Put Away Your Divine Techniques Now! Chapter 6: Revised - 4 [Dream or Reality?]
Previously on Put Away Your Divine Techniques Now!...
The third night after the funeral concluded.
In rural villages, funerals are incredibly involved affairs, with the entire community lending a hand.
While the daytime was bustling with activity, the night saw everyone dispersing.
The villagers had assisted in erecting the mourning hall and the tent. Even the funeral procession team and banquet cooks were arranged by the village head—how else could a 22-year-old like Chen Yan manage such complexities?
Throughout these three days, Chen Yan hadn't shed many tears.
Firstly, profound grief can sometimes mute the urge to cry.
It’s merely that sorrow becomes suppressed, only to be released freely once everything concludes and the processing begins.
Secondly, he was far too occupied with kowtowing. Every guest who arrived necessitated a joint kowtow from the filial sons and grandsons.
With the Old Chen Family having only Chen Yan remaining, and his grandmother having no living relatives, the burden fell solely on him.
Within the expansive mourning hall, Chen Yan was the sole figure clad in mourning attire.
He had lost count of the number of times he had performed the kowtow over these three days; his head spun with dizziness.
This night, as he knelt before the mourning hall, keeping the vigil, Chen Yan felt as if he were adrift in a dream.
His gaze fell upon the coffin within the hall, where his grandmother lay.
And then, the wreaths and funeral couplets that filled the space.
Ah, on the largest wreath positioned by the entrance, the words read: Forever Remembered.
The sender was signed as: West Lake Little Horse.
When Boss Ma arrived to pay his respects, he maintained a remarkably low profile. Upon his departure, he seemed filled with regret, grasping Chen Yan’s hand and conversing at length before presenting a business card with his personal contact number.
However, after discreet inquiries, it was revealed that Chen Yan had not inherited his grandmother's skills; he was merely a recent graduate, quite naive and simple-minded.
Chen Yan harbored a suspicion that Boss Ma’s demeanor had subtly shifted, becoming somewhat distant.
·
All the events of these past days replayed in Chen Yan’s mind like a rapid film reel, leaving his thoughts utterly exhausted.
In truth, he hadn't slept for two full days.
The clock had just passed midnight, well after twelve, and Chen Yan, kneeling on the cushion in the mourning hall, felt a profound weakness overcome him.
He had barely consumed any food during these two days, sustenance coming solely from the stir-fried soybeans with shredded pork that his grandmother had prepared before her passing.
Indeed, not a single soybean went to waste; he consumed it all.
After those two days, nothing else passed his lips.
His heart felt so heavy, he experienced no hunger.
Now, as he knelt on the cushion within the mourning hall, his vision began to blur.
At that precise moment, a sudden gust of chilling wind swept through, causing Chen Yan to shiver involuntarily.
He glanced upwards towards the main hall door, noting that it was closed.
From where could this wind originate?
Just as this thought crossed his mind, the main hall door creaked open silently, swinging inward…
A powerful wave of cold air gushed into the room!
In the dead of night, the door opened by itself, a blast of eerie wind… directly into the mourning hall!
Was that not terrifying?
Chen Yan swallowed hard, desperately trying to maintain his composure, and made to rise to close the door.
But in the very next second, his calm shattered completely at the sight before him!
In the courtyard just outside the main hall…
Suddenly, in that seemingly empty space, two figures materialized as if from thin air, standing starkly in the yard.
They then proceeded to float towards the doorway!
Yes, they were genuinely floating! Their feet were not touching the ground!
To the left stood a figure clad in black robes, with a black crown and a somber black face; to the right was another, adorned in white robes, a white crown, and a pale white face.
Chen Yan stood utterly dumbfounded!
Black, White…
If he hadn't consumed so much water that day, he might have indeed relieved himself then and there!
Chen Yan’s legs buckled, rendering him unable to stand. He slumped against the wall for support!
His mouth gaped open, yet no sound escaped.
Do not mock his terror.
In the dead of night, within a mourning hall! Witnessing this spectacle, feeling this atmosphere, and suddenly encountering these two entities!
Placed in your situation, you would undoubtedly lose control as well!
·
The two spectral figures drifted into the main hall, an immediate, palpable drop in temperature enveloping the surroundings.
Both raised their heads in unison, their gazes fixed unwaveringly on the shrine situated before the coffin.
Chen Yan’s throat constricted, his heart hammering against his ribs like a drum.
Then, abruptly, these two figures executed a profound bow towards the shrine.
A bow that reached the ground!
Chen Yan watched, completely bewildered.
This… such a solemn display?
Suddenly, his throat felt looser, and the tension in his muscles began to dissipate.
"You two!"
Chen Yan finally managed to force out a voice: "Have you come to escort my grandmother’s soul?"
Upon hearing his words, the two figures turned simultaneously, their attention now directed towards Chen Yan.
"Filial grandson, what manner of words are these?" the one in black robes inquired.
Chen Yan took a deep, shaky breath, summoning a surge of courage: "I asked, have you come to escort my grandmother’s soul?"
A sudden understanding dawned, and inexplicably, both figures trembled in unison upon hearing Chen Yan's words.
It was as if they had been subjected to some extremely terrifying revelation.
The one clad in white robes hastily waved his hands, exclaiming, "Oh! We don't dare! How could we possibly use the word 'take'!"
Despite his ghastly complexion, the individual in black managed to contort his face into a series of forced smiles.
