"Wendy, why have you become like this? Tell your father quickly—did that damned monk do something to you?"
"Amitabha. Master Owen is my guiding lantern. In a previous life, we were father and daughter, but now, I have been reborn. My Buddhist name is Huiyin. Please, Lord Lee, return home. I wish to practice in peace here."
Quinn Lee was so furious he nearly slapped her. I also felt something was off. Wendy Wood used to have a stubborn temper—how could she be so completely changed now?
I grabbed Quinn Lee and shook my head. The three of us found a room and began to discuss the situation.
Quinn Lee had already used Ghost Net to thoroughly investigate Wendy Wood’s condition. Sure enough, part of her memory was missing. Quinn Lee looked helpless—anyone would struggle to accept their daughter suddenly becoming a different person.
But continuing like this wouldn’t solve anything. We could only ask around for clues. After all, I came here to find my cousin. If nothing else worked, we’d have to take Wendy Wood back by force.
"Lord Lee, since you’ve found your daughter, stay here and look after her. I’m going to search for my cousin."
As I spoke, I headed for the door. The Dragon followed me.
We decided to split up. I went to check the market on the left, while The Dragon took the right. Outside, The Dragon sniffed the air, catching whiffs of fragrance drifting by. I took out some money and handed it to him.
"Don’t get so distracted by food that you forget about my cousin."
"Come on, Ethan Zhang, who do you think I am? Relax, I’m an old hand at this. Back when I was alive, I used to go out with the boss all the time to gather intel."
The Dragon looked supremely confident and followed the scent away.
I went down the stairs and entered the street. The market surprised me: aside from the old-fashioned buildings, you could buy food, toys, clothes—everything. The ghosts here were buzzing with excitement, constantly talking about the Jialan Ceremony.
I looked around and entered a teahouse. The talk here was intense—mostly about Master Owen and the Jialan Ceremony. Apparently, it was meant to recruit followers and seize control of The Barrens, with a showdown against Quinn Lee all but inevitable.
From what I heard, they thought Quinn Lee didn’t stand a chance against Master Owen, and even said his daughter had been converted—drawn into Buddhism by Master Owen.
Most of the talk was about when the fight would start and how it would go. The mood was one-sided—these ghosts all supported Master Owen. Suddenly, the teahouse went silent as every ghost turned to look at me.
They stopped talking. It hit me: in their eyes, I was dressed in white and carrying a sword—obviously one of Quinn Lee’s people.
Feeling a bit helpless, I slipped into an alley, planning to change clothes. But then I remembered—Chaoswood could alter its appearance at will. I focused, imagining myself as an ordinary Grayshade Wraith. When I returned to the teahouse, no one paid me any attention; they just went back to their discussion.
After listening for a while, I realized there was no useful information, so I decided to leave. Just then, I spotted someone who didn’t fit in with the ghosts around here.
He leaned against the railing outside the teahouse, long hair, dressed in worn black linen. His face was rugged and handsome, but his eyes held a hint of madness. The sharp lines of his features made him striking. I couldn’t help but glance at him. He was just a Yellow Ghost, but somehow, he felt different from the others.
He glanced at me, then smiled and raised his wine jug, taking a drink with a drunken air.
I left the teahouse and wandered the street for a long time, but couldn’t find any news about my cousin. I asked carefully, even inquiring if there was any meat at the Jialan Ceremony. The ghosts laughed at my ignorance—this was a gathering of ghost monks, of course it was all vegetarian.
Just as the ghosts said, everything sold on the street was vegetarian. I didn’t see a single piece of meat.
After wandering for a while, I decided to check the upper streets and headed toward the mountaintop. The layout was almost identical—eight stairways, with houses divided among them.
Suddenly, I turned and looked around. Though I didn’t spot anyone suspicious, I felt like I was being watched.
I moved quickly through the crowds of ghosts. My instincts were right—I was being targeted by someone.
But I couldn’t use my Specter Web here. Suddenly, I felt something strange on my body. I hurried into an alley—the odd sensation came from behind. I waved my hand and pulled out a thin, thread-like, green strand—it was a Specter Web.
