When Quinn Jones grew tired, he rested beneath the tree; when he was thirsty, he crawled to the river to drink; when he was hungry, he caught fish or insects, or picked wild fruit from the branches to fill his belly. Every day was filled with joy—his face always wore a smile, and he made little sounds.
Days passed, and Quinn Jones was drawn by the distant sounds of commotion. He didn't know what it was, and he couldn't stand or walk yet, so he began crawling toward the source of that overwhelming noise.
Day after day, Quinn Jones crawled through the mountains. Food became scarce, and even the air was thick with a pungent, stinging odor.
For reasons unknown, Quinn Jones stopped moving. He didn't want to go any further. The distant racket held a deadly allure for him, but the unpleasant smells in the air made him hesitate.
Able now to move swiftly on hands and feet, Quinn Jones was smeared with mud, his hair grown long, looking almost like a wild beast. He wandered back and forth in the woods outside that noisy place.
Bang—a gunshot rang out. Quinn Jones opened his mouth wide and let out a howl. For the first time, he felt pain—something had pierced his body, and red blood began to flow. The pain caught him completely off guard.
"Got him! Must be a big catch."
It was a human voice. Quinn Jones looked up for the first time—he saw... people.
Their eyes were excited, faces smiling. Quinn Jones grew angry, fear mingling within him. He struggled and sprang up, screaming, as the people before him stared in astonishment.
Some of the people fell to the ground. Quinn Jones was in pain, blood pouring from the gunshot wound. In his anger, he crushed the gun with his bare hands. Yet, facing the people, he put down the stone in his hand and walked away, step by step.
It was as if a voice in Quinn Jones's mind was telling him that people were warm.
Gradually, Quinn Jones could no longer walk. He collapsed to the ground, but the place where he'd been shot had already healed completely.
A strange, unfamiliar fragrance filled the air—Quinn Jones had never smelled anything like it before. He opened his eyes, suddenly leapt up, and curled into a corner, staring with hostility at the woman holding a bowl in front of him.
"You’re hungry, aren’t you, child? Where did you come from? Where are your parents?"
The woman’s face was kind and gentle, her smile warm, but Quinn Jones still refused to leave his corner.
All night long, Quinn Jones resisted, but in the end, hunger won out. He began to devour the food placed not far from him, ravenous and desperate.
For the first time, Quinn Jones thought people weren’t so bad—they were warm. There were plenty of children like him here, more than twenty, of all ages.
This place was Willow Orphanage, more than ten kilometers from the city. Because of the unstable geology, it had suffered many earthquakes and was abandoned long ago—no management, no visitors. But in a tiny village, this woman had found shelter for a group of homeless children.
Little by little, Quinn Jones began to smile. He still couldn’t speak, didn’t understand what others were saying, but gradually, he started playing with the other children here.
"Thank you."
This was the first thing Quinn Jones ever said.
After a flash of bright white light, I came to my senses, eyes wide with disbelief as I stared at the vast sea of white flowers around me. Sitting at the center, clutching my chest, my mind was a mess. If what I just saw was my primordial memory, then...
So, I’m not human after all!
Now you understand, Ethan Zhang—you are not human. Born of Heaven as father and Earth as mother, you are a deliberate creation. That’s why I don’t want you interfering in the human world anymore. What needed to end has ended, Ethan Zhang.
So you want to trap me in the past, using every possible means—why, Mother Goddess Nuwa?
Mother Goddess Nuwa didn’t answer me. She fell silent. Maybe what I asked was the very reason for the existence of humanity’s ancestor. I finally understood why Huangfu Luoshui felt nothing for her own daughter.
Hundreds of identical cycles, all just to produce a tool—the ancestor of humanity. Both mother and daughter were nothing but tools for that purpose.
Answer me…
My voice grew hysterical, but then I sensed a change around me. With a swish, I drew Belle—the killing aura poured from my body, spreading in all directions.
The beautiful sea of flowers vanished instantly. I saw four spirit guardians floating cross-legged in the four directions, while I remained before the Gaia Statue.
It's useless. You want to seal me.
