In the dead of night, when all was silent, the black figure known as Deathbane Wraith drifted out of the room.
"Are you planning to go find that guy?"
"It's strange, you know. The feeling I get from him—don't you sense it too?"
Faced with White Peacemaker's question, Deathbane Wraith replied.
"Indeed. Today, when Lao Chongyuan entered the house, a power neither of us had ever encountered before appeared."
"I already know where that guy is."
With that, Deathbane Wraith sank into the ground, following the earth's veins as he headed eastward.
In an old, long-abandoned temple, the head of the idol had already cracked and half of it had fallen off. The statue was covered in dust, cobwebs filled the corners, and the floor was a mess. When the wind blew in, the protruding wooden beams would creak, and debris and dust would fall to the ground.
In front of the idol sat a tall, burly man with long hair. His gray linen clothes were tattered, and he held a jug of wine, gulping it down. The man's gaze was as sharp and cold as a hawk's.
But at this moment, a strange excitement flickered in those cold eyes.
"Finally found you, John Chou. Heh."
With a clatter of chains, the man's face suddenly changed, glaring furiously at his own chest, where a ferocious human face tattoo was surrounded by black chains.
Now the chains were moving, writhing on the man's body, and the tattooed face came to life.
"Hmph, Lord Shenyan, you were completely deceived by John Chou back then. Everything now is the result of your own wrongdoing."
"Quentin Kue, mind your own business. I chose this willingly. As long as it's something he asks me to do, I have no regrets."
Lord Shenyan quietly stared at the ground in front of him. With a bang, he hurled the wine jug in his hand, splashing wine everywhere.
"Come out! Who's there?"
With a whoosh, Deathbane Wraith burst out from the ground, grinning and laughing loudly.
"You're very strange."
Suddenly, Lord Shenyan stepped up to Deathbane Wraith and pressed a hand to his forehead.
"A being without desire."
Deathbane Wraith immediately closed his eyes.
"If you want to find John Chou, I've already told Gray Humanoid Entity. I can tell you where John Chou is. How about it?"
Lord Shenyan released his hand and shouted harshly.
"Speak! Where is he exactly?"
With a whoosh, Lord Shenyan immediately shot upward, but in an instant, he crashed back down to the ground.
"Quentin Kue, stop meddling. What exactly are you trying to do?"
"Still trying to find John Chou? You're nothing but a pawn to him. Don't you get it?"
Suddenly, a white flame ignited on Lord Shenyan's body, twisting his face in agony.
"My affairs are none of your business. Give me back my consciousness."
Deathbane Wraith watched from the side, curiously leaning closer. Suddenly, Lord Shenyan's eyes widened and he grabbed Deathbane Wraith by the throat.
"Tell me, where exactly is John Chou?"
The look of pain gradually faded from his face.
"Are you sick? I've never heard of a ghost getting sick before."
Lord Shenyan shook his head, his eyes full of joy.
"Let's go. I'll take you there."
A gentle breeze swept by, the flames flickered, and Huangfu Ruofei sat quietly before the fire, staring into the flames. It was late at night, and she couldn't sleep.
"What's wrong, little girl? Regretting it? After making such a decision, everything you've seen must make you uncomfortable."
Huangfu Ruofei nodded, then shook her head.
"That's not it, Uncle Zhuang. I'm just wondering why people can disregard everything else for themselves."
"A long time ago, when the young master was still human, he said people are hypocritical animals. It's a necessary trait for survival. No matter how good a person is, no matter how high they stand, there's no such thing as someone without selfishness. You're the same, little girl. I'm sorry."
Mr. Brown spoke sincerely. Rufina Howard lifted her head and asked in confusion.
"Why are you apologizing, Mr. Brown?"
"I peeked into your heart without permission. You still have feelings for Pan Ming, so you made your own choice—that's selfishness. As for those three, you feel responsible for them, so things turned out this way."
Rufina Howard's eyes dimmed. She lowered her head, then let out a long sigh and shook her head.
