Rain kept falling, the sky heavy and gray. Evan Zhao led John Chou to a ruined temple on the edge of town—a place even most ghosts avoided, its walls long collapsed and nothing of value left behind. Evan, clever as ever, had hidden his stash here, including some liquor.
"You really are something special, my friend. It seems your ghost soul is missing something."
John Chou watched Evan Zhao silently while Evan dug around for something. After a moment, Evan produced a jar of liquor and handed it to John, keeping one for himself. Together, they began to drink.
"Consider this a token of thanks for your help just now. What's your name?"
"My name is John Chou."
After taking a sip, John Chou immediately gave a thumbs up.
"Not bad. This is aged liquor—you managed to keep it hidden well."
"My name is Evan Zhao. Brother John, you seem quite skilled—you killed those ghosts with ease, including two Yellow Ghosts. Impressive, truly impressive."
John Chou, unconcerned, floated up to a crossbeam and lay down, sipping his drink.
"Out here, if you don't have some skills, how can you survive? Evan, I can tell your ghost soul is special. Why not focus on honing your powers as a ghost?"
Evan Zhao gave a bitter smile.
"No matter how much I train, it doesn't matter. For low-level ghosts like us, getting stronger just isn't possible. And Brother John, when you said my ghost soul was special—actually, before I died, I was missing the Sorrow Soul, one of the Seven Souls. That's why I can't feel sadness. I don't have that emotion at all."
As Evan spoke, John Chou nodded.
"Seems so. People around here call you the Smiling Ghost. I heard about you when I arrived—they say no matter how much you're bullied, you only smile, never cry. Some ghosts even torture you just to see you break, but you keep smiling. Heh. But Evan, what I meant by 'special' isn't about what's missing from your soul, but the sharpness your ghost soul gives off."
Evan Zhao looked at John Chou, puzzled, unsure if the ghost was just teasing him or genuinely grateful for the good liquor.
"I'm not just saying this. While sorrow and rage are sources of a ghost's power, Evan, you don't show any sadness, so there's no need to train like other ghosts do."
Evan Zhao was drawn in by John Chou's words and leaned closer.
"Brother John, do you have a way? Honestly, being bullied every day isn't easy. Maybe I should just follow you."
John Chou laughed heartily.
"I'm headed to the Underworld Court to save someone."
Evan Zhao was momentarily stunned, unable to comprehend what this Yellow Ghost was saying—especially coming from a Yellow Ghost.
"Brother John, you really don't know your limits."
John Chou just smiled indifferently.
"Sky high or earth deep—if you never try, how will you ever know?"
Evan Zhao burst out laughing.
"I can't argue with you, Brother John. Just be careful out there. The Underworld Court isn't a nice place—I've seen those Hell's Registrars, and every one of them is tough."
Just then, the rain stopped and moonlight broke through. Outside, a wild wind rose, and a black cloud pressed in. A fierce ghost led a horde of spirits toward them, and Evan Zhao's face changed instantly.
"Brother John, you'd better go. One of the Yellow Ghosts you killed was this guy's underling—he's here for revenge. I'll tell them you already ran. They won't do anything to me. You..."
But John Chou floated out and landed in the midst of the spirits. The fierce ghost lunged at him, but John seized a weapon from one of the ghosts and moved effortlessly among them. Evan Zhao stared in disbelief as John slashed through ghost after ghost—even the fierce one was no match for him.
With a swift motion, John Chou caught the fleeing fierce ghost and drove his blade into its soul. Amid cries for mercy and sobs, John only smiled wickedly.
"Since trouble found you, don't be afraid."
Most of the remaining ghosts fled, and the fierce ghost turned to ash. John Chou tossed the weapon aside, returned to the ruined temple, and continued drinking from his jar.
"What's wrong, Evan?"
Evan Zhao was utterly shocked, yet his face still wore a smile.
"Can you teach me, Brother John?"
John Chou looked at Evan Zhao with a half-smile, then laughed.
