He truly hated these thoughts that emerged unexpectedly, for they continually negated his current identity and little by little detached him from the relationships that surrounded him.
Once he let this situation continue, he would feel repelled by all irrational yet correct behavior around him—affection, friendship, and all societal warmth—viewing them as foolish wastes of time. He would become cold-hearted, like those large, brightly shining processors in the school’s computer room.
Eventually... he would become just like his mother.
He would detest himself just as his mother detested herself.
Suddenly, he felt he understood why his mother took him to see a psychologist over and over when he was little—it was because she had recognized that her son had inherited the same illness as hers.
At this moment, the black cat seemed to be moved, its eyes swirling with green light. Its previous seduction had been withstood by this boy, but now, seeing his reaction, could it be that a better opportunity had arisen?
But in the end, the cat did not act, not out of kindness, but because it felt a fear as if using seduction on the boy again would trigger unimaginable, terrible consequences.
Li Zhiyuan muttered incessantly to himself about his relationships, continuously reminding—almost hypnotizing—himself about who he was and his familial ties.
This time, however, Qin Li’s name was occasionally mixed in.
Li Zhiyuan rubbed his face hard, as if trying to cram back his sense of identity and empathy. He stood up, took a deep breath, and when he looked again at the black cat, he saw the warmth and kindness of youth in his own eyes.
The black cat’s eyes widened; at this point, it was somewhat unclear as to who exactly was the Corpse Demon.
"Do you need my help? Then lead the way, take me to the old lady."
The black cat nodded and continued forward; this time, the boy followed.
As they passed a small ditch, without any warning, the black cat suddenly vanished.
Li Zhiyuan was familiar with this ditch; he had washed his hands here earlier in the day, and to persuade Uncle Qin to stay, he had even planned to have a picnic sitting on the rocks in front.
Three concrete slabs were set over the ditch for people to cross. Li Zhiyuan stood on one of the slabs, looking around, but still couldn’t find the black cat.
Yet if it wanted to lead him somewhere, it shouldn’t have disappeared halfway.
Li Zhiyuan looked down at the gaps between the concrete slabs under his feet. The gaps were wide, half a palm’s breadth.
Beneath, water flowed continuously.
Right then, the water began to bulge, and an old lady’s face slowly emerged, locking eyes with Li Zhiyuan across the gap between the slabs.
Despite being mentally prepared, the manner of her appearance still sent a chill down Li Zhiyuan’s spine, but he still forced a smile to the face below.
The water continued to flow, and the old lady’s face drifted with the current. Once past the range of the concrete slabs, a louder splash was heard.
She stood up in the ditch, which was deep, and she was short. She wasn’t walking underwater, but seemed to float in a standing position.
Only the part above her shoulders remained above the water’s surface.
She didn’t look like how he had seen her at the birthday banquet, where although withered to skin and bones, she still resembled a person.
But now, she wore only a few strips of clothing, her body was extensively decayed, revealing numerous wormholes and traces of rat bites.
It was like if the ditch’s water had any more force, it would completely disintegrate her.
This was her true form, as there had been no coffin to protect her when she was buried, causing her to become .
She floated in the water, while Li Zhiyuan walked along the ditch bank.
With a body, she could now speak.
If one only heard the textual description, this scene should have been full of endearment and warmth, a conversation between a grandmother and her grandson on a summer night.
But coupled with the actual sight, it was enough to make anyone shudder.
"When she was very young, she had been sold into the Niu family as a child bride, not even possessing her own surname."
"She lost her husband early, and she raised her children alone. In those toughest times, not a single one of her children starved or died young."
"When her children grew up and started families, she took care of their children, and then their grandchildren."
"Back then, she could do chores, look after the children, cook, even tend to farm work. She was content because she felt useful, valuable to her offspring.
That was the kind of person she was. Without a surname in her youth, and having lived an entire lifetime without a moment for herself, she was like a wheel on a cart, just turning and turning.
An easy road meant turning a bit smoother and faster, a bumpy one meant struggling... but still getting by.
She never complained, believing that such was a person’s life."
"Later on when she aged, she could no longer care for children or farm. She couldn’t even light the stove. Her children and grandchildren deemed her useless, a burden.
Sadly, she was able to live on, even though she never asked her children for support, even though her diet was cold water and stale food, she remained alive like a gecko in the crevices of a wall.
She liked to bask in the sun, sitting in the yard all day long.
That day, she saw me, an old, ugly, and crippled cat.