Unexpectedly, Lord Shenyan walked over to the barbecue grill and started helping out, surprisingly skilled at it.
Yuna Ji, if you do it like that, you'll burn all the food.
What do the rest of you think?
Tan Tian spoke, glancing at the other Ghost Sovereigns before fixing his gaze on Redmond.
Don't look at me. Just talk directly with John Chou—we're listening.
So, that means you've all reached a consensus.
The Undertaker interjected, while The Artisan glared at John Chou in displeasure.
Taking this step is worse than death for you, since you never trust anyone else. Heh, if you keep hesitating, you'll lose your last chance to catch them.
Suddenly, The Undertaker stood up and walked over to John Chou.
Do you know where they are?
John Chou just smiled, saying nothing, keeping The Undertaker in suspense.
John Chou.
The Undertaker called out, stepping directly in front of John Chou.
You have one minute to decide. If you keep scheming about how to suppress us and try to get information about Wraithshade and the others from us, this cooperation ends here.
You...
The Undertaker raised a finger, while John Chou pulled a watch from his pocket and looked at it silently.
Forty-three seconds left.
The atmosphere in the room grew heavy. Only the ticking of the second hand could be heard, each click echoing. It was a difficult choice for them—once the artificial souls implanted in the Ghost Sovereigns are removed, they lose the power to suppress us. Everything returns to square one. Time is running out. John Chou stood up, and so did the other Ghost Sovereigns.
Alright, time's...
I understand. We'll take out the artificial souls from your bodies first.
In a bright white room, a large round tank stood in the center, filled with a translucent liquid.
Yuna Ji was the first to step forward. With The Artisan's help, she entered the tank, giggling and waving at us. All of us stared intently at the tank.
Gradually, Yuna Ji's body began to change in the liquid. Black substances emerged from her body and floated to the surface. She looked disgusted.
Among the Ghost Sovereigns, only Basil Bertram and Yvonne May retained their power; the others were locked by artificial souls and couldn't use their true strength—except for John Chou.
The black substance increased. Yuna Ji smiled excitedly, and a streak of green appeared in her hand. With a whoosh, a fierce ghostly energy burst from the tank. Yuna Ji stood before us, holding a jade-green spear.
Looks like you're sincere this time. I'll make an exception and tell you: if District 13 is to the south, then Wraithshade and the others went west.
How do you know?
The Artisan asked, puzzled. I wanted to know too. Yuna Ji giggled.
Did you forget how deep my grudge with him runs? Higher than mountains, deeper than oceans, even higher than the sky. Of course I always know where my enemy is—and he always knows I want to kill him.
With a whoosh, Yuna Ji floated upward.
Time's running out. Which of you will come with me? There should only be two of them. My target is Wraithshade. Before I return, I have to deal with him.
As she spoke, Yuna Ji looked eager to leave, but John Chou quickly grabbed her.
If you go now, you'll alert them. They won't just wait around for you to find them.
True enough.
Yuna Ji sighed helplessly, but The Undertaker and The Forsaken looked extremely uncomfortable. John Chou walked over to the repaired tank.
Remove the restraints inside us first. That's the prerequisite.
That's all we can do. John Chou, looks like we can trust you this time.
Tan Tian finally spoke. When it comes to Yuna Ji, he probably knows better than anyone here—he was the one who sheltered her when she was weak, letting her stand against the Underworld Court alone. He even conspired with her to throw the Ghost Sovereigns into Abyssal Hell.
Soon, the artificial souls inside all the Ghost Sovereigns were removed. Redmond laughed heartily, looking completely at ease, and glared fiercely at Tan Tian.
Don't even think about locking us up again. Your artificial souls are useless to us now.
The Artisan bit her lip and nodded helplessly.
Can Yuna Ji take us to find Wraithshade now?
Not yet.
John Chou's words made the previously calm Tan Tian turn to look at him.
Don't push your luck, John Chou.
Tan Tian said, but John Chou just shook his head.
That doesn't apply to us. Save it for yourselves. The ones always pushing their luck are you.
The atmosphere grew tense again. I didn't know what to say. Although they agreed to help remove the artificial souls from Mingde and Jianyun's bodies, it wouldn't happen now.
Any other demands, John Chou?
Tell us—you hid the light inside those test subjects.
I swallowed. This was a necessary condition for our return. Thinking about it, isn't this exactly what 'pushing your luck' means? I smiled helplessly, but John Chou's expression suddenly grew serious.
Tan Tian already had a hand pressed to his forehead.
You only get one chance. If you can't catch Wraithshade and the others now, all your research will be for nothing.
John Chou made it perfectly clear. Tan Tian slowly lowered his hand.
What if you break your promise and run? You should know how to get back.
The Undertaker asked, puzzled. John Chou nodded.
It'll take us about twenty days to get back. There's plenty of time. Besides, that woman is already trembling with excitement.
Everyone looked at Yuna Ji. Sweat beaded on her forehead, her whole body shaking slightly. She was completely absorbed in her own world, her expression unsettling.
Yuna Ji...
John Chou walked over and called her name, but Yuna Ji was muttering to herself, as if she hadn't heard. John Chou grabbed her mouth, snapping her out of it. She stared wide-eyed and shoved him away.