Chapter 452
Miss Shimizu, Please Have Tea
It swayed its body constantly in the wind, as if its body contained life.
You saw it as soon as you arrived, and it seemed to be looking at you.
Unknowingly, you were attracted to it and walked over.
It suddenly spoke, “You’re here.”
You were startled, “Who… who are you?”
“I am a wandering ghost, abandoned by the world.” It said, sighing mournfully.
“Do you not have a body?”
“I used to, but it was eaten by some evil ghosts.” It said softly.
“Evil ghosts?”
“Yes, evil ghosts.” It replied affirmatively.
“What are evil ghosts?”
“A type of creature that specializes in eating souls,” it answered. “Their power is immense, and I was no match for them, so they ate me.”
“Why did they eat you?”
“Because my soul contained the energy they needed,” it replied. “However, they didn’t completely eat me; they abandoned me in this space.”
“What… what kind of place is this?”
“This is a forgotten space, a space forgotten by the world,” it said. “But, fortunately, you came. Otherwise, I would have remained lonely forever.”
“How… how long have you been here?”
“A very long time, so long that I can’t even remember,” it said. “Perhaps ten thousand years.”
“Ten thousand years…” you murmured.
“Yes, ten thousand years,” it said. “I have been waiting here, waiting for someone who can help me.”
“You want me to help you?”
“No, I don’t need your help. I just need you to listen to me, to listen to my story.” It said, “Are you willing?”
“I…”
“If you don’t want to listen, I won’t force you,” it said. “I’m just a wandering ghost, not worth your time.”
You hesitated, unsure whether to believe it.
“Why would you lie to me?” you asked.
“I’m not lying to you; I’m telling the truth,” it said. “I’m just a wandering ghost, abandoned by the world. I don’t want to continue being lonely.”
“Why choose me?”
“Because you are a kind person,” it said. “Your heart is pure, and your body emits a warm glow, I can feel it.”
You fell silent, not knowing what to say.
“Do you think what I’m saying is ridiculous?” it asked.
“No, I just find it somewhat incredible,” you said.
“Incredible?” It smiled and said, “Perhaps, but this is my fate.”
“Your fate?”
“Yes, my fate,” it said. “My fate is to be abandoned, to be forgotten.”
“Do you have no name?”
“I used to, but I’ve forgotten it,” it said. “You can call me Soulless Ghost.”
“Soulless Ghost…”
“Yes, Soulless Ghost,” it said. “A ghost without a soul.”
“If you don’t have a soul, how can you speak?”
“I don’t have no soul; my soul is just incomplete,” it said. “A part of my soul has already been eaten by those evil ghosts.”
“What did they want with your soul?”
“They needed my energy. My soul contains immense energy,” it said.
“Energy?”
“Yes, energy, the primordial energy of the universe,” it said.
“The primordial energy of the universe…”
“Yes, the primordial energy of the universe,” it said.
“You possess this energy?”
“I used to, but a part of it was eaten by them,” it said.
“Who were you before?”
“I’ve forgotten,” it said. “I only remember that I was a very influential person; many people feared me, and many respected me.”
“Who are you?” you asked urgently.
“I really don’t remember,” it said. “I only remember that I was once powerful, so powerful that I could control the entire universe.”
“Control the entire universe…”
“Yes, control the entire universe,” it said. “But now, I am just a wisp of remnant soul, trapped in this space all alone.”
“How can I believe what you’re saying?” you asked.
“You don’t need to believe me. You just need to listen to my story,” it said. “Are you willing to listen?”
You fell silent, unsure whether you should listen.
“If you don’t want to listen, I won’t force you,” it said. “I’m just a wandering ghost, not worth your time.”
“Tell me,” you said.
“Thank you,” it said. “My story begins a long, long time ago…”
It began to tell its story. The story was long and winding.
You listened attentively, as if you were immersed in its story.
The story ended, and you remained silent for a long time.
“Your story has moved me,” you said.
“Moved?” It laughed. “I thought you would find it ridiculous.”
“How could I? Your experiences are legendary and also tragic,” you said.
“Yes, tragic,” it said. “My entire life was spent pursuing power, only to be consumed by it in the end.”
“What did you pursue power for?”
“To control the universe, to make the world a better place,” it said. “But I failed, and I failed miserably.”
“Why did you fail?”
“Because I was too greedy. I wanted more power, and in the end, I was controlled by it,” it said. “Power is like a bottomless pit; it can never be filled.”
“So, you were eaten by the evil ghosts?”
“Yes, I was eaten by the evil ghosts,” it said. “They coveted my power; they wanted my primordial energy.”
“Did they get it?”
“No, at the last moment, I dispersed my primordial energy to all corners of the universe,” it said. “They only ate my body and a part of my soul.”
“Where did your primordial energy disperse to?”
“I don’t know. I only know that it dispersed to all corners of the universe. Perhaps it’s in someone, perhaps it’s on a planet,” it said.
“Why don’t you go and retrieve it yourself?”
“I don’t have the capability. I am just a remnant soul, and I am trapped in this space,” it said. “I need a vessel, a vessel that can carry my soul.”
“You want me to be your vessel?”
“No, I don’t need you to be my vessel,” it said. “I have already found my vessel, and it is here in this space.”
“Where is it?”
“It is the tree in front of you,” it said.
You looked at the tree in front of you in surprise. It was like a giant question mark.
“This… this is a tree?” you asked.
“Yes, this is a tree,” it said. “But it’s not an ordinary tree; it’s a tree with life and a soul.”
“It has a soul?”
“Yes, it has a soul,” it said. “Its soul is very similar to mine.”
“So, you’re going to possess it?”
“Yes, I’m going to possess it,” it said. “Only in this way can I continue to exist and continue to pursue my power.”
