As they say, a pitch-black night with howling wind is perfect for murder. You reap what you sow. Good poem, great poem... ahem, got carried away a bit.

"Damn! This is only 200 bucks. Not even enough for my drinks. I’d better hit the mahjong parlor for a quick win."

Hmph! So Mengze’s dad wasn’t just a lazy drunkard but also a gambling addict. No wonder he blew through 300,000 in a month.

Mengze and I followed him all the way until he stopped in a small alley.

"Your dad probably went in to gamble. It’s crowded inside. Even if we want revenge, we can’t do it here. Besides, I don’t want us on tomorrow’s front page."

"So what do we do?"

"We wait. He only has 200 bucks. He’ll be out in less than ten minutes."

"What if his luck suddenly turns?"

I stood silently under the utility pole, gazing at the night sky. How could his luck possibly turn? If it could, why wait until after blowing 300,000 down to just 200 bucks? It’s all rigged. Such a simple truth—yet for thousands of years, some still don’t get it.

As expected, the man in a white shirt came out soon after. His face was flushed, eyes vacant, as if he’d lost all hope in life.

Has he lost his purpose? Drowning in drink every day, only to realize his loved ones are gone. Humans are pitiful creatures—having something but not cherishing it.

"Let’s go, Mengze. He still has a long walk before the alley exit. The rest is up to you."

Mengze covered her face with long hair and floated forward. I followed behind, using magic to isolate the area with a Barrier, blocking outsiders from seeing or hearing anything.

The scruffy drunk ahead suddenly sat by a trash can. Probably the alcohol kicking in.

"Heh heh... heh heh. Dad, have you missed me?"

"Who—who’s there! Don’t go around claiming fathers. You won’t get a penny from me!"

"Heh heh, Dad, it’s me, Mengze. Didn’t you always call me Mengmeng? I’m right here. Why don’t you recognize me?"

Do ghosts automatically get the ‘scare’ talent? That eerie voice didn’t affect me much, but any normal person would be chilled to the bone. I felt a trace of chill myself.

"M-M-Mengze!! W-where are you? Don’t come out! You’re gone. Don’t come back for me!"

The middle-aged man suddenly stood up as if sobered, backing away. But with only a trash can behind him, in the dim alley, he could only inch along the wall.

"Dad, how could you abandon me? It’s so cold and hungry down there. Why don’t you come join me? Heh heh~"

Hearing his daughter’s calls, the man bolted in terror. But he was already inside my Barrier. No matter how he ran, it was a loop. Unless I allowed it, he’d never escape.

He saw light at the alley entrance but couldn’t reach it. After all that running, he was half-sober now.

I snapped my fingers at Mengze, signaling it was time.

In the dark alley, a long-haired girl in a white slip dress appeared, face hidden. She took a step, then dropped to the ground, crawling unnaturally toward the man. To me, this terrifying scene was utterly ridiculous—I almost laughed. Even a lizard would find that crawl hideously ugly.

"Ahh!! Mengze, stay back! Dad knows he wronged you. Go rest with Grandma. Don’t come for me!"

"How can you say that? We promised to be together forever. Heh heh heh~"

Mengze twisted her limbs to about 361 degrees. Bones snapped with a crack, the sound echoing. She brought her face close. Through her hair, blood-red eyes glowed, and her head rotated 180 degrees sideways.

"Ahh!! Namo Amitabha Buddha, Namo Amitabha Buddha! Don’t harm me, don’t harm me!"

"Harm you? Impossible! I just want to bring you to join me and Grandma. Mom’s waiting for you too~"

"Mengze, my dear daughter, for our father-daughter bond, spare me! I beg you! I’ll kowtow to you!"

What a spineless man. He’d do anything to stay alive, tossing his dignity into the trash. Seeing him made me sick. But I expected this. If he had any backbone, he wouldn’t be here today.

From the shadows, I made a throat-slitting gesture to Mengze, signaling to end it. But she hesitated. I couldn’t understand why.

"Bury Grandma’s body tomorrow. If not, I’ll visit you every day. Until we meet again, Dad~"

After speaking, Mengze flew to my side. Once it was over, I dispelled the Barrier. The man, kneeling and kowtowing with tears, saw his daughter’s ghost vanish. He then ran north without looking back.

"Why spare his life? Wasn’t this your wish all along?"

"Sorry. He’s a scumbag, but I’m still his daughter. I couldn’t do it. And if he died, no one would bury Grandma properly."

I didn’t want to interfere with Mengze’s decision. It was her choice. I just gave a little help.

"What do you want to do next?"

"I want to see Grandma. She left so suddenly. She might still be waiting for me to come home."

I nodded. After asking for the address, we—a human and a ghost—arrived at a residential building. From outside, it looked like a slum. By the flowerbed, I saw an old woman glowing green, hunched over, staring at the compound gate.

"Grandma!"

Mengze rushed over without thinking. The two spirits embraced. They wanted to cry but couldn’t shed tears. I stood quietly watching.

"My dear granddaughter, you’re finally back. Grandma waited so hard. Day and night hoping you’d return, only to find you’re already... You’re so young. Heaven is blind!"

"Grandma, don’t say that. I’m back now. Don’t worry. Is your body taken care of?"

"That unfilial son hid my body in the parking garage. I’m old; I’ve made peace with things. But seeing you like this... you’re so young. It shouldn’t be!"

As they say, only burial brings peace. If the body isn’t returned to nature, the soul can’t move on. That’s probably why Mengze’s grandma hasn’t vanished. But more likely, it’s her longing for her granddaughter.

"Grandma has seen you at last. I have no more attachments. Let’s leave this sorrowful place."

The old lady reached for Mengze’s hand to take her away. But Mengze stopped her. She let go and smiled.

"I still have an unfulfilled wish. The person beside me can help me. So Grandma, you go on alone. I want to stay a bit longer."

After speaking, Mengze looked at me pleadingly. I understood—she wanted me to let her grandma stay too.

But that was impossible. Her grandma’s lifespan was nearly up. I couldn’t keep joking with the Goddess of Life. Otherwise, I’d become a discordant element, and being erased wasn’t out of the question.

I shook my head. Mengze didn’t blame me; she just smiled and nodded.

"What a handsome young man. My granddaughter didn’t have a happy life. I hope you can help her after death, make her a bit happier. This old lady will bless you both from the other world."

"Thank you, Grandma. I’ll take good care of Mengze."

Hey now! This matchmaking vibe—is it really okay? Did I say something wrong?

Mengze beside me clearly misunderstood too. She pushed her grandma, signaling to stop talking nonsense and hurry to the other world.

To meet one last time after death and part with a smile—that’s better than anything.

At least for me, a smile is always better than tears.