I immediately released the Specter Web, planning to inject it into the madman's body.
"You'd better not, Ethan Zhang. This guy is a bona fide lunatic."
Isabelle Frost was already standing next to me. I gasped, ignored her warning, and stabbed the Specter Web straight into the madman's body. In that instant, I screamed, and Isabelle quickly clamped her hand over my mouth.
My mind was in utter chaos, like mush. Countless images flashed past—I wanted to dance, eat, or even fly. All sorts of bizarre sensations tangled in my head.
With a sizzling sound, the Specter Web I injected into the madman's body vanished without a trace.
"What on earth is going on?"
After that feeling faded, I looked at Isabelle Frost. She coldly sneered and spoke.
"The reason a lunatic is called a lunatic is because his mind is different from ordinary people. What he says and thinks are impossible for normal people to understand. His memories are chaotic. If you try to probe them, it's nearly impossible, because he doesn't have the memories of a normal person."
I murmured, and the madman on the ground was still giggling foolishly. I squatted beside him and patted his shoulder.
"Tell me, can you explain how your sister disappeared?"
"Sister, I have a sister, hehe, hehe..."
I gasped, and Darren Rong began to laugh. Then he started cursing angrily, muttering to himself, though I had no idea who he was cursing at. It left me utterly confused.
The madman's name was Darren Rong. Thirteen years ago, when he was just fourteen, he went mad. His family consisted only of him and his nine-year-old sister. But that day, his sister vanished. It was on New Year's Day that he lost his mind, and the villagers all suspected human traffickers had taken his sister.
There had been previous cases of child trafficking. Although the villagers reported it to the authorities in the neighboring county, the case was never solved and simply faded away.
The villagers, feeling sorry for Darren Rong, never abandoned him. Each household took turns caring for him—one day at this house, the next at another.
"I think he must have seen the Outcast Village, Miss Yi. Look at what he's drawn."
I took a closer look at the things he drew with chalk. The floor and walls of the room were covered in chalk marks—drawn and erased over and over, piling up. On the floor, Darren Rong had drawn a little boy and a little girl, but their faces were twisted and grotesque.
Isabelle Frost sneered icily as she spoke.
"I have no time to get to the bottom of things with a lunatic. Ethan Zhang, if you have the patience, you can stay here and let him tell you."
With a whoosh, Isabelle Frost left. I could only squat silently beside the madman, watching his series of bizarre actions—sometimes cursing, sometimes suddenly bursting into tears. He began erasing the drawings on the floor, then curled up on the stinking bedding and fell asleep.
After watching for a while, Darren Rong stopped moving, so I got up.
But I felt a bit tired. Just then, Cecilia began to cry in my heart, and I panicked.
"Miss Cecilia, what's wrong?"
"I was just reminded of my own past with my sister, and sorrow welled up inside me. I suppose this man must also miss his sister deeply—that's why he lost his mind."
I sighed, then flew out. Although it was already nine o'clock, the streets were bustling, ablaze with lights, and crowded with people.
I've thought about it; this madman is my only lead. He must have seen the Outcast Village, which drove him insane. But his memories are extremely chaotic—he has no rationality, and his emotions have completely collapsed. If I want to find out anything, I have to talk to him while he's awake. Maybe I'll catch something from his words.
I originally planned to release a Ghost Soul to watch over him, but after thinking it through, if too much Yin energy leaks out, it could harm ordinary people. The madman already looks unhealthy. I returned to the room, where Isabelle Frost was sitting by the window, her crimson eyes fixed on the moonlit lake.
In the distance, I could see campfires—those who couldn't book a room had pitched tents by the lakeshore. There were quite a few people. Seeing them, I couldn't help but worry. There were only four days left until New Year's. If the Outcast Village appears, won't these people be doomed?
"You're worrying unnecessarily, Ethan Zhang. Entering the Outcast Village isn't that easy, and you only get one chance. Miss it, and you'll have to wait another thirteen years."
I immediately stood up and said:
"Miss Yi, I'll leave the investigation of anomalies to you. I'm going to keep watch over Darren Rong."
When I returned, Darren Rong was already fast asleep. I squatted alone on the rooftop, gazing at the bright night sky and the twinkling stars. The Dragon and Rufina Howard's conditions were dire—Yvonne May had already tried, but couldn't cure them. Quinn Lee was also fading away. They were all in Redmond's Hall of Malice, constantly at risk.
Right now, I was still thinking about Dalton Fang. He had already turned into that kind of monster, but John Chou said that if Yvonne May could regain her instincts, even Dalton Fang could be healed and restored to his original self.
At that moment, I sensed something strange coming from the lakeshore. I looked over and saw mist rising from the lake. Feeling uneasy, I quickly floated over, intending to investigate. Suddenly, my eyes widened—a village appeared on the lake surface.
I was stunned—the Outcast Village, an old place built entirely of earthen houses. I saw busy shadows moving about. With a rush, I flew toward it.
In an instant, I, along with Medical Hummer, arrived in the middle of the mist. But all the images around us had vanished—everything was eerily strange. Other than that vision, we didn't sense anything else.
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The whole town was in an uproar. Many people saw the strange scene on the lake—some even took pictures. More and more people crowded toward the lakeshore, and the noise filled all of Nameless Lake.
"What was that just now?"
Isabelle Frost shook her head, and we could only head back.