To Raise a Soul 14

Having only held his driving license for one year, Yu Zhen was a novice driver. Previously, he only drove the pickup truck used for flower deliveries. An experienced gardener would always sit beside him and give instructions. He had accumulated a pitiful amount of driving experience.

He was driving alone for the first time, causing him to be worried. 

“Don’t be nervous, I’ll watch you.”

Yu Zhen gripped the steering wheel with eyes fixed to the road. He asked, “You can drive?”

He thought Yin Yan threw the car keys to him because he couldn’t-

“I can’t.” Yin Yan replied, using a serene tone for which he deserved a spanking.

“But, I can learn.”

Yu Zhen remained silent, and Yin Yan began to speak again but quickly shut his eyes and mouth then leaned back into his seat. The words he spoke and the actions he carried out were vastly different.

“???”

Didn’t he say “I’ll watch you” and “I can learn”?　　

Yu Zhen couldn’t resist glancing at him. Yin Yan’s closed eyes and resting position rendered him speechless. He soon returned to his senses and flipped the indicator switch in a fluster. A feeling of disbelief settled in his heart.

With his cautious driving throughout the journey, they smoothly made their way out of the city. When they arrived at the town, the number of people and cars reduced, allowing Yu Zhen’s taut nerves to relax a little. He had prepared to turn into the road for the temple of Lotus Village when a tricycle appeared by the previously empty road. An old man sat on the tricycle.

Alarmed, he moved to turn the steering wheel and step on the brakes. However, Yin Yan reached out and gripped his hand firmly, preventing him from swerving. He prompted, “Turn as normal.”

“But there’s-”

“Turn. It’s not human. It’s only a ghost.”

Stunned, Yu Zhen didn’t turn the steering wheel, but he stepped on the brakes. He watched as the car passed through the tricycle on the intersection and stopped beside the road.

Yin Yan released his hand and left the car.

Yu Zhen’s mind repeatedly played the image of the car passing through the tricycle. He leaned on the car, unable to fully return to his senses until Yin Yan pulled at the car door, and a cold breeze passed by. 

“Just a moment ago…”

Yin Yan held Yu Zhen’s head to stop him from speaking. His seatbelt was unfastened, and he was led out of the car by Yin Yan’s grip on his hand.  

The sky was pitch black, and there was no one at the intersection. Light from the streetlamp flickered as if stirred by the wind.  

“It has grievances.”

Yin Yan released Yu Zhen’s hand, stepped forward, and waved one hand.

The streetlights blinked, and a cold wind blew, causing Yu Zhen to squint. When he opened his eyes, the tricycle once again appeared at the intersection, semi-transparent.  

Yu Zhen inhaled a breath of cold air and leaned against Yin Yan. 

“A wish was unfulfilled. It’s an earthbound spirit.” Yin Yan stuffed his hands into his pockets and turned his body away. He continued, “Go on. This spirit has never harmed a person. But it is about to disintegrate. Help him enter the rebirth cycle, otherwise, his soul will scatter.”

Earthbound spirit?

After experiencing the touch of a ghost once, Yu Zhen’s courage had grown a little. Summoning his newfound courage, he stepped forward. He cautiously turned to look at the semi-transparent tricycle. As he focused on the cyclist and clearly saw the figure’s appearance, he froze. He blurted, “Uncle Li?”

The translucent soul became solid after hearing his call, and its face gradually became more distinct. His gaze swept past Yin Yan as if not seeing him and fixed his sight and smile on Yu Zhen.

“So it’s the temple’s young Yu. Why aren’t you heading home? It’s so late. No cars will be heading into the village. Come, get on, Uncle will send you home. ”

Yu Zhen did not know many people from Lotus VIllage, but he recognized Uncle Li. 

Uncle Li was a hardworking and enthusiastic man. He typically grew vegetables and sold them in town. On his way back, he would occasionally bump into children from the village who were heading home for the holidays, so he would send them home.  

The temple was quite out of the way, it was on a different path from the homes of other villagers. Previously, when Yu Zhen met other villagers, they were unwilling to help him. Some completely ignored him. Uncle Li was the only one who enthusiastically helped him every time. The old man would pull him onto the tricycle and make a detour. He was a very good man.  

However, Uncle Li passed away from a traffic accident three years ago. When Yu Zhen heard the news, he visited Uncle Li’s grave in the village’s cemetery.  

Because he was an acquaintance, the fear in Yu Zhen’s heart faded away entirely and was replaced by a gentle sadness.

After three years, he did not expect Uncle Li’s soul to remain at the scene of his accident.

“There’s no need, Uncle. I drove today.”

Yu Zhen moved closer and saw the old man’s face was paler than when he as alive. Yu Zhen forced out a normal smile and asked, “Uncle Li, it’s so late now, why are you waiting here? The weather’s getting cold, if you don’t return home, your family will worry.”

“It’s not cold, it’s not cold. I’m waiting for my granddaughter. She’s back today for her holiday. Normally, she’s quite frugal, so I’m sure she won’t spend money on a taxi to get home. But it’s so tiring to walk all the way back. She’s a young woman, and being alone on a dark night is not safe. I won’t feel at ease if I don’t wait until she comes. ”

Yu Zhen felt heartache as he listened. He reached out and held the hand on the tricycle’s handle. He said, “You don’t need to wait any longer. When I passed through the village, I heard Uncle Wang say he went to town to buy vegetables today. On his way back, he bumped into your granddaughter. He’s sent her safely back home.”

“She’s already home?”

“Right, she’s already home.”

