Half the night remained. The three of us sat quietly, gazing at the waterfall in the distance, its current flowing upstream. We hadn't spoken for a long while, and the wind occasionally brushed past us.
Master Frank Yuan and Lord Shenyan both looked troubled, but neither seemed willing to speak about it.
"Master, do you know the origin of the Blood Jade inside my body?"
Master Frank Yuan shook his head.
"There is no proper record of this thing in history. The first time I heard about it was over thirteen hundred years ago. However, it seems that many Blue Wraiths in the ghostly arts have heard of this legend."
I made a sound of acknowledgment, and Lord Shenyan glanced at me and spoke.
"The Blood Jade came into being because jade itself is gentle in nature and exists between yin and yang, making it an excellent medium. Many practitioners in the arts of commanding ghosts use jade artifacts as mediums to control spirits. Some ghosts, for certain reasons, will enter the jade, absorbing the yang energy of its wearer. The legend of Blood Jade has long been popular among ghosts: it is said that the blood of someone who died unjustly fell onto the jade before death, and after death, their spirit became a vengeful ghost, using the blood and jade as a medium to enter the Blood Jade, merging with it. That is why it is called Blood Jade. These jades often end up in antique shops, and anyone who buys one is sure to encounter disaster. It's a sinister kind of jade, and the ghost inside can never escape."
Hearing this, I grew puzzled. I remembered that I had indeed found this Blood Jade in that antique shop, and I bought it to deal with the evil ghost from Wisteria Residence—the one that haunted my nightmares. But to think the jade actually sealed the soul of the Wraithlord was truly unbelievable.
I recounted this series of events to Master Frank Yuan, who pondered for a moment before speaking.
"Perhaps someone did this on purpose. There is another detail in the Blood Jade legend: it can enhance the power of the spirit inside."
Lord Shenyan made a sound of acknowledgment.
"You should have a way to suppress the Blood Jade inside Ethan Zhang, right?"
Lord Shenyan asked, and this time Master Frank Yuan shook his head.
"I have no way. Neither Buddhist nor Daoist powers can help. Only the Deathbane can suppress the Blood Jade."
I immediately looked at Master Frank Yuan, realizing that by 'Deathbane,' he meant the Deathbane Ghost.
But when we arrived here, I hadn't seen the Deathbane Ghost anywhere. I remembered that when the Earthly Soul left, the Deathbane Ghost was sealed by Master Frank Yuan.
"Is it the Deathbane Ghost?"
I asked immediately, and Master Frank Yuan nodded.
"So-called Deathbane has always referred to something malevolent. Deathbane is a harbinger of calamity. To suppress something, you must understand its nature. In this world, whether human, ghost, or otherwise, all fear calamity. Deathbane energy is the only tangible force among these intangible things."
I made a sound of acknowledgment, and Master Frank Yuan looked at me with a cheerful smile before continuing.
"Let's set this matter aside for now. You should all rest and recover over the next few days."
We stayed until dawn. Rachel Lan rose early and made a simple breakfast. My cousin came over after eating, and we resumed yesterday's third chess match.
My cousin, who was originally uninterested in chess, seemed to have changed these past few days. He often sparred with Lord Shenyan, losing at first, but by the third morning, they drew.
Lord Shenyan's chess style had subtly shifted these days. Master Frank Yuan was delighted, and this subtle change was brought about by my cousin's chaotic moves.
After the final chess game ended, my cousin said, still dissatisfied.
"Ah, I finally found an opportunity. Next time, I swear I'll beat you."
Lord Shenyan smiled and nodded. After lunch, we stood at the entrance of Hidden Falls Temple. Master Frank Yuan planned to release the Deathbane Ghost today, and my task was to reach coexistence with it, using Deathbane power to suppress the Blood Jade inside me.
Master Frank Yuan sat quietly at the temple entrance. Hidden Falls Temple had a unique trait: no matter how fierce the fighting outside, it was never affected in the slightest.
"It will be a bitter struggle, Ethan," he said.
I made a sound of acknowledgment and glanced at Rachel Lan beside me. She nodded encouragingly.
The beauty's condition was dire. Ever since nearly being melted last time, Xi Shi had shown no response inside my body. I extended my hands, and Deathbane energy gradually condensed, forming two Deathbane swords. With a crack, both swords shattered in my grip.
