After returning home, Lan Yin seemed to undergo a complete transformation. He resumed collecting souls, as if a long-standing knot in his heart had finally been untied, thanks in part to Mo Yu's involvement. Deep down, he hoped Mo Yu could be with the one she loved. As for what happened after he left, Lan Yin knew nothing.
His parents also felt that Lan Yin had finally grown up. However, soon after, they forced him to get married. Only later did Lan Yin learn about Mo Yu's situation—by then, Mo Yu seemed to have become a completely different person.
"Sigh, it's all my fault. If I hadn't tattled back then, things might not have turned out this way. I still remember the last thing Mo Yu said to me: 'You'll never know what we people of the Hades Circle have to bear.'"
Wang Su spoke, letting out a long sigh, then stood up and began to pace slowly. His face was filled with regret, yet he seemed indifferent.
Wang Su spoke as he walked into the room on the right. After a short while, he emerged holding a large red flower ball made of silk. As I looked closer, I saw it was stained with many dark red spots—blood.
That was my first reaction, and I couldn't help but ask.
"What exactly is this?"
Wang Su walked over and handed me the flower ball.
"Your instincts are special, Xiao Zhang. From here on, there are things I don't fully understand. You'll have to use your own eyes to see the truth for yourself."
I let out a sound of surprise, staring blankly at Wang Su. He smiled as I took the flower ball from him.
"Ethan, go and see for yourself. Maybe it will help you understand some things."
Vincent Swallow said this, and I nodded. Staring at the red silk flower ball, stained with dark red blood, I began to slowly transform my body into a ghost. Strands of black Specter Web drifted through the flower ball, weaving their way inside. Gradually, I began to sense a trace of joy.
It was a smile. Suddenly, in my mind, I saw the smile of a woman. Blood streamed from her mouth, eyes, and nose, but her smile was as warm as a spring breeze—bright, pure, and clear.
Then, blackness began to appear before my eyes. Bit by bit, my vision faded until I could see nothing ahead. Once again, I found myself in that realm of black and white interwoven space.
Standing before me was a woman—her face thin, willow-shaped eyebrows, dressed in a white gauze gown, her hair pinned up. She was always smiling, looking beautiful. She extended her pale hand and beckoned to me.
"Are you... Mo Yu?"
I asked, and the woman nodded.
"What is going on?"
"It's just a lingering consciousness, nothing more."
At that moment, my shadow appeared and then walked up to Mo Yu. With a wave of its hand, Mo Yu faded away like a wisp of smoke.
"What are you doing?"
As I spoke, I noticed a cluster of white light where Mo Yu had disappeared.
"It's better not to look, Ethan Zhang. Other people's memories aren't worth seeing. Hurry and go back."
"Why?"
I asked. My shadow leaned in close, its golden eyes staring intently at me.
"After all, some things—even if you could know them—you still couldn't change them."
"Don't listen to him."
"Yes, yes, don't listen to him."
Two voices rang out. They sounded very familiar—my own. Turning around, I saw two identical versions of myself: one gray, one black. They were the Tong Ghost and the Resentful Ghost.
"What are you two punks doing out here? Get lost—I'm the boss here, and what I say goes."
I looked at my shadow, then at the Tong Ghost and the Resentful Ghost.
"All of you, shut the hell up! You're all inside my body, aren't you?"
As soon as I said that, the three of them started arguing, completely ignoring me. The three of them stood together, hurling insults at each other, paying me no mind at all.
"Ow!"
I saw my shadow make a move, punching the Tong Ghost in the eye. The Tong Ghost clutched his eye and started yelling.
"You little punk, you dare hit me?"
"Yeah, I hit you. So what?"
As soon as my shadow finished speaking, the Tong Ghost started shouting.
"Bro, get him! Don't go easy on him."
In an instant, just as I was about to stop them, I saw the three of them brawling together. The Resentful Ghost lunged at my shadow, grabbing his legs and pulling him to the ground. The Tong Ghost jumped on top and started raining punches down.
"Take that! Take that!"
The Tong Ghost shouted as he punched. I blinked—why were the three of them fighting like children? I couldn't be bothered with them. My shadow was completely overpowered by the Resentful Ghost and the Tong Ghost, pinned to the ground and beaten, howling all the while.
"Despicable! The two of you are ganging up on me!"
My shadow said, looking at me.
"What are you standing there for, Ethan Zhang? Aren't you going to help?"
