"Sir."
Zachary Fate gazed at the scene, a tumult of sorrow and joy in his heart. The Blue Wraith was pinned to the ground, the other ghosts scattering in terror. A rat, grotesquely thin and fat, as insubstantial as a paper shadow, pressed down on the Blue Wraith.
"Are you from the Nether Syndicate?"
The Blue Wraith seemed to recognize Eli Moon's sect, terror instantly flashing in its eyes.
Zachary Fate approached, Boundless Sword in hand, step by deliberate step.
So what if you're with the Nether Syndicate? Who truly owns this place? Lord Malice.
Eli Moon's face grew grave in an instant. He strode over and seized Zachary Fate.
"Are you telling the truth?"
Eli Moon asked, and the Blue Wraith cackled madly from the ground.
"Originally, the people here could have lasted a bit longer, but recently, I've gained entry to the Hall of Malice. So now, I plan to clear out everyone here."
"Let me kill him, sir."
Eli Moon held Zachary Fate back, trembling with rage, desperate to tear the evil ghost to shreds.
But even they only accept those with affinity. A master can take only three disciples in a lifetime, and their movements are extremely secretive. Enough talk—let's get moving. I'll get you out of here. You killed one of Lord Malice's men, and his others might come looking for you.
With a single slash, the Boundless Sword in Zachary Fate's hand swept forward. The Blue Wraith's head flew off, its body shattering in golden light, then turning to ash and vanishing.
Since childhood, Zachary Fate had always stood up for what was right. He paid no heed to the world around him. In his eyes, black was black and white was white, whether human or ghost. This was the first time he truly faced the terror of ghosts.
I don't care about Lord Malice or whose lackey he is. He hurt the people here, and that's all that matters.
"I'm leaving the day after tomorrow, Fate. I can't teach you much, but remember this: holding fast to yourself isn't wrong, but without the strength to move mountains and seas, your sense of self will become tiny before all that stands in your way."
In just one short day, Eli Moon passed on a wealth of knowledge to Zachary Fate. Though it was scattered and fragmented, Zachary Fate cherished every word, committing it all to heart.
Zachary Fate stayed near Redhaven, immersed in cultivation. Occasionally, he would go into the city to work for a day and earn some food.
I came out this time to keep watch on Lord Malice, but I never expected the Blue Wraith to be his lackey.
After a long run, Zachary Fate couldn't go any further. The two stopped by the roadside to rest for a while.
Zachary Fate still felt lost and guilty. Eli Moon seemed to notice and patted his shoulder in comfort.
"Some things become less strange the more you see them. You get used to it after a while."
Zachary Fate shook his head.
"No matter how many times I see it, I can't get used to it. I was too arrogant. If I'd killed that evil ghost back then, maybe..."
"That's just how this world is, and so are ghosts. Right and wrong, black and white... Even those of us in the arts can't always tell what's black or white."
Eli Moon smiled, and Zachary Fate lowered his head.
"I think I understand why the Dao Sect won't accept you, Fate. You're too upright, too rigid. The Dao Sect values reverence for heaven and earth, understanding cause and effect, and living in harmony with all things. Their path is ever-changing, and many Daoists ignore worldly affairs. Things like slaying ghosts—they simply don't do them."
"Why?"
Zachary Fate widened his eyes. Eli Moon gave a bitter smile.
"Because ghosts are also part of all things under heaven and earth. True cultivators never violate the laws of cause and effect. Only one exception exists in the Dao Sect—the Mount Mason Order. Most of them specialize in exorcism and defending the Dao."
Zachary Fate's interest was immediately piqued.
"But even they only accept those with affinity. A master can only take three disciples in a lifetime, and their movements are extremely secretive. Enough, let's get moving. I'll take you away from here. You killed one of Lord Malice's subordinates—his others may come looking for trouble."
Along the way, Zachary Fate kept pondering what Eli Moon had said: Daoists don't interfere lightly in matters of life and death, focusing only on their own cultivation. For a moment, the Dao within Zachary Fate wavered. A path too selfish and narrow was not what he sought.
Since childhood, Zachary Fate had always been outspoken and righteous. He ignored everything around him. In his eyes, black was black and white was white, whether human or ghost. This was his first time witnessing the true terror of ghosts.
Eli Moon led Zachary Fate quickly along the road, barely stopping to rest. At last, they returned to Redhaven, safe and sound, successfully escaping Lord Malice's territory.
"I'm leaving the day after tomorrow, Fate. I can't teach you much, but I'll leave you with this: holding fast to yourself isn't wrong, but without the strength to move mountains and seas, that self will become very small in the face of obstacles."
