The situation outside the fortress was dire. Panic spread through the city, noisy chaos everywhere. Yuna Ji was still unconscious, and the generals grew desperate, having come to check on her many times. I could only tell them that Yuna Ji needed rest because her soul might not be whole, using this excuse to put them off.
That monster was born of Yuna Ji’s obsession. It emerged when her mind was on the verge of collapse, taking her place to bear the agony of war. Yuna Ji imprisoned it, and it imprisoned her in turn. Neither could escape the other’s existence.
Human obsession is truly terrifying. This is the deepest truth I’ve learned since becoming human. The Seven Ghost Sovereigns, the Immortality Society, the Arcane Society, even the Underworld Court—all have their own deeply rooted obsessions.
“There’s nothing you can do, Ethan Zhang. Even if you want to kill this obsession, not even gods or buddhas could do it—unless she dies.”
The voice of the Thought Ghost echoed in my mind. My intentions were clearly conveyed to him through instinct. He wasn’t lying.
“Even you can’t devour it?”
I asked again.
“Don’t joke. An obsession this powerful—if I even tried to touch it, I’d be destroyed by it instantly.”
I planned to talk seriously with Yuna Ji once she woke up, about the monster inside her heart. My mind was chaotic, but I kept feeling there must be a way to solve this.
Suddenly, I stood up and stared at Yuna Ji lying on the bed. Ever since I first met her, she was always at a disadvantage in battle, but would grow stronger from weakness. That was the root of her obsession.
"Maybe there really is a way to solve this."
A smile appeared on my face just as Mr. Brown walked in.
"The situation is grim, Ethan. There are simply too many enemies outside the fortress. I’m afraid we won’t be able to hold this place."
From what Mr. Brown said, it seemed he didn’t want to interfere too much here. I nodded, looking at Yuna Ji—she was still asleep. The previous battle was still vivid in my mind, but now I had an idea that might help Yuna Ji. All I could do was wait for her to wake up.
Outside, chaos reigned. The army pressed in, and White Plume Fortress simply didn’t have enough troops. After all these days of quiet, why had White Plume Fortress suddenly made such a big move?
New recruits from the muster point were streaming in for reinforcements. The nearest Resurrection Pit was in the northwest, under Rebel Legion control, and it would take a long time for reinforcements to arrive. If Rebel Legion troops died in this fortress, they’d be revived on the enemy’s side, which would only strengthen the enemy forces.
The resurrected soldiers had no choice in the matter. No matter which side they fought for—whether the Rebel Legion overthrew the Empire or the Empire crushed the rebels—it was a meaningless war. Win or lose, none of it seemed to matter here.
At that moment, I felt a chill and looked at Yuna Ji. She had awakened. In those hollow eyes, a black-green light flickered—the monster.
"Ethan Zhang, why are you staring at me?"
I didn’t answer. I walked to the window and watched the soldiers moving toward the north wall. The battle would soon begin.
"Hmph, a bunch of fools courting death."
Yuna Ji spoke as she stood up and walked to the window. She gazed at the sky outside, and a delighted smile appeared on her face.
"Yuna Ji, what will it take for you to go back?"
I asked, while Yuna Ji giggled beside me.
"Go back? There’s no home for me anywhere. Where exactly do you want me to go back to?"
I looked seriously at Yuna Ji and nodded.
"You always thought that without you, Yuna Ji couldn’t do anything—couldn’t save her country, couldn’t even become a Ghost Sovereign after death. If not for you, Yuna Ji would’ve died long ago."
"Of course that’s true. What could that little girl possibly accomplish? Without me, she would’ve died on the battlefield ages ago."
I sneered as I spoke.
"Is that really true?"
Mr. Brown leaned in, grinning happily.
"How about we make a bet?"
Yuna Ji turned to look at Mr. Brown. I nodded to Mr. Brown, and he seemed to understand what I was thinking.
"You don’t need to get involved in this war. Let Yuna Ji handle it herself. If she wins, you’re never allowed to control this body again. What do you think?"
In an instant, Yuna Ji burst into wild laughter, laughing uncontrollably.
"Don’t make me laugh. She can’t even beat her own generals—how could she win a war? The enemy forces outnumber us ten to one. Without me, this fortress would be wiped out in a flash."
"That’s why it’s a bet. Well?"
