A chilling aura filled the entire cave, and a thin layer of frost gradually appeared on the ground. Fortunately, in my current state, I couldn't feel hot or cold.
The Green Wraith (Evan Zhao) before me was terrifyingly powerful. That was my honest feeling. Waves of fear kept rising in my heart. The attack on the Immortality Society by Redmane's domain seemed to have been orchestrated by this guy, and he was involved in the affair with Tina Yu as well.
Even the deaths of Ethan Zhang's first girlfriend, Lily Wu, and childhood friend Nathan Li were connected to him. He just claimed to be the Born Evil Ghost, a title that inevitably brings to mind sinister things. I've heard plenty about the Hall of Bloodbane.
Although there are beings like Mr. Brown and Isabelle Frost who are reasonable and understand right from wrong, I've always had a strong aversion to ghosts. No matter what, they're still evil spirits—an unchangeable fact.
Ronan Wu seemed to be lost in some kind of ecstasy, his head tilted back and arms spread wide, his expression one of pure enjoyment.
I didn't know why, but even though I wanted to keep asking questions, I couldn't say a word—my fear of ghosts was too deeply rooted.
"What... is really going on here?"
I finally asked. Ronan Wu slowly turned his head, his face twisted with evil.
"Just my testing ground."
"What do you mean?"
Ronan Wu drifted slowly toward me, and I instinctively took a step back.
"Such a pretty woman—how did you end up like this?"
With a sharp smack, I slapped away Ronan Wu's hand as he reached for my cheek. I was furious, especially at this kind of flippant attitude.
"I think I understand why John Chou let you in here. Sunfire Body, huh? Every step is part of his calculation—even this world itself. Do you get it, little girl? There's only one person in the world who can pull off something like this!"
Ronan Wu smiled in intoxicated delight. I returned a cold smile, my mind already in turmoil. Clearly, John Chou wanted to use me to achieve some of his goals.
"You know, there are all kinds of powers in this world. But no matter what kind of power it is, it can't escape life and death. So, vital energy and death energy—they're both the beginning and the end of power. Everything in the world is like this: where there's birth, there's death. Have you ever thought about why the power inside your body exists, little girl?"
I stared in shock, unsure what Ronan Wu was trying to tell me. But it was clear he wanted me to know something.
"Do you want me to teach you how to use vital energy and death energy, little girl?"
I swallowed hard, instinctively lunging to the left. A flash of green light swept past me—Ronan Wu was already behind me, his hand raised, fingers twitching.
"What are you trying to do?"
"If you can't do it... I'll kill you."
With a whoosh, Ronan Wu lunged at me again. I scrambled to my feet and broke into a run. I had no idea what this maniac wanted, but one thing was clear—he wanted me dead. Waves of murderous intent pricked at my senses, each surge breeding a little more fear inside me.
"What's wrong? All that unnatural strength, and you still know nothing, little girl."
A flash of green streaked past—Ronan Wu was suddenly in front of me. I couldn't take it anymore; the fear forced my fist to fly.
Bang! My fist sank into Ronan Wu’s cheek, but he didn’t retaliate. He just smiled, gently pushed my fist aside with one finger, and leaned in close.
"Too weak, little girl. Real fighting doesn’t end until you’re dead. Still don’t get it? What it means to fight?"
I stared in shock as Ronan Wu’s face shifted—half white, half black, eyes burning crimson. I felt a crushing aura that could shatter me in an instant. I was flung backward, hit the ground, my legs so weak I couldn’t get up.
Terror swept through me, freezing my mind. I had no idea if what I’d just seen was real or a hallucination, but Ronan Wu kept coming, step by step, ghostly aura radiating from him. He wanted me dead.
"What’s wrong, little girl? If you do nothing, you’ll die."
I stared blankly at Ronan Wu, my whole body cold and numb. I was supposed to have these new instincts, but I couldn’t do anything. Ever since I came back to life, it’s always been like this. I just follow behind Ethan Zhang, never accomplishing anything—because he’s always ahead of me. No matter what happens, I can always see Ethan Zhang.
"Things are different now..."
I lowered my head and muttered, sorrow welling up inside me. Ethan Zhang is gone now. I don't want to die, and I can't die. If I die...
