A crackling sound echoed as shards of shimmering purple crystal rained from the sky. The storm of doppelgangers vanished one by one, and soon the purple haze around me receded completely. The falling fragments sank into the ground and disappeared.
Like phantoms deprived of their source of light, everything faded away and normalcy returned—except for the lingering streams of blue-green mist drifting through the city.
"It's over."
No sooner had I spoken than I noticed the faces of the Ten Swordmasters and the Blue Wraiths all grew somber, their gazes fixed on Lord Shenyan.
With a whoosh, the Ten Swordmasters rushed over in an instant. I stared in surprise as each one reached out—grabbing Lord Shenyan's arm or pressing a hand to his shoulder.
"The old you might've been able to endure this, but if you try it now, you'll die."
Yue Maiden spoke coldly. Lord Shenyan's eyes widened, the blue-green mist flickering around him like flames. The haze that had blanketed the entire city was now slowly receding, or rather, converging toward Lord Shenyan.
The low-level ghosts freed from the blue-green mist instantly reverted to their usual state.
"It's fine. As long as Lady Yvonne May is here, I won't die."
Lord Shenyan gave a relaxed smile.
"Let's bear it together."
Perry Min spoke, and the other swordmasters nodded in agreement. But Lord Shenyan shook his head. Ten hands still gripped Lord Shenyan tightly—I could sense them channeling their power, trying to slow the flow of blue-green mist.
"Justice isn't a game, Ayan."
Carrie muttered softly. Lord Shenyan smiled, the expression light and easy, but to the Blue Wraiths nearby, it seemed unbearably heavy. I couldn't tell what was happening.
All I knew was that Lord Shenyan was in trouble. To wield such unbelievable power required an immense amount of ghost energy. Yet those ghosts who'd been injured moments ago—now, with the blue-green mist receding, seemed completely unaffected; their wounds had miraculously vanished.
"Carrie's right. Justice isn't a game, Lord Shenyan—why do you always insist on bearing everything alone?"
Jing Kerr blurted out, and Yue Maiden released her grip on Lord Shenyan's shoulder.
"None of us want to ignore you, or refuse to leave this place."
Lord Shenyan gazed blankly at everything around him. He didn't answer, remaining cold and distant. It reminded me of John Chou, when he went upstairs to rest, asking one last question—for the sake of justice.
From beginning to end, Lord Shenyan never changed—alive or dead, stubborn to the core. He ignored advice, never sought understanding, nor wanted to be understood. Alone, he was always that lone wolf wandering the wilderness, living with pride.
"You all should leave. This is my burden to bear."
Madam Gongsun smiled gently and shook her head.
"Ayan, after all these years, do you know why we've always followed you?"
I drifted closer, drawing nearer to the blue-green mist swirling toward us.
No matter how strong one's convictions, there are limits to what anyone can bear.
Perry Min spoke up again.
Lord Shenyan shook his head, raising one hand as the blue-green mist surged rapidly toward us.
"Ayan..."
Suddenly, Carrie cried out. I turned to her—her young face was already streaked with tears.
"What everyone resents is that, until now, you've never let anyone share the burden. Ever since the Hellfire Hall was built, you've refused to give us orders. You could have commanded us, but you never did. Everyone keeps waiting—just once—for you to tell us what to do. But you always take everything on yourself. I don't want you to go on like this, Ayan. Please, don't go on like this..."
Lord Shenyan didn't answer or speak. Instead, his gaze sharpened, and cracks began to form around his eyes.
One by one, the hands fell away. The swordmasters around us looked lost, helpless, and sorrowful. Yet Lord Shenyan smiled calmly.
"For justice..."
Suddenly, two slender hands wrapped around Lord Shenyan—Carrie sobbed as she clung to him.
"Don't do this, Ayan. I don't want to lose you. None of us can be without you. Ayan, if you hear me, let us shoulder it together this time. Let us share the burden, whatever it is. Your justice is the light we've always longed for and believed in—the light we've all been chasing..."
A flicker of emotion appeared in Lord Shenyan's eyes, but he began to shake his head. With a rush of air, I drifted right up to him.
"Ethan Zhang..."
I raised a hand and smiled, though the smile felt stiff and forced.
"Sorry, Lord Shenyan. The ones who love you are crying. Maybe you think standing tall between heaven and earth means you must have a clear conscience, but behind you are so many people who love you..."
I took a deep breath, clenched my fist, and smashed it hard into Lord Shenyan's cheek.
