For someone destined to die yet forcibly kept in this world, mere external help is never enough. What matters most is the strength of their soul and the firmness of their will. Thus, those who become the half-alive, half-dead are far more remarkable than ordinary people.
After investigating Damien Gray, Morgan Shangguan understood that Grand Astrologer Simon had truly intended to kill the Demon Child. He would have ensured the child died in the womb, leaving no chance of survival. But Consort Bella Simon was of the Simon Family, and the person who rescued her must have been Simon’s disciple. After her earlier conversation with Master Ethan Yi, Morgan was certain that the one who saved Consort Bella Simon was Master Ethan Yi, her senior brother. They had the ability to keep Damien Gray 'alive'—if, and only if, Damien himself was strong enough.
It is nearly impossible to find someone who is half-alive, half-dead in this world, especially from birth. An infant’s consciousness is chaotic, with almost no sense of self. Yet, Damien Gray managed to 'survive'—even Morgan couldn’t help but marvel: truly worthy of the Demon Child name.
Damien Gray curled his lips into a smile. “I almost forgot, my Princess Consort is not like other people.” His aura could be completely hidden, but he felt there was no need to go to such trouble—as long as ordinary people couldn’t sense it, that was enough. Yet, he’d been exposed by Morgan Shangguan.
Suddenly, he recalled that he had noticed Morgan Shangguan’s unusual nature before, but still forgot to fully restrain his aura. It wasn’t that he thought it unnecessary since she’d already discovered him; he simply hadn’t remembered—except for that time he was secretly watching her.
With Morgan Shangguan, he always seemed to let his guard down a little.
Damien Gray frowned at the person before him. This... shouldn’t be a good thing, right? He was actually unsure.
Just then, the voice of the attendant downstairs echoed, “The Martial Alliance Chief has arrived!”
Morgan Shangguan frowned and walked to the window, looking down at the person entering the hall. So, Liam Duanmu really was invited here. What exactly is Rakshasa Palace planning? Inviting the Martial Alliance Chief to an Evil Path Gathering?
“Damien Gray, why did Rakshasa Palace suddenly hold an Evil Path Gathering?”
Damien Gray followed her gaze and glanced downstairs, smiling, “How would I know?”
Morgan Shangguan turned to look at him. “You don’t know? Surely they didn’t invite the great Ghost Lord just for tea and idle chatter, did they?”
Damien Gray looked completely innocent. “I really don’t know! I only came here to see if you, my Princess Consort, are truly the mysterious Cloud Guildmaster!”
Morgan Shangguan was speechless. He went to all this trouble in Blue Lake City just to expose her? Then she suddenly realized—didn’t she come to this tavern early just to confirm his identity?
Knock, knock... There was a knock at the door. Morgan Shangguan took the mask from Damien Gray’s hand and tossed her own mask to him.
After putting on her mask, Morgan Shangguan finally spoke, “Come in!”
Gu Yihan entered, glanced at Morgan Shangguan, hesitating slightly. Damien Gray said indifferently, “Speak.”
“Guildmaster, we’ve just received news—the Rakshasa Palace Master died of poisoning half a month ago.”
Upon hearing this, Damien Gray smirked, “They did a fine job keeping it secret!” He waved Gu Yihan away, then looked at Morgan Shangguan, teasing, “Cloud Guildmaster, it seems you’ve scared him!”
Morgan Shangguan gently curled her lips, speaking innocently, “I’ve never had any designs on Rakshasa Palace!” It seemed this Evil Path Gathering truly targeted her. The Cloud Guild had been swallowing up forces everywhere, now even surpassing Rakshasa Palace. And with the Palace Master dead, it was only natural for the Cloud Guild to seize the opportunity. The best strategy was to strike first.
Just then, a ghost drifted in through the window, speaking only of the Rakshasa Palace Master’s death by poisoning. That was all Damien Gray had discovered, and the Cloud Guild hadn’t found out much either. The little ghost finished quickly, as if being chased, and darted into a gourd with a whoosh.
Morgan Shangguan knew all these little ghosts feared Damien Gray; they wanted to flee at the sight of him. When his aura was hidden, it was slightly better, but now his presence terrified them even more. Only Ouyang Lin, who didn’t consider himself a ghost, wasn’t so afraid of Damien. Truly, the title Ghost King suited him!
Damien Gray acted as if he hadn’t seen the ghost at all and simply asked, “Why?” Why wasn’t she interested in Rakshasa Palace?
Morgan Shangguan smiled lightly. “Keeping Rakshasa Palace around means that if I ever offend the great Ghost Lord, I’ll still have someone to cooperate with!”
“Wouldn’t it be better to claim it for yourself?”
“The Cloud Guild is strong enough as it is. Isn’t that more reassuring for you, Ghost Lord?”
Damien Gray let out a soft laugh. “Cloud Guildmaster, you’re not so easy to trust.”
“If the Ghost Lord is so suspicious, there’s nothing I can do.” Morgan Shangguan watched the ongoing discussion in the hall below, frowning. Suddenly, she said, “Rakshasa Palace is famous for its poisons. For the Palace Master to die by poison—could it be related to you, Ghost Lord?”
“Seems the Cloud Guildmaster is even more suspicious! I only just learned about this myself.”
Morgan Shangguan frowned and said nothing. In any case, trouble was unavoidable this time.
Inside a lavish room, pink gauze curtains fluttered, music and laughter resounded within. Jing Mohen lounged with beauties on both sides, sighing, “It’s good to be a Protector!”
Glancing at Gu Yihan, who was lost in thought, Jing Mohen paused, dismissed the group of beauties, and asked, “What’s wrong? Why the pensive look? Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for a married woman and are plotting how to steal her away?”
Gu Yihan shot him an annoyed look and frowned. “I just feel like the Guildmaster and the Cloud Guildmaster seem awfully familiar!” Even the information he’d gathered wasn’t kept from her.
Jing Mohen was stunned. “No way! Even if they know each other, it can’t be that close, right? Have you ever seen the Guildmaster close to anyone?” Of course, superficial relationships didn’t count.
“No, but something just feels odd.” Yet he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.