The rumbling echoed, shaking the earth and mountains relentlessly. The houses had been repaired, and now the Hades Circle was busy hauling corpses. I stood in silence, staring at the mountain wall, bulging grotesquely like an overinflated balloon, as the Ghost Sovereigns clashed furiously with the Ghost Ancestor.
With each battle, the mountain wall bulged even more. The Ten Guides were still talking with me about what must be done next.
"If things really devolve to that point, the nine of us will pour all our strength into sustaining the Grand Zodiac Fourfold Array. All you need to do is fight the Ghost Ancestor with everything you have."
I made a quiet sound of assent, noticing Jason Su's grave expression—mirrored by the other eight. By now, I'd come to understand the difference between the Grand Zodiac Fourfold Array and the Fourfold Beast Array I once knew. Still, I couldn't help but worry: could I truly do it?
"Roxie, go rest. Don't think about anything else. No matter what happens, this is our final measure."
Wendy Hsieh spoke. I gave a soft reply, stood up, and walked out of the house. Master Richard Ming was still meditating with his disciples near the mountain wall. Word was, most of the Buddhist sect had gathered at Universal Temple now, including some ordinary people who understood the situation—and even the Renegade Monks.
I returned to the house where my parents and I lived. My parents were preparing food, both of them visibly happy. I wiped my hands and went over, intending to help.
"Roxie, go get some rest. Your dad and I can handle this."
I sat down right away. Although I'd completely purged the effects of the Desire Force, the situation was growing increasingly dire. The Ghost Sovereigns had ceased fighting, and the Ghost Ancestor simply sat on the ground, propping his chin in his hand, a smile curling on his lips.
Judging by John Chou's expression, shattering the Ghost Ancestor's ghostly body would not be easy.
At that moment, I noticed a car speeding down the road outside the village—a red sports car, tearing through the dust and roaring into the village. It was Howard Zhang.
Surprised, I sprang to my feet and rushed over.
"Why are you here? What's going on at Universal Temple?"
I asked, but then I saw a child sleeping in the passenger seat—Brother Owen, the Ghostworm Monk. Howard Zhang stepped out, his smile weary and strained, and walked over.
"I had to drive all the way around the city to get here. I'm exhausted. Roxie, things look grim on your side."
Howard Zhang looked around, sighing heavily.
"I couldn't stay away any longer."
Howard Zhang spoke, his smile tinged with resignation and bitterness. I glanced suspiciously at Brother Owen, who was staring intently at the mountain wall, watching the events unfold in the Nether Syndicate.
"This situation can't hold much longer. The Ghost Sovereigns seem powerless against that monster."
Brother Owen spoke, glancing over at me.
"Roxie, don't look at me like that. It's true I've done a lot of bad things, but that was in my previous life."
I ignored Brother Owen as Master Richard Ming slowly walked over.
"Monk, I'm here now."
Howard Zhang spoke, and Master Richard Ming smiled and nodded. The two said nothing more, and Howard simply followed him.
"Have you eaten yet? If not, join us."
It was already past six, but at this point, you couldn't tell if it was day or night—the sky was pitch black. Howard Zhang shook his head, and I couldn't figure out what was going on with him. I had a feeling he'd come here for something specific.
Brother Owen sighed, and I looked at him in confusion.
"Howard Zhang might die."
"What do you mean?"
I asked, and Brother Owen immediately pointed to where my parents were cooking. I led him over.
"Let me put it this way—do you know why the monks value Howard Zhang so much?"
I shook my head. Brother Owen pointed at the kettle.
"If you want a drink, pour it yourself. Who do you think you are?"
Brother Owen chuckled, got up, and poured himself a cup of water from the kettle.
"Because Howard Zhang had a dream—he saw the Buddha."
My eyes widened and I shot to my feet, but Brother Owen grabbed my sleeve.
"Don't go. There were originally only eleven Buddha Manifestations in the world. The monk Fuyuan from Hiddenfall Temple—whom you met—is one of them. He guarded Hiddenfall Temple for a thousand years so that the Buddha Manifestation could remain in the realms of Yin and Yang. But now, a twelfth Buddha Manifestation has appeared, born from a dream Howard Zhang had as a child, a dream of the Buddha."
I sat back down, feeling uneasy. Brother Owen laughed.
"He shouldn't have to bear all this. Clearly..."
"Aren't you the same, Roxie? That's how people are—always have been, always will be. Someone has to step up and do what's needed. This time, there's no avoiding it. When the Ghost Sovereigns are truly powerless, what we humans must face will be laid bare before us."
