C34 Corpse Tearing

I rubbed my eyes. Indeed, there were two shadows on the ground: one was mine, and the other belonged to the female ghost.

Could she really not be a ghost? Yet, she certainly wasn't human either, as I saw no shackles binding her.

Driven by curiosity, I quietly asked, "Sister, aren't you a ghost?"

"Hmph, when have I ever claimed to be a ghost? If I were, then wouldn't all the villagers have the ability to see spirits?" she said with a chuckle.

"Then what are you?" I inquired, my curiosity piqued.

"I am merely something forsaken by both the realms of Yin and Yang. Now, your enemies won't be able to follow you here. You know the path to descend the mountain, don't you?" she said calmly. Before I knew it, we had reached the base of the mountain.

I nodded. She pointed at my chest and added, "Three years from today, I will come looking for you. Don't cling to any false hopes. If you break your promise, you will surely meet an ugly end."

I nodded once more, though deep down, I truly hoped to never see her again.

The woman vanished swiftly into the dark woods. Fearing the Sunn family might pursue me, I didn't delay and raced up the mountain.

But as I reached the halfway point, my body began to change again, deteriorating like before.

Bathed in moonlight, I watched my skin age rapidly, wrinkling, while my consciousness started to fade.

This isn't good! Away from that woman, my body is failing...

What now? My 'jerky' is still with the Evil Taoist; I certainly can't walk into that snare.

Instinctively, I glanced westward and saw the graveyard on the back mountain, not too far away.

Desperate to live, I didn't hesitate. While I still had a shred of awareness, I dashed towards it frantically.

Under normal circumstances, I would never dare to visit a graveyard alone at night, but in that moment, fear was irrelevant—I had already become a starving ghost.

Upon reaching the cemetery, I was drawn to the nearest fresh grave. Without a second thought, I began to dig wildly with my hands.

The earth and sharp stones gradually wore away at my fingers, yet I did not cease my efforts, nor did I feel any pain.

I felt like a zombie, driven by a single-minded determination to survive.

When pushed to the brink, a person's latent potential can be unlocked, releasing tremendous energy. It wasn't long before I reached the coffin below.

Eagerly, I pried open the lid, but the sight of the person inside left me stunned.

The inscription on the headstone read "In loving memory of Li Cuilan." This Li Cuilan was none other than Grandma Lee, who had cared for and cherished me since my childhood.

Though not related by blood, Grandma Lee was the dearest person to me in this world, second only to my foster father.

Clutching onto the last shreds of my sanity and humanity, I gently closed the coffin lid with shaking hands. I would rather face death than desecrate Grandma Lee's remains.

I collapsed in front of her grave, unable to muster the strength to rise or to disturb another resting place. A crow circled overhead, cawing twice, as if signaling my impending demise.

I lay there, vision blurring, filled with a profound sense of injustice. I had managed to escape the Sunn family's ancient home, only to be ensnared by a cruel fate.

As I lay there, resigned, expecting death, it did not come. Instead, my body began to regain its normal state.

Could it be...

My eyes fluttered open to the sight of a pair of embroidered shoes, adorned with red and gold.