"If we keep walking a bit further, we should be able to see the River of Forgetfulness. You’ve been here before, so you remember it, right, Ethan?"
I nodded. Yuna Ji floated in the air. The scenery in this Netherhell was unchanged—gray-black skies, barren and desolate land, not a hint of life. At a glance, there was almost nothing visible.
"Then I’ll head back first. Ethan, I won’t go with you this time."
As Yuna Ji spoke, she turned into a streak of green light and drifted into the distance. I floated up, and Mr. Brown followed me, heading toward the distant mountains that were just barely visible.
As long as we reached the banks of the River of Forgetfulness, we could follow its flow directly to the Bridge of Remorse, where Lady Meng lives.
"Don’t worry, Ethan. That little girl’s soul won’t enter reincarnation so quickly."
I nodded, silently praying that I could find Huangfu Ruofei and send her back to the world of the living. Her body was still preserved in the Hall of Malice.
"Stop wasting your effort, Ethan Zhang. By doing this, you’re only hurting her. Her task is complete now. If you forcibly drag her back, things will only get more complicated, and she’ll have to bear even more. Do you really want to..."
With a whoosh, I stopped. The voice of the ghost in my mind sounded urgent. I sneered.
"Even if this choice is wrong, I’ll bear it alone. It’s none of your concern."
"Ethan, once you’ve made your choice, there’s no turning back. That’s how it is in this world."
I glanced at Mr. Brown, nodded, and smiled.
Everything I’ve chosen was carved into my body long before I grew up. I just want to get my friend back.
After a while, Mr. Brown and I reached the mountain ahead. We flew toward the summit, but after a short distance, I sensed something was wrong. The mountain was shrouded in gray-black mist, and the peak was nowhere in sight.
"Looks like the Underworld Court did something to stop Yuna Ji from bringing the souls of the fallen from the River of Forgetfulness into the Netherhell."
Mr. Brown said, and I grunted in response. With a swift motion, I drew Belle, aiming it at the mountain wall. Deathbane Aura began to surge as I poured all my strength into the sword, preparing to cleave open the wall with a single strike.
Mr. Brown floated behind me. I closed my eyes, focused on one thought—split open this mountain wall. The Deathbane Aura had reached its peak. Suddenly, I opened my eyes and shouted, swinging Belle at the wall.
A powerful surge of Deathbane Aura struck out in an instant. With a deafening boom, a fierce wind swept away the gray-black mist around the wall. But the black mountain wall didn’t budge. Instead, a long row of golden Brahma script appeared, glowing brightly.
My heart jolted. Eyes wide, I watched as this force instantly deflected and dissolved my Deathbane Aura.
"So that’s how it is?"
Mr. Brown drifted over to me.
"Is it Ksitigarbha?"
I asked, and Mr. Brown nodded.
"In the Underworld Court, only he has such power. The other Ten Judges can’t leave their posts to do this."
Mr. Brown raised his fist as he spoke. I swallowed and quickly retreated.
"No ghost could break through this power. But the strength I possess isn’t entirely ghostly."
I nodded. Just now, when my Deathbane Aura was repelled, I understood—I couldn’t break through this wall. Even with my coexistence instinct, even though I’m not human, I’m still insignificant before such overwhelming power.
A creaking noise echoed as Mr. Brown clenched his fist, his body hunched. Black currents, like mist, swirled around him. I sensed something different—anger. The power was immense, boundless, impossible to measure.
"Like heaven, but not heaven... not righteous..."
Suddenly, Mr. Brown closed in on the mountain wall. As mist began to swirl around the mountain again, the space turned gray-white. I saw countless hands appear from within Mr. Brown’s body, forming fists and striking the wall.
The strange sensation vanished, leaving only silence. I hurried over, and the sound of running water reached my ears. As I passed through the mist, my eyes widened—a large section of the mountain had disappeared, leaving a fist-shaped mark.
I swallowed hard.
"Amazing."
"Let’s go, Ethan. We don’t have much time."
A deep, commanding voice. I looked at Mr. Brown, and a sense of awe rose in my heart. In that moment, Mr. Brown’s demeanor had changed—his face twisted with rage, features contorted. I responded and hurried after him. We reached the banks of the River of Forgetfulness, but the power of the underworld forced us down, unable to float any further.
I’d glimpsed the source of Mr. Brown’s power in my memories before—it came from the Asura Realm, the most unique of the Six Paths, existing between good and evil.
