Early the next morning, I got up at dawn. I wanted to find the source of the village’s water as quickly as possible, locate Evan Zhao’s Wraith Domain, and resolve the situation so I could leave. This place was pleasant enough, but after staying for so long, I was starting to feel out of place.
After I went out, the aunt made noodles for breakfast. They were fresh, and I felt refreshed after eating a bowl. I walked onto the street, feeling clear-headed.
But I didn’t see Isabelle Frost or John Chou, so I wandered through the morning streets. Unconsciously, I found myself on the path to the old Rivers Family estate, where I sat at the door, basking in the sun.
I casually asked some villagers, but none of them knew where the village’s water actually came from. Everyone relied on their own well water for daily life. They said the wells were dug in ancient times, and the water was still abundant, clean, and clear.
I didn’t see any rivers nearby. Looking down at the terraced fields below the town, I saw people carrying water to irrigate their crops. Most families had electric pumps, drawing water up and then carrying it down to water the fields.
Most of the crops grown here are drought-resistant and only need to be watered once a day, with weeds tended to as needed. I asked why they didn’t build irrigation channels or use pumps directly for watering, but most people seemed too lazy to bother. Instead, they carried water every day, lacking any drive. Even the lively children I saw a few days ago now wore gloomy faces and seemed unhappy.
“This Evan Zhao really has affected generations.”
I couldn’t help but mutter to myself. After all, everything here was caused by Evan Zhao’s power. The only solution was to find the water source; once I did, I could access Evan Zhao’s power and, hopefully, find the entrance to his Wraith Domain.
I had no idea where John Chou or Isabelle Frost had gone, so I could only wait here. Looking at the town, nestled in the mountains, I figured the water must be inside the mountain itself. If only I could find an entrance into the mountain. I asked around, but most townspeople didn’t know.
The whole town was enveloped in this atmosphere, completely devoid of vitality. That’s why it was growing poorer by the day. I thought of the aunt these past few days—she always showed sadness, sometimes unconsciously. Even she didn’t know it, but anyone who drank water infused with Evan Zhao’s power would become sorrowful. Gradually, people lost hope for a better life and planned to just keep living this way, since their basic needs were at least met.
Moreover, I noticed that the people who returned by bus the day before yesterday were reunited with their families, happily gathering with children and elders. But it had only been a day, and the joy on their faces had vanished, replaced by gloomy expressions and a hint of sadness.
Sensing a chill, I immediately turned around. As expected, Isabelle Frost appeared behind me.
"Well? Did you find it, Miss Yi?"
Isabelle Frost nodded and motioned for me to follow. I walked slowly behind her, realizing she was leading me up the mountain. There were almost no tall plants here, just bare slopes, making the climb easy.
Gradually, I reached the ridge and glanced down at the distant county town, which looked completely different from here. But there was no longer a path down from this spot. Though it was impossible to tell from above, standing on the ridge, I could still see the marks left by the landslide caused by Evan Zhao’s power—the mountain looked as if a chunk had been sliced away, leaving a sheer cliff with nowhere to descend. The soil below had already hardened, and plenty of plants had grown.
"It's right below here."
As soon as I approached, John Chou started talking. I shot him a dissatisfied glare—he sounded like he was bossing me around. I moved closer and caught a burnt, foul odor. I had no idea what this pus-like mass was, but I noticed root-like tendrils at its base. Looking into the water, I saw black roots drifting—this must be where the sorrowful power was leaking out, spreading through the water.
I swallowed, and soon Isabelle Frost’s ghostly aura enveloped me, lifting me into the air. She carried me down to the collapsed area below, landing on some plants. There, I noticed a small cave behind the vegetation, its interior pitch black.
"I've already gone in to confirm—the source is inside."
I made a sound of acknowledgment and was about to turn on my phone when Isabelle Frost waved her hand. A cluster of fiery-red otherworldly petals glowed softly, illuminating the cave entrance. The plants seemed to come alive, parting to make way, and Isabelle floated inside. I followed her.
"Where's Evan Zhao?"
"He's waiting at the end of the water source."
