Chapter 26 – Rebellious Third Uncle (2)

Chapter 26 – Rebellious Third Uncle (2)

Grandpa stayed home all day, messing with his turtle shells and copper coins to see Third Uncle's fortune. Even though the signs showed that Third Uncle wasn't dead, it couldn't tell him where exactly Third Uncle was or what he'd done.

Grandpa had First Uncle find all the friends that Third Uncle usually hung out with, but they didn't know where he'd gone either. They only said that Third Uncle made friends from somewhere else and might've gone with them. This group could become friends if they just drank together. They didn't even know the names of those people.

One day after Third Uncle had disappeared for three months, Grandpa went to work in the fields and I stayed inside to read. Third Uncle suddenly came back. He didn't have a good relationship with Grandpa and wasn't willing to get married and have kids, but he was really nice to his nephews, Kunlun and I.

He walked over and hugged me. Handing me a golden longevity lock, he said, "Here's a cool thing for you. How is it? Like it?"

"Yeah." I didn't want to let go of the longevity lock. I didn't know its value; I just thought that it was shiny and pretty.

"Where did you go?" I asked Third Uncle. "Grandpa looked everywhere for you."

"I went to make money. You're too young to get it. Here, take this and let your Grandpa know that I'm back when he comes back. I'm leaving now." Third Uncle kissed me and left the yard.

After he left, I read for a while and then went to play in the yard. We called it a yard, but it was just an area created by a fence Grandpa made with twigs. While I was playing, an old woman with a black oil-paper umbrella suddenly appeared. She stood outside the yard and stared at me.

"Old granny, can I help you?" I asked.

"I'm thirsty," she said, looking at me. "Child, can you get me a bowl of water?"

I rose to get water from the well nearby for her. Just as I handed the bowl to the old woman, I noticed that her arm was covered in dark green spots. Her nails were black and very long.

I looked up and saw that her face had the same dark green spots. She grinned coldly at me and chills went down my spine.

She had a black umbrella during the clear day.

Green spots all over her body.

And such long, black nails!

Could this old granny be a ghost?

Frightened, I tried to retreat, but it was too late. The old woman grabbed my wrist. Her nails dug into my flesh and it was so painful. I struggled but couldn't break free. The old woman stretched out her other hand and grasped the longevity lock that Third Uncle gave me. It was hanging on my neck.

"Longevity lock?" she asked, smiling menacingly. "You stole something and still want a long life?"