"Sylvia Blue, come here."
I held a beautiful, fitted floral dress, planning to have Sylvia Blue try it on, but her mind seemed elsewhere, not on shopping. I walked over and pulled her into the fitting room.
"No need, let's just hurry up..."
"Put it on."
I said as I stepped out of the fitting room. In the end, Sylvia Blue did put on the dress. Instantly, the mature aura she usually had changed completely. I helped tidy her hair, and several shop assistants came over to compliment her. Sylvia Blue was tall and beautiful—she looked good in anything. I had her try on quite a few outfits, and I bought most of them right away.
Before we left, my mom slipped me a card with over three million on it. Nowadays, wages in Yellow Springs are issued by the Underworld Office, and many people in Yellow Springs work harder now because they don't have to worry about their livelihood. In the past, many Yellow Springs folk had to collect souls while working side jobs outside. My dad was like that—he often did short stints on construction sites and got paid right after finishing.
Soon, we left the mall carrying bags and bundles of clothes. Sylvia Blue was wearing a black dress, looking different again. Smiling, I took her hand, planning to take her out to eat.
"Isn't there anything you want to ask?"
As we got into the car, Sylvia Blue repeated the question. I shook my head.
"No matter what I ask, the answer is always about the same. Things have already turned out this way. I don't know how much time is left, but one day, we'll have to face it head-on."
I stuffed the clothes into the car as I spoke. Sylvia Blue watched me quietly, still looking troubled. I smiled and shook my head.
"Knowing too much too soon is hard for anyone to bear. I remember Yin Qiu once said, if you can't change it, just endure it. Sylvia Blue, how old are you now?"
For a moment, Sylvia Blue's eyes softened. She shook her head. I pulled Sylvia Blue along as we walked. I knew, even after all she’d been through, deep down, Sylvia Blue was still just a child.
"Come on, let’s go to that food street over there and have a proper meal first."
We wandered the street for a while. At exactly six o’clock, Sylvia Blue and I walked into a hotpot restaurant. I’d been there before—the smell hadn’t changed. After we sat down, Sylvia Blue still looked preoccupied.
"Have you really never thought about it? Clearly..."
"Trust Yin Qiu."
I looked at Sylvia Blue seriously. She widened her eyes, and I smiled, nodding. Yin Qiu had once told me that he’d said to Sylvia Blue on that day: If you trust me, don’t do anything. I’m ready for everything.
Sylvia Blue’s face was still doubtful. She pressed a hand to her forehead, her expression tense as she looked at me. I smiled and poured Sylvia Blue a little wine.
"After we eat, let’s go shopping again. It’s been a long time since I’ve gone shopping."
After dinner, we planned to head to another street. I took Sylvia Blue back to the parking lot, and there I saw a man sitting on top of the car. The moment Sylvia Blue and I stepped into the lot, black particles drifted through the air, and everything in the parking lot froze.
"Come back with me, Sylvia Blue."
Future Zhang Qingyuan gazed at me quietly. I smiled and patted Sylvia Blue on the back, but she looked entirely unwilling.
"If you stay here any longer, you'll affect the current timeline. Come back with me."
"You were the one who told me, so why..."
Sylvia Blue’s face flushed red with frustration. I placed my hand on her shoulder and pulled her along.
"Sorry, Lan Ruoxi."
I shook my head and gave Sylvia Blue a gentle push.
"I would never do that. If I ever have children, I wouldn’t tell them everything too soon. These dark and cold things—I don’t agree with your approach. Even if you come from such a future, I still don’t agree."
Future Zhang Qingyuan looked at me in surprise. I smiled and waved at the two of them.
"Everything is about to begin, Lan Ruoxi. No one can stop it. No one can save anyone, and no one can be saved!"
Sylvia Blue glared at Future Zhang Qingyuan, gritting her teeth. I smiled and shook my head.
"Then let me be the one to stop you. If there's anything left in this world that can stop you, let it be me."
Future Zhang Qingyuan nodded, his smile tinged with bitterness. I saw Sylvia Blue, her back to me, trembling—she was crying.
"This is what happens when you tell a child everything. The smile on her face is gone."
Future Zhang Qingyuan placed a hand on Sylvia Blue’s shoulder. A black door appeared behind them. Sylvia Blue stepped slowly through it, disappearing into the darkness without looking back.
"When I looked at you before, you often seemed just like a child. Lan Ruoxi, you..."
"I just don’t want to dwell on those complicated things—the ones you can’t let go of, dark and cold. But that doesn’t mean I refuse to move forward. No matter the past, the future, or now—what do you see me as?"
Future Zhang Qingyuan stood up, turned, and stepped through.
"Sorry, I still can’t do it..."
