"Where did you go?"
Poison Dreadstar stared suspiciously at the returning Wraithshade. Just moments ago, Wraithshade's eyes had shown a rare gravity before he vanished through the wall. Now, after only half an hour, he returned with a look of excitement, as if he'd discovered something interesting.
"You don't need to ask. When the time comes, you'll know."
With just those few words, Wraithshade sat cross-legged in the corner and closed his eyes.
Poison Dreadstar looked annoyed. She stormed out of the room, went downstairs, and found the lights still on in the shop. She asked the boy for some wine and food, pouring herself a drink. Though she was still upset, the thought of Irene Yi coming over filled her with joy.
"That blockhead is always like this. So many things he just won't tell me."
The sound of footsteps made Poison Dreadstar look up. A disheveled man walked in—it was Elder Peach.
"Master, come have a drink with me."
Poison Dreadstar ordered more wine. After Elder Peach sat down, he grabbed the wine pot and began gulping it down, unable to understand why his master had made such a decision.
"He clearly has five years of life left. Why would he do this?"
Poison Dreadstar giggled.
"Your master probably didn't act on impulse."
"Miss Lucy, what do you mean?"
Poison Dreadstar sipped her wine, quietly staring at Elder Peach.
"I don't know. Think about it yourself. Aren't you two master and disciple?"
As Poison Dreadstar spoke, she suddenly glanced up toward the second floor. Wraithshade stood in the darkness beyond the reach of candlelight, silently watching them. Beside him was another ghost—its origin unknown.
"I have only five years left to live. What difference does it make? Every day is more painful than the last. Now, at last, I'm free. The matter I spoke to you about before—please keep it secret. Don't tell anyone except yourself."
Wraithshade looked at Elder Peter Pine, who had already become a wraith, and nodded.
"Master, what exactly do you want me to do for your disciple?"
"You can win for a moment, but not forever. I've known about Muzi's fate for a long time. He showed signs of death well before this. I tried everything I could, but nothing worked. Last time, he was nearly killed by a wraith, a sign his doom was near. Maybe in the next few days, the calamity that could end Muzi's life will arrive."
Wraithshade watched Elder Peach drinking below, puzzled. He could see the black aura—death energy—surrounding him, a sign his time was running out. But the timing was unclear. Unlike others he'd seen near death, Elder Peach's black aura was tinged with a golden light within his body.
"Master, what did you do to your disciple?"
Elder Peter Pine nodded.
"It's a technique that only works if I die. I transferred everything I have to Elder Peach. But with his calamity approaching, the ritual takes too long—I'm afraid Elder Peach won't last until then."
"So you want me to help?"
Elder Peter Pine nodded.
"We're the last hope of this branch of the Mount Mason Order. If Elder Peach dies, I'll have failed the Immortal Masters. So even if I have to use this method, I want to save Elder Peach's life."
Fear flickered in Elder Peter Pine's eyes. Wraithshade couldn't quite understand—given his abilities, removing the death energy from Elder Peach shouldn't be difficult.
"I'll give it a try."
After Wraithshade went downstairs, Elder Peach stared blankly, already drunk.