Chapter 60: The Funeral

When the three of them used their lightness skills to return to the base of Thumb Peak, they finally breathed a sigh of relief. Scholar Yanming casually sat on the Ox-lying Rock and asked, "Nephew, you didn't finish what you were saying earlier. Now, go ahead and finish it."

Lu Yueming said, "There are no birds in this forest. According to my speculation, there are two possible reasons. The first is that there is a fierce beast in the forest that the birds fear, making them dare not nest here. However, I don't know what kind of fierce beast it could be, as I have never heard of any beast that can drive birds away. The second reason is that this hawthorn forest is actually an array, and perhaps this array has the effect of repelling birds, preventing them from nesting here."

Scholar Yanming pondered for a moment and said, "What you said makes some sense, but the art of arrays has long been lost in the world. Its specific power is beyond our ability to speculate. As for the wild beast theory, it is too far-fetched. Sigh, in any case, this hawthorn forest is full of mysteries, and it is not something we can easily speculate about. We should wait until next year to enter. This time, we were fortunate to save our lives by not being greedy. Human plans cannot match the will of heaven. What is not meant for us, we should not force. The ancients did not deceive us."

As he spoke, Scholar Yanming's tone became quite desolate, in stark contrast to the spring's revival.

Lu Yueming and Tan Feng exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with panic and relief. They had almost followed Zhang Zhaoyang into the forest with high spirits, but at the last moment, they did not let their enthusiasm cloud their judgment. Now, thinking back, they felt fortunate. However, their master had given them a strict order: these four skins must not all fall into Scholar Yanming's hands. This was the key reason they did not choose to enter.

The three of them fell silent for a moment. Scholar Yanming then said, "This mission is over. Although we did not enter, we have achieved our goal. The two of you can return and report. I still need to go to Wanjian Peak to give an account to the Wanjian Master. You two go ahead."

Lu Yueming and Tan Feng, hearing this, did not linger. They first paid their respects to Scholar Yanming, then exchanged a bow, and chose different directions to fly away.

Scholar Yanming watched as the two figures grew distant. He did not know whether they would return directly to their gang or go off to do other things. He no longer cared. He reached into his chest and took out the skin from Wanjian Peak, caressed it for a moment, and then carefully put it back, hiding it well. He looked around for a moment, listened carefully, and then used his lightness skills to disappear in a flash.

The Ox-lying Rock remained calm, waiting for the noise of the next year.

In the middle of the night, on Wanjian Peak, the sword master Wan Chengjiu received a message from the Evil Tiger Gang's Qu Xiangfeng: "Senior Brother Zhang Zhaoyang, missing."

Wan Chengjiu's face turned ashen, his hands clenched into fists, his eyes full of regret. He was not sure whether he regretted the fate of his disciple or the loss of the medicinal herbs from the secret place.

In the Zhang family's small courtyard, the atmosphere remained solemn. People came and went, their faces filled with sorrow. The Zhang family had a good reputation in Guo Village. Grandmother had always been kind to everyone, so many people came to pay their respects. The Zhang family's hall was not large, and with Zhang Cai and others kneeling, there was little space left. People took turns to pay their respects to Grandmother and then hurriedly left, most not staying.

On the day of Grandmother's passing, Liu Yuemonth was sent back to Balingou by a reliable person. Mr. Liu, upon receiving the news, was not only worried about his daughter but also saddened by the loss of his in-laws. He came to the Zhang family the next day, accompanied by Liu Butcher. After paying their respects, they stayed, temporarily living in Grandmother's old room to help the Zhang family.

For several days, Zhang Xiaohua was in a daze, kneeling in a corner all day, his eyes fixed, not knowing what he was thinking. At mealtime, Zhang Xiaohu would pass him a bowl, and after Xiaohua ate, he would take it away. At night, he would kneel until midnight, then fall asleep, carried back to bed by Zhang Xiaohu. When the first ray of sunlight shone through the window in the morning, he would wake up, take a deep breath, and kneel in the corner again, like a walking dead. Mr. Liu was the first to notice that something was wrong with him, but anyone could tell that the child was missing his grandmother. Strangely, Zhang Xiaohua had not shed a single tear.

Guo Sufei had fainted several times from crying and was unable to comfort her son. Zhang Cai and the others were also at a loss for words, not knowing how to console him. Everyone felt that in time, Zhang Xiaohua would come out of his grief and return to normal.

Happy days are short, and sorrowful days are also brief. Seven days passed quickly, and it was time for Grandmother's body to be placed in the coffin. The grave site had already been chosen, next to the Guo Mountain cemetery.

