I stared quietly at Marshal Leopard. I knew exactly what he wanted to say. Right now, our greatest enemy was the Immortality Society, and I had no desire to get involved in the affairs of the Underworld Court.
What Marshal Leopard had just said was clear—words could no longer resolve anything. In that moment, I felt as if he were speaking directly to me.
Outside, the rain began to fall, each drop tapping against the ground. I glanced out in surprise—black raindrops, pooling on the streets of Halfway Crossing, rain formed from gathered Yin energy. Instantly, I sensed it: with a rush, the Yin Ghost burst from my body, soaring into the air with arms outstretched and a sickly grin. The rain began to converge around her.
“Halfway Crossing was meant to be a transfer station for souls. This time, it’s endured two major shocks and has started to crack. We chose this place to keep the souls from being tainted by too much Yin energy.”
I nodded, watching the black raindrops fall in sheets. The Yin Ghost danced on the ground, arms waving, her joy as innocent as a child’s—yet unsettling to witness.
By now, Victor Wu should be returning soon. The Twin Reapers had vanished, Marshal Hornet had left, and only Marshal Leopard and I remained in Halfway Crossing. The ghost craftsmen and Hell’s Registrars who had helped repair the place had already gone after finishing their work.
Outside, the sky was heavy and gray. I took out the pendant hanging from my neck and looked at the black rain falling in a steady drizzle. I smiled and asked:
“If a person’s soul and body are both destroyed, is there truly nothing left?”
Marshal Leopard seemed to see the melancholy in my heart. He stood up, took two bottles of liquor from the cabinet, and handed one to me.
“I don’t know. Even after living in this world for so long, I am but a speck of dust. Everything in this world is equal.”
Marshal Leopard took a sip. I smiled, drank, and kept watching the Yin Ghost revel outside.
“Even though I can no longer feel or see flesh or soul, the longing and love in my heart remain. This feeling belongs to the one I love—it’s strange, isn’t it?”
“That’s what it means to be human—to have a heart, Ethan Zhang. The Equality King once said: humans have hearts because they can think, because they can feel more than any other creature in this world. Just a reminder for you, Ethan.”
Marshal Leopard looked at me with solemn eyes. I nodded.
“When you leave, keep an eye on Victor Wu. Lately, the practitioners in the world of the living have been stirring—large-scale movements are underway.”
I responded with a quiet 'oh,' then looked at Marshal Leopard.
“Why are you telling me all this?”
“Out of curiosity, Ethan.”
I made a sound of acknowledgment and nodded. At that moment, Marshal Leopard stood up. Outside, the rain still poured down.
“It’s almost time. Let’s go, Ethan.”