A Yin soul is an exceptionally rare type of soul. When a person is born, their soul splits into Yin and Yang, just as people possess both strength and vulnerability. Mason Wan’s current predicament is that this ghost has occupied his body for so long that his Yin and Yang have become dangerously imbalanced, causing his soul to mutate.
The Yang side of the soul will separate and leave the body, causing physical decline and, over time, death. But now, in Mason Wan’s case, the ghost has fused perfectly with his body.
Because this ghost was raised by humans and has absorbed human essence for years, once it possessed Mason Wan, it could seamlessly merge with his body.
There’s only one way to save Mason Wan: find the Yang soul that has already left his body.
"Tell me what to do—anything. I’ll do it."
Rachel looked at Hugh Thompson and asked. Hugh Thompson smiled and gazed back at her.
There’s only one way to save Mason Wan: you must go to Shadowwood Grove. That is the world of ghosts, filled with countless wandering spirits. Occasionally, people in the living world experience soul separation, and when that happens, their souls are drawn to that place.
That place is unique. The Ghost Burial Squad’s archives mention that only by leaving the body as a spirit can one enter. When ordinary people die, their memories fade for a time. Once that happens, they go to Shadowwood Grove, waiting for all three souls to fully separate from the flesh.
Those who have soul separation also end up there, but with one difference: they retain their memories, because they haven’t died—only their soul has left the body.
In Shadowwood Grove, ghosts cannot see the souls of the living, but they can smell them. Only someone close to Mason Wan can call back his Yang soul.
Hugh Thompson told Rachel that all she needed to do was go there and call Mason Wan’s name. As long as she found him within four hours, she would be safe.
After explaining the risks to Rachel, Mason Wan’s parents looked at her anxiously, but Rachel was determined to save him.
"Be careful. You only get one chance. It’s not often that a person’s soul can leave their body."
Hugh Thompson spoke, and Rachel followed the method taught by a member of the Ghost Burial Squad, sitting on the ground. I watched as they brought over two long wooden planks and placed them in front of Rachel, sprinkling plenty of sand on top. Mixed in the sand were some dark red substances.
"These two planks are called the Crossing Bridge in the Mount Mason Order. To separate the soul from a living person, this is the only way. You go left when entering, right when returning. Remember: though the wandering spirits can’t see you, they can smell you and touch you. Avoid them."
Rachel closed her eyes. They drew talismans on both her arms, and once everything was ready, they began chanting incantations.
Gradually, a stream of white vapor emerged from Rachel’s body—it was her soul. Soon, footprints appeared on the left plank, then vanished at the end, into empty space.
The wind howled around, the ground was sandy, with white sand everywhere. Rachel arrived in a grove of tall trees. All around, wailing sounds echoed. For the first time, she saw the gathering white-robed ghosts with blurry forms, and gray, despondent ghosts. Rachel was frightened; their eyes were hollow, and they wandered slowly, whimpering through the grove.
Rachel began to shout, calling Mason Wan’s name over and over. She did her best to avoid the wandering spirits, who seemed to smell her and were drawn toward her.
Watching this, I felt a strange sense of déjà vu, as if I had been here before. Everything about this place seemed familiar, as though I’d seen it somewhere.
The wind and sand obscured Rachel’s vision. All she could do was keep shouting and dodging the wandering spirits that came her way.
She had no idea how much time had passed. Rachel felt thirsty and extremely tired. Hugh Thompson had warned her: if she felt thirsty and exhausted, it meant time was running out. When she could no longer move, four hours would be up. Rachel panicked, darting frantically through the woods.
The wind was still fierce. Rachel could barely walk, utterly spent, but what kept her going were memories of the joyful days she’d shared with Mason Wan.
Rachel had heard about Mason Wan’s troubles before, but since they started dating, he’d treated her well and never kept secrets. Their bond had deepened, and now she couldn’t imagine life without him.
At last, Rachel sensed something. She hurried toward the feeling—a sound of crying. It was Mason Wan’s voice. Rachel rushed over.
