Chapter 41 The Sound of Dripping Water in the Columbarium
I really didn't expect things to turn out like this. It's developing in a completely unreliable way.
When I got to work, Mao Xiaoli appeared in my office wearing mourning clothes.
"Sister Bai, could you please not wear mourning white? It's ugly."
"He likes it."
"who is he?"
"You talk too much. Yinyan returned the necklace to me, but no matter what, I hope you can help me. I can still help you without the necklace."
"What is there after entering the Void Gate?"
"Don't worry about it. It went very smoothly. I was out in just one day and one night. It seems that you are not a complicated person. You are a simple man. I like it."
"But you're complicated."
"Xiao Ke, you're pretty naughty now, aren't you?"
"I dare not."
"Okay, you've lost your chance. If you meet me again, I'll do it. Thirteen face paintings require a lot of effort, and you may not succeed every time you cut the skin."
"But I always feel it's immoral and unfair to the deceased."
"That's what you think. If they die, they'll be burned anyway, which is such a pity. Besides, by making face paintings, they can feel the warmth of their loved ones and see everything about them."
"What's that like?"
"I'll tell you when I need you to know."
"I want to know what's inside the Void Gate?"
"The real world inside you."
Mao Xiaoli said this and left.
I didn't see the virtual door while I was working. Perhaps it won't appear again. Mao Xiaoli said that the virtual door is my own world. Is that true? Or is she lying? I don't know.
I found that the world here in the crematorium is mysterious, scary and weird.
Mao Xiaoli's actions were all genuine, and I saw them. Yin Yan was constantly distracting others. Was there something wrong with her abilities? If so, tell me. I think it's a good idea. She was constantly doing something else that was distracting her, absolutely.
As for me, I don’t understand Yinyan at all. She wraps herself up and doesn’t let me understand her. I feel like we are getting further and further apart.
Yinyan took me to her master Li Li's house and enclosed the land.
That place is the most chaotic one in the city, where all kinds of people, from all walks of life, including prostitutes and car dealers, hooligans and ruffians, gather together.
When we entered the house, Li Li's house was a mess. She was sitting there watching TV and eating melon seeds. She was a very lazy woman. I couldn't tell that she was a refiner in the past.
She lives alone because she is a refiner. She didn't find a partner until she was forty years old, so she became mentally unstable and decided not to look for one anymore. Life alone is pretty good.
"master."
"Yanzi, you haven't been here for a while. Have you forgotten your master?"
"No, busy, messy."
"Come downstairs for lunch. It's a new restaurant, it's good. I'll treat you."
"Thank you, Master. I'll treat you."
"Okay, no one needs that little money. Now we are at the master's house, master, please treat me."
We chatted about nonsense, all about women's things. When noon came, we went downstairs to eat. The food in this restaurant was really good. While drinking, Yinyan talked about the shadow of breathing and the virtual gate.
"In matters like this, the shadow is your other half. To put it bluntly, it can help you do many things that you cannot do otherwise. You just have to handle the relationship well. The virtual door is your own door, the door in your heart. If you close it in your mind and don't be curious, you will never go in. If you go in, you will see your real world. People are half good and half evil. You will see your good and evil sides. When you see your evil side, you will be scared, and it will provoke the evil side to rise. So, you'd better not have the idea of going into the virtual door. That is wrong, because that is another world. You need to go to that other world after you die . If you go there early, you will be punished."
"So how can I do that?"
"You are a yin person. You will always see these things and they will tempt you. I can't control yourself. Of course, I have ways, but remember, don't want to know too much in the future. The less you know, the less trouble you will have."
"Understood, Master Li."
"Call me Auntie."
Li Li is a cheerful person, sometimes she'll joke around, which makes me laugh, and Yinyan smiles too. Yinyan's smile is very beautiful, but she rarely smiles. The first time I saw her smile was when we first met, and after that, it became rare. Is it true that a beautiful smile is priceless? I really don't know.
Li Li told me to come and pick something up tomorrow and everything would be fine.
I don’t know what Li Li will give me. Of course, I think it may be something I can’t imagine.
Yinyan told me to go home because she had something to do. She always had something to do, but I didn't know what it was. She didn't say it, nor did she tell me. Apart from entering the coffin in the small building, I knew nothing else.
What Li Li said made me relax. If that was the case, maybe there was nothing to be afraid of.
The next day, I went to Li Li to pick up something. It turned out to be a group of beads. I couldn't tell what they were. She asked me to wear them on my wrist. The beads were shiny and polished.
"thank you."
I sat there for a while and then left. I didn't know what kind of beads these were or why they had such an effect.
