The children exclaimed with surprise, tilting their small heads.
Turning, they smiled and informed their mother.
"Mother, some older sisters and brothers have come to visit. They're here to play with me. I'm so happy!"
These children were innocent and adorable. Having just met them, they were already very close.
Their soft little bodies crawled over and hugged Gu Qianying and the others' legs.
Their milky voices instantly softened everyone's hearts.
However, Nangong Mo found it strange, believing these things were undoubtedly bewitching objects.
They had used that scene earlier to attract them.
Now, they likely intended to use this same scene to lure them into a trap. This absolutely could not happen.
He swiftly drew his blade, attempting to attack the entity before him.
Fortunately, Gu Qianying reacted in time, quickly moving in front of Nangong Mo. At the same time, she whispered cautiously, "Are you crazy? Can't you see they know nothing? You're actually going to kill him."
Nangong Mo's expression was cold, his face etched with frost.
"They are already dead. Why are you showing compassion?"
Gu Qianying's eyes flickered slightly, unsure how to respond.
Ouyang Qinglin spoke softly, "She is also a mother. These children are innocent and adorable, seemingly unaware of anything. Don't attack."
The people nearby also chimed in.
"Exactly! We don't know the situation at all. What are you rushing for?"
They did indeed feel a pang of sympathy. These people lived in harmony, completely unaware that they were ghosts, inhabitants of the Nine Layers of Hell, and objects of fear.
Yet, they still appeared alive, at least in their eyes.
Therefore, how could Gu Qianying and the others bring themselves to attack?
Sitting on a stool, the heavily pregnant woman, upon seeing the group, showed no rejection but immense joy.
She warmly welcomed them, "It's been so long since anyone has visited. Please, esteemed young lords and ladies, come in quickly."
The woman walked with difficulty, perhaps due to her pregnancy.
She approached the table and poured tea for each of them.
As she did, she commented, "It's truly strange. Although only a day has passed, I feel as if decades have gone by. You must feel it too, right?"
Facing the woman's smile, Gu Qianying returned a smile.
As they accepted the teacups, no one took a drink.
With Nangong Mo's blood helping them to see clearly, everyone had already witnessed what was in the teacups.
The teacups were dilapidated, covered in cobwebs, and on the verge of shattering. Gu Qianying only needed to apply a little force, and they would quickly turn to dust.
And what was contained within them was utterly disgusting.
For there was nothing else but blood, carrying the scent of decay, identical to what they had found outside.
Gu Qianying felt a touch of sadness.
Before they died, they must not have known they would suffer such a catastrophic fate.
Seeing that none of them intended to drink the tea, the woman quickly spoke apologetically.
"I suppose my tea isn't to your liking, so you don't enjoy it. It's alright if you don't drink it; let's just sit and chat."
"My husband always says my tea is not good, so he rarely drinks it. I didn't expect you all to dislike it too."
Gu Qianying didn't know how to explain, but drinking such a thing required immense courage, so she could only silently set it down.
"Where has your husband gone?" Gu Qianying inquired.
The woman seemed to fall into thought.
She soon gave a bitter smile, "My husband went to war, fighting for the imperial court. He's been gone for decades and has never returned since."
"It's alright, I will wait here for him to return. But I know he will not come back, nor will he arrive here."
Gu Qianying didn't find anything strange upon first hearing it, but upon careful consideration, she was startled.
She gasped, her eyes darting around frantically.
"You know this is the Nine Layers of Hell? Why did you lie to us earlier? Were you doing it on purpose?"
Having endured so much in the previous eight layers, Gu Qianying had to be vigilant.
The others, hearing this, stood up one after another, their eyes filled with anger.
Nangong Mo declared, "As expected, how could there be any good people in the Nine Layers of Hell?"
Gu Qianying did not press too hard, "What exactly do you want?"
The woman let out a laugh, seemingly amused by the person before her.
"Esteemed young lords and ladies, you didn't ask, so why should I tell you? Alright, alright, everyone here knows they are in the Nine Layers of Hell."
"They all know they are in the Nine Layers of Hell?"
The woman's frankness greatly shocked Gu Qianying.
"Then why aren't you attacking us?"
The woman smiled again, "Why should I attack you? You and I have no enmity. What benefit would there be in attacking you?"
Everyone exchanged glances, unable to find an answer.
They returned to their seats, and during their conversation, they brought up the matter of the Origin Pill.
The woman was unaware of it, "I've never heard of such a thing here. What is an Origin Pill? It truly sounds strange!"
Before their deaths, they were merely ordinary citizens, so they knew nothing of these matters.
Upon hearing this, Nangong Mo's heart tightened.
If the Nine Layers of Hell did not contain the Origin Pill, then what was the point of their arduous journey here?
He quickly asserted, "Impossible, the Origin Pill is right here."
Gu Qianying anxiously grabbed Nangong Mo, who was about to lose control, "Don't be rash. There are so many people here. Surely, there's at least one ghost who knows about the Origin Pill. Please don't be impulsive, alright!"
"But if there's no Origin Pill, my brother will be completely dead. How can you not worry me?"
He rarely lost control, his mind clouded, attempting to attack someone.
The woman still wore a kind expression, as if having stayed in the Nine Layers of Hell for too long, they were not surprised by Nangong Mo's actions.
And amidst the chaos, the woman suddenly remembered something.
She quickly slapped her forehead, "I do know someone who might know about this."
That woman then walked in.
This woman exuded a faint aura of wickedness and had a delicate appearance, clearly a lively person at first glance.
She sat down casually, raising an eyebrow to look at everyone, her words laced with teasing.
"Another group has come to seek death. How interesting!"
Another woman was startled and hastily tried to stop Lu Shangshang, "You little girl, how have you remained like this after all these years? These are our guests."
"Guests, are they?"
Lu Shangshang let out a cold laugh and directly exposed the supposed reality.
"Can anyone who comes to the Nine Layers of Hell truly be a guest? Is it? You are looking for the Origin Pill, aren't you?"
When they were speaking earlier, Lu Shangshang had been outside and overheard everything.
"Yes, yes, yes! That thing is with you, isn't it? Hand it over quickly."
The woman was very anxious. She genuinely wanted to help Gu Qianying and the others. Gu Qianying was also very puzzled. Although they had never met, this woman was willing to put her reputation on the line to help them?