In an instant, it was as if Lan Yin had been saved—and the one who rescued him was his own son, Leonard Lane. Not yet four years old, Leonard had already been chosen as the next of the Ten Guides, the spiritual mediators of the Hades Circle.
But upon hearing this news, Judy Luo, as his mother, grew quietly troubled. The Hades Circle was sending someone to take Leonard directly to Hades Village, where the current Ten Guides would personally raise and instruct him in their traditions.
One night, after Lan Yin and Lan Miu returned from drinking, Lan Yin seemed in high spirits. For the past ten days, he had been happy, completely oblivious to the changes in his wife.
"Husband..."
Judy Luo finally spoke, unable to sit still any longer. The usual gentleness on her face was gone, replaced by urgency as she frowned, staring anxiously at Lan Yin, who was already lying in bed.
"If you have something to say, just say it."
Lan Yin finally noticed something unusual. He sat up and looked quietly at his wife.
Judy Luo burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably. This scene shocked Lan Yin—he had never seen Judy like this, utterly heartbroken and helpless. Lan Yin reached out to comfort her, but his hand stopped midair, powerless to do anything.
"Tell me, what is it?"
Lan Yin's voice was cold. Although Judy Luo was used to it, tonight that coldness cut like a knife, piercing her heart. She lowered her head, then stood up, shook her head, and left without a word.
The person sent to take Leonard arrived, and took him away from Judy Luo's side. Leonard would be allowed to return when he turned ten. Lan Yin felt reluctant, but remained silent. Only Judy Luo watched as her crying son was carried off, leaving the manor behind.
Lan Miu stood by in silence. He didn't know what to do or say; the matter was settled.
In the days that followed, Lan Yin acted a bit more like a father, spending time with his second daughter and third son, teaching them to read and about Hades Circle traditions—customs and beliefs unique to their underworld lineage. Yet he seemed detached, never once asking about Leonard.
"Fallen into darkness, never to see the light again."
One day, Lan Miu suddenly muttered this phrase. Lan Yin was playing with his children and daughter, but the words caught his attention. Looking at Lan Miu, he saw a face full of melancholy and nostalgia, as if he were about to leave for a distant place, yet reluctant to go.
"Can you have a drink with me tonight?"
Lan Yin seemed to understand something and nodded. Lan Miu picked up his two great-grandchildren, showered them with affection, then left with Lan Yin. The two went to Springdew Tavern, reserved the entire place, and began drinking before nightfall. By dusk, both were already thoroughly drunk.
It wasn't until midnight that they finally sobered up.
"By the way, what did you mean by what you said earlier—fallen into darkness, never to see the light again?"
Lan Miu chuckled, and the two continued drinking.
"It doesn't mean anything special. I just wanted to have a good drink with you today."
Lan Yin responded with an 'oh,' and then Lan Miu asked a question.
"Don't you miss Qier?"
Lan Yin's expression froze, and he silently nodded.
"You've been avoiding it. When it comes to the matter of the Guides, even if it's not entirely your own will, you really have been running away. You left such a heavy burden to Qier. Do you know why Xiaojun cried that night?"
Lan Yin shook his head. Lan Miu chuckled and said.
"Maybe she wanted to beg you!"
"What do you mean?"
Lan Miu stood up and walked to the window.
"She wanted to beg you to save your son, because she doesn't think Qier is fit to be the Guide. On the contrary, she thinks you are the most suitable."
"Why?"
Lan Miu immediately shook his head.
"There's not always a reason. It's just a feeling. I think so too—you are the only one in the Lan Family truly suited for the role of Guide."
Lan Yin forced a bitter smile. Deep down, he didn't believe Lan Miu's words at all. After so many years, he knew this old man was a master at manipulating others' minds. Many times, he had unknowingly learned a lot from him.
"Do you know when you'll die?"
Lan Miu asked. Suddenly, Lan Yin stood up and shook his head.
"What do you mean by that?"
A great shadow emerged in Lan Yin's heart—fear. He should no longer be the Guide's successor, yet he didn't know his own death date. The people of Hades always know the exact age and time they will die; they learn this as soon as they come of age.
When he was a child, as soon as Lan Yin became aware, he learned he would only live to 61, dying at the hour of You. But after becoming the Guide's successor, his death date vanished.
"What exactly is going on?"
Lan Miu shook his head.
It wasn't until their two children, Lancy Lane and Lan Yi, grew a little older that the couple started going out together to collect souls.
