Chapter 28: Obsession

In that instant!

Zhou Xiaowan cried out, her voice tearing through the silence: "Qingqing, stop!"

The shout actually halted Zhao Qingqing's actions. Yan Yu stood protectively in front of Su Han, and Zhao Qingqing's ghostly claw was less than an inch away—any closer and Yan Yu would surely be hurt.

Zhao Qingqing paused, tilting her head to look at Zhou Xiaowan. Her gaze seemed conflicted, caught in a struggle.

"Qingqing, you’ve already killed Li Kang. Don’t kill anyone else!" Zhou Xiaowan summoned all her courage, stepping closer and closer to Zhao Qingqing.

"I..."

Zhao Qingqing’s eyes were lost and unfocused, the murderous intent in them slowly fading. She descended to the ground, staring at Zhou Xiaowan.

Zhou Xiaowan approached, took Zhao Qingqing’s hand, and calmly placed it on her own chest. Her voice trembled with tears: "Qingqing, I am your best friend. But when you were in trouble, I didn’t stand up for you right away. If you must kill someone... then kill me."

"No... I can’t..." Zhao Qingqing shook her head, "You are my best friend..."

"Do you remember me? On the first day at school, you helped wash my socks. That day, I treated you to ramen. You said it was the most delicious bowl you’d ever had, and you wished we could eat together forever... From then on, we were inseparable friends."

"I remember... I remember it all..." As she spoke, sparkling tears welled up in Zhao Qingqing’s eyes. Her figure gradually shrank, returning to her original form.

Aside from her pale complexion, Zhao Qingqing now looked almost indistinguishable from the living.

The bond between Zhou Xiaowan and Zhao Qingqing had become her new obsession, restoring her to her former self.

“How... how is this possible?” the Drowned Ghost muttered in disbelief.

Yan Yu gestured silently for him to be quiet, and the Drowned Ghost dared not speak further.

"Xiaowan... I’m grateful for your companionship during high school. But..." Zhao Qingqing sighed, "I must go."

"Where are you going?"

"To where I belong." Zhao Qingqing turned to Yan Yu and sincerely said, "Thank you for always helping me... If it’s possible, could you guide me to the City God Temple?"

Every city has a City God Temple, the place where spirits are gathered and sent to the underworld for reincarnation.

Those “unregistered souls” who have not yet reported after their first week as ghosts cannot see where the temple is located.

"Of course." Yan Yu took a prepared envelope from his pocket and handed it to Zhao Qingqing.

Inside was a Rebirth Paper, something only a true Taoist could write. The unregistered spirits could use it to find the path to reincarnation.

"Qingqing... I can’t bear to part with you."

"There’s no feast that doesn’t end, Xiaowan. Meeting you was when sunshine first entered my life. Spending three years together, I’m already content..." Tears reddened Zhao Qingqing’s eyes.

Yan Yu spoke up: "Xiaowan, Qingqing must leave quickly, or she’ll miss her chance for reincarnation."

Hearing this, Zhou Xiaowan quietly stepped forward and embraced Zhao Qingqing.

They hugged, but the warmth was gone. Zhou Xiaowan felt as if she were holding a cold lump of iron, but—her heart remained warm.

Now, separated by the realms of life and death, their paths would never cross again.

Zhao Qingqing smiled—a beautiful, radiant smile just as she had in life.

She may not have been a proud peony blooming on a high branch, but she was the loveliest sight in the wild grass by the roadside.

She waved to Yan Yu and the others, then her body, along with the Rebirth Paper, faded away, transforming into starlight that drifted westward into the sky...

"Qingqing, safe travels..."

As the last glimmer of starlight vanished, Zhou Xiaowan was already in tears, clutching the wooden comb Zhao Qingqing left behind—a testament to their friendship.

Watching Zhao Qingqing journey west, the Drowned Ghost finally sighed in relief, murmuring, "This doesn’t make sense..."

"No, it makes perfect sense." Yan Yu breathed out. "Do you really think it was Xiaowan’s words that moved Zhao Qingqing?"

Su Han questioned, "Wasn’t it? Li Kang is dead. As you said, Zhao Qingqing should have lost her mind and gone on a rampage, yet when Zhou Xiaowan spoke, she regained her sanity."

"It wasn’t that... Zhao Qingqing was too kind. Perhaps she wanted to kill Li Kang, but in the end, she changed her mind." Yan Yu shook his head.

"You mean..." Su Han and the Drowned Ghost were startled.

Yan Yu said, "Call an ambulance. Li Kang isn’t dead yet."

Li Kang survived, so Zhao Qingqing hadn’t truly lost her mind, and Zhou Xiaowan had the chance to awaken her.

Su Han glanced at Li Kang lying motionless on the ground, hesitating for a moment.

"The living must handle their own affairs. The dead are managed by the underworld. If Li Kang dies here, how will we explain it?" Yan Yu asked.

"Alright then." Su Han bit her lip, hating Li Kang deeply—she wished he would die right there.

But she listened to Yan Yu, and called for an ambulance.

Zhou Xiaowan sat crying nearby, and Yan Yu came over to pat her shoulder, comforting her: "The dead cannot return. All we can do is clear Zhao Qingqing’s name as much as possible."

"I understand... When the time comes, I’ll testify in court with He Qing," Zhou Xiaowan replied.

"You were very brave. But next time, don’t do anything so dangerous alone."

Zhou Xiaowan’s courage in the critical moment had brought Zhao Qingqing back to reason—something Yan Yu hadn’t expected.

But her earlier silent confrontation with Li Kang had been reckless.

"Thank you," Zhou Xiaowan whispered.

"Don’t you think I was really cool just now?" Yan Yu teased.

Zhou Xiaowan managed a smile through her tears, retorting, "Not cool, not at all—you looked like an old man."

"Bah!"

Yan Yu smiled too, but in the next moment, the smile froze on his face.

"Damn!"

"What’s wrong?!"

Zhou Xiaowan, Su Han, and the Drowned Ghost were startled by Yan Yu’s sudden shout.

Yan Yu clutched his head in regret, groaning, "I should have asked Zhao Qingqing about my mother, but now she’s already reincarnated!"

He had worked so hard to resolve Zhao Qingqing’s obsession and help her recall her life, but in the end, he was so moved by the scene that he forgot to ask her that crucial question.

"Is there any way to bring her back now?" Su Han, not fully understanding Yan Yu’s words, still asked.

Yan Yu thumped his chest in frustration: "It’s too late. Zhao Qingqing flew off just now—she must already be at the City God Temple, starting her journey to the underworld..."