Wraithshade sat silently on the bed, eyes wide open as he scanned the room. Two or three people had already entered.
"What are you doing? No one should be coming in here."
Leonard Tang spoke up, but was immediately pushed aside. The newcomers began searching the room, and when they spotted the straw under the bed, they walked over. The slave hiding there showed a look of terror.
"There's nothing down here."
Suddenly, Wraithshade spoke. Leonard Tang stared at him in astonishment as a swirl of black mist seeped from Wraithshade’s body, forming a thin fog that enveloped the slave. The newcomers roughly pushed aside the straw and continued searching, but the slave was too terrified to speak, only able to stare at them in horror.
"What's going on? There's nothing here."
The intruders hurriedly left, while the slave’s face was drenched in sweat. After a while, he crawled out from under the bed, looking fearfully at Wraithshade and Leonard Tang.
"Are you people from the Warren Clan?"
"Oh, you know about the Warren Clan?"
The slave before them looked to be in his thirties, no longer fit for hard labor. Leonard Tang asked, puzzled.
"At your age, why would anyone want you?"
"I know a few crafts."
Leonard Tang responded with a brief 'Oh.' Wraithshade fixed his gaze on the slave, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"You know things about the Warren Clan?"
"I've heard bits and pieces. After all, there used to be quite a few Warren Clan people in the May Domain, but now there are almost none. Have you heard the rumors about the May Family? How did they ever gain control of the May Domain?"
"Hurry up and leave. We helped you, so do us a favor and get out of here."
Leonard Tang said impatiently, and the light in the slave’s eyes immediately dimmed.
"Please, just let me stay until nightfall. I promise I’ll leave when it’s dark."
At this moment, Leonard Tang wanted to drive the slave out, but Wraithshade raised his hand to stop him.
"Go ahead, tell us—what’s the real story?"
After the era of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors ended, Huaxia entered a long period of tribal division. Wars gradually broke out everywhere. The May Family, inheriting the bloodline of the Yellow Emperor, grew large and powerful. They sought to emulate the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors by establishing their own territory, waging wars and plundering on all sides.
But the good times didn’t last. The weaker tribes began to unite against the May Family. Both sides fought fiercely, suffering heavy casualties. Among these tribes, there was one that proved to be a tough bone to chew. Despite lacking strength, they won battle after battle against the May Family. Gradually, suspicion arose—the tribe seemed to know the May Family’s troop deployments, even the weather, and where resources were plentiful in the forests.
The May Family sent spies who successfully infiltrated the tribe and discovered they practiced sorcery, all because of something kept on their altar.
To deal with this tribe, the May Family began spreading rumors, claiming the tribe intended to surrender to them. Gradually, the rumors took effect, isolating the tribe from the others. Seizing the opportunity, the May Family annihilated the tribe and seized its greatest treasure.
From then on, the May Family’s fortunes changed for the better. They quickly became masters of the May Domain, enjoying peace and prosperity for more than a hundred years.
“Do you know where that treasure is now?”
The slave before him smiled.
“It’s just a legend. No one has ever seen it. It’s something whispered about in every tribe. Some even say the May Family’s current misfortune is revenge from the spirits of that destroyed tribe.”
Wraithshade stood up, then smiled and patted the slave on the shoulder.
“We’re not of the Warren Clan, nor do we practice witchcraft. The reason they didn’t see you just now was because it was too dark—a mere coincidence. It’s like being in the woods; sometimes, even prey can walk right past you without being noticed, isn’t that so?”
“Actually, the real reason for the May Family’s downfall was the struggle among the brothers.”
At this moment, the slave spoke up.
“It doesn’t matter anymore. I’m heading out. Tang Lan, it’s about time you sent him away.”
As the moon rose, Wraithshade arrived at the palace gates. There were few people around now. If he approached, he’d be conspicuous. In a nearby grove, Wraithshade climbed onto a tree branch, sitting leisurely as he waited for deep night.
Inside the palace, many torches still burned. Wraithshade watched closely—he needed to find May Charm’s residence as soon as possible.
Not until the moon hung high in the sky did Wraithshade climb down from the tree. He walked slowly toward a broken section of the palace wall. Much of it had already been repaired, but no one was guarding it now. He slipped easily over the wall and entered the palace.
“May Lord, are you feeling unwell?”
Nanny Nong looked at May Charm, her face heavy with worry in the firelight. There was no trace of color on May Charm’s face.
May Charm shook her head and gazed outside. It was already late, but soldiers still stood guard.
