Lost in a haze, I stood quietly in a forest. Darkness pressed in from all sides, yet I could see everything. Insects and birds filled the air with noise. I was on a hillside, and behind me blazed the radiant Specter Town. Confused, I looked around, pinched my cheek—solid.
My memory was muddled. I should have been grilling barbecue in the shop just moments ago—how did I end up here?
I crouched on the hillside, listening to the chirping insects and birds I hadn’t heard in ages. For some reason, my mood was bleak. Pressing a hand to my chest, I felt as if something crucial was missing from my mind, but I couldn’t recall it—only the brightly lit city below remained clear.
I looked carefully around the mountain, feeling something was off. Suddenly, my eyes widened—I saw my own body was half-transparent, weightless. I reached out to touch myself; I could feel something, but it was cold as ice.
“What on earth is happening? Why am I here?”
I muttered to myself, then decided to head down the mountain. As soon as I stood up, my body left the ground. I swallowed hard—the sensation was like being a wandering soul, completely insubstantial, light as air. Suddenly, with a whoosh, a gust of wind sent me floating upward.
My body felt hollow, utterly powerless. Fear crept in—caught in the wind, I was like a tattered shroud, helplessly buffeted and spun through the mountain air. Things couldn’t be worse.
Helpless, I started moving my arms and legs, almost as if swimming. To my surprise, it worked—I could control my body. I kept paddling, kicking, inching my way down the mountain slope.
Gradually, the wind died down and I managed to swim toward the ground, finally landing on the main road at the base of Specter Town. I let out a sigh of relief, still baffled by how I’d gotten here. Suddenly, a chill ran through me. I couldn’t help but glance back—something on the mountain seemed to be watching me. I shivered uncontrollably.
I stared ahead, unable to understand why things had turned out this way. Suddenly, a ghost with a face as black as charcoal appeared, its laughter echoing eerily in the darkness.
I stared at my feet—no longer able to touch the ground. It was bizarre, as if I were wearing high heels, tiptoeing along, my heels unable to land, only my toes brushing the earth. I drew closer, catching a whiff of fragrance from the brilliantly lit city.
At last, I entered Specter Town. It looked like a glorious ancient metropolis, every household hung with red lanterns—no wonder it was so bright. Night had just fallen, and the townsfolk seemed to be holding some kind of festival. I drifted forward, noticing many others like me: half-transparent ghosts, probably Whitecoat Wraiths and Grayshade Wraiths. As I floated by, joss paper rained down from above, and the ghosts scrambled for the joss paper tossed by a Taoist priest on the high platform.
I walked over.
"Hey, what is this place really..."
Just as I was about to ask, the ghost in front turned around. I jumped in fright—its face was completely rotten, crawling with maggots.
"Beat it! Don’t get in my way—I’m here for the joss paper, not to chat!"
It wasn’t just joss paper. All around, offerings of food were piled up, and people kept throwing rice at the Taoist’s platform, shouting curses. More ghosts appeared, ravenous, snatching up rice from the dirt and eating it greedily.
"Smells amazing."
I swallowed hard. Drool ran down my chin. Eyes wide, I wiped my mouth. Strange—I could smell the aroma, though it was just plain rice, no meat. Yet the rice falling from above seemed like a gourmet feast. A ball of rice landed in front of me, and I crawled on the ground, clutching it. It looked and smelled like a juicy, oily chicken leg. I couldn’t resist. Just as I opened my mouth, a pitch-black hand snatched my rice away.
Unconsciously, I’d been drawn to a noodle stall by its aroma. People crowded everywhere. A hand landed on my shoulder. I turned—an old ghost, his face covered in black spots. Judging by his look, he was a Yellow Ghost.
"Sorry about that."
I reached out, but the rice had already been eaten by that ghost.
My stomach rumbled with hunger. I kept swallowing. Around me, those who had been tossing rice started wandering off. The Taoist finished his ritual and climbed down from the platform, flicking his ceremonial whisk.