That noon, the Zhang family bowed to Grandmother again. Someone was preparing to close the coffin lid and nail it shut. Guo Sufei, unwilling to let go, cried and clung to the coffin, gazing at her mother's smiling face, over and over again. Only after Zhang Cai and the others persuaded her did she finally let go and collapse to the side.

The helpers quickly closed the lid, picked up the large nails, and raised the hammer to nail it shut. The "ding ding ding" sound of hammering seemed to strike Zhang Xiaohua's heart.

During this time, Zhang Xiaohua felt as if he were living in a dream. He kept thinking and regretting. He thought that if he had martial arts skills, he could have protected his older brother and sister-in-law earlier, and they could have returned home smoothly. Their wedding ceremony would have gone smoothly, and Grandmother would not have left so soon. He hated himself for not having martial arts skills, for not being able to protect his family. From the New Year in Luzhen to the wedding procession, he had been bullied and trampled by others. He hated himself for not having the strength to protect himself, for not choosing the right path in life, and for not being able to spend more time with Grandmother.

Even in his dreams, the breath-like flickering seemed to sense his regret, flickering more intensely.

The "ding ding" sound of hammering shook him. His heart ached, and he lifted his head, realizing that Grandmother had already been nailed into the coffin. "Grandmother!" Zhang Xiaohua let out a low roar, tears streaming down his face. He lunged forward, pushing the person away. The person, not short in stature, was pushed back by the thirteen-year-old, falling to the ground, hammer in hand, stunned and disbelieving.

The nails were already halfway in. Zhang Xiaohua, in a panic, used his fingers to grip the nail's tail, and with a strong arm, slowly pulled it out. Then, he pushed the heavy lid aside, revealing Grandmother's peaceful smile in the dark coffin.

Zhang Xiaohua mumbled, "Grandmother," tears streaming down his face, sliding over his cheeks and clothes, falling into the coffin. The tears that had been pent up for days flowed like a flood, uncontrollable.

The people in the room, amazed by Zhang Xiaohua's strength, also shed silent tears, witnessing this human tragedy.

According to the village customs, the time for the funeral was limited. If it passed, it would be inauspicious and affect the deceased's rest. After crying for a while, everyone stopped, thinking of the old lady's peace. However, Zhang Xiaohua was in deep sorrow, and no one could console him. Some villagers tried to forcibly pull him away, but to their surprise, his strength was astonishing, and several people could not pull him away. They could only look to Guo Sufei for help, but although she was not as grief-stricken, she could not persuade her son. Just as everyone was at a loss, Liu Qian stepped forward.

She walked to Zhang Xiaohua's side and gently called, "Xiaohua~" She called several times before Zhang Xiaohua responded, saying, "Sister Qian, Grandmother is really gone."

Liu Qian put her arm around Zhang Xiaohua's head and stroked his hair, saying, "Xiaohua, do you remember what you told me by the river outside the village?"

Zhang Xiaohua continued to cry, saying, "I remember, Sister. I knew then that Grandmother was going to leave me."

Liu Qian said, "Yes, Xiaohua, there is no banquet that does not end. Everything has a conclusion. Grandmother worked hard all her life, and now she finally has time to rest. Look at her face, how happy she is? She left so happily, and we should send her off happily. By doing this, you are not disturbing her rest and making her angry."

Zhang Xiaohua said, "Sister, I know, but I will never see Grandmother again. I will never have a grandmother again. I don't want her to leave me."

Liu Qian continued, "Then how long do you plan to stay with Grandmother, half a day, a day, two days, or ten days? Grandmother will eventually be buried, and you know that. You can stay for a while, but not forever. Come on, Xiaohua, get up. Let's send Grandmother off properly, to the end of her journey."

Zhang Xiaohua looked at Grandmother's face, the familiar face etched in his heart, gradually being covered by darkness and swallowed by the black coffin. He closed his eyes, tears rolling down his cheeks, repeatedly asking, "Why can't Grandmother stay with me? Why can't we live forever?"

The graves of Grandfather and Grandmother were behind the village, a distance away. The villagers carried the coffin in front, and the Zhang family followed behind, crying. The villagers also followed, sending off this familiar person.

The grave was already dug, and the coffin was carefully placed inside, then covered with soil. Soon, a small new grave was formed. After the helpers and villagers paid their respects and left, only the Zhang and Liu families remained. Zhang Cai and Zhang Xiaohu carefully tended to Grandmother's grave, adding new soil to Grandfather's grave as well. Guo Sufei and Liu Qian carefully placed the incense and candles. The family stayed by Grandmother's grave until dusk, then slowly left.