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.”

“Go slowly on the road, and call me when you get home.”

Clearly, his grandmother had heard Shen Siyuan’s voice but hadn’t caught what he was saying—each spoke their own words without listening.

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 his face with a cool touch, 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 and hunched over, walked slowly toward him from ahead.

Shen Siyuan widened his eyes, his face filled with disbelief.

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

Uncle-grandfather had been married, but his wife passed away young; he never remarried, lived his whole life childless, 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 losses, helped organize the sand and gravel plant, and in every way gave their family immense help…

And as for Shen Siyuan, he never failed to buy piles of tasty snacks ahead of every winter and summer break, just to wait for Shen Siyuan’s return…

When his grandmother was young, raising a child alone, life was extremely hard—she barely made it through thanks to Uncle-grandfather’s support.

So for Shen Siyuan, Uncle-grandfather was no different from his own grandfather.

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

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

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

As he passed by him, he warned, “Ride slowly.”

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

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

His voice choked as he called out, “Uncle-grandfather.”

“Big Head? You can hear me?”

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

Shen Siyuan also turned off his motorcycle and stopped.

“Uncle-grandfather, I not only hear you, I can see you too—but I’m grown now, don’t call me Big Head anymore.”

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

When Uncle-grandfather died, he grieved for a long time—he never imagined he’d see him again.

For the first time, he was profoundly grateful he had the 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, being able to see you again… to see you again…” Shen Siyuan choked up, unable to finish.

“Enough, don’t be sad—I’ve been dead for so many years, why are you still thinking of me?” Uncle-grandfather chuckled.

Though his words sounded scolding, 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, relieved and at peace, yet not sad.

“Uncle-grandfather, do you still have an 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 fulfill it for you.”

At these words, Uncle-grandfather’s aged cheeks broke into a radiant smile.

“Big Head’s grown capable,” Uncle-grandfather murmured in wonder.

“But I have no regrets—everything’s in the past.”

Uncle-grandfather said this, but Shen Siyuan knew he hadn’t let go at all.

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 reason was that the living's longing—like a rope—tethered the dead; as long as they were not utterly forgotten by the living, the deceased could remain on earth.

Of course, ghosts could choose to let go and return to nature’s embrace, for longing was also a chain.

Many ghosts couldn’t bear the endless loneliness and waiting, and ultimately chose to release everything.

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

Almost all ghosts lingering on earth carried 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 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.

Though Uncle-grandfather claimed he had let go, the red glow 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.”

He spoke, then turned, hands behind his back, continuing toward Yu Family Village.

Shen Siyuan wanted to call out to him but didn’t know how to begin.

Yet Uncle-grandfather’s old house had long been abandoned, overgrown with weeds and infested with rats and ants—he considered capturing him into the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, but after thinking, he decided against it.

“Uncle-grandfather,” Shen Siyuan called out from afar.

“Mm~” Uncle-grandfather turned his head, hands still behind his back.

“I’ll come visit you again in a few days,” Shen Siyuan said.

“Good~”

Too far to see clearly, but Shen Siyuan knew—on Uncle-grandfather’s wrinkled face, he was smiling with his whole mouth.

“I’m off then.”

“Good~”

Shen Siyuan gently pressed the throttle, and the motorcycle sped away once more.

Uncle-grandfather turned back, watching Shen Siyuan’s retreating figure, a look of worry on his face.

He muttered to himself, “Why can he suddenly see me? Could something be wrong? I’ll go ask the old ghost…”

Then he didn’t follow the road toward Yu Family Village—he turned onto the field path beside the road and walked off into the distance.