Chapter 149: Caution is the Parent of Safety

"Jiang Yan, you cannot just close your eyes like this!"

The green leaves of the dark flower trembled anxiously, attempting to pull him back from the precipice of unconsciousness.

"Momo, thank you."

"I... I might not be able to hold on much longer. Find a safe place to hide and wait for rescue..."

Jiang Yan felt his eyelids grow so heavy that he could barely lift them.

"No, Jiang Yan, you will pull through. I'm going to feed you all my remaining petals right now, wuwuwu..."

The dark flower's tears mixed with the rain, sliding down its petals and tracing wet streaks.

"No, there's no need. As long as this rock remains lodged in my body, my wounds cannot heal themselves."

Jiang Yan's tone was resolute, yet it failed to conceal the despair deep within his heart.

"E... Even a single shred of spiritual energy is beyond my reach."

"So, stop wasting your petals. It really isn't worth it..."

Jiang Yan's eyelids slowly closed, and his arms dropped limply to his sides.

A star quietly extinguished in the night sky.

"Jiang Yan, Jiang Yan?!"

The dark flower's voice trembled as it carefully pressed a green leaf against Jiang Yan's nose, hoping to catch the faintest trace of life.

Yet there was nothing—not a single breath...

"Wuwawawa, how could you just leave like this?"

How could this be? How was it possible for it to accept this reality?

Though it too feared death, Jiang Yan meant the world to it and Daddy Dragon.

Never had it imagined that there would come a day when it, a soul-returning flower, could not save someone...

A profound sense of helplessness washed over the dark flower.

Caw, caw, caw, caw...

A flock of crows cawed excitedly, circling high above Jiang Yan, waiting for a feast to begin.

Witnessing this scene, the dark flower trembled all over, yet its mind was made up.

"Rather than letting those crows profit, I would rather become a part of you. Jiang Yan, wait for me..."

With that, the dark flower slowly extended its roots toward Jiang Yan's mouth.

Inch by inch, it pressed deeper inside.

Until only its head remained outside, the dark flower cast one final glance toward the top of the cliff.

"Daddy Dragon, let's be true father and son in our next life, okay?"

The moment the words fell, its head vanished into Jiang Yan's mouth as well.

The rain continued to pour relentlessly, and the crows, unable to restrain themselves any longer, swooped down directly toward Jiang Yan's body.

Caw...

A crow lunged forward first, only to be violently repelled by a faint ray of light just as it was about to touch him.

Among the flock, a knowledgeable crow recognized the glow—it was the light of immense merit!

Of all things, the light of merit...

This was the light crows loathed the most, for as long as it remained, they could only watch helplessly without being able to taste the feast.

Some crows tried again in bitter resentment, but without exception, they were bounced back by the barrier of light.

...

At this moment, Jiang Yan was enveloped in thick white fog, the surroundings eerily silent, devoid of the slightest sound.

His gaze pierced through the mist, vaguely discerning a deep, dark gate not far ahead.

"Where... is this?"

Jiang Yan's voice echoed in the fog, tinged with bewilderment.

He chuckled self-deprecatingly, "Ah, I guess I've kicked the bucket..."

His gaze settled on the heavy gate, and a resolute expression formed on his face. "Well, seeing as there's only one door here, I suppose it's meant for me to enter?"

He took a step forward and walked toward the gate. The moment he pushed it open, a river of ink-like black water stretched out before him.

This...

There was nowhere to set foot!

He attempted to channel his spiritual energy, only to find that not a single trace remained at his disposal.

Naturally, ghosts had no need for spiritual energy...

Just as he was preparing to tentatively touch the black water, a small boat slowly approached, parting the tranquil surface of the river.

The boatman was a youth dressed in a straw raincoat and a bamboo hat, his face shrouded in shadows, obscuring his true features.

The boatman's voice was calm and detached: "Coming aboard?"

Jiang Yan was momentarily stunned. The voice sounded oddly familiar, yet he could not quite place where he had heard it.

"Where is this boat headed? Is this the underworld?" Jiang Yan asked with curiosity.

The boatman did not answer directly, instead turning the question back on him: "Do you... truly wish to board?"

"Uh, do I even have a way back?"

Jiang Yan sighed helplessly and stepped onto the small boat.

He was already dead anyway; surely he couldn't die a second time, could he?

So be it, aboard he went...

Seeing that Jiang Yan had boarded, the boatman instructed him in a stern tone:

"Before reaching the opposite shore, no matter what sounds you hear, do not look back."

"Rest assured, I won't look back at all," Jiang Yan replied briskly.

In this ghostly place where he was a total stranger, it was obviously wise to heed advice.

After all, caution is the parent of safety.