Chapter 73: Grandpa Don't Go
The wooden cart rumbled towards the countryside. Black Pot's lantern had long gone out; Chen Shi inserted it at the front of the cart. Grandfather and grandson swayed with the vehicle.
"Grandpa didn't have many friends; near Qianyang Mountain, just these few."
Grandpa said, "Near Huangshi Mountain, there are two more. One is a stone carver named Du Yiran; a Malevolent Spirit at Huangshi Mountain. If there are things you can't handle or people you can't kill, find him. The place where he lives is full of tombstones. He specializes in carving them."
Chen Shi was stunned.
Grandpa's third friend was also a Malevolent Spirit?
Grandpa continued, "There is another, a beekeeper named Ah Zhuo, living around the South Great Lake."
Chen Shi hoped beekeeper Ah Zhuo was a living person.
"He probably degenerated into a Malevolent Spirit too, right?"
Grandpa was unsure. "He raises Malevolent Spirits. Haven't seen him for years; likely polluted... But Ah Zhuo is extremely loyal. If you have difficulties, tell him you are Chen Yindu's grandson, and he will risk his life to help."
He paused. "Also Xiao Wangsun, Madam Sha, Jin Hongying, and Li Jindou. Although not friends, they owe Grandpa a big favor. After I leave, they won't ignore your troubles." Chen Shi stared at the black-clothed youth in the distance and said, "Grandpa, if my illness can't be cured, let me die and go to the Underworld with you? I have no other relatives. In the Underworld, I can take care of you."
Grandpa fell silent. This grandson was too sensible—sensible enough to break his heart.
Chen Shi looked up to see Grandpa wiping tears.
"Silly child, you still have your father and mother."
Grandpa reached out a rough hand, touched his head, and smiled. "After I leave, your father Chen Tang will take care of you."
"I don't know him."
Chen Shi lowered his head. "I haven't even seen him."
Chen Tang was a stranger.
Grandpa was his only relative.
Grandpa's voice dropped low. "Little Ten, don't worry. Grandpa will fight everything to make you live! In this world, no one can take away my grandson, not even the King of Hell!"
Hostility rose in his chest like a tide. If it was the King of Hell, he would kill his way to the Palace of Hell; if it was an Evil God, he would kill the Evil God!
The green oil-paper umbrella emitted a burnt smell, barely suppressing his hostility.
The distant Xuan Shan walked closer, and only then did the umbrella not catch fire.
These days, Xuan Shan had been helping him suppress his demonic nature.
They returned safely to the village. Chen Shi and Li Tianqing were busy brewing medicine for the injured.
Spirit Elixirs were divided into four types.
The first was brewed from ingredients over a slow fire until the water evaporated, leaving a grease-like substance rolled into pills.
The second was grinding ingredients into powder, adding honey, and rolling them into pills.
The third used one's true fire to activate a furnace cauldron, adding minerals—Five Metals and Eight Stones—supplemented by herbs to refine a Golden Pill. This was the Outer Pill.
The fourth used true fire as the flame, true water for quenching, the Dantians as the furnace, and Qi, blood, and spirit as minerals to refine a Golden Pill. This was the Inner Pill.
Both were Great Medicines, essential for cultivating the Nascent Soul.
But decoction was the easiest. It was ready quickly and effective immediately.
The four sick people relied entirely on decoctions. Fortunately, Grandpa's medical skills were brilliant, so they survived.
"Life-saving grace, how to repay?" Jin Hongying whispered. "If only I had no conscience."
The other three agreed.
Because they had a conscience, they had to bear responsibility.
Chen Shi went to pay respects to his Godmother. As he walked out, he saw the black-clothed Xuan Shan under the tree at the door.
Xuan Shan was getting closer to Grandpa.
Xuan Shan nodded slightly to him. Chen Shi felt a faint unease. Grandpa walked over and said, "Little Ten, I'll go with you to see your Godmother."
They walked to the yellow clay ridge outside the village. Xuan Shan appeared again by the Jade Belt River, watching them.
Chen Shi offered incense to the Stone Tablet Godmother under the old willow tree and whispered, "Godmother, bless Grandpa with good health, safety, and eternal life."
Grandpa smiled. "Silly child, who can be ageless and deathless?"
After Chen Shi finished, Grandpa stepped forward with incense and chanted silently: Brother Dao, although I don't know your origin, you are unfathomable. You must protect Little Ten.
He remembered when he first came to the ridge. He was only six or seven.
The ridge was exactly the same then.
He had climbed up, touched the stone tablet, and suddenly a giant monument towered up, an ancient temple like the sky shrouded in incense.
He would never forget that scene.
Only, he had never seen it again.
