I quietly watched Eli Lear. All around us, the air was filled with cheers. The prison guards had all been knocked unconscious, and the inmates surged out from behind the barbed wire, scrambling toward the gate to freedom.
In the midst of the uproar, I found myself unable to decide what to ask. This ancient sage, the founder of Taoism—I wanted to ask him so many things, hoping he could dispel my doubts. Yet, not a single question came to mind.
Eli Lear smiled.
"Don’t worry too much, young man. When you’ve figured it out, it won’t be too late to ask."
The car started. Eli Lear sat in the back seat, took his medicine, and soon fell asleep. After so many years in prison, his body was completely worn out—just an ordinary man now. Whether he was truly Laozi no longer mattered.
Eli Lear’s condition reminded me of Master Richard Ming and Master Frank Yuan from Universal Temple. In fact, some of the aura he gave off even surpassed those two masters.
Black Moon seemed troubled, gazing quietly at Eli Lear, his face serious.
On the way back, Eli Lear’s illness forced us to move slowly, stopping often. It took five days before we finally returned to the underground base. As soon as we arrived, everyone crowded around. Zhang Jizheng came out, respectfully supporting Eli Lear and staying by his side. Throughout the journey, Susan Zhou said nothing, but I could tell she was overjoyed that we’d managed to rescue Eli Lear.
"Sigh, Lady Zhou, Night was planning to come by earlier, but since Fang isn’t here, he’ll visit another day."
I nodded. We entered a spacious room and took our seats. Everyone’s eyes were on Eli Lear.
"Mr. Li, this may seem abrupt, but I must ask—are you truly Laozi?"
Ghost Painting Book Immortal could no longer hold back.
Eli Lear nodded. In that instant, every pair of eyes turned to him.
"To explain, I hope you all understand. This world is a realm of ghostly death. I was fortunate enough to be born here, thanks to the creators. Every person has good and evil within, but the line between them isn’t absolute. Good is good, evil is evil, and people are made of both. Even I am no exception. My name is Eli Lear—the evil part of me was reincarnated in this world."
"So you’re the evil side of Laozi. What about your good side? Is it in the heavens?"
Felix Zhou asked, and Eli Lear laughed.
"Perhaps it exists. I’ve never met it. I was born as the evil part, just wanting to be an ordinary person, living as I did before, walking my own path."
There was no trace of evil in Eli Lear’s presence—his gaze was clear, nothing about him seemed dark. But this was similar to Rachel Lan: the good part was received by the holy realm, while the evil part came here.
"All right, everyone, if you have questions, I’ll answer if I can. If my answers fall short, I hope you’ll forgive me."
"I’ve spent my life obsessed with strange powers and spirits, unable to break free. May I ask, sir, which is heavier—obsession or intoxication?"
"Obsession is immersion, intoxication is confusion. There’s no difference in weight; the two complement each other. Lightness and heaviness, reality and illusion—judge for yourself."
Ghost Painting Book Immortal burst out laughing, as if he’d understood something, and gave a thumbs-up.
"Heh, so that’s the explanation? Brilliant."
Felix Zhou walked over with a cheerful smile.
"So, Eli Lear, what do you think a friend truly is?"
I watched Felix Zhou. I’d only mentioned Frank Niu to him a few times, but it was clear Felix Zhou still worried about Frank Niu.
"Then let me ask you—what are you and your friend, really?"
Felix Zhou let out a confused sound, scratching his head. Eli Lear walked up to him and extended both hands, clasping them together.
"Left hand holding right hand—that’s what friendship is, that’s how the world is. Be honest, young man."
Felix Zhou suddenly panicked, stammering awkwardly.
"Get lost... that's not what I asked."
At that moment, Black Moon walked over.
"All right, my turn. Heh. Mr. Li, suppose a cup has a hole at the bottom, but you still want to drink water. If you pour water in, it flows right out. What do you do?"
I blinked at Black Moon. He smiled, and Eli Lear laughed, walked to the table, and picked up a cup.
"Just cover the hole with your hand. It’s not hard—the key is whether you want to, whether you reach out."