I looked at Brother Owen, and he continued speaking.
Howard Zhang had known for a long time that the Buddha Manifestation was within him. He could channel its power to guide those souls imprisoned by the Ghost Rakshasa, and that was no accident. But he never told anyone—not even Qingyuan Zhang.
In fact, Howard Zhang had sensed it for years. Back when Brother Owen brought him to his own territory, they'd talked about it. Howard once told Brother Owen he could sense something terrible was coming—a calamity powerful enough to obliterate the human world.
Brother Owen had set his sights on Howard Zhang precisely because he sensed the Buddha Manifestation in Howard's body. He wanted to use Howard as a vessel for reincarnation, but Qingyuan Zhang disrupted the plan, forcing Brother Owen to switch to a backup.
"Howard Zhang once told me he might not be able to bear such a burden. All he wanted was to keep enjoying life in the living world. So I offered to shoulder everything for him, to do it in his place. But Qingyuan Zhang ruined that, too."
I slapped Brother Owen on the head.
"You little brat, if things weren't so dire right now, I'd beat you senseless."
Brother Owen laughed, shaking his head. He looked so innocent, so childlike, but I was still seething with anger.
"Even if you try to stop him, it won't work. He made up his mind the moment he arrived. As the final Buddha Manifestation, this is the only way."
Frowning, I got up and strode quickly away. Soon, I reached the place where the Buddhist sect was gathered.
"Done eating already?"
Howard Zhang grinned at me playfully. I walked over and grabbed him by the collar.
"What do you plan to do?"
Howard Zhang's grin faded, and he shook his head.
"Since you already know, I won't hide it from you. Brother Owen really can't keep his mouth shut."
"You didn't have to come. What about Li Susu and your children?"
I asked, and Howard Zhang placed his hands on my shoulders.
"Aren't you the same, Roxie? Someone has to do what's necessary in this world. You must have seen the devastation in H City. Haven't you ever thought about it? No, you have thought about it—it's because you can't bear to see tragedy consume the living world that you've chosen to stand here. Qingyuan is gone, yet you stepped up. I couldn't do that. Should I just hide and wait for death?"
I looked at Howard Zhang in surprise. He smiled faintly and pointed at the monks sitting on the ground ahead.
"They've all decided to give up everything. That's what true self means. I'm the same. It's all right—as long as we work together, we might find a way."
I couldn't say a word. I knew that Zhang Dan and Zhang Mo, brother and sister, had been born safely—Howard Zhang was already a father. Such a crushing burden shouldn't be his to bear. The twelve Buddha Manifestations could unleash unimaginable power, but as the vessel, Howard Zhang simply couldn't withstand it.
"Worst case scenario..."
"Death."
Howard Zhang said calmly, a carefree smile spreading across his face.
"You're the same, Roxie. Even knowing the worst outcome, you still stand here. Everyone who's come here—everyone with the courage to stand here—is the same. We know death could be the end, but we don't back down. Not all of us are strong enough to face such monsters and keep fighting, but what choice do we have now?"
I gave a heavy, muffled response. Suddenly, Howard Zhang threw his arm around my shoulders.
"Come on, let's go drink."
After a while, we returned to my little building. The moment I stepped inside, I smelled something delicious—Brother Owen was actually eating meat.
"Shouldn't you be following the monastic rules?"
"Are you kidding? At a time like this, if I don't eat now and the Ghost Ancestor shows up, one punch and I'll be minced meat—gone in an instant. Then there'd be no meat left to eat."
Howard Zhang sat down, twisted open a bottle of liquor, and gulped it down. Soon, a look of bitterness crept over his face. Holding up the empty bottle, he began to tremble.
"Fear is inevitable, kid. Drink—try to numb yourself. Maybe it'll dull the terror a bit."
I looked at my father. Howard Zhang suddenly started to cry—at this moment, he seemed utterly helpless.
"They're twins—born early this year. I might never see them again."
"Don't say that, Howard Zhang."
My mother tried to comfort him, but Howard Zhang just opened another bottle and kept drinking, looking deeply troubled and weighed down. Brother Owen sighed.
"We're all here now. Just treat the dying horse as if it can be saved. It's fine. I've taught you everything you need to know on the way here."
Howard Zhang nodded. Suddenly, I felt a piercing ghostly aura approaching us. With a violent flash of green light and a thunderous boom, I saw Uncle Zhuang land in the square. He smiled faintly, and I jumped up in surprise and ran over.