The old man told the crowd he was going to open the coffin. The people in the yard immediately began discussing it, saying that opening a sealed coffin was inauspicious. The old man ignored their chatter and directly ordered a few young men to pry open the coffin.
It took the young men a lot of effort to finally open it. As soon as the lid was lifted, a gust of cold wind blew out from the coffin, carrying with it a foul stench.
The old man shouted to the crowd, "Don't tiptoe! If someone calls your name, don't answer, and don't turn around."
Everyone was petrified by the scene in front of them. One by one, they covered their mouths tightly, afraid to make even the slightest noise. They didn't dare move a muscle.
Standing on the outer edge of the crowd, I could see clearly as black smoke started to seep out of the coffin. I formed a hand seal with my hands and recited a few incantations. The black smoke gradually dissipated.
Soon, the wind in the yard stopped, and the stench disappeared. I knew the work was done and quietly exited the courtyard.
Leaving Sunjia Village, I ran toward my home. Back when I was living at the Taoist temple, my master made me run laps around the temple every morning. Two miles was nothing to me. When I entered the village, I stopped to get my bearings and headed toward the western end of the village.
I quickly arrived in front of my house. The house was dark; no lights were on. I had spent some time in Sunjia Village, and now it was already past ten o'clock. My grandparents must have already gone to bed.
Looking at the house, my nose stung with emotion. I left home at six years old and was now returning after twelve years. It was a feeling I couldn't put into words.
Standing at the door, I didn't rush to go inside because I could feel a surge of energy stirring within me. I knew this was the yin energy inside my body reacting to the similar yin energy beneath the house, causing this restlessness.
Before I left, my master had told me that if I successfully passed the Yang Barrier, the thing under the house could stay sealed for another three years. If I failed, it might break free.
I formed a few hand seals and forcibly suppressed the energy before lifting my hand to knock on the door. A dog's barking immediately sounded in the yard. After a while, I heard an old voice from inside, "Who is it?"
I instantly recognized it was my grandfather's voice. Choking up, I replied, "Grandpa, it's me. I'm back. I'm Taiping."
There was silence from the yard. The person inside clearly froze for a moment, then let out a few exclamations. Footsteps followed, and soon the door opened.
Grandpa had aged significantly. His hair was completely white, but he seemed to be in good spirits. He stood at the door, staring at me for a full minute. Tears gleamed in his cloudy eyes as he nodded repeatedly, "It's my grandson. My grandson has returned."
Then he grabbed my hand and pulled me into his arms, hugging me tightly without saying a word. Feeling the warmth of his body, my heart also felt warm, and tears streamed uncontrollably from my eyes.
After a while, I wiped my tears and said, "Grandpa, where's Grandma?"
"She's inside. Let's go in," Grandpa said without letting go of my hand, pulling me into the house.
"Old man, who's here so late?" Grandmother's voice came from inside.
I didn't wait for Grandpa to answer. I pushed open the door to the inner room and called out, "Grandma, it's me."
Grandma immediately sat up on the bed, staring at me with wide eyes. She burst into tears and tried to get off the bed.
I quickly walked over and hugged her.
Grandma cried while patting my shoulder, saying, "It's really my eldest grandson. This isn't a dream, is it?"
I gently stroked her hunched back and reassured her, "Grandma, you're not dreaming. It's really me. I'm back."
It took a while for both Grandma and Grandpa to calm down. Grandma's eyes hadn't left me since I entered the house. Her hair was also white, and the wrinkles on her face had deepened.
Grandpa and Grandma asked me how I had been all these years, whether I was doing well, and even about the smallest details of my life. I told them I had been doing well, eating well, sleeping well, and that my master had treated me very kindly.
We talked for a long time before Grandma suddenly slapped her thigh and said, "Taiping, I was so happy I forgot to ask—have you eaten?"
When Grandma mentioned food, I realized I was indeed hungry. "Grandma, I only had a bowl of wontons today."
"You and your grandpa sit here. I'll go make you something." Grandma went to the kitchen and steamed a large bowl of eggs, my childhood favorite, and cooked a big bowl of shredded pork noodles.
"Taiping, just make do with this for now. Tomorrow, I'll cook you something better," Grandma said as she watched me wolf down the food.
After eating, we chatted for a while longer before finally going to bed.
I didn't know how long I had slept before the sound of voices outside woke me up. Through the open window, I looked out and saw several middle-aged men and women sitting in the yard. I immediately recognized them—they were my uncles and aunts.
As I stepped out of the house, everyone stood up. They looked at me with tears glistening in their eyes.
"Let your eldest uncle take a look at you. You've grown so much!" Eldest Uncle said, patting my shoulder.
"Taiping, why didn't you let us know you were coming back? I would've gone to the station to pick you up."
My four uncles and aunts surrounded me, asking endless questions.
When I was little, after my mother passed away and my father was absent, my uncles and aunts treated me very well, often bringing me food. Seeing them now and hearing their warm words made my eyes well up again.
To avoid making everyone sad, I blinked a few times to suppress my emotions and smiled as I answered their questions.
By noon, my aunt and several cousins had also arrived after hearing the news. All my cousins were married and had children. My aunt held my hand, wiping her tears. When I was little, she treated me like her own child. Seeing me return, she was both happy and sad.
