A deeply complicated expression appeared on Lan Yin's face. After a long silence, he finally spoke.
"It was the ancestor of the Lan Family, the very first Guide."
The Vermilion Phoenix Spirit nodded.
"Strictly speaking, you are the third Guide, and this girl is the fourth. But after what happened to her, she seems to have completely broken free from the control of the Hades Circle. Can the people of Hades Circle still accept her?"
Lan Yin shook his head, then forced a pale, powerless smile.
"It's only temporary. In this world of the living, Hades Circle can't reach here. But as long as she belongs to Hades Circle, she can never escape its shackles. The fact that she can still use the Spirit Veil says it all."
The Vermilion Phoenix Spirit nodded. I regained a bit of strength, got up, and gently lifted Rachel Lan's clothes, letting her rest on my lap.
"Can you tell me, Lan Yin, what exactly is Hades Circle?"
Lan Yin shook his head.
"I don't know either. You must have seen my memories, right? For the details, you can ask Jason Su, but perhaps those are things he never wishes to recall for the rest of his life."
"Or maybe we..."
Lan Yin immediately fixed his gaze on me and shook his head.
"Ethan Zhang, remember this: If I win, the powers binding those of Hades Circle will be lost, and their curse-like shackles will be broken. This means that if a member of Hades Circle is injured, they won't recover. If they die, even if their mission is unfinished, they won't come back."
I swallowed hard. Behind Lan Yin, a black halo appeared. He stepped into it, then turned back and nodded at me.
"If I fail, Ethan Zhang, one day Roxie will have to face all this. When that time comes, I hope you can stay by her side, just like today's miracle. Go to Oath Island and end everything."
I looked at Lan Yin with a trace of anger. He had already stepped fully into the halo, but just as it disappeared, Lan Yin spoke in a low voice.
"This time, I'm asking you as a friend, Ethan Zhang. I'm sorry—I know what I've done, and for a friend like you..."
"That's enough, Lan Yin..."
I shouted, then looked at Lan Yin.
"I hope the day never comes when Roxie and I have to go to Oath Island. Go on—your wife has waited long enough."
Lan Yin left. Instantly, the suffocating chill in the air vanished. Roxie was still asleep. I remembered when my Genesis Instinct first awakened—afterward, I too slept for a long time.
This newborn world kept expanding. In just a short while, it had grown significantly. The Vermilion Phoenix Spirit gazed at everything around us with satisfaction.
"When this world becomes solid, we'll return here. This time, we will never repeat our past mistakes."
I quietly looked at the Vermilion Phoenix Spirit and asked a question.
"You knew about Lan Yin's plan, so why pretend you didn't?"
The Vermilion Phoenix Spirit lowered its head and looked at me in silence.
"I've known about Lan Yin's intentions for a long time. We were all born from people's faith, so why shouldn't we believe in people ourselves?"
I closed my eyes and smiled faintly. Suddenly, I heard a rustling sound. I looked over as the Spirit Snake slithered toward me.
"Vermilion Phoenix Spirit, if Ethan Zhang really doesn't come back this time, I'll eat you."
Still angry, the Vermilion Phoenix Spirit crouched down, its wings pressed to the ground as if apologizing, eyes closed.
"It's over now, Spirit Snake, let it go."
I muttered, but the Spirit Snake immediately straightened up and flicked its tongue.
"You've fallen into delusion. If it weren't for the Genesis Instinct born in Roxie's body, you'd be finished. Ethan Zhang, if not for that emergency, I would never have done it."
"Alright, alright, I get it."
I tilted my head back and took a deep breath. I planned to leave once Roxie woke up, but I still stood up and looked at the Vermilion Phoenix Spirit.
"Can I leave her to you for now?"
The Vermilion Phoenix Spirit nodded.
I didn't know why, but I had a vague feeling that the Forsaken would eventually choose to come back and help us. It was because of the Earthly Soul.
"Are you planning to leave, Ethan Zhang?"
I looked quietly at Roxie and finally nodded.
"I have to go back and fulfill my promise to the Earthly Soul. I just fell into delusion, and the only reason you found me was because of this Blood Jade, right?"
I asked, and the Vermilion Phoenix Spirit nodded.
"She'll be heartbroken, you know."
I made a sound of acknowledgment.
"There's nothing I can do now. Vermilion Phoenix Spirit, if you can, will you protect Roxie in this newborn world?"
The Vermilion Phoenix Spirit stared at me in confusion, then nodded.
"The Dark Banquet is about to begin. It's the only way—they can't interfere in this world. Do you want me to keep Roxie here, to protect her from being summoned to the Dark Banquet?"
"That's right. Please tell Roxie what's coming. I won't act recklessly. John Chou may be in serious trouble over there, so I need to prepare quickly—there's not much time left."
As I spoke, I waved my hand and a swirl of black energy appeared. The Vermilion Phoenix Spirit quietly watched the thick invitation in my hand. In the lower corner, a string of red numbers showed the start time of the Dark Banquet.
"Only three short months left!"