Low, muffled sobs filled the air—the ghostly woman was still crying. The scholar kept his head down, silent, at a loss for words. Zachary Justice sat quietly to the side, sipping his wine, while the two disciples tended to their own wounds.
Elder Peach sat silently, watching from the side. He was just as confused about the situation as anyone else. Judging by Master Zachary Wu's earlier demeanor, he had intended to kill the ghostly woman outright, but Zachary Justice had intervened. Normally, killing the ghost would have settled everything.
But Zachary Justice’s intervention left Elder Peach deeply perplexed, as did the actions of the two disciples. Watching them, he was reminded of the sense of freedom he felt when traveling alone on errands for his master—though those times were rare, he would always rid the world of a few evil spirits whenever he was sent out.
The ghostly woman before them was on the verge of becoming a vengeful spirit—her resentment was strong. If they let her go tonight, she would surely kill the scholar. Elder Peach couldn’t understand Zachary Justice’s reasoning; with a spirit like this, there was no room for mercy, only swift elimination.
“Young lady, I don’t believe you’re truly evil—otherwise, you could have strangled my young disciple just now.”
At that moment, Zhang Anle glared at his master with obvious dissatisfaction, seemingly upset that Zachary Justice had only watched and not intervened.
“Master, what’s the point of talking to a ghost? Just seal her away.”
Zachary Justice nodded, smiling as he turned his head.
“Anle, Wuju, you both did well—following your own judgment. As your master, I don’t blame you. But tell me, if you kill or seal away this young lady, is everything truly resolved?”
As he spoke, Zachary Justice glanced at the scholar.
"If we kill this ghost, she'll never have the chance to drag her cousin down with her. Master, do you have another solution?"
Master Zachary Wu asked, and Zhang Anle looked at Zachary Justice with a puzzled expression.
"What do you think, young man? Do you truly wish for your cousin to stop haunting you?"
The scholar raised his head, his face bitter, and shook it slowly.
"My cousin is a good person—she’s always treated me well. But I just can’t bring myself to love her. I..."
"Cousin."
At that moment, the ghostly woman called out softly, prompting the scholar to continue speaking.
Even before we were born, our families had already arranged our marriage. As newborns, not even a month old, we were laid together under the watchful eyes of our families.
As I grew older, my world revolved around my mischievous cousin. Our families were close, so she often came to my house—sometimes spending entire days by my side. We grew up together, knowing each other’s temperaments intimately.
But feelings are complicated—hard to explain. Over time, I realized I didn’t love her; I only saw her as a sister. As I got older and started preparing for the civil exams, I would avoid her, using my studies as an excuse.
But my cousin remained caring as ever, often bringing meals she’d made herself. She was so good to me that I couldn’t bear to deceive her, so I told her the truth. That night, she left in tears, but a few days later, she returned, laughing and acting as if nothing had happened.
Having such a cousin was painful for me. Subtly, I tried to hint at the truth using stories from books, hoping she’d understand.
But time and again, I failed to dissuade her. The constant stress weighed on me, and for years, I failed my exams. My anxiety grew. Then, during this last exam, I finally felt something different—love, real love between a man and a woman—and it turned out the girl I liked was my superior’s daughter. Heaven seemed to reward my perseverance, and I passed.
This blessing made me incredibly happy—I even considered not returning home, knowing I’d have to face my cousin again. She wouldn’t listen, only wanting to marry me, and I couldn’t respond. The only reason I came back was because she truly treated me so well.
As a man, it was a truth I couldn’t escape. So I returned, hoping to talk things over with her one last time and resolve the matter. But what I didn’t expect was her impulsive act after learning everything.
At this point, the ghostly woman began to cry again, wiping her tears. Zachary Justice took a sip of wine, nodded, and tried to comfort her before speaking with a gentle smile.
"Little sister, as a Taoist, I can’t quite understand your feelings for your cousin—I’ve never felt that kind of affection. But you really do love him, don’t you?"
The ghostly woman nodded, and Zachary Justice glanced at the scholar again.
