I squatted by the lake, brushing my shoes over and over again amidst the laughter of the ninth day of the lunar month.
Qiurou couldn't find the location of her body because of this strange location.
This pile of rubble is close to the base of the wall, surrounded by foot-high weeds, and there is only a gravel path leading to the lake.
When people walking their dogs rest in the pavilion, it becomes a paradise for all kinds of pet dogs to play and go to the toilet.
Zhiyuan and others definitely put a lot of thought into choosing the place.
This location is indeed relatively secluded. There is so much animal excrement that it is impossible for ordinary pedestrians to come to this area. In short, whether it is a coincidence or intentional, Qiurou's body was buried here, and her soul could not find a home.
"How can we dig without tools?"
I imitated the ninth day of the Lunar New Year and stood on the raised stone, looking at the excrement of various animals in the chaotic bush not far away and my scalp felt numb.
"Look around for Sa."
Chujiu suggested that we split up and there should be cleaners leaving cleaning tools in the park.
That's the only way to go, it's better to try to find a tool than to get started directly.
Fortunately we did find a worn-out shovel and a broom with almost only a bare stem left.
The soil was much easier to dig than we thought. After removing the top layer of stones, we didn't dig very deep and we could see the clothes on Qiurou's body.
"Why don't you take it back quickly?"
Chujiu stared at the paper airplane folded from the talisman paper and said coldly, without any emotion in his tone.
"Master Tian, I have something to ask for!" Qiurou's voice came to my ears again.
Then I heard Qiurou begging Chujiu to let her stay in the world for one more day. Her father didn't know about her death yet, and she wanted to go back and see her father one last time.
Qiu Rou burst into tears and repeatedly told how her father had suffered all the hardships in the world in order to raise her up.
I think of my father and mother far away in Lijia Village. They work at sunrise and rest at sunset.
My parents have not had a day off for so many years and have provided for me to go to school, just so that I can have a better future and not have to work as hard as them.
"Man and ghost follow different paths, this is the rule! I can't promise you!"
Chujiu's attitude was very resolute. He stared coldly at the position in front of him with wide eyes, feeling like he would take action if he disagreed.
"Master Tianshi, please let me beg you. I will kneel down and kowtow to you. I just ask you to let me stay for one more day."
Chujiu still didn't agree, and moved his hand to the small cloth bag on his waist.
As soon as I saw Chujiu taking out his magic weapon, I quickly walked over and grabbed Chujiu's arm, blocking him in front of him. Although I couldn't see Qiurou, I knew she was not far behind me.
"On the ninth day of the lunar month, Qiu Rou is very pitiful. Let her fulfill her wish and see her father one last time."
"Guo Guo, never do it!"
Chujiu, who is usually kind-hearted, is determined to send Qiurou to the underworld immediately.
"Chujiu! Didn't you listen to me? Go back and see what's wrong with your father? Everyone has relatives, right?"
Perhaps what Qiurou said resonated with me, so I unconsciously yelled at Chujiu.
"Guo Guo! Hey, come here with me."
Seeing that I was angry, Chujiu glared at the empty space behind me and pulled me towards the pavilion not far away.
"Guo Guo, have you ever heard of the word "talking nonsense"? I think you are obsessed with it."
I thought about it and realized that this was the second time Chujiu had said the word "talking nonsense" to me since I met Chujiu. The last time was in the yard of Deng Deyou's house.
Chujiu told me that even people who have done good deeds throughout their lives will change after death. This is the instinct of ghosts.
In order to stay in the human world, they could make up any kind of lies. He only believed 10% of what Qiu Rou said tonight, which was that Qiu Rou was raised by her father alone.
"But she is really pitiful."
Chujiu shook her head. This was the result of listening to nonsense. The most powerful thing about the word "nonsense" is that it can arouse people's resonance and make people believe her words.
If there weren't so many supernatural events, why would people do so many abnormal behaviors for no reason? This is a concrete manifestation of being seduced by ghost stories.
"But I still feel that she is pitiful from the bottom of my heart. Isn't everything Jing'er said true?"
Although I have completely agreed with Chujiu's statement in my heart, and he is absolutely authoritative regarding this knowledge, the image of my father working in my mind is always lingering.
"Guo Guo, you are just too soft-hearted. Sister Jing'er is different. She has a special constitution."
Chujiu couldn't defeat me. In fact, he was kinder than me in his heart. But Chujiu thought that going to the underworld would be the best outcome for everyone.
"Chujiu, you are so powerful, there must be something you can do. Just let her stay a little longer."
Chujiu is worried that Qiurou's ghost has had resentment before and is more likely to turn into a ghost than a person who dies and is taken directly to the underworld.
If everything Qiurou said is true, she will definitely feel hatred and resentment when she sees her father alone.
To ghosts, resentment is like drug dealers seeing drugs. They have no ability to control themselves.
If the resentment accumulates to a certain level, it is very likely to turn into a vicious ghost. At that time, she may even persecute her own father.
There is another possibility that Qiurou will not visit her father at all.
If she gives up reincarnation and is willing to seek revenge against Zhiyuan at the cost of her own soul.
"Then is there any way to make her go back to see her father for the last time without feeling any resentment?"
At this time, I also began to be afraid. No matter what the situation was, I could not accept the consequences.
"If there is a problem, it will be more troublesome."
Just when I had given up trying to buy time for Qiurou, Chujiu's answer gave me hope again.
"Since we have a way, let's help her fulfill her wish. Don't you always say that you do good deeds and accumulate virtue?"
Chujiu spread his hands helplessly, Guo Guo was really kind-hearted, he liked this about me, but was also afraid of me.
"What are you afraid of? It's not like I can't tell the difference between good and bad!"
I smiled and put my arm around Chujiu's shoulders and walked out of the pavilion.
Chujiu whispered that he would accompany me back to Lijia Village after the summer vacation. It turned out that he knew that I sympathized with Qiurou because I missed my parents.
"Guo Guo, you just love to cause trouble for me."
Chujiu quickened his pace and walked towards Qiurou's body.
"What?"
Just when I was wondering what kind of trouble I had caused him, Chujiu picked up the paper airplane folded from the talisman and ran into his pocket, casually saying:
"You are in the talisman, and no matter what happens, don't come out."
"Thank you two Heavenly Masters!"
As soon as Qiu Rou's joyful voice came out, she was frightened by Chu Jiu's "Shut up" and she stopped making any sound.