For thirty years, he has roamed the Northeast, his divine might overwhelming all immortals under hea

As dawn broke, the roosters in Zhujiakan crowed loudly, one crow after another, waking the entire village from its slumber.

I climbed up from the pile of firewood, feeling light and refreshed, without any of the usual soreness.

I walked to the water tank, scooped up a ladle of cold water, and washed my face.

The icy water splashed on my face, making me shiver, but it also made me more awake.

I was stunned as I looked at the reflection in the water tank.

It was a face with distinct features, no longer the dull and wooden one of before, and its eyes shone with a clear light.

Although her hair was still messy, the silly look in her eyes had completely disappeared.

This is me, Li Shisan, a Li Shisan who is no longer a fool.

"Thirteen? Why are you up so early?"

Mother's voice came from the main room, tinged with surprise.

In the past, I would always sleep until the sun was high in the sky, and she would pull my ear to get me up.

I turned around and looked at my mother.

Mother was dressed in patched coarse cloth clothes, her hair was tied in a bun, her face was covered with wrinkles, and her eyes still carried that lingering weariness and disdain.

"Mom, I'm thirsty, have some water."

I spoke, my voice clear and my tone calm.

My mother was stunned, staring straight at me as if she were seeing me for the first time.

She opened her mouth, but couldn't say a word for a long time.

At this moment, Dad also came out of the main room, holding a tobacco pipe in his hand.

He was stunned when he saw me standing by the water tank.

"You...how come you speak so fluently now?"

His father's voice trembled slightly.

I smiled but didn't say anything.

I know that no matter how much I say now, they won't believe me.

We need to prove it with facts.

My mother realized what was happening, quickly walked up to me, and reached out to touch my forehead.

"No fever? Why...why aren't you stupid anymore?"

Her hands were rough and calloused, and they were warm as she touched my forehead.

I could feel her hands trembling slightly.

"Mother, I'm all better now."

I looked into her eyes and said earnestly.

"From today onwards, I'm not stupid anymore."

Suddenly, tears streamed down her face.

She covered her face, squatted on the ground, and began to sob.

Dad stood to the side, his pipe falling to the ground with a loud thud.

He looked at me, and his eyes were red.

Thirteen years have passed; they have been waiting for this day for a full thirteen years.

I crouched down and patted my mother's shoulder.

"Mom, don't cry. I'm better now. I can work, earn money, and support you."

My mother looked up at me, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Really? You're really better?"

"real."

I nodded.

At this moment, Dad came over, squatted down beside me, and patted my shoulder heavily.

"Good lad! Good lad!"

Father's voice choked with emotion. He had rarely cried in his life, but today, he couldn't help but shed tears.

For breakfast, Mom made a pot of hot corn porridge and a plate of scrambled eggs.

In the past, this was a delicacy that could only be enjoyed during the Lunar New Year.

My mother ladled the porridge into a bowl, placed it in front of me, and then pushed the plate of eggs in front of me.

"Thirteen, eat more to nourish your body."

I held the bowl and took a sip of the hot porridge.

The warm porridge slid into my stomach, making me feel so comfortable that I almost closed my eyes.

This is the first time in my life I've ever had such a delicious breakfast.

In the past, I could only squat by the stove and eat the leftover cold rice with pickled vegetables. Sometimes I couldn't even get enough cold rice to eat.

"Eat slowly, eat slowly, there's more in the pot."

My mother sat across from me, watching me wolf down my food, her face full of smiles.

Dad sat beside me, smoking and watching me with a wide grin on his face.

After finishing my meal, I took the initiative to pick up a broom and swept the yard clean.

He picked up the bucket again and went to the well to fetch water, filling the water tank to the brim.

My movements were swift and efficient, without any hesitation.

My parents stood at the door, watching my busy figure, their smiles never fading.

The villagers also noticed the changes in me.

My third grandfather, who was passing by my house, saw me carrying buckets of water back from the well. He was stunned and it took him a while to speak.

"This...isn't this Thirteen? Why...why isn't he stupid anymore?"

I put down the bucket and smiled at my third grandfather: "Good morning, third grandfather. I'm all done."

My third grandfather stared wide-eyed, circled me twice, and marveled at me.

"How strange! This child suddenly got better? Did he run into some kind of deity?"

His voice was quite loud, attracting many villagers who were passing by.

Soon, a crowd gathered in front of my house.

"He's really not stupid anymore? Look at his eyes, they're so clear and bright!"

"Absolutely! Before, his eyes were so blank, like he was sitting on a block of wood. Now it's different!"

"That Li family kid must have struck it lucky!"

