I'm so tired. My whole body feels numb, as if I'd been working nonstop at a construction site for days. This happened in an instant when my constitution transformed back into a human's. Trembling, I lay sprawled over the table, staring at the dishes that now filled it. Vincent Swallow and the others were drinking, while the rest were eating.
Weakly holding my chopsticks, I felt as if my stomach had collapsed in on itself. I was starving—and utterly exhausted.
“Ethan, have some soup first.”
Yuna Ji spoke, carrying a bowl of soup over to me. I glanced at it—the soup was black, but smelled delicious. I didn’t care what it was. Yuna Ji helped me sit up, brought the bowl to my lips, and began to feed me. I drank greedily; the taste was incredible. The moment I swallowed, my body felt as if it were bathed in a spring breeze amid the first snow, coming alive again.
I took the bowl myself and gulped it down, mouthful after mouthful.
After finishing the soup, I felt much better. Though still tired, I’d regained some strength. Gripping my chopsticks, I began devouring the food ravenously.
At that moment, I noticed Hu Tianshu. After eating a little, he picked up his notebook and started writing something.
Just then, I saw someone from the Hades Circle ascending the stairs—it was Walter Wu. Smiling, he walked over, and we all turned to look.
“Everyone, I hope the food suits your tastes.”
“It’s really delicious.”
Rufina Howard was the first to speak. I agreed—the food was excellent—and nodded. Walter Wu bowed and approached us, glancing at Vincent Swallow.
“Master Swallow, Lord Wang Su, please join us for a conversation.”
We were still confused when Vincent Swallow gulped down a mouthful of wine and stood up, laughing heartily.
“I never thought that guy would still be alive after all this time.” Vincent Swallow looked around, then turned to me.
“Ethan, come with me.”
Without thinking, I nodded and stood up. Vincent Swallow told Walter Wu to wait for us downstairs, and Hu Tianshu immediately came over.
“Master...”
“No need to say it. I know which way to turn.”
I didn’t know why Vincent Swallow wanted me to go with him, but meeting this Wang Su from the Hades Circle might reveal something important.
Vincent Swallow and I left our temporary quarters. There were still many people downstairs, most of them gathered outside the houses, quietly standing in front of the narrow doors. Each door was glass, with white curtains hanging behind.
Although they seemed to be guarding the houses, in reality, their eyes were fixed on us.
“By the way, Master, who is this Wang Su?”
“You could say he’s an old friend from hard times. Back when I first left the monastery, I ran into something strange while on an errand for my master. He’d warned me the world outside was dangerous and told me to keep my head down, but I ended up passing through a town—a town that ate people. There, I found a man on the verge of death. That was Wang Su. We escaped together and traveled as companions for a while. It was only later that I learned he was from the Hades Circle.”
Vincent Swallow told me that until the tragedy in his own family, he and Wang Su kept in touch by letter. But after what happened to his family and disciple, Vincent lost his mind and fell apart. Wang Su even came to see him, but by then Vincent didn’t recognize anyone.
I patted Vincent Swallow on the back. As he spoke, I could see a flicker of sorrow on his face. Some knots aren’t so easily untied—I knew that all too well.
Walter Wu led us around the houses to the left. I saw that on the left side, there were several small villages identical to where we were staying, all seemingly inhabited.
“By the way, these thirteen houses over here—”
“The Thirteen Fates of Hades. Have you heard of them?”
At first, I was stunned. Then it hit me—Rachel Lan’s mother, Helen Lane, had once mentioned it. She seemed to be one of the current Thirteen Fates of Hades.
“So they’re the current rulers of the Hades Circle, aren’t they?”
Vincent Swallow said, and I was surprised.
“Yes, Ethan Zhang, the Thirteen Fates are indeed the leaders of the Hades Circle. Unless there’s a major crisis, those lords rarely show themselves.”
We gradually approached the first of the houses. In front of it was a staircase, and above it, a small archway with a plaque.
From the far left: King Quentin, King Chujiang, Emperor Song, Judge Bao, King Yama, King Biancheng, Lord Tai Shan, King Dushi, Equality King, and finally King Zhuanlun—ten in all. These are the Ten Kings of Hell.
