Farewell to the Exuvia

(Brain storage)

"Hello, is this Xiao Lin? What? Mom can talk now? Ah, okay, okay, okay! I'll be right over!"

After ending the call with Xu Nian, Lin Yiyi removed the needles from the old woman's body. It sounded mystical, but in truth, he had merely strengthened the effect of her final burst of vitality.

"Young man, thank you for being willing to help these old bones of mine."

Grandma was still lying in bed, but she now had the strength to speak. This was thanks to Lin Yiyi's acupuncture—though its effects would not last long.

Lin Yiyi briefly told her everything that had happened over the past few days.

A faint smile hung on the old woman's face, perhaps one she had squeezed out with all her remaining strength. "My son hasn't accomplished much, but he's filial. As long as he can handle my funeral arrangements, this old woman can rest easy. Hehe..."

With a creak, the hospital room door opened. In less than five minutes, Xu Nian had arrived.

The moment he entered, he dropped to his knees before his mother. "Mom, your son has failed you. Your son has failed you!"

With just that one sentence, tears streamed down his face.

"Da Nian, your mother has weathered so many storms in her life, yet I never asked for much."

"But the one thing I gained was you."

"Your father left early. From now on, you'll be the only one in this family."

"Make something of yourself. Find a wife. Don't let the Xu family line die out."

"Your mother is blessed to have a son like you. I'll go peacefully..."

Xu Nian could no longer force out a single word. He merely held his mother's hand and wept bitterly.

A long, long time ago, perhaps he had cried just like this in his mother's arms, pouring out all his grievances. But from now on, no one would ever listen to his complaints like that again.

The road ahead could only be walked by himself. The bitterness ahead could only be endured by himself. The burdens ahead could only be borne by himself.

The old woman continued to look at her son with a gentle expression, just as she had when he had babbled in her arms as a child. Then she slowly began to sing a nursery rhyme:

"Red radishes, sweet and soft, before you know it, New Year's will come..."

"We did everything we could, but we couldn't save her. Please accept our condolences."

Two doctors emerged from the hospital room and bowed deeply to Xu Nian and the other friends and family members.

Lin Yiyi did not know how to comfort him, so he could only pat Xu Nian's shoulder. "My condolences. Grandma will be watching over you from heaven."

Every star in the sky was someone who had once loved us.

Xu Nian broke down sobbing. Everyone was immersed in grief, and after a long while, they began making funeral arrangements.

"Xiao Lin, are you free tomorrow morning? Could you come to the funeral home and attend the service?" Xu Nian had no need for pleasantries after Lin Yiyi had helped him so much, so he invited him directly.

Lin Yiyi said nothing and merely nodded.

By late morning, Xu Nian's relatives and friends had gradually all arrived. Lin Yiyi sat in the last row—the place reserved for the younger generation.

"What? Ah, why did it have to happen at a time like this?" Once everyone had taken their seats, Xu Nian entered with an anxious look on his face. "Everyone, please wait a moment. The ritual master we hired isn't feeling well today and can't come. Please remain calm. I'll contact another one."

Hearing this, everyone began whispering among themselves. Lin Yiyi, seated in a corner, remained silent and opened Genshin Impact. The new version had just been updated; there was no way he could not check it out.

Yet for some reason, his game's login screen seemed slightly different. Unlike other players, the enormous gray-black stone gate leading to another world had turned bright white.

Did they update the gate too? Lin Yiyi thought, but he still tapped it.

After the familiar loading screen, Lin Yiyi suddenly saw the seven elemental icons on the screen form a circle on their own before beginning to rotate clockwise.

"?" A huge question mark appeared in Lin Yiyi's mind. Just as the screen went black, a voice shattered his attempt to escape reality.

"My deepest apologies, everyone, but the requiem ritual will have to be postponed. I was unable to contact any other masters capable of presiding over the funeral." Xu Nian bowed to the crowd. "Please forgive the inconvenience!"

The moment he said that, the room erupted into discussion. Some complained, some expressed regret, some cursed, and some simply acted as though it had nothing to do with them.

"Let me do it." The young man's voice rang out, both at just the right time and entirely out of place. Lin Yiyi took off his headphones and spoke expressionlessly.

The people who had been whispering immediately exploded into an uproar. Someone even stood up. "How old are you? Don't you think before you speak? Do you think just anyone can handle something like this?"

Lin Yiyi ignored him and continued, "Mr. Xu, I know a little about funeral rites. If you really can't find anyone, why not let me give it a try?"

Listening to the jeers and insults around him, Xu Nian did not know what to do for the moment.

But when he looked into the young man's dim yet abnormally profound eyes, he gritted his teeth and pushed aside all objections. "Fine! We'll treat a dead horse as if it were alive! Xiao Lin, you do it! What do you need me to prepare? I'll get it right away!"

Lin Yiyi picked up his backpack. "No need. I've prepared everything."

He then skillfully arranged the offerings on the table in the mourning hall. There happened to be an electronic incense burner in front of the table, sparing him the need to burn incense.

Under everyone's gaze, Lin Yiyi pulled one ritual implement after another from his backpack.

Soon, the entire mourning hall fell silent. Everyone seemed to realize that this ordinary-looking young man was anything but simple.

Lin Yiyi shook a bell, then began circling the coffin with a strange set of steps while murmuring an incantation.

The funeral was supposed to be held today. It couldn't be delayed over such a trivial matter.

The old woman had lived with dignity, so her final affairs had to be handled properly. This was not only respect for the deceased, but also respect for my own faith.

I, too, have lost my parents. I, too, have seen too many meetings and partings, joys and sorrows. So I can understand the pain of losing a loved one.

Truly, it must hurt terribly.

To meet today is fate. Since I have taken on this cause, let me bring its result to an end.

Accomplish the great affairs of the realm, and win a name that lives on before and after death.

The bell gave off waves of trembling chimes. As Lin Yiyi bowed deeply toward the ice coffin, the people behind him followed suit.

This was the greatest respect they could offer the deceased.

As everyone dispersed, Lin Yiyi wiped away his sweat. "All right. One more ritual tomorrow, and then she can be cremated."

Xu Nian immediately clasped Lin Yiyi's hands tightly. "Thank you, thank you so much, Xiao Lin! I never would have guessed that you knew how to do all this!"

"I only know a little." The young man remained expressionless. "Go prepare lunch for them. I'll come again tomorrow."

Lin Yiyi packed up his things, put on his denim hat, and prepared to leave.

"Wait, Xiao Lin," Xu Nian called out to him. "You're so young. Did you study funeral rites?"

A light breeze lifted the young man's trench coat. Lin Yiyi smiled faintly.

"I'm a Taoist priest."