"Boss Chang, is your wife feeling better? She cut her hair, I almost didn’t recognize her."
I smiled as I busied myself grilling food. Heavenly Soul was behind me, washing dishes. Rachel Lan and Sylvia Blue were greeting customers, both wearing bright smiles, looking genuinely happy.
I’d already told them everything. With Rachel Lan just back, I planned to quietly enjoy a few days like this before thinking about what comes next.
I kept busy until closing time, then gathered everything up, ready to cook a proper meal for Rachel Lan.
"Qingyuan, you seem much happier these days."
Rachel Lan said this, resting her chin on her hand, gazing at me. Sylvia Blue sprawled on the table, her stomach growling. Heavenly Soul sat down, quietly drinking.
"Yeah, after so long in this darkness, I feel I’ve changed a lot. I don’t get anxious over things right in front of me anymore."
I never asked what exactly the Founding Emperors taught Rachel Lan. She’d said if I wanted to know, she’d tell me everything without holding back, but I just smiled and shook my head.
"It’ll take another year to make this negotiation happen. That’s a long time."
I grunted in response. After I got back, Old Cat explained to me that the people from Old Hell and New Hell don’t really belong to this world. They can’t set foot here. Even if the Dark Will lets them come, it’s incredibly difficult. Unlike me, they don’t have such convenient instincts—they have to slowly push their intent into the darkness, eventually creating a path that lets their avatars cross over. The only reason John Chou can contact me is because I still have his Deathstone.
"It really is a long time. During this period, I hope I can find the Dao Sect."
Heavenly Soul looked at me in confusion. I spoke.
"If it’s really as Emperor God said—no resurrection for the Wraithlord, just lifting the restriction on his Three Souls—maybe the Dao Sect’s power could help."
"Indeed, the Dao Sect’s power is capable of that. Even if the Wraithlord is released, if we combine the Dao Sect’s strength with others, we might still be able to suppress him."
Rachel Lan looked out the window, smiling contentedly.
"It sounds so far away from us. War—wherever there are people, there’s conflict. It’s always been that way. People are supposed to be wise, yet they repeat the same mistakes, again and again."
"It’s precisely because we’re human that conflict is unavoidable. Everyone’s birth and experiences are different. Even if our beliefs are similar, there’ll always be tiny differences—and those differences are the root of all conflict."
Rachel Lan glanced at Heavenly Soul and smiled thoughtfully.
"Back with Lord Wraith, thank you. I once heard a voice—was that you? Guiding me to find Qingyuan?"
Heavenly Soul nodded. Once I finished grilling, I sat down.
"Let’s not talk about these troubling things while drinking."
Late at night, I carried the completely drunk Rachel Lan on my back. Heavenly Soul carried Sylvia Blue. We headed toward my place.
"They really can’t hold their liquor. Just a little and they’re out."
"Yeah. By the way, in a few days I plan to visit Elder Peach and ask if there’s any way to speak directly with the Dao."
Heavenly Soul smiled and replied with a soft grunt.
"You’re so anxious to find a solution—when you went to the Underworld Court, what did you see?"
I asked seriously.
"It was the Wraithlord. Maybe he’s not as we imagine. When the gods were furious, this world was supposed to be destroyed, but he alone bore their wrath. Maybe, as he said, the world owes him."
"Everyone has their own thoughts and considerations. That’s why we can’t change anything, Qingyuan. Remember, there’s no such thing as perfection in this world."
I looked quietly at Heavenly Soul, and soon understood what he was trying to tell me.
After getting home, I settled Rachel Lan and Sylvia Blue in the bedroom and returned to the living room. They were both completely drunk—it was a disaster. As soon as they got drunk, they started rambling nonsense. Luckily, Heavenly Soul suggested I give them a bit more to drink, and only then did they finally quiet down.
"As far as I know, true members of the Daoist sect don’t get involved in conflicts lightly. They believe in nature and growing alongside it. The Mount Mason Order is an exception. Whether they’ll get involved this time is still unknown."
"Nothing to be done. Things have come to this point—if we can resolve it quickly, I can focus on dealing with the Immortality Society."
Just thinking about the Immortality Society gives me a headache. They’re a bunch of unrepentant bastards—words are useless with people like that.
Early the next morning, Heavenly Soul and I headed out. It looked like Rachel Lan and Sylvia Blue would be sleeping until noon.
After taking care of everything at the shop, I made them some porridge. Near noon, they finally got up, both holding their heads, faces pale.
"Don’t drink so much next time."
"Qingyuan, did I say anything last night?"
Rachel Lan’s face suddenly turned red. I shook my head.
"I’m never drinking this stuff again. Why do you guys even like it?"