Chapter 48: Memories Reset Blessings of Sparkling Cream Puffs Happy Student Day

  Looking at the silver turtle in my hand, I finally felt a sense of reality. All those dream-like experiences really did happen. The world under Mount Mao is one that I am unable to explore. I don't have the ability to understand why all these things are happening. I was vaguely labeled as a savior and blindly persevered until today.

  I have been kind and righteous to both others and myself.

  I stuffed the silver turtle back into my bag and placed it on the bedside table. A wave of pain washed over my shoulder, and I lay back down in bed. The smell of disinfectant filled my nostrils, and the hospital room was empty except for my single bed. My scapula was already wrapped in gauze, but it still throbbed with a dull ache.

  It was fine when I was under high tension before, but now that the environment is more comfortable, the pain has intensified all over my body.

  I think that given my current situation, I should go see a neurologist. After confirming that there's no deviation in my nerves, then I can rethink this matter from the beginning.

  I asked a nurse for a pen and paper, and started drawing on it.

  This is probably the most stupid way of thinking, but it's one I use most often. I think putting things from my brain onto paper makes them more intuitive and easier to sort out.

  I wrote two words at the top of the paper, reservoir. Below that I wrote two names, Grandfather and me. After thinking for a moment, I also added Uncle Cheng's name to it.

  Twenty years ago, my grandfather had been there, but I didn't see any evidence of his visit along the way. My grandfather only left me a letter and a copper ball after he died, and I stumbled into Maoer Mountain in a daze.

  Then I wrote down a few important things under our names. The female corpse of the Hani nationality, the records about Wu in the secret room of Tongtian Temple, the silver turtle beside the boat coffin, and finally the silver turtle we got from the Copper Mirror Gate.

  As for the situation in the tomb, what flashed into my mind instantly were these few things.

  Based on this clue, I can roughly come to the conclusion that Hatsune Mountain, also known as Dragon Fire Mountain in ancient times, is located at the foot of this mountain. There is a creature called Tongyu being raised there, which was a sacred object worshipped by the people of the ancient Dian Kingdom, and they believed it had the ability to communicate with prisons.

  But the growth of Tonggu requires countless lives to feed. So the ancient Dian ancestors used various methods to turn Maoershan into a place that automatically absorbs and feeds when encountering water. My grandfather was unintentional, but he turned the villagers into victims.

  I will bring the prison out of the tomb, and it is very likely that I accidentally solved this matter.

  What I need to know now is whether the people in the village have really returned to normal. Only then can I continue to verify whether my guess is correct.

  The formalities for discharge from the hospital were completed three days later. My body had almost recovered, but my mother was worried and insisted that I stay in the hospital for a few more days to observe. I couldn't persuade her otherwise, so I compromised. My mother kept asking me how I got hurt so badly, and I didn't have any good excuses, so I simply said it was because of Marx's beating.

  "I had a feeling it was, losing out on the two of you being good friends before, how could you use such heavy hands?" My mom's hand, which was cutting an apple, stopped moving and she whispered to me "I think that woman is not young anymore, why did the two of you end up in a big fight?"

  I guess my mom has watched too many TV dramas, she's always full of curiosity about this kind of plot. If it were really a fight, I'd be seeing someone's scapula broken for the first time.

  I gave a perfunctory response and managed to placate my mom.

  I told my mom that I still had something to take care of in the village, and she was worried sick. I gave my dad a look, and he immediately understood what I meant, so he coaxed my mom into leaving. Before she left, she repeatedly reminded me to be careful with my injuries. I handed over the memory card, the fish skin book, and several stone pieces to my dad, gave him an address, and asked him to mail them to my colleague.

  This stone slab is also good, it was smashed and crashed, but it didn't break into pieces.

  I saw off my dad and mom, I packed all my luggage, the next day, took the morning bus back to the village.

  As soon as I got off the car, I rushed back home, locked the door and waited for nightfall.

  I called Ma Si Zhe in the middle, no one answered. Ma Si Zhe and Huo Ying were taken away by someone, I guess it should be his uncle's people, maybe something happened in the store or at home.

  I dialed several times but couldn't get through, so I gave up and sent a text message instead.

  I've been discharged from hospital and plan to go back to my village tonight to take a look around.

  Staring at the phone for half a day, there was no response. It seems that something is really important. I set an alarm clock at 10 o'clock in the evening and decided to sleep for a while to nourish my spirit.

  I woke up dazed in the middle of the night, and it was already completely dark outside. I fumbled for my phone to take a look - oh my god! It was already 12:05. I put on my shoes, threw on some clothes, and rushed towards Ye Hua's house.

  I ran to the gate and turned around to run back, went into the kitchen to grab a fruit knife and put it in my pocket.

  I ran to the entrance of Ye Hua's house, and I started hesitating again. What if Ye Hua comes out of the house in a while and climbs up the tree? Or eats the dog at home. I think I'll be so angry that I'll faint on the spot. I went through the Ghost Gate, but you're still the same ghostly figure, anyone would find it unbearable.