"It's fine. Maybe that's just how women are. Because I'm a woman, I fell in love with someone I shouldn't have. It's ridiculous, isn't it?"
Mr. Brown smiled and nodded.
"Look at that guy. Why do you think he follows you? Maybe I understand a little now."
Mr. Brown pointed at the Gray Humanoid Entity. Although he was on John Chou's side, his gaze was always fixed on Rufina Howard.
"Maybe it's because I was the first to notice them."
"Because of the kindness in your heart. He may not have emotions, but he was drawn to that goodness. Those entities can peer into people's hearts—even without feelings, before you do something kind, you never consider gain or loss. Maybe that's what attracted him. He wants to become human, to be someone like you."
At that moment, Mr. Brown's expression suddenly changed. He looked east, where a streak of fiery red light was rapidly approaching.
With a thunderous crash, Rufina Howard stared in surprise at the ragged, smiling figure before her.
"Found you, John Chou. Now we can fulfill our promise."
"Wait, Lord Shenyan!"
Mr. Brown hurriedly tried to stop Lord Shenyan, but with a burst of flame, Lord Shenyan rushed toward the place where John Chou was sealed.
Sizzling sounds filled the air as flames ignited on Lord Shenyan's hand. A barrier blocked his path, gradually breaking down his power.
With a bang, Lord Shenyan was thrown backward. Landing on one knee, he stared intently at the faint red barrier.
"There's no way to fulfill it now—this promise."
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With a bang, Lord Shenyan slammed his fist into the ground, glaring furiously at John Chou.
"How long will it take before you can kill me? Tell me, John Chou! I can't take it anymore. This guilt keeps growing inside me, and now you look like this, ah..."
Suddenly, Lord Shenyan stood up and roared, his body enveloped in crimson flames. The ground began to scorch and melt. Mr. Brown quickly dragged Rufina Howard and the Gray Humanoid Entity behind him, releasing a surge of green ghostly energy that formed a barrier. The ground around them turned into rolling lava.
Flames shot skyward as Lord Shenyan clenched his fists and turned sideways, preparing to charge straight ahead.
"Just wait. I'll bring you out now, John Chou."
Suddenly, the flames on Lord Shenyan's body vanished. He clutched his chest in pain and fell to one knee, while loud laughter echoed from within him.
"Don't waste your strength. This is the power of the Three Realms. With your strength, you can't break through, Lord Shenyan. Not only will you fail, but you'll be consumed as well."
Suddenly, Mr. Brown appeared behind Lord Shenyan and placed both hands on his shoulders.
"Calm down, Lord Shenyan. What exactly happened after the young master sent you to the Ghost Realm years ago?"
With a ripping sound, Lord Shenyan's robe tore apart, revealing black chains and Quentin Kue's face.
"So that's how it is!"
John Chou smiled and sat cross-legged on the ground.
"Zhong Zhengnan, you and Ji Yun'er plotted to kill me, but fate had other plans. I didn't go to the Ghost Realm myself—I sent Lord Shenyan instead. Now you're suffering the consequences, which is only fitting."
"Bah, John Chou! You coward, always scheming behind the scenes. If I weren't like this, I'd come out right now..."
Lord Shenyan clutched his head in agony as Mr. Brown kept channeling ghostly energy into him.
"It looks like the two ghost souls have completely merged. Their ghostly energies keep clashing—this is bad. If either side loses, they'll be completely devoured by the other."
As Mr. Brown spoke, Lord Shenyan's face gradually relaxed, and the Quentin Kue tattoo stopped moving.
"Lord Shenyan, it's been so long. The young master has never blamed you. Why are you so obsessed with having him kill you?"
"It's all my fault. I ruined the Yin family, and Miss Yi is probably still suffering. No matter how many years pass, right is right and wrong is wrong. What I did was wrong. If I don't die, there will be no peace—the guilt will only grow heavier."
Mr. Brown sighed helplessly as John Chou held his forehead, looking utterly defeated.