"What you can't do, I'll do. Qingyuan will do."
Future Zhang Qingyuan looked surprised. He turned his head slightly, and I laughed.
"Because Qingyuan believes in me, and I believe in him. Isn’t it that simple in this world?"
Future Zhang Qingyuan smiled and disappeared through the door. I called out to him, pulled the clothes I’d bought for Sylvia Blue from the car, and tossed them over. He caught them, looking surprised.
"From meeting to knowing, to understanding, and finally to loving—yet there’s no outcome. I can’t accept that, because I’ve always been stubborn, haven’t I!"
Future Zhang Qingyuan nodded.
It’s about to begin. War. No matter what happens next, I just hope I can bring Sylvia Blue over again. And you...
[Line removed to maintain immersion and suspenseful tone.]
I shook my head.
"Don’t worry. Didn’t Yin Qiu say he’s already prepared? Or do you think the Yin Qiu you know is someone who talks big?"
Future Zhang Qingyuan nodded and stepped through the door. Instantly, everything around me started moving again. I smiled, but in that moment, I felt a wave of heat behind me. I tore off my jacket and, as I turned, the Beauty was already in my hand.
"You knew I'd come!"
Drip, drip—the parking lot railing slowly melted away in flames, turning into scalding molten iron. Before me stood a woman in a white shirt, printed with flame patterns—Xiao Yan. She stared at me, expressionless.
"It’s barely been any time since your reincarnation, and you’ve already grown up?"
I smiled as I spoke. Sylvia Yan approached slowly. I glanced at the surroundings—immediately, I sensed waves of power converging: Underworld Denizens from Hades Circle. There were also many ordinary people nearby. If I fought Sylvia Yan here, it would be a massacre. I needed to stall her.
Although Sylvia Yan's sudden appearance after Future Ethan Zhang left was unexpected, the signs had been there. Most of the Ghost Lords are now in the Ghostrealm. When I was about to enter the Mirror World, they left as soon as I made my decision. The situation in the Ghostrealm is dire. Our task, as Underworld Denizens of Hades Circle, is to defend the few passages to the Underworld Court in the Living World. Near these passages, large numbers of Underworld Denizens and members of the Buddhist and Daoist Orders have been stationed.
"Take us into Snowridge River!"
"You really do get news quickly. How do you always know so fast?"
I looked at Xiao Yan in confusion. She didn't answer, just kept walking toward me. The ground began to melt. A crowd gathered around, and my heart sank—it was already too late.
With a thunderous boom, a wave of fire swept out and destroyed everything. I raised my hands and shielded myself with my power. When the flames faded, all I saw was scorched earth, cracked ground, and everything turned to ash. Lava flowed through the cracks. I spread my crimson wings and floated into the air, while Xiao Yan raised a hand.
"There's no point in continuing, Lan Ruoxi. You're not my match. Take us into Snowridge River—it's your only way out."
Swish, swish—two white wind blades shot toward Xiao Yan, but as they neared her, they simply vanished. Xiao Yan stared at me, unmoving.
With a boom, Lu Junchi landed by my side.
"You nearly missed it, Rachel Lan. Are you hurt? Fall back—let me handle this. The Underworld Denizens from Hades Circle have started evacuating and sealing off the area. Reinforcements will take a bit longer. You..."
"Enough."
I shot a sideways glance at Lucas Lu. His body was marked with white and blue tiger stripes, and on his forehead, a faint tiger head seemed to stir, like a helmet. Two massive, translucent paws appeared on his shoulders, flowing like wind. In his hand, he held the hilt of Tiger Roar, a legendary wind-forged blade shaped like a tiger’s mouth—yet the blade itself was invisible, formed only by streams of air. (Note: Lucas Lu is using the White Tiger Mantle, a mystical armor that grants speed, aerial mobility, and wind-based attacks, extremely difficult to master within Hades Circle.)
Tiger Roar—one of the Four Great Treasures of Hades Circle. Lucas Lu was wielding the White Tiger Mantle, the hardest mystical armor to master in Hades Circle. I had tried it myself; it demands not only total understanding of the technique, but also an extremely sensitive and precise grasp of the wind generated by air currents. These are skills I’m nowhere near mastering. (Note: The White Tiger Mantle is a mystical technique that channels the power of the White Tiger Guardian, allowing the user to manipulate wind for supernatural combat.)
"No matter who comes, the result will be the same."
As Xiao Yan spoke, she raised a hand. Instantly, my eyes widened. With a deafening roar and violent tremors, the ground around us cracked, and pillars of fire shot skyward.
I swallowed hard. Lu Junchi turned his head and smiled at me.
"Whatever you do, don't use fire!"