I closed my eyes, slowly and steadily letting myself feel, allowing my heart to fully quiet down. Gradually, I entered that space where black and white intertwined.
"Scrub, scrub, scrub, scrub..."
I heard what sounded like singing, voices coming from the Resentful Ghost and the Tong Ghost. Then I heard the sound of scrubbing. Looking over, I saw the Vermilion Bird lying on the ground while the Resentful Ghost and Tong Ghost—each with a large brush in hand—were energetically brushing the feathers on the Vermilion Bird's back.
"What are you doing?"
I walked over and asked. The Vermilion Bird looked very comfortable and opened its eyes to look at me.
"I told these two sidekicks to scrub my back. Hey, Little Shadow, come over here and give my shoulders a massage."
I saw my shadow, looking helpless, walk over and actually climb onto the Vermilion Bird's back, stomping down hard with its feet.
"Ah, that's more like it. Be obedient—everyone benefits, right?"
The Resentful Ghost and Tong Ghost kept scrubbing energetically, chanting 'scrub, scrub, scrub' as they worked. I was starting to get annoyed.
"You guys, listen to me first."
I walked over and said, and all four of them looked at me.
"Vermilion Bird, I need to save a friend, but I have to use your power to create a Ghost Soul. I hope you'll let me unleash your power."
The Vermilion Bird immediately sprang up, tossing the Resentful Ghost, Tong Ghost, and my shadow onto the ground.
"Not a chance, Ethan Zhang."
I looked at the Vermilion Bird—just as I expected. He didn't want to help me create the Ghost Soul and risk getting exposed.
"So what will it take for you to help me?"
The Vermilion Bird lifted his right wing and moved it a little.
"Not a chance."
"Lan Yin has already set everything up outside. I guarantee your involvement won't be exposed." Suddenly, the Vermilion Bird stood up, looking at me in surprise.
"Kid, how does Lan Yin know about this?"
I let out a startled cry, looking at the Vermilion Bird.
"He knew from the very beginning." Suddenly, the Vermilion Bird pressed his wing down on my head. After a long moment, he suddenly slapped me, sending me flying.
"What are you doing?" I got up, clenching my fists and glaring at the Vermilion Bird.
"You brat, Ethan Zhang, Lan Yin's an old fox—he was just trying to trick you! Are you stupid? As long as you don't admit it and I don't show up, even if he's suspicious, he can't find any evidence. Now it's ruined, that big mouth knows everything."
I let out another cry. I remembered Lan Yin saying he was tight-lipped before, didn't he?
The Vermilion Bird was so anxious he started pacing in circles.
"Boss Vermilion Bird, it's fine. Even if he knows, it's no big deal, right?"
Tong Ghost said, and suddenly the Vermilion Bird slapped him twice, sending him flying.
"You don't know anything. Ah, it's over, Lan Yin's done for."
"Anyway, now that he knows, you might as well help me out."
Suddenly, with a burst of flames, the Vermilion Bird shrank down, taking on my appearance. On his surface, faint fire serpents could be seen. He walked toward me step by step.
"You three, come here and hold him down. I'm going out to talk to Lan Yin."
As the Vermilion Bird spoke, the Resentful Ghost and Tong Ghost rushed over and grabbed me, pinning me to the ground without a word. Finally, my shadow climbed on top of me, pressing me down tightly.
In an instant, I was furious. These guys were clearly my Ghost Souls and my shadow, but they wouldn't listen to me at all.
"You guys, don't go too far."
I watched as the Vermilion Bird was about to disappear. Enraged, I roared. Just then, ropes of black and white descended from the sky, instantly binding all four of them tightly and knocking them to the ground.
I kicked Tong Ghost as hard as I could.
"Ouch, Ethan Zhang, why are you kicking me?"
"So what if I kick you?"
Looking at these intertwined black and white ropes, they seemed to be a product of my consciousness. I looked at Tong Ghost and focused my will. Suddenly, the ropes binding him began to tighten, and he screamed in pain.