More and more ghosts appeared. I looked around and saw at least thirty or forty of them. Each one stared at me with eyes full of murderous intent, as if they wanted to tear me apart. I knew very well that Lewis Si had done many things here to infuriate these ghosts—abusing his power as a Hell's Registrar to commit all manner of evil.
But I had just heard Zane Zhao say that these two Hell's Registrars were on the same level as the Blue Wraith. That surprised me greatly. Ray Lin subdued the two registrars in an instant, but now there was no time to think about that. My situation was extremely dangerous.
I glanced at my chest, where a patterned dagger was lodged, along with the black rope binding me and the cloth gagging my mouth. I couldn’t muster any strength. Zane Zhao had said earlier that this dagger was a Hell's Sentinel, a ghostly weapon he had spent everything he owned to acquire. Zane Zhao held his sister, Shelly Zhao, who looked terrified and frantic.
"Brother, killing a Hell's Registrar is a grave crime. Maybe we shouldn't..." Shelly Zhao sobbed, but Zane Zhao glared at me, teeth clenched in fury.
"We can't worry about that now. Let's get ready. We can't kill this guy just yet—if he dies, those Hell's Registrars will find out immediately, and we won't be able to escape either. We'll have to go to the world of the living. This time, thank you, everyone. If it weren't for your help, my sister would have been ruined by this bastard."
Right now, I was like a mute forced to swallow bitter medicine—unable to speak or defend myself. I had no strength left. I wanted to restore my true appearance and explain everything to these ghosts.
"Cut off his hands and feet first, just in case." Zane Zhao said. One of the ghosts brought over a large knife. Zane Zhao stepped up to me, raised the blade, and swung it at my leg. With a clang, I saw the knife in his hand snap in two.
"No good. As expected, to harm a Hell's Registrar, you need a Hell's Sentinel." Zane Zhao stared at the dagger in my chest, but now he hesitated, dazed as he looked into my eyes.
"Brother, why not go find the guy who sells Hell's Sentinels and borrow one from him?"
My heart skipped a beat as I looked at Shelly Zhao. In an instant, Zane Zhao agreed, but because of my special identity, he immediately started shouting.
"Everyone, disperse for now. Sis, you go contact that guy and have him meet us in the woods—make sure no other Hell's Registrars see you. The rest of you, go home to avoid suspicion. Once we're done with this guy, pack up and get ready to run."
As he spoke, all the ghosts left. Zane Zhao stayed behind, staring at me. He looked anxious, but there was also confusion in his eyes.
"Hmph, you bastard. Lewis Si, what's wrong with you today? Weren't you always vicious before? What, can't act tough now?"
There was nothing in my eyes but helplessness. Zane Zhao stood up, walked over, and kicked me in the stomach several times.
I was instantly furious. I was taking the blame for someone else, but then I realized that if Zane Zhao had been facing the real Lewis Si, it wouldn't have been so easy to subdue him. I could only blame myself for being careless. With the dagger in my chest, I couldn't muster any strength. I could feel a massive amount of baleful energy inside me, but I couldn't use it. If I did, my disguise would collapse, and I wasn't ready for that—I had worked too hard to become Lewis Si.
But escaping now was a real problem. Shelly Zhao had already gone to find the ghost who sold them the dagger, to borrow a Hell's Sentinel. He might arrive any minute.
Zane Zhao kept beating and cursing me. After a while, he looked around, then tightened the rope binding me. Since Shelly Zhao hadn't returned for a long time, he grew worried and left.
I kept checking my body. It wasn't the Hell's Sentinel dagger causing this—it was the rope. The black rope binding me was sealing my ghostly power. I could feel it clearly now: the rope was like a solid wall, completely locking my strength inside.
My transformation into Lewis Si was made by condensing baleful energy and covering my body with it. That's why, when Zane Zhao tried to cut me with the knife, it broke.
I had to find a way to escape. I couldn't get involved any further. Maybe the two Hell's Registrars escorting Boss Zhang had already arrived at Banbuduo. I couldn't miss this chance. Most of the Hell's Registrars were escorting underworld prisoners to the Styx Gate, and only Boss Zhang was headed to the Bridge of Remorse for reincarnation.
I kept trying to use my willpower to stir up baleful energy, hoping to break free from the rope’s restraint. But then something struck me—I had a shadow. Of course, as a human, I should have a shadow. But all the ghosts I’d seen along the way, even the Blue Wraith, had none.
