I quietly gazed at the calm sea. Warm currents surged through my heart again and again. Ethan Zhang had already left. Zachary Justice told me he couldn't appear for long; as he was about to follow Hell's will and depart for Hell, Zachary left Ethan in this Mirror World.
"Daoist Master, what exactly is the story behind Jade Zeng, that female specter?"
I asked, having mostly gathered myself. I decided to return; the knot in my heart had finally unraveled.
"Long ago, when I was still alive, I encountered several people bearing the Hell Imprint. I first heard about the Hell Imprint from Miss Yvonne May. These people are destined from birth to suffer tragic lives, and after death, become ghosts. Those marked by Hell possess immense power, rooted in hatred, anger, and sorrow. After years of investigation, I discovered this is the power of Hell itself."
I looked at Zachary Justice in confusion, wondering why he could still exist in this Mirror World. Zachary should have died long ago.
"Roxie, I truly should have died long ago. But after my death, the power of the Dao kept me here. When you return, you must be careful, Roxie. Hell has already noticed you. It may try to..."
I shook my head and looked at Zachary Justice. He sighed helplessly.
"Hell has noticed me already?"
I nodded.
"Just now, the person I saw was Ethan Zhang, but at the same time, he was also Hell. Daoist Master, I can feel it—Ethan..."
Zachary Justice nodded, smiled, and slowly floated upward.
"This place has existed since the formation of the Yin-Yang worlds. Many ghosts are trapped here, unable to ever leave. Every ghost who enters the Mirror World, without exception, was swallowed by a mirror just like that young lady was."
I stared at Zachary Justice in astonishment. He shook his head, looking somewhat helpless.
"I've investigated for many years. In my life, I've met eleven ghosts whose lifespans were drained by mirrors until they were finally locked inside. All were swallowed by blood-forged mirrors. They could enter the mirror because it devoured everything—shadows and souls alike. Many ghosts remain here, unable to die. I've encountered Jade Zeng several times before; no matter what I tried, I couldn't kill her, only make her disappear temporarily. Roxie, let me send you back."
I made a sound of acknowledgment and thought of Black Moon. Then Zachary Justice raised a hand, and a door made of mirrors appeared before us. I walked right through it. As soon as I stepped out, I was stunned—I had returned to the place where I'd entered from Cao Wanzhi's ghost domain. Zachary Justice still stood on the beach.
"Remember, Roxie, be careful of everything around you."
"Wait, Daoist Master, Black Moon..."
Before I could finish, Zachary Justice closed the door without another word. Something felt strange. The words Jade Zeng said to me earlier lingered—they seemed odd, like I was missing a part of my experience, not just a memory.
"Black Moon."
I shouted again. At that moment, a burst of bright white light surrounded me. I saw Black Moon standing at the street corner opposite, bowing to me.
Black Moon said, "You go on ahead, Roxie Lan. I'll come back with BOSS—that's what I call Ethan Zhang. He can't stay out for long, so I have to figure things out with him here first."
As Black Moon spoke, I felt a force pulling me. I sank into the mirror behind me, instantly engulfed by waves of ghostly energy. I returned to Cao Wanzhi's ghost domain.
"How did you get out?"
Deathcurse asked in confusion. I shook my head, then checked my phone—the time was exactly as when I went in. Just as I thought. I began to explain to everyone what I had seen inside. I took out the scroll Ghost Painting Book Immortal had given me and unrolled it. Everyone looked over. It recorded every path I had walked, but in the middle, there was a segment where the trail jumped a great distance. I kept pulling the scroll until it stretched more than ten meters, finally seeing the path to that beach. Apparently, I had moved very far.
"Have you confirmed, Roxie?"
Ghost Painting Book Immortal asked me. I nodded. Everyone looked at me, puzzled. I didn't know how to explain. Then Cao Wanzhi started laughing.
"Let's talk outside. Staying here too long isn't good for you as a living person."
I acknowledged. Cao Wanzhi opened his ghost domain, and we returned to the steps outside the Hall of Malice. At that moment, Zhang Jizheng approached.
