When I got home, it was already 2 p.m. I charged the electric scooter and went back to my room.
I didn't draw any talismans or look at the contents of the USB drive. Instead, I sat cross-legged on the bed and began practicing the Three Pure Ones Supreme Technique.
I feel that my cultivation speed has been getting faster and faster recently. Perhaps in less than a month, I will be able to reach the entry level.
I set my alarm for 6 p.m. Tonight, I'm going to Ma Dajun's house in Mawu Village. I can take advantage of this time to cultivate for three or four hours.
During my practice, I hardly felt the passage of time. Before I knew it, my phone alarm went off.
I stopped practicing, got up and had a meal with my fifth grandfather, told him I had something to do outside, and then rode my electric bike out.
I was carrying a shoulder bag containing the talismans I had drawn and some paper money, which I planned to burn for Ma Jiabao, since we had known each other for a while.
In my bag, there was also a money sword and a small knife I bought not long ago for a thousand yuan. I didn't think the knife was a magic weapon, but since I spent so much money on it, I still had to carry it with me, just in case a miracle happened. After all, the reason I bought the knife in the first place was because I seemed to sense a fluctuation of magic power.
When I arrived at Ma Dajun's house, it was almost seven o'clock, and the sky was gradually getting dark.
When Ma Dajun saw me, he rushed over and said with tears in his eyes, "Changming, thank you so much. I thank you on behalf of my poor son."
After he finished speaking, Ma Dajun bowed to me.
"Uncle Ma, you flatter me. Jiabao and I have known each other for a while, and I just happened to have some free time tonight, so it's only right that I come and see him off." I quickly reached out to help Ma Dajun up and said softly.
Ma Dajun led me into the hall. At the entrance of the hall was Ma Jiabao's memorial tablet, with some sacrificial food in front of it and an egg lamp behind it. Ma Jiabao's mother was slowly burning paper money. When she saw me, she covered her face and sobbed softly.
I sighed softly and went over to comfort her, saying, "Auntie, please accept my condolences."
"Changming, please sit down in the lobby for a moment. By the way, have you eaten yet?" Ma Dajun led me to sit on the sofa and asked.
"I've already eaten," I nodded and replied.
"That's fine then. Changming, I have some things to take care of. Please sit here for a while." Ma Dajun poured me a cup of tea, then got up to attend to his business.
I nodded and began to look around at the layout of the hall.
Apart from the ancestral altar being moved to a different location, nothing else has changed in Ma Dajun's house. It just gives me a faint sense of sadness.
A little while later, I saw Ma Dajun bring in a lot of things, including paper houses, cars, and dressing tables.
Pang Meilian opened all those things one by one and put them into the brazier to burn.
I frowned slightly. This Ma Jiabao is a man, so what's the meaning of Ma Dajun burning a dressing table for him?
Ma Dajun sat down opposite me. I was so curious that I couldn't help but ask, "Uncle Ma, weren't we going to burn this for Jiabao? Why are you burning a dressing table too?"
“The children’s mother said that both the siblings went there and asked the younger brother to bring some things for the older sister.” Ma Dajun wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes and choked up as he spoke.
My heart suddenly ached. Ma Dajun's two perfectly healthy children were gone just like that. No wonder Ma Dajun's hair turned white overnight. Actually, thinking about it, it must have been really difficult for Ma Dajun and his wife to get through this. I think it's probably because they believed that Ma Jiajie and her brother were doing well over there. It was this belief that sustained them.
"Jiabao, be sure to live well over there. Mom will burn a house and a car for you. Didn't you always say that you wanted to buy a car when you made money? Your parents are not capable enough to buy it for you, so we're burning one for you now. Be sure to take good care of your sister over there." Pang Meilian said in a low voice, her voice choked with sobs, as she burned the things.
Ma Dajun could no longer hold back; tears streamed down his face like a burst dam, and his whole body trembled slightly.
I felt a lump in my throat, and tears welled up in my eyes. I tilted my head back slightly to stop the tears from falling.
I remember feeling just as pained and sad when my grandfather passed away.
I took out a cigarette and handed it to Ma Dajun, and we smoked it quietly like that.
After a while, a cold wind suddenly blew in, causing Ma Jiabao's memorial tablet to shake and the flames in the brazier to sway from side to side.
"Jiabao, is that you back?" Pang Meilian suddenly stood up and asked softly towards the door.
Upon hearing this, Ma Dajun also got up and walked over, looking towards the door.
I got up and walked over, but I didn't feel any chilliness. I thought it was just an ordinary evening breeze.
At this moment, Ma Dajun and his wife did not show the tension and fear that one would expect when facing something unclean. Instead, their faces were filled with anticipation, and their sadness was mixed with deep longing.
I think this is the trust between family members. Just like when I was keeping vigil, I wasn't afraid at all. My grandfather was my closest relative, and I felt like he was still by my side. He would never hurt me.
I didn't tell them that it wasn't Ma Jiabao who came back. I was afraid they would be disappointed, so it was good to leave them with a glimmer of hope.
I took out the paper money I had brought and squatted down to burn it one by one in the brazier.
The Ma couple stood shoulder to shoulder, looking on expectantly. I suddenly felt a tightness in my chest and a surge of anger welled up inside me. If something had really harmed Ma Jiabao and her brother, I swore I would never let her get away with it.
Even when I was dealing with Fang Lei, I never felt this much hatred. As for the thing that might have killed Ma Jiabao and her brother, once I confirm it, I will definitely settle accounts with it. As soon as I discover it, I will go straight for the purpose of annihilation, without having any thought of reasoning.
Ma Dajun and his wife stood there for a while, but they didn't see the person they wanted to see. Pang Meilian also squatted down again and continued burning the large pile of things.
I finished burning the paper money in my hand. I nodded to Pang Meilian, stood up, patted Ma Dajun on the shoulder, and gently comforted him, "Uncle Ma, go sit over there for a while. Perhaps Jiabao is still on his way back."
"Sigh..." Ma Dajun sighed and sat down with me on the sofa.
Remembering something, I asked, "Uncle Ma, did Jiabao do anything strange before the accident?"
“My wife and I were busy with planting in the fields a while ago. Jiabao stayed at home during the day and went out on my motorcycle at night, saying he wanted to relax. I was too tired from work, so I didn’t ask any questions and went to bed early,” Ma Dajun said slowly after thinking for a moment.
"Changming, do you think Jiabao was harmed by something? Why would a perfectly healthy person like him crash into that lamppost?" Ma Dajun asked me softly.
I shook my head and asked in return, "Did Jiabao hit him with his motorcycle?"
“It shouldn’t be that. The motorcycle was lying on the side of the road, about five or six meters away from the lamppost. But the traffic police said that Jiabao flew out of the motorcycle after the accident and then crashed into the lamppost. But I know my motorcycle best. The engine has a problem, and it can only go up to 40 or 50 kilometers per hour at most. Even if there was an accident, it shouldn’t have flown that far. Besides, Jiabao was kneeling when he died. Coincidentally, the 360-degree camera at the intersection that day didn’t capture the direction in which Jiabao had the accident.” Ma Dajun said slowly, his face full of grief.
I was startled by what I heard. Could it be that something was playing tricks, or that someone had bumped into me? Just as I was about to ask more questions, I felt a gust of yin energy drift in.
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