After a moment of respite, the group reconvened to strategize for the next step.
Minghao posed a question to Haoran: "What do we do now?"
Haoran responded thoughtfully, "Shouldn't we find the magician first? If we find the general but he is under the control of magic, it would be useless."
Lingjie turned to Churan, seeking her opinion but found her unresponsive and expressionless. He concluded, "It seems she's entered the shadows again!"
Minghao attempted to approach her, but unexpectedly, he lost his balance and embraced her, causing them both to collapse onto the ground. To their surprise, they found themselves engulfed in a realm of complete darkness.
Ziyi's panicked out in warning: "Don't come close! Don't you remember what the shadow said to her?"
Unfortunately, her words came too late. Events unfolded in a flash, too rapid for anyone to fully comprehend.
Within the shadows, Minghao held Churan's shoulder and inquired, "Are you okay? Where are we?"
" You idiot! We're here because of you," Churan retorted, her frustration evident.
Suddenly, a malicious and mysterious voice echoed from every direction, filled with a sinister tone: "What do you think about killing your dear friend? Then the chance of meeting me will be greater! Hahaha. Don't put those looks on your face! He's not yours from the start, nothing around you is yours, you don't deserve this body."
A horde of shadow ghosts materialized, descending upon them with malicious intent.
"Don't you carry a weapon? Damn, what are we going to do?"
One of the ghosts attempted to choke hold Minghao, but Churan stepped in, only to be seized by the neck and lifted into the air.
The grip around her neck only tightened, causing Churan to gasp for air as she struggled. Fear and desperation filled her eyes, while Minghao looked around, frantically searching for a solution.
"Let go of her!" Minghao shouted, his voice filled with anger and concern.
Minghao suddenly awoke, bewildered and disoriented. Lingjie rushed to his side, puzzled by his abrupt awakening.
"What happened? Why did you wake up alone?" Lingjie inquired.
Minghao's mind seemed preoccupied, and he shook his head, "They are trying to kill her, but if we go there, it will only put her in danger."
To everyone's surprise, Churan rose, blood trickling from her mouth. She stood, gingerly touching her neck, and declared, "I'm fine, don't worry, I will deal with that criminal."
Her words were abruptly cut off by the sound of fireworks, drawing their attention to the window. It was evident that something unusual had happened in the capital.
"What sort of trick is this now?" Lingjie exclaimed. "It's not like we're superheroes; even if the capital collapses, they won't need us."
The air was filled with tension as various emotions flickered across their faces – confusion, concern, and a hint of helplessness. The fireworks that lit up the setting sky only emphasized their sense of unease. The group exchanged glances, pondering the significance of the signal and its connection to their current predicament.
"Should we go to the capital?" Minghao questioned, breaking the silence.
Ziyi asserted, her voice filled with urgency, "We need to find my father quickly and then go to the capital."
Lingjie responded, "Do we even have time? This is a distress call; they are telling us to come back immediately."
With determination, Churan spoke next, "So Lingjie, you and my sister can go and take the prince. That should be more straightforward. I'll save my father and protect the city."
"No, you're too young. You can't face danger alone," Lingjie protested.
Churan remained resolute, her gaze steady, "You still can't understand it after all? I will be fine."
Seeing Churan's determination, Haoran stepped forward, an earnest expression on his face. "I will also stay with you. Three, this is fairer."
Ziyi glanced at them, her expression conflicted as she considered their words. The urgency of the situation weighed heavily on her, but the thought of their safety also gnawed at her conscience.
Ziyi rabbed Churan hand and told her, "Can I count on you this time? Will you be, okay?"
Churan smiled, "Yes, don't worry.
(I can't seem to get rid of them and do things quietly)
After the others left, the sun was already setting, Churan looked at them, "I think we should move as fast as we can."
After reaching the Watching Castle, Churan turned around and discovered that Haoran had been hit by an arrow in his heart. She rushed towards him but was stopped by the chilling laughter of a girl.