“Why do you want to pursue your power?”
“Because I want revenge,” it said. “I want to get revenge on those evil ghosts. They destroyed my body and ate my soul; I want them to pay the price.”
“You want revenge?”
“Yes, I want revenge,” it said. “This is the only motivation for me to live on.”
“What can I do to help you?” you asked.
“You just need to stay here and talk to me so that I don’t feel lonely anymore,” it said. “When I recover my strength, I will leave this place and carry out my revenge plan.”
“How long will it take you to recover your strength?”
“I don’t know. Perhaps soon, perhaps a long time,” it said. “But I will definitely succeed, because I have you as a friend.”
“Friend?”
“Yes, friend,” it said. “You listening to my story makes you my friend.”
You smiled. “Okay, I’m willing to be your friend.”
“Thank you, my friend,” it said. “I’m going to possess the tree now. Don’t be afraid.”
Its voice grew weaker and weaker, and finally disappeared.
The tree began to tremble as if struggling in pain.
You looked at the tree, your heart filled with curiosity and worry.
After a while, the tree stopped trembling and returned to its calm state.
A voice came from the tree, “My friend, I’ve succeeded.”
“Are… are you alright?” you asked.
“I’m fine, I’m very good,” the voice said. “I feel very comfortable now, as if I’ve been reborn.”
“That’s good.” You breathed a sigh of relief.
“My friend, can you stay with me here for a while?” the voice asked.
“Of course,” you said.
You sat on the grass at the foot of the tree, looking at it, filled with emotion.
You didn’t know if its story was true, but you believed it was a kind soul.
You stayed with it for a long time, listening to its story, listening to its dreams.
It said its dream was to recover its power and rebuild the order of the universe.
You said your dream was to live a peaceful life, far from conflict.
The two of you, one pursuing power and the other pursuing peace, became friends.
Time passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, you had been here for three days and three nights.
On the morning of the fourth day, you said to the tree, “My friend, I have to leave.”
“Where are you going?” the tree asked.
“I’m going back to my world to live my life,” you said.
“Will you come back again?” the tree asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe I will, maybe I won’t,” you said.
“I will wait for you,” the tree said, its voice filled with reluctance.
“Thank you, my friend,” you said. “I will never forget you.”
You stood up and left the forgotten space.
You returned to your world, your life, your family, and your friends.
However, in your heart, the tree and the friend named “Soulless Ghost” would always remain.
You didn’t know when it would recover its power, nor when it would leave this place to carry out its revenge plan.
You only knew that you would always bless it, hoping it would succeed, hoping it would find its own happiness.
You returned home. Your family and friends were all worried about you.
You told them you had just gone on a long trip and would be back soon.
You didn’t tell them about the story of Soulless Ghost because you knew they wouldn’t believe it.
You began your new life, peaceful and happy.
However, sometimes, you would think of the tree, of that friend.
A year later, you returned to the forgotten space again.
You were surprised to find that the tree was gone, leaving only a huge tree pit.
Your heart sank. “It… it’s gone?”
You searched everywhere but found no trace of it.
Your heart was filled with loss and reluctance. “My friend, where did you go?”
You stayed in this space for a long time and finally left.
You returned home, your heart filled with confusion. “Where did Soulless Ghost go?”
You didn’t know if it had recovered its power and gone to carry out its revenge plan.
You only knew that it was gone, gone from this forgotten space.
Ten years later, you were old, with white hair.
You lay in bed, on the verge of death.
Your family and friends gathered around you, weeping.
You suddenly smiled. “I… I’m leaving.”
“Dad/Mom/Grandpa/Grandma…” Your loved ones cried out to you.
“Don’t cry, I’m fine,” you said. “I’m just going on a long trip.”
You closed your eyes and stopped breathing.
Your soul left your body and flew into the sky.
You saw a huge figure. It was a tree, but it was even taller and more lush than before.
“Friend, you’ve arrived,” the tree said, its voice filled with joy.
“You… you’ve recovered your power?” you asked.
“Yes, I’ve recovered my power,” the tree said. “I am now the ruler of the universe. I have rebuilt the order of the universe.”
“That’s great,” you said excitedly.
“My friend, thank you,” the tree said. “Without you, I wouldn’t have been able to recover my strength or rebuild the order of the universe.”
“I just listened to your story; I didn’t help much,” you said.
“No, you helped a lot,” the tree said. “Your kindness, your warmth, made me feel the beauty of life and gave me the courage to live.”
“What are your plans now?” you asked.
“I’m going to find my primordial energy and reintegrate it into my body,” the tree said. “Only then can I truly control the entire universe.”
“Can I help you?” you asked.
“You’ve already helped me a lot,” the tree said. “Now you just need to rest and enjoy the happiness you deserve.”
“Happiness…”
“Yes, happiness,” the tree said. “My friend, where do you want to go? I’ll take you.”
You fell silent, unsure where to go.
“I want… I want to go back home and see my family and friends,” you said.
“Alright, I’ll take you back,” the tree said.
The tree extended a huge branch and gently lifted you up.
You flew towards your home, towards your loved ones.
You saw them; they were preparing a funeral for you.
You felt a surge of emotion. “My friend, I’m leaving now.”
“Goodbye, my friend,” the tree said.
The tree placed you beside your loved ones and then slowly disappeared.
You lay beside your loved ones, looking at them, your heart filled with love.
A voice came from within your heart. “My friend, you are free now. You can go anywhere you want and do anything you want.”
You smiled. “Thank you, my friend.”
Your soul flew into the sky, towards the depths of the universe.
You began a new journey, free and uninhibited.
.
.
.
.
*
.
.
*
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
*
.
.
*
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
*
.
.
*
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
*
.
.
*
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