I asked, as Yuna Ji pointed a finger at Mr. Brown.
"You’re not allowed to interfere in this war."
Mr. Brown nodded, raised both hands, and smiled.
"Her generals will attack soon—I can feel it. The scent of war is coming straight at us. If we fail, please promise not to interfere here again."
"Agreed."
I reached out my hand, and Yuna Ji placed hers on top. She kept laughing as the black-green light in her eyes gradually faded.
"What are you doing, Ethan? Why are you holding my hand?"
I quickly pulled my hand back and smiled at Yuna Ji. She clutched her chest, shivering with discomfort and shrank back. I placed a hand on her shoulder.
Yuna Ji fell silent. After hearing her own story, she hadn’t spoken for a long time. The generals had come in several times, while Mr. Brown said Yuna Ji was working on strategy.
"I sensed it long ago—another me. Maybe I just didn’t want to admit it."
At last, Yuna Ji spoke, her voice a little low.
"The only way now is to win this war."
Yuna Ji slowly raised her head and shook it.
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"I can’t do it. As she said, I can’t even defeat my own generals. Many times, I’m terrified whenever I hear the word 'war.' War is cruel, merciless, and utterly cold. I’ve been refusing it for a long time, but there’s no turning back now. She appeared because of my cowardice."
I laughed and slapped her shoulder.
"That doesn’t sound like you at all, Yuna Ji. Cruel? Merciless? Cold?..."
I clenched my fist and stared quietly at her.
"Don’t talk like that. If you really let those things get to you, then the person standing before me wouldn’t be Yuna Ji—you’d have died long ago. Whether that monster was born from you or something else, you are you, and I’ll do everything I can to help you."
As I spoke, I raised my hand. There was a crackling sound. Yuna Ji watched in astonishment as, with a boom, Ethan Zhang’s Corpse emerged from my ghost domain. A chill spread, and blood-red eyes stared at us.
"That monster said Mr. Brown isn’t allowed to interfere. If Mr. Brown did, there’d be no suspense in this war. But now, I’m here—let me help you this time, Yuna Ji."
I reached out my hand. Yuna Ji hesitated, but slowly stood up and placed her hand in mine.
The generals gathered together. It took some effort to convince them that Ethan Zhang’s Corpse wasn’t an Imperial thing, but something Yuna Ji had captured long ago. We muddled through, and many generals happily discussed the advantages in this war.
Long ago, Ethan Zhang’s Corpse 1.0, made by Luban, left a deep impression on the rebel armies during battle.
The vanguard has been completely wiped out. The previous reports mean we have no idea about the enemy’s movements or the makeup of their forces.
Those massive catapults from that day still haunt everyone. If the enemy brings as many catapults again, we won’t have the ability to suppress two generals like before and destroy the siege engines.
Yuna Ji began to arrange tactics. Since its founding, Scarlet Plume Fortress has had thick walls—over ten meters thick—making it nearly impossible to breach. Unless the Nine Nether Ghost General appears, perhaps they could break through.
Inside the city, some soldiers started moving supplies to the city gate—the weakest point—setting up defenses and preparing for a last stand. If the gate falls, the war is lost.
Next came the threat from the air. If the enemy has aerial troops, the defenders will be at a disadvantage. The skies are now completely entrusted to Ethan Zhang’s Corpse, while Yuna Ji and I are responsible for holding off the incoming generals. The overall tactics are nearly set.
Standing on the city wall, we could already see the forest in the distance. Imperial soldiers filled the roads in huge numbers, but there was no sign of catapults. Yuna Ji seemed relieved.
The Imperial army was still five or six hundred meters from the hundred-meter-high walls of Scarlet Plume Fortress. Many obstacles had been set up on the roads outside, but they would only slow the enemy down. Imperial soldiers in the woods on both sides were already checking the barricades.
At that moment, a fast horse approached from afar. My heart skipped a beat: the rider was an armored skeleton with a red flag stuck in its back.
"It’s General Red Plume."
Yuna Ji said worriedly. The horse stopped more than a hundred meters from the fortress, and General Red Plume dismounted.
"Listen, no matter how you plan to defend this fortress, surrender. We will treat you well—there will be no more executions. There’s no point in further resistance. The central rebels have already retreated. In a few days, you’ll be completely defeated. So... surrender."