In the distance, the city lights blazed brightly, and I could still hear the sounds of revelry. My mood was tinged with melancholy.
Gradually, I began to understand why Xu Fu and the others sought immortality, and that the founding of the Immortality Society was a story I knew nothing about.
Casually, I took out a pack of cigarettes, lit one, and inhaled. Immediately, I started coughing. For some reason, I wanted to smoke.
The crimson tip of the cigarette glowed, smoke swirling around me. At that moment, I sensed someone behind me—Rachel Lan.
"What's wrong, Rachel? It's so late—aren't you going to sleep?"
"When did you start smoking?"
I smiled calmly.
"Just now."
Footsteps sounded. Rachel Lan came to the balcony, leaning beside me, her face still cold as ice.
"Rachel, why do you think people are so strange?"
I asked, and Rachel Lan shot me a glare. She reached out, pinched the end of my cigarette, and pulled it from my lips. A small golden flame flickered, instantly reducing the cigarette to ash.
It was still hatred—I could feel it. The emotion radiating from Rachel Lan was a deep, visceral loathing toward the existence named Ethan Zhang.
"Did Rachel make you do this?"
Rachel Lan didn't answer. She neither nodded nor shook her head. Now, I could sense that the original Rachel Lan, the one whose soul burned so fiercely, was still present in this body. Though only a fragment remained, during these days together, the pendant on my chest never cooled, always radiating a lingering warmth.
"I hate you, Ethan Zhang."
"I love you, Rachel Lan."
I replied, giving a faint smile. I took out another cigarette and lit it. A golden flame approached, and I lit the cigarette, took a drag, and coughed again.
"Things are different now, Ethan Zhang."
"Is that so? If none of this had happened, if it all ended here without the Immortality Society, the Underworld, the art world, or the Ghost Sovereigns, maybe I would have married Lily Wu, or perhaps we would have gone our separate ways."
Rachel Lan glared at me.
"And what about me? What role do I play in your life?"
"You're important. If none of this had happened, maybe we would have met by chance somewhere. I believe what Master Frank Yuan said about fate—those invisible threads connect everything together."
Rachel Lan sneered, then turned away and leaned against the railing, looking at me. My gaze remained fixed on the distant city lights.
"Only after losing something do you realize its value. Once you have it, you take it for granted. Isn't that just human nature?"
"Yeah, I'm just an ordinary person. Most of the time, maybe even a bit of a bastard. But..."
I paused, turning my head to look seriously at Rachel Lan.
"Those born with unique gifts... Eli Lear once said something I believe more and more as time goes by: I'm lucky, because right now, you're standing in front of me. Isn't that so?"
Rachel Lan smiled, then quietly watched me. She walked away. I reached out, wanting to hold her, but in the end, I let my hand fall. Murderous intent and anger tangled within Rachel Lan's body, while love flickered like a tiny, fragile flame, ready to be extinguished at any moment.
"One day, you'll understand the weight of this love. Do you really know Rachel Lan?"
For a moment, my eyes widened. I sensed that in Rachel Lan's departing silhouette, there was a bottomless darkness—different from the darkness inside me.
I drifted upward and headed toward the bustling city district.
"Remember to come back and make me breakfast tomorrow morning."
Rachel Lan, already back in her bedroom, opened the window and called out. I responded with a grunt and nodded.
Out on the street, it was already 2 a.m., yet many people still wandered about. People of all kinds, continuing the routines of their former lives, surviving in this world.
Yet I couldn't help but scoff.
"This world is wrong. It's all a mistake."
The next morning, I returned to Rachel Lan's kitchen to prepare breakfast. As always, she finished eating and left, while Xu Fu still hadn't gotten up. I went to the first floor, opened a bedroom door, and found Xu Fu still lying in bed. I walked over and pulled off his blanket, making Xu Fu curl up instantly.
"It's so cold! What are you doing, Ethan Zhang?"
Xu Fu's body was unnaturally pale, almost paper white, and covered in countless scars.
I've always wondered why Emperor God would cooperate with Xu Fu. Were they truly partners, or just so-called friends?
After breakfast, Xu Fu looked at me with a forced smile.
"Ethan Zhang, what's wrong? Still suspicious about something?"
