In the remote northwest, north of Jiang Territory, lies the mountainous May Domain. Shrouded in mist year-round and blessed with abundant rainfall, this land is sparsely populated by tribes. Despite its rich forest resources, the scarcity of arable land prevents large-scale farming.
"Are we there yet? Is this your tribe?"
Leonard Tang muttered, having wandered through the mountains and forests for half a month. Along the way, he had only encountered a small tribe, with fewer than a thousand people. They seemed to have just emerged from war—the tribe had few able-bodied adults, mostly women and children.
Wraithshade said nothing, continuing to clear the path with his stone hammer and bone blade. The vegetation was unusually dense, making progress agonizingly slow.
"You can tell me now, can't you? Why are you going back to your tribe? Haven't you already mastered all the shamanic arts? Why go back? Those people must be your descendants by now, right? Didn't you say your tribe doesn't welcome outsiders, and your current aura..."
"I'm going back to reclaim something extremely important—something I've wanted for ages. I've returned to the village several times over the past few centuries, but each time I was treated as a cursed thing and rejected. The tribe would rather die than hand it over to me."
Seeing Wraithshade's serious expression, Leonard Tang couldn't help but feel a surge of curiosity.
"What exactly is it?"
"You'll know when we get there."
At that moment, excitement flickered in Wraithshade's eyes. In the jungle ahead, a stone pillar appeared.
"It's a tribal totem."
Leonard Tang exclaimed. The totem before him depicted a four-clawed, crawling beast, its body a vivid crimson, with a head resembling a snake but oddly oval-shaped.
"We're almost there. It won't be long now."
The terrain gradually leveled, and the dense forest began to thin.
"We're here."
Wraithshade stopped. Leonard Tang gazed at two towering tribal totems standing before them, like a gate. Beyond, he could see many roundhouses, but curiously, there wasn't a single person in sight.
"It looks like your tribe has been wiped out."
Leonard Tang spoke, surveying the scene. The village was a picture of devastation—many houses burned or collapsed, the ground overgrown with weeds, and scattered white bones hinting at a violent war before death.
Wraithshade crouched down, examined a skeleton, then stood up.
"It's true. No one's lived here for more than a hundred years. This person probably died nearly a hundred and fifty years ago."
At that moment, Leonard Tang noticed the look in Wraithshade's eyes—he was staring in fear at the distant piles of white bones.
"Sigh, it's your own tribe after all. It's hard not to feel something when it's been wiped out."
Suddenly, Wraithshade rushed toward the mass of skeletons, kicking aside the piled bones and frantically searching through them.
"It's gone—the Wraith Casket."
Leonard Tang followed, discovering beneath the heap of bones a ruined ancestral altar. It looked as if something had been dug out, but now it was home to swarms of insects. Wraithshade reached in, searching, as the bugs crawled over his body—soon, he was covered in them. The sight made Leonard Tang's skin crawl.
After Wraithshade stood up, his gaze was icy as he glared around—there wasn't a single living soul left here.
"Is that thing really so important?"
"It's a stone casket that holds the souls of our clan's dead, accumulated over a thousand years. For the sake of our tribe's prosperity, the souls of the departed are imprisoned inside. Right now, I have only one wraith left within me—I desperately need to replenish it. Using my own clansmen is ideal. When I came before, I thought it best to leave it as a backup."
Wraithshade spoke through gritted teeth, beginning to search the village. Leonard Tang joined in.
They searched until sunset, turning the entire village upside down, but found nothing.
Wraithshade sat cross-legged on the ground.
"There's nothing we can do—let's wait for nightfall. Even though there's not a single wraith left here, the lingering aura should tell me something."
Night gradually fell. Wraithshade opened his eyes, lifting his head and searching for the right spot.
"This is the most yin place in the village. I'll try—there should be some trace of soul aura left."
Leonard Tang watched Wraithshade intently, his expression serious.
"When will I ever learn this? It's just too hard."
Wraithshade pressed one hand to the ground and closed his eyes. Wisps of black mist seeped from his skin. Suddenly, the ground seemed to respond—Wraithshade's eyes snapped open, and he began to chant.
"Reveal..."
