The specter of the malevolent wangliang
is a given in a chaotic world at war.
These twisted demons, born from the miasma
that is the regrets and fears of the dead,
possess the living and turn them into monsters.
These unchecked wangliang create even more havoc,
many deaths that then produce more wangliang--
adding fuel to a most vicious spiraling fire.
Such are the wangliang.
The Tianyuan, a group of deities and immortals who preserve order,
created the Hunters to root them out.
They wield the might of the Guizhan,
who feeds on the miasma to become a demon at will.
All things must pass.
A battle of the fates has no end.
"Fantasia Sango - Realm of Legends"
We're almost to Jiangsha.
Yes. There's a wangliang wreaking havoc over the entire area.
So cute.
When I see her like this, she looks like any ordinary little girl.
For her to suffer like that when fighting wangliang...
Hey...
What's that?
Smoke--from a village?
Eh? Is there a fire?
Let's find out.
What? Don't stick your nose where it--
We're going!
Hey...
Eek!
What is all this?
It's awful...
Xiao Ling.
Don't look, Xiao Ling. Leave this to us.
Right?
Look! Some of the villagers are still okay.
We've got to help them!
This has "bad news" written all over it...
We'll check it out.
--You wait-- --Xiao's coming, too.
Xiao Ling...
We started getting mountain bandits around here a few days back.
Their boss is a big fellow--
astride this evil horse, with a white pattern on its face.
Our young folks tried to fight back,
but so many were sacrificed to his diabolical cruelty.
A horse with a white pattern on its face...
Was he riding Dilu?
What was that?!
They're back!
Die!
We're not done yet! Take more--more!
What's with that huge man and his horse?!
And all that miasma. Could it be?
Yeah--that's got to be the wangliang's host!
Stop that!
You can die, too!
What's this I'm feeling? The boss--he's not the host.
The horse is!
You can't be serious!
So it gets even more strength by controllin' its rider?
Lilting Lullaby!
"Shuifu Zouliu"
Whoa! They fell asleep!
Much obliged, ma'am!
Careful! The miasma's controlling the others--they're running wild!
Fear and suffering become the miasma that gives me power!
As long as we keep living in chaos, I'm invincible!
You'll pay... for this...
How dare you!
How dare you?!
Xiao Ling?!
What is it, Xiao Ling?
Something's not right!
What the--
She transformed even further?
She's gonna kill us!
She's hittin' anything within reach!
Xiao Ling, it's us! Can't you tell?
She's out of control from taking in too much miasma!
She's what?!
You little...
Wait! Don't go alone!
--Ying Ji! --Now's my chance!
Hey!
We're going, too!
Uh-oh!
She can't physically keep up with all that miasma!
What do we do, Ying Ji?
We stop Xiao Ling!
"Xiao Ling"
That's enough. Come on back, Xiao Ling.
Even if you do defeat the wangliang, your body can't take any more.
"Bamen Jinsuo Zhen"
What was that?!
Nice! He's holding back the miasma with a magic circle!
A world at war is but my ally!
He ran off!
Let him go for now! Xun Qiao, if you would?
Lilting Lullaby!
"Shuifu Zouliu"
That was far too reckless, Ying Ji!
Right. Sorry.
Xiao Ling...
I've never seen her in that form.
No--and she seemed to be in more pain than usual.
That's what happens when she's out of balance.
Lady Luozhi!
What do you mean, "balance"?
Just what it sounds like.
By taking in miasma, Xiao Ling obtains strength in return for pain.
Usually her mental strength and those pills of ours
ensure she is exquisitely balanced and kept in check.
"Exquisitely balanced"?! The girl is constantly suffering!
Calm down.
So Xiao Ling went haywire
because she'd taken in more miasma that her mind could handle.
Does that sound right?
Perhaps... or something made her lose that mental control.
Made her lose that control...
She was visibly shaken from the moment we arrived at the plundered village.
That might be linked to her taking in more miasma.
I see.
She may be a Guizhan, but Xiao Ling is still young.
One might expect some torn seams in her mental fabric.
This may have to do with Xiao Ling's past--or rather, her previous life.
Her previous life?
Xiao Ling has already died once.
Only the faintest traces of her pre-Guizhan memories
remain latent within her.
N-Now wait a minute! That's news to me!
Me, too--and I was in the Old Sixth with her!
The Old Sixth disbanded before I could tell you.