Later, when Chen Shi was in trouble, Grandpa conceived the idea of having him acknowledge the stone tablet as Godmother.
But the tablet never responded, which disappointed him.
He wanted to see if it would respond this time.
However, after the incense burned out, the tablet remained silent.
"Did I see wrong back then?"
Grandpa walked down the slope, disappointed.
Days later, the injured recovered. Only Li Jindou's legs wouldn't heal, but the old man smiled, "When I'm better, I'll have Tianqing carry me home in a basket."
Xuan Shan appeared more frequently, making Chen Shi anxious.
That night, after practice, Chen Shi went to bed. Just as he slept, he saw Grandpa walking out of the darkness, shaking him.
Chen Shi blinked open his eyes. "Grandpa, what is it?"
Grandpa sat by the bed. "Little Ten, Grandpa is leaving. Came to tell you."
"Where are you going?"
"I can't delay any longer; I have to go to the Underworld. I've stayed too long. If I don't leave, I'll become a Malevolent Spirit. I can't harm you."
Grandpa smiled. "We must part today. Little Ten, take care of yourself."
He touched Chen Shi's head and stood up.
"Grandpa, don't go, okay?"
Panic seized Chen Shi. He started crying, grabbing the old man's hand. "Grandpa don't go! Don't leave me alone! I'm scared!"
He scrambled off the bed, gripping the old man's hand. "Grandpa don't leave me! Take me wherever you go! You are my only relative!"
The old man broke free and walked into the darkness, bathed in a strange light.
Grandpa looked back, smiled, and waved.
"Grandpa don't go!"
Chen Shi chased him, crying, body trembling.
"Take me with you! Don't leave me behind!"
He chased, but the old man walked further away, turning into a point of light.
"Grandpa don't leave me! Take me with you!"
He wailed, helpless as a child.
"Little Ten, wake up!"
Madam Sha's voice cut through. Chen Shi opened his eyes. He was lying on the bed. Madam Sha stood there, shaking his arm.
Chen Shi stared blankly. The quilt was ice-cold, soaked with tears.
Was it a dream?
Chen Shi relaxed. Fortunately, it was just a dream.
He had worried about Grandpa too much lately.
"Madam, what happened?"
Madam Sha hesitated. "Little Ten, steady yourself. Your Grandpa... he's gone. Just left. Child, don't cry... Come send him off. The Underworld is too dark; hold this lamp and light his way... Let him walk smoothly."
Chen Shi held the Sheep Horn Heavenly Spirit Lamp. Its eerie light penetrated the Yang realm, illuminating the Netherworld.
Madam Sha shook the Civil King Drum. Shasha sounds mixed with dongdong beats. Her singing voice rose, transmitting to the Underworld.
"Shine a light hey shine a light, illuminating the Netherworld. Deceased souls of old age oh walk slowly; relatives light the lamp to shine the path ahead..."
Chen Shi illuminated the darkness. The lamp dispelled the white mist, startling away hiding monsters.
The old man in the fog seemed to see the light, looked back, and smiled.
"Shine a light hey shine a light, illuminating the River of Forgetfulness..."
Chen Shi held the lamp, watching the old man drift away.
"Shine a light hey shine a light, illuminating the Home Viewing Terrace..."
"Split open the earth's skin to judge hell, split open hell to redeem the true soul!"
"Gold buys a thousand years of life, fine silk redeems ten thousand years of soul!"
"One soul returns, two souls return!"
"Three souls and seven spirits return together!"
"Yindu come back same year oh—, come back to receive incense and see descendants!"
...
The lamp shone further and further. The old man walked into the depths of the Netherworld.
Walk slower. Grandpa walk a bit slower. The light can't catch you anymore.
He held the lamp aloft until the old man vanished from sight.
He didn't know when dawn broke, nor when the mourning hall was set up. He was muddled, clutching the lamp tight.
They dressed him in rough white hemp and arranged for him to keep vigil.
Madam Sha and Li Tianqing persuaded him to eat, but he refused.
Black Pot came to his side. After a long time, he hugged the dog and finally cried.
"Let it out. It's good to let it out!"
Madam Sha breathed a sigh of relief.
Chen Shi hugged the dog.
Black Pot, from now on, only you and I are left.
Many people came to mourn.
At night, Chen Shi stood up shakily.
He hobbled to Grandpa's room and found the Thousand-Mile Audio Talisman.
The talisman burned, flame eerie.
A moment later, a middle-aged man's voice emerged: "Dad, I told you, I'm not going back this year. I'm busy..."
Chen Shi's mouth twitched. Summoning his courage, he interrupted.
"Are you my father Chen Tang? I am Chen Shi. Grandpa... he's gone."