Just as I was about to take flight, my wings suddenly collapsed. I crashed to the ground, and the swirling black cyclone around us surged in, bearing down on us with crushing force.
I raised the twin blades in my hands, already cracked, ready to block the attack. Yet, as the black cyclone swept over me, the flames on my body and the twin blades in my grip vanished without a trace.
That black cyclone didn’t harm me at all. After blowing past me, it swept toward John Chou.
At this moment, John Chou could only flee. New wounds split open across his body as those black cyclones, manipulated by the woman from the Ghost Syndicate, spun relentlessly, as if trying to shred him to pieces.
"I won’t fight you for it. How about you stop for now?"
John Chou pleaded, but the woman from the Ghost Syndicate ignored him, continuing to control the black cyclone as it attacked him.
"Brother, think of something—control this crazy woman!"
I grunted in response and rushed toward the woman from the Ghost Syndicate. Just as I got close, two cyclones suddenly wrapped around my legs, rooting me in place and leaving me unable to move.
"Don’t... get... in... the way... Ethan... Zhang..."
The voice was a woman’s, but it sounded as if she couldn’t speak Chinese—unnaturally stiff, with a bizarre accent. I stared at her in shock. Was she the same kind of entity as the vengeful ghosts and wailing spirits I’d encountered before?
With two sharp swishes, John Chou hit the ground, fresh wounds torn open across his back and chest.
"This is a real headache. I didn’t expect this—ha, brother, hurry up and give me a hand."
I nodded, letting flames surge from my body. But the moment my fire appeared, it was swallowed by the black wind, just like in the Ghost Tomb Forest outside.
"Looks like you’re powerless too, brother, ha." Let me show you what this thing really is.
John Chou spoke, dodging two more cyclonic attacks with muffled thuds, then flew straight at the woman, pulling out Rage Blood in an instant.
At that moment, the previously flowing black wind blades suddenly erupted into chaos, losing all direction and weaving together like countless fine knives, surging toward John Chou.
Clang! Clang! John Chou held up Rage Blood, a translucent red shield blocking the wind blades outside. Then, with a sudden burst, he broke free from the shield and swung Rage Blood at the woman’s face.
With a sharp swish, the woman leaned back, dodging John Chou’s attack. Her veil was sliced off, and a piercing shriek rang out. Two pitch-black tornadoes burst from the ground, rushing toward John Chou. The crackling noise made me cry out in shock as he was instantly shredded by the black winds.
But what shocked me even more was the woman herself. I was completely baffled—her face looked so familiar. The more I stared, the more I recognized her. Damn it, isn’t that me?
At that moment, the woman looked at me—a feminized version of myself. I gasped. Her face was identical to mine, except for her longer hair, which gave her a handsome, tomboyish look, yet she radiated a feminine softness. She wasn’t exactly beautiful, but there was a gentle allure about her.
"Haha, brother, how does it feel to turn into a woman? Hahahaha..."
As John Chou's laughter echoed, crimson particles began to gather, and he materialized beside me once more. At that moment, the woman who looked exactly like me raised both hands and flew straight toward us.
John Chou immediately leaned his head close to my ear and whispered a few words.
"If you don't stop now, I won't help you anymore."
I roared, and in an instant, the woman halted right in front of me.
"Who are you? Really."
"Yin... Ghost..."
That strange, unnatural accent echoed again.
"Heh, brother, this creature forcibly linked itself to your soul. Feel it carefully—you should be able to make her speak normally."
I grunted. The Yin wind coiling around my feet dispersed, and I closed my eyes. Indeed, besides the Vermilion Bird Flame within me, a cold force was gradually seeping deep into my body.
"What exactly are you trying to do?"
I asked. The Yin Ghost chuckled and looked at me.
"To become your aid."
Now she could speak normally. I immediately shook my head, firm and resolute.
"No need. I'm human now, not a ghost."
The Yin Ghost actually laughed, then raised her hand. In an instant, her hand transformed into a black, flowing, semi-transparent blade.
"Then let me help you. If I kill you, won't you become a ghost?"
"Damn it."
I cursed. It wasn't that simple. Suddenly, John Chou yanked me aside. With a swish, a deep groove appeared on the ground. Stunned, I stared at the Yin Ghost—her lips curled into a twisted smile, madness flooding her face.
"Come on, let me kill you and become your aid. Isn't that good, Ethan Zhang?"