Gou Sheng was also in the crowd.

He looked at me with surprise in his eyes, and a hint of...fear.

I looked at him, a cold smile curling at the corner of my lips.

He used to bully me the most.

Now, I'll see if he dares to do it again.

Gou Sheng felt uncomfortable under my gaze, and shrank back, trying to back away.

At this moment, my second aunt squeezed in, looked me up and down, and had a hint of suspicion on her face.

"Thirteen, are you really alright? You're not faking it, are you?"

Looking at my second aunt, I remembered how she used to cover her nose and curse me for being unlucky, and that anger in my heart rose again. But I didn't lash out; I just said calmly.

"Second Aunt, you'll know if it's an act or not if you try it."

My second aunt was taken aback by my retort, and her face turned a little pale.

"What kind of talk is that? Why are you still so impulsive even though you're all better?"

"I used to be stupid."

I looked at the villagers gathered at the door and said loudly.

"From today onwards, I, Li Shisan, am no longer that fool. I won't hold grudges against the past. But from now on, if anyone dares to bully me or my parents again, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

My voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority. The villagers gathered at the door were all stunned.

They looked at me with surprise in their eyes.

I used to be timid and submissive, always letting others bully me. I never had such a strong presence before.

My parents, standing behind me, were also taken aback by my words.

After all, my Li family has lost all face in the village over the years.

Second Aunt pursed her lips, wanting to say something, but was glared at by Third Grandfather, and swallowed her words.

My third grandfather walked up to me and patted me on the shoulder.

"Good lad! You've got ambition!"

"I understand, Third Grandfather."

Seeing that there was nothing exciting to see, the villagers gradually dispersed.

As they left, the look in their eyes had changed from disdain to surprise and curiosity.

Gou Sheng followed the crowd, and as he left, he glanced back at me with a look full of apprehension.

As I watched their retreating figures, a surge of joy welled up inside me.

Just then, Aunt Wang from next door rushed over in a panic, her face full of anxiety.

"Thirteen's parents! Something terrible has happened! Something terrible has happened to my Gou Dan!"

The mother hurriedly went to greet her.

"Auntie, what's wrong? What happened to Gou Dan?"

"Dog Egg was sleeping soundly last night when he suddenly started talking nonsense and convulsing!"

Aunt Wang's voice was choked with sobs.

"We called a doctor from the commune clinic, but he couldn't find anything wrong! He said... he's afraid it's been haunted!"

Is it possessed by an evil spirit?

Father and Mother panicked as well.

"What should we do then?"

"I heard your Thirteen has intervened. Please, please save my Gou Dan."

"They've made their move?"

My parents looked at Aunt Wang with surprise.

"Auntie, what did you say? My thirteenth son went to fight? We didn't even know when that happened. Who told you that?"

When Aunt Wang heard my parents say this, she thought it was because he held a grudge against me for my past behavior.

He then knelt down directly in front of me.

"Thirteen, Thirteen, I was wrong before, please forgive me, please save my dog, Gou Dan."

"Auntie, what are you doing? Get up, get up!"

I didn't say a word; the scenes of her throwing dirty water on me and cursing at me were still vivid in my mind.

"Thirteen, say something!"

My dad got anxious too. What would people think if they saw this?

"Get up, Aunt Wang. We're neighbors, there's no need for this."

"I'll go take a look."

My father quickly pulled me away.

"Thirteen, stop fooling around! Dog Egg has a strange illness; it's no joke!"

"Dad, I'm not being silly."

I looked at my father and said seriously.

"Father, Mother, don't worry, I wouldn't have gone if it weren't for this strange illness."

"What?"

Both father and mother were stunned.

It was as if they hadn't understood what I just said.

"Thirteen, thank you, thank you."

My mother quickly pulled me back.

"Thirteen, don't be reckless!"

"Mother, don't worry."

I patted my mother's hand.

I know what I'm doing.

After I finished speaking, I followed Aunt Wang to her house.

Behind me, my parents stood at the door, watching my back with worried and expectant eyes.

In this region, the profession of shaman is not that of an ordinary person.

Grandma Wang's courtyard was similar to other courtyards in the village, with mud walls, adobe houses, and a few crabapple trees planted in the yard.

As soon as I entered the courtyard, I heard a child crying and Grandpa Wang calling out anxiously from inside the house.

"Dog Egg! Dog Egg! Wake up!"

Aunt Wang quickly pushed open the door.

"Master! I've brought Thirteen!"

Everyone in the room was stunned.

Grandpa Wang squatted by the kang (a heated brick bed), looking at Gou Dan lying on it, his face streaked with tears. He looked up at me, his brows furrowed.