Right now, I was directly under the moon, so my shadow wasn’t obvious, but it was definitely there at my feet. I tried to shout, but my mouth could only make muffled sounds.
"Stop shouting. There’s nothing I can do, either. I’m just as trapped by this thing as you are—there’s no way to escape."
A voice echoed in my mind—the voice of myself with golden eyes.
"What’s going on?"
"This black rope is probably made from materials taken from Abyssal Hell, melted and coated onto it. Any ghost would be powerless against it, unless they’re extremely strong. But you’re still too weak."
I thought about turning my body back into human form, but immediately rejected the idea. If I became human, I’d never escape Marshal Leopard’s senses.
But what my golden-eyed self said shocked me—materials from Abyssal Hell, could those really be bought so easily?
"Be careful. They’re coming. The guy selling this stuff isn’t any kind of decent soul. Be careful, Ethan Zhang."
As he spoke, I saw Zane Zhao and Shelly Zhao, the siblings, walking toward us. With them was another ghost, standing under the moon in a hooded black robe, barefoot, carrying a large bundle, and crunching leaves underfoot.
"Thank you, boss, for being willing to help us."
Zane Zhao spoke as soon as he arrived. Then the man pulled down his hood, and I was surprised to see the Blue Wraith before me—I recognized him. Soren Black, the ghost who had a history with Mason Yu. I’d seen him on the Spiritway; he was the one who gave us directions.
I stared wide-eyed at Soren Black, his black hair blowing in the wind, and whimpered in shock.
"Does this guy know me?" Soren Black muttered, then beckoned to the siblings.
"Find a way to escape. Once you’re out of Banbuduo, I’ll act. Just don’t forget what you promised me."
"Yes, boss. We siblings will definitely help you..."
Soren Black raised his hand, and the Zhao siblings left. He took a slender knife from his bundle, waving it in front of my eyes. As expected, he couldn’t sense my true identity.
I kept giving Soren Black hopeful looks, but he only smiled.
"Brother Hell's Registrar, I have no grudge against you. Other people’s lives and deaths have little to do with me. Right now, I’m just trading with these ghosts—business for business. Don’t blame me."
Soren Black stood up, holding the Hell's Sentinel, and stepped toward me.
I writhed all over, trying to move. He had already pressed the knife to my neck.
"Those guys are about to escape. Once they're gone, I'll sever your neck—and then you'll die. After all, Hell's Registrars don't have multiple ghost souls. Honestly, whether you're human or ghost, it's hard either way. Do enough hateful things and people will hold a grudge. Brother Hell's Registrar, you've made a lot of enemies. Me too, haha. Someone hates me, and maybe one day I'll die just like you!"
I knew Soren Black was talking about Mason Yu. I whimpered desperately, but the cloth stuffed in my mouth kept me from making any real sound.
What should I do? What should I do? I kept thinking, anxious inside. I hoped Ray Lin would hurry over—he should sense something was wrong.
Just then, the moon shifted, and I saw my shadow stretch out beneath me. I hurriedly looked down, and Soren Black smiled, telling me not to struggle. It would all be over in an instant.
I was desperate to remind Soren Black that I had a shadow.
But Soren Black didn't notice at all. I struggled hard, tiptoeing and stomping the ground to make noise. Finally, Soren Black noticed.
"What, is there something at your feet?"
I nodded vigorously, forgetting the knife was still at my neck. With a sudden scrape, I whimpered in pain—my neck was cut, and green blood began to flow.
Soren Black quickly pulled the knife away.
"Sorry, sorry, don’t be in such a hurry to die. They haven’t escaped yet—how could I let you die now? But as for your feet..."
Suddenly, Soren Black’s smile froze. He stared at my feet, looking at my stretched shadow.
"Am I dreaming? How could a ghost have a shadow—unless you’re human."
I nodded immediately. Suddenly, Soren Black looked at me with excitement.
"I don’t care what your goal is. Since you’re human and not a Hell's Registrar, I’ll just eat you."
For a moment, I was furious. Soren Black licked his lips, then stretched out his tongue and started licking the blood from my neck. I shuddered in disgust.
"Not bad. But I still don’t feel like you’re human. Still, you taste pretty good. Killing you seems like a waste—let me savor your flesh for a while."