

Shen Jinghao slowly nodded, "There’s a rumor Immortals can enter the Underworld to alter the Book of Life and Death, seems true, truly enviable."

Jiang Yuebai didn’t argue, asked, "Mr. Shen, how long have you been here?"

Shen Jinghao shook her head, "It’s hard to feel time passing here, but I feel I’ve been here a long while."

"Have you seen someone who looks in their early twenties..."

Jiang Yuebai described Xie Jingshan’s appearance carefully to Shen Jinghao, after listening and pondering, her eyes suddenly brightened.

"I’ve seen him."

"Really? Where is he now?"

Shen Jinghao said, "When he first arrived, two Merfolk took him away; I heard from others this doesn’t often happen here, as Merfolk usually use Fishbone Boats to send souls to Rebirth Crossing for Reincarnation, rarely do Merfolk specifically take someone away; no one knows where they took him."

Jiang Yuebai’s brows knitted, this seemed trouble, as the strict Laws here rendered her indistinguishable from regular souls, incapable of resisting the Merfolk and the ocean’s power, she risked getting her soul scattered.

"Mr. Shen, do you know when the Merfolk’s Fishbone Boat will arrive next?"

Shen Jinghao tucked silver strands behind her ears, slowly said, "They’ll soon come to take me; only those about to head to Reincarnation know when the Fishbone Boat arrives."

Jiang Yuebai nodded, when the Merfolk come for Shen Jinghao, it would be an opportunity, she had to find a way to have the Merfolk take her too.

Thinking briefly, Jiang Yuebai devised a slight plan, she glanced skyward, attempting to access the Immortal Cultivation Data Panel.

The panel was still there, clearly not buried in her body, but in her soul.

Since Lu Xingyun altered her fate, bearing karma intertwined with her destiny, she prayed to the ancestors for protection once more.

With her mind set, Jiang Yuebai’s tense heart relaxed, she asked, "Mr. Shen, have you been well these past years?"

Shen Jinghao smiled, nodding, "Thanks to your help back then, I escaped Lin Mansion, earned honors and became a female prime minister in Yun Country, served thirteen years, devoted myself to Yun Country, secured more entry paths for women into officialdom, but this body couldn’t manage, I collapsed in court."

Jiang Yuebai felt happy for Shen Jinghao; life’s greatest fortune is realizing one’s ideals.

"You’ve accumulated immense Merit, surely you’ll reincarnate into a good life." Jiang Yuebai blessed.

Shen Jinghao’s eyes held hope, "If possible in the next life, I’d like to try the Immortal’s path too."

Jiang Yuebai didn’t know what to say; the Cultivator’s path isn’t easy.

As a Mortal, if one dies, there’s a chance to reincarnate, but Cultivators often fight until souls are eradicated, leaving no chance to turn over.

The two chatted for several hours, discussing court battles, secret strife, no less thrilling than in the Cultivation Realm.

Shen Jinghao relied entirely on unyielding will and passion, coupled with the Elixir Jiang Yuebai gave her back then, survived crises numerous times.

But the toil in court prematurely drained her body, only living to sixty years.

No day-night alternation here, a large round moon always half-submerged in the sea.

When the Merfolk’s song resounded again, Shen Jinghao ceased speaking, meticulously tidying her attire. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"I must go to Rebirth Crossing for Reincarnation, would you walk me a few steps?"

Jiang Yuebai nodded, supporting the elderly Shen Jinghao, walking together toward the shore.

On the shimmering sea, Fishbone Boats sailed slowly toward the isolated islands, dozens of male and female Merfolk floated on the surface, singing a pure and long tune.

A Fishbone Boat stopped before Shen Jinghao, others on the island gathered, eyes filled with envy.

Shen Jinghao lifted her hem to step onto the Fishbone Boat, her foot landing triggered streams of Golden Light from the originally white Bone Boat.

The white bone blossomed with lotus, instantly covering the Fishbone Boat, symbolizing a life of Merit.

Sounds of astonishment rose, the Merfolk’s song stopped, all faced Shen Jinghao, pressing fists against their chest, nodded in respect.

In the Golden Light of the blossoming bone lotus, a thin thread faintly visible connected to Jiang Yuebai.

The Merfolk’s gaze simultaneously settled on Jiang Yuebai, the nearest female Merfolk raised her hand, gesturing for her to board the boat together.