With a bang, the ground exploded. A cloud of white mist billowed up, instantly enveloping both men. Within the fog, Leonard Tang heard the sounds of battle cries.
Flames, the clash of weapons, and cries filled the air. The village was engulfed in fire—people fell into pools of blood as everyone fought to defend the ancestral altar. But in the end, they were all killed by the overwhelming enemy forces.
A man laughed wildly, ordering soldiers to destroy the altar and dig out a stone casket. At that moment, a flag fluttered in the air, bearing the large character for May (妘).
"It's the lord of May Domain, the May Clan."
Leonard Tang's eyes widened as Wraithshade stood up, a smile appearing in his eyes.
"The Wraith Casket must be in the hands of the May Clan. Let's go."
"The May Clan's situation isn't good. I've heard that the May Clan is nominally the lord of May Domain, but it's become an empty shell—just a name. Another tribe has taken control, using the May Clan's name."
"None of that concerns us. My only goal is the souls in the casket. Let's go—it's still more than ten days to May Capital."
Leonard Tang glanced southeast, worry in his eyes.
"Don't worry, Stanley Tang won't be in trouble for now. Even if war breaks out, the fall of Sage Domain was inevitable. What we're doing is just hastening its end. Now that Simon Grant is gone, the Zou Clan in the east won't miss the chance to become rulers of Sage Domain."
Leonard Tang nodded.
"Alright, let's hurry. The sooner you recover, the better for me too."
May Capital is built around mountains, shrouded in mist all year. From afar, the houses climbing the slopes look as if they're floating in the clouds. At the foot of the mountain is a large market—the biggest trading hub in May Domain. People come and go, and traces of recent war can be seen everywhere.
May Domain nearly split apart during the war, but now it's returned to its former prosperity. Vendors shout everywhere.
After more than ten days, Wraithshade and Leonard Tang arrived in May Domain.
"Only the May Clan knows about the Wraith Casket. I remember there's just one woman left in the May Clan, nearly twenty—May Mei, right?"
Wraithshade spoke, and Leonard Tang nodded.
"Will that little girl really know where the casket is?"
"As the May Clan's only heir, she should know something."
Looking around, the market was filled mostly with slaves. In every cage, pairs of hopeless eyes stared out. Wraithshade watched with excitement and began to laugh.
"This is just another darkness born of humanity. All are human, yet some enslave others. Heh."
Leonard Tang sighed.
"See if there's anyone useful. I have some fine gems—should be able to trade for something."
"Forget it. These people are worthless. I don't need those who've already given up hope."
The two arrived at the entrance to May Capital. Rows of winding houses lined the street, which was fairly wide and crowded with people.
By midday, they reached halfway up the mountain. After lunch, they found a place to rest, planning to sneak into the palace at night.
"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?"
Leonard Tang asked, and Wraithshade shook his head.
"I'll go alone."
With that, Wraithshade sat cross-legged on the bed and closed his eyes. Leonard Tang stood up, planning to wander around. The May Clan's palace was at the mountain's summit, so Leonard Tang decided to check it out first.
Recently, the last woman of the May Clan married May Domain's general. The streets were still festive, and everyone was talking about it.
Most say it's just for show. The elders of many tribes strongly opposed it, because May Domain has existed for centuries as the May Clan's domain. Only a true May heir can inherit it. So they came up with this plan: once May Mei gives birth to a son, the successor will be decided.
At the summit, Leonard Tang saw the vast palace complex of the May Clan. Many parts were damaged, and craftsmen were working on repairs.
"It doesn't look hard to get in."
After observing for a while, Leonard Tang descended the mountain. At dusk, he returned to the lodging—Wraithshade was still resting.
"You really don't like daytime, do you? If we head up now, it'll be just dark."
Just then, someone burst into the room, eyes wide with terror. He quickly crawled under the bed, pleading with Wraithshade and Leonard Tang.
"Please, don't tell them I'm here."
The man moved the straw under the bed and hid. Soon, footsteps sounded in the courtyard—more than ten people rushed in, saying a newly bought slave had escaped and was seen entering this yard.
"Where is he?"
One of them, fierce-looking, entered and demanded harshly.