The Three Pure Ones' Secret: Expressing Spirit

Although Meng Jiahong requested a bed in the dormitory, he did not live in the dormitory; he must have a place to stay outside.

At the beginning of the semester, everyone was quite well-behaved. After getting a feel for the atmosphere in the cafeteria, they would obediently go back to their dorm rooms and rest.

I chatted with Lao Fan about the Three Pure Ones' Manual, and as others have said, there's something in the unseen realm of destiny. Lao Fan is the kind of person he calls a born genius, while I've become the kind of person he calls a person who breaks through tribulations and is reborn. As for why I could recognize the words in the book after I came back, Fan Biao told me, "Because the words in that book are written in the underworld script, which only people who have died can understand."

Actually, I initially felt something was wrong, like I was stuck in a bug in the underworld. But after thinking about it carefully, I realized that I really wasn't much different from a dead ghost. When that old bastard Fan Biao took me to get that broken stick and rotten iron chain, it must have been a coincidence that I went through all the procedures that a ghost should go through to be reincarnated in the underworld. That's why I was able to understand the words in that book after I came back.

Actually, I didn't care too much. Even so, what difference does it make? At most, I've had some lucky encounters and have a really awesome brother. It doesn't change my timid and introverted personality at all.

The next morning, we all got up very early. My two brothers and I went to the classroom. Unlike elementary school, university isn't a place where you can just pick any empty seat you want; it's first-come, first-served. I found a seat against the wall at the back. I don't like talking to people much, so I always look for quiet spots.

Perhaps my seat was too far out in the way, because not many people wanted to sit there. I also noticed that the entire classroom was full of male students, with only five female students. It seems that this major is not very popular with girls.

As I idly played with my fingers, a girl slowly walked in through the door. The first time I saw her, she looked incredibly familiar, like I'd seen her somewhere before. I turned around, thought for a moment, and then froze. This girl looked just like the one I'd seen on the mountain that afternoon, New Year's Eve. I exclaimed in surprise, "What a coincidence! They're classmates!"

What surprised me even more was that the girl walked straight towards me, her eyes filled with astonishment, and asked me in bewilderment, "Um... I think I've seen you before. Is someone with you, classmate?"

I said somewhat shyly, "No, please sit down!"

The girl looked at me with her big eyes, turned her head, and smiled, saying, "Oh, right, I remember now, you're the boy I saw on the mountain last time! What a coincidence!"

A little embarrassed, I smiled sheepishly and said, "It is a bit of a coincidence."

At that moment, many people in the classroom were looking in my direction. Li Quan was even messaging me: "Damn, bro, you're lucky! The whole class is full of old men, and you actually got a girl to sit next to you!"

I looked at Li Quan sitting not far away, and saw him winking at me. I smiled at him awkwardly.

I only found out from the roll call that the girl sitting next to me was named Yin Yuhong. Apart from saying a few words to me, she was looking at her phone the whole time and chuckling from time to time.

I looked at her clean, white teeth; she seemed to be smiling very happily, and she looked very beautiful when she stood up. Perhaps I was a little too engrossed in looking at her, because she turned around and smiled at me.

I felt awkward under her gaze and quickly looked away, but she looked at me with a puzzled expression: "What's wrong, classmate?"

I stood awkwardly to the side, unsure of what to say: "Uh, it's nothing. I just saw you laughing quite happily, but I don't know what you're laughing about, so I'm a little curious."

She picked up her phone and gestured to me, saying, "Watch the video, it's quite interesting."

I thought this girl was quite quiet and approachable, probably someone easy to talk to. I didn't know what to talk about, so I just sat there quietly, lost in thought.

As the new school year began, school life gradually settled into a routine. I was initially a little embarrassed to talk to Yin Yuhong, who sat next to me. Although Yin Yuhong usually didn't pay much attention to the other students in the class, she seemed quite willing to talk to me, probably because I'm rather introverted and don't talk much.

Perhaps it was because we gradually became familiar with each other, but this auntie would often tease me, which made me feel quite embarrassed. She also liked to joke that I was like a little girl.

