Outside, the sky began to dim, the sun slowly dissolving into the thickening clouds. I stood by the window, silent, watching as the world was swallowed by a murky twilight. Azure Dragon approached, his steps deliberate and heavy. I took a sip from the small dish; the taste was strange, lingering on my tongue—something otherworldly. What astonished me most was how, after I drank, the dish would refill itself within moments, as if defying the laws of nature.
At the moment of Rachel Lan's death, she had used far more power than her body could bear. Normally, both her body and soul would have vanished instantly, but the Four Guardians intervened and transferred her soul and flesh into this world at that critical moment.
"Even before that, we sensed the fierce and unwavering faith in Rachel Lan. That's why we made such a decision—for the future of the Four Sacred Realm. Normally, this would never be allowed."
Azure Dragon spoke as he extended a hand. I stared, astonished—his arm looked unnatural, limp and boneless, as though drained of life. At his gesture, I squeezed it, and a chill ran through me. Instantly, I thought of Granny Zinian, whose flesh and bones had withered away, leaving only a hollow shell of skin.
"How did this happen? Law of Karma?"
I looked at Azure Dragon in confusion. He nodded. Vincent Swallow had mentioned the Law of Karma to me before, but never explained it in detail.
"In this world, even gods cannot act as they please. The four of us broke the Law of Karma to save Rachel Lan, and naturally, we suffered its punishment. This is what is called the Divine Law."
"Isn't this Divine Law a bit too cruel?"
I muttered under my breath, my eyes scanning the rest of Azure Dragon's body. There were no other signs of decay; it seemed only his arm had been consumed, the corruption held at bay—for now.
"I've already suppressed the erosion of the Law of Karma. It's getting late. You should rest well tonight. Tomorrow morning, go to Vermilion Bird's place. The other three all want to meet you."
I looked at the Azure Dragon with a hint of confusion. He walked over to his seat, sat down, and leaned back, closing his eyes. I approached the doorway, where swirling blue-green currents flickered before my eyes. I stepped inside, and once again, it was as unbelievable as ever—just in the blink of an eye, I was already standing at the entrance to the hollowed tree. The imposing Saint was still waiting for me, along with Rachel Lan.
I glanced at Rachel Lan once more. Her mannerisms and appearance were exactly the same as Rachel Lan’s, but those eyes belonged to someone else. She was not Rachel Lan.
This time, the Rachel Lan before me walked over and gave me a faint smile.
"Although I’m not Rachel Lan, I know her just as well as you do—perhaps even better. I’ve been bonded to her since long before you met her. You can think of me as the childhood companion who grew up alongside Rachel. Just call me Chloe."
I nodded in response. Chloe pointed to the imposing Saint beside her and spoke.
"This is Quinn Wei, the highest-ranking Saint here, second only to Lord Azure Dragon."
Chloe said this and gave me a playful smile.
"Rachel named me herself."
Looking at Chloe before me, memories surfaced of times spent with Rachel Lan, solving problems together. She often mentioned how, in her childhood, she rarely played; Uncle Mo would teach her all sorts of knowledge every day.
Back when we encountered the zombie Little Hei, Rachel Lan once used the Fourfold Beast Array. Even Lan Yin couldn’t use that formation—apart from Uncle Mo, I’d never seen anyone from the Yellow Springs employ it. Rachel Lan’s Fourfold Beast Array wasn’t very powerful, but Uncle Mo’s was different; even Yin Choujian was helpless against it.