"That’s all there is. Giving you wandering ghosts some food is already generous. Don’t cause trouble in the market, or I won’t be so polite."
I was drawn by the aroma to the edge of a stall, surrounded by people. A hand landed on my shoulder. I turned to see an old ghost, his face burned black like charcoal, grinning at me.
Soon, the food was almost gone. The ghosts began to disperse. Some of the stronger ones, looking satisfied, slipped into the streets to play. After a while, I was left alone. I hugged myself, squatting on the ground, feeling cold—not a physical cold, but one rising from deep inside, spreading through my whole body.
I couldn’t figure out why things were like this, only that my hunger was unbearable. I’d asked several ghosts, but none paid me any attention. Some even looked at me with disgust, and a few wanted to beat me.
I blinked and walked down the street. I noticed many stalls offered things, with talismans pasted on them. Whenever I got close, terror washed over me—a chill ran down my spine, especially near those idols. I was terrified.
Shivering, I walked through the crowded streets, quietly observing. Many ghosts stared at the goods on the stalls but didn’t dare approach. Up ahead, someone was performing opera on a platform, drawing a crowd—both people and ghosts. The Taoist was there too.
"Master Taoist."
I called out, but the bearded Taoist acted as if I were invisible, ignoring me completely and continuing to watch the opera from the back row.
"Master Taoist, I want to ask you something, could you..."
Suddenly, the Taoist picked up his teacup, stirring it with two fingers, then flung the tea at me. The moment the tea hit, green smoke billowed from my body. I screamed and flew backward, rolling on the ground in pain.
After a while, I looked at my face—much of my skin was burned. Swallowing hard, I glared at the Taoist, frustrated and confused. I had no strength left, just an ordinary Whitecoat Wraith.
After a while, I approached again, but was filled with dread. The Taoist glanced at me sideways—he could definitely see me.
"Master Taoist, I just wanted..."
"Go away, you wandering ghosts. Don’t try to get my sympathy—I’m not falling for it. You got plenty to eat at the ritual. If you want more, find it yourself. If you bother me while I’m watching opera again, I’ll show you no mercy."
With a snap, the Taoist produced an Octagram Mirror and set it on the table. A blinding red light shot out, stabbing into my eyes. I collapsed, clutching my face and howling in pain. After a long while, I finally recovered. I swallowed hard and dared not disturb the Taoist again. Leaving the opera, heavy-hearted, I wandered the fragrant streets, hunger gnawing at me, too afraid to approach any stalls—especially the crowded ones.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
Unconsciously, I’d been drawn to a noodle stall by its aroma. People crowded everywhere. A hand landed on my shoulder. I turned—an old ghost, his face covered in black spots. Judging by his look, he was a Yellow Ghost.
"You're just a Grayshade Wraith. If you keep walking like that, you'll get burned by the Yang fire. You can't see it yet, but you can feel the fear, right?"
I murmured in response, and the old ghost pulled me under a tree.
"Looks like you just died, huh? Sigh, fresh dead and already a wandering ghost. Hungry, aren’t you?"
Trembling, I murmured assent. The old ghost led me into a shady alley. I felt much better—my burned skin from the vicious Taoist was healing, and my hunger faded. The Yin energy here was strong.
After a while, the Yellow Ghost returned, carrying a bowl. I sniffed—it smelled delicious. Swallowing, I watched him set a battered bowl before me, filled with tofu dregs. I took a bite.
"Eat up. It’s leftovers, dumped by the roadside. You’re lucky no other ghosts saw it first."
I stared at the tofu dregs, mixed with dirt and leaves, yet my appetite was strong. I gulped it down, the mixture of dirt, sand, and leaves quickly easing my hunger.
"That should last you a week, kid."
"Thank you."
I said, as the Yellow Ghost prepared to leave, floating upward. I quickly called out to stop him.
"Where exactly is this place?"
I asked quickly. The Yellow Ghost landed, sighed helplessly.
"Young man, it’s fate that we met. Just call me Old Qi. Come with me."
I murmured assent and got up to follow him.