The Old Ghost was an Old Daoist.
The kind that had a Daoist Temple.
But the Daoist was already dead, the Daoist Temple had already collapsed, and the Statues of the Three Pure Ones were smashed with a large hole, turning into a den for snakes and rats.
But the Old Daoist still hadn't left, guarding his ruined Daoist Temple in this desolate land.
The Old Daoist considered himself to have cultivated into a Ghost Immortal, attaining great freedom.
But Yu Youcai was very dismissive of this.
Just an ordinary old ghost, that's all. If this counted as a Ghost Immortal, then there would be thousands upon thousands of Ghost Immortals in the world.
However, this was only what Yu Youcai thought to himself; he was actually still very respectful towards the Old Daoist.
On one hand, it was because although the Old Daoist was a bit eccentric, he was indeed very knowledgeable.
On the other hand, the Old Daoist was considered an elder to Yu Youcai. When Yu Youcai was very young, his grandfather had taken him to visit the old Daoist.
The two were close friends, and the Old Daoist was very fond of him.
The Old Daoist was also a capable man.
He had experienced countless ups and downs in life, yet he lived a long life. He didn't pass away until Shen Jianjun was born, and by then, he was already one hundred and thirty-five.
And Shen Jianjun is already over fifty this year, so the Old Daoist has been in this human world for nearly two hundred years.
That was why Yu Youcai called him an Old Ghost.
When Yu Youcai found the Old Daoist, he was sitting cross-legged under a Bodhi Tree to Meditate and Seek Enlightenment. Behind him were the dilapidated ruins of his Daoist Temple.
It was unknown why he still guarded this place, unwilling to leave.
Seeing Yu Youcai, the Old Daoist was also very surprised.
"You haven't been here in a long time. Why have you come to see me now? Have you let go of the Attachment in your heart and wish to leave?"
Yu Youcai shook his head.
"No, I have something I wish to ask you, Old Daoist Priest."
"Oh? You're already dead, and you still have things to ask me?"
The Old Daoist stood up, his body as if weightless, and floated lightly onto the Bodhi Tree.
With white hair and a long beard, his wide sleeves billowed. He cut an excellent figure, truly resembling an immortal under the moonlight.
After striking a full pose, the Old Daoist finally spoke again, "Speak. What is it you need to ask me? Let's see if I can resolve your doubts."
Yu Youcai seemed accustomed to the Old Daoist's theatrics and said, "It's about my Grandnephew.
I met him on the road today, and he could actually see me."
"Eh?" The Old Daoist was startled upon hearing this and floated down lightly from the Bodhi Tree.
"He couldn't see you before?"
Yu Youcai nodded.
"Are you sure you didn't make a mistake?"
"How could I be mistaken? This isn't the first time I've seen him since I died.
A few years ago, I even went to see him and stayed at his house for a few days…"
"So you're saying he suddenly gained the ability to see you?" The Old Daoist frowned deeply.
Yu Youcai nodded again.
"I'm worried something might be wrong with his health. He's still young, not even married yet."
His face was filled with worry, all of it concern for Shen Siyuan.
"He has either had some sort of Fateful Encounter, or his Life is Nearing Its End," the Old Daoist murmured.
When the body weakens, a dying person's Three Fires are about to extinguish, making it possible for them to see ghosts, or even to foresee their own death.
"That's exactly what I'm worried about. And I couldn't see the Three Fires on him either. However, I saw that his Vital Energy was Abundant, so he doesn't look like someone about to die."
The Old Daoist was even more surprised to hear this.
With a flick of his wide sleeve, he floated forward.
"Come, take me to see him."
Yu Youcai hurriedly followed behind him.
Watching the Old Daoist ahead, his wide sleeves billowing as he sped forward against the wind under the moonlight.
Yu Youcai began to suspect that the other might have truly succeeded in his cultivation and become a Ghost Immortal.
Because the Old Daoist didn't look like this before he died. Back then, he was just like Yu Youcai was now, withered and decrepit.
But now, his back was straight, his movements fluid, without a trace of old age, like a cicada that had shed its shell.