Uncle Li’s expression was blank for a moment before relaxing into a relieved smile. His pale face slowly regained the look it had when he was alive. His figure became more transparent, and his voice became indistinct.

 “It’s good that she’s home. This old foggy can be at ease…Young fellow Yu, quickly return home. Don’t let your grandpa worry.”

The cold touch of the soul gradually faded from Yu Zhen’s palm. The tricycle also disappeared. A few specks of golden light floated midair before whirling to the space between his eyebrows. His bangs shifted even in the absence of wind. 　　

“Let’s go. His ties are gone. An emissary of the netherworld will be here soon.”

Yin Yan walked to Yu Zhen’s side, held his shoulder, and guided him to the car and into the back passenger seat. Yin Yan then opened the driver’s door, stepped in, and started the engine with practiced ease. 

The light ringing sound was drowned out by the noises of the car starting up. Yu Zhen touched his hand to his forehead and felt a hint of remaining heat. His gaze moved to the window, where he noticed the car reversing. Shocked, he sat up and latched onto the back of the driver’s seat. He stuttered, “D-didn’t you say you can’t drive?”

“En.”

Yin Yan nodded and continued to speed up. He drove along the bumpy dirt road smoothly as if they were on a high-speed road. He replied, “I couldn’t before. I learned to not long ago, so now I can.”  

Not long ago?

“Where did you learn to drive?”

“From memories.”

“???”

They returned to the temple at lightning speed. Yu Zhen held onto the overhead handrail as thoughts churned chaotically in his mind. 

So-so fast, and so steady. My driving skills are trash compared to his.

“We’ve arrived.”

Yin Yan stopped the car at the temple’s door. He turned around and saw Yu Zhen’s terrified expression as he clung to the handrail. Calmly, he left the car and headed for the temple. 

“…”

Yu Zhen glanced at his hand gripping the handrail then glanced at Yin Yan’s figure which was gradually enveloped by the temple’s door. A sense of embarrassment crept up as he released his arm. 

With the smooth driving skills displayed by Yin Yan, it was unnecessary for Yu Zhen to clutch onto the handrail. It only showed his lack of confidence in the driver. 

Although Yin Yan appeared to be calm, he left the car alone and did not speak to Yu Zhen. Instead, he entered the temple alone. He’s probably offended.

Yu Zhen was unsure of what to do. The other man was always gentle and tolerant but suddenly showed signs of anger, leaving Yu Zhen slightly panicked.

The two were in the same boat together. In Yu Zhen’s subconscious, after the recent loss of his final relative, he associated a “depending on each other for survival” type of familial relationship with Yin Yan. 

Toward this familial person, he was nervous but accommodating.

Yin Yan turned on the lights in the temple when he entered to prevent Yu Zhen tripping in the darkness. 

Unaware of that point, Yu Zhen hurried through the kitchen and clumsily explained, “Yin Yan, I didn’t doubt your driving. Holding the handrail w-was a subconscious reaction. I…”

Yin Yan turned around and stuffed a hot water bottle in Yu Zhen’s hand. “I know. Wash up then go to bed. The power you absorbed needs to be digested.”

Yu Zhen took the water bottle and watched Yin Yan’s expression but could not decipher his mood. “So-so you’re not angry?”  

“Like a puppy.”

“What?”

“Your appearance a moment ago.”

…

…..

Yu Zhen raised his eyebrows. He left the kitchen carrying the hot water bottle and did not look back.

After Yin Yan tidied up the kitchen and entered the bedroom, he saw Yu Zhen already in bed and facing the wall. 

At 1.5 meters, the bed was not wide. Pillows were placed on opposite sides of the bed, and two sets of quilts were placed side by side. A thick blanket connected the two quilts. 

Yin Yan remembered, during the day time, the pillows were next to each other. It was clear the person who set the bed up did not want to interact with the one sharing his bed. 　　

Without a word, Yin Yan turned off the light and discreetly slipped under the empty quilt.

In the quiet village night, only tree branches swaying in the wind could be heard. When Yu Zhen abruptly opened his eyes, he saw a splendid sunrise, and he sat atop the temple’s threshold. His grandfather kneeled in front of the Great Founders’ image and tossed copper coins.

“Grandpa?”

He felt doubtful. He tried to stand but found himself unable to move. 

“Xiao Zhen. You’ll be fine now. It’s about time for Grandpa to leave.”

The old man did not look at Yu Zhen. He stopped throwing copper coins.

“Grandpa?”

Yu Zhen was nervous. He faintly became aware of something. He struggled, wanting to get up and reach the old man.

“I’ve stubbornly preserved this temple for a long time. It’s about time to free it,” the old man lamented. He performed a kowtow to the Great Founders’ image and chanted an unintelligible scripture. His voice gradually became quieter, and a golden glow rose. The surrounding object began to fade away.   

“Grandpa!”

“Xiao Zhen, live happily and prosperously. In the next life, Grandpa will continue to tell you stories.”

Yu Zhen had a terrible nightmare. In this nightmare, the image of the Great Founders turned into a golden light and disappeared beyond the horizon. In its absence, the temple began to age and decay.

Paint peeled from the walls and bricks and tiles cracked. In the blink of an eye, the temple turned to ruins. Within the ruins, Grandpa Yu turned into a golden light and followed the Great Founders.

Yu Zhen resisted his tears as he woke from the dream. He found himself wrapped in a blanket in the backseat of the car. The temple could previously be seen from the car, but now, what lay before him were ruins.

As the first rays of sunshine fell in the morning, Yin Yan turned around in front of the ruined temple. He met Yu Zhen’s gaze and calmly explained, “Yu Zhen, the fate you have with this place has broken. We should go.”