The room was heavy with tension as the masked figure, battered and defeated, knelt on the broken floorboards.
Kai, breathing hard, stood over him. His hands were still clenched into fists, but he didn't deliver the final strike.
Instead, he watched as the defeated man slowly raised his hands in surrender.
"You… you win," he sighed dramatically, shaking his head. "I, the Ghoul of Lightness, admit my defeat!"
Kai narrowed his eyes, still wary. The twins, however, were not as forgiving.
Liu Yu took a step forward, sword raised. "Then I'll finish you off!"
"Wait, wait, wait!" The man waved his hands frantically. "There's no need for that! I'm surrendering, aren't I?"
Liu Yue's gaze was sharp. "Give me one good reason we shouldn't end you right now. You preyed on innocent girls—"
"Innocent?" The man scoffed. "They were hardly innocent. A few of them were spoiled noble brats!"
Liu Yu's glare hardened. "And that justifies what you did?"
The masked figure cleared his throat. "Ahem. What I meant to say is—it's not as bad as you think!"
Kai frowned. "What do you mean?"
The man crossed his arms smugly. "You think I just kill my targets?"
Liu Yue narrowed her eyes. "Explain. Now."
The man sighed, sounding genuinely offended that they thought him a killer. "I don't drain them dry! I merely extract some of their essence, enough to fuel my cultivation. But it's not permanent."
Kai's eyes widened slightly. "Then… those girls aren't dead?"
"Of course not!" The man huffed. "They're just in a temporary deep sleep. At worst, they'll be unconscious for a few days. After that, their bodies will naturally restore their essence, and they'll wake up good as new, no permanent damage whatsoever."
Liu Yu looked skeptical. "You expect us to believe that?"
"Believe it or not, it's the truth," the ghoul said smugly. "If I actually killed my targets, I would've been hunted down ages ago. My methods are far more refined!"
Kai let out a slow breath, considering the implications.
"So… you're saying they'll wake up in a few days, and they'll be able to go home like nothing happened?"
The man nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly! A little exhausted, maybe, but otherwise completely fine!"
Liu Yue and Liu Yu exchanged glances.
"…Is that even possible?" Liu Yu muttered.
Liu Yue sighed. "There are some techniques that extract unprocessed essence without causing permanent harm… but they're rare. Most practitioners aren't careful about it."
Kai stared at the ghoul. "And you're telling me you are careful?"
The ghoul grinned proudly. "I am the Ghoul of Lightness, after all! My technique is flawless!"
Liu Yu still looked angry. "That doesn't excuse what he did."
Kai let out a breath. He agreed.
But—he had already made up his mind.
"You lost," Kai said, his voice firm. "I'll let you live—on one condition."
The man tilted his head curiously.
Kai stared him down. "If you're going to use your absorption technique… you only use it against evil people from now on."
The ghoul blinked.
Liu Yue and Liu Yu whirled toward Kai in disbelief.
"Kai, you can't be serious!" Liu Yue snapped.
Liu Yu scowled. "You're letting him go?! After everything he's done?!"
Kai clenched his jaw. "I know what he's done. And I won't let it happen again." He turned back to the man. "If you ever try this on innocent people again, I'll hunt you down myself."
The ghoul stared at him, then chuckled. "Heh. You're… really something else, aren't you?"
Liu Yue crossed her arms. "Kai, your softness is going to be your undoing one day."
Kai grinned. "Yeah, yeah, you've told me before."
The ghoul stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm… hunting evil people instead, huh? I suppose that's not a bad idea. There's plenty of nasty cultivators out there hoarding Qi resources. Might as well take it from them!"
Kai raised an eyebrow. "So you'll agree to it?"
The ghoul suddenly grinned. "Oh, I don't just agree."
He bowed deeply, placing one hand over his chest in a dramatic display of loyalty.
"I, the Ghoul of Lightness, hereby pledge myself to your cause!"
Kai froze. "…What?"
The ghoul straightened, looking incredibly pleased with himself. "You've bested me in battle! Clearly, fate has chosen you as my lord!"
Liu Yue facepalmed.
Liu Yu groaned. "Kai, this is your fault."
Kai ran a hand down his face. "I never asked for a follower."
"Nonsense! I shall serve you from the shadows, hunting only the corrupt, stealing only from those who deserve it!" The ghoul laughed. "Oh, this is going to be fun!"
Liu Yue muttered, "This is a bad idea."
Kai sighed, already regretting his decision.
"Alright, then," Kai muttered. "What's your name?"
The ghoul grinned.
"Ah! Finally, you ask! My name is Zhao Xun, the Ghoul of Lightness!" He puffed his chest proudly. "One of the legendary Five Ghouls!"
Kai, Liu Yue, and Liu Yu exchanged glances.
"…Still never heard of them," Liu Yu said flatly.
Zhao Xun froze.
His face fell into utter disappointment.
"You…" He pointed at them, looking genuinely hurt. "You really haven't?"
Liu Yue shook her head.
Liu Yu crossed her arms. "Nope."
Kai sighed. "Not a clue."
Zhao Xun groaned in frustration. "Unbelievable! This generation is so uninformed! What do they even teach in sects these days?!"
Liu Yu muttered, "Not this, apparently."
Kai massaged his temples. "Let's just get out of here before I regret this any more than I already do."
And thus—
The Ghoul of Lightness, Zhao Xun, became Kai's most problematic follower.