Fang Zheng strode forward, staring coldly at the man before him. You hid behind him, watching the man uneasily.
"Shirking responsibility? You think I'm shirking responsibility?"
The man wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, rose with a smile, and stared at Fang Zheng.
"Wrong. I am what I am today all because of her! Youkuriwood!"
"Eek...!!"
Hearing the man's roar, You began to tremble. Fang Zheng frowned, looking from the man to You.
"Explain."
"Hehehe, then let me tell you."
The man looked at Fang Zheng and spoke with a cold laugh, while You clutched Fang Zheng's sleeve and shook her head desperately. Fang Zheng merely gestured for her to stay quiet, then folded his arms and watched the man. Under Fang Zheng's gaze, the man spread his hands.
"I was actually already dead."
"Oh."
"But I wasn't completely dead."
As he spoke, the man suddenly grabbed his own left arm and violently tore it off before tossing it aside.
"See? Like this... Hmm, I imagine this isn't unfamiliar to you. After all, Kyoko was defeated by you."
"Kyoko... Ah, so you were the mastermind behind that twin-tailed girl?"
At that, Fang Zheng finally understood. He had wondered why that girl simply would not stay dead.
"Calling me the mastermind sounds rather unpleasant. I merely asked her to assist me. She learned of my wish and hoped to help me fulfill it, so I granted her power. It was that simple. But what I never expected was that, even with nearly immortal power, she still failed..."
"Hehehe."
Fang Zheng merely laughed at the man's words.
"Immortality isn't anything fun. Besides, even if the body can live forever, that doesn't mean the Mental Plane works the same way."
"That is true, but actually accomplishing it is no easy