"Is there something you need, Ethan Zhang?"
Redmond looked at me with obvious irritation, while Rufina Howard pouted, clearly angry.
"Black Moon, I hope you can let him go."
No sooner had I finished speaking than Redmond burst out laughing.
"There's still no way to prove he has nothing to do with this incident."
I couldn't refute Redmond's words. Black Moon was indeed a prime suspect in this matter, but deep down, I believed he had nothing to do with it.
"He's now a member of Blackfang. How about this: if you're worried, you can keep him from leaving, and have your people watch him until I return."
Redmond cupped his chin in his hands, staring at me. After a long silence, he suddenly called out.
"Vivian Maple, let the kid go for now. Tell him if he steps out of the Hall of Malice, I'll deal with him myself."
As Redmond spoke, he stood up and walked toward us step by step. Rufina Howard hid behind me, pinching me repeatedly.
"That's all, Ethan Zhang. You can leave now."
I understood Redmond's intention clearly—he didn't want me involved in matters between him and Rufina Howard.
"Respect Rufina's wishes, Redmond. No matter how much you want to protect her, one day she'll need..."
"I said, leave, Ethan Zhang."
Before I could finish, an icy wave of ghostly energy surged from Redmond. The door immediately swung open, and Vivian Maple and Noah Grimm rushed in to stand by his side.
"Boss, let's talk things through calmly."
Noah Grimm said, stepping in front of Redmond. I quietly watched Redmond.
"I'm not a child anymore. I'm not a child."
Rufina Howard shouted, pushing me aside and standing in front of Redmond.
Suddenly, the anger vanished from Redmond's face. He turned away.
"If you're leaving, hurry up. I've fed you for years and wasted plenty of rice on you. You eat a lot, too."
Rufina Howard turned as well, a smile appearing on her cheeks. She walked straight toward the door, the corners of her mouth lifted in a smile.
"I'll wait for you downstairs, Ethan."
"Boss, maybe we should..."
Noah Grimm spoke, but Redmond shook his head and turned to glare at me. I clenched my right fist and placed it over my chest.
"If anything goes wrong, I'll give it everything I've got—even if it means dying without a grave."
"Can you really do that?"
I didn't answer. Redmond smiled, then burst out laughing. After a while, his face grew serious as he looked at me.
"Those people are desperate for that girl's blood. They won't give up easily. Here in the Hall of Malice, she can live out her life in peace. I won't let them succeed."
I understood Redmond's worries perfectly. Just then, Mr. Brown and Yuna Ji entered from outside the office.
"I'll go with you, Ethan."
I turned and nodded with a smile. Redmond's worry faded as Mr. Brown and Yuna Ji came in.
"With you here, Mr. Brown, I feel a lot more at ease."
I shot Redmond a resentful look—he clearly didn't trust me much.
"And me! Heh, I'll help too. Not like I have anything else to do."
I thanked her. Redmond glanced at Noah Grimm, who then took out a laptop and opened it, showing me a map of City A.
"It's nearly two thousand kilometers from here. Rufina Howard's birthplace is deep in the mountains, in the southern forests. Boss once sent me to investigate—the village has been deserted for ten years."
Noah Grimm spoke, and Vivian Maple looked at us before continuing.
"Here's the strange part: that village showed no signs of life—Noah has confirmed it. But according to Rufina Howard, she left there four years ago, and there were over thirty people living there at the time. It's odd, but the girl doesn't seem to be lying."
I rubbed my forehead. Another mystery—Yvonne May's situation already gave me a splitting headache.
"If we travel directly, it'll only take a few hours. That girl hasn't seen the outside world in a long time. I hope you drive her there."
I responded with a simple 'okay.' Thinking it over, nothing was pressing at the moment. Lan Yin had already decided to go to the Four Sacred Realm, and with him inside, I felt a bit more at ease.
"Noah Grimm, you handle the arrangements."
Redmond spoke, and Noah Grimm turned into a stream of green vapor, vanishing from the office in an instant.
Then I got up and began to float.
"Where are you going, Ethan?"
"Going home for a bit."
I didn't mention anything extra. According to Hu Tianshuo, the so-called traitor zombie had temporarily taken my place, occasionally returning to my home to reassure my parents. I hadn't been back in ages. The three from Mount Shade had been guarding near my house all this time—I planned to thank them.
The gentle sunlight floated over the living world during the day. It felt so pleasant. The Immortality Society wouldn't be making any major moves for now. Just then, a streak of golden light appeared before me. I stopped and, with a swish, drew Belle.
A golden talisman floated in front of me, but I immediately sensed its owner had no hostile intent.
"Brother Ethan, long time no see. I'd like to talk with you."
It was Samuel Young, the talisman's owner. Instantly, I felt a surge of hostility within myself.
Guided by the golden talisman, I weaved through the city streets and alleys until I reached Samuel Young's home. Strangely, his house hadn't changed at all. He was watering flowers in the courtyard with a spray bottle, looking quite content.
But everything around—the streets and all—had completely changed. He hadn't lived here before. With a creak, I pushed open the door. Samuel Young greeted me with a gentle smile.
"Please, have some tea. It's ready."
I sat down at the small table on the first floor, picked up the teacup, and took a sip.
"Not bad."
But I could never fully trust Samuel Young, especially after learning about the Daoists' collusion with the Immortality Society.
"Looking at you, Brother Ethan, you've changed a lot. You could call it a transformation."