Luo Yang, are you alright?
I saw him—it really was Luo Yang. He was dressed in a black suit, smiling, showing no sign of change. I hurriedly grabbed his arm and glanced at Gregory Wu.
Go ahead, Luo Yang.
Gregory Wu waved his hand.
"Do as you wish, Ethan Zhang."
Luo Yang, aren't you going with him?
"Uncle Ethan, there's no need. I'm doing just fine now, and I don't want to go back."
I turned my head to look at Luo Yang. He was still smiling, and I stared at him in shock.
"Do you know what kind of person he is? They're the ones who killed your father."
In an instant, the smile vanished from Luo Yang's face, replaced by a gloomy expression. Then he gave me a strange, twisted grin, shook his head, and pointed a finger at me.
"My father died because of you, didn't he, Uncle Ethan?"
For a moment, my mind went blank. I stared at Luo Yang, my thoughts filled with memories of Brother Luo—his only son. But now, something was terribly wrong.
Suddenly, Luo Yang pulled out a twelve-inch knife and stabbed it toward my abdomen.
Luo Yang, come here.
Luo Yang, that's how this world is—there's good and evil. My fault, Brother Luo's death, your anger—direct it all at me. Don't hate anyone else, just hate me, Ethan Zhang.
"What did you do to him?"
Luo Yang, you've seen the truth. There's nothing more I can teach you. Well done, Luo Yang.
Gregory Wu immediately waved his hand.
I didn't do anything. Luo Yang just saw the truth, that's all. I told him everything—the whole truth. Who took his father's lifespan, who used the spell, I didn't hold anything back. Now Luo Yang understands completely, even about you.
As Gregory Wu spoke, I slowly turned my head to look at Luo Yang. His eyes were full of hostility, fiercely glaring at me.
"Uncle Ethan, answer me one question."
I watched as Luo Yang pulled out the knife. Blood gushed from my abdomen and I quickly pressed my hand to the wound. Just then, flames ignited, slowly repairing the injury. Luo Yang looked at me in shock.
"Go ahead, Xiao Yang."
I looked seriously at Luo Yang. I still remembered when he was in his third year of middle school, the first time I visited Brother Luo's house. I had just started my job, and Brother Luo insisted on throwing me a welcome party. I got drunk, and Brother Luo carried me home. The next morning, I met Luo Yang.
He was such a bright, cheerful boy. That night, he took care of me, and he was very talkative. Gradually, I became close to Luo Yang. Every time I visited Brother Luo's house, I would bring him something and chat with him.
But now, everything was different. It was as if Luo Yang was possessed by an evil spirit.
"Were you really my father's friend?"
I looked into Luo Yang's eyes and nodded.
"Uncle Ethan, let me ask you again. You clearly noticed something was wrong with my father, but you said nothing. You didn't come to my house until long after he died. Were you really his friend?"
I looked quietly at Luo Yang. I had no explanation, no excuse. I did notice something was wrong with Brother Luo, but I did nothing.
"If you were really my father's friend, why did you just stand by and watch him die? Answer me, Uncle Ethan."
Trembling, I reached out, wanting to touch Luo Yang. But suddenly, he lunged at me, stabbing my abdomen again and again. I endured the pain, gazing at Luo Yang, sadness overwhelming my heart.
Suddenly, I grabbed Luo Yang's hand and held his shoulder. He was agitated, asking me again and again why. My eyes grew vacant; I couldn't answer, couldn't say a word.
"Xiao Yang, come here."
As Gregory Wu spoke, Luo Yang walked over step by step. As he passed me, he glanced at me—his eyes full of anger and hatred, deep resentment burning within.
I lowered my head and slowly turned to watch Luo Yang walk to Gregory Wu's side.
"Xiao Yang, you've seen the truth. There's nothing more I can teach you. Well done, Xiao Yang."
As Gregory Wu spoke, he placed a hand on Luo Yang's shoulder. Luo Yang broke into a manic laugh, tears streaming from his eyes.
My body felt hollow, drained of all strength—completely empty inside.
"What have you done to him?"
