Netherworld Retrograde

Chapter 191: Chapter 90 Repayment

’Floating’ watched Cheese with a smile, eyes full of surprise and intimacy, as if reuniting with an old friend.

Cheese gripped the soft whip in her hand, and that familiar sense of closeness made her hesitate to take immediate action.

But ultimately, she dared not believe it all. How could her cousin, who had died outside Giant City, amidst the Calamity, become a dead soul and return here?

Li Yelai, on the other hand, watched ’Floating’ warily. He had to be prepared for the worst.

The combat strength of the ’dead soul’ was unknown.

It might even be non-existent, which would be ideal. They could simply suppress the dead soul and rescue everyone.

But if... the ’dead soul’ possessed the combat strength from its previous life, that would be troublesome indeed.

Li Yelai knew that the minimum requirement for becoming a member of the Elite Night Patrol was to be an Awakened Spirit User of the Four Awakenings!

And ’Floating,’ as an elite member of the Night Patrol, had been a Five Senses Spiritual Ability User in her life!

If they were to take action, would the two of them be instantly killed in a moment?

Seeing the two of them on guard, ’Floating’ spoke with a hint of sorrow: ”This truly breaks my heart. To think that Xiao Ya is doubting me.”

The emotion in her words, paired with her casual gestures, were identical to the memories Cheese held.

This made Cheese waver.

”What do you want to do now?” Cheese steadied her heart, quietly activated the communicator, and spoke, ”Will you come back with me? Uncle and Auntie would definitely be delighted. The captain would be very happy too...”

”Captain? You mean Yang Chen?” ’Floating’ laughed, ”The honest and straightforward junior from back then has finally become the new Champion.”

”Yes, he has taken up everything, reformed Champion Team One, and vowed to avenge and remember you all,” Cheese said softly, ”He misses you a lot too. I even suspect there was something going on between you two. You were the one who brought him into Team One after all.”

Cheese’s gaze towards ’Floating’ was full of nostalgia.

The original wariness seemed to be slowly fading away.

”You girl... still gossiping at a time like this...” ’Floating’ asked softly, ”Has he lived up to the name of Champion?”

”Of course,” Cheese nodded.

”That’s good... However, it’s a pity, I cannot leave this place,” ’Floating’ shook her head, ”In my current state, I can only remain here, unable to break free from my restraints...”

”Restraints?” Li Yelai asked.

”Yes, I am bound by a force in this cellar, unable to leave. I can only survive in this strange state,” ’Floating’ said with a hint of bitterness on her face, ”Once an elite of Champion Team One, now I can only contact you in such a bizarre form. It’s quite ironic... But it’s also good, to be able to return from the Netherworld and see you again is already a great fortune. Next time, bring Mom and Dad to see me... I miss them so much.”

”That force...” Cheese hesitated before asking, ”Could it be that if we break that force, you might be able to leave this place?”

This sense of déjà vu made Li Yelai tense.

The middle-aged man they had previously rescued had also intended to leave with that woman. Consequently, he wanted to go to a certain room.

Could it be that Cheese was being influenced by a certain force?

Floating, however, shook her head, ”I don’t know, I’m not much clearer on it than you... But the farther I try to leave, the stronger the restraints become. Perhaps that force is deeper within the cellar. But it’s very dangerous there; those who disappeared in the cellar were all trying to take their departed loved ones with them and got trapped there.”

Her words seemed to be guiding Cheese to that basement.

Li Yelai’s heart sank; if Cheese’s mind was really affected by that force, leading her into danger,

Then Li Yelai would have to attempt to forcibly take her away.

But for now, they still didn’t know the combat strength of the ’dead soul’...

Of course, they didn’t necessarily have to fight; Li Yelai had the Thunder Stepping Dragon Colt, he had the Swift as the Wind of the Shadow Army. Maybe they could just sneak away...

As he was thinking, Li Yelai saw a figure emerge from the dimness.

”Another one?” Li Yelai’s heart lurched.

When he saw the figure, a shock went through Li Yelai’s heart, and the memories of longing and sorrow that had been buried deep were involuntarily stirred.

Because the one who stepped out was a woman with a graceful face, dressed simply, whose smile and eyes were always filled with kindness and warmth.

This reminded Li Yelai of her past smile.

Unfortunately, that smile eventually withered on the hospital bed.

Li Yelai still couldn’t understand... why, in the end, did she still choose to believe that guy?

The woman looked at Li Yelai, somewhat surprised, and stretched out her hand to make the sign language, ”Are you okay, child?”

Li Yelai remained silent, then he too revealed a smile.

He switched the umbrella to his other hand.

He extended his right hand, thumb pressed against the base of his index finger, and pushed downward.

At the same time, he pointed at himself with his index finger.

Then, he gave a thumbs up.

Finally, he placed his index finger against his lips.

”I, am, fine, Mom.”

The visitor was Li Yelai’s mother, who had passed away.

In the end...Li Yelai felt an inexplicable sense of relief in his heart.

Perhaps when he heard that it was possible to see the dead souls, Li Yelai harbored some expectations in his heart.

Hope of seeing his mother who had been gone for many years.

Hope of being reunited with her once again...

If, in this world, the dead could truly be brought back to life... Li Yelai would want to try it, no matter the cost...

Unfortunately...

”Hello, Auntie,” Cheese said with a smile to the woman, ”I am Xiao Ye’s senior.”

’Mom’ showed a surprised and delighted smile, nodding repeatedly. She couldn’t speak, but she had no problem with her hearing.

”Your mom is really pretty and looks so young...” Cheese said to Li Yelai with a soft smile: ”Is this like meeting the parents?”

”Not really...” Li Yelai sighed softly and then addressed the woman, ”Mom, I’m glad to see you looking healthy. But do you still remember how you left us?”

The woman paused, seeming a bit puzzled, but still nodded slightly.

Until the end, she waited in front of the hospital bed for her husband to return.

But in the end, she could only reluctantly watch her red-eyed children walk towards death...

This was all that Li Yelai knew. Hence, he harbored resentment toward his father till now.

At that moment, Cheese looked at ’Floating’ with a hint of hope: ”Sister Xiao Qi, do you remember? What happened to you at that time?”

”That’s really too much, making me recall such pain,” ’Floating’ frowned her good-looking brows, as if recalling: ”I died at the hands of the Calamity...”

”Yes, that’s... what I know to be the end,” Cheese’s eyes showed dwindling hope: ”That’s what she said, Captain.”

In the communicators that Li Yelai and Cheese held in their hands,

a deep sigh resounded, and Yang Chen’s voice slowly came through.

”I’m sorry, Cheese... It was I who sent her away personally.”

At these words, ’Floating’ and ’Mom’ stiffened in expression.

And then, all the warmth turned into an illusion.

Their faces also turned cold.

”Memory reading, huh... I thought it seemed too realistic...” Li Yelai murmured.

His words were full of regret, which eventually turned to indifference.

”Tell me, how should I repay you?”

(Sorry for just 2000 words today, feeling a bit stuck with the writing.)