The man who decided to join the army brought everyone from the shantytown who could walk to Providence City. Thanks to his strong physique, he was selected immediately upon arrival.
For this man, becoming a soldier and receiving rations was the best choice he could make right now.
Once cheerful and outgoing, the man grew silent and withdrawn. In the army, he completed basic training each day, then patrolled the streets, but there was rarely anything urgent.
As for the soldiers in Providence City, aside from patrolling, they spent their days playing cards together. At night, while patrolling the streets, they would stop by night market stalls to pocket some extra cash.
Many street vendors would automatically hand over money whenever they saw soldiers patrolling. At first, the man was uncomfortable with this, even trying to stop others and fighting those vendors who refused to pay. But over time, he began to change.
With money, he no longer went hungry. He could buy good food and drink, and even visit brothels during his free time. Everything here made him feel he’d made the right choice.
Yet whenever night fell and silence returned, anger would flicker in his eyes—a murderous rage. He still couldn’t forget his wife and child.
As he settled into army life, his hard work and decent character won the favor of his superiors, and he was soon promoted to squad leader. He became even harsher with the vendors, collecting money without any trace of guilt.
“So it really is cowardice, huh? Heh, are people really so easily assimilated?”
White Peacemaker looked down on the man with utter disdain.
Gradually, the man became completely satisfied with his life. His career soared, but late at night, the bitterness on his face never faded.
Finally, an opportunity came. The county he was stationed in hadn’t paid taxes for over two months, so the military sent him to handle it. His men knew that as long as they showed their guns, they could pocket plenty of money.
“Going for revenge, are you? But everyone’s already dead. Heh, what’s the point of revenge?”
White Peacemaker was thoroughly disgusted by the man's actions.
As for humanity, White Peacemaker was losing interest. He decided to leave, no longer following the story.
On the other hand, Gray Humanoid Entity found humans increasingly fascinating. He traveled daily between The Royal Table and the small diner.
Two completely different scenes unfolded: in The Royal Table, business boomed thanks to the younger brother’s superb cooking, while at the small diner, the elder brother could only make enough to fill people’s stomachs.
Only a few poor people came by, sometimes even asking for free food. The business started losing money, and since the younger brother left, he never returned. Gray Humanoid Entity couldn’t understand this at all.
The younger brother’s fame grew and he didn’t even need to work at The Royal Table anymore. He could come and go as he pleased, and wealthy families often hired him to cook for their private events.
Eventually, the elder brother couldn’t hold on. The rent was due, and his income had turned negative. He felt sorry for the poor who came for cheap meals and wanted to help them, but now even his own survival was at risk. Helpless, he decided to seek out his younger brother.
"I taught you how to think. All I ask in return is that you help me break this seal array."
"So ghosts really were once human!"
White Peacemaker made a comment and nodded. Suddenly, a chilling aura swept through the room. John Chou frowned—it was Deathbane Wraith, returning.
Staring at the borrowed money, the elder brother felt as if his heart were being cut by a knife, but in the end, he accepted it.
"What, have you lost interest in humans too?"
John Chou asked, and Deathbane Wraith laughed.
"You should've said so earlier, John Chou, if you needed our help."
John Chou smiled.
"So the consciousness of you three is freely connected; I noticed this long ago."
"According to what you taught us, the three of us were born on this land, but once we gained consciousness, differences appeared."
White Peacemaker spoke as John Chou sat down, quietly watching the distance.
"That guy seems to really like humans."
Gray Humanoid Entity watched the brothers every day, often wishing he could harshly teach the younger brother a lesson.
People arrived from Providence City. Their leader immediately demanded grain and money from the county magistrate, dragged some people to the square for public punishment, and made an example of the landlord who had refused to pay. The leader looked triumphant, as if his revenge was complete.
Helpless, the magistrate ordered every household to provide grain and money. This year’s disaster had left the county with nothing.
