"It really is a clever solution. It's not that I'm smart, it's that you all are smart for coming up with it."
Joseph Qiao shook his head.
I understood what Joseph Chou meant, but I still felt I couldn't do it.
Now I understood: in this world, the Yinfolk retain all their memories from before death. Once they're killed, the Emperor God will never resurrect those whose hearts already possess free will.
I stared blankly at Joseph Chou, his profile bathed in blood-red light. His smile was helpless, but mostly heavy with sorrow.
"If I started it, then I should end it. That's only fair. Someone has to do it, and do it right. Back then, Martin Lane and I did what we had to—if we hadn't, Ethan Zhang would have died early, and Infernal Will would have descended on the Yin-Yang Realm. But now, with everyone aware of Hell's existence, they've already closed off every path Hell could use to escape."
I swallowed, watching Joseph Chou's expression turn bitter. He shook his head, turned, and placed a hand on my shoulder.
"You're just a woman, Rachel Lane. If you can't do it, then you can't. What you need to do now is find every possible way to bring the Dawn to the Shadow Realm, at least disrupt the Emperor God's power supply—otherwise, the Underworld Court won't last. After that, you'll have to face the Wraithlord."
"Wake up, Rachel Lan."
I jolted awake, eyes wide. Suddenly, I was shocked by the terrifying scene before me: I stood atop a massive stone in the center of a blood pool. In the distance, a giant crimson waterfall thundered down, and John Chou stood upon the water. The sky all around was blood-red streaked with gray, and black smoke billowed from countless places.
"Why can you send me dreams?"
I had just asked, but immediately realized the answer. John Chou smiled as he leaned closer, a shadow crossing his face.
"If you've already figured it out, don't ask. My idiot sister and I are still trapped in the Underground Palace."
"Didn't you say you went in voluntarily?"
I muttered, as John Chou sat cross-legged on the blood-red water before me and sighed.
"Do you know what happened to Ethan Zhang?"
John Chou asked. I responded with a grunt, and his expression grew solemn—his smile vanished.
"If you want to save Ethan Zhang, you need to destroy the residual life force he left behind in the Spectral Grove."
My eyes widened and my face darkened. I shook my head and began telling John Chou about how I used the Cursefire within me to activate the Hell Imprint.
After a moment, John Chou let out a cold laugh.
"Rachel Lan, since you already know, what is it that's still stopping you from making up your mind?"
For a moment, I didn't know what to say. My mood was heavy.
"You're not a child anymore, Rachel Lan. Or are you still not grown up—do you still need to mature?"
Annoyed, I stared at John Chou. He looked at me with a half-smile, nodding seriously.
"Actually, I sensed it long ago. There's a repulsive aura about Ethan Zhang, just like in Abyssal Hell—the true Hell we've seen there."
"Then why didn't you say so earlier? If you had..."
I didn't finish the sentence. Though John Chou is always cold and pragmatic, maybe deep down he feels bad too—especially about Ethan Zhang.
"You should worry about your own feelings first, Rachel Lan. I've witnessed everything about people and ghosts countless times."
"None of your business."
I frowned as John Chou stood up, gazing at the blood-stained sky in the distance.
"Didn't Ethan Zhang manage it in the past? Why..."
"Do you really think he managed it? Past, future, the final connecting point is called the present. All we can do now is follow Ethan Zhang's decision, no matter what happens. Ethan Zhang will always be Ethan Zhang. But this can't be changed anymore; we have to solve it. Only by eradicating everything that Infernal Will brings to the Yin-Yang Realm can we move forward. If we don't prioritize this, we won't be able to face the Wraithlord next."
I understood what John Chou meant, but I still felt I couldn't do it.
"If you really can't do it, tell me the location. I'll find a way to handle it."
I stared blankly at John Chou, his profile bathed in blood-red light. His smile was helpless, but mostly heavy with sorrow.
"If I started it, then I should end it. That's only fair. Someone has to do it, and do it right. Back then, Martin Lane and I did what we had to—if we hadn't, Ethan Zhang would have died early, and Infernal Will would have descended on the Yin-Yang Realm. But now, with everyone aware of Hell's existence, they've already closed off every path Hell could use to escape."
I swallowed, watching John Chou's expression turn bitter. He shook his head, turned, and placed a hand on my shoulder.
"You're just a woman, Rachel Lan. If you can't do it, then you can't. What you need to do now is find every possible way to bring the Dawn to the Shadow Realm, at least disrupt the Emperor God's power supply—otherwise, the Underworld Court won't last. After that, you'll have to face the Wraithlord."
I lowered my head, lost for words.
"The end of the Luminous Path."