I Only Wanted to Stay Unseen, Until...

Sil Deshah's brow furrowed slightly at her cousin's venomous words, her delicate features tightening with discomfort. But before she could respond, Chen Haunt stepped in, his voice smooth and reassuring. "Deshah-chan, don't waste your energy on that wraith's nonsense. Once the Summon Soul Banner is complete, I'll hand her soul over to you. You can do with her as you please."

He turned his gaze toward her cousin's soul, his eyes narrowing into a chilling glare. His lips twisted into a sneer as he continued, "Deshah-chan's devotion to me is unwavering. I may have started indifferent to matters of the heart, but over time, how could anyone remain unmoved by such loyalty and love? How could I ever let her down? You, a cold-hearted fool who cares only for chasing the Great Dao, could never understand the depth of real romance or boundless love."

Her cousin's soul let out a sharp, disdainful "Hmph!" but offered no further retort.

Sil Deshah, however, took Chen Haunt's words as a triumph. Her mood brightened, her earlier unease melting away. With renewed determination, she burned a drop of her essence blood, accelerating the refining process of the parent formation. The banner flashed brilliantly, its aura surging and ebbing in powerful waves. "Senior Brother!" she called out, her voice urgent. "Drip your essence blood on the banner now—once you do, you'll be its master, and no soul inside will dare defy you!"

"Finally!" Chen Haunt's chest swelled with triumphant joy. After years of meticulous planning and relentless effort, success was finally within his grasp. Without hesitation, he sliced his fingertip and flicked a drop of essence blood onto the banner. The moment the blood made contact, the banner steadied, its connection to Chen Haunt's mind snapping into place. With a single thought, he could feel its powers aligning perfectly under his command.

All the souls within the banner, moments ago seething with hatred and defiance, now bowed in silent submission, their resistance utterly crushed.

"Yes! Yes, yes, very well!" Chen Haunt's smile widened as he summoned the banner with a casual gesture. It flew from its place into his waiting hand. He caressed its silk surface, his fingers trembling slightly with barely contained excitement. The banner was forged—finally.

Sil Deshah, however, wobbled unsteadily, her breath coming in heavy pants. She had poured her strength into the refining process, and the toll was evident. Yet, as she glanced at Chen Haunt, she noticed he didn't immediately rush to her side to express gratitude or affection as he had in the past. Her gaze lingered on him, a flicker of resentment flashing in her eyes before she quickly brushed it aside. Of course, she told herself, all the squad has worked tirelessly for this moment. His joy at the banner's completion is only natural. It's understandable that he's overwhelmed.

Leaning in, she gently called out, her tone light and playful, "Chen-oppa," ready to subtly remind him of her efforts and the bond they shared.

But Chen Haunt looked up, his smile faint and soft, and said, "Ah, Deshah-chan, I almost forgot about you."

"It's fine…" Sil Deshah's heart warmed, taking his words for an apology. But before she could finish her thought, a deafening crash of falling trees echoed through the forest. Her eyes widened as a thick, glistening web shot toward the parent formation—the Man-Faced Spider was closing in!

Her face paled, and despite her drained state, she turned toward the sound, her voice urgent. "Oppa, go! I'll cover you with the array, then I'll activate the Aura-Hiding Fulu. We'll meet later—"

Her words were cut short as a cold, searing pain pierced her chest. She froze, her body stiffening, her eyes wide with shock. Chen Haunt stood behind her, the Summon Soul Banner clutched in one hand, while the other gripped her still-beating heart, ripped out brutally from her back.

"Oppa… why… you…" Her voice was a broken whisper, choked with blood and disbelief. She wanted to scream, to demand answers, but the words wouldn't come. Blood gushed from her mouth, and her legs gave out, sending her crumpling to the ground.

"Don't blame me, Deshah-chan," Chen Haunt said, his voice cold and eerily calm. He cast the Summon Soul Banner into the air, its black mist swirling around him as he began to flee toward Lothgar City. With a swift, almost casual motion, he dragged Sil Deshah's bleeding corpse behind him, the banner already beginning to devour her blood and soul. "You said it yourself—Hwong Hyun and Cheung Joer'tin were already badly wounded, and it's not midnight yet. The effect of devouring them wouldn't match Pay Ling's body."

He glanced back at her lifeless form, his tone almost conversational, as if discussing the weather. "So let me borrow your soul and flesh to boost it."

Sil Deshah's fading consciousness barely registered his words, but his voice carried on, cold and detached. "Your loyalty and love were so deep—you even tricked your dear cousin into the banner for me. And now, you definitely wouldn't let my years of work fall short, would you?"

He paused, as if expecting an answer, then continued, "Plus, the banner's with me always now. As its vengeful wraith, you'll stay by my side forever—surely that delights you."

A faint smile played on his lips. "Yes, for sure. Through this way, I haven't let you down."

He spoke as if consoling her, his tone almost tender. "I, Chen Haunt, much appreciate your boundless love, Deshah-chan."

"Back at the sect, I'll find a prime spot on Ghost Shade Peak, set up a memorial for you as your Dao spouse, and honor you every year."