In a brief day, Eli Moon taught Zachary Fate quite a bit. Though it was only bits and pieces, Zachary Fate treasured every word, committing it all to heart.
Zachary Fate stayed near Redhaven, cultivating constantly. Occasionally, he would work in the city for a day to earn some food.
But one night, ten days later, Zachary Fate grew extremely restless. He couldn't settle down to meditate. The Boundless Sword beside him still held residual warmth—and was growing hotter.
It felt as if something was about to happen. Zachary Fate, in his dilapidated hut, planned to rest early.
He hadn't slept long before a chilling cold woke him. Outside the ruined temple stood a man and a woman. Under the moonlight, the man wore luxurious loose black robes, his red hair tied up. The woman beside him was dressed in purple gauze, her face veiled.
"You two?"
Zachary Fate woke with a start and went out. The red-haired man smiled at him.
"Taoist, are you the one who took out my subordinate?"
Instantly, Zachary Fate's eyes widened. With a swift motion, the Boundless Sword was drawn, bursting with golden light.
"Nice weapon. What do you think, Vivian Maple?"
"It is impressive, boss. It's been a long time since I've seen a Daoist with such a powerful weapon."
Panic seized Zachary Fate. The two before him weren't afraid of the Boundless Sword at all, and the red-haired man kept approaching, wearing a wicked grin.
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"Taoist, you know the law—kill and pay with your life, owe a debt and repay. You killed my subordinate, so I'm here for your life. Fair, isn't it? I never bully the weak. If you can wound me tonight, even a little, I'll let you go. How about it?"
Zachary Fate froze. He couldn't tell if the man before him was human or ghost, but the aura made his heart tremble. The purple-haired woman floated up, landing on a tree.
Soon, Zachary Fate and the red-haired man reached a patch of woodland. The red-haired man twisted his fingers and took off his robe.
"What's wrong, Taoist? Hurry up and come over."
Zachary Fate swallowed hard.
"Aren't you using a weapon?"
The red-haired man chuckled and shook his head.
"I'll fight you barehanded. And I won't float, either."
Zachary Fate knew the man clearly underestimated him. Furious, he lunged forward. The Boundless Sword burst with golden light as he thrust again and again, but the red-haired man dodged each strike with ease, yawning and mocking, not taking Zachary Fate seriously at all.
"Boss, that's enough. We have business to discuss early tomorrow."
Vivian Maple called out from the tree. The red-haired man waved her off, smiling.
"Don't worry. Those moneybags won't be hard to deal with."
With a clang, the Boundless Sword in Zachary Fate's hand finally struck the red-haired man. But he raised a hand and blocked the sword. Zachary Fate stared in disbelief.
This sword had killed the Blue Wraith before. Eli Moon had explained the ranks of ghosts: a ghost at the Blue Wraith's level could dominate a region, but above that were the Ghost Sovereigns.
Panic rose in Zachary Fate. He stabbed again and again, but no matter what he did, the red-haired man dodged or blocked the sword with his bare hands.
"Taoist, with such a powerful weapon, yet you don't even know the most basic Daoist techniques. Are you really a Taoist?"
After slapping the Boundless Sword aside, the red-haired man laughed and asked. Zachary Fate's face flushed red with anger, and he stabbed again.
With a bang, the red-haired man grabbed the sword and burst out laughing. Then, with a casual toss to the left, Zachary Fate was sent flying, rolling across the ground before he struggled to his feet, bruised and battered. He charged again.
"Enough games. It's late, Taoist. Time to finish this."
Suddenly, as the red-haired man finished speaking, his entire aura changed. Black flames ignited around him. Zachary Fate, gasping for breath, gripped the Boundless Sword, desperate.
With a roar, a mass of black flames rushed at Zachary Fate. He stabbed with the Boundless Sword, and with a crack, the flames dispersed, only to become black currents swirling around him.
"Curious fellow. You have no malice at all."
The red-haired man spoke as he drew back the black energy. Zachary Fate broke out in a cold sweat. Whatever that was, when it touched him, he felt something was very wrong.
But there was no time for Zachary Fate to think. The red-haired man walked toward him slowly. Zachary Fate tried to recall how the Daoists at Boundless Mountain practiced, began to swing the Boundless Sword, moving slowly—one hand drawing a circle, one foot stepping forward.
"Looks impressive. Not bad, but it's just for show."
With a rush, the red-haired man appeared before Zachary Fate, pressed a hand to his chest, and with a bang, sent him flying into the grass, where he lay motionless.