I returned to the entrance of the apartment building. A streak of violet light appeared, forming a doorway. I knew exactly where Coexistence wanted me to rest. Once I regained some strength, I got up and stepped through the violet door.
"How are you holding up, brother? Everything alright?"
As soon as I entered this world filled with birdsong and blooming flowers, the exhaustion in my body seemed to vanish in an instant. I lay comfortably on the ground, looking at John Chou.
"It's one to one right now. Only the final round remains."
John Chou sat down beside me. I glanced around, but saw no sign of Mona Ouyang.
"Where's that guy?"
"No idea. That dead weirdo at least knows when to keep his distance."
John Chou said that, and I sat up, feeling much more comfortable now. I began to talk about the Hide-and-Seek Trial.
"Hide-and-seek, huh? Heh, I used to play that a lot with my idiot little sister."
I smiled, but inside I was a little surprised. John Chou seemed genuinely happy. The moment he turned to look at me, his eyes grew intensely serious.
"Brother, the essence of hide-and-seek is a psychological and endurance battle within a confined space. Heh, that guy knows exactly what it is you're lacking."
I swallowed hard. I'd thought about it before—Coexistence's purpose in making me play hide-and-seek isn't just to consume me. What I'm lacking, as pointed out, is actual combat ability, psychological strategy, and endurance. In these two aspects, I'm severely deficient.
Relying solely on my own willpower to fight has its limits. I can't match John Chou and the others—they have a wealth of combat experience and can analyze their opponents in real time. I can't do that, but it doesn't mean I don't need to. This is exactly what I'm missing right now.
"Even so, I have to win the final round."
I stood up and gazed at the distant sky.
"Brother, the next round may cost you everything you have so far. Remember this—what you see may not be real, and what you hope for may not be right. If you want to see through it all, you have to look down from above."
I stared quietly at John Chou. He raised a smile at the corner of his mouth, and I nodded.
"By the way, John Chou, what exactly is this thing?"
That's the question that's been haunting me. The vial of blood John Chou gave me—whose is it? To break a spell as powerful as Old Tom's, there aren't many in this world who could do it.
John Chou didn't answer. He stared into the distance, then started laughing.
"The formation of the Immortality Society may have had someone meddling behind the scenes. That's why I had you ask about those thirteen people who went overseas seeking immortality—what they truly experienced is extremely important."
"Let me guess—I'll find out eventually, right?"
I muttered under my breath. John Chou nodded, his expression serious. I didn't press further; I'd rested enough.
"Ethan Zhang, hurry up. Trust your instincts and let me take you over."
Before I realized it, Mona Ouyang had appeared behind us. I nodded.
"It's the final round, brother. Win it. Once you do, everything you see will be different—crystal clear."
I let out a breath, turned around, and extended my right hand, clenching it into a fist.
I will win. No matter what, I have to reclaim my other half of strength.
After stepping through the violet door, I found myself back at the apartment entrance. The door behind me vanished. I looked over and saw Ethan Zhang's Heavenly Soul sitting in the pavilion, looking cheerful and waving me over. I hurried to him.
"Did something good happen? Why are you so happy?"
"Ethan Zhang, I didn't expect you to win. Heh, but it wasn't just luck—that guy let you win on purpose. Didn't you notice?"
I swallowed, looking at the Heavenly Soul. His golden eyes stared at me with an uncanny intensity.
Thinking back, it seems Coexistence could always find the places I'd hidden. Every spot I chose, he visited. But why? I still don't know.
"If it weren't for that trash, you'd have lost for sure. The place you played in was created by me, based on things from your Ghost Domain, together with Coexistence."
"Thanks."
"And that trash did a great job masking your presence. Even now, haven't you noticed? What's with the aura you carry?"
I widened my eyes, staring at the Heavenly Soul as he pointed at me.
In that instant, I seemed to understand something, but the details were still swirling in my mind.
"It's like—among a crowd of laughter, there's always someone suffering. Even the most oblivious person would notice."
"Contradiction?"