By the time he finished speaking, Sil Deshah's corpse had been drained of blood. The ashen-gray fabric of the banner rippled like water, and a lifelike yet blank-faced Sil Deshah appeared on its surface, her expression eerily serene.

Chen Haunt reached out to the fabric, his fingers brushing against her image as if caressing her cheek. "You're a good girl, Deshah-chan," he murmured, his voice softening. "Stay put, yeah? Oppa's keeping his promise—running out of here with you."

——

Meanwhile, Pay Ling stumbled to the edge of the mountain forest, his body trembling violently with exhaustion. Every muscle screamed in protest, and his spiritual energy was utterly depleted. The once-fluid movements of the Blood Lothgar Footwork Art were now beyond his reach, and his vision swam with dizziness, the world splitting into blurred doubles. He swayed unsteadily, teetering on the edge of collapse.

To pass out here would mean certain death. Gritting his teeth, he drew the Blade of Life Hater from its sheath and, without hesitation, plunged it into his arm. The sharp, searing pain jolted him awake, cutting through the fog of exhaustion. But he knew the clarity wouldn't last long. Forcing himself to stay calm, he glanced toward the distant silhouette of Lothgar City. Instead of heading straight for it, he recalled a fleeting midair glimpse from earlier, when the squad had soared on the wind. With a grim determination, he switched course, staggering toward the nearest official road.

Lothgar City loomed in the distance, its sprawling size and bustling energy dwarfing the quiet confines of Deerspring. Soon, the rhythmic creak of wheels and the clatter of hooves reached his ears as a caravan rolled into view along the roadside.

The caravan guards, spotting Pay Ling's ragged and bloodied form, hesitated. Their hands tightened around the hilts of their swords, and their eyes narrowed with suspicion as they approached cautiously, their movements deliberate and wary.

"I'm an Abyss Pit Sect disciple!" Pay Ling roared, his voice hoarse but commanding. Propping himself up with the Blade of Life Hater, he raised his nameplate high, its insignia glinting in the dim light. "This is urgent Holy Sect business for Jarl Drainwood! Get me to the city now—defy the Holy Sect's order, and you won't be spared!"

The group blanched at his words, their faces paling as the weight of his declaration sank in. One guard, signaled by the caravan leader, stepped forward hesitantly. "May the Immortal Master graciously forgive my impertinence," he muttered, his voice trembling as he approached to inspect the nameplate. After a moment, he confirmed its authenticity and immediately dropped to his knees, his head bowed low. "Sen's Trade honors your command!"

Before the rest of the caravan could follow suit and kneel, a heavy thud echoed through the air. They looked up to find Pay Ling collapsed on the ground, unconscious. 

—

At the same time, deep within the forest, Chen Haunt was hurled through the air like a ragdoll, his body crashing into the trunk of a massive tree before slamming to the ground. Blood sprayed from his mouth as he hit the dirt, but he didn't dare waste a moment to look back. With a frantic command, he urged the Summon Soul Banner to carry him onward, his heart pounding like a war drum in his chest.

The instant he fled, a spray of venom splattered across the spot where he had just stood. The grass withered instantly, and the soil hissed and smoked as the corrosive liquid ate into the earth.

"What the hell did that little punk Pay Ling do to this demon beast?!" Chen Haunt, once the picture of cool calculation, now looked haggard and desperate, his face ashen. As he raced through the trees, his mind whirled with panic. "A fourth-layer cultivator stumbling into its path shouldn't have driven it this far—it should've given up by now! Why is it acting like we've got some blood feud, getting even more enraged?!"

He gritted his teeth, his thoughts racing. "Didn't this demon beast come here to lay eggs? Isn't it worried someone's raiding its nest while it's away for so long?!"

A shadow loomed overhead, and Chen Haunt's instincts screamed at him to move. A massive web descended, glistening with venom. He swerved sharply, narrowly dodging the attack. But the spider was relentless. Its abdomen reared again, firing another web. Even a demon beast with limited intelligence had learned from its prolonged chase, adapting its tactics to corner its prey.

"Fucking livestock!" Chen Haunt roared, his voice a mix of shock and desperation. He realized he couldn't dodge this attack. With a grimace, he wielded the Summon Soul Banner to block the strike, his heart aching at the thought of damaging his prized treasure.

A mournful wail pierced the air as the meticulously forged Summon Soul Banner—a formidable Dao Weapon even among Qi Refining stage cultivators—trembled under the Foundation Stage demon beast's furious strike. A crack spiderwebbed across its surface, and through Chen Haunt's spiritual senses, he felt two of the vengeful wraiths trapped within vanish into wisps of smoke.

Another blow like this, he realized with growing dread, and this high-grade Dao weapon, rare even in the Qi Refining stage, would be reduced to scrap on the spot.

Chen Haunt's heart bled with rage as bitter hatred toward Pay Ling seethed in his bones. "Let that little bastard make it back to Lothgar City safely," he muttered through gritted teeth, his voice dripping with venom. "I'll fucking cut open his skull alive."