The lake surface was utterly still, the sun casting a golden sheen across the rippling water, creating circles of iridescent shimmer. The first thing Xiao Yu did upon surfacing was lift Xiao Hei onto his head. Xiao Hei sprawled its four limbs, clinging to the top of his head, making Xiao Yu resemble an Indian man wearing a thick, dark leather cap.

“Swim this way, over here…”

Xiao Yu faced the center of the lake and saw no one, yet a shout suddenly came from behind him. He turned to see Xiao Shu, accompanied by Hua Gu and A Li, already ashore. The three were sitting in front of the Yuanying Villa, wringing the water from their clothes and organizing their gear.

Seeing the heavily bolted main door of the villa, Xiao Yu suddenly recalled what had just happened. If the figure he encountered earlier was indeed Xiao Shu and Xiao Hao’s biological father, they might run into him if they knocked on the Yuanying Villa door now. Even if they didn’t meet him, given his kind demeanor, he must already know their predicament. Asking Uncle Ou to be accommodating and let them use a path through the property shouldn't be difficult. However, the fear was that if he hadn't spoken to Uncle Ou beforehand, the old man might staunchly guard the door, preventing Xiao Shu from passing through with Hua Gu.

“Hurry up and get over here…” Seeing Xiao Yu treading water mid-lake and making no progress, Xiao Shu grew anxious, worried he might have another bout of madness and drown. She ended up shouting loudly.

“Uncle Ming, we are over here!” A Li, imitating her, also raised her voice to shout.

This combined shouting—from the adult and the child—shattered the silence surrounding Yuanying Villa and startled the old gatekeeper, Uncle Ou. Behind the three figures, the villa's massive door creaked open, and an elderly man wearing antique spectacles stepped out, stooping and moving with hesitant, deliberate steps.

Though Xiao Shu was one of the heirs to the Li family, possessing the Underwater Reflection Villa beneath Yuanying Villa, she had never actually entered Yuanying Villa, nor did she know the gatekeeper. Now, seeing that her and A Li’s voices had disturbed the elder inside, she felt a flicker of nervousness. She clasped her hands behind her back and moved forward awkwardly to greet the old man: “Hello!”

“Hello!” Uncle Ou parted his withered lips into a wide smile for Xiao Shu. She nodded and returned a smile, though she couldn't help feeling the smile on the old man's face was exaggerated, carrying a hint of pretense. She quickly rationalized it: her relationship with Xiao Hao hadn't been great since childhood, so seeing her might make him feel awkward while guarding Xiao Hao’s villa.

As the two exchanged pleasantries, Xiao Yu finally climbed out of the water, still sporting the black cat on his head. This was his third time seeing Uncle Ou, so he nodded as if greeting an acquaintance. Seeing Xiao Shu standing awkwardly to the side, he assumed she was too embarrassed to ask for passage on her first meeting with Uncle Ou. He stepped forward directly and addressed the elder: “Uncle Ou, we have a companion who is injured. We need to borrow a path through the villa grounds to return to Xiangcheng.”

“Oh, so that’s the situation!” Uncle Ou responded in a raspy voice, tilting his head back to examine Hua Gu and Xiao Yu closely over the rim of his glasses. He then scrutinized the ferret-like cat perched on Xiao Yu’s head before nodding to the group and saying, “Certainly, it is my honor to be of service to you young sirs and madams.” He paused, however, and added, “However, the black cat on your head is not an object of good fortune; it should be dealt with as soon as possible.”

At this unexpected statement, Xiao Shu and Xiao Yu exchanged bewildered glances, unsure whether to be pleased or dismayed. Xiao Yu gently took Xiao Hei off his head. Seeing its pitiful, tear-filled eyes, he couldn’t bear to abandon it. He turned to Uncle Ou and explained, “Elder, you don’t know the circumstances. This little black cat’s parents and I had a chance meeting. They entrusted it to me upon parting. If I were to abandon it halfway, I wouldn't be able to live with myself.”

“Alas,” Uncle Ou sighed, turning away to drift onward, “do as you will. Life and death lie beneath your own feet. Whether you walk the narrow path or the broad highway is your own choice.” With that, he pulled open the main gate, ushering the group inside.

Xiao Shu was unaware of the ninety-nine wandering souls, nor did she know that Xiao Yu was currently bound by a life-and-death contract with the Sea of Undead. Consequently, she failed to grasp the deeper meaning behind Uncle Ou’s words. Xiao Yu gripped his scythe tightly, stroking Xiao Hei’s sleek, glossy fur. Connecting the words of Li Taizheng and Uncle Ou, and analyzing the instant serenity that washed over him when he was carrying the cat, he understood much of the profound mystery, yet the question of life versus death remained a difficult decision. Eternal life or departure—that required further thought.