I muttered. If the aura I carry can only be described as "contradiction," then that's the answer. Anxiety, unease—always present, even if I hadn't noticed before. After this second round of hide-and-seek, if I'd let my anxiety and fear explode and run away, I would have lost for sure.
"Humans are creatures of emotion. Everyone feels these things. But you're different. For example, people get anxious before a speech, a business deal, or confessing to someone they love. They're afraid of failure, but they also hope for success. It's contradictory—like you. This conflicted feeling is what makes us human, like standing at a crossroads."
The Heavenly Soul spoke, approaching me step by step, bringing his face close to mine.
"But you—your emotions are hundreds, thousands, maybe even tens of thousands of times stronger. It's win or die. If you win, you live; if you lose, you die. That's your contradiction now. When you lost your power, all that anxiety and unease erupted at once."
I clenched my fists, lowered my head, unable to meet the Heavenly Soul's eyes. He placed both hands on my cheeks.
"Just like your eyes—unable to shed tears anymore. You watched the one you loved turn to ashes, and the hope you barely grasped is about to be extinguished. You're afraid—fear can't be erased. All our lives, we move between fear and hope. Fear is a kind of crisis awareness, but yours is too much. You're terrified of seeing something precious destroyed again."
"Yes."
After a long silence, I finally managed a word. What the Heavenly Soul said—I couldn't refute it. He's another me, but as an observer, he sees deeper, farther, with more insight. Like a mirror.
"It's impossible to eliminate all your fear, anxiety, and unease. Maybe you'll be like this your whole life. I am you, and you are me. So I know your nature—turn all this into your weapon, your strength. Just like in the second round, Ethan Zhang, show everything you are in this final game. Let Coexistence see you haven't changed at all, except for your perspective."
"You two done talking yet? I'm getting impatient."
From the top of the apartment building, Coexistence's voice echoed down. I responded with an "Okay," and said:
"Alright, Coexistence. Let's start the final round."
In an instant, I was at the top of the apartment building.
"Heh, let's continue, Ethan Zhang. Life or death—this is the final round."
Coexistence spoke, extending his hand and clenching it into a fist.
"Let's begin. Rock-Paper-Scissors. Best two out of three. The winner can choose—ghost or human."
"Fair enough."
The clang of bells rang out. The black-and-white clock in the sky reset to twelve o'clock sharp.
My eyes were devoid of emotion, and so were Coexistence's. We both placed our right hands behind our backs. I was thinking hard—what should I play in Rock-Paper-Scissors?
"One... two... three..."
In a flash, I threw down 'rock.' Coexistence burst out laughing—I lost. He played 'paper.'
"Alright, let's continue. Next round—still paper."
His words sent ripples through my heart. I swallowed. Only a third of what Coexistence says is true.
As the countdown ended, I played 'scissors.' This time, I won.
"Heh, interesting. Let's continue. Last round—no hints this time."
I nodded and started the countdown.
At the count of three, I played 'scissors.' Coexistence played 'rock.'
"Not a great start, Ethan Zhang."
"Enough talk. So—do you want to be the ghost, or the human?"
Coexistence rested his chin on his hand, his eyes darting around. He looked like he'd found the answer, grinning exaggeratedly.
"This time, I'll be the ghost. You'll be the human. If you can't find me, I'll devour you."
His voice was low and powerful. Coexistence meant it—he wasn't joking.
"Alright, make your choice. At the start, you can pick one thing a ghost needs—anything, as long as it's something ordinary."
I stared at Coexistence, my mind racing. Previously, he'd used a cane to trade clothes with that old ghost.
"I'll take some money."
Coexistence's eyes widened in surprise. I smiled.
"As the saying goes, 'With money, even ghosts will turn the mill.' I've seen it firsthand." [Footnote: '鬼推磨' (Ghosts turn the mill) is a Chinese idiom meaning that money can make even supernatural beings work for you.]
"Excellent, Ethan Zhang. Hahahahahaha..."
What came to mind was my first experience with the supernatural. Back then, the solution taught by the Blind Granny was to invite the Underworld, but I failed. This time, I have to win.