After a long while, I felt utterly powerless, standing silently on the ground. The feeling of being trapped, unable to move forward or retreat, flooded my heart. With the waves of emotion rippling inside me, the Deathbane Aura emanating from my body grew chaotic.
It was just as Wei Chengwu said. Since childhood, I've rarely been happy. I had no friends; the only one who stayed by my side was my cousin. Anyone who got close to me would, sooner or later, run into some kind of misfortune.
Thinking back, even my foster parents suffered misfortunes. Things only started to improve when my father's friend, Master Zachary Wu, came to help me with a golden talisman after that ghost incident.
But by the time I got to university, I was completely unable to fit in. Four years passed with hardly any close friends. It was the same at work—apart from Roger Lee, my relationship with my colleagues was limited to passing greetings.
Thinking of Roger Lee, his son Luo Yang still hasn't been found. Because of Roger, every time our colleagues got together, he was the one who organized it—and he would always drag me along, no matter what.
I can understand why I was fired after just a few days of absence. My relationship with the boss was cold. Many times, he tried to include me, but I always refused.
"That's why being alone is best—no worries, no troubles. Ethan Zhang, sometimes ghosts are a lot like cats. They like to be by themselves."
Suddenly, my shadow spoke, laughing. I looked at it, raised my hand to block, and my shadow scattered like smoke—then gathered again.
"So, from now on, you can be like this too. Alone. Isn't having us enough, Ethan Zhang?"
Suddenly, I looked up at my shadow and shook my head.
"It's true, I'm not like them. Because of my past, my parents, my cousin, Roger Lee, and now so many friends and loved ones from the Ghost Path have helped me. In my darkest hours, they gave me the strength to stand here."
All the chaotic thoughts in my mind vanished. The flames on my body slowly faded, and the darkness within me began to recede.
"Damn it, Ethan Zhang, you turned me black! Watch it, kid—I almost couldn't make it back."
The voice of the Vermilion Bird echoed in my mind.
"Sorry."
Then I looked around, still unable to break through the formation below. My top priority now was to rescue Rufina Howard.
"You filthy Taoist, come out!"
I shouted, scanning the area. I spread my Deathbane Aura everywhere, especially around the pillars, and tried to extend my Specter Web as far as possible. It was almost night, and the area was deserted—likely because the fight at noon scared everyone away.
"If you don't come out, I'll really bring this building down."
I shouted again.
"Stop yelling, Ethan Zhang. Rufina Howard isn't here anymore. I'm just about done. Figure it out yourself, Ethan Zhang."
At that moment, the Taoist's voice came again. I clenched my fists, heart pounding, and shot upward. I must have rushed out while talking with the Blue-Faced Man, Wei Chengwu. The street was already dark as I scanned the area.
Suddenly, there was a loud bang—a blast and flames erupted on a distant street. I hurried toward it, sensing a powerful ghostly energy. It was Vivian Maple.
Getting closer, I saw Vivian Maple holding something—it was the unconscious Rufina Howard. I cried out in shock.
"Told you to wait for me, Ethan Zhang."
Vivian Maple spoke. Only then did I realize the explosion came from a convoy. The overturned vehicles were burning fiercely.
Suddenly, two figures emerged from the burning convoy. I looked closely—they were Red Mask Agents, and they rushed toward us instantly.
"Let's go, Ethan Zhang. Don't waste any more time."
Vivian Maple said calmly, loosening her grip. I quickly caught Rufina Howard. With two swift strikes, the charging Red Mask Agents were sliced into pieces. Vivian Maple sheathed her blade, still holding two throbbing hearts.
Amid the crackling flames, applause rang out. Wei Chengwu stepped from the fire, his suit in tatters.
"Impressive. As expected of Lord Malice's right hand. You've taken the girl back, so we'll leave it at that."
