When Secretary Qi went to the county town, she went with him, riding in an oxcart, which could carry quite a lot of things. Most importantly, she didn't want to burden Niu Dajun; with the New Year approaching, Niu Dajun's work would be even busier. Besides, a bicycle couldn't carry much.

He Tiantian had already made these arrangements. Although she didn't send Huo Yingjie anything, the letter she wrote was full of affection. She hoped that Huo Yingjie would feel sweet inside after reading it. Although the words were about everyday trivialities, they always conveyed a warm feeling after He Tiantian wrote them.

Besides these, He Tiantian also wrote that she didn't want Huo Yingjie to send her any more food coupons. Huo Yingjie was so big and at the age where he could eat a lot; he couldn't be allowed to go hungry. Going hungry now might affect his health later. He Tiantian also told him about her experiences in Qijia Village, assuring him that she wouldn't go hungry and that he shouldn't worry. She wrote seven or eight pages in total before finally stopping, carefully checking everything, and putting it in an envelope.

In the dead of night, He Tiantian didn't light a kerosene lamp, but instead used the light from the Snake King's barrier space for illumination. Suddenly, she heard rustling sounds outside and, thinking a thief had broken in, cautiously went to the window and looked outside.

By the moonlight, He Tiantian could vaguely make out the person with a slightly hunched back, walking with bound feet—that was Grandma Qi.

Oh dear, He Tiantian looked at her watch. It was already past eleven o'clock, almost midnight. Why wasn't Grandma Qi asleep?

He Tiantian was very surprised. Hearing the sound of the door, she was startled again. Could it be that Grandma Qi was sleepwalking?

At this age, what if I sleepwalk and fall down outside in the middle of the night?

However, it is said that when someone is sleepwalking, no one should wake her up, otherwise she will be scared to death.

He Tiantian quickly whispered, "Gurgle gurgle meow... Snake King, come out quickly! Grandma Qi is sleepwalking in the middle of the night. I have to follow her, otherwise it will be dangerous if Grandma Qi falls."

"Then why don't you follow them? Why did you call me?" the Snake King asked, puzzled. "The moonlight is quite good outside; you can see clearly!"

He Tiantian replied again, "You can help me hide. I can't scare Grandma Qi. I heard that you can't be woken up when you're sleepwalking, or you'll be scared to death. Grandma Qi is a good person. You know how she treated me, so I have to follow her to ensure her safety since I know she went out in the middle of the night."

"Alright then." The Snake King muttered a few words, then added, "The footsteps and figures have already disappeared. Hurry up and follow them."

When the Snake King wasn't cultivating, he would observe the people around him.

At first, Old Mrs. Qi did indeed have some intention of taking advantage of He Tiantian. However, as they spent more time together, she became more and more sincere. Now, whatever good things she has in the house, Old Mrs. Qi will save for He Tiantian, treating her like family.

Even when He Tiantian is not at home, this old lady often misses her.

Grandma Qi was a pitiful old woman, but also a respectable one.

He Tiantian opened the door cautiously and followed carefully behind.

Grandma Qi had bound feet, so even with a cane, she walked very slowly. In addition, due to her advanced age and poor eyesight, sometimes at night, even with moonlight, she still couldn't see the road clearly and walked even slower.

He Tiantian was always very curious. Grandma Qi's walk didn't seem like sleepwalking at all!

Although He Tiantian was an uncultured woman in her past life, every household had a television. Some television dramas featured sleepwalkers, who were expressionless, unconscious, and wandering outside. Grandma Qi kept glancing at her feet and looking around. If He Tiantian hadn't concealed her presence and voice, Grandma Qi probably would have already discovered her.

The more she thought about it, the more curious she became, so He Tiantian continued to follow along.

Oh dear, isn't this the road to the livestock team?

That's the grove of trees ahead. According to Grandma Qi, this grove of trees used to be a mass grave before liberation.

My God, could it be... that there really is a ghost? And that it possessed Grandma Qi's body?

He Tiantian was so frightened that she trembled and her legs felt weak.

If it were her past life, He Tiantian would never have believed it. But she had a magical Snake King by her side, and after following the Snake King for a long time, she learned about the human realm, the demon realm, the Heavenly Dao, and the Nine Heavens Mystic Thunder. How far away were the King of Hell, the little devils, and the Ox-Head and Horse-Face demons of the Underworld?

"Idiot!" The Snake King's exasperated voice echoed in his mind. How could he have chosen such a partner!

Hearing the Snake King's voice, He Tiantian was no longer afraid. She wasn't alone anymore; she had a snake with her. No fear! No fear!

"Why are you saying that to me?" He Tiantian asked the Snake King in her mind as she followed Grandma Qi in front of her.

The Snake King is incredibly powerful; usually, when people say that about her, it's because He Tiantian herself has made a mistake.

"There is no such thing as the underworld. When you die, you die. Only through death can there be life, and that's how life goes on," said the Snake King. "The ghosts you talk about in the human world don't exist. However, if there was spiritual energy in the human world in the past, it could indeed have nurtured demons, monsters, or cultivators."

"Are you sure?" He Tiantian asked, half-believing.

The reason she believes it is that He Tiantian has never seen a ghost in all her past and present lives.

The reason they don't believe it is because after He Tiantian got the Snake King, she thought anything was possible!

"Hmph!" The Snake King said, seeing that He Tiantian actually doubted its words, "I'm not talking to you anymore, I'm entering the barrier."

Grandma Qi went into the grove, and He Tiantian, ignoring the angry Snake King, followed her.

Grandma Qi took the basket off her arm and squatted down. He Tiantian walked to a spot two meters to the side of Grandma Qi, trying to see what she was doing.

Grandma Qi's behavior was too strange.

Suddenly, with a "sizzle," Grandma Qi lit a match and took something out of the basket with her other hand. It didn't look like grass; it looked like paper, cut into circles, like paper money.

It turns out that Grandma Qi came here to burn paper money!

He Tiantian suddenly realized!

Just as He Tiantian was guessing, Grandma Qi had already lit the paper money in her hand. By the light of the fire, He Tiantian could see Grandma Qi's expression.

With a face full of wrinkles and a concerned, devout expression, he knelt on the ground, hands clasped together, chanting: "All spirits and deities, my sweet girl is ignorant and has offended you. Please forgive her for the sake of this old man who burned these offerings late at night. I will offer sacrifices during festivals and holidays. It is said that good deeds are rewarded and evil deeds are punished. My sweet girl is so kind and helpful, accumulating good karma. I beg all spirits and deities to bless her with good health and peace. If my son is still alive, please let me live a few more years so that we can reunite..." (To be continued.)