Lord Shenyan stared for a moment before speaking.
"To improve the quality, you need stronger suppression. Ethan, you still can't manage it yet."
I nodded and formed two Deathbane swords again. Then I saw the dust on the ground slowly rise—a blood-red swastika appeared before Master Frank Yuan, marking where the Deathbane Ghost was sealed.
Gradually, the sand grains on the ground began to float. I gripped the Deathbane swords tightly, my body crouched. The swastika slowly changed color, the red fading away, then a cracking sound echoed.
"Damn monk, I'll kill you."
Suddenly, cracks appeared in the ground, followed by a furious roar. With a boom, Deathbane energy erupted from the fissure like a geyser. Amidst it, I saw a glint of golden-red—the eyes of the Deathbane Ghost.
A black humanoid figure leaped from the torrent of Deathbane energy, reaching for Master Frank Yuan.
With a crash, the ground beneath Master Frank Yuan caved in and cracked apart. I watched anxiously, but Master Frank Yuan was already standing beside us.
"Go, Ethan. Perhaps you are the only one in the world who can resolve him."
With a whoosh, I was flung out, standing opposite the Deathbane Ghost. He was still searching for Master Frank Yuan's shadow, but soon noticed me. Deathbane energy flowed endlessly from his body, and only here did I realize its volume was limitless and its density immense.
"So that's how it is, Ethan Zhang. We've met again—or rather, we've finally met."
The Deathbane Ghost laughed coldly. I raised my Deathbane sword, but in an instant, he flew toward me.
"Your body is mine now."
With a bang and a creak, I bent my body, crossing my two swords to block his grasp. Instantly, a surge of wild Deathbane energy crashed over me like a raging tide. The Deathbane in my body also seemed to sense something and burst out violently.
"Heh, what's the use of these toys anyway?"
With a crack, my Deathbane sword shattered again. I shot upward, wild Deathbane energy slammed into the ground, then immediately chased after me. I raised both hands, sending black wind blades slicing through the Deathbane energy, but it was as if knives sank into the sea—no effect at all.
I quickly changed direction and flew toward the cliff edge. As soon as I stopped, the massive Deathbane energy vanished, and the Deathbane Ghost attacked with a Deathbane sword.
Two clangs rang out as we clashed. My two Deathbane swords shattered instantly. I let go, and two new swords appeared in my hands.
"Useless! Hahaha!"
The Deathbane Ghost swung his sword wildly, constantly shattering mine, but never actually striking me—almost as if he were toying with me.
Though anger simmered inside me, I had to stay calm now.
With a bang, my Deathbane sword shattered again. The force sent me crashing to the ground. The airborne Deathbane Ghost attacked, and I quietly watched his every move. His attacks were erratic, but each blow seemed to grow stronger. I had to find a way to counter him.
With a boom, I shifted into black mist to dodge. The spot I'd just stood on instantly caved in, forming a deep trench. The Deathbane Ghost lunged after me, thrusting a hand into my mist form, and I felt his grip on my hand.
With a whoosh, the Deathbane Ghost dragged me from the mist, throwing me aside. I crashed heavily to the ground. Suddenly, he sat on top of me, gripping my neck and pressing down hard.
I felt Deathbane energy slowly invade my body. This Deathbane was fundamentally different from what was already inside me—its quality was distinct. The Deathbane Ghost's energy was gradually eroding my body, even my consciousness.
The Deathbane in my body was slowly being assimilated by the Deathbane Ghost.
"Heh, it's been ages since I've felt this good. Just give me your body—it's useless anyway. For trash like you, living is just another kind of torment."
My eyes widened, anger surging from deep within. With a roar, a black arm burst from my chest, grabbing the Deathbane Ghost's hand and slowly pushing him away from my body.
"Manifesting instinct, huh? Useless."
Taking advantage of that brief opening, I rolled to the side, gripping a Deathbane sword and slashing at the Deathbane Ghost.
With a swish, I severed his outstretched arm. The Deathbane Ghost's eyes filled with disbelief as he silently stared at me. I stood, panting, with my Deathbane sword raised.
"No, that's the Deathbane I injected into your body, not your original energy."
I gasped in surprise.
"My instinct is called 'Coexistence.'"
The Deathbane Ghost burst into wild laughter. His arm regenerated, and his eyes turned cold as he stared at me.
"Interesting."