“Endure it, May Lord. When you have a child, after it is born, things may get better for you because of that child.”
At that moment, the firelight outside suddenly flickered, accompanied by bursts of shouting. Nanny Nong’s face changed instantly; she hurried out. The soldiers outside collapsed one after another, and a man with icy eyes walked in.
“Who are you?”
“Don’t panic. I’m not your enemy.”
Nanny Nong picked up a wooden stick, but May Charm stopped her.
“I’m from that tribe—the one that came for the stone tablet carved with the fanged man’s image. Since you’re from the May Family, you should know about it.”
For a moment, Nanny Nong’s eyes widened as she stared at Wraithshade.
“You’re from that tribe? Impossible...”
A bitter smile flickered in Wraithshade’s eyes.
“It seems you do know. As for why the May Family has fallen into such misery, surely you understand that as well.”
May Charm stared at Wraithshade, who walked into the room. Nanny Nong set down her stick.
“Does nothing matter to you anymore? For you, it’s all stopped—the time you had as a human.”
This chapter has no ending ^.^ Please click next page to continue reading!
Wraithshade spoke, and May Charm asked,
“What do you mean?”
“Why are humans called humans? Because they have hope, a reason to keep living. But you—you don’t care about anything anymore. Even if you died tomorrow, it would mean nothing. Everything in this world is irrelevant to you, so everything about being human has stopped for you, hasn’t it?”
May Charm stood up, pointing off into the distance.
“What you want is beneath the throne in the royal palace.”
“Thank you.”
Wraithshade turned and left the room, but May Charm suddenly stopped.
“If you truly wish for release one day, just take this thing. It will let you die without pain.”
As Wraithshade spoke, he took out a small black object, about the size of a fingernail, and handed it to Nanny Nong.
“What’s with this guy…?”
“For her, death might be the best release. Are you blind?”
Nanny Nong was about to curse, but Wraithshade’s words silenced her. She lowered her head, looking helplessly at May Charm.
“The reason people live is because they have a purpose. At first, it’s just to survive. But once survival is secured, many other goals appear. To achieve those goals, people use their own hands to carve out their future. But you’re different. You only see corpses walking, flesh moving—maybe that’s all you are now.”
Leaving May Charm’s residence, Wraithshade quickly found the royal palace. The empty palace was deserted. At the far end, atop the dais, was a stone chair. As Wraithshade approached, his face lit up with joy.
“When things reach their extreme, they must reverse. It seems you’ve finally tasted bitter fruit. The fate of souls enslaved is to become slaves themselves—no wonder this place is so heavy with gloom.”
Upon closer inspection, Wraithshade found the palace seemed long abandoned, covered in dust. He searched around the throne, and under a beast-hide rug, found a hollow compartment. Opening it, Wraithshade saw a white box radiating black mist, carved with a sharp-toothed human face—chilling to look at. At the top, a small black object protruded.
“It was once a pure thing. Now it’s grown cold and sinister. Haha, but that’s just right—I like it.”
Saying this, Wraithshade placed his hand on the black protrusion. With a snap, he broke it off. Suddenly, black mist poured from the box, and the palace filled with wailing cries. Wraithshade stood, laughing aloud.
“Good, very good. Come to me quickly—this is truly your home.”
Streams of black mist poured into Wraithshade’s body. He slowly floated upward, black light enveloping everything—even moonlight couldn’t penetrate.
After a long while, the sky turned pitch black. Dark clouds shrouded the moon, and rain began to fall. Wraithshade walked out from the palace.
“Indeed, the souls of my own tribe are far superior to those caught elsewhere. For me, that’s true, Father.”
With a roar, a ghost with ferocious eyes suddenly appeared on Wraithshade’s spine, black mist overflowing.
“Aren’t you now just like what I said? No matter how you dislike the cold and darkness, one day we all become such things—ghosts are just that.”
“May Lord, don’t be like this.”
Nanny Nong cried out, kneeling on the ground, clutching May Charm’s hand. In her hand was the black pill.
“It doesn’t matter anymore. I’ve had enough.”
“May Lord, do you still remember the promise you made with the princess of the Howard Family? Didn’t you want to return to Howard City? To see her again? If you bear a child, we’ll find a chance to go back together. By then, Princess Howard will be grown—she’ll welcome us.”
May Charm managed a faint smile, then shook her head, opened her mouth, and swallowed the pill.
“It’s too late. Everything is already… I can’t resist my fate anymore.”