Within just a few days, I had completely adapted to this feeling and learned a lot about what was going on. The shop’s business remained booming, and recently, quite a few people had returned to District Thirteen.
Prices in other districts were much higher than in District Thirteen. Most people had moved away earlier due to housing issues, but after Redmond left, the real estate empire he and Yuna Ji had built collapsed, and most of the houses reverted to their original owners.
Some old regulars who had left came back and immediately visited my shop to celebrate. But what concerned me most now was Elder Peach and Old Cat—both were still missing. I planned to go to Emperor Huang’s Domain tonight and ask those three guys directly.
“Boss Chang, the customers at that table want an extra order of pork intestines.”
The Replicator looked respectful as he helped me manage the shop. After Yin Chou and the others left, I let him go, and naturally, he learned I had been directly chosen by the Will of Darkness. As the sixth person in the darkness, I was to be respected by them.
It was as if The Replicator had suddenly changed his nature; his attitude toward me was now completely different. I wasn’t used to it, so I nodded and said:
“Go take a break. Let me….”
“No need, Boss Chang. If there’s anything to do, just say the word.”
I responded with a hum and kept grilling food.
It was deep into the night before the last table of customers finally left. I told The Replicator to go home, made myself a few small dishes, and quietly drank, waiting.
Though I don't know who I'm waiting for, deep down I sense someone will come looking for me tonight. So I didn't go home.
It's already 4 a.m. The street is completely deserted, and I'm still waiting.
Just then, the door shook, and a cane extended inside first.
"I knew you'd come. These past few days, I've felt a strange aura all around me, Old Cat."
A gentle laugh echoed. Old Cat walked in slowly and sat down. I glanced at the wine glass on the table, focused my intent, and a swirl of black mist lifted the glass and bottle, filled them, and set the drink before Old Cat.
"What kind of deal did you make with those three? That day, you deliberately put on a show in front of The Wraithlord. What was your real motive?"
I asked, my face serious. Old Cat took a sip of wine and shook his head helplessly.
"Now I can tell you, Qingyuan. Or rather, The Watcher."
"The Dao Sect and Zen Order both have secret dealings with those three from The Dark Banquet. Their urgency at the start had a reason. It wasn't just some ridiculous experiment, as they claimed. The experiment was only a small part—along with those Deathbane Wraiths from the Unreal."
Old Cat nodded.
"Those three have never trusted Wraithshade, nor have they ever trusted anyone outside the Will of Darkness."
I stared in shock, and in that instant, I felt something. I smiled.
"Tom Eternal. Old Cat, that's your name in this darkness, isn't it?"
I quietly took a sip of wine and spoke. Old Cat nodded. The moment the thought crossed my mind, the name Tom Eternal appeared in my head—a secret Old Cat had kept hidden. He was always one who walked out of this darkness.
"Souls are truly incredible things. In this darkness, after more than a year, I finally remembered: I am the second one to be granted a true name by the Will of Darkness. So now that we both have its recognition, I can tell you—I entered the Living World by accident, and did so as a Dual Soul."
I swallowed. Old Cat began to speak quietly.
A long time ago, the Will of Darkness gave Old Cat a mission: to go to the Living World and open a passage connecting darkness to the Living World. Old Cat accepted, and through special means, succeeded in entering the Sanzu Force as a Dual Soul, then blended into the Human Realm.
At first, everything went smoothly. But Old Cat was never meant to exist in the Living World—not even his Dual Soul belonged to any of the Six Paths of Reincarnation. From birth, Divine Law discovered him and cast judgment, trying to expel him. That's why Old Cat always says he's a cat by nature.
Sometimes, there are days in the Living World that shouldn't exist—gaps formed by the cycles of the Six Paths of Reincarnation. Old Cat chose to be born on one of those rare days to avoid the Six Paths, but still couldn't escape Divine Law's punishment.
At birth, Old Cat was clear about his mission and what he needed to do. But Divine Law soon found him, stripped him of everything, cleansed his Dual Soul, and left him with nothing. This one with a soul of darkness was constantly rejected by Divine Law, hoping to be forced out of this world by natural means.