"No way," I said, plopping down on the ground and laughing out loud.
My shadow could only cover his face with his hands as the Tong Ghost kept beating him. I was a bit puzzled—why weren't they using their powers?
"Before, he could do whatever he wanted. But now that the two of us are here, it's safer if you control your own power. After all, that punk doesn't have good intentions."
The Resentful Ghost looked at me and said this. I responded with an 'oh.'
"Stop fighting, stop fighting! If you keep this up, I'll kill you..."
My shadow roared in anger, but the Tong Ghost still didn't stop.
"You think I'll stop just because you say so? You were so arrogant before—used to do whatever you wanted, and Ethan Zhang had to listen to you. But things are different now. Heh, we brothers know all your tricks."
"Alright, enough! If you keep this up, I'm going to get mad."
I said, walking over and pulling the three of them apart. Then I stared in surprise at my shadow—one eye was squinted, and though everything but the golden eyes was pitch black, his face was swollen in several places, as if he'd been beaten up.
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"Can you three get along? Stop messing around. When I need to fight, if you don't cooperate, I'm screwed!"
I spoke up immediately. The Tong Ghost and the Resentful Ghost nodded, came over, and started saying nice things to my shadow. My shadow just shook them off and pushed them aside.
"That's a separate matter, Ethan Zhang. Just you wait—you didn't help me just now."
With that, my shadow disappeared, while the Tong Ghost and the Resentful Ghost danced around, spinning each other in circles.
I watched them with a blank expression—how could they be so much like children? I asked.
"What exactly is that lingering memory?"
"That woman... she was so pitiful," said the Tong Ghost. The Resentful Ghost nodded.
"Go see for yourself, Ethan Zhang."
I smiled and looked at them.
"What exactly are you two? Can you tell me?"
"We're your ghosts, Ethan Zhang." In an instant, I saw the smiles vanish from the faces of the Tong Ghost and the Resentful Ghost, replaced by blank expressions. I didn't know what to say—seemed I wouldn't get any answers.
"Alright, someday you'll tell me your story. So, if I touch that light, will I be able to see Mo Yu's memories?"
Both of me nodded at the same time. I smiled, thanked them, and walked toward the light. As I touched it, I began to lose consciousness bit by bit.
The joyful sound of drums and suona horns, a cacophony of noise, rang out continuously. I woke up.
"Here comes the bride!"
As a woman's voice echoed, I saw a bridal sedan chair, carried by four bearers, entering through a vermillion-red gate. The place was filled with guests, like a wedding feast. Scanning the crowd, I spotted a young man approaching, a brilliant red silk ball pinned to his chest—the traditional symbol of a groom.
He had regular features and a bright, happy smile. For some reason, he reminded me of someone—I couldn't quite place it. After a moment's scrutiny, I realized his smile bore a striking resemblance to Uncle Mo's.
From the murmurs around me, I learned the man's name was Lan Yin. I stared in surprise at the sedan chair as two maidservants helped the bride out.
It was Mo Yu—I recognized her instantly and hurried closer. Another person entered behind them, stern-faced, with dark skin, a sword at his side, dressed in black. He kept his eyes fixed on the bride as she stepped over the fire basin—a custom meant to ward off evil and bring blessings.
Behind them came a group of serious-looking men, like bodyguards. After entering, they spread out around the courtyard, standing guard.
"Brother Lan, today is your wedding day, but there are some things I’m unsure whether I should say."
"Please, Brother Wang."
I quickly followed. These two—one was Lan Yin, the other must be Wang Su. Inside the inner room, Lan Yin pulled Wang Su aside into a corner.
"Brother Wang, is it really necessary to bring such a big entourage? Surely you’re not worried Miss Mo Yu will try to run away?"
"Sorry, Brother Lan. According to the Trial Marriage Stone, the child you and Miss Mo Yu have may inherit the Lan family’s role as Soul Collector. I hope you’ll consider this carefully. I know you resent many things about the Hades Circle, but I hope you’ll put the greater good first."
"Alright, Brother Wang, you haven’t changed a bit. Today is my wedding, and I truly care for Miss Mo Yu. Rest assured, I won’t let her leave. But until I have a child, please take the people from the Hades Circle back."
"The Ten Soul Collectors of the Hades Circle are deeply concerned about your marriage. Until you have an heir, they will not leave."
With that, Wang Su bowed and left.
"What now? He’s as stubborn as a stone in a latrine."