Exchanging a glance, they then turned back to Chen Yan, their tone surprisingly courteous:
"We are merely here to escort the elder back for her scheduled appointment."
Chen Yan found himself utterly bewildered, his mind struggling to process:
Escort?
Back?
Appointment??
His thoughts seemed to cease functioning altogether.
·
In the very next moment, Chen Yan witnessed a translucent figure slowly ascend from within the coffin – it was his grandmother!
She appeared solemn... no, that wasn't quite right.
Sweet-looking... that wasn't fitting either.
She looked incredibly lifelike!
Indeed, despite being somewhat ethereal and see-through.
His grandmother then floated gently to the ground. Following this,
Black and White immediately bowed deeply. With an audible crack, the two renowned Deceitful Officers knelt down!
Wow~~! (A collective gasp...)
Such a display of profound respect!
Chen Yan was utterly stunned!
What sort of bizarre spectacle was this unfolding before him?
If the King of Hell himself were present, they would only offer such a grand gesture!
Had his grandmother truly passed away? It certainly felt as though she held greater prestige in death than in life.
... Returning for an appointment?
Transitioning from a sorrowful drama to a seemingly heartwarming tale?!
·
His grandmother seemed to appraise the two Deceitful Officers for a moment. After a few discerning glances, she nodded and gestured with her hand, drifting out of the room.
Chen Yan gazed after his grandmother, instinctively reaching out as if to speak, but his throat felt parched, rendering him unable to utter a single word.
Just then, his grandmother abruptly turned back, bestowing a gentle smile upon Chen Yan.
Subsequently, Chen Yan heard his grandmother's voice, as if whispered directly into his ear.
Her voice seemed to emanate from both a great distance and nearby simultaneously... rather like the unnerving voices heard in horror films.
"Good grandson, didn't I tell you not to be sad?
Grandma has left something for you. Head to the well in our yard, then take ten steps south from there and dig down."
That was the entirety of her message, nothing more.
He watched as his grandmother and the two Deceitful Officers slowly floated out of the yard...
And then, they vanished from his sight.
·
Chen Yan suddenly felt a shiver run down his spine, jolting him awake!
Leaning against the wall, he found the mourning hall deserted, its door shut tightly.
He pushed himself up and opened the main hall door. Gazing out at the tranquil night and the empty yard, he saw no sign of those spectral figures.
Placing a hand on his back, he found it slick with sweat!
A gentle breeze swept past, chilling his body.
Chen Yan steadied himself, questioning, Was that merely a dream?
Recalling the scenes from the dream, they were far too vivid, far too distinct!
It left him in a state of uncertainty, unsure if it had been just a dream or a genuine experience.
Chen Yan considered himself an atheist.
Yes, in truth, he did.
But... in reality, he was much like the majority of young people in this world.
I may be an atheist, but that doesn't prevent me from harboring a certain fear of the supernatural~
·
A few moments later, spurred by a peculiar thought, Chen Yan abruptly stood up, retrieved a shovel from a nearby corner, and made his way directly to the well in the yard!
Chen Yan remembered his grandmother's words from the [dream]: ten steps south of the well!
He expectorated into his palm.
And began to dig!
After an entire hour had passed, Chen Yan sat on the ground, panting heavily, the shovel planted firmly in the loosened dirt.
Beside him lay a gaping, empty pit.
The pit was remarkably deep; Chen Yan had truly exerted himself.
If he were to dig any deeper, he might as well be constructing a new well!
"It was indeed just a dream, wasn't it?"
Chen Yan let out a disbelieving laugh that bordered on tears.
What was he even thinking?
What was he expecting?
Yet, deep within, a faint sense of unease persisted, making him reluctant to abandon his efforts.
The dream had been too peculiar, too clear.
Normally, upon waking from a dream, memories tend to be hazy, with one at best recalling the general gist. How could this recollection be so precise?
Unwilling to concede defeat, Chen Yan pondered:
Perhaps his grandmother had made an error? Not south, but north?
Mustering his remaining strength, he took ten steps north of the well and commenced digging once more!
Half an hour later...
Nothing was unearthed here either!
Chen Yan steadied himself, gasping for breath.
No... could it possibly be west?
Or perhaps east?
A full hour later...
As dawn began to break, the village roosters started their crowing!
The yard, now encircling the well, was practically a network of excavated trenches!
Aside from a few earthworms, not a single trace of anything else was found!
"Uh, so it really was just a dream?" Chen Yan frowned, glancing towards the main hall.
Inside, his grandmother's large portrait smiled kindly at him.
After a brief pause, Chen Yan patted his head in sudden realization.
Yes, he seemed to grasp the issue!
The problem was...
His grandmother had short legs!
Grandmother had only been about 1.5 meters tall, while Chen Yan stood at 1.8 meters.
Could his grandmother's ten steps and his own ten steps possibly be the same distance?!
With this new perspective, recalculating the distance, he eagerly dug seven steps south of the well.
Half an hour later, a distinct clang echoed as the shovel struck something solid!
Chen Yan's heart leaped! There was indeed something!
So... it wasn't a dream after all?
With his heart thumping, Chen Yan swiftly gathered his shovel. He dropped to his knees, using his bare hands to excavate, and unearthed a small chest from the soil.
Clutching the chest, he made his way back to the main hall. He set it down on the floor before shutting the door securely.
His mouth felt parched, and his mind was in a turmoil as he unlatched the chest.
Resting atop everything inside was a letter.
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[Today's two updates are finished. From this point forward, there will be two updates each day.
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