  I hesitated at the door for a moment, and heard the creaking sound of the door opening. Before I could hide, I bumped into Ye Hua. My heart was racing violently, Ye Hua walked towards me, getting closer and closer.

  "Sun Yi, how did you come?"

  Long live! Ye Hua's expression was completely normal. I glanced at my watch, it was already half past twelve, Ye Hua was fine! I really wanted to pick him up and spin him around in a circle to vent the extreme joy in my heart.

  Come say goodbye, I'm leaving tomorrow. I stretched out my hand to pat his shoulder, but touched something instead. I took a look and it was a small black plaque with the character for "filial piety" written on it.

  "What is this?"

  Ye Hua lowered his head and looked down, saying sadly "My mom passed away four days ago, heart attack"

  I stood there in a daze, not knowing what to say. The village was extremely quiet, with only an occasional gust of wind blowing by, causing the leaves on the ground to fly about wildly. I wrapped my clothes tightly around me and slowly made my way home.

  My mind is a complete blank, I don't know what to think. I always feel that this matter was resolved in a somewhat suspicious way. And then I remembered something Marx said when he was in school: 'Things that are handed to you on a silver platter always seem poisonous.'

  Maybe it's just my personality, I'm a worrier by nature.

  I returned home, locked the doors and windows again, but couldn't sleep all night. The next morning, I packed my bags early and prepared to leave the village. On the way, I met Old Duan from the village entrance chess room and exchanged a few pleasantries.

  "Xun Yi has been away for over a decade, right?" Old Duan said with a cigarette butt in his mouth and his eyes narrowed.

  "It's been almost twenty years"

  "This time I've been back for several days"

  "Not staying for long, have to go back again"

  "It's also like this, no one is at home, only an old house is left, and there's no point in coming back"

  "It's also related to my grandfather that he never came back"

  Lao Duan extinguished the cigarette butt and threw it on the ground, stepping on it with one foot. "It's also true that you can't let go of your emotions when you see things. But your grandfather has been gone for twenty years, and whatever knot is in your heart should be let go."

  "Twenty years?" My grandfather was just buried not long ago, how did it become twenty years already.

  "It's not like that, from the time your grandfather drowned in the reservoir to now, it's been twenty years already"

  At this time, someone in the card room shouted "Old Duan, add some tea water", Old Duan said with embarrassment "I won't bother you, when you have time to come back and sit at my place"

  I blankly replied with "Oh, okay, you go ahead and be busy"

  After Lao Duan left, I stood there alone for a long time in a daze.

  That memory was altered, in the villagers' memories, the dead person became my grandfather.

  But this might also be the best outcome, everything is still running as usual, nothing has changed, everything is normal.

  Before I left, I went to sweep Grandpa's grave. I lit three incense sticks and burned a large handful of yellow paper. Looking at Grandpa's photo, I let out a long sigh.

  Grandpa, I've also atoned for my sins. Don't worry about your grandson's ability to endure big or small things, I've managed to get this thing done with a lot of effort. Although there were several times when I almost went to see you, I got through them all, so rest in peace now.

  Unconsciously sat in front of my grandfather's grave for half a day, just as I was about to leave, I seemed to hear some noise in the bushes. Turning back to take a look, there was nothing, and I shook my head with a wry smile, guessing that I had been scared by the spirits of the things in the tomb, becoming suspicious and fearful.

  Pick up the luggage by your side and walk to the village entrance to wait for the bus. In rural areas, waiting for a bus is entirely dependent on fate, with no fixed schedule or time. After about an hour, I finally waited for one.

  The conductor opened the door and threw out a handful of melon seeds, about half of which fell on my shoes. I helplessly shook them off, bought a ticket, and found a window seat.

  The car started, and slowly drove away from the village. At this moment, I don't know what words to use to describe my mood. A weight off my shoulders? No, there are still many things pressing on my mind, various problems, various misunderstandings.

  There are many things, finding Uncle Cheng may have the answer. On the premise that Uncle Cheng will tell me the truth. The grave is now estimated to be flooded, and Uncle Cheng is likely to be in danger.

  Ma Si Zhe and Huo Ying don't know how they are doing now, I haven't been in touch with them since I woke up. I flipped through my phone to see if Ma Si Zhe had sent me a text message. At this time, a call came in, I picked it up, it was Xiao Hai from our archaeological team. Because he just graduated from college, he is full of energy and spirit, like a child.

  I picked up the phone "Hello? What's wrong?"

  "Sun Yige, I received those things you sent me."

  "It's really fast, it arrived today"

  "Hey, come back quickly, this thing of yours is a bit strange"

  I thought it was calm and over, but it seems that's just my wishful thinking. Things are not that simple. Although I don't want to admit it, this matter doesn't seem to be over yet. I put down the phone and leaned my head against the car window, intending to indulge in some melancholy, but unfortunately, the village road was bumpy, and the window shook like a sieve, shaking my brain numb, so I had to lift my head again.

  Looking out of the window at the slowly passing tree shadows, I sit in this faded bus, being carried further and further away.