Yu Youcai also knew of the saying 'Appearance Reflects the Heart'.
He had seen many ghosts who, due to Karmic Force and being unable to suppress their inner Desires, had become bizarrely shaped.
He didn't know if this was also the case with the Old Daoist, but while others changed for the worse, how had he changed for the better?
*
Shen Siyuan was naturally unaware of this situation.
He had already returned home, eaten dinner, and was chatting with his Dad.
He couldn't bring up the matter of his Maternal Granduncle directly, so he could only inquire about it from the side.
"Dad, I went back to Yujia Village today and walked around the village. I passed by the place where Maternal Granduncle used to live.
The house is ruined and overgrown with weeds. Should we repair it?"
"Why repair it? Your Maternal Granduncle had no children.
After he passed away, that piece of land was reclaimed by the village," Shen Jianjun said.
"Oh, I see."
Huang Huijuan peeled an orange and handed it to him, saying, "What, are you thinking of moving back to the hometown in the future? If you really want to, you can live in Linjia Slope.
The house there doesn't need to be rebuilt. Besides, after your Grandmother passes away, her house will definitely be left to you…"
"That's not what I mean."
Shen Siyuan peeled an orange segment and popped it into his mouth."I was just thinking about Maternal Granduncle."
The couple fell silent upon hearing this.
They were not ungrateful people and naturally remembered Maternal Granduncle's kindness.
"Can you tell me about Maternal Granduncle? I was young back then, so I don't remember many things."
"He's already passed away.
What's the point of talking about useless things?" Shen Jianjun said.
"I want to know," Shen Siyuan said earnestly.
"One shouldn't forget their roots. Siyuan is right to ask," Huang Huijuan said.
Hearing this, Shen Jianjun finally began to tell Shen Siyuan about their Maternal Granduncle.
"When your Maternal Granduncle was young, he was a very capable man.
He did business, worked on boats, served as a soldier, fought in wars…"
"Your dad is a lot like him in that regard. Neither of them are the type to settle down; they like to stir things up," Huang Huijuan added from the side.
Shen Jianjun didn't deny it, nodding as he said, "They say a nephew takes after his maternal uncle. That saying is absolutely true."
"When I was little, your Maternal Granduncle was very good to me.
Back then, conditions in the countryside were generally poor. Your Maternal Granduncle would always find ways to get food to fill my and your Grandmother's stomachs, while he himself starved until he was skin and bones…"
"Then what about my Maternal Grandaunt? Why did she pass away so early?"
"Difficult Childbirth.
Medical conditions were poor back then. One Corpse, Two Lives.
It was the most heartbreaking thing for your Maternal Granduncle. Afterward, no one wanted to bring it up, which is why everyone said your Maternal Grandaunt died of illness…"
As they were talking, Huang Huijuan got up and brought out an Iron Box with large patches of peeled paint from a room.
"These are some of your Maternal Granduncle's belongings. After he passed away, we couldn't bear to throw them away, so we kept them."
Hearing this, Shen Siyuan took it with great curiosity.
Opening the Iron Box, the first thing that caught his eye was a neatly stacked bundle of letters.
Besides that, there was a Chairman Mao Badge, a few Silver Dollars, a few bullets, a Medal, and some other miscellaneous small items.
"They're all letters exchanged with his comrades-in-arms," Shen Jianjun said after a glance.But Huang Huijuan, who was beside them, said, "Not necessarily."
"What do you mean?" Shen Siyuan was a little surprised.
Hearing this, Shen Jianjun glanced at Huang Huijuan and said unhappily, "Why are you telling the kid all this?"
Huang Huijuan heard him but paid it no mind.
"Siyuan is all grown up. How is he still a kid? Since he wants to know about Maternal Granduncle's past, just tell him everything."
Huang Huijuan turned to Shen Siyuan and said, "After your Maternal Grandaunt passed away, it's not that your Maternal Granduncle never considered remarrying.
There was a young woman back then who was very fond of your Maternal Granduncle…"
"Then why didn't he marry her in the end?"
"Because of the generational difference. Your Maternal Granduncle didn't want people to gossip about him," Shen Jianjun said.