"In your heart, is there truly not even a trace of affection for your cousin?"
The scholar hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded, looking at the ghostly woman.
"Cousin, I've always seen you as a sister. I'm sorry—truly sorry. I never imagined you would... If I had known you’d take things this far, I would have refused the engagement from the start."
For a moment, the ghostly woman’s eyes widened in shock, then she burst into tears again. But Zachary Justice’s expression changed—he looked angry as he turned to the scholar.
"You’re not at fault here. There’s no need to compromise your heart because of such threats. Little sister, can you truly find peace with love gained through death? If you were alive, and your cousin rejected the engagement but married you anyway, maybe you’d be happy—but you’d be sacrificing his lifelong happiness. That kind of love, to me, is far too heavy—for both of you."
The ghostly woman stared blankly at Zachary Justice.
"Those caught up in things can’t see clearly, but outsiders do. From my perspective as a Taoist, you two ended up here because people naturally chase what they desire. When they can’t have it, disappointment and heartbreak follow. I may not understand love, but when I was young, I loved something too—the Dao. It rejected me countless times, left me disheartened, even drove me to despair, just like you, to the point of wanting to die."
Zachary Justice smiled as he stood up, then sighed.
"Getting what you want isn’t always best; only what you truly strive for is good. Little girl, you think being kind to someone, bringing them food, and caring for them will win their heart. But the heart isn’t so simple, nor is it shaped that way."
Then Zachary Justice turned to the scholar and asked,
"What is the young lady you like really like?"
The scholar nodded and began to speak.
In the scholar’s eyes, the woman he loves is reasonable and kind. She doesn’t have the arrogance of a wealthy upbringing; she’s knowledgeable and can talk with him from dusk until dawn. They share similar views and understandings, and she truly empathizes with him.
The ghostly woman stared blankly at her cousin, her gaze softening. Zachary Justice crouched down before her.
"What’s in front of you may not be what you truly want. You’ve grown up together, so maybe you’ve placed all your hopes on your cousin. But have you really listened to his heart? You care for him, but your concern has become a burden. It’s admirable to have eyes for only one person, but if you focus on just one thing in this world, life becomes too narrow. If you look closer, you might find something different along the way."
"No, I love my cousin. I really love my cousin..."
Zachary Justice stood up, lifted his head, and smiled. Then he took out a piece of paper and wrote a contract.
"Little girl, I’ve heard that loving someone is a lifelong matter. But in this life, you and your cousin now walk different paths—one of the living, one of the dead. So let’s do this: after a hundred years, if your feelings remain unchanged and your cousin has joined this world, you can seek him out then."
Seeing the ghostly woman hesitate, Zachary Justice continued.
"Decades pass in the blink of an eye for a ghost, but for the living, it’s different. Young man, are you willing? You can’t make it up to your cousin in this life, but after death, you can seek her out. Maybe then you’ll see a different side of her. People say you should see someone with new eyes after three days apart. Little girl, as you wander as a lonely spirit, reflect on what sets you apart from the woman your cousin loves. Why can’t your qualities reach his heart?"
Elder Peach watched in astonishment as the ghostly woman’s resentment faded; she even began to look a little hopeful.
"Cousin, I’ll wait for you. I’ll try to become the woman you love. Will you promise me? After a hundred years, let’s be together again..."
The scholar nodded, and then the two of them signed their names on the contract.
The ghostly woman disappeared. Dawn was breaking, and the scholar let out a long sigh of relief, as if the nightmare had finally ended.
"Young man, don’t forget this hundred-year promise. A century from now, I may no longer be here, but one of my two disciples will come in my stead, as your witness."
"Thank you, Master Taoist. Maybe I lied just now—actually..."
Zachary Justice raised his hand to interrupt the scholar.
"It’s understandable. Young man, you have a long life ahead, but please don’t forget this well."
The scholar nodded.
"Thank you, Master Taoist. I won’t forget. I’ll return here every year, until the day I die."