Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Living Funeral
After Nian Chen spoke, I was stunned for a few seconds. My greatest wish in this life. This life has been too long.
Before I could say anything, Nian Chen continued, "Chen Fei, you don't have to. I already know what your greatest wish is."
I asked, "What is it?"
Nian Chen replied, "Your lifelong ambition is to petition for the living!"
I responded with a sound of acknowledgment, but in my mind, I was still thinking about my initial desire: for Boss to pay me on time and for me to live a stable and peaceful life. If it weren't absolutely necessary, I wouldn't want to walk this path.
After some time passed, the water flow became even more stable. Just then, we bumped into something again. However, this time, I could clearly feel it was the sound of coffins colliding with each other. Then I heard someone shout, "What happened? Did we hit something?"
Nian Chen said, "It's Xiao Tongwen."
I called out Xiao Tongwen's name and quickly received a response. Xiao Tongwen said, "Chen Fei, we're not dead!"
After that, I directly flipped the coffin lid open. As I did so, sunlight poured in. At that moment, Nian Chen also sat up from his coffin. The coffin shook slightly and almost tipped over. Zhang Xun and Ling Yu also managed to flip their coffin lids open.
Seeing Ling Yu, Xiao Tongwen said, "Aren't you a Ghost Messenger? Can Ghost Messengers see the light?"
Ling Yu replied, "No." Then she added, "Chen Fei, Feng Li girl, I'm leaving now. If you want to see me again..."
I exclaimed in surprise while Nian Chen said goodbye to Sister Ling Yu. Soon after, Ling Yu's figure gradually faded away until she disappeared completely.
We quickly reached the shore. Hu Qingming asked if having the Yin Yang Flag meant we could enter the Yin-Yang Ghost Path now.
Xiao Tongwen replied that since we had left this place, we should go find Changsheng.
I agreed; it was time to reunite with Jiang Changsheng. After all, the Fifth Person had yet to show up—perhaps the Fifth Person was an unknown variable after all. Once we left this place, we started heading back but still had no idea where Jiang Changsheng was.
However, given Jiang Changsheng's abilities, he should know when the right moment arrives!
This might be the last chance. After another long journey, the Yin Yang Flag felt heavy in my hand.
The last Soul Seal couldn't contain the Yin-Yang Ghost Path, which is why I chose the Yin Yang Flag later on. If I had used the Yin Yang Flag from the beginning, perhaps I would have succeeded by now. But in this world, there may be everything, but there is no such thing as a pill for regret.
Back at home, I turned on my phone and found several missed calls, most of them from Gao Ling.
I called Gao Ling back. "Fei, are you back?" she asked.
I replied with a simple "yes."
Gao Ling was the variable mentioned by Li Guang. I had no idea what kind of trouble might arise in the end, but regardless of what happened, Gao Ling and I were friends. If anyone was to blame, it should be the dead person inside Gao Ling.
I let out a sigh and told a few people that I needed to meet someone.
"Are you going to see Gao Ling?" Zhang Xun asked.
I nodded. It might be time to check on the dead person residing within her. No matter the outcome, what needed to be resolved would eventually come to an end.
Zhang Xun nodded and added, "While you have this last chance, take some time to pay respects to Zhang Cheng."
"I will," I assured him.
Zhang Cheng had done me a great favor; I would not forget that.
Nian Chen said, "I'll go with you."
I replied, "No, it's fine. I'll go alone." I wanted to see who exactly was living inside Gao Ling—was it him? The one who had stubbornly guarded the Yin-Yang Ghost Path and prevented me from opening it?
Gao Ling and I had agreed on a meeting place. When we met up, she asked me where Zhang Xun and Bai were.
"They didn't come; it's just me," I answered. Gao Ling sighed and said, "Oh! I was planning to treat you to a nice meal, but it seems that's not happening now." Her expression looked somewhat troubled.
We casually found a late-night snack stall and sat down around ten o'clock. I asked Gao Ling if something was bothering her.
"Gao Ling said, 'Yeah! There's something going on!'
I thought to myself, when Gao Ling says there's something, it usually involves money or family matters. Aside from those two, Gao Ling doesn't have many worries. Recently, Gao Ling has been earning quite a bit, so the remaining issue must be family-related.
The last time I met Gao Ling's family, they weren't very kind to him.
I asked Gao Ling, 'So, what's up?'
Gao Ling filled my glass with wine and handed me a cigarette. He seemed a bit downcast and said, 'Fei, I don't have many friends; you are my only one.'
I nodded in acknowledgment.
Gao Ling continued, 'I invited you out today because I wanted to see you one last time.'
I was taken aback.
Why was Gao Ling talking like this? I asked him if something had happened.
Gao Ling replied, 'I might be dying.'
I told him he was fine and to stop with the morbid talk. He said, 'Fei, you don’t understand. My family is going to give me a new body.'
What? A new body?
Gao Ling explained, 'You won't believe it, but they're going to transfer my soul into another body.' He took a sip of his drink. I fell silent for a moment. Gao Ling continued, 'If I get a new body, will we still be able to live?'
My mind raced as I processed this. The reason Gao Ling's family wanted to give him a new body was likely because there was a dead person residing within him. If they could switch bodies, perhaps it would lift the curse that plagued Gao Ling.
Last time the fortune teller occupied his body...
No wonder Gao Qing was so emotional; it turned out that Gao Ling needed a new body. After all these years apart from his parents, they must have been searching for a suitable body for him. Now that they had found one, they were finally going through with the change.