"My God, do you want to save him? But it is already too late; he must die. He's a beast," the girl taunted.
Ignoring the girl's words, Churan held onto Haoran, her voice filled with concern and anger.
"If you were injured, you should have said something! Why did you lay on the ground without saying anything? What's wrong with you?"
Minghao stood gazing at the scene before him, his anger directed towards the girl.
"Aren't you that witch who spoke before? You brought us here, right?" he shouted.
The girl chuckled, "You're really astute. Those bound by the same unfortunate fate always cross paths. Did you find living in my body enjoyable?" she asked, referencing Churan.
Minghao glanced at Churan, confusion evident on his face.
"What is that girl saying? Tell me!" he demanded.
Churan looked annoyed, her patience wearing thin.
She had already endured a great deal, and Minghao's questions only added to her frustrations. She spoke, her annoyance clear in her voice.
"I can't explain everything now. Can you just give me some time?"
Churan gently leaned Hao Ran against the wall and moved away from Minghao, sighing softly. The weight of her secrets was heavy on her heart, and she knew that holding onto them might lead to regrets.
"She's the very murderer who kills indiscriminately," Churan explained, her voice filled with weariness. "You must have heard about her. She sent her guards to chase me and torture me, leaving me broken and unable to do anything."
Minghao's eyes widened in surprise, his confusion growing with each passing moment. He cut in, trying to make sense of the unfolding situation.
"Wait a minute," he interjected, "I don't understand anything. Why would this murderer want to torture YOU?"
"It's because she's... Shushin," the killer stated, her voice tinged with resignation. "The Shadow Witch. The granddaughter of the greatest wizard who killed the king and brought his family back to life."
The killer who had remained hidden until now walked out of the shadows, a smirk playing on her lips. Haoran and Minghao stood in stunned silence, exchanging glances.
Minghao finally spoke up, irritation in his voice, "Quiet, killer. We don't want to hear a word of what you're saying."
"Oh, you don't want to hear what I have to say? Do you think you have the power to stop me?"
Minghao's anger flared, but he kept his composure. "What are you talking about? We don't have time for your games."
The killer's voice was filled with amusement, as if she took pleasure in toying with their emotions.
"Oh, but you do have time to listen to me. And you should, or you'll never know the truth."
Churan was silent, her heart heavy as she watched everything unraveling before her eyes. She sighed, knowing she had to explain the tangled web of events.
Churan's voice broke the tense silence, her words carrying a hint of sarcasm.
"Why would she want to torture me? A valid question... She desired my body and my strength. Should I die completely, I would be powerless. She utilized the magic of heaven to swap our souls, resulting in her soul inhabiting my body, and my soul finding shelter within hers. In a foolish act, she plunged herself into water, believing death would claim her, but her greed clouded her judgment. As she believed, my inner strength, skills, and everything associated with my own body would be transferred to her. However, it was her mistake to overlook that her body lived, while her soul resided within mine, leaving my original body without a soul to sustain it. Our forms and strength might seem unchanged, but ultimately, she faces a future of certain demise."
As Churan spoke, the killer's gaze darkened, her jaw clenching in anger. The truth of her own fate, revealed in such blunt terms, only fueled her bitterness.
The killer approached and said with a hint of pride, "If you're not going to say my name, at least say my surname: the Shadow Killer."
Hao Ran chuckled boisterously, but clutched his wound in pain, wincing as he studied the killer. "You must be proud of being a killer, don't you? What a ridiculous thing."
The killer shot him a look full of contempt, her eyes gleaming with anger.
"I've always wanted to kill you, the trio of men," she sneered. "You've searched for me relentlessly, and I've waited patiently, but you never found me."
Before Minghao could fully absorb the shock of the situation, Churan - his friend but not his best friend - the killer raised her sword and slowly began to advance towards him.
