I quickly rushed over to open the door and let my panting uncle inside. I asked him what had happened and how Grandpa had gone missing.
My uncle said that after Grandpa and Grandma arrived at his house, they chatted for a while and then went to sleep. Not long after he fell asleep, there was a knock at the door. Then, he heard Grandpa get up and go open it. But after that, Grandpa never returned.
He got up immediately and went outside to check, but there was no sign of Grandpa. Our family had encountered strange, supernatural events before, so he knew something was off when Grandpa and Grandma suddenly decided to stay over. The moment Grandpa disappeared, my uncle realized something was wrong and quickly woke up the whole family to search for him.
They searched the entire area but found no trace of him. Sensing something truly amiss, my uncle ran over to ask me if Grandpa had somehow returned home.
After hearing his story, I pondered for a while. Grandpa wasn't someone easily swayed—he wouldn't just follow anyone out randomly. Could it be that he had been targeted by some supernatural force? It was very likely that the entity sealed below was acting up, trying to stop me from successfully conducting the Kan Yang Ritual.
But that entity was sealed underground—how could it have left the area and lured Grandpa away? Was there another cause behind all this?
At this moment, I felt extremely conflicted. If I went to search for Grandpa, I might encounter ghosts. But if I didn't go and something happened to him, I would regret it for the rest of my life.
"Uncle, go back for now and take care of Grandma. Nothing else can happen to her. I'll go look for Grandpa," I said.
He hesitated, wanting to say something, but swallowed his words. After a long pause, he finally said, "Taiping, I know you're capable. We won't make things more complicated. I'll leave Grandma to you."
He turned and left without looking back.
Watching his departing figure, I grew more anxious. I couldn't leave Grandpa unsearched. But I also had to ensure the success of the Kan Yang Ritual. My master once said that if it failed, the thing down there might break free. If that happened, it wouldn't just be my family—everyone in the village might die.
After some thought, I returned inside and found a piece of cloth to blindfold myself. That way, even if I did encounter a ghost, I wouldn't be able to see it.
Blinded, I could see nothing. I could only rely on my Taoist sense to guide me forward. After walking for about five or six minutes, I felt a wave of malevolent energy. I quickly raised my peach wood sword in front of my chest and held my breath, trying to sense the direction of the energy. Everything around me was deathly silent—not even the chirping of insects. That silence made me uneasy.
There had to be a ghost nearby—otherwise, it wouldn't be so quiet.
"I know you're nearby. If you know what's good for you, send my Grandpa back now, or I'll destroy you," I shouted coldly.
"Taiping..." A woman's gentle voice suddenly called out.
The voice was soft and kind, warming my heart immediately. "Who are you?" I asked, forcing myself to stay calm.
"Taiping, I'm your mother."
Hearing this, my body trembled. My mother? She said she was my mother?
In a daze, I saw a blurry figure of a woman drenched from head to toe, her face slightly swollen. I desperately wanted to see her clearly. My mother had always been my deepest pain.
I instinctively reached to remove my blindfold—I wanted to see her face.
Just as my hand touched the cloth, a shiver ran through me. This was an illusion. My mother's spirit hadn't appeared in over twenty years—how could she suddenly show up now? I shook my head hard, trying to rid myself of the illusion.
"You're not my mother," I said coldly.
Hearing this, the entity seemed angered. I could feel a chill creeping closer to me.
"I'm warning you—come any closer and I won't be polite," I said sternly, gripping my peach wood sword with one hand and forming a sword seal with the other.
"If it weren't for your Grandpa stubbornly building a house on the graveyard, I wouldn't have died, and you wouldn't have grown up motherless. I won't forgive him," the woman said bitterly.
"It wasn't anyone's fault. What's done is done. Grandpa has lived with guilt all these years. If you truly are my mother, I'll find someone to help your spirit pass on."
I still couldn't be sure if the ghost in front of me was really my mother. I didn't want to attack—part of me still hoped.
"Taiping, I've missed you for twenty-two years. I think of you constantly. Can you really bear not to look at me?" Her voice softened again, pleading.
"Just one look—even if I vanish afterward, I'll be content."
My emotions churned. My mother had drowned the day I was born. All these years, I could only long for her through her photo. Even if she was now a ghost, just one look would be enough.
"Taiping, your mother suffered greatly. Today is the day she reincarnates—her last chance. If you don't look at her now, you'll never get another chance," my Grandpa's voice suddenly rang out.
Hearing that, I reached again for the blindfold.
