The rain kept falling, the streets now empty of pedestrians. The sky was dim. Evan Zhao sat quietly above the mist-shrouded river, silently watching the broken bridge. Miss Grace had already left with her husband, but Evan Zhao smiled at the bridge and remained, drinking his wine in silence.
I seemed to understand Evan Zhao’s state at that moment. He was grieving, having witnessed such things, but perhaps in his heart there was only joy, not sorrow. He simply watched quietly from afar, gazing at the bridge that held the woman’s longing and sadness, unwilling to leave.
Evan Zhao wore a smile, as if savoring something, or perhaps reflecting on something, but his expression never changed. The rain gradually stopped, and Evan Zhao left the riverbank. He seemed tired of everything here. He glanced back at the bridge one last time, then slowly walked down the street.
The scene before me began to shift. I followed Evan Zhao, who wandered aimlessly as if playing a game. Though he was the Green Wraith and could have flown, he chose to walk, taking any path that lay ahead. Wherever he arrived, he would rest and amuse himself for a few days before moving on.
This version of Evan Zhao seemed somewhat similar to the years between his twenties and thirties, yet there was a subtle difference. He appeared to be searching for something, or perhaps experiencing something.
From north to south, Evan Zhao kept walking. One day, just as he left a tavern, he saw a crowd gathered in the marketplace around a sobbing young girl. Beside her lay a corpse—her father.
On the ground, written in charcoal, were the large words: 'Selling myself to bury my father.' Evan Zhao smiled and walked over, tossing a bag of money from his pocket in front of the girl. Instantly, the crowd erupted in astonishment.
But soon Evan Zhao turned and left, smiling as he walked away without a word. The girl had just called out to him, but Evan Zhao was already gone.
The more I watched, the more I felt that Evan Zhao was actually a decent person, always reaching out to those facing tragedy.
Yet at this moment, Evan Zhao seemed helpless. I didn’t know what he was truly searching for. His face showed only a smile, never sorrow. Perhaps he was trying to experience sadness itself.
“Thank you for everything, Brother Zhao. I've been very happy these days, so if I really am about to die, I won't be afraid. After all the hardship over the years, these few good days are enough.”
Evan Zhao laughed and shook his head. I could tell he was sad, though he couldn't show it. He took Tina Xiao to visit famous doctors, but all said her heart was weak and she wouldn't live long. Tina Xiao understood, and though she claimed not to be afraid, she began to show sadness and fear. Evan Zhao kept searching for a doctor every day.
But the good days didn't last. One day, Tina Xiao suddenly collapsed and couldn't get up again. She knew her time was short, crying every day and begging Evan Zhao, saying she didn't want to die. Her pain was relentless, tormenting her day after day.
Evan Zhao only smiled quietly by her side. As Tina Xiao's suffering worsened, she finally said she never wanted to see Evan Zhao again.
Unable to grieve and only able to smile, Evan Zhao knew he was making things harder for Tina Xiao. He found others to keep her company and care for her.
One day, those caring for Tina Xiao came to the tavern with sorrowful faces. Evan Zhao went and saw Tina Xiao dead, her face marked by sadness and pain, tears still on her cheeks.
Those who die from illness rarely get a chance at reincarnation. They must endure their pain as spirits until enough time passes. Most ghost officials refuse to take such souls, so Tina Xiao became a wandering ghost, her suffering turning her into a shadow.
Evan Zhao watched it all unfold, this time not intervening, just quietly observing. Tina Xiao heard from other ghosts about finding a soul proxy—if she could find one, her pain would end. She began to search among the living for a suitable proxy.
Finally, Tina Xiao found a frail scholar. She planned to push him into the well while he drew water, making him her proxy to free herself from suffering.
On a gloomy morning, the scholar went to the well, coughing. Tina Xiao had been waiting for a long time, believing this was the perfect day. She was so excited she coughed, reaching out, but just as she was about to push the scholar in, a hand grabbed her arm.
“Brother Zhao.”
Tina Xiao stared in disbelief as Evan Zhao pulled her away from the courtyard.
“Tina Xiao, if you find a proxy, you'll become a vengeful ghost. Once a ghost kills a person, its most primal desires emerge—it wants to eat people, to absorb their life force. Many vengeful ghosts cause chaos in the living world and are ultimately destroyed by those in the metaphysical arts.”
Only then did Tina Xiao realize Evan Zhao was a Green Wraith. She obediently abandoned her plan for a proxy and began to learn from him. Evan Zhao told her that if she could endure her pain and accumulate strength, one day she might break free from the limits of ghosts and become a Green Wraith, truly free.
“Brother Zhao, do you really have to leave?”
Tina Xiao looked at Evan Zhao with reluctance. He simply smiled and slowly floated away, having taught her many things.
“Sorry, Tina Xiao. I lost the ability to feel sadness long ago. So when I saw you suffering, I wanted to cry, but no matter what, I couldn't feel sorrow. You...”
Tina Xiao held Evan Zhao's hand and gently shook her head.
“It's okay, Brother Zhao. I'm fine now. Though I'm still in pain, I've gotten used to it. You should take care of yourself. Come visit me when you can.”
Evan Zhao left once more. Behind him, Tina Xiao, though still in pain, managed to smile.
Evan Zhao kept wandering the world, always smiling and seemingly carefree, but I knew his heart was heavy.
Now I gradually understood: the source of Evan Zhao’s powerful sorrowful spirit was likely all the sadness he could never feel, which had gone into his spirit instead.
Countless years passed, the world kept changing, but Evan Zhao remained the same—eating, drinking, and traveling. He helped whenever he saw sorrow, but could never cry.
After years of peace, chaos erupted. Ghosts became active everywhere Evan Zhao went, and the world was full of sorrow—wars raged, and ordinary people suffered greatly.
One day, Evan Zhao arrived at a place overrun by ghosts, ruled by a powerful Green Wraith. The city was filled with the stench of decay, and some ghosts were eating people.
Tina Xiao looked at Evan Zhao with reluctance. He simply smiled and slowly floated away, having taught her many things.
“Sorry, Tina Xiao. I lost the ability to feel sadness long ago. So when I saw you suffering, I wanted to cry, but no matter what, I couldn't feel sorrow. You...”
Tina Xiao held Evan Zhao's hand and gently shook her head.
“It's okay, Brother Zhao. I'm fine now. Though I'm still in pain, I've gotten used to it. You should take care of yourself. Come visit me when you can.”
Evan Zhao left once more. Behind him, Tina Xiao, though still in pain, managed to smile.
Evan Zhao kept wandering the world, always smiling and seemingly carefree, but I knew his heart was heavy.
Now I gradually understood: the source of Evan Zhao’s powerful sorrowful spirit was likely all the sadness he could never feel, which had gone into his spirit instead.
Countless years passed, the world kept changing, but Evan Zhao remained the same—eating, drinking, and traveling. He helped whenever he saw sorrow, but could never cry.
After years of peace, chaos erupted. Ghosts became active everywhere Evan Zhao went, and the world was full of sorrow—wars raged, and ordinary people suffered greatly.
One day, Evan Zhao arrived at a place overrun by ghosts, ruled by a powerful Green Wraith. The city was filled with the stench of decay, and some ghosts were eating people.