"Thirteen? What's he doing here? Isn't he an idiot?"

"Dog Egg's dad, what idiot? He's all better now, he can get medical treatment."

As she spoke, Aunt Wang gave Dog Egg's father a meaningful look.

Dog Egg's dad then realized that he had said the wrong thing.

"Thirteenth nephew, I beg you."

I ignored him.

The dog on the kang (a heated brick bed) was about seven or eight years old. His face was pale, his lips were purple, and he was convulsing. He was also muttering some incomprehensible nonsense.

His eyes were tightly closed, and his brows were furrowed, as if he were enduring immense pain.

I walked to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), squatted down, and carefully examined Gou Dan.

Following the method in my mind, I closed my eyes, calmed my mind, and mobilized the energy within my body.

A cool sensation welled up from between my eyebrows and followed my eyes to Dog Egg.

In that instant, I saw something different.

A small black shadow was clinging to Dog Egg's body.

The dark figure was only about half a foot tall, dressed in tattered black clothes, with messy hair. It was lying on the pillar, its cold hands gripping the pillar's neck.

kid!

A thought struck me, and I recognized it.

Wandering ghosts, because no one worships them, are filled with resentment and will attach themselves to children, absorbing their yang energy to maintain their existence.

"So, Thirteen, can you figure it out?"

"Aunt Wang, Gou Dan is being haunted by a little devil."

"Kid?"

Grandpa Wang and Grandma Wang were stunned, their faces turning pale.

"No wonder! No wonder the doctor couldn't cure it!"

"Then... what should we do?"

Aunt Wang's voice was choked with sobs.

"Thirteen, please have mercy and save Dog Egg."

I nodded.

"This little devil is a wandering ghost. No one worships him, so he came looking for Gou Dan when he was hungry."

"Aunt Wang, go and get a bowl of water."

"Hey! Hey!"

Aunt Wang quickly agreed and turned to get busy.

Grandpa Wang looked at me, his eyes still carrying a hint of doubt.

"Thirteen, are you really sure you can do this? Don't delay Dog Egg's treatment."

"Uncle Wang."

"Why don't you try it yourself?"

After I retorted, Grandpa Wang obediently shut his mouth.

Soon, Aunt Wang brought the things over.

I picked up a glass of water, bit my fingertip and let the blood drip into it; the blood immediately dissolved.

The fingers appear to be stirring in the water, but they are actually drawing talismans.

This talisman is called an exorcism talisman.

It is specifically designed to deal with situations where one is possessed by a mischievous spirit.

Grandpa Wang and Grandma Wang stood aside, barely daring to breathe, watching my every move.

I picked up the bowl of water, helped Gou Dan up, and fed him the water little by little.

After drinking the water, Gou Dan's convulsions gradually stopped.

His brows relaxed, and his complexion gradually became rosy.

And I saw it too: the little devil who was clinging to Gou Dan was sent flying by the power of the talisman.

It screamed in the air, turned into a wisp of black smoke, and tried to escape outside.

"Trying to leave?"

I snorted coldly, made a hand gesture with my fingers, and muttered something.

"This road is blocked!"

An invisible barrier stood before the little demon. The demon crashed into the barrier, letting out a piercing scream.

I looked at the plume of black smoke and slowly spoke.

"You were a wandering ghost, with no one to worship you, and I don't blame you for that. But you shouldn't have possessed a child and drained their life force. Today, I'll spare your life. Leave quickly, find a place to rest, and don't harm anyone again."

The plume of black smoke swirled around a few times, as if hesitating. Then, it slowly lowered its head towards me, as if to express its gratitude.

Then, it turned into a wisp of green smoke, slipped through the crack in the door, and disappeared.

I breathed a sigh of relief and withdrew the energy from my body.

"alright."

I turned around and looked at Grandpa Wang and Grandma Wang.

"The brat has been taken away. Dog Egg will wake up after resting for a while."

"real?"

Aunt Wang rushed to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) and looked at Gou Dan.

Sure enough, Gou Dan slowly opened his eyes. He looked at Granny Wang and weakly called out.

"mother……"

"Dog Egg! My son!"

Grandma Wang held Gou Dan in her arms and wept bitterly.

Grandpa Wang was also very excited. He walked up to me and faced me.

With a "thump," he knelt down.

"Thirteen! Thank you! Thank you for saving my son!"

"Uncle Wang, get up! You mustn't!"

"Yes! Yes!"

"You are our family's greatest benefactor! If it weren't for you, Gou Dan would probably be gone!"