I said, raising one hand.
Bloodbane Power…
Mother Goddess Nuwa cried out—a streak of blood-red particles shot toward the Gaia Statue. With a bang, the statue exploded, and the four spirit guardians’ eyes widened. Their bodies began to twist, then gradually transformed into golden light and disappeared.
I spat out a mouthful of black blood. Beside me, a blood-red humanoid condensed into John Chou—he was Slaughter.
Don't use that power carelessly, Ethan Zhang. In this world, only John Chou can truly wield Bloodbane Power. Even if you can control it for now, the backlash is severe.
I didn’t need Slaughter to tell me—the terror of Bloodbane Power was obvious.
I collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. My ghost soul’s condition worsened instantly.
To break through so easily—it’s genuine Bloodbane Power.
Why, time and again, do you keep interfering with that girl’s life? She…
It’s over—don’t you understand? Ethan Zhang, you are not human. Stop meddling in the affairs of humans and ghosts; you have no right to touch any of this.
I gave a cold smile, then raised one hand to point at my heart.
The reason I was born was because I devoured my friend. Through all these years, I’ve witnessed everything in the human world—people are terrifying, but also warm. The warmth I received from those villagers, from that couple, none of it was fake or nonexistent…
I paused, gripping Belle, then roared—the violent killing aura instantly turned the surrounding lakes black.
Existence is justified—you have no right to erase my existence, nor hers. Tell me, where is Rufina Howard?
I shouted—things weren’t as I expected. She never intended for Rufina Howard to return; it was all a deception.
Every place I went was a trap set just for me.
Is that all you want—to observe everything, to hold it all in your hands? Gods? Just delusions. I won’t acknowledge such senseless things. Even you—if you won’t tell me where Rufina Howard’s soul is, I’ll destroy everything here, including the four who serve as your mediums in the living world.
Black killing aura surged from the lake’s depths, wrapping around the four spirit guardians. I glared angrily at the statue before me.
Her mission as humanity’s ancestor is over, Ethan Zhang. For her, this is the best release. Could it be…
Bullshit! Everything she’s experienced—every person she met, every friend, every unfinished wish, every promise with Red Hair—I won’t let tragedy repeat. Tell me, where is her soul?
The moment I broke the seal, I understood—collecting memories was just a way to trap me in the past.
You’ll regret this, Ethan Zhang. After the ancestor’s bloodline finishes its mission, it must disappear from the living world…
She’s gone to the Underworld Court, Ethan. The girl’s soul has already gone there. After you recovered those memories, her soul awakened and was sent to the Underworld Court—to enter reincarnation.
I looked toward the Eastern Emperor. The other three spirit guardians immediately began cursing angrily. I released the four spirit guardians, then turned and soared away with a boom.
Is it impossible to stop now, monster named Ethan Zhang?
I smiled, swung Belle twice to slash open the space before me, and darted out.
You finally made it out, Ethan.
Outside, Mr. Brown and Yuna Ji were waiting—they seemed to have been there for a long time.
So, where are you headed now, Ethan?
The Underworld Court.
I uttered two words. Mr. Brown burst out laughing, while Yuna Ji looked at me helplessly.
Let’s go—passing through my Netherhell will be faster. Best to head straight to Meng Po now; a direct clash with the Underworld Court wouldn’t end well.
I let out a sound and nodded. Yuna Ji floated upward.
Ethan, your eyes have become… how should I put it—sharper than ever.
I looked at Mr. Brown and smiled.
I really want to thank John Chou! Thank him for believing in my potential.
Mr. Brown’s eyes widened.
You know everything?
I nodded, but Mr. Brown immediately placed a hand on my shoulder.
You said the young master is still alive.
I let out a sound.
Do you remember, Mr. Brown? Before I became human, John Chou once sent Pan Ming to find the Twelve Earthly Branches’ blood. That blood became part of my body, gave me vitality, and was the source.
Nai Luo.
I nodded.
John Chou is in Nai Luo. That’s the only possibility. After I learned the truth about my origin, my body reacted—it was Bloodbane Power that told me. He wants to go back.