Black Moon clasped his hands and bowed formally.
Then Isabelle Frost stood up, looking as if she wanted to speak but couldn’t.
"Say what’s on your mind, young lady."
"Mr. Li, if a flower’s leaves never meet its blossom, what should be done?"
I looked at Isabelle Frost. I knew little about her, only that she and John Chou were once the same person, but were split apart for Cecilia, then adopted by the Yi Family. After that, something significant must have happened, putting her and John Chou on opposing sides.
"Well, young lady, do you know? Without leaves, there can be no flower. It’s just a matter of timing. I’ve seen the red spider lily—its leaves and flowers never meet, but it’s still a red spider lily. That never changes."
Isabelle Frost said nothing more, her face cold as she sat down. Eli Lear sipped his tea and sat down too.
For a moment, the room fell silent. Now, only Ray Lin, Kane, Victor Duan, and I hadn’t asked questions.
"What’s wrong, you three? No questions?"
Felix Zhou muttered. Ray Lin waved his hand and sighed with a smile.
"My doubts are already gone; there’s nothing more to ask. Mr. Wraithshade has already brought clarity to my mind."
Kane spoke, and Victor Duan added his thoughts.
"Same for me. I have nothing to ask. I’ve never liked those Daoist folks anyway."
Eli Lear looked at me.
"Young man, you’re the only one left."
All eyes turned to me. I stood up, my mind still a mess—what did I really want to ask?
One by one, everyone left the room until only Eli Lear and I remained.
"Your state of mind is often troubled by changes in the outside world, leading to doubt and worry. Young man, whether human or ghost, it’s always been this way. Because we have cognition and thought, you should know the root of your confusion, but you can’t solve it, nor accept it. You’re caught between them, unable to escape."
With a single sentence, Eli Lear laid bare the chaos in my heart. Indeed, as he said, my mind was filled with contradiction—good and evil, shield and spear, always in conflict. Again and again, I fought to hold onto myself, but each time the struggle returned, stronger than before. I didn’t know how long I could keep going. I was tired.
How long until I can finally escape this contradiction?
At last, I asked the question. Maybe this was the part of me that struggled most—always fighting, always caught in the whirlpool.
Forever.
Just two simple words, and Eli Lear had given me his answer. That answer began to resonate with what was inside me.
Outside the room, everyone else hadn’t left. At that moment, Eli Lear stood up, opened the door, and Felix Zhou stumbled in.
Eli Lear spoke, and I breathed a sigh of relief, sinking into the sofa.
Eli Lear spoke, and I breathed a sigh of relief, sinking into the sofa.
"Maybe so. If I didn’t have the resolve to endure this contradiction forever, I wouldn’t be standing here now. Let’s eat, everyone."
That meal was somber and silent. None of us spoke—we were all quietly pondering our own questions and answers.
After the meal, Eli Lear walked over and sat beside me.
"Young man, I think you’re quite similar to someone I know. His name is Night."
I widened my eyes, staring at Eli Lear.
"Are you familiar with the leader of Crimson Night?"
Eli Lear shook his head.
"Night used to visit often. We’d drink tea and chat—it was always pleasant. In our conversations, I learned some interesting things. The reason I say you’re similar is this: you restrain yourself within your own rules, while Night breaks forward within his. Two sides of the same coin."
I swallowed, watching Eli Lear. After he stood up, Zhang Jizheng supported him, planning to take him to rest, while Susan Zhou came over.
"I never realized how remarkable Master was. I’ve never had much schooling since childhood."
"What kind of person is Night?"
I asked. Susan Zhou smiled.
"He’s a good person. He leads us in Crimson Night, always fighting against the order of this world. Everyone respects him. Maybe, just as Teacher said, you and Night really are a bit alike—in spirit."
"Is that so."
I stood up.
"Miss Zhou, take me to see Night."
"Of course."
Susan Zhou nodded, quickly stepped aside, and took out a wireless phone. An hour later, she returned.
"Fang, let’s go. Night wants to meet you as well—maybe you two could become good friends."
I nodded and followed Susan Zhou, entering the passage behind the banner.