"Where did that kid go? Boss... Boss." Rotface floated in the air, glancing around.
Streams of green flames kept emerging from Redmane's Shadow Realm, flying toward the edges of the town.
"Finally made it in, haha! That old fool Quentin Kue, the formation he set up is nothing but decoration. Yuna Ji, I really have to thank you for this."
Redmane turned his head, smiling as he walked up to Yuna Ji.
"Just don't cause me any trouble, Redmane." Yuna Ji giggled.
"Well, anyway, sorry about that—I kicked you that day."
"I wouldn't bother holding a grudge against you."
Redmane grinned brightly, even humming a little tune.
"But, speaking of which, Yuna Ji, your Shadow Realm is as uncomfortable as ever."
"Shut up and finish up quickly. I want to go home."
Redmane waved his hand dismissively.
"I have to keep an eye on you, Yuna Ji. Even though I'm inside now, if you run off, I won't be able to get out."
"Hey, why are you so paranoid? You helped us, why would I hurt you!"
Redmane gave Yuna Ji a resentful look, slowly rising with some suspicion, but suddenly dropped back down.
"Let the underlings handle it."
I slowly edged backward, because I had already seen a corner of white gauze peeking from the edge of the roof—it was Rachel Lan. She was here.
"Qingyuan, do you know about that Evil Yin Mountain?"
I hurriedly pretended to be calm, made a sound of surprise, and shook my head.
"Over there has always been a paradise for ghosts. There are plenty of medicines inside that can heal ghosts, and the deeper you go, the better the herbs. Unfortunately, ever since Quentin Kue set up the Yin-Yang Formation, most powerful ghosts can't get in."
"Why do you want to come here?" I asked.
"Recruiting, obviously. The ghosts here are pretty decent. Later, I'll head up Evil Yin Mountain and gather more medicinal herbs—just in case."
Yuna Ji giggled.
"Sigh, Redmane, among the Sevenfold Ghost Sovereigns, you're the strongest now. The other six have all declined, more or less. You're already the top dog in the ghost world. You..."
"Yuna Ji, spare me the flattery, especially coming from you. If we're talking pure strength, John Chou is the strongest of the seven. But for endurance, you're unmatched, Yuna Ji. As for the rest, don't underestimate Basil Bertram. I know for a fact his power isn't any less than mine."
"Bravo!" Yuna Ji clapped her hands, laughing.
"Didn't expect you to be so self-aware."
"Heh, I've always been self-aware. Back then, I was smart enough to know when to advance and retreat. Otherwise, I'd be just like the rest of you now. Especially Lord Shenyan—I want nothing to do with him anymore. Ideally, he and John Chou would just fight each other to the death. If I get the chance, maybe I'll help Lord Shenyan out a bit, help him shake off Quentin Kue's entanglement."
"Redmane, your scheming is pretty impressive."
I had already moved to the edge of the house. Yuna Ji kept Redmane distracted, and just then, the sky suddenly turned pitch black. Clusters of green light fell from above.
Countless green lights rained down like droplets, endlessly landing on the ground and morphing into skeletons armed with weapons.
"Yuna Ji, aren't these things from your Shadow Realm? How does that kid know how to use them too?"
Redmane stared blankly. In an instant, the streets and rooftops were crawling with glowing green skeletons.
"Hmph, I was careless just now. Today, none of you are getting away." It was that young man, floating in the air, his severed hands already regrown.
"Found you, kid. Come here, let me play with you." Rotface suddenly floated toward the young man.
"You fat bastard, get down here!" Redmane suddenly shouted. Rotface obediently floated to Redmane's side.
"Boss, what's up? I'll go take care of that kid."
"You're too noisy when you fight. I don't want a ruckus. Tell the boys—make it quick. Anyone will do, just kill that kid fast. You have five minutes. That should be enough."
Rotface grunted. Suddenly, his whole body glowed green as he dropped onto the skeletons in the street like a bomb. With a thunderous crash, a swath of skeletons was instantly obliterated. Rotface now wielded a hook with chains, and with a single swing, more skeletons vanished.
To my shock, I realized that the giant skeletons that chased me that night were no match for Redmane's underlings.
"Boss, one second is all I need."
Just then, a woman's voice rang out. Behind the young man in the sky, a female ghost had appeared, draped in a purple veil and dressed in ornate purple robes, holding a delicate, flower-edged tang dao.
The young man spun around, eyes wide in disbelief.
"Vivian Maple, what are you doing here? This isn't your business. Go back and teach those three newcomers our family's rules."
