"It's Ghostblood Grass."
Future Ethan Zhang spoke up immediately, while Past Ethan Justice nodded and continued.
"It looks like this place was formed at the intersection of yin and yang. It's not simply part of the Living World."
"What do you mean?"
I asked, and Future Ethan Zhang looked at me and replied.
"Do you remember when Ethan Zhang fought the Twin Reapers for you and was wounded, and then Yuna Ji took you all somewhere?"
I nodded immediately.
"Exile Town—was it Shadowbane Mountain? Yuna Ji said she needed to find medicine for Ethan Zhang."
Future Ethan Zhang nodded.
"There have always been certain special places in the Living World, much like the realms between yin and yang—places with both yin and yang energies. There are quite a few places like Exile Town in the Living World, like the seams where the two realms meet. In these places, some unique plants grow, which can be used as medicine—not just for humans, but for ghosts as well."
I nodded and looked at the small cluster of red grass that had suddenly appeared on the ground. Past Ethan Justice picked one and held it in his hand, smiling as he spoke.
"In the past, many ghosts used this Ghostblood Grass to heal their wounds. It could restore damaged ghost souls. But later, these places were either taken over by powerful ghosts, or the grass became extinct."
Future Ethan Zhang nodded and said.
"Shadowbane Mountain has always been such a place where yin and yang intersect. It's been this way since ancient times. Many who go up the mountain end up lost. Some might find their way by morning, but others become completely lost, wandering into the ghost realm, and eventually get eaten by ghosts. The sudden appearance of so many ghosts here has finally been explained."
I responded with a hum, and Future Ethan Zhang continued speaking.
Spaces in these places are extremely chaotic. Not only humans, but even ghosts can't easily enter. If you get lost in a zone where yin and yang blend, it's easy to lose your way. Humans who wander into the ghost realm are eaten by ghosts, and ghosts who enter the human world—especially in these desolate mountains—end up consumed by the sun.
The realm between yin and yang is somewhat similar to these places, but fundamentally different. That realm is barren, inhabited only by tortured ghosts who can't escape. Nothing can grow there.
But the land beneath my feet can grow plants, so all sorts of strange medicines—ones that can heal souls and ghost souls—are quietly being nurtured here.
What I know about Shadowbane Mountain outside Exile Town is just like this. Back then, Yuna Ji saw the potential in that place, so she collected a large amount of useful medicinal plants from similar yin-yang blending locations accessible from both the ghost realm and the Living World, and started cultivating them on Shadowbane Mountain, making it her own natural pharmacy.
A long time ago, when The Engineer was modifying Ethan Zhang's still-living body, he actually used a lot of herbs from Shadowbane Mountain. But when Yuna Ji trapped Redmond in Exile Town, all the good medicines from Shadowbane Mountain were harvested by Redmond's followers.
"So that's it. The reason those three went up the mountain to gather herbs must have been to treat someone."
As I spoke, I saw the father and daughter stand up and start walking again. But they didn't pick the Ghostblood Grass. Past Ethan Justice explained that this grass is harmful to humans—it's poisonous.
The father and daughter continued searching every inch of the ground. I had no idea what they were looking for. Suddenly, they both stood up, looking back in terror. The father rushed off, and the daughter quickly followed.
Soon, they reached the spot where they'd split up with their son. They quickly followed the son's path down the mountain. I hurried after them. They soon found the son, who was excitedly pointing at a vibrant flower on the edge of a huge pit. I stared in shock at this strange flower—it had only three petals, each thick, and its base looked like writhing snakes. But getting closer wasn't easy; the slope was treacherously slippery, and most importantly, if you fell into that pit, you'd likely die.
Fortunately, both father and son had ropes, and the three of them began to secure the ropes.
"Dragonblood Flower."
Past Ethan Justice explained, "This is a very rare ghost flower. No one knows when it was first discovered, but if a human eats it, it can restore their soul; if a ghost eats it, it can repair their damaged ghost soul. But it's been many years since I've seen one."
Future Ethan Zhang drifted to the edge of the pit and reached out to sense it.