After hearing that, I really wanted to pull out my ID card and show it to her right away. Don't get me wrong, I meant my ID card!

Perhaps if there were a pretty girl around chatting and laughing, I would actually be willing to stay in the classroom to attend classes, even though I spent most of the time just passing the time. Fortunately, I did learn some photography knowledge.

Just like the name Li Quan gave us, our dorm became known as the "Four Heavenly Kings." For a whole semester, besides attending classes, we spent all our time playing games all night. Li Peng, Li Quan, and I would sneak off to sleep at school every day, sporting dark circles under our eyes. Li Peng and I were alright, but Li Quan, being overweight and suffering from rhinitis, would snore in his sleep. Our class teacher, Lao Wang, called him into the office countless times. Finally, Lao Wang couldn't take it anymore and pleaded with him, "Hey bro! You're my brother, can you please stop coming to the classroom to sleep after staying up all night? If you really can't take it, skip class and go back to the dorm to sleep. This is university; nobody cares if you don't come!"

Although Li Quan was a little embarrassed by what Lao Wang said, he couldn't stop after that. Li Quan, Li Peng, and I became the ones who often skipped classes, stayed up all night online, slept in the morning, and pretended to go to class in the afternoon.

Life doesn't stand still. It's like a giant turtle sitting in the sun. When you're watching it, it slowly crawls forward step by step. But when you're not paying much attention, you suddenly look back and hey! Damn it, that beast has already crawled far ahead!

Spring inexplicably slipped by, and summer quietly arrived. The scorching outdoor sun was particularly blinding, and the cicadas on the branches were truly annoying, just as described in Journey to the West. Fortunately, the days of not being able to sleep well in class didn't last long before summer vacation began.

Li Quan, Li Peng, and Meng Jiahong were all going home for more than a month. After having our last drink together during the first semester of my freshman year, we said goodbye to each other.

Actually, everything was normal. I was still just an ordinary person. The only thing that made me feel different from others after half a semester was that I actually met Fan Biao. The reason the old guy was usually so busy was because he had a job, and his profession was just as he told me about his identity: he worked at a small funeral service shop, and he was the head chef there!

At first, I joked with him, saying that I would hang out with him during my summer vacation, and that I didn't care about the salary as long as he provided meals. I thought it was just a casual joke, but this stubborn guy took it seriously.

He said he was even happier to see me than I was, and after we talked things over, he got the boss to arrange a seat for me. Perhaps Fan Biao's words carried some weight in the shop; I don't know how an eighteen or nineteen-year-old like him got to this point. Whatever, at least I can find an interesting job, though seeing dead people every day is a bit unsettling.

Things weren't as simple as I imagined, and this summer vacation left me with unforgettable memories. Looking back now, I'm glad I had the stick Fan Biao gave me, otherwise I would have been buried on the spot long ago.

I live not far from Fan Biao's home; he lives in the same town as me. At first, I thought it was a coincidence that he went to that kind of place to find me. But after he told me the whole story, I realized that there are no coincidences in this world.

I stayed home for a few days during the summer vacation, and then I told my mother and father that I was going out to work part-time. When my mother heard that I was going out to work a summer job, she laughed and teased me, "Oh, my son is so capable! He even knows that his parents have it tough and wants to reduce our living expenses. Go ahead, go ahead! If you run out of money, just tell your dad. Anyway, he likes to hide money to play mahjong. It's perfect if you run out of money while you're working!"

My dad, listening from the side, turned red in the face and said indignantly, "Look at what kind of mother you are! Your son has ideas about making money, and instead of saying something nice to encourage him, you just keep pouring cold water on him!"

My mother didn't give him a friendly look, coldly staring at him and saying, "Shut your mouth! You're so enthusiastic, so passionate! You speak so sweetly, I'm already being kind by not pouring cold water on you. Look at you, playing mahjong every day for the past few months, neglecting the shop's affairs, and you still have the nerve to say that!"