I pressed further. Gregory Wu laughed and sat down, his arm draped over Luo Yang's shoulder.
"I really didn't do anything, Ethan Zhang. This is all your own doing. You had the power to help, but after stepping onto the ghost path, you abandoned everything in the human world. Can you really just throw it all away, Ethan Zhang? Can you truly sever all ties?"
Gregory Wu spoke, but I still couldn't answer. It's true—after I connected with Yin Chou, I stopped keeping in touch with many friends from my human life. I was afraid my world would threaten their lives.
"You don't deserve it, Ethan Zhang. You don't deserve power."
Gregory Wu stood up and began walking toward me, step by step.
"Xiao Yang, aren't you going with him?"
Gregory Wu asked, but Luo Yang shook his head. At that moment, flames ignited on my body. The cry of the Vermilion Bird rang out, and its head appeared on my right shoulder, a streak of russet. On my left shoulder, the Spirit Snake's head emerged.
"Ethan, wake up. There are things people can and can't do. Stay true to your heart. That child's heart has already been led completely into darkness. You're powerless."
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The Vermilion Bird cried out. I looked at Luo Yang in shock. His gaze was cold, his eyes utterly devoid of human light.
"Ha! Don't make me laugh, kid. This world wasn't created by your Immortality Society, and not everyone has to live by your rules. Ethan, just like that old Taoist saved you, you can save that child too. Even if it costs you your life, as long as you can pull him back, isn't that enough?"
The Spirit Snake suddenly shouted. Instantly, I raised my head, clenched my fist, and glared at Gregory Wu. He kept smiling, so I swung my fist at his face.
With a bang, flames burst out. My punch sent Gregory Wu crashing through the window and flying outside. Luo Yang still watched me with a cold, indifferent expression.
Then I looked at Luo Yang and pointed to my own heart.
"Xiao Yang, that's how this world is—there's good and evil. My fault, Brother Luo's death, your anger—direct it all at me. Don't hate anyone else, just hate me, Ethan Zhang."
I roared, then slowly spread my wings and flew to Luo Yang's side.
"I'll take care of him."
With that, I flew out and headed for the rooftop. Just as I punched Gregory Wu out, I sensed he'd gone up there. Sure enough, I saw him on the rooftop.
I clenched my fist, staring at Gregory Wu. His face was completely sunken in, the skin wrinkled like paper.
"Oh dear, this is troublesome. I still have to attend the opening ceremony today."
As Gregory Wu spoke, he took off his jacket and began unbuttoning his white shirt.
Just then, I sensed a surge of overwhelming ghostly energy behind me. With a crash, The Dragon landed on the rooftop, holding a half-eaten chicken leg.
"What you're doing is truly vile. I can't stand to watch any longer."
The Dragon spoke, opened his mouth, and swallowed the entire chicken leg in one gulp.
"Ethan Zhang, you should go deal with other matters. Leave this to me—I'm just bored anyway."
As The Dragon spoke, he raised his hand. A burst of green light flashed, and with a bang, a heavy iron hook chained with locks smashed into the ground, cracking the surface.
I kept watching Gregory Wu in silence. Suddenly, The Dragon whipped the chained hook toward Gregory Wu with a loud snap.
With two thuds, Gregory Wu swung his fists and knocked the hook aside. The Dragon flew at him, laughing wildly, and grabbed Gregory Wu's shoulder with his massive hand.
"Ha! I'll turn you into skewered meat."
As he spoke, the iron hook swung toward Gregory Wu's back. Gregory Wu dodged nimbly and leaped to a distant spot.
"Now this is troublesome. Causing such a commotion—is that really wise? There are plenty of people below who have already noticed."
As Gregory Wu spoke, I realized the people below had heard the commotion and were starting to panic.
"That's not my concern. Their lives have nothing to do with me. I'm not Ethan Zhang. I am..."
The Dragon grinned viciously and continued speaking.
"An evil ghost under the command of the Malice Ghost Sovereign, one that eats people."
With that, The Dragon licked his lips, then flew at Gregory Wu again, swinging the iron hook. I remained silent, just watching everything unfold before me.