Suddenly, Lan Miu's expression changed. He walked up to Lan Yin, placing both hands on his shoulders, his face grave.
What surprised Lan Yin was that, though his wife seemed frail, her mastery of Soul Silk was far greater than his. In all of Hades Circle, except for the Ten Guides, he had never seen anyone stronger than Judy Luo. In Soul Silk and Paper God arts, she far surpassed him.
Judy Luo was happy the whole way. Though tired, the couple worked day and night, collecting souls as if united in purpose.
Lan Yin was shocked. He had never seen Lan Miu so heartbroken before. It was as if tears that had been bottled up for years finally found an outlet and burst forth all at once.
"Thank you, Wang Su. I hear you've inherited the Wang Family's Ten Guides. Congratulations."
"Are you dying?"
"Leonard should be back in a few days. He's been recognized by the other Ten Guides. He's changed a lot over these seven years. At first, you two might have trouble getting along, but take it slow."
"If you look at it from the boundary of life and death, yes, I'm dying. But if you see it from the perspective of destruction and rebirth, maybe I'm about to get another chance at life."
"What do you mean?"
Lan Miu looked quietly at Lan Yin.
"Promise me, Lan Yin. This is the only request I've ever made in my life. I've never begged anyone before, but I want to beg you—have pity on the Lan Family. For any family to last this long is a miracle, and our Lan Family has completely fallen. Only you can change the Lan Family, maybe even influence Hades itself."
Lan Yin silently took a sip of wine, let out a long sigh, then tilted his head back. After a while, he lowered it and nodded.
"I will teach the Lan Family's descendants to have faith. That's all I can promise you. As for their life and death, I won't interfere."
Lan Miu smiled. They talked for hours that night, drank a lot, and spoke mostly of the past. By dawn, the two of them slowly walked out of Springdew Tavern.
"Fallen into darkness, never to see the light again."
"What did you say..."
Still somewhat drunk, Lan Yin stared in shock at the clothes lying on the ground beside him—they belonged to Lan Miu. It was as if Lan Miu had vanished into thin air; there was no trace of him anywhere.
At first, Lan Yin thought Lan Miu was playing a prank. But months passed, and Lan Miu was nowhere to be found. Even Hades Village had no idea of his whereabouts. What shocked Lan Yin most was that Lan Miu's name had vanished from the family genealogy.
For a time, Lan Yin began to miss Lan Miu. But life had to go on, and both he and his wife still had unfinished tasks. They could only take turns going out to collect souls.
It wasn't until their two children, Lan Xin and Lan Yi, grew a little older that the couple started going out together to collect souls.
Lan Yin decided to finish everything before Leonard returned. He found an old friend, Wang Su, to help look after the children, and then he and his wife traveled the world, tirelessly collecting souls.
What surprised Lan Yin was that, though his wife seemed frail, her mastery of Soul Silk was far greater than his. In all of Hades, except for the Guide, he had never seen anyone stronger than Judy Luo. In Soul Silk and Paper God arts, she far surpassed him.
Judy Luo was happy the whole way. Though tired, the couple worked day and night, collecting souls as if united in purpose.
Seven years passed quickly. Lan Yin and his wife returned home. Their two children, now seven and six, joyfully embraced their long-lost parents.
"Thank you, Wang Su. I hear you've inherited the Wang Family's Guide. Congratulations."
Wang Su smiled and shook his head. He showed no sign of arrogance before Lan Yin.
"Leonard should be back in a few days. He's been recognized by the other Guides. He's changed a lot over these seven years. At first, you two might have trouble getting along, but take it slow."
The day Lan Yin returned, he and his wife personally cooked a large meal, quietly waiting for their son to come home.
Leonard returned. Just like Lan Yin as a child, his skin was smooth as cream and fair. Though only just over ten years old, his looks were already strikingly handsome.
"Leonard."
Judy Luo ran over joyfully, wanting to embrace the son she had longed for day and night. But she was stopped by Leonard's unfamiliar, distant gaze, and froze in place.
"I've come back only to take the Lan Family's rights from you—from the disgraceful failure that you are."
In that instant, Lan Yin stared blankly at his son. There was no trace of affection; it was as if a stranger stood before him.
Leonard brought many members of the branch families with him. His extraordinary talent was already known throughout Hades. From the moment he became aware, he had worked hard at everything, and by the age of ten, he was already considered one of the best in Hades.
Yet this son defined Lan Yin as the disgrace of the Lan Family. Once again, Lan Yin felt the pain of a heart being cut by a knife, but he knew he deserved it—he called it retribution.