But clearly, Gao Ling didn't fully grasp the situation."
"Gao Ling said, 'I've been in this body for over twenty years. Why should I change it?'
I took a deep breath and replied, 'If you don't change, you might die.'
Gao Ling asked, 'Will changing really save me?'
I thought about the fate of the Taoist priest. Changing bodies might not guarantee survival, but the person residing within Gao Ling's body was truly special. I supported Gao Ling's parents' decision; perhaps changing bodies would be better for him.
It might also be better for me.
I took a sip of my drink and said to Gao Ling, 'How will you know if you don’t try?'
Gao Ling replied, 'Fei, don’t joke around. Can we really just try something like this? It could be deadly.'
I countered, 'Not changing could be even more dangerous.'
Gao Ling took a drag from his cigarette and exhaled. The smoke blurred his features, and the yellowish light cast a dreamy aura around him. He continued, 'Actually, I’m not oblivious to this. My parents have always held a grudge against me because of the dead person inside me. That’s why they’ve never liked me over the years. Now that they’ve found an opportunity, they want to swap my body.'
At this point, Gao Ling suddenly cursed, blaming that damned fortune teller. 'Damn it! If I catch him, I’ll make sure he pays for it.'
Li Guang probably anticipated that there was a variable hidden within Gao Ling's body when he came to their home for a fortune reading.
But upon reflection, perhaps all of this had been predetermined. Gao Ling was destined to bear this fate.
I didn’t respond to Gao Ling; I truly didn’t know what to say.
Gao Ling downed three or four more drinks and then said, 'Do you think we’re still part of the Gao family? Since I was a teenager, my parents abandoned me. They treat Gao Qing ten times better than me and passed all their skills to her. If it weren’t for that, I might have become someone great by now.'
'If it weren't for my self-reliance over these past ten years, I might have already died.'
Gao Ling was definitely skilled at making money, but suddenly I felt that his parents must have had their reasons for acting this way! However, now I was just anxious to speculate; until the truth came out, all guesses were merely for validation.
Gao Ling exclaimed, 'Let’s do it!'"
He raised his glass, and I raised mine as well. The two glasses clinked together, producing a crisp sound.
I remained silent for a moment before saying to Gao Ling, "Let's switch!"
At that moment, I couldn't see who the dead person residing in Gao Ling's body was, but it didn't seem like a good person. If we switched, there might still be a chance for Gao Ling to live; if we didn't, Gao Ling might not have any chance at all.
Gao Ling was already somewhat drunk, a flush appearing on her face.
"Gao, do you support my decision to switch?" she asked.
I nodded in agreement. As we were drinking, someone approached us and pulled up a chair to sit down. I glanced at Gao Qing, and she looked back at me.
The fate of the Gao Family seemed to have become a mystery. If Gao Ling died, it would mean the end of their bloodline.
Gao Qing watched Gao Ling drink, and I thought she was about to scold her again. However, to my surprise, Gao Qing calmly called out, "Brother!"
Gao Ling looked up at her and asked, "Are you calling me?"
Gao Qing had never called Gao Ling "brother" before, so Gao Ling seemed somewhat incredulous. "Did I hear you right? You actually called me 'brother,' Gao Qing? You've finally started calling me that," she said with rising excitement.
People at the nearby table turned to look at us. "Brother, you're drunk," Gao Qing said.
"Gao Qing, don't think just because you're the heir of the Gao Family that you can control everything about me. Drinking is my business; you don't need to worry about it. Just go back; seeing you now is annoying," Gao Ling retorted.
"Brother, let's go back," Gao Qing insisted as she stood up to support Gao Ling. But Gao Ling forcefully shrugged her off and said, "If you want to go back, go by yourself. I don't want to go back; all I'll see there are your cold faces."
I thought about it and felt that Gao Ling had a point. Her parents had abandoned her for so many years; now that they were back, even though she was warm towards them—almost to the point of bleeding—her family members remained cold and indifferent.
Even if Gao Ling were to bleed right there on the spot, she wouldn't want her family to worry about her; she'd explain it away as being due to overexertion.
I imagined that for all these years, Gao Ling must have been very cautious around her family, always treading carefully. Yet despite this strained relationship, she seemed to value familial ties immensely. This situation appeared to be something she couldn't accept.
Gao Qing continued trying to support Gao Ling but was repeatedly pushed away by her.
"Gao Ling said, 'Gao Qing, you should go back. Fei and I still want to drink. We haven't had enough yet.'
Gao Qing looked at me, silent.
I turned to Gao Ling and said, 'You've had enough to drink. Just go back with your sister.'
'Sister? Gao Qing, after all these years, have you ever considered me your real brother?'
At that moment, more people gathered to watch, but no one knew what we were arguing about. They just glanced over occasionally.
Suddenly, tears streamed down the corners of Gao Qing's eyes. She cried out, 'Brother, please just come home with me.' Her voice carried a hint of sobbing, and unexpectedly, Gao Ling spat out blood. I immediately stood up to support him.
At that moment, Gao Ling looked quite pitiful; his mouth was covered in blood. I held his hand tightly; his pulse was weak. I glanced at his face, which was pale and devoid of color.
Gao Ling wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and then looked down at the blood on his hands, smiling—a smile that felt desolate.
Gao Qing pulled at Gao Ling and said, 'Come on, brother, let's go home.'"
Comment 0 Comment Count