I resignedly cleaned up the trash scattered across the cramped apartment. At least the water and electricity bills were covered by Poison Dreadstar, who always paid Ghost Fiend Star on time every month. There was even a washing machine, so I washed my clothes and hung them out to dry. It was already past four in the morning. I gazed at the room, now filled with sorted bags and bundles of garbage, all neatly gathered. The oppressive air lingered, heavy with exhaustion and decay.
Sorry for troubling everyone.
I spoke softly, then, with the Six Ghost Souls, each of us lugging a heavy bag of trash, opened the door and slipped outside. No one was around at this hour. We moved quickly, doing our best to avoid the surveillance cameras, and drifted down to the ground floor. In the darkness, we reached the neighborhood's garbage dump—just then, I caught sight of someone rummaging through the refuse nearby.
Auntie...
I called out softly. It was that ghostly aunt. She turned, her face streaked with grime, yet her smile was impossibly warm—a fleeting comfort in the gloom.
Ethan Zhang.
I set down the trash, a sharp wave of bitterness welling up inside me. Though I’d only spent a few months with this ghostly aunt as a child, she always felt closer to me than anyone else.
We found a spot and sat down. I still didn’t understand what the aunt was searching for, her movements shadowed and strange.
Auntie, um... can you tell me what you’re looking for? If I ever see it, I’ll let you know.
There’s no point in telling you, Ethan Zhang. You’ve changed so much. I know most of what’s happened. As long as you survive, that’s enough. Ethan Zhang, ghosts have their way of living, and people have theirs. You’re not used to it now, but give it time—you’ll adapt.
I nodded, then spent some time chatting with the ghostly aunt, talking about all sorts of things. I even mentioned the strength I now possessed.
Ethan Zhang, you’re almost ready to join the ranks of the Green Ghosts. Just take it one step at a time—don’t put too much pressure on yourself. As long as we ghosts are alive in this world, there will come a day when we get there, as long as we don’t die.
I nodded. Now, I finally understood what Master Mingde and I had talked about—what it really meant. In my heart, I knew that trying to erase the thought of the Immortality Society in the short term was impossible; all I could do was move forward, step by step.
You’ve absorbed a lot of ghost energy already, but in my observation, you’re still far from opening the Ghost Domain. Auntie will teach you a technique.
I nodded earnestly. Then the ghostly aunt took out a ghost thread—a green, spectral thread—and began weaving it. In the middle of the thread, I saw a cluster of green light, densely woven like spider silk, wrapping around that glow.
What exactly is this?
Ethan Zhang, although your ghost energy has grown much stronger, the soul that carries it is still a bit weak. That’s why you can’t fully unleash your power. So, in the future, whenever you have time, try using the ghost thread to bind your ghost soul tightly and then release it.
Wouldn’t that block the flow of ghost energy?
I asked, and the ghostly aunt shook her head.
Ghost souls have a unique trait you might not know about, Ethan Zhang. Many Green Ghosts don’t know this either. Most powerful Green Ghosts just keep adding more and more souls, making their main ghost soul stronger and more resilient. But you’re different, Ethan Zhang.