Sure enough, the shadow did not appear, and I didn’t see Xu Men anyway. It all felt good. If it always stays like this, it would be nice to stay in this quiet place like the crematorium.
However, this is not a quiet place. Mao Xiaoli suddenly came to my house and scared me. She was wearing mourning clothes.
"Sister Mao, can you please stop wearing this mourning white? It's unlucky."
"What do you know?"
Mao Xiaoli was very angry and said after she sat down.
"Don't mess around. I'm telling you, I'm here to help you, why are you making such a fuss? If I'm not here, other people's help will only be temporary, and it won't be of any use."
"I……"
"Take off the bracelet."
I was stunned. She knew everything.
"How did you know that?"
"I tell you, I have already made my little man. I know all the changes you have made."
"What villain?"
I was just fooled. Mao Xiaoli is so evil.
"Come to my house tonight."
Mao Xiaoli walked away, dressed in mourning clothes. I was truly awed by this woman. She was truly terrifying. What on earth was she planning to do? What was her goal after painting thirteen faces? I had no idea. I decided to go that night. I had to find out, otherwise I wouldn't help her do that.
All this made me feel terrified. It seemed that I had fallen into a deep pit and could not get out of it.
I seemed to be completely led by Mao Xiaoli, and this kind of thing left me puzzled.
Mao Xiaoli took the bracelet away, so what else will happen?
The next day, I went to the crematorium and the director came to me and told me that I didn't need to carry the body anymore.
"Then where should I go?"
"The columbarium, it's a bit more relaxing there. The columbarium owner is sick, so you'll be there for the time being."
It was arranged by the director, so I don't want to ask too much. Just go wherever you are told to go. Talking too much here will only bring bad luck.
I packed my things and entered the columbarium. The work here was relatively easy, and I only dealt with ashes. Everything was very stable. The large columbarium was clean and transparent. The columbarium tables were lined up in rows, with urns of various styles placed on them, and all kinds of photos on the urns.
It's around 1:00 p.m. and work is over. I don't feel tired and it's very relaxing. Usually there are women here.
I didn't expect that just when I was about to leave, I heard someone in the columbarium. I knew, and the director also reminded me, that ashes were lost in the columbarium six years ago. Don't think that no one has stolen the ashes. If they were really lost, it would be a big deal, even more serious than being embarrassed. I can realize this.
I sat in the chair without moving. The sound was a bit strange, like dripping water, one drop at a time, very clear. Because the urn was very large, there was even an echo, which made me feel a bit uncomfortable. Maybe water was dripping somewhere. I had to go in and take a look, otherwise the water would soak the urn.
I used the card to open the door, went in, and looked around, row by row, line by line, but didn't find any dripping water. Just as I was about to come out, I saw a figure flash by. I was so scared that I leaned against the wall. I stared, but there was nothing. A few minutes passed, and there was still nothing. I came out immediately.
After I came out, I checked the surveillance cameras in every place and every corner , but found nothing. I breathed a sigh of relief. In this place, sometimes it is a psychological effect that makes you have an illusion.
I packed up, changed my clothes and came out. I got in the car and Zhang Xiaoxue opened the door and got in.
"Brother Mingzhe, I'd like to treat you to a meal. I know you haven't eaten yet, and I've been waiting for you."
Zhang Xiaoxue has not given up on her love for me. She has always believed that she will get me in the end. In fact, I hesitated for a while. Yinyan didn't let me know many things she did. Since we were lovers, there were some things she should have told me, but she didn't. She seemed not to believe me, which made me very annoyed.
Zhang Xiaoxue and I went to Master Zhou's house. When I was sitting there drinking tea, I heard the sound of dripping water again. I was surprised. Was it an illusion?
Master Zhou noticed my expression.
"Is something wrong?"
I frowned and told him about the water droplets. Master Zhou looked at me and said.
"As expected, there are many sinister things happening to sinners. It seems like your life in the crematorium will not be peaceful. Alas."
"What if I leave here?"
"I think you can't leave."
Master Zhou's words surprised me. In fact, I had already started to think about leaving the crematorium. This place really made me uneasy all the time. Although I really wanted to stay here, out of curiosity or to be close to my father, I really needed to leave now. Things kept happening, and Mao Xiaoli asked me to have my skin cut, which made me extremely terrified.
Zhang Xiaoxue could see that I was unhappy because I wanted to leave the crematorium. The decision was made quickly, in a split second. Sometimes, decisions are made in an instant.
That day I drove home and sat at home. The cold house made me uncomfortable. My mother's escape meant that this home no longer existed. She escaped after enduring for decades. So where should I escape to?