Vivian Maple gripped her sword's scabbard tightly, ghostly energy surging from her in waves. I heard the sword being drawn—just as I looked over, Wei Chengwu raised his right hand and, with a metallic clang, blocked Vivian Maple's attack.
With a thunderous crash, the ground beneath Wei Chengwu caved in. He leapt back, slamming into a building wall. Black blood splattered. Vivian Maple didn't attack again—she just watched quietly as Wei Chengwu began to sink into the wall like mud.
"There's an Unrotting Bone here."
Vivian Maple said each word slowly. I stared at her in surprise.
"Sharp eyes, miss."
In an instant, Wei Chengwu was swallowed by the mud. Then, from the surface, a humanoid figure emerged. I stared in shock—I hadn't sensed any presence of a revenant.
"Luo Yichen, is that you?"
"Heh, since you've recognized me, there's nothing I can do. Vivian Maple, long time no see."
The voice sounded bright and cheerful. I stared in surprise—the revenant on the wall was unrecognizable.
"Why help the Immortality Society?"
"Vivian Maple, no need to ask. Right now it's two against one. You're skilled, but protecting Ethan Zhang and the girl behind you won't be easy. Also, those two hearts you took—please return them."
The revenant called Luo Yichen spoke. Vivian Maple said nothing, just tossed the two beating hearts back. Suddenly, she raised her hand—a crack split open behind her, revealing her Shadow Realm. Inside, dozens of windchime-like objects rang out in clear tones.
"Qingyuan, take the girl inside."
Vivian Maple shouted. Suddenly, a figure made of mud appeared among us.
"It's three against one."
I stared in shock—the revenant had silently appeared before us. Without hesitation, I tossed Rufina Howard into the Shadow Realm, then spread my wings, Deathbane Aura overflowing, and charged at the mud figure.
"Boundless and simple, stars aligned, five stars in a row, Taiping Destiny Array..."
Suddenly, a massive Taiji symbol glowed beneath our feet. The mud figure rushed toward the Shadow Realm, but Vivian Maple shut it instantly.
With two swift slashes, mud splattered everywhere. Vivian Maple appeared before me, blade raised. The air rang with the sound of her blade slicing through, silver bursts of light all around. Vivian Maple cut them all down, then grabbed my collar and, in a flash, we turned into a ball of green light, instantly moving over a hundred meters away.
Three figures stood before me: the Blue-Faced Man, Wei Chengwu, the old Taoist, and a muddy revenant.
"Be careful. There are powerful formations set up nearby. Ethan, find a way to escape—leave this to me."
Vivian Maple spoke as I shook my head. Out here, I felt much better. My Specter Web could now draw earth energy from the ground, and I was gradually recovering.
"Vivian Maple, you'd better hand over the girl. Things aren't looking good for you now."
The revenant, Luo Yichen, spoke again, but Vivian Maple just replied coldly.
"Boss told me to bring the girl back."
With that, Vivian Maple gripped her sword, the green glow around her body growing deeper.
"Let's take down whoever we can, Yichen. We'll support you from the sides."
Wei Chengwu spoke as I glared at them, teeth clenched. Now I understood why the area was deserted at noon—they must have set things up long before.
"Vivian Maple, today it's either you or me. Since your boss gave the order, I know you'd rather die than disobey. But right now, it's three against one, and we're stronger. You can't open your Shadow Realm—any of us could find the girl inside. If it were Noah Grimm here, we'd be doomed. But for now, don't blame us when the fight starts."
I felt a pang of guilt. If Vivian Maple wanted to escape from the three of them, it would be easy—but for me, it was a different story.
"Junior brother, long time no see. I never thought you'd end up siding with those people."
Just then, a golden light shone behind us, and an old voice rang out.
I turned in surprise. A whisk and a pair of righteous eyes—it was my father's old friend, Master Zachary Wu. I stared at him in shock; I hadn't seen him since leaving the Horror Stories.
"Young Zhang, it was your parents who sent me here."