Threads of black baleful qi seeped continuously from Ji San's decaying body, growing denser and denser until it was almost tangible.
Shen Cuiyu frowned slightly and quickly threw out two talismans to keep Ji San lucid.
After that, Shen Cuiyu fell silent. She didn't rush to summon others to restrain Ji San. Instead, like a patient listener, she silently listened to his life's hardships and obsessions.
"I know I no longer belong in the mortal world... Even if I manage to linger through tonight, I can't escape tomorrow," Ji San lifted his head, his lifeless eyes staring straight at Shen Cuiyu, dull and spiritless. "But I just... can't bear to leave."
Those who linger in the mortal world after death all have extraordinary obsessions in their hearts.
Ji San's obsession was very simple, so simple that even ordinary people who weren't celestial masters could understand it - the father - son bond thicker than blood.
But Shen Cuiyu knew well that the simplest mental prison was often the hardest to break.
He was not like Qin Keyun, who was solely bent on revenge, nor like the drowned red - clothed ghost who had specific demands.
Ji San's death was too sudden. When the mine collapsed, there were still too many exhortations stuck in his throat, and too many parts of Ji Xiaoqi's future that he didn't have the chance to participate in.
These heavy worries and regrets clogged his last breath, trapping Ji San between the yin and the yang.
"At first, I just wanted to see Xiaoqi one more time. I thought that if I did, I could let go. But now that I've seen him, I just can't bear to leave. Xiaoqi is all alone. Without his parents' protection, how is he going to grow up..." Ji San's voice was hoarse.
He knew that his baleful qi could get out of control at any moment. He didn't want to harm others and wanted to leave cleanly, but...
"I'm still too greedy," Ji San's tone was full of self - loathing.
Shen Cuiyu looked at him for a moment and softly said, "It's only human nature."
Ji San was taken aback. He didn't expect that this terrifying version of himself could still be called a "human" by the celestial master in front of him.
Just then, a flurry of hasty footsteps approached from afar!
"There they are!" Dongfang Xiao's loud voice rang out first.
Zhong Shengwan, Pei Yu, and the other disciples, including Liu Ruyan, all rushed over!
Everyone immediately saw the terrifying baleful qi not far away and Ji Xiaoqi crying in the embrace of the baleful qi. Their hearts tightened, and they instinctively assumed defensive stances.
"Shen Cuiyu... actually managed to summon Ji San?!" The disciple who had raised doubts earlier stared at the scene in disbelief, his mouth agape.
"... Why are you still calling her Shen Cuiyu? Shouldn't you call her grandma?" Another disciple reminded him in a timely manner.
"......"
Ji San's body tensed up instantly. He warily looked at the Wuxiang disciples not far away and pulled Ji Xiaoqi to stand farther away.
The disciples looked at each other, hesitant.
Although Ji San's obsession was now well - known, no one dared to approach easily.
Negotiating with unpredictable ghosts was a dangerous thing. A single misstep could lead to being entangled in great karmic consequences, which would backfire on oneself. Among those present, only Shen Cuiyu and Liu Ruyan had majored in communicating with the dead and could directly communicate with the spirits.
Liu Ruyan was startled when she saw the scene. Then her eyes quickly scanned the situation - although Ji San looked terrifying, he seemed to be under the control of Shen Cuiyu's talismans and wouldn't suddenly attack. Otherwise, Shen Cuiyu wouldn't have let Ji Xiaoqi get close to him!
She immediately realized that this was a god - given opportunity to redeem her image and snatch the credit!
All Ji San was worried about was that his young son would have a hard time surviving alone.
As long as she solved Ji Xiaoqi's survival problem, wouldn't Ji San's obsession be resolved?
So Liu Ruyan quickly stepped forward, as if afraid that Shen Cuiyu would get ahead of her. While stealing glances at Shen Cuiyu's expression, she declared:
"Ji San! If you're willing to leave peacefully, I, Liu Ruyan, promise here that I will ensure Ji Xiaoqi has a worry - free life in the future and send him to school to study. As an exchange, you should be able to rest assured now, right?"
As soon as Liu Ruyan made this generous promise, everyone's gazes were focused on her. Some were a bit impressed, thinking that the problem seemed to be solved.
When Ji San heard Liu Ruyan's words, the baleful qi around him seemed to calm down a bit, but he still stood there motionless. His empty gaze was firmly fixed on Ji Xiaoqi, and he didn't dissipate as Liu Ruyan had expected.
Liu Ruyan frowned and thought to herself that Ji San was being too greedy. Wasn't this enough? What exactly was his obsession?
Shen Cuiyu didn't look at Liu Ruyan, nor did she rush to refute her.
All her attention was on the father - son pair in front of her.
Mountains can crumble, and people can leave. No matter how many promises others make, they are just passing clouds. The only one who can make Ji San leave willingly is Ji Xiaoqi.
Perhaps what Ji San was worried about was far more than just survival.
Shen Cuiyu slowly squatted down, leveling her gaze with Ji Xiaoqi. Her voice was soft but carried a calming power: "Xiaoqi," she looked at the ingots in the basket, "what were you thinking when you folded these gold ingots by yourself?"
Ji Xiaoqi was stunned for a moment. With tear - filled eyes, he softly said, "I... I was afraid that Daddy wouldn't have any money to spend over there. He would be hungry and bullied... I was also afraid that he would be alone, lonely, and miss me..."
Shen Cuiyu keenly noticed that when Ji Xiaoqi said this, Ji San's stiff body trembled slightly but violently, and the surging baleful qi around him stagnated for a moment.
In this world, a parent's heart is always connected to their child's.
The child here is afraid that the parent will be lonely, while the parent over there is only worried that the child will have a hard time walking the future path alone.
Shen Cuiyu continued to look at Ji Xiaoqi and softly asked, "What about you? Are you afraid of being lonely?"
Ji Xiaoqi nodded vigorously, and more tears welled up in his eyes: "I'm afraid... I'm afraid of being alone..." He raised his head, eagerly seeking an answer: "Sister, will people no longer be lonely when they grow up?"
Everyone fell silent and lowered their heads when they heard his question.
Will people no longer be lonely when they grow up?
Of course not.
"People in this world are all lonely in their own ways. Adults have their own loneliness, and children have theirs," Shen Cuiyu reached out to wipe away Ji Xiaoqi's tears. She was speaking to Ji Xiaoqi and also to Ji San beside them: "So both adults and children have to learn to walk on their own for a while. But walking on your own doesn't mean walking alone. In the future, you will meet many wonderful people, teachers who will teach you knowledge, friends who will play with you, and there will be many beautiful sceneries that you haven't seen yet, waiting for you to discover."
She paused for a moment, and her tone carried a rare sense of clarity and gentleness for her age: "You have to learn to use your own courage to overcome the loneliness you're afraid of."