"I can—but you might not be able to learn it."
But John Chou didn't teach Evan anything. He simply let Evan try for himself, watching from the side.
"Brother John, how can I ever be as strong as you?"
To kill a fierce ghost—Evan Zhao had never even dared to dream of it. Yet the impossible had just happened before his eyes.
"I'll just say this: instead of clinging to hatred, try seeking something else. Most ghosts are consumed by resentment after death, but I don't see that in you, Evan. Instead, I see a kind of release. Without sadness in your soul, you don't hate—you just smile. That's a huge advantage. I've met powerful ghosts who could control themselves, who seemed genuinely happy. If you want happiness, pursue it, not sorrow. Sorrow may give you some power, but it can't make you truly strong. I'm leaving now, Evan. If we meet again, let's have a match."
John Chou only stayed a short while before setting out again. He didn't teach Evan Zhao anything, and Evan spent his days smiling, lost in thought. Gradually, his pale body began to darken. It seemed he understood something, and he started practicing alone in cold, desolate places.
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The nearby ghosts rarely saw Evan Zhao anymore. Time passed quickly, though for ghosts, time meant nothing. In just thirty years, Evan's body began to turn blue-green. When he returned to the ghost world, many of the local spirits hadn't changed at all.
"Isn't that the Smiling Ghost? Everyone, come look!"
A ghost who still recognized Evan Zhao called out, and many ghosts laughed and joked about the old days. Evan kept smiling, but when a few ghosts mocked him, something had changed—a swirl of green energy coiled around him, and in an instant, the mocking ghosts were shredded by his powerful ghost aura.
"What's wrong? Call the bosses from the nearby ghost markets over. If they don't come, I'll go myself and eat them."
Evan Zhao kept smiling, but his presence was completely different. After all these years, he'd realized only one thing mattered in the world of ghosts: power.
In just a month, Evan Zhao established his own faction. He broke through the limits of ghosthood and became a Green Wraith, advancing rapidly. His subordinates flattered him endlessly.
Evan Zhao enjoyed this feeling, happy every day. Yet his power stopped growing, and he knew he was still missing a soul. Determined to reclaim it, he led his ghosts back to the town. But when he arrived, he was stunned—the souls here shone with green light, even stronger than his own.
Evan Zhao fought the soul, and the battle lasted several days. In the end, Evan was defeated and gravely wounded—he nearly died.
By now, Fallen Hollow was completely ruined. The roads had been rebuilt, but the population dwindled to barely a hundred households. The young people all left, returning only for holidays, and this continued into modern times. The last of the Zhao family had died.
Only now do I understand: every generation of Zhao descendants lived mediocre lives and died in sorrow—all because of Evan Zhao's influence.
The last of the Zhao family struggled through school thanks to his parents' sacrifices, found a good job, but after returning here, was overcome by sorrow. After his parents died, he came back to farm, and eventually died in misery.
Evan Zhao visited many times, even bringing friends from the Hall of Bloodbane. Though he could defeat his own Sorrow Soul, he never managed to reclaim it.
Everything before me faded away, and I woke up. Old Master Zhao looked miserable and frightened, then hurried off. I immediately sensed it—John Chou and Isabelle Frost.
"You two are too much! Couldn't you warn me I'd nearly die?"
I spoke, and John Chou smiled while Isabelle Frost shook her head.
"What you saw and what we said are completely different, Rachel Lan. Maybe only the coexistence inside you can free Evan Zhao. By now, he's likely fused with his Sorrow Soul, trapped in extreme sadness. You must awaken his other emotions."
"How do I do that?"
I asked, and Isabelle Frost shook her head.
"His Shadow Realm appears and disappears—it's because his mind is so unstable. That's why we can't pinpoint its location. Didn't you enter it last night?"
I stared in shock as John Chou placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Relax. With us here, you won't get hurt. Find the entrance to the Shadow Realm."
"Relax, my foot! John Chou, can't you explain things to me first next time?"