Yuna Ji walked up to me and tugged at my sleeve.
"Qingyuan, remember—once you get down, run east. Don't worry about anything, just follow the white gauze on the ground."
I nodded.
"Yuna Ji, what are you whispering to Zhang Qingyuan about?"
Redmane noticed, turned toward us, and glared. Just then, the young man, gripping two blades, charged at Redmane.
There was a buzzing in my head, like a shockwave hitting me, leaving me dizzy. Around Redmane's body, there seemed to be an invisible barrier. The young man's blade stopped right in front of Redmane's eyes.
"Kid, you're not qualified to fight me."
Suddenly, a flash of steel—Vivian Maple had already sheathed her blade. With a crisp sound, the young man stared at her in disbelief.
"The source of your power is the will of this place—the intent that's built up over centuries. If I sever it, you'll disappear too."
With a clang, the young man's blade fell to the ground, dissolving into points of light. He collapsed, reaching out toward Yuna Ji.
"Help... help me..."
Suddenly, everything went quiet. The skeletons dissolved into wisps of green smoke and vanished. The entire Exile Town was shrouded in a rising green current.
"Kid, your ghost army doesn't compare to Yuna Ji's in quality or quantity. All right, that's enough. Make sure you get a list of the new recruits together. The weak ones can work as house servants. We're heading to Evil Yin Mountain soon. Get ready."
Redmane shouted loudly, and streams of green light began to gather from afar. Soon, a swarm of Blue Wraiths floated above and around Redmane.
"Qingyuan, now!"
I nodded, picked up Samantha Simons, and glanced back once more. The young man looked devastated, nearly faded away, his eyes locked on Yuna Ji—so heartbreakingly sad. I shook my head, held Samantha Simons tight, and jumped down.
"Zhang Qingyuan, what are you doing?" Redmane shouted.
"He's got something to do. By the way, Redmane, let me tell you a secret about Evil Yin Mountain."
I could faintly hear their conversation as I landed steadily on the soft white gauze. By now, the gauze had turned into thin white lines on the ground. Without thinking, I chased after the lines, running.
"Hahahahaha..." Redmane's laughter echoed behind me, as if he'd just heard something amusing.
After running for a while, the white line broke off. I had reached the eastern side. Along the way, I saw many cups and chopsticks placed in reverse.
"Is this the Ghost Bewilderment spell?"
I muttered to myself.
"Qingyuan, over here."
It was Rachel Lan. She stepped out of a house and smiled at me.
As soon as I got closer, she glanced around suspiciously. I looked up and saw many ghosts searching for something—Redmane's subordinates. But it seemed they couldn't see us.
Rachel Lan pulled me into the house. Instantly, my eyes widened—it was full of the missing people. As soon as I entered, I found myself on the southern street. All 763 people were there.
"All right, anyone who wants to leave, hurry up."
Rachel Lan spoke, pulling out the Netherstone—a piece of white jade. I stared in astonishment.
"Yuna Ji gave it to me."
Suddenly, the room was in an uproar. It looked like many people still didn't want to leave. Easton Grant led dozens of people over.
"You've all made up your minds, right? Anyone still here, whatever you do, don't leave this barrier. As long as you stay inside, those ghosts outside won't be able to find you."
Rachel Lan said confidently.
"Thank you, Zhang Qingyuan," Easton Grant said, extending a hand.
I shook my head, looking at Samantha Simons in my arms.
"The one you should really thank is her."
I vaguely sensed that it was Samantha Simons who saved these people. Deep down, she truly hoped for a place where humans and ghosts could coexist. Looking around, the most striking sight was the rows of cherry blossom trees lining the streets.
This was Samantha Simons's Shadow Realm.
"Have you decided? Will you stay here, or go out and face life?" Only forty or fifty people planned to leave. Rachel Lan reached out, holding the Netherstone.
"Beneath the Nethergate lies the Ninefold Abyss, where the dead gather. The Ghost Avenue, the Formless Netherlaw, the Netherhell... Open—"
With a thunderous roar, green light appeared, and a massive stone gate rose from nowhere, covered with countless skulls.
"Who seeks entry to the Abyssal Hell?"
Suddenly, I saw a giant skull at the top of the gate speak.
Rachel Lan held the Netherstone in both hands and stepped forward.
"This is proof."
A green light flashed in the skull's eyes, scanning the Netherstone, then it spoke.
"You are permitted to enter the Netherhell."
With a creak, the massive stone gate opened, and a surge of green mist poured out.