Chapter 30: Uncle-Grandfather

Watching his grandmother's slow-moving figure, Shen Siyuan shouted: "Grandma, go back now—I'll come visit you again in a few days."

"Walk slowly on the road, and call me when you get home."

Clearly, Grandma had heard Shen Siyuan's voice but hadn't caught what he was saying—in short, they were talking past each other.

Shen Siyuan didn't stay where he was; he gently pressed the throttle and kept going until his grandmother's figure shrank into a tiny black dot.

This time, Shen Siyuan rode his motorcycle slowly; the sunset dyed the clouds on the horizon red, the evening breeze brushed against his face, bringing a faint coolness, and the chirping of insects on both sides of the road filled his ears—everything was so peaceful.

At that moment, an old man, hands behind his back, hunched over, walked slowly toward him.

Shen Siyuan widened his eyes, his face showing a hint of disbelief.

Because the old man walking toward him was none other than his uncle-grandfather, Yu Youcai, the elder brother of his grandmother Yu Suzhen.

Uncle-grandfather had been married, but his wife passed away when she was still young; he never remarried, lived his whole life without children, and treated both Shen Siyuan's father and Shen Siyuan himself as his own sons and grandchildren.

When his father Shen Jianjun first started his business and lost a lot of money, Uncle-grandfather dug into his own retirement savings to fill the gap, helped organize the sand and gravel plant, and in every way, truly helped their family a great deal…

And as for Shen Siyuan, he was especially devoted—every winter and summer break, he would buy piles of tasty snacks in advance, just to wait for Shen Siyuan's return…

When Grandma was young, she raised a child alone, and life was extremely hard; it was only thanks to Uncle-grandfather's support that she managed to get through it.

So for Shen Siyuan, Uncle-grandfather was no different from a real grandfather.

But Uncle-grandfather had passed away over ten years ago, and it was Shen Jianjun and his son who wore mourning clothes for him.

Yet unexpectedly, Uncle-grandfather had lingered on earth, never leaving.

The old man also noticed Shen Siyuan, surprised, but more delighted.

As he passed by him, he advised: "Ride slowly."

Clearly, this wasn't the first time he'd seen Shen Siyuan since death—he knew Shen Siyuan couldn't see him—but still, he cared and warned him like an elder to a younger one.

Seeing the familiar face again, hearing the familiar voice—in that instant, Shen Siyuan felt tears welling up.

His voice choked as he called out: "Uncle-grandfather."

"Shen Datou? You can hear me?"

Uncle-grandfather stopped walking, stared wide-eyed at Shen Siyuan, astonished.

Shen Siyuan also turned off his motorcycle and stopped.

"Uncle-grandfather, I not only hear you, I can see you too—but I'm a grown man now, don't call me Shen Datou anymore."

Tears glistened in Shen Siyuan's eyes, yet he smiled.

When Uncle-grandfather died, he had grieved for a long time, yet never imagined he could see him again.

For the first time, he was profoundly grateful for his ability to see ghosts.

"How come you can suddenly see me?" Uncle-grandfather asked, curious.

"I don't know, but it doesn't matter—Uncle-grandfather, to see you again… to see you again…" Shen Siyuan choked up, barely able to speak.

"There, there, don't be sad—I've been dead for so many years now, why are you still thinking of me?" Uncle-grandfather chuckled.

Though his words sounded reproachful, his face was full of smiles.

"Uncle-grandfather, I'd forget anyone before I forget you—but where have you been?" Shen Siyuan asked, surprised.

"I went to visit a few old friends—alas, there aren't many left; they've all come to join me."

Uncle-grandfather sighed deeply, a sense of relief and release in it, yet no sorrow.

"Uncle-grandfather, do you still have some unfulfilled wish?"

Uncle-grandfather looked startled. "You know about that?"

Shen Siyuan nodded. Uncle-grandfather fell silent, then finally shook his head.

Seeing this, Shen Siyuan quickly said: "Uncle-grandfather, if you have any unfinished wish, tell me—I'll help you fulfill it."

At these words, Uncle-grandfather's aged cheeks lit up with a radiant smile.

"Shen Datou's grown capable," Uncle-grandfather remarked with wonder.

"But I have no regrets—all that's behind me now."

Uncle-grandfather said this, but Shen Siyuan knew he hadn't truly let go.

From what Shen Siyuan understood, ghosts in this world existed in only two ways: one, because their wishes remained unfulfilled, so they wandered the mortal realm.

The other, because of the living's longing—a thread of memory that binds the dead; as long as they aren't utterly forgotten by the living, the deceased can remain on earth.

Of course, ghosts can choose to let go and return to nature's embrace, for longing is also a chain.

Many ghosts, unable to bear the long loneliness and waiting, ultimately choose to release everything.

That's why ghosts haven't overrun this world.

Almost all ghosts lingering on earth carry unfulfilled wishes.

Of course, this wasn't Shen Siyuan's own imagination—he saw it clearly.

The Nine-You Demon Lord was a master of manipulating ghosts, his understanding of them surpassing even the ghosts' own.

Though the two worlds differed slightly in their rules, the differences were minor.

These wandering ghosts all bore a faint red glow on their souls—this red glow was their unfulfilled wishes, or rather, their obsessions.

It was because of this obsession that they became bound to this world.

And though Uncle-grandfather claimed he had let go, the red light on his body had not faded.

"It's getting late—hurry home."

Uncle-grandfather carefully studied Shen Siyuan, his gaze filled with tenderness.

"Uncle-grandfather, come home with me," Shen Siyuan said after thinking.

At this, Uncle-grandfather shook his head.

"My home is here—I'm not going anywhere."

Saying this, he turned, hands behind his back, and continued walking toward Yu Family Village.

Shen Siyuan wanted to call out to him but didn't know how to start.

Yet the old house of his great-uncle had long been abandoned, overrun with nothing but weeds, rats, and ants. Shen Siyuan felt an urge to draw him into the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, but after a moment's thought, he decided against it.

"Great-uncle," Shen Siyuan called out from a distance.

"Hmm~" His great-uncle, hands clasped behind his back, turned around.

"I'll come see you again in a few days," Shen Siyuan said.

"Good~"

The distance was too great for Shen Siyuan to see clearly, yet he knew that at this moment, his great-uncle's wrinkled face must be split by a wide smile.

"I'm leaving now."

"Good~"

Shen Siyuan lightly pressed the throttle, and the motorcycle sped off once more toward the distance.

His great-uncle turned back, watching Shen Siyuan's receding figure, a look of worry etched upon his face.

He murmured to himself, "How could he suddenly see? Could something be wrong? I'll go find Old Ghost and ask..."

Then, instead of continuing along the road toward Yu Family Village, he followed the field ridge beside the path, heading into the distance.