Tears overflowed uncontrollably. Seeing Miles Mao, I was overwhelmed with emotion. For so many years, this matter has haunted both Ethan Zhang and me. We discussed countless times where the Ghost Burial Squad members were taken by the Immortality Society, but not a single clue surfaced.
Afterward, I asked Hu Tianshuo several times, but still no news—like a lifetime had passed. I could hardly believe my eyes; Miles Mao hadn’t changed much, except he now seemed more mature and steady.
“Are you alright, Roxie? I’ve been so worried about you. Ever since I heard about Ethan Zhang, I couldn’t even eat. Are you okay?”
Choking back tears, I shook my head and patted Vivian Ouyang’s back. Miles Mao, though smiling, had a serious look as he surveyed everything around us, already taking out talismans and seemingly preparing a ritual array.
I wiped away the tears at the corner of my eyes and spoke.
"It’s alright, Vivian. Miles Mao, what are you doing? By the way, how did you two get in here?"
I looked in surprise at Miles Mao crouched on the ground, biting his finger to set up the ritual array.
“Roxie, let’s not talk now. We need to call for help as soon as possible. We’re no match for the Green Wraith (Evan Zhao). Is that Born Evil Ghost, John Chou, not around?”
I looked at Miles Mao and Vivian Ouyang in confusion. When Vivian raised her head, I sensed something strange in their eyes—hostility.
I’d been dragged into this ghost domain while asleep, devoured by that bastard Wu Rong. Just thinking about it made me furious—he did it while I was sleeping! But Wu Rong is truly formidable. Vivian Ouyang was the same as ever, but Miles Mao seemed much stronger than before. I could see the flames inside him burning even brighter than before.
With the abilities those two possess, there’s no way they could break into the Shadow Realm, so I was puzzled as to how they got in.
"I have no idea what John Chou is up to; I haven’t seen him in days. But how did you two find this place?"
Roxie, this is the truth. That Born Evil Ghost, John Chou, used Ethan Zhang, just to regain his power. Ethan was a fool, completely exploited by those ghosts and the bastards from the underworld. Think about it, Roxie—why did he bring you here? Haven’t you realized? He used up Ethan Zhang and now wants to use you too. Roxie, don’t you...
"Miles Mao, I have to hand it to you—remembering such a complex formation. I really underestimated you."
Miles Mao turned back, anger burning in his eyes. I blinked, not understanding why he was so furious.
"Hey, hey, I was just joking! You’re not actually mad, are you?"
Roxie, wake up! That Born Evil Ghost, John Chou, wants to use you. Ethan was a fool, and he’s gone now. I don’t want... I don’t want anything bad to happen to you too.
“Roxie, are you alright? Did that Born Evil Ghost, John Chou, do something to you again?”
I looked at the two in front of me, puzzled. The hostility in their eyes was directed at John Chou.
"Hey, what’s wrong with you two? I just came with John Chou to train a bit, that’s all. Nothing’s happened. But what’s going on with you?"
Earlier, they were subdued by the Green Wraith (Evan Zhao). After questioning them, the Green Wraith sensed other boats on the sea and left. Then, they were swallowed whole and locked in a room made of spectral energy. Miles Mao used a powerful attack spell to break the room, and they escaped, ending up here. They knew this was the Shadow Realm. After exploring for a while, they found the living dead on the island and hid here.
None of that matters now. We need to get out fast. If the Green Wraith (Evan Zhao) comes back, we won’t be able to escape. We came to rescue you.
Choking up, I stared blankly at the two before me.
“Roxie, this is the truth. That Born Evil Ghost, John Chou, used Ethan Zhang, just to regain his power. Ethan was a fool, completely exploited by those ghosts and the bastards from the underworld. Think about it, Roxie—why did he bring you here? Haven’t you realized? He used up Ethan Zhang and now wants to use you too. Roxie, don’t you...”
What are you saying, Roxie? You should have realized this long ago—we all discussed it together. Born Evil Ghost, John Chou, is the reason he clung to Ethan, to use him for his own ends.
"Vivian, Ethan’s death has nothing to do with anyone else. Please don’t blame others. I respect Ethan’s choice, and whatever the outcome, I will honor it."
Vivian Ouyang shook my shoulders and shouted.
“Roxie, wake up! That Born Evil Ghost, John Chou, wants to use you. Ethan was a fool, and he’s gone now. I don’t want anything bad to happen to you too.”
Vivian Ouyang began to cry. My heart trembled. Miles Mao was still anxiously looking around. I held Vivian Ouyang as she buried her face in my arms, quietly sobbing.
