"I can barely remember anymore, Walter Cao. We met that long ago."
"That's right, Ethan Zhang. We met a long time ago, but you have a poor memory, don't you?"
I watched everything unfold in my memory. I didn't refuse Walter Cao's suggestion and simply followed him. At that time, there was a look of surprise on Walter Cao's face, as if he'd found something interesting. He smiled.
"Young man, what's troubling you? You're about to go to college."
Walter Cao asked, but back then, I only shook my head. I still remember that my cousin, because of a fight, injured someone and was harshly beaten by my uncle and locked up at home, forbidden to go out. He never came to see me again. After the college entrance exam, I basically stayed at home for months.
Nathan Li invited me to go play at the seaside in the distance, but I refused as well.
Walter Cao took me to an old photo studio. At first, I was a little puzzled, but with Walter Cao's explanation, I still went in.
"How about this—I'll take a photo for you. If you're satisfied, just help spread the word among your friends. I won't charge you, how about it?"
The moment friends were mentioned, I saw that my expression back then grew even heavier.
"All these years, you've only lived in your own world. That's not good, you know. Heh."
I nodded and kept watching.
With a stiff face, I walked into the photo room. Walter Cao held a new camera, aiming it at me. I looked nervous—Walter Cao smiled.
"Is something bothering you, young man? Tell me about it, will you?"
But I just shook my head silently and sat there quietly.
"Alright, I'll take a good photo for you. Maybe, after it's done, your troubles will disappear."
Walter Cao walked toward me, smiling. At first, I was dazed, then I nodded absentmindedly. Judging by my expression, I had no interest in what Walter Cao said. If a good photo could really solve my troubles, I wouldn't have to wear such a mask.
"Alright then, I'll help you by taking a good photo of your troubles."
In the end, I nodded, and then Walter Cao returned behind the camera, continually adjusting my position. Finally, he said "cheese" and pressed the shutter.
The scene turned black-and-white, as if frozen in time. The moment the shutter was pressed, something drifted slowly down from the sky.
"Go take a look."
Walter Cao, now a shadow, urged me from beside. I nodded and walked over. In the sky, a photograph drifted down into my hand—it was me.
This was the photo Walter Cao had taken of me. It was good. In the picture, my previously heavy expression had softened, my stiff cheeks relaxed. I looked comfortable and at ease. Though there was no smile, I felt as if the me in the photo was smiling—deep inside.
That joy, rising from within, crept up to my cheeks but didn't show. As I stared in surprise at the photo, Walter Cao stood behind me.
"Why is that?"
I asked, gratitude in my eyes as I looked at Walter Cao. He shook his head.
"Just a whim, Ethan Zhang. Next, I'll go all out. Can you defeat me? Defeat the one called Phantom?"
Walter Cao stared at me. I looked back seriously and nodded.
"Phantom or real, it doesn't matter. You are you, Walter Cao. Whatever is buried deep inside you, I'll use these hands to drag it out. It's engraved in the depths of your soul."
Clenching my fists, the surrounding scene gradually faded away. I regained consciousness—Walter Cao on the ground was gone.
"The photo of my heart—what color, what form is it? Watch closely, Ethan Zhang. You forced me into this, heh."
I looked over—Walter Cao floated above, still wearing that sinister smile. He gripped the Sword Camera in reverse, aiming it at his own chest.
"Whatever it is, bring it on..."
I had already realized it—Walter Cao was still Walter Cao, no matter how many centuries had passed. Even without a heart, he was still himself.
With a hiss, Walter Cao stabbed the Sword Camera into his heart. Then, with a splatter, he coughed up green blood. Instantly, with a click, he pressed the shutter.
"True image, photo of the heart..."
Suddenly, I saw Walter Cao gradually transform into a mass of green, mud-like substance. It squirmed and twisted, glowing with emerald light, writhing and shifting shape as if molded from clay.
"Here it comes, Ethan Zhang. Be careful."
My shadow warned me, but I could already feel it. All around, the photo studios began to dissolve into green points of light, vanishing bit by bit. A vast swarm of green lights filled the pitch-black Ghostrealm, like tens of thousands of fireflies fluttering upward.
I spread my wings and slowly rose, floating in the air. I raised my right hand, and those green particles swirled in my palm. The scene was beautiful and unique—unlike the night skies I'd seen in Exile Town. The green lights here were purer, livelier, almost as if they were alive.
Gradually, all the photo studios around disappeared, leaving only a single, old studio standing lonely in the distance.
Then the green particles gathered toward the mass that Walter Cao had become. The emerald glow grew brighter, almost blinding. I gripped my hands tight—two broken swords appeared in my grasp.
(Irrelevant passage skipped.)
"The fusion of Ghost Soul and Ghost Martial—be careful, Ethan Zhang. This time, it's not so easy to get through."
My shadow spoke. It was the first time I'd heard this term. I readied myself, waiting in silence. I felt a steadily growing ghostly energy, raging winds whipping through, making the space even colder than before.
"It's coming."
My shadow spoke again. With a beastly roar, there was a crack—around Walter Cao, emerald, sparkling particles scattered, falling in large patches to the ground.
Walter Cao had completely changed form. I was stunned—his back was covered in green spikes like a porcupine. His entire body, except for his exposed eyes, was densely packed with emerald spikes, leaving no trace of his original appearance.
For the first time, I saw his eyes—they were gray, hollow, nothing human or ghostly left in them.
Suddenly, Walter Cao curled up, transforming into a spiked green ball and rolled toward me, spinning rapidly. In an instant, he was right in front of me.
I roared, crossed my Deathbane broken swords, and with a bang, a huge force knocked me backward. My defense collapsed instantly, and before me, a large block of black ice formed in a flash.
With a crack, the spinning spiked ball shattered the ice into shards. My first instinct was to dodge—otherwise, I'd be ground to pieces.
I beat my wings with all my might and shot into the air. The spiked ball stopped beneath my feet. Then Walter Cao unfurled, his back arched, and a volley of emerald spikes shot at me one after another.
"So fast."
The moment I spoke, the first emerald spike was already at my eyes. I threw my head back—swish—a burning pain struck my cheek, sharp and stinging. With a crack, in midair, I split into countless tiny snakes.
Hissing, the black Deathbane snakes were instantly sliced in two.
The Deathbane snakes flying everywhere fell to the ground. My whole body throbbed with pain. For a moment, I dared not turn to mist, only split my power apart—this way, the damage would be greatly reduced. Walter Cao still hovered in the air.
The fine Deathbane snakes began to gather. The moment I returned to solid form, I raised my hand—gurgle—a mass of black water appeared before me. At that moment, a dozen emerald spikes shot straight toward where I was.
I roared, raised my right hand, and as the spikes pierced the black water, I clenched my fist—instantly, the spikes froze. I immediately beat my wings and flew toward Walter Cao.
The instant I reached Walter Cao, I swung my Deathbane broken swords at him. Clang, clang—Walter Cao blocked my blades with two emerald spikes, each over a meter long.
Black and green light burst out. Gritting my teeth, I roared and forced Walter Cao down toward the ground.
"Black Mud Swamp..."
I roared. At Walter Cao's landing spot, with a gurgle, black mud splashed up. In an instant, a swamp formed by my Yin energy and Deathbane aura awaited him. I flew at him, threw both hands forward, and hurled my twin Deathbane blades, spinning, toward Walter Cao.