My dad, mindful of my mom's position in the family, sat on a small stool by the door, smoking a cigarette and glaring at her resentfully. My mom, too lazy to pay him any attention, said to me, "It's fine to give it a try. You're a grown man; we can't support you forever. But when you're out, make sure you eat and sleep properly, and don't spend all night on your phone playing games online!"

I grinned and said to my mother, "I already said I was just looking for a job, why are you talking about staying up all night online? I promise I'll work hard and earn enough to save money for my future wife, which you can then deposit!"

My mother ignored me and went inside to attend to her own business. Seeing her leave, my father hurried over to my side. Although he usually acts like a child, we're always on the same page. He secretly pulled five hundred yuan from his coat and handed it to me, like a thief: "You little rascal! Use it wisely, and remember to pay me back when you get your salary!"

I snatched the money from his hand, grinned, and said, "Give it back my ass. It'll all be mine eventually anyway, so if you give it to me now, you'll get less later!"

My dad, speechless, said to me while smoking, "Hey! You little brat!"

I turned and ran, took a minibus to the next town, and soon arrived at Fan Biao's house. His family also lived in the town. Before the town was expanded, his house was quite spacious, but he only lived on the second floor. The other rooms and the three shops downstairs were all rented out.

I went up to the second floor via the stairwell and knocked on the door. It was Fan Biao's grandmother who opened it. His parents were always working out of town and hadn't come home, so it was just him and his grandmother at home.

I greeted his grandmother: "Hello, Grandma, I'm looking for Fan Biao."

Her grandmother was quite old, probably older than my grandfather and second uncle, over eighty years old. She called out to the house, "Biaowa, your friend is here to see you!"

Then Fan Biao came out wearing floral shorts and shirtless, looking at me with a憨厚 (honest and simple) smile and said, "Damn, bro, you're here so fast! I haven't even gotten out of bed yet!"

I went inside, and Fan Biao's grandma gave me snacks and fruit, urging me to eat. Feeling a little embarrassed, I pretended to be polite with her, and while eating, I asked Fan Biao, "Hey, Lao Fan, when do we start work?"

Fan Biao scratched his head awkwardly and said, "Ah, going to work? What kind of work?"

I stared at him blankly, "Didn't you say you'd take me there once I arrived?"

Seeing the old man feigning ignorance, he stammered to me, "We were supposed to go straight there, but the time was delayed, and someone else snatched our business. That family has relatives in the same line of work. We just have to wait for the next customer!"

I was a little confused: "How long will it take to get the next deal?"

As he peeled the orange, he said to me, "I'm also waiting for my boss to let me know. We'll start work whenever he gets a job."

I was stunned: "When will that be? Does the funeral industry only have work when someone dies?"

Seeing that everything was alright, I was thinking of going home, but Fan Biao said to me, "Don't rush, going to work is no different from playing anyway. We've got nothing to do these days, let's go play games!"

I was a little hesitant about whether to go back, but Fan Biao said to me, "What are you afraid of? I'll take you to an internet cafe to play games. Food and lodging are included. Since you're already here, just treat it as a job. At worst, I'll pay you two hundred a day."

When I saw that he was going to pay out of his own pocket, I shook my head: "Don't do that, brother. How can I let you pay out of your own pocket? It's okay! I'll play with you for a few days. Anyway, you're just playing games at home during the holidays, so it doesn't matter where you play."

In the following days, we really played games for several days in a row. In the end, Fan Biao and I couldn't take it anymore and were even planning to go home and take a nap when Fan Biao's boss finally called him.

After his boss arranged things for him, he took me home to pack. Actually, we didn't bring much, just that broken iron chain and the knife handle.

I was a little curious: "Why did you bring these two things along?"

Seeing that I didn't understand, Fan Biao explained to me, "It's just in case. If something really happens, having a weapon is always better than using your fists."

I believe the hilt of the knife he's holding is a weapon, because I've seen it before in the underworld. Can this broken iron chain really be used as a weapon? I'm starting to wonder if this old guy is calling out to me.

We quickly packed up and went downstairs. He got into his car and headed towards his boss's location, which was over a hundred kilometers away.