“That’s cruel,” Lu Na said.

  Zi Xu chuckled.

  “Why do you care? You’ll be dead.”

  “But that means that there are so many of the Wintersweet disciples would die here if I fail,” Lu Na said.

  “Yes, so you better succeed. All these ghosts are going to torture you when they die.”

  “Na Na, ignore him. Look at me.” Sun Ren turned Lu Na’s head to her. “Focus on what you have control over. Choose the six people and let’s finally free your mother and solve this stupid puzzle.”

  Sun Ren was right. Lu Na couldn’t afford to be distracted anymore. It’s something she’s denied ever since they walked into the labyrinth, but somewhere deep down she knew that she could lose her own life and those that came in with her. She hoped again and again that it wasn’t going to be so bad. Not anymore.

  “Hen Li, you know these people best. Who should we take?” Lu Na asked.

  “The two Elders have vast experience and spirit energy to spare,” Hen Li said. “Despite Elder Hen’s defeated demeanor, he’s still stronger than any of the disciples. Then that would also mean you’d need to take their spirits, that would make it four. Finally, you’d take Senior Wong and Sun Ren. That should round out your group.”

  “Wait, aren’t you coming too?” Lu Na asked.

  Hen Li shook his head.

  “I’m too weak without the ability to depend on my Bifang Niao. I’ll only get in the way.”

  “No, I think you need to come,” Sun Ren said. “With you there, we’ll know that Elder Hen will try his best to preserve your life.”

  “He’ll do that even if I don’t go. He knows that if you fail, I will die. You’ll only be wasting a spot.” Hen Li pushed his palms together. “I would also like to spend the last days I have to meditate on the fundamental flaws of my life and how I can walk upon the path of the Buddha.”

  “If that’s how you feel, then I won’t force you,” Lu Na said. What she didn’t say was that she didn’t like the prospect of grouping up with Senior Wong. She’d rather take a weakened Hen Li any day over that scary woman.

  “What will happen to the ones who aren’t chosen?” Sun Ren asked.

  “They’ll entertain the noble ghost until she gets bored. Then she’ll make them do menial tasks such as cleaning up the area,” Zi Xu said. “So have you made your decision?”

  “Yes.”

  “Decision? What decision?” Elder Xu asked. She appeared next to Lu Na just like one of the ghosts.

  “How did you do that?” Lu Na asked.

  “It’s one of my many spirit techniques. I can teach you if you become my disciple.” Elder Xu poked Zi Xu. “So you’re a ghost. You don’t look like one. Anyway, I came over because I heard something about a decision being made. Why wasn’t the Elders told about this?”

  Zi Xu took two steps away from Elder Xu. He brushed the part of his tunic that Elder Xu poked.

  “The noble ghost only requested for Young Miss Lu to make the decision since I pleaded on her behalf. The rest of you are inconsequential to that decision.”

  “Inconsequential? My, haven’t you heard about respecting your elders?” Elder Xu turned to face Lu Na. “You girl, are too young to be making life or death situations. And don’t tell me you asked your friends. All of you combined aren’t as old as I am. So girl, tell me, what decisions are you making on behalf of all my disciples?”

  “I…” Lu Na couldn’t speak. It felt like all the spirit energy around her suddenly got heavy. She couldn’t breathe. The very spirit energy in the air in her lungs felt like thick syrup. She fell to her knees.

  Sun Ren and Hen Li both got to their knees.

  “Elder… please… stop…” Hen Li gasped.

  Lu Na looked to Zi Xu for help, but the ghost clasped his hands behind him as he stared into her eyes. It was almost to say there was nothing he could do. That or he was being his usual non-caring self.

  Lu Na chuckled. Maybe that’s how she’ll be after she died and lived here for thousands of years. It didn’t matter that he believed her to be their best chance of success. There will be more in the future.

  The pressure released and Lu Na could finally breathe. This was worse than being choked by Sun Ren and Hen Li. It felt as if the air in her lungs weren’t moving.

  “What’s so funny brat?” Elder Xu said. “I can kill you right now and no one could stop me.”

  Lu Na coughed out the stale air in her lungs before sucking in new air. The next invention she’d make would be something to protect her neck. People love going for the neck for some reason.