"Daoist Master, I want to ask, is there any technique that allows someone to live inside a mirror?"
Zhang Jizheng shook his head.
"Just because I haven't seen it doesn't mean it doesn't exist."
I brought up Zachary Justice, and Zhang Jizheng looked skeptical.
"If what you say is true, that Daoist Master who was always just a legend among us may have really done something at the moment of death. When a person dies, vital and death energies clash fiercely, and the soul begins to leave the body. Consciousness is lost briefly, awaiting the soul's reformation as a ghost spirit, at which point awareness returns. If some technique could preserve the consciousness at that moment, maybe it's possible. But as you said, Roxie, neither humans nor ghosts can easily enter the Mirror World, and the ghosts trapped inside can't possess the kind of instinct you have—the ability to coexist."
(Irrelevant system message, skip translation.)
I made a sound of acknowledgment, still feeling suspicious, but I didn't want to dwell on it. I decided to prepare and quietly await the coming war. I also had to inform my father that there are three Blood Jade fragments in Snowridge Springs.
"Are you all still planning to stay here?"
I asked. The people around me nodded. I planned to leave and go home. Ethan Zhang said Qi would come looking for me, but I didn't know when. I decided to rest at home for a few days.
We started walking toward the Hall of Malice. Deathcurse told me the exit was behind Redmane's seat. Once inside the hall, I walked to the far end and up the steps. Sure enough, behind a seat, I felt a faint trace of Yang energy. I glanced back at everyone, thanked them again, and stepped through the invisible door.
As soon as I stepped out, I found myself in an alley outside Redmane Entertainment Company. I glanced back and then walked away.
I felt much better, but still a bit uneasy. I didn't know what to do next. After returning to the parking lot, I drove out, looking up at the black energy swirling atop the Redmane Entertainment Company building. The whole company should have been affected, yet people coming and going seemed perfectly fine.
I was happy when I saw Ethan Zhang, but after sensing everything about him, I fell into confusion. I felt the same power in Ethan Zhang as in Jade Zeng. Even though Ethan's will was suppressing Hell's will for now, someday, I might never see him again.
I quietly drove out of the parking lot. Suddenly, I was startled and slammed on the brakes—bang! The car hit someone. But I sighed in relief when I saw the silver-haired girl sitting on the hood. Her perfect profile looked a bit shy, her long silver hair flying in the breeze. Qi was perched on the hood, one hand on the metal, her back to me. I got out and walked over.
"Long time no see, Qi."
I reached out and hugged Qi. She kept her head turned, silent, her eyes full of hidden thoughts.
Qi wore a white vest and black pants, her bare feet showing. I didn't know how she got here or where she came from, but I could tell she wanted to say something to me—she just didn't know how to begin. I felt it the moment I saw her.
"Roxie Lan, you..."
I patted Qi on the forehead and pulled her into the car.
"It's getting late. Come on, I'll buy you some clothes and we'll get something to eat. You can tell me everything, slowly."
Qi responded quietly. I smiled happily, watching her lower her head, feet curled up on the passenger seat, a hint of apology on her face.
"Sorry, Roxie Lan, I..."
"Qi, you don't need to apologize. This is between me and Ethan—no matter how long you've known, you don't have to say a word. Our worlds were never meant to cross."
Qi's eyes widened in shock, but soon her face clouded over, shadowed by sorrow.
"Qi, you are the daughter of Ethan and me—even if you exist in another reality, you are always our child. That truth never changes, no matter the world."
I offered a gentle smile, reaching out to rest my hand on her shoulder. Qi lifted her head, her gaze heavy with unshed tears.
"Dad once said some things can't be stopped. But I was powerless. Mom... Roxie Lan..."
I smiled faintly, shaking my head as if to dispel a lingering shadow.
"All you need to do now is keep me safe. As long as I survive to see Ethan again, that's enough. Who sent you here?"
I asked quietly. Qi hesitated for a long moment before she finally spoke.
"Hell."
From the moment Ethan mentioned it, I suspected as much. But I kept silent—including about Black Moon. Perhaps his loyalty is not truly to Ethan, but to Hell itself.