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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter Thirty-Three Lin Xiaoqi
It is said that there are laws in the human world, and there are also laws in the Underworld. It is not that one can simply take a life just because they are a ghost; if the Underworld finds out, the consequences can be quite severe.
Because of this, the old lady said, "I don't think you little Yin Yang have that kind of ability. Also, if you dare to touch my Tomb Mound, I will take your life!" After saying this, she did not want to waste any more words with me and turned to leave...
Seeing her attempt to leave, I hurriedly shouted, "If you do not release Lin Xiaoqi today, tomorrow I will ride my White Horse personally to find you in the Underworld. At that time, I will definitely bring Lin Xiaoqi to Yama's Hall to accuse you! Didn't you say you only have two or three years left before reincarnation? By then, I bet you'll have to endure another three to five hundred years!"
Of course, I was just trying to scare her; in reality, I did not have the ability to ride a White Horse through the Underworld. However, for an old ghost like her, I had to make her feel afraid; otherwise, she would just brush me off.
Sure enough, she was frightened. After all, if what I said was true and I could go down to the Underworld, then I really had the ability to take Lin Xiaoqi away. If I were to accuse her before Yama, not only would she lose her chance at reincarnation, but she would also have to suffer tortures in Hell.
Thus, the old lady who originally planned to leave turned back again, suppressing her anger as she sized me up and said, "What exactly do you want?"
Seeing a glimmer of hope in the situation, I quickly replied, "I just want you to release Lin Xiaoqi immediately. I'm serious; I am determined to save this person. Let me be clear: I am not a hired master from the Lin family but a friend of Lin Xiaoqi. When a friend is in trouble, I will risk my life to save her. So if you think you can drive me away, that's impossible."
The reason I spoke this way was to make her understand that unless we resolved this matter today, I would not let her off easily.
As a result, Granny finally gave in. She realized that this Yin Yang Master could not be scared away and would dare to do anything when provoked. Although she might doubt whether I could really ride a White Horse through the Underworld, anyone could drive a peach Peach Wood Stake into her Tomb Mound. So she sighed helplessly and said, "You little Yin Yang, if you want me to release her, it’s not impossible. But if that's the case, wouldn't I be at a loss?"
Upon hearing this, I naturally understood that she was already willing to release her; she was just looking for a way to save face. So I said, "If you release her, your disciple will certainly understand reason. In the future, I will definitely offer incense and paper offerings—Paper Figurine, paper sedan chairs—so that you will still have someone serving you at home and a sedan chair when you go out."
At this moment, Granny appeared quite magnanimous. She said that’s fine; seeing how loyal you little Yin Yang are, today I'll give you face and let her come up. Wait for me; I'll go down now.
I thanked Granny and wished her well. At this time, Grandma's Grandson hurriedly asked me if my grandmother was leaving.
Hearing this from her grandson, Granny turned around and scolded him: "Unfilial child! It's been years since you've burned any paper money for me! During festivals when you come home, there's no food for me! Hmph!" After saying this, she turned and left...
When Granny left, I finally felt a weight lift off my heart and relaxed. Seeing Granny's grandson looking puzzled, I asked, "Haven't you burned paper money for your grandmother in several years?"
Granny's grandson nodded and said, "How did you know?"
I replied, "Your grandmother told me. And haven't you also not offered incense and food to her during the holidays?"
Granny's grandson nodded again, so I said, "Whether you believe in Ghosts or not, as children and grandchildren, we should follow tradition and remember to honor our ancestors during the holidays. Not for anything else, but to ease that feeling of guilt for not having fulfilled our filial duties."
"Granny is very disappointed in you," I sighed and patted his shoulder.
In truth, I wasn't disappointed in him but rather in most young people today. While their parents are alive, children think they will honor them well once they have money. When they finally have money, they think they will do so after buying a house. After getting a house, they think they will wait until they finish paying off their mortgage before honoring their parents. It isn't until their parents pass away that children realize that the filial piety they intended to express has turned into a regret due to waiting.
This is precisely why there is a tradition of burning paper and offering incense during the Ghost Festival and other holidays. Rather than believing in ghosts, it is more about resolving one's own feelings of guilt for not being filial. However, nowadays, people can't even find that sense of guilt for their parents, which is truly disappointing.
Hearing what I said, Granny's grandson felt guilty and regretted being so unfilial. He looked at the spirit tablet of Granny and promised to remember to make offerings during the holidays from now on.
I told Granny's grandson that Granny had already passed away and suggested he head home early.
Watching him leave, I knew he hadn't come in vain; he had gained something valuable. Understanding filial piety is crucial because if a person lacks this sentiment, how can they feel gratitude towards those around them?
“Shenbao, is that really you?” Just as I was thinking about these things, I suddenly heard Lin Xiaoqi's voice behind me.
I quickly turned around and saw Lin Xiaoqi standing there. She was still wearing a white long dress, her long hair cascading down her back, tied gently with a silver ribbon. She looked as pure and sweet as ever, enchanting like a fairy.
Looking at Lin Xiaoqi before me, I suddenly felt a pang of bittersweet emotion. It felt like seeing someone I've missed for years again; I had so much to say but didn't know where to start. In the end, I just stood there staring at her without saying a word.
Lin Xiaoqi quietly looked at me too. After a long while, she said, “I didn’t want you to know that I died, but you found out anyway.”
I replied, “The two Heavenly Paper Figurines were you, right? Why didn’t you tell me about your situation back then?”
Lin Xiaoqi nodded, admitting that the reason she didn't want me to know she had died was so she could always accompany me in playing.
I thought she was too foolish. Lin Xiaoqi smiled bitterly and then said, "Why are you willing to save me like this? Is it the same as when you saved Xia Ling the other day, just because we were classmates?"
Looking at her hopeful eyes, I understood what she meant by that question. At this point, I no longer wanted to hide my feelings, so I told her that saving her was different from saving them. The reason I saved her was that I liked her, I was worried about her, and I feared she would suffer down there...
As Lin Xiaoqi listened to my words, tears streamed down her face. After a long while, she wiped away her tears, smiled gently, and asked, "When did you start liking me?"
I replied that I had a crush on her since high school when she sat behind me.
She chuckled and then sighed, "You're so silly. Why didn't you tell me this back then?"
I smiled wryly; indeed, why didn't I say it back then? It was because I was afraid—afraid that saying it out loud would lead to losing it. I didn't have the courage to speak up. But now, it was all too late; we were worlds apart, separated by Yin Yang. Although I had spoken my feelings, we could never be together again.
My heart felt very bitter and sad; for a moment, neither of us could speak. At this time, Mr. Lin naturally knew his Daughter had come, so he asked if Xiaoqi was here.
I nodded and then opened the Heavenly Eye for him. They embraced each other and began to cry, expressing their longing for one another...
That night, Lin Xiaoqi left. I told her not to come back again; doing so would violate the laws of the Underworld and would lead to punishment. Although I wanted her to continue possessing the Paper Figurine, I feared even more seeing her suffer the punishments of Hell one day!
As she departed, she told me she would wait for me on the other side of the world. I smiled at her but didn’t respond because I didn’t dare ask her to wait...
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