  “Elder Xu, I mean no offense, but you need me. You kill me, you kill everyone because there’s no way they’d understand how to solve the puzzle.”

  Elder Xu cackled.

  “Shimin, now I know why you like this girl. She’s so naive. She’d make a perfect student. Tell her anything and she’d believe it without a doubt.” Elder Xu turned to face Lu Na, her laughter gone. Only teeth remained and a smile that looked like she wanted to devour her.

  “One thing she forgets is that this world is one of despair and tragic circumstances. You think I care about any of these disciples? They chose to follow me. Elder Hen is about to die anyway. If I were to kill you all here and now and we’re stuck together for all eternity, then I’d be fine with that. I don’t care about your little goal. All I care about is what I want and whether or not we can bring glory to our Wintersweet Sect.”

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  The entire time, Lu Na felt her skin crawl with the spirit energy crackling in the air. She couldn’t believe it, but she missed dealing with Elder Hen.

  Lu Na cupped her hands and bowed at the waist.

  “This foolish youngster apologizes to Elder Xu. I never meant any disrespect. I only wish for what’s best for everyone here.”

  Elder Xu lifted Lu Na from her bow.

  “That’s a start. At least you know your place. So tell me, what is this decision you seem to have made without consulting me?”

  Lu Na glanced at Sun Ren, trying to get some reassurance. There was none to be had. Sun Ren’s face was grim.

  “Reporting to Elder Xu, the noble ghost has only allowed us to take six people and spirits with us to continue our journey. The rest of them have to remain behind.”

  “So collateral for saving you and allowing us to pass by those traps.” Elder Xu glared at the noble ghost. “I would have done something similar. That leaves us without many options.”

  “Yes, Elder Xu. After some discussion, we thought to bring the strongest in our group and continue. That would be Elder Hen, his spirit, Senior Wong, Sun Ren, yourself and your spirit.”

  “Pfft, you forgot someone more important than all of us.” Elder Xu grabbed Hen Li by the arm and pulled him close. “This foolish boy has to come with us too.”

  Hen Li bowed with his palms pushed together.

  “Amituofo. I am the weakest one here. I can’t help you.”

  “Can’t or won’t? Despite what your father tells me, you still have full control over your Bifang Niao. I can see that your spirit also wants to escape its bonds. With that on our side, we’d have a chance.”

  “I would only hinder everyone.”

  Hen Li looked like a child that lost his pet. He’d look like that since he entered the labyrinth.

  “Hen Li, you’re one of the strongest people I’ve met,” Lu Na said. “I think you might be stronger than my brother. While I normally don’t want to push anything, I would rather have you on the team. And if Elder Xu says that you’re needed, then we should trust our elders.”

  Hen Li grimaced.

  “I really don’t want to… burden you all.”

  “Zi Xu, I want to go with Elder Hen, Elder Xu, Hen Li, Sun Ren, Senior Wong, and Elder Hen’s spirit. Can you tell the noble ghost that?”

  “She heard. Is that your final decision?”

  “Yes.” Lu Na agreed before Hen Li could argue with her.

  All the Wintersweet disciples and the spirits froze in place, their eyes became glossy. Then as one unit, they all filed out of the courtyard, leaving only the small group and the two ghosts.

  “The noble ghost has asked you for a final audience before sending you off. I’ll wait for you outside,” Zi Xu said.

  “You’re not coming with us?” Sun Ren asked.

  “No, you should all be fine. Besides, I have to walk to the next section and I’m afraid my slow pace might take a while.”

  Lu Na bowed to Zi Xu.

  “Thank you for your help.”

  “Don’t thank me until you’ve talked with the noble ghost. She might want something else.” Zi Xu turned and left.

  The group walked over to the noble ghost. Now that they were closer, the noble ghost looked like she wasn’t a native of the land. For starters, she had green eyes. Her skin, while still ghostly pale, had an olive texture to it. The white headdress covered long flowing black hair that had a hint of brown in it. Her ears had a ring of small studded earrings all around. She also didn’t mind showing off her legs or midriff.

  “Salam,” the noble ghost said. “My name is Farida. You have all come far to die here.”

  “How are you speaking our language? Who are you?” Lu Na asked.

  Farida laughed.

