I looked at Past Ethan Zhang in confusion, and Future Ethan Zhang behind me wore the same puzzled expression.
Past Ethan Zhang smiled and shook his head.
"Although this world has reached its end, it is still alive. It hasn't died yet."
Past Ethan Zhang didn't explain anything to us. Instead, he intended to take us directly to find Isabelle Frost. After leaving Lady Meng's house, Past Ethan Zhang placed a small, brown gourd about the size of a pinky finger on the ground. Instantly, the gourd began to swell and grow. After we climbed aboard, Lady Meng's house disappeared from view in an instant.
At that moment, what I saw was a land full of scars, with black smoke rising from many places and dilapidated cities everywhere. The cities looked ancient, and wandering ghosts and a few living people roamed the ground. The sky seemed to have vanished, leaving only a gray-black oppressive canopy overhead.
"What exactly happened here?"
I asked curiously, and Past Ethan Zhang, sitting cross-legged in front, smiled.
"How should I put it? Part of the reason for all this is me, and the other part is John Chou."
I looked at Past Ethan Zhang in confusion, while Future Ethan Zhang behind me stared wide-eyed in shock, as if he'd just heard something utterly astonishing.
"So it really is true!"
Future Ethan Zhang spoke, while Past Ethan Zhang sighed helplessly.
"It seems you've already guessed. In the end, I was the one who killed John Chou—my own dearest friend."
I stared at Past Ethan Zhang in disbelief, wanting to ask more, but I noticed a trace of sadness on his profile. Soon, I saw an unbelievable city ahead—a massive, three-tiered city connected by spiral roads paved with petals of the Flower of the Other Shore.
Warm yellow clouds drifted all around, making the place look beautiful. Though the ghostly aura here was cold and chilling, it felt gentle, not frightening. Souls floated in order across the flower bridges, entering the upper, middle, and lower tiers. Everything seemed perfectly harmonious.
The gourd slowed down, and I finally saw clearly: at the main entrance stood a tall signboard held aloft by a long, red-lacquered pillar, with three golden characters emblazoned on it—Fengdu City.
Looking at this place—familiar yet utterly strange—we followed the gourd as it gently landed on the uppermost tier. As soon as we touched down on a circular plaza, clusters of Flower of the Other Shore drifted to the center, and Isabelle Frost appeared before us.
"Is there something else you need, Ethan Zhang?"
I faced Isabelle Frost, noticing she looked somewhat different from the version in my memory. She wore a gentle smile and had a handsome face like John Chou, but her features were softer. I blinked, and Isabelle Frost noticed me too, slowly drifting toward us, her long red dress swaying lightly in the wind.
"Young lady, you're not from this world, are you? And the Ethan Zhang behind you as well."
As Isabelle Frost spoke, her smile vanished and her gaze grew serious, fixing on Future Ethan Zhang.
"Why has the aura on you changed so much?"
Future Ethan Zhang said nothing, only showing a cold smile as he sat down cross-legged.
"I have no reason to tell you, Isabelle Frost."
Then Isabelle Frost looked at me, while Past Ethan Zhang began to speak with a smile, explaining matters about me and some things about Ethan Zhang in the correct timeline.
Isabelle Frost's expression grew grave, especially after hearing about my current situation. When Past Ethan Zhang finished, Isabelle Frost shook her head.
"Once the Eye of Time initiates an experimental cycle, there's no escape without external help. Even though you've nearly restored the loop to the timeline of your first experience, the slightest difference can cause a deviation, sending you into another chaotic timeline and restarting the cycle."
"Is there really not even the tiniest chance?"
As I spoke, Isabelle Frost looked at both Ethan Zhangs.
"How many experimental timelines have you found so far?"
Past Ethan Zhang smiled.
"I've lost count. Each one has already been marked, but so far, we still haven't found the timeline of the cycle where Rachel Lan exists."
Future Ethan Zhang nodded, then turned as if preparing to leave.
"It's best to use the simplest and most direct method. Otherwise, nothing can begin. If this continues, Rachel Lan's body won't be able to hold out much longer."