What?! Why, you...
I can't make heads or tails of this!
Care to explain?
Very well.
Xiao Ling was once an ordinary village girl.
She and her parents lived a quiet life together, if an uneventful one.
But one day,
bandits attacked their village.
Much like your own circumstances, Ying Ji.
The Taipingtao...
Foolishly enough, it is hardly uncommon in these turbulent times.
The bridge is out!
No!
Did they do this?
Right before Xiao Ling was to be killed, her parents dropped her into the river.
It would have been miracle enough
that this young girl didn't die right then and there.
Her fear of death must have attracted a wangliang.
It's only a matter of time before it takes her completely.
Or perhaps she won't live that long.
The dying villagers I saw on my patrols looked much the same.
Apologies, but I cannot draw out and destroy only the wangliang.
I'll have to exterminate you both together.
...live...
I want... to live...
On the brink of death and harboring a wangliang--
and her will to live has driven it out.
Too little too late, I'm afraid.
Can her spirit be trying to return to her body?!
Is her will to live truly that fierce?
This, too, may be fate.
Very well. It's high time we had a Guizhan!
In light of your tenacity, I shall grant your wish!
"Eye"
Xiao Ling went through all that...
So you made her a Guizhan?
I did. Such a being was deemed useful for us Tianyuan as well.
Ha. "Useful," my foot.
What you made was a monster!
You and your big rude mouth...
Xiao Ling once described herself as a wangliang-eating demon,
not even human.
And if we got too close, we'd be cursed, too.
She said that?!
Lady Luozhi, must Xiao Ling go on as the Guizhan,
forever taking in miasma?
It is strictly taboo to reverse the flow of life and death, even for the Tianyuan.
A price must be paid.
But she'll--
Xiao Ling is special.
She is the only one to become a Guizhan with her human spirit intact.
Hence her incomparable might against wangliang.
If seeing her run amok strikes fear in your heart,
I suggest leaving the squad here and now.
We do not need those who'll be of no use when push comes to shove.
We're teammates!
Leaving Xiao Ling behind and quitting the squad?
How is that not just abandoning her?
I joined the Hunters
because I didn't want any more people to go through the awful things
I went through!
Anyone who'd abandon their own squadmate
has no chance of making that dream a reality!
I won't--we won't give up on Xiao Ling's future!
How amusing. My interest is piqued.
As I said earlier, there's no way for Xiao Ling not to take in miasma.
That's not to say there's not a way
to ease her suffering and quell her outbursts.
--Huh? --Say what?!
This spell, however, is not cast on her directly.
It can only be cast on one with the resolve and conviction to save her--
even at the cost of one's own life.
Fine by me.
No regrets, now.
Xiao Ling--are you okay?
That bandit! What happened to the bandit?!
He got away.
After you went nuts and tried to kill us all.
Is that all you ever think about? Killing?
--Huh? --Ding Yan!
Ding Yan, you're a real piece of work.
Xiao did it again...
It's all right!
We're not hurt--not in the slightest.
See for yourself!
You'll all get killed with Xiao around.
Xiao Ling...
I'm telling you, don't worry! I'll figure something out.
Trust me!
I'm ba-ack!
Whoa! It's that guy again!
Are you kidding me?!
No--what if Xiao turns out like last time?
Hey, now--what happened to him?!
He doesn't even look human anymore!
Just like that general with his fey blade!
The wangliang's hangin' onto the outside of its host!
He must have killed more people and grown even stronger!
Their terror--it was delicious!
Xiao Ling, wait!
You! You and everyone like you!
Xiao Ling!
Not again!
Ying Ji!
Right--I got this!
Xiao Ling.
Remember what I said earlier: I won't abandon my friends.
Take all the anxiety and worry you're feeling now
and let me handle it!
Open your eyes!
I will not let you die!
"Lian Huan"
Linking... Chain!
So warm...
But how?
You can't be--you're taking Xiao's miasma?!
I won't let you shoulder the burden all on your own...
You said we'd be killed if we were with you.
But we're squadmates!
Still!
Your worries are ours to resolve--together!
Ying Ji!
We'll survive together! Don't hesitate!
Got it.
"Release"
Ying Ji!
Purification Sonata!
He's not dead, is he?
Hey!
Don't go killing me off, now...
You're not alone.
Trust me.
Uh-huh. Thank you.
"The Chain Tactic"