The city had returned to its usual calm. People filled the streets, and in just a few hours, everything had been repaired—as if the previous battle had never happened. But now it was certain: the thirteen members of the Immortality Society had been subdued by the Dark Banquet.
"It looks like the three factions have started working together."
Howard Zhang muttered something, and I nodded. Two days had passed already. In just one more week, we’d be able to enter the Moonshadow Refuge.
The Death Curse still hadn’t appeared. We didn’t know if something had happened to him. These past few days, I kept thinking about the look Xu Fu gave—like victory was already his, even though he’d been restrained.
"Howard Zhang, the Dark Banquet probably knows more about Xu Fu’s situation than we do. What we need to do now is find out which experimental subjects in this ring-shaped city are hiding the light."
I've already released all my Seven Ghost Souls, but finding it won’t be easy. If the Dark Banquet dared to tell us, they’re not afraid of us finding it.
What puzzled Howard Zhang and me most was that none of the Arcane Society members could be found. Even Vincent Swallow, who’d moved here earlier, had disappeared. Not long ago, I’d seen Elder Peach once.
Even Brother Owen, who studied at the school where John Chou once taught, was gone.
Howard Zhang and I kept running the barbecue shop, with nothing to do but wait. When the time came, we’d use the black vines to enter the Moonshadow Refuge.
After working all night, Howard Zhang and I drank together again.
This was the only proof we still lived in this darkness. I knew Howard Zhang was nearing his limit. Lately, he often talked to me about the past, about Susan Li, and about how, with Master’s help at Universal Temple, his children finally stopped going hungry.
It’s all longing—longing for the real world. That’s what keeps Howard Zhang going.
"Howard Zhang, you know, I used to think about this a lot. Ever since we touched this world, everything we had changed. Honestly, I’m scared—of people, of ghosts. But every time I feel that way, I think of you, Howard Zhang, and everything you’ve done. You should be even more afraid than me."
I smiled and clinked glasses with Howard Zhang.
"At first, I was terrified. Ghosts suddenly appearing in front of me... But then I realized, ghosts are just like people. Enough talk, Howard Zhang, let’s keep drinking—tonight, we’re not leaving until we’re drunk."
I never knew how to comfort people, so I decided to drink and talk with Howard Zhang. Since childhood, it was always Howard Zhang comforting me. Whenever things went wrong, after playing with him, all my worries vanished.
After a while, Howard Zhang passed out drunk, snoring at the table. I took my drink and sat at the doorway, staring at the empty street.
Maybe this is the real world, but it’s too obscure. It was created for some purpose.
"Humans really are terrifying creatures."
Deep down, I vaguely remembered the warmth humans once gave me. But now, there’s a strange feeling—humans can be so cold.
Just like those people who carry out their daily routines—numb and indifferent.
I stood up and looked into the distance. Earthly Soul was coming back.
With a swoosh, Earthly Soul landed in front of me, grabbed the bottle from my hand, and gulped down a good amount. He let out a long breath—his whole body was covered in wounds.
"What exactly were you doing?"
"Those black humanoids are really strong. I couldn’t beat a single one."
I stared in surprise, then smiled.
"Did you know there was a conflict between the Dark Banquet and the Immortality Society?"
Earthly Soul nodded.
"Of course I know. The Dark Banquet must be desperate now. Wraithshade has vanished."
"Why don’t we tell them the location of the Unreal Covenant and trade it for the light they have?"
As I spoke, Earthly Soul shook his head decisively.
"Those people aren’t trustworthy either. What we need to do is wait for the right moment. Don’t panic just because time is running out and we might not be able to go back. As long as there’s a chance, we’re fine. But if we force our way through, we’ll end up at a disadvantage."
I nodded. Earthly Soul and I carried my cousin and headed home.
"Looks like Wraithshade is the core of the Dark Banquet’s artificial soul research."
"Maybe no one understands ghosts better than him."
Back home, nothing had changed. I put my cousin on the bed and went up to the third-floor living room.
Earthly Soul stood by the window. He didn’t seem so anxious anymore.
"There are still so many unknown things in this world—powerful and pure. Reaching that level is hard."
Earthly Soul muttered to himself. I walked over.
"What are those black humanoids planning here, anyway?"
"Maybe they’re like we once were—drawn to the light of the human world, wanting to imitate people, curious about humanity."