The yard became lively, with children playing together and adults chatting.
During the meal, everyone was in high spirits until Grandma started wiping her tears. "The whole family is reunited now—except for Shuer. I wonder when he'll come back."
At the mention of my father, all the adults put down their chopsticks. My father hadn't returned or sent any messages for years. My uncles had searched for him many times but never found him.
"Why are you bringing him up on such a happy day? If he's so heartless that he doesn't come back to see us, we should just consider him dead," Grandpa said, though his eyes betrayed his sorrow.
In the end, everything stemmed from the fact that Grandpa had built this house on a burial ground, and he had likely lived with guilt all these years. I could sense it the moment I entered the house.
"Grandma, don't worry. I'll find my father," I reassured her.
"Mother, Shuer will definitely come back. Don't be sad. Maybe, like Taiping, he'll suddenly return one day," Second Uncle said.
"Yes, Second Uncle is right."
"That's right."
Everyone chimed in to comfort her.
Realizing she had dampened the mood, Grandma wiped her tears and said, "Today is Taiping's welcome party. Let's not talk about this. Let's all be happy."
Despite her words, everyone's spirits were subdued.
After the meal, we chatted for a while longer before everyone went home.
In the following days, my uncles took turns inviting me over for meals. None of them had sons, so they placed great importance on me.
For several days, I did nothing but eat and lounge around, feeling like I was gaining weight.
One day, while I was chatting with Grandpa in the yard, someone walked in from outside.
The person came straight to me and smacked me on the head. "Taiping, you brat, you actually came back!"
Rubbing my head, I looked up to see my childhood friend, Manhe.
Manhe had been my only friend in my childhood. Since birth, I had been considered a bad omen in the village. Everyone told their children not to play with me, and even if I approached them, they were told to ignore me.
Manhe's family had also warned him, but he insisted on playing with me and often came to my house to find me. My happy childhood before the age of six was entirely thanks to him.
Seeing Manhe, I was also delighted. I patted his shoulder and said, "Manhe, I heard from Auntie that you went out to work."
"I heard you came back, so I immediately took leave and rushed back!" Manhe said cheerfully.
"Manhe, stay for dinner today. I'll go buy some wine and have your Great-Aunt cook a few good dishes so you two can catch up," Grandpa said with a smile.
I asked Manhe how he was doing and whether he had gotten married. He sighed and said, "Don't even mention it. My mother introduced me to someone. She's a great girl, and we got along well. The wedding date was set, but then she suddenly fell ill. The hospital couldn't figure out what was wrong. She's been unconscious ever since."
After hearing this, I had a feeling that her illness might not be an ordinary one—it could be related to something supernatural.
"Tell me more about her illness. Maybe I can help," I said.
Manhe perked up. "Taiping, have you been studying medicine all these years?"
I chuckled. "That's right. I've been studying traditional Chinese medicine. Sometimes, what Western medicine can't cure, Chinese medicine can."
Hearing this, Manhe became excited. "I knew you must have been learning something amazing all these years! I asked your Grandpa, but he wouldn't tell me."
Grandpa didn't tell the villagers because it was for my own good. I smiled and took a sip of beer. "Manhe, I'll go with you tomorrow."
Manhe, being the impatient type, said, "Why wait until tomorrow? Let's go after dinner!"
"Taiping, if you can cure my fiancée, I'll do anything for you—cross mountains, walk through fire, whatever it takes!"
Hearing his dramatic words, I laughed. Manhe always talked like he was in a martial arts novel. I was starting to wonder if he had gone out to work or joined a gang.
After dinner, under Manhe's urging, I got on his motorcycle, and we left the village.
After about twenty minutes, we arrived at another village and stopped in front of a house.
"It's here," Manhe said, pointing to the door.
Standing at the entrance, I looked around the yard and noticed black smoke swirling around the house. As I expected, Manhe's fiancée was being tormented by something unclean.
Manhe knocked on the door, and soon a middle-aged woman opened it.
"Manhe, you're here," the woman greeted him, then glanced at me and asked who I was.
"Auntie, this is my brother. He studies Chinese medicine, and I specifically brought him to treat Ruifang," Manhe explained.
The woman scrutinized me with doubt in her eyes. "Manhe, I know you're worried about Ruifang, but we've already been to big hospitals, and they couldn't figure it out. Are you sure this young doctor can help?"
I immediately understood that she didn't trust me because of my age.
"Auntie, you can let me try. There's no harm in it, right?" I said directly.
"Exactly, Auntie! Ruifang has been sick for so long. What if my brother can cure her?" Manhe added quickly.
After thinking for a moment, the woman said, "Alright, come in."
She led us to the inner room, where a girl was lying on the bed—this must be Ruifang.
She was slightly plump, with disheveled hair covering her cheeks, and her eyes were tightly closed. I could see a shadow of death on her face. She was in serious condition.
I pretended to check her pulse and lifted her eyelids to examine her.
"How is she, Taiping? Can you help her?" Manhe asked anxiously.
I nodded. "It's serious, but I can treat her."
Hearing this, the woman immediately asked, "Are you sure? Can you really cure my daughter?"
"Auntie, let me give it a try," I said confidently.