Chapter 29

After being hit by me, Ma Chunyan knew that she was no match for my opponent. A cold wind blew up and she turned into a ball of black gas and disappeared on the bridge.

Seeing her escape, the tense atmosphere on the bridge suddenly relaxed, and looking at Chunhe Bridge again, it was no different from an ordinary bridge.

Master Zhang still had a few talismans in his hand. To prevent them from falling, he used some unknown method to transform the talisman paper into a yellow light and shot it into the bridge. After doing this, Master Zhang breathed a sigh of relief.

"Although this isn't a foolproof method, it can still seal the evil spirit here. When I perform a ritual in the future, I'll definitely be able to eliminate this scourge."

After hearing what Master Zhang said, I felt relieved. I didn't have to worry anymore.

When we returned, the village chief and his men were waiting for us. They must have witnessed the fight between Master Zhang and me and the three evil spirits, and now they stood respectfully before Master Zhang, nodding and bowing.

The village chief hadn't expected me to be so powerful, and couldn't help but say, "I didn't expect my younger sister to be so powerful. I'm really sorry for what I did to her."

I knew he was talking about how my grandfather and I were ostracized in the village, but I was too lazy to pay attention to him.

When I got back home, I asked Master Zhang why Ma Chunyan was so powerful. Master Zhang told me that it was because Ma Chunyan was still a virgin when she died, and her resentment was even stronger, so she was more difficult to deal with.

Master Zhang was respectfully sent away by the village chief the next day. Looking at the village chief's flattering face, I felt disgusted.

After this incident, Master Zhang and I really became close friends regardless of age difference.

But this summer, another thing happened that directly changed my destiny.

My grandpa disappeared.

I woke up as usual that day. At this time in the past, my grandfather had already prepared breakfast for me, but today I didn’t see him.

At first I thought he had gone out to visit friends, so I waited for him at home. But until evening, my grandfather still didn’t come back, and I started to panic.

I didn't know where my grandfather was, and a huge fear enveloped me. I ran out of the house, ran out of the village, and ran on the road. My first thought was that my grandfather was at my grandfather's house, so I ran along the main road towards the ditch.

I looked around carefully, and I was particularly afraid that my grandfather would fall on the side of the road and that something might have happened to him.

As I ran, I didn't see my grandfather, so I placed my hopes on my uncle's house.

I didn't meet anyone along the way, only the occasional large truck whizzing past.

When I ran to Xiagou, it was already midnight and Grandpa Gan and his family had already fallen asleep.

I banged on Grandpa Gan’s door with all my strength and shouted, “Grandpa Gan!”

Grandpa Gan may have just lay down for a short time, because when he opened the door, he was wearing only a single layer of clothes.

When he saw me coming to see him so late, he knew something must have happened, so he asked me, "What happened, my dear granddaughter?"

"Grandpa, is my grandpa here?" I held back my tears and tried my best to control my emotions.

"No, he's not at home?" After hearing Grandpa Gan's answer, I couldn't hold back any longer and my tears burst out like a flood.

Where did grandpa go? Why did he leave me?

My parents went to the city to work when I was very young, and have never come back until now. It can be said that my grandfather and I have depended on each other since I was a child. Now, the loneliness and fear of being abandoned are so overwhelming that I can't breathe.

Seeing me crying so hard, Grandpa Gan pulled me into the house and said, "Don't worry, where could he go? Come on, I'll go look for him with you."

Grandpa Gan put on a piece of clothing and went with me to find grandpa.

This time we returned via the small road from Niujiawan, but still couldn't see Grandpa. We followed the road all the way to the village, but couldn't find him. As we approached home, I desperately hoped Grandpa was there.

But when I entered the yard, I knew that my grandfather had not come back.

The house was empty. I was devastated. I squatted on the ground, hugged my knees, and burst into tears.

Where is grandpa? Why did he suddenly disappear? I hope nothing happens to him.

Grandpa Gan carried me into the house and turned on the light. He comforted me and said, "Don't worry, he might be back soon."

I knew it was impossible, and if he wanted to come back, he would have done it long ago, but a glimmer of hope still ignited in my heart. I stared at the door, hoping that my grandfather would push it open and come in the next second.

Grandpa never came back.

From now on, it's just me.

Looking at the large tree in the yard, its enormous canopy covered half the yard. At the base of the tree was Grandpa's favorite stone table. Every evening, I would nestle in Grandpa's arms and listen to him tell me stories.

I have carefully put away my grandfather's palm-leaf fan and placed it in the cabinet.

I didn't go to school this month. Maomao and Zhang Song came to see me. After knowing my situation, they would come to accompany me after school every day.

My uncle also asked me to go to his house, but I didn’t want to go because I was afraid that he wouldn’t be able to find me when he came back.

From then on, I dropped out of school and started living on my own. At first, I didn't know how to do anything, but I gradually learned to take care of myself and survive. Looking at the empty house, my heart became numb.

When I was fifteen, Maomao was admitted to a key high school in the county. He only had one or two days off a month, but he would always come to play with me during those days. Zhang Song didn't get into high school, and his parents wanted him to join the army. Once he joined, he wouldn't be able to return for several years.

It seemed to be the October Day holiday when Maomao was in his first year of high school. Zhang Song had already joined the army, and Maomao came to my house to play with me.

"I want to go out." I said to Maomao.

"Where are we going?" Maomao asked.

"I don't know, I just want to go out."

Maomao didn't say anything, and I could see that he was in a low mood.

"Hey, this is for you."

I took out two wooden signs from my pocket.

Maomao took the wooden sign and looked at me.

"This is what I brought back from Baiyun Temple. It's made of lightning-struck wood and engraved with talismans. It's blessed by Master Zhang's magic power and imbued with my telekinesis. It's specifically used to ward off evil spirits, so you won't have to be afraid in the future. You can give the other one to Zhang Song when you have the chance. He left so hastily that I didn't have time to make it."

When Maomao heard me say this, he knew I was determined to leave. He quietly put away the two wooden signs and said in a low voice, "Then you must be careful when you are out there."

His eyes were red, and I pretended to be nonchalant and said, "Don't worry, I've been alone for so many years, I will definitely take good care of myself, you don't have to worry."

I didn't want to endure the pain of separation, so I pushed Maomao out of the house and told him to go home quickly.

He looked back every few steps as he reached the top of the mountain.

Watching his gradually disappearing back, I finally shed tears. He and Zhang Song are my most precious friends in this world.

Unexpectedly, he came back up after going down, put his hands in front of his face like trumpets, and shouted at me: "I'm very brave now, don't underestimate me!"

After he called me like that, my depression dissipated a little, and a smile broke out on my tearful face.

"You'll always be a coward!"

I put my hands to my mouth and yelled at him.

He was waving on the hillside, his shadow stretched out long in the setting sun.