Hu Tao, with her tears long dried, leaned against Lu Ze's shoulder. Tracing the tear streaks on her face, she asked in a low voice, "How did you know about me? Give me an explanation, or… don't blame me for taking action."
He knew she would ask. Of all the things this damned system could have given him, why Hu Tao? He was truly impressed, inexplicably stabbed in the back.
"Your grandfather told me himself. Do you believe that?"
Hearing this, Hu Tao was slightly taken aback. "My grandfather told you? But my grandfather isn't..."
"Silly girl, what he said is true."
Hearing her grandfather's voice, Hu Tao turned sharply, looking at the soul projection before her with a hint of shock.
Lu Ze breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, the system had rewarded him with a chance to summon spirits; otherwise, explaining this would have been difficult.
"This PV was created based on your grandfather's account and my own imagination. However, this soul projection can only last for a day, so say what you need to say quickly."
At this moment, for some reason, a song emanated from the PV. Lu Ze pulled out a guitar from beside him. He had recorded this song himself, fitting the mood of the video.
"Two leaves, three leaves, each one missing you~"
"Missing your smiling face~"
"One drop, two drops of rain, each one a memento~"
"A memento of our past~"
The grandfather and granddaughter quietly moved to the side to converse, discussing the events of the past years and Hu Tao's small affairs.
"Little Hu Tao, so many years have passed, have you found a boyfriend yet? I think Lu Ze is quite good, how about it?"
"Grandpa! Stop talking about me, are you that eager? You only have one day, shouldn't you be discussing something serious?"
Listening to their conversation, Lu Ze quietly continued to sing, not wanting to disturb the reunion of the grandfather and granddaughter.
In the video, accompanied by the music, Hu Tao walked for an unknown duration, spending who knows how much time, finally arriving at Mt. Qingce.
The music resonated with countless people, reminding them of departed loved ones, friends, and partners… Humans are such complex beings, ensnared by various emotions, but it is precisely because of this that humans are human…
"As long as I reach the end, I can see my grandpa. Grandpa must be there! He must be!"
Hu Tao was resolute at this moment, but she didn't know that Grandpa Hu had one more thing he hadn't told her: the Directors of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor could never appear there.
Grandpa Hu had his own obsessions when he was young. Watching his son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren die, he, too, wanted to go to the boundary of life and death to see them one last time.
But he never succeeded, which proved that saying: it was impossible.
However, Hu Tao didn't know. Even if she knew, she might still have insisted on coming, as it was her only hope.
As the mechanism activated, she fell directly into a pool. More falling rocks followed. Due to the height of the fall, she plunged straight to the depths of the pool.
Feeling the suffocation of the water, she quickly swam upwards and, after a difficult climb to the shore, saw a large door.
There were also things resembling will-o'-the-wisps. What a shock for a thirteen-year-old child! But even so, she had to open the door to the boundary of life and death!
Having heard Grandpa's explanation, the puzzle wasn't too difficult, and the door was quickly opened. She saw a place resembling a fairyland, shrouded in mist, with a giant tree whose yellow leaves slowly drifted down.
Following behind were countless spirits. Seeing this scene, Hu Tao was excited, for she had truly arrived at the boundary of life and death. By searching slowly, she would surely find her grandfather.
"Why is Grandpa Hu's granddaughter here? Go back, girl! Grandpa Hu cannot appear here."
"Indeed, how could Grandpa Hu possibly appear here? His wish has long since been fulfilled."
Before she could even begin her search, she was met with rejection. Hu Tao's competitive spirit flared up. The more they said she couldn't find him, the more she was determined to search! She would definitely find her grandfather.
She arrived beneath the giant maple tree, its leaves entirely yellow, adding a touch of beauty to the solitary fairyland.
She then placed her backpack on a chair beneath the tree and began her long inquiry.
Time passed quickly. One day, two days, three days…
For three whole days and nights, all her food and drink were consumed, but there was still no news of her grandfather. A flicker of disappointment appeared in Hu Tao's eyes. Could it be true, as they said… her grandfather could not appear here?
As a wave of exhaustion washed over her, Hu Tao finally closed her eyes, which she hadn't shut for three days and nights. In her dream… she seemed to dream of her grandfather's arrival, him affectionately stroking her head… and giving her a fiery red ornament.
She slept soundly and warmly, just as if she were home with her grandfather.
She slowly opened her eyes and saw a Pyro Vision, its style identical to her grandfather's.
"Grandpa! Is that you, Grandpa?! It must be yours, right?! Is this the last gift you sent me… Grandpa!"
The soul beside her looked at Hu Tao with a hint of surprise. This little girl had actually obtained a Vision, truly enviable. It could only be said that she was indeed Grandpa Hu's granddaughter.
"Silly child, there's no need to call out. Grandpa Hu… cannot appear here."
An old woman slowly approached, adjusting her spectacles. Her hair was snow-white, her face aged, as if she were on the verge of death.
"Who are you? Why can't Grandpa appear here? I don't believe it!"
"Who I am is not important. What's important is… at this boundary of life and death, the souls of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor Directors cannot appear. Because… the souls of past Directors of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor cannot appear at the boundary of life and death. Their wishes have long been fulfilled, and they lived and departed with equanimity…"
The old woman turned her back, gazing into the distance, her mind recalling past events. She had witnessed the birth of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor and the passing of each of its Directors.
"Silly girl, let's go! You shouldn't be here. At the boundary of life and death, if a person stays for too long, problems will arise. Go, go."
The old woman said this as she walked forward, gradually fading away. A wave of dizziness washed over Hu Tao, and she suddenly collapsed onto the ground.
When she woke up, she found herself no longer at the boundary of life and death, but in the forest of Mt. Qingce.
"Grandpa…"