"How did you two get in here, anyway?"
I asked again, and Miles Mao turned his head impatiently to answer.
Earlier, they were subdued by the Green Wraith (Evan Zhao). After questioning them, the Green Wraith sensed other boats on the sea and left. Then, they were swallowed whole and locked in a room made of spectral energy. Miles Mao used a powerful attack spell to break the room, and they escaped, ending up here. They knew this was the Shadow Realm. After exploring for a while, they found the living dead on the island and hid here.
“None of that matters now. We need to get out fast. If the Green Wraith (Evan Zhao) comes back, we won’t be able to escape. We came to rescue you.”
I pushed Vivian Ouyang away and quietly looked at them, my mind in turmoil. I didn’t know how they learned of Ethan’s death, but the truth definitely wasn’t what they claimed—that John Chou used Ethan to regain his power. Although it seemed that way, it wasn’t the real truth, just the surface of things.
Enough, Roxie.
A deep voice rang out. Instantly, Miles Mao pulled out a purple talisman, which crackled loudly as a bolt of purple lightning shot to the left. With a snap, nothing happened—the talisman turned black and crumbled to ash, and the ritual array was destroyed.
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Vivian Ouyang cried out in surprise. I widened my eyes and kept shaking my head. They didn’t know about Ethan’s origins—how he went from nothing to being taught by John Chou and finally becoming human. No evil ghost would bother with something like that. I never cared much about John Chou, just found him annoying, the scheming, manipulative type I hated. But I saw his true character with my own eyes.
After these days of effort, I gradually understood why Ethan could grow so strong in such a short time. It was all thanks to John Chou. He really was an excellent teacher, though he’d never admit it—he’s proud and cares a lot about his reputation, hates being exposed. I know this well. John Chou is definitely not the evil ghost they say he is.
It’s just a farce, John Chou. I told you long ago, Roxie isn’t an idiot.
I looked at them both seriously. Their faces showed confusion, as if they thought I’d been bewitched by an evil ghost. I smiled, pressing my hand over my heart.
"Maybe before, I couldn’t feel it. Most of the time I could only watch. But now, I can sense so much more. What used to just brush past my eyes and ears is now deep in my heart. I trust John Chou..."
“Are you out of your mind, Roxie? Didn’t you used to hate all these ghosts?”
Miles Mao looked at me in panic. I paused, then continued speaking.
"Because Ethan once said that trust is the hardest thing for us humans. Do we ignore everything we hear just because of what’s in front of us? Or forget the heart we have as humans because of everything we hear? So..."
“Enough, Roxie.”
A deep voice rang out. Instantly, Miles Mao pulled out a purple talisman, which crackled loudly as a bolt of purple lightning shot to the left. With a snap, nothing happened—the talisman turned black and crumbled to ash, and the ritual array was destroyed.
"Ethan Zhang... no, Earthly Soul."
Everything’s been distorted. Remember, Roxie—the Ethan Zhang I know is the same as the one you know.
"When did you get here? Are you conspiring with John Chou again?"
“It’s just a farce, John Chou. I told you long ago, Roxie isn’t an idiot.”
What people say outside doesn’t concern me, Roxie. This farce is over. Talk some sense into your two friends. If they keep making trouble...
"John Chou, what are you scheming now?"
As I spoke, I immediately sensed a fierce killing intent coming from Earthly Soul.
"What are you trying to do?"
"They have no reason to exist anymore. Let me send them off, so they can report to the cycle of reincarnation."
My eyes widened and I rushed over, grabbing Earthly Soul’s raised hand, staring at him.
"Can you back off? Earthly Soul, this has nothing to do with you."
Earthly Soul turned with a cold laugh, then snarled.
“Everything’s been distorted. Remember, Roxie—the Ethan Zhang I know is the same as the one you know.”
As Earthly Soul spoke, he turned into a streak of black lightning and vanished. I looked at John Chou, who gave a cold laugh.
"John Chou, why do people outside say you used Ethan Zhang..."
“What people say outside doesn’t concern me, Roxie. This farce is over. Talk some sense into your two friends. If they keep making trouble...”
I waved my hand.
"Alright, alright, John Chou, just stay out of this. You don’t need to get involved."
John Chou also left, while the two before me stared at me in surprise.
"Vivian, Miles Mao, I hope you both can go back and tell everyone that John Chou never used Ethan Zhang—never, not once. Maybe it looks that way to you, but what’s the truth? They never tried to use each other. They were just friends!"