I hurriedly put a hand behind my back. Truthfully, ever since I returned, my body has felt off—weak, like I couldn't muster any strength from within.
At that moment, Isabelle Frost walked over, grabbed my hand, and pulled up my sleeve. To my shock, I saw black spots appearing on my arm. They were faint, but spreading.
"Even if the Eye of Time does nothing to you, you'll still die in the end. This will all come to a final end with your endless cycles."
"Is there really nothing we can do, Miss Yi?"
Past Ethan Zhang spoke, and Isabelle Frost looked at us.
"Haven't you known the answer all along?"
Future Ethan Zhang smiled.
"I've already told you—this is the only way. Complete the transition from life to death, enter the dead timeline from the living one. It's your only chance to return to the correct timeline. Rachel Lan, think it over yourself."
I swallowed and nodded anyway.
"No, it's too dangerous. If we really do this, then maybe we'll never..."
"Isn't it already hopeless? I don't know what happened to John Chou in this world, but wasn't it because you had no other way that you killed him?"
Past Ethan Zhang nodded, then looked troubled. Isabelle Frost grabbed my hand and placed a petal in my palm.
"Remember, after death, it's a journey from this shore to the other. If you want to turn back, remember the path beneath your feet. After you die, you'll briefly pass through a forest—a place that connects life and death, filled with ravenous ghosts. They'll devour all the vital energy in your body, and when you wake, the link between your soul and flesh will be severed. At that point, you'll truly be dead."
I murmured in response. I'd heard Ethan Zhang mention all this before—he'd gone there several times himself.
"It looks like those ghosts in the forest want to eat you, but actually they're after your vital energy. If they consume it all, you'll die. Remember, this petal can light the path you came by. Death lasts only a few seconds, but in that world, time stands still. Until your vital energy is devoured, the ghosts will keep searching for you—they'll stop at nothing to find and consume every last bit. Make sure you recognize the path you came by and just run along it."
I murmured again, and Past Ethan Zhang began to float.
"Since it's decided, let's return to Lady Meng's place. While you're dying, we'll move your body back to the correct timeline. All you have to do is find a way to come back."
Then we left Fengdu City at once. Past Ethan Zhang led us quickly back to Lady Meng's residence. As soon as we entered, Lady Meng looked at me with a troubled expression.
"Young lady, if you fail, everything will be ruined."
I murmured in response, knowing Lady Meng wasn't joking. If I truly died, my soul might be utterly destroyed. The Holy Spirits had warned me about this after my resurrection.
Because I'd already died once before, another death would mean the hard-won reunion of my soul would be shattered again, and I'd lose the body created to house it.
I gripped the petal tightly in my hand, nervously watching Future Ethan Zhang, who held a small vial of black liquid.
"What is this?"
I looked at him in confusion as he handed the vial to me.
"When you re-enter the cycle, wait until time passes and you reach the end—then drink my blood. You'll die instantly. He and I will use that moment to bring your body back, and Jiuchen will return your dead body to the correct timeline. Only then will time be set right, and the Eye of Time won't be able to change anything. All you have to do is come back."
I murmured again as a streak of black light descended, tinged with white. My palm was slick with sweat, and the Flower of the Other Shore Isabelle Frost had given me sank into my hand and entered my body.
"If you're ready, hurry up. There's no more time to wait—too much has already been wasted."
Jiuchen spoke, raising a hand to open a black-and-white swirling space. I nodded and stepped right into it. A dizzying white light flared before my eyes; I raised my hand, but as the light faded, I found myself back in that forest again.
The newborn instinct inside me immediately began transmitting memory images into my mind. I repeated everything I'd done the first day I arrived, following the same scenes.
Time passed slowly—painfully slowly. In just over a day, my mind was flooded with thoughts. This method really could kill me, and if I died, I'd never get to see Ethan Zhang again.
As the moment approached, my anxiety grew. Maybe this is just a woman's nature. Though I told myself to relax, anxiety and fear had already taken hold, infecting every part of me, cold rising from the soles of my feet.
"Get ready, Rachel Lan."