In the Forest of Desire, Vincent Swallow gradually regained his human emotions. After the Old Eccentric entered, Vincent began to smile again. Yet he never lost one habit—his addiction to alcohol. Fortunately, within that forest, after mastering his desires, he could transform the river water into wine at will. His capacity for drink only grew stronger.
"The first time I saw that guy drink, I was so shocked I nearly fell over."
Mr. Blackmask, sitting in the passenger seat, said this. I burst out laughing. Honestly, anyone who saw Vincent Swallow drinking like that would be startled. I nearly passed out just from the aroma of the wine drifting over.
Up ahead, Linland County came into view. On the white bridge, I saw Frank Niu and Mandy Lou. I stared in surprise as Frank Niu waved at us, and Hugh Thompson slowly steered the car toward them.
"You’re here, Ethan. Judging by your look, things aren’t going well, are they?"
I bumped fists with Frank Niu. He looked well, the same as ever—cheerful and joking.
"Cut the crap, Frank Niu. Did you get your job done?"
Hugh Thompson barked, and Frank Niu glanced at Mr. Blackmask and Vincent Swallow before grinning.
"Don’t worry, Hugh. I went myself and checked. The old lady’s still alive. Let’s go, I—"
"You drive Ethan and the others. I’m a bit tired, and I need to have a proper talk with this lady about Huang Jun."
Hu Tianshuo smiled. I looked at Lou Xiaoman, whose face was flushed red, and then I laughed as well. Niu Quanfa got in the car, took the wheel, and drove us straight there. It was just 5 a.m., still early, and it would only take half an hour to reach the village outside the county.
The car started slowly, heading toward the west side of Linland County. I asked Niu Quanfa about his friend’s situation, if there were any leads.
"Don’t mention it, Ethan. No leads yet. By the way, these two friends of yours look pretty formidable. Ethan, you too—it’s been a while, and your eyes seem even sharper now."
I smiled and gave Niu Quanfa a brief introduction to Vincent Swallow and Mr. Blackmask.
Though I was tired in the car, my body felt much lighter and my mind was clear—no trace of sleepiness. We were almost at the small village where Granny Nina lived, and hope flickered in my heart.
I told Vincent Swallow and Mr. Blackmask about Niu Quanfa’s missing friend and the ghost-inviting game.
"There are many kinds of ghosts in this world, each with their own rules and so-called games. The players are always humans—always have been. Whether the ghost wants flesh and blood or to steal a person’s lifespan, let’s set that aside for now. As for your friend, is he still among the living? Judging by your aura, you must be a practitioner from the Mount Mason Order."
Niu Quanfa grunted in response.
"That’s exactly what’s strange. My friend—I’ve tried all sorts of soul-summoning techniques from different sects, but nothing worked. I even invited a master from the Mount Mason Order to calculate his fate, but his birth chart showed him as half-dead, half-alive."
"Oh, that is bizarre indeed."