I returned to my Instinctive Space. Before me, a cluster of ghostly light began to glow, slowly taking on a human shape—it was Howard Zhang. I saw him, felt him, heard him. The burning longing in his heart, his desperate resolve to save Sophie Sun, echoed ceaselessly in my mind.
Howard Zhang stood before me, still dazed. He had no eyes—where his eyes should have been were two deep, black hollows.
"Howard..."
Choking back tears, I stood in front of Howard Zhang. I couldn't cry, but inside, I was devastated. I'd seen him like this many times before, but this time, he wasn't the playful man I remembered. Now, as a father, as a man, he stood here.
"Why won't you talk to me, Howard? You used to tell me everything. I'm not the same as before—I can help you now. If you hear my voice, answer me, Howard..."
I shouted, shaking Howard Zhang's body over and over, but he remained motionless. There was so much I wanted to say. We used to talk all night, sharing everything. Whenever I had a problem, I'd tell Howard, and he'd always tell me what to do. But this time, what I wanted most was for Howard to tell me how I could help him.
I failed. I hoped desire could break through the darkness in Howard's heart, but it was useless. No matter how desperately I screamed, my voice couldn't reach him. I had no idea where his heart had disappeared to.
"Howard, tell me! Answer me! How can I help you, Howard..."
I kept shouting, shaking Howard Zhang, but he just stood there, cold and unmoving.
Weakly, I grabbed Howard Zhang by the collar, my heart aching. I couldn't just stand by and watch this happen—I had to bring Howard back.
"Pray, Ethan Zhang."
At that moment, my shadow stood behind me. I turned, released Howard Zhang, and stared at my shadow in a daze.
"With your power, you can't awaken Howard Zhang. He was always destined for the Buddhist path, while you—you're a ghost now. Face it, Ethan Zhang. Accept what you are. You can't go back. Pray to the gods and Buddhas, Ethan Zhang."
I looked quietly around me. This was my Instinctive Space, thick with even deeper darkness. It was my power, but I understood now: with this darkness, I could not wake Howard Zhang.
"Do gods and Buddhas really exist?"
I asked, word by word. My shadow shook its head.
"I don't know."
"Ethan, faith isn't built overnight. All you can do now is grasp at the Buddha's feet in desperation—but it's worth a try. If King Ksitigarbha could find you, and you could hear him, then pray. Pour all your longing, everything you want to say, everything you hope for, into your consciousness. Pray with true devotion."
I didn't hesitate. I sat cross-legged on the ground, slowly closed my eyes, and let my instincts flow. Inside, I felt calm—like water. What I thought of most was that night at Universal Temple, my conversation with Master Richard Ming. That talk had unlocked so much inside me.
Thinking back, I'd never prayed for anything before—not once. Since childhood, because of my uncle, my parents would visit temples during the holidays to burn incense and worship. But in those places, I always felt completely ill at ease.
Most of the time, I wouldn't go inside. I'd just wait outside. Howard Zhang didn't believe in these things either. But in the end, what are these things, really?
I opened my eyes, quietly feeling everything in the Instinctive Space. In my heart, I began to pray, hoping Howard Zhang would wake up.
Besides, just like Zhu Tang said, does grasping at the Buddha's feet at the last minute really work? Will my prayers matter?
"Clear your mind, Ethan. Hurry—time is running out. Our power won't last much longer. You have to show everything you are in this brief moment. Your faith, your wish—feel those things as you pray, or Howard Zhang will never wake up."
"One more thing, Ethan: Howard Zhang carries the mark of the Buddha within him. Normally, this wouldn't work, but now—try it and see."
I nodded, letting go of all those distracting thoughts, and started to pray.
Nothing. There was nothing at all. As I kept praying, I couldn't feel anything. The emptiness filled my heart.
Only when I recalled what Master Richard Ming had told me did I feel something strange inside.
"Do you know the torment of suffering, the taste of joy?"
I opened my eyes. All the anxiety and restlessness inside me vanished. I smiled. I understood clearly now: everything here, for me, was hell.
But in this hell, my struggles were powerless. The more I fought, the more it hurt—like stone against water.
Slowly, I stood up and floated upward, still praying in my heart, hoping Howard Zhang would regain his senses.
Buddha treats all equally—there is no special favor. Anyone can become a Buddha, as long as they believe, hope, and pray. Then, faith is born within.
My mood eased. Gradually, I felt a faint warmth—at first, I thought it was an illusion, but now I could truly feel it. This warmth flowed through my Instinctive Space, flawless and pure.
"Ah, I hear something—is this the sound of Buddha?"
I spoke, eyes closed, arms open, reaching out with all my senses. What I wanted most was to touch—to embrace—all of this.
I believed, I prayed, I hoped—whether god or Buddha, all I wanted was to save Howard Zhang, no matter what.
Gradually, memories returned. I glanced down at Howard Zhang, still motionless below.
"Howard, back then, after you died, what you wished for was to save all of us. That’s why Buddha answered you—gave you the power to save."
Back in Wraithhold, it was Howard Zhang’s deep wish—and his faith in those unknown gods and Buddhas—that awakened the Buddha’s image, defeated Lord Wraith, and freed those women’s souls trapped for a thousand years.
"Great power is often born from illusion."
I spoke quietly. Now, I could finally grasp the depth of those words. It wasn’t illusion—it was the heart, the emotion. Whether human or ghost, that sincere, burning faith inside awakens miracles, awakens gods and Buddhas.
Gradually, the whole Instinctive Space filled with waves of heat. It felt good, like the sun in early winter, warm and gentle, filling me with comfort.
I held my pendant, feeling its faint heat, gripping it tightly.
"Roxie, back then, the miracle you brought was just like this. You wanted to save me—please, bless me, Roxie. Bless me so I can help Howard Zhang and resolve all of this..."
Slowly, I reached out, holding up the pendant. Suddenly, an uninvited guest entered my Instinctive Space. The darkness began to brighten, light and shadow weaving together.
Black and white currents intertwined. I kept praying, again and again. My desire to save Howard Zhang, my faith, filled my consciousness.
I drifted slowly toward Howard Zhang, coming to stand before him, holding up the pendant that glimmered with faint violet light.
"Howard, wake up. I promised your wife—no matter what happens, as long as we’re alive, there’s hope. As long as we survive, hope is right before us..."
Gradually, the white currents began to draw closer. Light started to shine from Howard Zhang’s body. I raised my fist, aiming it at him.
A cracking sound rang out. The cold, lifeless surface of Howard Zhang’s body began to split. More and more cracks spread as I raised my fist, violet light swirling around it.
"Howard..."
I called out in a low voice, then raised my fist high.
"We’re going back together. We have to go back together, Howard..."
With a bang, I punched the surface of Howard Zhang’s body. The cracks deepened, and then golden light burst from within.
Inside that pure white current, I saw Howard Zhang’s smile. Gradually, the current faded. I threw back my head and screamed, clutching the violet pendant, my heart breaking. I screamed with all my strength.
"Roxie, thank you. Thank you..."
Suddenly, I snapped back to myself. In the Instinctive Space, only an instant had passed. Brother Owen rushed toward me.
"Howard..."
Choking with emotion, I called out. Howard Zhang, now restored, looked at me. In his bright, clear eyes, tears welled up and overflowed.