"So what about now? I basically understand why we exist, but please, let the members of the Ghost Burial Squad go."
I said this, but Jules just shook his head.
"There's no way. Ethan Zhang, including you, can't leave either."
I let out a sound of surprise and looked at Jules, who gazed up at the gloomy sky.
"This thing can only be sealed within time to ensure the living world remains unaffected. That's why the time here is completely different from the world outside. Once you enter, there's simply no way to return."
"No, there must be a way."
Suddenly, something occurred to me—it was about devouring. If we could eat away at the time here, bit by bit, making it more like the time outside, then a time difference would be created. I got this idea from watching David Wu's actions.
"If that happens, everything up there will be completely released. That absolutely cannot be allowed."
Jules' tone grew firm, his whole body radiating a strange light.
"Then what about the members of the Ghost Burial Squad?"
"It can't be helped. If a few people die, so be it. But if what's up there is released, it won't just be a matter of a few deaths—the chaos would engulf both the living and the dead worlds."
I looked up anxiously at the dim space above, but I couldn't sense anything there.
"My purpose in coming here is to resolve everything."
I said, but Jules just started to laugh. He spoke slowly, enunciating each word.
"Even the Ten Judges can't resolve this. Even if you're an anomaly, before the Ten Judges, you're nothing but a grain of sand."
I stared at Jules in shock, but the next moment, I broke into a smile.
"It's true, in terms of power, I'm insignificant before the Ten Judges. But..."
I paused, raising my hand. Wisps of black mist seeped from my body, gradually coalescing into an Evil Ghost.
"Now, I finally understand—my instincts were born for both humans and ghosts."
"What are you planning to do, Ethan Zhang?"
With a whoosh, I shot upward toward the sky.
"Instinct, coexistence..."
Once my Instinct manifested, my senses grew sharper to everything around me. Suddenly, a black figure blocked my path.
Now, I could clearly sense that whatever was sealed above in the sky was extremely dangerous. It refused to coexist with me—communication was impossible.
With a bang, my Instinct reached out and grabbed Darren's incoming fist, roaring in anger. I could feel their power—it was vitality itself.
This so-called vitality is like a human's lifespan or a ghost's shadow-life. It's even present in plants and trees in the living world, from seed, to sprout, to root, to blossom, to fruit, and finally to withering—it's the essential force for all of it.
This must be the power of time itself—unyielding and strong. It pushed me backward, sliding away.
With a crash, I broke through a mountain and then fell into a lake floating in midair. I surfaced immediately, while Darren roared furiously, fists raised, clearly intent on destroying me.
"Stop, Darren!"
With a bang, Jules grabbed Darren's fist. The immense force unleashed a powerful shockwave, shattering everything visible around us.
I slowly floated upward, withdrawing my Instinct. Things were dire—whatever was sealed above radiated nothing but despair.
"The burden shared by the Eight Clans can't be borne by Yvonne May alone. That's why she gave up her Instinct, and we don't blame her for it."
"Would you be willing to talk with me? About Yvonne May's Instinct."
I asked again. Then Darren vanished from beside Jules; with a wave of Darren's hand, a small table flew over, stacked with food and drink. I sat down and started eating. The little wine jug gave off a familiar aroma—it was Morning Dew Wine.
I quickly unscrewed it and drank eagerly—the taste was excellent.
"I can't believe they even have this here."
I said happily, as Jules came closer.
"Here, in the sediment of time, everything imaginable exists. Darren and I work to ensure the Darong Family inherits this Instinct forever. Their bloodline may be somewhat diluted, but among the May Family, it's the purest."
I think I finally understood why all this happened. What Jonas Darong, the village chief, said wasn't entirely true—Yvonne May didn't abandon her Instinct willingly, she simply couldn't bear it.
"Maybe, right now, Yvonne May is actually grateful to John Chou."
I let out a sound of surprise and looked at Jules in astonishment. He moved his mouth away, revealing a black smile.
Why?
Jules began to explain. Of the seven Ghost Sovereigns, only Ji Yuner knew what Yvonne May was carrying, but for some reason, Ji Yuner revealed Yvonne May's secret to John Chou.
During the battle of the Seven Sovereigns, John Chou used his blood fiend power to forcibly separate Yvonne May's Instinct, causing her great harm, but also relieving her of a heavy burden.
Hearing this, I started to understand why Yvonne May hated John Chou so much at first. Later, she no longer reacted strongly to what he said. She must have realized that, although his actions seemed to harm her—making her lose centuries of memories and sealing all her subordinates—in the end, he actually saved her.
In the end, he saved Yvonne May.
If things had continued, Yvonne May would have been unable to bear the immense burden of her Instinct and would have collapsed. The unusual force sealed within her Instinct would have been unleashed.
Please tell me—is there any way to safely get the members of the Ghost Burial Squad out?
I looked at Jules seriously. He sighed and shook his head.
There is a way, but I'm afraid you can never go back. Now, darkness has touched you, and the light inside you grows smaller. In the past, if you wanted to kill, even with power, would you have acted so rashly? Even if those villagers won't die and time is distorted, you have essentially become no different from an Evil Ghost.
I gave a cold smile, gradually forgetting all joy and everything that could move or touch me. The only thing that still makes me feel sorrow and emotion is my love for Rachel Lan, carved deep into my soul as a monument.
Perhaps it's because Rachel Lan still exists deep within my soul that I haven't completely fallen into darkness and can still remain clear-headed.
Is it her? What's inside your heart is indeed deep, like the tear mark on your cheek that will never fade.
Jules said this, and I nodded, then stared at him blankly.
Tell me, after living so many years, is there any way I can see Rachel Lan again?
There is no way. This woman named Rachel Lan no longer exists in the living world, nor in the underworld, nor in any corner of this world. She only exists in your heart.
I clenched my fist, gripping the purple pendant at my neck, my heart aching.
Don't lose hope. People and ghosts alike, as long as they exist in this world, have the right to hope and pursue happiness. You too—your beloved wife, a harmonious family, a successful career—these are the hopes and dreams imprinted in your heart when you were human. Don't forget them. Someday, these ordinary things might bring a huge change, break the laws of the world, and let you see Rachel Lan again. It's not impossible.
I nodded and sincerely thanked him.
Jules continued. Among the 31 Ghost Burial Squad members, there was a special presence—a ghost. This ghost entered with the squad, and when the squad faced trouble, the ghost left and brought news back to the squad from the living world.
Everything I'd seen in my mind turned into information, becoming clear. It was the ghost who came in with the squad who did it—connecting everyone, preserving their memory fragments, and taking news back to the living world.
In other words, this ghost is connected to the memory fragments inside, and those fragments link to the outside. So, there's still hope. If I can find the fragments connecting the 31 members, maybe I'll know the way out.
What I just told you, I saw in that ghost—it was Linda Liu, Leo Liu's wife.
I looked at Jules in surprise. He smiled, and this time, his smile was bright, not cold.
I was confused, because I'd checked Quentin Yuan's memory, and there was no information about Leo Liu's wife.
What I could guess was that Leo Liu's wife took a part of everyone's memories outside and kept them, and here, she holds the complete memories of all 31 squad members. These memories are connected and link to the outside.
What do we do next? Do you know where the memory fragments are?
I asked, and Jules shook his head.
After all, that ghost woman is just an ordinary person, unlike you—she can't communicate with us. She must have hidden everyone's memories carefully, in each 13-year segment. You can only search for them one by one.
I nodded. Jules stood up and told me to follow him, and I quickly did.