My heart skipped a beat.
"Your ghost aura is leaking. If you want to stay hidden, you need to rein it in."
A voice came from the alley entrance. The guy was a Blue Wraith, and his ghost aura was strong. Even though this Specter Web was just a tiny part of his power, I hadn’t noticed it sticking to me until now.
It was the same wild-eyed guy I’d seen at the teahouse.
"What are you talking about?"
I smiled and walked over, planning to leave. I didn’t want to get tangled up with him—he was probably one of the Blue Wraiths attending Master Owen’s Jialan Ceremony. I walked past, ignoring him.
"You smell like John Chou."
I turned, shocked, to look at the Blue Wraith. He grinned, wild-eyed.
"You’re Ethan Zhang, aren’t you?"
Instantly, hostility welled up inside me, and my ghost aura started to leak out.
"Come on, let’s go over there."
As he spoke, the Blue Wraith placed a hand on my shoulder. Instantly, my ghost aura vanished—the trace that had leaked out was gone. I was surprised; he didn’t seem hostile at all.
The Blue Wraith dragged me to a tavern. As soon as we entered, he started shouting.
"Boss, bring ten jars of your best wine, and some fresh vegetarian dishes."
Then he turned to me and continued speaking.
"I don’t have any money. You’ll cover the bill, right?"
I nodded, still wary of the Blue Wraith. If not for that Specter Web, I wouldn’t have been able to tell his rank at all.
Soon, a table full of vegetarian dishes and ten jars of wine were brought up. We went to the second floor, to a large table by the window overlooking the street.
"Eat up, don’t be shy."
He said this, pushed his hair back, and started eating with chopsticks. He drank wine like water, quickly finishing three jars, looking very satisfied as he ate.
"Who are you, really?"
I asked seriously, but he just kept smiling, eating and drinking. After a long while, he licked the sauce off his fingers and spoke.
"My name is Allen Zhang. Pleased to meet you, Ethan Zhang."
I glanced nervously around. He'd spoken quietly, but I still didn't want to be exposed so soon.
"Relax. This is Master Owen's ghost domain, but even he can't know everything that happens in every corner. So, Ethan Zhang, how's John Chou doing? Still treating people like monkeys for his amusement?"
I almost burst out laughing. As Allen Zhang spoke, he even mimicked a monkey.
"Yeah."
I gave a simple reply, and Allen Zhang broke into wild laughter.
"Damn, what a bastard. He gets out and doesn't tell any of us? Tell me, isn't he a complete bastard?"
I was stunned, then let out a surprised sound.
"Are you one of John Chou's Hundred Ghosts?"
"I used to be."
Allen Zhang kept drinking. My guard started to drop, but then I reminded myself—I didn't really know him yet. Better stay alert.
"Damn, it's boring. I've been stuck here for hundreds of years—I'm about to grow mold."
"Hasn't Violet Swallow already reached out to you guys?"
I said, and Allen Zhang looked nostalgic.
"I'd love to hear Violet Swallow play the pipa again. Her music is truly beautiful."
I nodded. Violet Swallow's skill was remarkable—her music was always enchanting. But I snapped back to reality; I wasn't here to reminisce, but to find my cousin. If Allen Zhang had been here for centuries, he must know something.
"Mr. Zhang, please—tell me everything you know about this place. You must..."
"No rush, Ethan Zhang."
Allen Zhang stood up, stretched, and picked up the three remaining jars of wine, ready to leave.
"Let's go to my place first."
I grunted in agreement, followed him downstairs, paid the bill, and trailed Allen Zhang through the lower streets. He led me through clusters of houses until we reached a shabby courtyard.
The courtyard was full of broken things. Allen Zhang went in and sat down right in the middle.
"So, Ethan Zhang—did John Chou say anything to you when you came down here?"
I shook my head. "No, he didn't."
"He didn't mention anything about the Hundred Ghosts?"
Allen Zhang's eyes burned with hope. I remembered how Violet Swallow found John Chou. I decided to tell Allen Zhang exactly what John Chou had said.