I let out an "oh" and was about to leave, but Poison Dreadstar kept humming, and Victor Wu was laughing loudly, saying things I couldn't stand anymore. I just wanted to get away.
"Well? Where's your answer?"
Poison Dreadstar's voice, sweet and seductive, drifted over, making my skin crawl.
"You got Victor Wu's soul—are you after the Seven Techniques of Yin Talisman?"
"Not at all. That thing is useless to me."
"Hurry up, girl, change your pose. What's so special about that broken book? Gregory Gu—Ghost Valley Sage—forced it on me. If anyone wants it, just take it."
"I can't be bothered with you."
As I spoke, I whooshed up to the rooftop, panting and sighing.
"How can there be people like this, sigh."
But I didn't leave. I waited, because Poison Dreadstar seemed to want to discuss something with me. I could only wait until it was over before heading down—I couldn't stand this atmosphere.
It was already 4 a.m. I could only sit at the edge of the rooftop, quietly waiting. Before I went to meet John Chou and the other Seven Ghost Sovereigns to discuss negotiations, I had to find someone else—Vivian Ouyang.
Since I returned, I hadn't seen her once. I asked Hu Tianshu about her, but he said he didn't know. Ever since that incident two years ago, Vivian Ouyang had never appeared again.
The only time was when Mona Ouyang borrowed her body to come and watch my fight with Gregory Wu.
Sunlight pierced in from the edge of the city. I raised a hand to shield my forehead. Suddenly, with a whoosh, a female ghost in white appeared before me. I froze. She spoke coldly.
"Lord Poison Dreadstar is finished. Please go downstairs."
I stood up and flew back to Poison Dreadstar's house. The room was messy. I saw plenty of seductive clothes, some downright indecent. Poison Dreadstar wore a red bathrobe and smoked, while Victor Wu was nowhere to be seen.
"Speak. What do you want?"
"About what I mentioned to you last night."
I nodded.
"What does it really mean to stand on your side?"
Poison Dreadstar giggled.
"In other words, if the negotiations go smoothly, the Dao Sect people will definitely want me to hand over Victor Wu's soul. After all, he's a figure at the Dao Ancestor level. The Daoists will surely want him back."
I looked at Poison Dreadstar. The way she said 'invite' was heavy with meaning. I hesitated.
"Ethan Zhang, do you remember when Mona Ouyang came to see you?"
I nodded.
"Did she say anything to you?"
"She said she wanted to test my will."
Poison Dreadstar nodded.
"She wanted to make sure you truly had the will to stand against the Immortality Society. This will involve a lot of people—including the Ouyang Family."
"They're connected to the Immortality Society?"
I asked in surprise.
"It's not just any connection. For hundreds of years, they've been deeply intertwined with the Immortality Society."
I thought of Edward Ouyang. He once told me he had nothing to do with the Immortality Society. He was Vivian Ouyang's father. Did he lie to me?
"Not exactly a lie, Ethan Zhang. He just forgot."
I looked seriously at Poison Dreadstar.
"What do you mean by 'forgot'?"
"Didn't you already learn from Master Richard Ming? Some people can alter memories through dreams. In this world, only one person can do that."
"Mona Ouyang?"
Poison Dreadstar nodded.
"As for the reason, go ask him yourself. I'm sure he'll tell you everything. Since I've told you so much, Ethan Zhang, you must stand with me now."