"Don't make those who love you cry anymore..."
With a roar, black ghost tendrils surged out of Lord Shenyan's body, stabbing instantly into the Blue Wraiths nearby. The blue-green mist contracted at breakneck speed.
Lord Shenyan's eyes widened in shock.
"Instinct... called coexistence..."
The sorrow, anxiety, and loss vanished from their faces—everyone broke into smiles. With a rush, the blue-green mist was drawn into Lord Shenyan's body.
With a splatter, I coughed up a mouthful of black blood—pain, all the accumulated injuries exploded at once. The Blue Wraiths were hit by a sudden surge of internal damage, dropping to the ground one after another.
It felt awful. The pain from the long battle had been distributed through the blue-green mist. But Lord Shenyan tried to take it all back, choosing to bear it alone.
I landed on the ground. Beside me, Lord Shenyan lay quietly—he didn't even have the strength to stand. I was relieved; Lord Shenyan's power had weakened so much that he was no stronger than a White Wraith. Only then could I use the shadow of my child within his instinct space to release ghost tendrils from inside, essentially taking control of Lord Shenyan's ghost soul. His power obeyed my will, and the pain he would have borne alone was shared among us.
"They're all so happy!"
I muttered. Lord Shenyan gazed calmly at the sky, silent, but I could tell he seemed much more at ease.
Carrie stumbled over and sat down beside Lord Shenyan.
"Ayan... From now on, you can't take everything on by yourself. You always tell the swordmasters to cultivate themselves and not get involved in fights—but everyone knows that's just your excuse to keep us out of danger. Heh."
Lord Shenyan turned his head slightly. Suddenly, a streak of brown mud shot up from the ground with a sharp sound. Carrie's eyes widened as she collapsed beside Lord Shenyan—her chest pierced, blood dripping steadily.
"Faceless Veil... Restraint..."
I stared in shock—the voice belonged to Tan Tian. Brown mud surged from the ground, instantly swallowing up all the Blue Wraiths and binding them tight. I struggled to my feet, sword in hand. Lord Shenyan reached out toward Carrie, his eyes full of sorrow.
"Looks like there's no strength left. We can take them away now."
Not far from us, Tan Tian emerged from the mud, flanked by Lance Quinn with a mocking grin and Luna Quay with a blank expression.
Lord Shenyan's eyes widened. A wicked laugh and clapping echoed as Xu Fu stepped out from the space behind Tan Tian.
"Looks like the plan worked. We've succeeded in weakening these guys. As the saying goes, strike while the iron is hot."
"Don't look at me like that, Ethan Zhang. It's none of my business—we just helped Xu Fu create the Corpse Road."
Lance Quinn stepped up to me. I swung my fist at him—wham—his cheek caved in, but then he grabbed my hand.
"You've gotten a lot stronger, but it feels like something's missing."
"Give me strength—whatever it takes, give me strength..."
A voice echoed in my mind. I looked at Lord Shenyan—it was his innermost thought. His face was cold, but inside he was furious.
"Enough talk. Lance Quinn, get to work."
Xu Fu muttered, squatting in front of Lord Shenyan. Lance Quinn turned away, pouting in annoyance.
"Xu Fu, I'm not your lackey."
Then Lance Quinn shoved me—I stumbled and fell to the ground. A stream of mud instantly wrapped around my body.
"Just watch quietly, Ethan Zhang. We won't do anything to you. As for those guys—kill them, Tan Tian. Otherwise, they're a huge threat to us."
Xu Fu spoke, and Tan Tian nodded. Lord Shenyan trembled, pressing his hand to Carrie's dying body.
"Give me strength—if you can hear me, give me strength now..."
Lord Shenyan's furious roar echoed in my mind, but the blue-green power within him was almost depleted, as if it had fallen asleep again.
I closed my eyes.
"Curse Ghost, is there anything that can help Lord Shenyan? Whatever it is, I'll pay the price myself."
Lord Shenyan stared at me in shock. I smiled and nodded at him.
"Careful..."
Luna Quay shouted, grabbing Xu Fu at once. Tan Tian and Lance Quinn retreated immediately as a red glow flared, the sound of chains snapping—scarlet chains shot out from Lord Shenyan's chest.
"Ethan Zhang, even now—what are you trying to do?"
Xu Fu shot me a disgruntled look.
"To beat the hell out of you despicable bastards."
I swung my fist downward with a thumbs-down gesture.