But just before I pulled it off, something felt wrong. That wasn't Grandpa. He would never say something like that—he always put the greater good first. He knew how critical the Kan Yang Ritual was.
I sneered. "You're not my Grandpa. He would never say that."
Sure enough, the entity laughed coldly. "Chen Taiping, how heartless can you be? Your mother's dead, and you ignore her. Will you also abandon your Grandpa?"
Her words sent a chill through me. This thing was terrifying—it knew my deepest weaknesses and tried to manipulate me.
I bit down hard on my tongue and shouted, "Even blindfolded, I can destroy you!"
With that, I thrust the peach wood sword in the direction of the malicious aura. A gust of cold wind rushed past me, then turned and tried to tear off my blindfold.
It dawned on me—this thing wanted me to see it. But it wasn't very strong—if it were a true evil spirit, it would've already struck me down.
Relieved, I ducked to the side, dodging its hand, then stabbed my sword backward at an angle.
A shrill scream echoed out, and the chill disappeared.
I breathed a sigh of relief—it had been driven off.
Just as I was about to continue, I heard my uncle's voice, "Taiping, no need to look anymore—your Grandpa is back."
Worried it might be another trick, I used my Taoist sense to confirm—it was indeed my uncle. I was overjoyed and asked him what had happened and how Grandpa had returned.
He said the village chief had called for Grandpa, claiming his wife was gravely ill. But when Grandpa arrived, the woman was fine, and the chief looked off.
Grandpa immediately realized something was wrong—the chief had been possessed. Fearing my uncle would come looking for me, he rushed home but got caught in a ghostly maze. Fortunately, I had given him a protective charm, which helped him escape.
Hearing that, I felt much better. I had carved those talismans myself at the temple, using the energy of heaven and earth. They could ward off illness and misfortune—and keep even evil spirits at bay.
I had given one each to Grandpa and Grandma, just in case.
My uncle, seeing my blindfold, asked why I was wearing it. I told him I'd explain later.
Back home, Grandpa and Grandma were both safe, and it was past midnight. I breathed a long sigh of relief—the Kan Yang Ritual had passed without disaster.
Thinking back, I asked about my mother. Grandpa said that years ago, my master had performed a rite for her, and she had already reincarnated over twenty years ago.
That made me feel much better.
The next day, I went to my mother's grave to offer incense. Using my Taoist sense, I felt no lingering yin energy—proving she had indeed moved on.
After staying home for a while, I knew it was time to leave. My master always said: to walk the path, one must read ten thousand books and travel ten thousand miles.
Besides, with my current ability, I couldn't yet fully deal with the entity under the house. I had three years—not short, but not long either.
I told my grandparents I had to leave for training. Though they were reluctant, they knew this was my path ever since the old Taoist took me in.
They quietly packed my things and walked me to the village entrance. Just then, Manhe's father rode up on his motorbike. Seeing my luggage, he asked where I was headed.
I said the city. He said he was going to the county and could give me a ride.
I gratefully accepted and waved goodbye to Grandpa and Grandma. Their white hair fluttered in the wind, their hunched backs seeming especially frail and lonely.
My eyes reddened. I turned away so they wouldn't see.
The motorbike sped off, and soon their figures vanished completely.
On the way, Manhe's father told me his son was working in Haicheng. If I was headed there, I could look him up.
Since I had no particular destination, and training could be done anywhere, I figured I might as well go.
He gave me the address and dropped me off at the bus station.
Haicheng wasn't far—only half an hour by bus. Once there, I went straight to the address.
The city wasn't large, and the area was easy to find. Manhe wasn't home yet, so I waited outside.
While waiting, a car pulled up nearby.
Out came a man and a woman—he wore a thick gold chain, she was decked out in jewelry. Clearly not locals. This area was full of migrant workers—Haicheng's slums, really. These two clearly didn't belong.
I looked at them again—and narrowed my eyes. A faint black aura clung to them both.
They entered a nearby courtyard, and soon, angry shouting and weeping erupted:
"My daughter was only eleven! She died because of yours! I don't want money—I want her life in return!"
"Get out! All of you! I don't want apologies or compensation! I want your daughter to pay with her life!"
"You don't appreciate our goodwill—we came to visit out of kindness. Your daughter's death has nothing to do with mine!" the woman snapped.
"She killed herself—it's got nothing to do with our daughter!" the man shouted.
Soon, the pair emerged, the woman muttering, "So unlucky. What a curse."
At the car, she even patted her clothes like she was shaking off bad luck.