I swallowed. After Walter Wu took his leave, Vincent Swallow led me to the right.
“Do you know which court he belongs to?” I asked. Vincent Swallow nodded.
“When I met Wang Su, he was already under the Ninth Court. If he’s made it this far and is still alive, he’s probably still with the Ninth Court.”
I nodded and followed Vincent Swallow to the base of the Equality King’s archway. This was the lair of the Leopard Tail boss—I’d heard of him before. The prison for captives was set up by his decree.
“What a joy to welcome friends from afar.”
An old voice came from above. I saw an elderly man with gray-brown hair streaked with white, dressed in a blue robe. He looked spirited, about seventy or eighty years old, standing under the archway. We walked up to him.
“This must be young Ethan Zhang.”
I looked at the old man. He smiled kindly, but I had no fondness for anyone from the Hades Circle—especially now.
“Old friend, it’s been a long time.”
Vincent Swallow, visibly moved, hurried up the stairs and held out his hand over his chest. Wang Su, the old man, extended his left hand, and the two clasped hands with a loud slap. For a moment, I realized they were arm wrestling.
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I stared from below, stunned. Vincent Swallow grinned, baring his teeth, while the old man refused to give in, straining with all his might.
“What’s the matter, Swallow? Still so young, are you really going to lose to an old man like me?” Wang Su joked, and I saw Vincent Swallow’s hand slowly being pushed down.
At last, Vincent Swallow couldn’t hold out and gave up.
“Still can’t beat you, Wang. It’s been over three hundred years, hasn’t it?”
“Yes, three hundred years. Swallow, after you disappeared, I had friends and descendants look for you, but you vanished without a trace. Can you tell me—what did you go through in the Forest of Desire?”
Vincent Swallow laughed heartily and patted Wang Su on the shoulder. Then they clasped hands once more.
“Please...”
Vincent Swallow took a swig from his wine gourd and strode inside.
“Young Ethan Zhang, you’re invited too.”
I wasn’t thrilled about being called ‘young man,’ but given his age, I couldn’t really object. Still, I climbed the stairs with little enthusiasm.
At the top, I saw it was just three simple tiled houses. In the yard, a vegetable patch and an orange tree heavy with fruit stood facing the little house. At the door, a blackened copper kettle steamed on a stove. The two wooden doors were wide open.
Following Wang Su, I passed the garden. To the right of the door was a black square table and four benches. Wang Su lifted the kettle and poured boiling water into a prepared teapot, but there were only two cups on the table.
Wang Su motioned for Vincent Swallow and me to sit. He went inside and brought out another cup. I watched him warily—he was excited, but I’d heard that Rachel Lan’s wedding meant all the Ten Kings of Hell would participate in the mortal world.
“Young Ethan Zhang, you don’t like me calling you that? Then I’ll call you Xiao Zhang. No need to be so angry—you’re still young, and anger is bad for your health.”
Vincent Swallow chuckled and patted me on the shoulder.
“Ethan, your shoulders are far too tense.”
I quickly rubbed my perpetually bandaged face and managed an awkward smile.
For several hours, Vincent Swallow told stories of his time in the Forest of Desire—especially how, at first, he had no idea how to control his desires. Both Wang Su and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Old friend, you invited me here to catch up, but I want to ask—why do all ten of you have to attend that girl’s wedding?”
I immediately perked up and looked at Wang Su intently. This was what I most wanted to know—what were the Hades Circle really after?
“Swallow, let’s not discuss that yet. You’ll know everything on the wedding day. Xiao Zhang, do you think you’re ready to take on everything now?”
Wang Su suddenly changed the topic and looked at me.
At first, I didn’t quite understand what he meant, but I quickly realized.
“No matter the reason, I’m here to get my wife back. Whatever it takes, I’ll see it through.”
Wang Su grunted and nodded, looking at us thoughtfully.
“Xiao Zhang, let me tell you a story. Once you hear it, you might understand why those of us from the Hades Circle must never marry outsiders.”
I nodded, took a sip of tea, and watched Wang Su as he smiled.
“It’s about time for dinner.”
Vincent Swallow yawned, stood up, and smiled at me.
“No need to rush, Ethan. No matter how big the problem, the world can hold it.”