"It's definitely a genuine Dragonblood Flower. Back when Ethan Zhang's Earth Soul was taken, that old man and old woman used this to restore his three souls."
My eyes widened. I remembered hearing Ethan Zhang mention this before, and it always seemed unbelievable. If one of your souls is taken, you shouldn't be able to survive—most people would die within days.
I kept updating both versions of Ethan Zhang on the situation. The three had secured two ropes, and Future Ethan Zhang spoke.
"That pit probably leads to the ghost realm."
I made a sound of acknowledgment and watched as the father pulled on the rope. The lighter son, with the rope tied around his waist, slowly slid to the edge of the pit. He stared excitedly at the Dragonblood Flower and managed to pick one. He turned back, beaming, and I breathed a sigh of relief—the situation looked extremely dangerous.
But just then, as the son was about to return, a black hand suddenly reached out from the cave—it was a ghost, grabbing the son's foot. He screamed and was instantly dragged down. More black ghost hands emerged, quickly crawling over his body. The father and daughter, unable to see the ghost hands, rushed over along the rope to try to pull him out. I hurriedly explained the situation to both versions of Ethan Zhang.
Then Past Ethan Justice wrapped his arm around me and took me up to the top of the cave to watch. The son kept sinking, screaming desperately, but soon part of his body was already eaten. The rope attached to the son suddenly snapped from the force of the ghosts, and the father and daughter were instantly dragged into the pit.
I cried out in shock as the ghost hands vanished into the pit. Gasping for breath, I stared at everything below.
"Go in."
Future Ethan Zhang spoke, flying in first. Then I felt a flash of bright white light on my body, and two waves of warmth surged from within me. Past Ethan Justice felt it too, and in an instant, we both flew into the cave below. My feelings were complicated—I stared blankly as someone was eaten by ghosts, unable to do anything.
Everything around me was changing. I had no idea why I could see all this, or where we would end up after going down.
"I hope you can understand everything, little girl. From here on, it's up to you."
Suddenly, I heard an old man's voice. When I came to my senses again, I found myself beneath a gray, hazy sky, in a sparse forest. The black soil on the ground reeked of a foul stench. I covered my mouth in disgust—it was clear now, I was in the ghost realm.
As my confusion grew, I heard the sound of crying and hurried over.
"Brother..."
My eyes widened in shock—it was the woman who'd just come down, along with her father. Both were crouched over the son's body, crying. The son's lower half had been eaten, dead for some time. I rushed over to speak to them, but realized my body had become semi-transparent. I stared in disbelief, reaching out—this time, my body had become like air, passing easily through theirs.
After a while, the two finished crying. Unsure of where they were, the father chose to bury the son's body. They remained, grieving by a tree, lost and helpless.
Then I heard a noise. Looking over, I saw a ghost drifting through the woods, crashing to the ground and looking around in terror.
"I won't do it again, never again."
With a whoosh, a black shadow darted out, and a hand pierced the ghost's chest. The ghost screamed and instantly turned to ash. The father and daughter stared in horror at what had just happened. The ghost that came over was a Green Wraith—I recognized him by the faint green aura on his body. He wore an evil smile, but compared to other ghosts, his handsome face had a gentle look.
The ghost did nothing to the father and daughter, instead looking at them with curiosity.
"Where did you two come from? Why does your aura feel so different—and you look pretty tasty, too."
Without a word, the father grabbed his machete and swung at the Green Wraith. But in an instant, the blade twisted into a lump of iron. The Green Wraith picked up the now-ball-shaped machete and weighed it in his hand.
"This isn't something from our world. What exactly are you?"
The father and daughter stared in terror at the Green Wraith, unable to understand what was happening. The daughter was still crying. The Green Wraith squatted in front of her, stuck out his bright red tongue, and licked her cheek. The father grew furious again, but found himself unable to move.
"What's this? It's salty."
"It's... it's a tear."
The Green Wraith stood up, smiling.
"Never mind what you are. Want to come to my place? It's nearby."