After a while, the anger faded from Mr. Brown’s face. He exhaled, shaking his head.
"Ethan, if I used this power in the world of the living, it would create evil karma—a real mess. That’s why I’ve always restrained myself. You should have seen my Shadow Realm by now."
"Wrathfire and Frostwave."
I slowly uttered the four words. Mr. Brown nodded.
"Half is fire, half is frost. If the balance shifts, I’ll leave the ghostly path and stray from the human path—completely out of control."
Mr. Brown didn’t share any more details, and I didn’t ask. We could already see it: across the river, vast fields of Red Spider Lilies, the sky turning gold and red in the sunset glow.
Petals of Red Spider Lilies danced across the river’s surface. No matter how many times I come here, this unique beauty always brings peace to my heart.
(Irrelevant passage skipped)
As I admired the beautiful scenery, Mr. Brown stared solemnly at the opposite bank. I looked over, and suddenly Lady Meng was already standing there.
"I’ve waited a long time for you, Zane Zhuang. I heard that bastard John Chou is dead?"
I called out in a hurry.
"Lady Meng!"
Lady Meng nodded, beckoning to Mr. Brown and me. In an instant, we were standing beside her—utterly unbelievable.
Mr. Brown looked troubled, unsure how to answer Lady Meng’s question, but still nodded.
Suddenly, Lady Meng burst out laughing, her voice filled with helplessness.
"Impossible. That brat John Chou isn’t so easy to kill."
"Why? He clearly..."
"It’s a feeling."
Lady Meng turned and beckoned us to follow. We went after her.
"From the first time I met him, I knew he’d stir up chaos in both the ghost and human realms. The Deathstone is still with you, right?"
Lady Meng asked, and I nodded.
I’d mentioned before—the Bloodbane Power stored in my body reacted, as if my blood wanted to return somewhere. I wasn’t sure, but like Lady Meng, I felt John Chou wasn’t dead.
We arrived again at the Bridge of Remorse. This time, there wasn’t a single wraith, but the Longing Terrace was packed with souls. Lady Meng led us to her home.
As soon as I stepped into the courtyard with the Six Paths Tree, I was stunned.
"Rufina... Howard..."
It was definitely Rufina Howard herself, but she looked nearly thirty, mature and strikingly beautiful. She stood beneath the Six Paths Tree, dressed in white, her smile warm.
"Thank you."
I said nothing, bowing my head and bending forward to speak to Rufina Howard. Just then, a hand rested on my head, gently stroking.
"No need to thank me. You’ve done well, Ethan Zhang. Our promise has been fulfilled. Now I can leave in peace."
Suddenly, I looked up, eyes wide, staring at Rufina Howard.
"I haven’t entered reincarnation yet. I just wanted to see you one last time, while I still have all my memories—to confirm with my own eyes the seed I planted in my last life. Now that I’ve seen it, there’s nothing left for me to linger over."
A hand pressed my shoulder. I turned, eyes wide, as Rufina Howard drifted to Lady Meng’s side.
"Give me the Lady Meng Soup, please."
"Don’t go."
I rushed forward, reaching out and grabbing Rufina Howard’s arm.
"I wish I could watch you grow a little longer, but it’s all over now. I’m tired."
In Rufina Howard’s eyes was resolve—she’d made up her mind, unwilling to remain in the world of the living.
"Then what about this life? What about Rufina Howard in this life?"
I shouted. Rufina Howard grinned and laughed.
"Meeting you all was wonderful! Ethan, you have to keep going—even if you’re not human, fight with everything you’ve got for the one you love."
Rufina Howard clenched her fist, then opened it, waving cheerfully before turning and drifting away. Lady Meng glanced at me, sighed helplessly, and followed.
My heart pounded violently, my body roaring inside. Trembling, I clenched my fist. A Red Spider Lily petal fell onto my forehead—I caught it and rubbed it gently.
"Go on, Ethan."
Mr. Brown smiled and nodded. I ran forward, dashing out. The Eternity Stone nearby was unchanged, unable to reveal my past or present lives.
"Wait..."
I shouted. Rufina Howard had already raised the bowl, filled with that orange-yellow Lady Meng Soup.
"There are still things undone, Rufina Howard. There are things left unfinished, aren’t there? You’re not her, and she’s not you. You don’t have the right to end her life—just like you once chose a possible me. I’m here, standing here because of you. I’m still alive..."