I made a sound of acknowledgment and followed Isabelle Frost inside. The entrance was narrow, but once inside, I found it was a cave—spacious enough, damp. I trailed Isabelle through several interconnected chambers, and finally saw a vast flow of water before me. We’d walked for nearly half an hour; by now, we were surely beneath the town.
There seemed to be many waterways nearby, and the water here flowed in a constant cycle—no wonder the townsfolk had water to use. I glanced around and saw, across the underground lake, Evan Zhao sitting there.
Then Isabelle Frost carried me across. I swallowed hard, staring at a black mass on the ground—swollen like a pus sac, pulsing as if breathing, shifting slightly.
"The entrance to the Wraith Domain is right here. Find a way to break this open, Rachel Lan."
As soon as I approached, Evan Zhao spoke up. I glared at him, annoyed by his commanding tone, like I was some subordinate. I moved closer and caught a burnt, foul smell. I had no idea what this pus-like thing was, but I noticed root-like tendrils at its base. Looking into the water, I saw black roots drifting—this must be where the sorrowful power was leaking out, spreading through the water.
"You’ve been here all this time and couldn’t break it? You want me to do it?"
I looked at Evan Zhao, puzzled. He smiled and said:
"There’s more of these things around here. The problem is, if we use our powers, they turn to dust and vanish."
I swallowed, eyeing the pulsing, foul-smelling sac with caution. Isabelle Frost spoke:
"These are Ghost Webs created by Evan Zhao. A special kind—even we’ve never seen them before, not even when Evan was at the Blood Fiend Hall."
I made a sound of acknowledgment, crouched in front of the black sac, thinking carefully. I raised my hand, and a red flame flickered to life. As my hand neared the black sac, it sizzled and released an even stronger stench. I pinched my nose and backed away. The sac burst, making me gag, and black liquid spilled out. I retreated quickly as the overpowering stench hit me. The black liquid flowed into the water, dissolving like ink and slowly disappearing.
It was definitely this power causing the problem. In the black liquid, I felt a wave of sorrow. I wanted to vomit—it made me sick. But Isabelle Frost and Evan Zhao showed no reaction at all.
"This is Sorrowbane Power, born from a ghost’s sadness. It’s an extremely rare force."
Evan Zhao explained. I finally felt a little better. The black sac shriveled, and soon I saw more small black lumps sprouting near the lake.
"Evan Zhao probably can’t bear the growing Sorrowbane Power himself. That’s why he’s suffering so much. These things manifest because his subconscious can’t handle the pain anymore, so he’s letting his sorrow out, hoping someone else will help carry it."
I swallowed hard.
"So what should we do now?"
"That’s why you’re here."
Evan Zhao smiled. I glared at a hard black lump at my feet—it was slowly growing. Underground, black roots stretched into the water. Soon, more black sacs appeared all around, growing larger and starting to writhe.
The sight made me nauseous. I couldn’t take it anymore—the burnt stench was overwhelming. I pinched my nose, and after a while, I noticed that when these sacs grew to the size of a small stool, they couldn’t hold together and burst, spraying black liquid everywhere.
The black liquid flowed into the water. I was speechless—the villagers drank this every day. Realizing I’d eaten things containing this filth over the past days, I couldn’t hold back and vomited.
"Ethan Zhang once ate things even more disgusting than what you’ve seen here."
Evan Zhao suddenly spoke. I stared at him wide-eyed.
"What do you mean? What exactly did Ethan eat?"
I asked, but just as Evan Zhao was about to answer, Isabelle Frost cut in sharply.
"No need to talk about that. Rachel Lan, your only option now is to drink this stuff directly."
Isabelle Frost had barely finished speaking when I immediately replied, firm:
"No way."
I shook my head violently. Forget eating—it was unbearable just watching. I’d always been clean since childhood, and these things disgusted me to the core.
"Why don’t you eat it yourselves?"
I asked. Evan Zhao gave a helpless smile, poked open a black sac with his finger, scooped out some black liquid, and put it in his mouth. Instantly, I saw the black liquid turn to ghostly aura and vanish. I swallowed hard, retching again. The smell was unbearable.