"Ethan, listen to me," Mrs. Blake sighed as she spoke. "Sometimes, you have to know when to let go. If you keep acting so recklessly, one day something truly irreversible will happen."
I looked at her seriously.
"Mrs. Blake, why are you all hiding here? What happened?"
"Those old matters are better left unspoken. Right now, you're in a very awkward position. You need to think carefully about your path forward, Ethan."
I smiled.
"It's alright, Mrs. Blake. I've thought it through. Whether human or ghost, I have friends among them. I just want to keep walking this path with my friends."
Mrs. Blake smiled, sighing helplessly. The Sanzu Trial is never easy, Ethan.
"Maybe everything is predestined, Ethan. You're different from the rest. Alright, after your bath, I'll have the old man give you a massage. I'll fix you something to eat first."
Mrs. Blake stood up as she spoke. I helped her to the backyard, where another large wooden tub awaited us. A refreshing scent wafted over. Mr. Cooper was instructing Rachel Lan, and the two of them kept adding things to the tub.
Mr. Cooper said, "Kid, go over there and rinse off. Get ready for your bath."
I glanced over. In the corner of the yard was a well. I walked toward it, about to undress, when I remembered Rachel Lan was still there. Embarrassed, I looked her way.
"Young lady, wait outside for a bit. Looks like this kid is still shy, haha."
Blushing, I shot Mr. Cooper a glare. Rachel Lan covered her mouth and laughed.
After rinsing myself off for a while, I carefully examined my body. Scars covered me, especially on my stomach, hands, and legs—so many wounds.
Suddenly, Mr. Cooper slapped my back hard. I grimaced in pain.
"Hey, kid, look at you. Your body looks like an old, worn-out rag. Haha! But I like it—reminds me of when I was young. Get moving. Don't forget, Exile Town is not a place for the weak."
Naked, I walked over to the tub. The water steamed, clear and fragrant, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
"This is worth thirty thousand?"
"Quit complaining and get in. The Blood Jade isn't for slackers."
I mumbled an acknowledgment and climbed into the wooden tub. The water was just right, and I felt no discomfort. It was no different from an ordinary bath.
Mr. Cooper watched from the side, chuckling to himself.
I lay there, somewhat surprised. Other than feeling a bit more comfortable, nothing else seemed to have changed.
"Hey, you're not trying to trick me, are you?" I looked at Mr. Cooper.
"Hmph, what would I gain from tricking you, kid? You look plain, have no money, and you're a man to boot."
I ignored Mr. Cooper and shifted my body downward a bit. As I moved, I heard a gurgling sound—bubbles surfaced on the water. At first, I didn't pay much attention, but as the bubbles grew more frequent, I started to feel nervous.
"What is this?" I had barely finished speaking when I suddenly cried out in alarm.
From within the water, streaks of green liquid seeped out from the pores on my skin, mixing into the water. The bubbles disappeared, but watching the greenish liquid—almost like blood—made my skin crawl.
The water's color changed from clear to a dull green.
"What is this?"
"Oh, Ethan Zhang, didn't I warn you before? Staying with the Blue Wraith, even with your Sevenfold Curse, you can't hold out forever. The Blue Wraith's miasma has already invaded your body. If you stay too long, not even the gods can save you."