The small diner was forced to close, devastated by the disaster.
The man was ruthless with the street vendors, fining them for unpaid taxes. Unrest spread in the city, but after a few executions, the chaos subsided and every household had to pay.
"Isn't this the person White Peacemaker was watching? Where did White Peacemaker go?"
Gray Humanoid Entity watched everything with curiosity. At that moment, the younger brother was arrested after being reported for having money and earning high fees from cooking.
Overnight, the younger brother lost everything. Accused of fraud, all his assets were confiscated.
Within a few days, the man had profited greatly and returned to Providence City, his eyes now devoid of any concern for the poor.
This blow was just one more disaster for the county.
The younger brother hoped some restaurants would hire him, but with all of them closed, he could barely eat. Remembering the money he had lent his brother, he decided to retrieve it and go to Providence City.
The brothers met again, just like the first time—one shivering and nearly frozen, the other reeking of sweat.
He couldn't get the money, and the younger brother grew angry. The elder brother, helpless, tried to persuade him to return to their old life together.
But the younger brother was used to a good life and rejected the idea completely. With no other choice, the elder brother gave him his last savings, and the younger brother left for Providence City.
"Hey, why did you give him money? He was the one who wronged you."
Unable to contain his curiosity, Gray Humanoid Entity transformed into a human and directly asked the elder brother.
"No one wronged anyone—we just walked different paths. I saved him when he was in trouble, and he saved me when I was in trouble."
Gray Humanoid Entity couldn't understand the answer, so he decided to ask John Chou.
"Hey? Why did you two come back so early?"
Gray Humanoid Entity saw White Peacemaker and Deathbane Wraith already by John Chou's side and immediately floated over.
"Gray, do you still care about humans? Do you want to become one?"
White Peacemaker asked, and in an instant, Gray Humanoid Entity floated up, joyfully dancing in the air.
"How can one become human?"
No matter how much Gray Humanoid Entity asked, John Chou remained silent. After a long time, he finally sighed.
"If you want to become human, the prerequisite is that you must have a heart. Once you have a heart, you are human."
"Isn't this the person White Peacemaker was watching? Where did White Peacemaker go?"
Gray Humanoid Entity watched everything with curiosity. At that moment, the younger brother was arrested after being reported for having money and earning high fees from cooking.
Overnight, the younger brother lost everything. Accused of fraud, all his assets were confiscated.
Within a few days, the man had profited greatly and returned to Providence City, his eyes now devoid of any concern for the poor.
This blow was just one more disaster for the county.
The younger brother hoped some restaurants would hire him, but with all of them closed, he could barely eat. Remembering the money he had lent his brother, he decided to retrieve it and go to Providence City.
The brothers met again, just like the first time—one shivering and nearly frozen, the other reeking of sweat.
He couldn't get the money, and the younger brother grew angry. The elder brother, helpless, tried to persuade him to return to their old life together.
But the younger brother was used to a good life and rejected the idea completely. With no other choice, the elder brother gave him his last savings, and the younger brother left for Providence City.
"Hey, why did you give him money? He was the one who wronged you."
Unable to contain his curiosity, Gray Humanoid Entity transformed into a human and directly asked the elder brother.
"No one wronged anyone—we just walked different paths. I saved him when he was in trouble, and he saved me when I was in trouble."
Gray Humanoid Entity couldn't understand the answer, so he decided to ask John Chou.
"Hey? Why did you two come back so early?"
Gray Humanoid Entity saw White Peacemaker and Deathbane Wraith already by John Chou's side and immediately floated over.
"Gray, do you still care about humans? Do you want to become one?"
White Peacemaker asked, and in an instant, Gray Humanoid Entity floated up, joyfully dancing in the air.
"How can one become human?"
No matter how much Gray Humanoid Entity asked, John Chou remained silent. After a long time, he finally sighed.
"If you want to become human, the prerequisite is that you must have a heart. Once you have a heart, you are human."