"Are you and Emperor God really partners?"
Xu Fu's smile vanished. He stared at me in silence.
"And you? Did you really come here just to find your women?"
I hesitated and didn't press further. Xu Fu's wicked eyes seemed to see right through me.
I sat down and looked at Xu Fu. His gaze dimmed.
"That year, something major happened. It was the first time in my life I realized how fragile life really is."
In a village outside Linzi, it took Xu Fu a year to recover from the trauma of losing a patient. Serena Zheng changed a lot too, her brows always furrowed.
Master Bernard Zheng kept trying to refine various pills, even descending into madness, constantly muttering about immortals.
Life grew dull. Xu Fu learned a great deal about medicine and the art of pill making.
"Serena, let's go for a walk outside the village."
One day, Xu Fu couldn't hold back and tried to take Serena Zheng out for a stroll. But Serena coldly refused. Lately, she looked unwell, and Xu Fu knew it was because of a black pill she'd taken.
Master Bernard Zheng had locked himself away all day in a secluded courtyard, working on something mysterious. He no longer taught Xu Fu, but Xu Fu had already memorized everything he could.
But Xu Fu felt uneasy. He knew Serena Zheng's anger stemmed from him. Master Bernard Zheng, frustrated by his lack of an heir, had no one to pass his skills to—until Xu Fu came along and solved that problem.
After eating, Serena Zheng was called to the courtyard by Master Bernard Zheng. Xu Fu worried about her health; he'd said so many times, but she ignored him. She seemed like a different person now.
"Serena, are you okay?"
Seeing Serena Zheng drenched in sweat, pale, and biting her lip, Xu Fu couldn't hold back any longer.
"Mind your own business."
Serena Zheng's words chilled Xu Fu to the core. He knew it was all wrong—there was no such thing as cultivating immortality.
Arriving at Master Bernard Zheng's place, Xu Fu was shocked. He saw a large wooden tub, with Master Bernard Zheng soaking inside, a bitter smell wafting out. Master Bernard Zheng looked deeply uncomfortable.
"What exactly are you doing?"
Xu Fu finally lost his patience and shouted.
Master Bernard Zheng smiled weakly and coughed. Xu Fu had noticed this for two months—Master Bernard Zheng only came out briefly each day, looking energetic for a moment before growing listless and returning to his room.
Red spots appeared all over Master Bernard Zheng's body. Xu Fu didn't know what they were, but he remembered Serena Zheng had similar marks.
"Xiao Fu, get out. Don't disturb me while I'm cultivating my immortal body."
"Why are you so stubborn? Why is Serena's body, and yours, falling apart?"
Xu Fu shouted, but Master Bernard Zheng just looked crazed. In the end, Xu Fu left.
He knew Master Bernard Zheng had used the Queen Dowager's illness to gain many rewards, then fled. The ingredients for pill making were extremely expensive—he needed the money.
Sometimes, Xu Fu remembered what Huang Ren said: those alchemists were all frauds. Xu Fu knew it well.
"Serena, let's..."
With a bang, Serena Zheng pointed at Xu Fu.
"Get out. Get out..."
The night was deep. Xu Fu went alone to Linzi, unable to bear the oppressive days any longer. He decided to go home, visit his mother's grave, and pay respects to his father as well.
Xu Fu walked for three days and nights before reaching Linzi. When he entered the city, he deliberately let his hair down, put on dirty clothes, and smeared mud on his face.
So much time had passed—no one would recognize him. Following familiar streets, Xu Fu arrived at the old Xu's Herbal Shop, but it had changed hands and was now King's Herbal Shop.
"Adam, Dr. King isn't back yet."
Suddenly, Xu Fu's eyes widened as he saw Adam Dale at the door, sweeping. Adam looked plain and simple, but everyone passing by seemed to know him.
"He's still alive?"
Looking at Adam Dale, who seemed healthy and cheerful all day, Xu Fu felt a surge of anger.
After asking around, Xu Fu learned that King's Herbal Shop had been bought by a man named William King, and Adam Dale was their servant—very enthusiastic and well-liked by the locals.
"He used to be a half-dead medicine slave. Disgusting."
Xu Fu spat viciously before disappearing into the alley. Adam Dale now stood tall and strong, a completely different person.