"Mason Wan, I found you! It’s me, Rachel."
Mason Wan looked up at Rachel in terror.
"Why did you come here? Leave now, Rachel. You don’t belong here—I’m already dead."
As Mason Wan spoke, Rachel grabbed his hand and refused to let go. By now, they were surrounded by wandering spirits. The ghosts began tearing at Mason Wan and even caught hold of Rachel.
Rachel fought desperately. As long as she held Mason Wan’s hand when time was up, she could return. Determined, she shoved away some of the ghosts and dragged Mason Wan, running as fast as she could.
Mason Wan was nearly defeated, ready to give up. Rachel herself could barely run any farther.
"Are you even a man, Mason Wan?"
Rachel shouted fiercely, but Mason Wan, for some reason, refused to get up or leave.
"Forget it, Rachel. Even if we go back, nothing changes. We might as well stay here—let’s just be together. There’s nothing good in the living world. As long as we’re together..."
With a sharp slap, Rachel struck Mason Wan and let go of his hand.
"If you want to stay, go ahead. I won’t waste my time. Mason Wan, if you don’t want to live, don’t drag me down with you. I’ve worked hard for over a year, and if it’s all for nothing, so be it. Get lost."
Suddenly, Rachel started cursing. As she turned to leave, Mason Wan panicked. Before, his wealth had meant his relationships were based on money—he had no real friends. After his parents cut off his allowance, Mason Wan saw the truth about many things.
He didn’t argue. Mason Wan stared blankly at Rachel standing before him, unmoving. At that moment, Rachel reached out her hand.
"This is your last chance. If you still want to stay here, then never come back."
With a sharp sound, Mason Wan put his hand on hers. The ghosts around them began to tear at them, but suddenly a burst of light flared up, and the two vanished into the white glow.
Mason Wan returned safely. With Hugh Thompson and the others’ help, the evil ghost inside him was driven out, and Mason Wan finally woke up.
The two decided to join the Ghost Burial Squad together. Although Rachel didn’t have the ability to see ghosts, Hugh Thompson valued her meticulous intelligence gathering skills for uncovering the Squad’s secrets.
You only need a period of training in the Ghost Burial Squad to see ghosts. After a year of study, the two decided to get married.
Rachel was known for her open personality in the Squad—famously so. She often teased male trainees to the point of exasperation.
On the wedding day, the bridesmaids followed Rachel. But I was shocked—the person pulling Rachel’s wedding dress couldn’t be seen. Behind Rachel, it was as if a transparent figure existed.
Just then, a sizzling noise erupted. The images around us began to distort, flickering like a bad TV signal.
"Who are you, really?"
I roared, looking around—something was definitely wrong. Everything here, the one stopping me, trying to keep me from the memory shard, was not ordinary.
Back then, I hadn’t destroyed him. When that hand reached from the monster glowing with rainbow colors—like a serpent—toward my heart, I felt a surge of terror.
"Who are you, and what have you done?"
I roared, but chaos still reigned around me—I couldn’t see anything clearly anymore.
I felt the memory shards wrapped in my power begin to steam and try to break free. All three shards I’d obtained were like this.
But then, a terrifying thought struck me: would Hugh Thompson lie to me? The answer was no. He’d clearly said that a member of the Nether Syndicate had followed us here.
Yet, the Ghost Burial Squad members who entered here didn’t know. What scared me was that this person could manipulate memory itself.
Panic rose in me. Thinking of Vivian Ouyang’s case sent chills down my spine.
I stopped reading the memories and returned to my instinctual space, quietly contemplating the three shards I’d wrapped up.
From the start, when I heard Da Rong mention memory shards, they felt familiar—not because I’d seen many people’s memories, but because memory itself exists in this world and can be seen. The more I thought about it, the more afraid I became.
"You’re a problem, Zhang Qingyuan. Eliminate you."
Suddenly, from the depths of my instinctual space, a cold, furious voice rang out. Then came a howl—like a wolf’s. A massive, pitch-black beast lunged at me.