Watching his grandmother's slowly advancing figure, Shen Siyuan shouted, "Grandmother, go back now! I'll come see you again in a few days."
"Be careful on the road. Call me when you get home."
Clearly, although his grandmother heard Shen Siyuan's voice, she didn't make out what he was saying.
In short, they were each talking past the other.
Shen Siyuan didn't stay put any longer.
He lightly pressed the accelerator and continued forward until his grandmother's figure became a tiny black dot.
This time, Shen Siyuan rode the Motorcycle very slowly.
The setting sun dyed the clouds on the horizon red. The evening breeze brushed against his face, bringing a hint of coolness.
The chirping of insects on both sides of the road filled his ears; everything was so peaceful.
Just then, an old man appeared ahead, hands behind his back and slightly hunched over, slowly walking toward him.
Shen Siyuan's eyes widened, a look of disbelief on his face.
Because the approaching old man was none other than Shen Siyuan's Maternal Granduncle, his grandmother Yu Suzhen's older brother, Yu Youcai.
His Maternal Granduncle had been married, but his Maternal Grandaunt passed away at a very young age. His Maternal Granduncle never remarried and had no children of his own, so he treated both Shen Siyuan's father and Shen Siyuan himself like his own son and grandson.
When his father, Shen Jianjun, first started his business, he lost a lot of money. His Maternal Granduncle even took out his own retirement savings to help cover the losses and helped organize things when he started the sand and gravel plant.
In short, he had helped their family a great deal…
And he was even better to Shen Siyuan. Every summer and winter vacation, he would buy lots of tasty snacks in advance, just waiting for Shen Siyuan to come back…
And when his grandmother was young, raising a child all by herself, life was very hard.
It was thanks to his Maternal Granduncle's support that she managed to get through it.
So to Shen Siyuan, his Maternal Granduncle was no different from his actual grandfather.
But his Maternal Granduncle had passed away more than ten years ago. It was Shen Jianjun and his son who had worn mourning clothes for him.
Yet unexpectedly, his Maternal Granduncle had lingered in the mortal world and never left.
The old man also noticed Shen Siyuan, looking a little surprised, but more so, pleasantly surprised.
As he passed by him, he advised, "Ride slower."
Apparently, this probably wasn't the first time he had seen Shen Siyuan since his death, and he knew Shen Siyuan couldn't see him, yet he still cared for him and gave advice like an elder to a junior.
Seeing that familiar face and hearing that familiar voice again, in that instant, Shen Siyuan felt his eyes well up with tears.
His voice choked with emotion as he called out, "Maternal Granduncle."
"Big Head? You can hear me speak?"
His Maternal Granduncle stopped in his tracks, his eyes wide with shock as he stared at Shen Siyuan.
Shen Siyuan also killed the engine of his Motorcycle and came to a stop.
"Maternal Granduncle, not only can I hear you, I can see you too. But I'm a grown-up now, don't call me Big Head anymore."
There were tears in Shen Siyuan's eyes, but a smile was on his face.
When his Maternal Granduncle passed away, he had been sad for a long time. He never imagined he would be able to see him again.
For the first time, he felt incredibly grateful in his heart for his ability to see ghosts.
"How can you suddenly see me?" His Maternal Granduncle was very curious.
"I don't know either, but that's not important. Maternal Granduncle, to be able to see… to see you again…" Shen Siyuan was so choked up he could barely speak.
"Alright now, don't be sad. I've been gone for so many years, why are you still thinking about me?" his Maternal Granduncle said with a cheerful laugh.
He spoke words of gentle reprimand, but his face was full of smiles.
"Maternal Granduncle, I could forget anyone, but I'd never forget you.
But, where are you coming back from?" Shen Siyuan asked, a bit surprised.
"I went to visit a few old friends.
Sigh, there aren't many left. They've all come over to reunite with me."
His Maternal Granduncle let out a long sigh, one of relief and acceptance, but not of sadness.
"Maternal Granduncle, is there some unfinished wish you can't let go of?"
His Maternal Granduncle was a bit surprised to hear this.
"You know about these things?"
Shen Siyuan nodded.
Hearing this, his Maternal Granduncle fell silent for a moment, but ultimately shook his head.
Seeing this, Shen Siyuan quickly said, "Maternal Granduncle, if you have any unfinished wish, you can tell me.
I'll help you fulfill it."
Hearing his words, a brilliant smile bloomed on his Maternal Granduncle's aged cheeks.
"Big Head has become capable," his Maternal Granduncle remarked with emotion.
"But your granduncle has no regrets. It's all in the past now."
His Maternal Granduncle said this, but Shen Siyuan knew that he hadn't let go at all.
As far as Shen Siyuan understood, there were only two ways for a Ghost in this world to exist. One was to linger in the mortal realm because of an unfinished wish.
The other was the power of Longing from the living. Longing was like a rope that tethered the deceased; as long as they weren't completely forgotten by the living, the dead could continue to linger in the mortal world.
Of course, a ghost could also choose to let go and return to the embrace of nature, because Longing was also a kind of shackle.
Many ghosts couldn't endure the endless Loneliness and waiting, and eventually chose to let go of everything.
This was also why the world wasn't completely overrun with ghosts.
The vast majority of Ghosts lingering in the mortal realm had an unfinished wish.
Of course, this wasn't something Shen Siyuan had come up with through Delusion; it was something he could see.
The Nine Nether Demon Lord was an ancestral-level master at manipulating ghosts; his understanding of ghosts surpassed that of the ghosts themselves.
Although the two worlds had some differences in their fundamental rules, these differences weren't significant.
These wandering Ghosts in the mortal realm all had a faint Red Light clinging to their Souls, and this Red Light was their unfinished wish, or in other words, their Attachment.
And it was because of this Attachment that they formed a Bond with this world.
And although his Maternal Granduncle claimed to have let go, the red glow on his body had not dissipated.
"It's getting late. You should hurry home."
His Maternal Granduncle carefully sized up Shen Siyuan, his gaze full of kindness.
"Maternal Granduncle, why don't you come back with me," Shen Siyuan said after a thought.
Hearing this, his Maternal Granduncle shook his head.
"My Home is here. I'm not going anywhere."
With that, he put his hands behind his back and continued walking in the direction of Yujia Village.
Shen Siyuan wanted to call out to him, but didn't know what to say.
But his Maternal Granduncle's old house had long been abandoned, home to nothing but weeds, rats, and ants.
Shen Siyuan had the urge to draw him into the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, but after some thought, he decided against it.
"Maternal Granduncle," Shen Siyuan called out from a distance.
"Hmm~" His Maternal Granduncle, hands behind his back, turned his head.
"I'll come see you again in a few days," Shen Siyuan said.
"Alright~"
The distance was too great for Shen Siyuan to see clearly, but he knew that at this moment, his Maternal Granduncle's wrinkled face must be split into a wide grin.
"I'm leaving now."
"Okay~"
Shen Siyuan lightly pressed the accelerator, and the Motorcycle once again drove off into the distance.
His Maternal Granduncle turned back around and watched Shen Siyuan's retreating figure, a worried expression on his face.
He muttered to himself, "How can he suddenly see things? I hope nothing's wrong.
I'll go ask the Old Ghost…"
Then, instead of following the road toward Yujia Village, he started walking along the Field Ridge by the side of the road, heading into the distance.