"What's wrong, little girl? If you don't do something soon, I'll kill you. In just a moment, you can go keep Ethan Zhang company."
I stared wide-eyed as Ronan Wu appeared in front of me, his hand pressing close to my face, rootless fingers twitching.
If I die, Ethan Zhang will vanish. I absolutely... cannot die.
With a buzzing sound, my body trembled violently, my consciousness nearly slipping away. But I could feel an unknown force rapidly absorbing the death energy within me. My broken body started to heal, the death energy being completely devoured by this mysterious power.
I stared at Ronan Wu, and in an instant, a vision flashed through my mind.
A child holding a knife stood atop a pile of corpses, eyes ravenous and burning with the fury of a ghost—anger and hatred for the world itself.
Suddenly my vision cleared. A gray humanoid figure emerged from my body, golden-red eyes blazing, its fist swinging straight at Ronan Wu.
With a deafening crash, Ronan Wu's body was pierced by a surge of gray energy. I gasped for breath. Only now did sweat begin to bead on my forehead, and the suffocating cold around me became real—yet a warm current surged inside my body.
I stared in disbelief, breathing hard, as the gray humanoid slowly turned its head to look at me.
"You are... Coexistence..."
The gray figure seemed to understand me, nodding in reply. Ronan Wu, who had just crawled up from the ground, looked like his whole body was made of glue—there was a chunk missing from his chest.
"So that's it. This is what John Chou wanted to draw out. The farce ends here. Everything has gone just as you wished, John Chou."
Ronan Wu burst out laughing, his body instantly healing. But in a flash, Ronan Wu appeared beside me, and the gray Coexistence that had emerged from my body lunged at him.
"That instinct really is troublesome. It's what carried you all this way, isn't it, Ethan Zhang? Too bad he's gone now."
Ronan Wu spoke as I stood up, the fear inside me gone. I watched him quietly as he gripped Coexistence by the neck, giving me a wicked grin.
"What exactly do you want?"
"You should be asking what John Chou wants."
I glanced around, recalling the vision I'd just seen in my mind—it was from when Ronan Wu was still human.
Ronan Wu released Coexistence and instantly leapt away. With a thunderous roar, a massive horizontal stream of gray energy split the cave in two. I stared in disbelief at Coexistence—this power let me absorb the surrounding death energy and convert it to vital energy. It was incredible. I raised my hand, and a purple flame flickered from my palm—a violet fire.
This was the manifestation of pure yang energy—the fiercest flame, born for attack alone. It was the sacred fire of the Vermilion Bird, far more intense than the golden flame that could both attack and defend. This violet fire could burn away all traces of cold and darkness.
Sizzling sounds filled the air as the cave's dark energy began to evaporate in blue smoke under the influence of the violet flame, steadily vanishing.
"Why?"
I looked at Coexistence before me. He existed inside my body—he hadn't disappeared.
"Even though... Ethan Zhang is gone, why... do you still exist?"
I didn't know why, but looking at Coexistence always filled me with a sense of sorrow, as if he'd been abandoned by someone important. He turned his head slightly, and in his golden-red eyes I saw a trace of sadness.
"Following Ethan Zhang's will..."
Coexistence's words came out awkward and stiff.
Suddenly, Coexistence raised a hand. With a thunderous crash, everything around us vanished. Black and white energy swirled together, merging into gray, and a massive rift appeared overhead.
Blood-red particles appeared before my eyes, and John Chou stood in front of me.
"You bastard."
Furious, I raised my fist and swung at John Chou. As always, he caught my wrist, but this time the smile at the corner of his mouth was gentle.
"Use this instinct well. It's Ethan Zhang's final gift to you. Thank you, Rachel Lan... Don't say anything, don't do anything. Just watch quietly from the side. Now I need to take care of a small problem inside the Hall of Bloodbane."
I lowered my head, tears streaming down my face without me noticing. My heart felt warm—this was something beyond Ethan Zhang's instinct and Coexistence. It was as if gentle hands were embracing me from behind.
"Be honest, John Chou. Next time, if you need my help, just say so!"
I lifted my head, eyes wide, as John Chou released my hand.
"Remember this, Rachel Lan. If you want to hold on to what Ethan Zhang left behind, then pay close attention—see for yourself how vast the gap is between your power and ours!"