I thought of the Heavenly Soul. Ever since coming to this darkness, I hadn’t felt his presence—not once. It was as if he’d left my body and gone somewhere else.
"By the way, Zhang Qingyuan, if you ever return to the Living World, what will you do?"
For a moment, my mind went blank. I couldn’t answer Earthly Soul’s question.
"I don’t know either. Maybe I’ll focus on the Immortality Society again. If I don’t deal with them, I’ll never have peace."
"When I get back, I’m going to find the other Forsaken, help them strengthen their powers."
Earthly Soul stated his purpose outright.
"What are they to you, really? I remember you said before—they’re your soldiers, and you want to be king."
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Earthly Soul sneered and nodded.
"Just as you understand, Zhang Qingyuan."
Days passed in anxiety. The Dark Banquet didn’t send anyone. Finally, the day came when we could enter the Moonshadow Refuge.
"I’m not going in."
"What’s wrong?"
I asked. Earthly Soul sat on the table and shook his head.
"You two go in and deliver the message. I’ll stand guard here, just in case the Dark Banquet tries anything."
"Thanks."
My cousin shook his head too, saying he wouldn’t go in either. After all, he wasn’t familiar with those Ghost Sovereigns.
I grasped the vine—black now—and it began to move, slowly wrapping around me, enclosing me until I lost consciousness.
When I opened my eyes again, I was sitting on the sand sea, staring up at the long-lost moon. From a mansion ahead, the sound of mahjong drifted out.
"Brother, it’s been a long time."
Yin Choujian stood in front of me with a broad smile, reaching out his hand. I grabbed it and stood up.
After I explained everything that had happened lately, all the Ghost Sovereigns looked grim. I didn’t mention Qi.
"What exactly is Wraithshade planning?"
Ji Yuner muttered in annoyance. Ouyang Meng snorted coldly.
"Of course it’s for the Soul Fragment of the Wraithlord. Isn’t it obvious? He joined the Dark Banquet, but technically he’s not one of them. I bet the other three fragments are in their hands."
Yin Choujian said nothing, quietly watching the arguing Ghost Sovereigns. Redmane was so angry he was about to explode.
"Those bastards—I’ve had enough!"
"Redmane, I think it’s better to wait and do nothing, just like Earthly Soul said—wait for the right moment."
Bo Ziran said this, but Redmane immediately retorted.
"Wait for the right moment? If we just keep waiting, that chance will never come. If we don’t act now, in ten days it’ll be our last chance to go back—do you really want to wait decades more?"
Everyone went silent. No one wanted to keep waiting. But now, only Bo Ziran, Redmane, and Ji Yuner—the three Ghost Sovereigns—could still fight. The rest had Synthetic Souls inside them, sealing their powers.
Yin Choujian’s power was almost gone. Together, our strength might not even match the Immortality Society—we couldn’t take on the Dark Banquet head-on.
"If you ask me, we shouldn’t do anything—just wait for the Dark Banquet to come to us. They’re desperate to find Wraithshade for a reason."
Ouyang Meng said this, and at that moment, Yin Choujian stood up and smiled.
"If you want to know the Dark Banquet’s real goal, you’ll have to ask Tan Tian."
I stared in surprise. Everyone looked at Yin Choujian in disbelief.
"Isn’t Tan Tian in the Asura Realm?"
I asked, confused. Yin Choujian nodded.
"This is our last resort, brother. You’ll have to go to the Asura Realm and talk to Tan Tian. There’s no other way—if we don’t figure out the Dark Banquet’s goal, we can’t act. Instead of guessing, go ask Tan Tian in the Asura Realm."
"Will he really tell me?"
Yin Choujian laughed.
"Of course—unless he wants to spend the rest of his life in the Asura Realm."
"Yin Choujian, you’re a sly one—so you had a backup plan."
Redmane grumbled, clearly upset that Yin Choujian hadn’t told him about this.
"Don’t worry about it. I’d already planned ahead. When Zhuang Bo took Tan Tian to the Asura Realm, I had Zhuang Bo leave a back door. Somewhere in this darkness, there’s a path—once you enter the Asura Realm, that path closes behind you."
As Yin Choujian spoke, a red mist began to rise from his body, and slowly, a suit of armor appeared.
"Is that the Warden’s Armor?"
Stunned, I stared at him. Yin Choujian nodded.