Churan swiftly drew her sword, her words tinged with sadness and resignation.
"I'm sorry," she said, pushing Minghao aside. "I thought the Lord had granted me a new opportunity at a better life, but deep down, I knew this day might come. Perhaps it was inevitable."
Minghao attempted to grasp her wrists, trying to stop her from leaving, his face filled with a mix of concern and desire to protect. But her hands slipped away before he could hold onto them.
He didn't blame her for withholding the truth; instead, he wanted to save her from whatever danger lay ahead. But Churan's resolve was unwavering, her mind set on a path she knew she had to tread.
The pain of their impending separation etched itself onto Minghao's face, his heart heavy with the desire to shield her from unknown perils. But even as he longed to intertwine his fingers with hers and plead for her to stay, he saw the unshakeable determination within her eyes...
Churan's eyes met Minghao's, a mixture of sorrow and resignation evident in her gaze. She knew there was no turning back now, and as much as she ached to stay, she knew this was a path she had to follow alone.
Minghao's voice trembled as he spoke, his words filled with desperation.
"Please, don't go. Let me help you," he pleaded. "We can face whatever comes together."
Churan's face softened, touched by his concern, but her mind was set.
"This isn't your burden to carry," she replied gently. "This battle is mine alone."
The killer recoiled as Churan's sword struck her stomach, clutching her abdomen in pain.
"Don't think I'll disappear easily," she grumbled through clenched teeth. "I'm far from done fighting for what's rightfully mine."
Churan met the killer's glare with unwavering calm.
"You've been chasing an impossible dream, clinging to a victory never truly yours," she countered, her voice firm.
The killer bristled, her hold on her sword tightening as her anger flared.
"Your confidence is misplaced," she shot back, her voice filled with frustration. "I've triumphed over countless challenges and won't be defeated now, not by you or anyone else."
With that, the killer dashed towards the open window, ready to hurl herself into the unknown.
In a moment of stillness, Churan looked back at Minghao, her face filled with sadness and resignation. Her voice trembled as she uttered her final words.
"Please carry out the task I could not," she implored him. "I have failed to make my promise. As long as she resides in my body, I must follow her. We must both perish, ensuring her destruction. I'm sorry."
Without waiting for his response, Churan ran swiftly towards the window's edge. For a moment, she hovered in mid-air before plummeting towards the ground, determined to catch up with the murderer who had stolen her life.
As Churan vanished outside, Minghao stood transfixed by the window, his heart torn apart by a mix of shock and ggrief
The image of Churan's resolute face and the sound of her final words reverberated through his mind, leaving him grappling with a crushing sense of loss and a profound sense of duty to fulfill her request.
Minghao desperately tried to aid Hao Ran to stand, but he heard him say: "Let me go, I'm truly alright. Save others, don't allow Churan's sacrifice to be in vain."
With those words, Hao Ran slowly closed his eyes, revealing the truth behind his statement.
Minghao let out a heart-wrenching cry, tears cascading down like a waterfall. His endurance was shattered in the face of such a situation.
"Please don't leave too," he pleaded, his voice filled with despair. "Don't leave like this!"
But no matter how desperately he cried out or how many tears he shed, there was no turning back the hands of time. No matter how much he longed for it, the past would remain unchanged, and the loved ones who had left would remain forever out of reach.
The weight of the situation hung heavily on Minghao's heart, a sense of helplessness and grief threatening to consume him. The pain of loss was all-too real, and the void left by Hao Ran's departure seemed to widen with each passing moment.
Despite his best efforts, Minghao was unable to change the heartbreaking reality. The only thing left for him to do was to carry the memories of those he had lost in his heart and honor their sacrifices by continuing the fight.
With a heavy heart, he picked himself up, wiping away his tears and steeling himself for the challenges that lay ahead. Churan and Hao Ran had given their all for this world, and Minghao knew he had to honor their sacrifice by carrying on the fight in their memory.