  “While I have not been here for as long as some of these ghosts, it has been long enough to learn your language. Once you die, there really isn’t much else to do. As to who I am? I’m Farida, that is all you need to know.”

  “Thank you for saving us,” Sun Ren cupped her hands and bowed. The rest followed, except the Elders.

  Farida waved her hand.

  “Don’t thank me yet. You still have to solve the labyrinth which no one has done. If you can do it, I promise to release your friends. Off you go, as quick as you can.”

  Farida disappeared.

  “Wait Farida. How do we defend ourselves against other ghosts?” Lu Na asked.

  Farida reappeared right in front of Lu Na. She had her hand on her chin, but all Lu Na felt was a cold feeling.

  “You can’t do anything against ghosts. What you can do is get the help of other ghosts. Like how Zi Xu helped you.”

  Farida faded away again.

  “Just remember that not all ghosts are kind, especially the older ones. They’re all crazy.”

  Lu Na heard Farida’s voice fade away.

  “Well then, let’s get going,” Elder Hen said. He fixed his clothes. He looked like he just woke up. His white hair was loose from his bun.

  The group of six gathered everything they had and moved to the exit. Based on their map, they were only three sections away from the center of the labyrinth.

  “Zi Xu, has anyone ever made it to the center?” Lu Na asked.

  Zi Xu had picked up the pace since he followed them. He was still slow, but it was an improvement from the glacial pace he walked in the previous sections.

  “There have been a few people who made it to the center.”

  “What happened to them?”

  “They didn’t have the key.”

  Lu Na reached into her chest pocket and grabbed her silver phoenix hairpin.

  “That’s one part, yes. Whoever gave you that has deep knowledge of this place. There are other parts of the key that you will need to get in.”

  Lu Na took out the key from the village ghost and the key Jie gave her.

  “What about these?”

  Zi Xu stared at the keys. So did the Elders and Senior Wong.

  “Where did you get these?”

  “A ghost was guarding this one while Jie gave me the other one.”

  “Maybe you are the one destined to free us all, but it’s still too early. None have come with this many keys before.”

  “What do you mean? I remember that Yang Deli, the rebel leader, had one of these keys too. What makes them special?”

  Zi Xu smiled, his merchant’s face came back.

  “Nothing, exactly. These were all made by the labyrinth and ferried out to attract would be challengers. Those warlords and emperors all saw the key and heard the call. They couldn’t help themselves. Just like you.”

  “No, I came because my mother is trapped here. I came to save her. She’s with that phoenix at the apex of the labyrinth.”

  “My dear child, there is no human there. Only the phoenix spirit.”

  “No, there must be. How else would my mother contact me through the hairpin?”

  “I am sorry to tell you then that phoenix spirit is lying to you. Spirits are tricky beings. They will do anything to get their way. That phoenix spirit has been trapped there for the last four years. No human could survive that.”

  “But—”

  “Maybe we should focus on the path before us,” Elder Hen said. “We’ll figure out what’s going on when we solve the puzzle. Which brings a very important part of this journey. Should the Young Miss Lu be keeping all those keys? Wouldn’t it be safer to have the strongest members in our group hold onto them?”

  “Do you mean you?” Sun Ren asked. She had her hand on one of her hidden daggers.

  “I wouldn’t say I’m the strongest in my current state. I was thinking Elder Xu or even Little Yoong.”

  “I’d rather die than give the keys to those two.”

  “Little girl, that can be arranged.” Elder Xu raised her hand again.

  Except this time Sun Ren was faster. She already had a dagger to Elder Xu’s neck.

  “Try it you hag. Choke me again. I’ll make sure you never breathe again.”

  “Amituofo, we shouldn’t be fighting among ourselves. This is more important than any of us as it will determine if we live or die,” Hen Li said. He placed a hand on Elder Xu’s hand and Sun Ren’s dagger. “Please, let’s end the hostilities here until after we solved the puzzle.”

  “Or why don’t Young Miss Lu give it to me?” a man’s voice called from another courtyard. Yang Deli walked out with a sword in hand, wearing his iron helmet. He had an army following right behind him, along with a Daoist holding a red wooden sword. “I believe I’m the strongest here and I would love to have more keys.”