Chapter 21 40 Years Later
“Is there something on my face?” Qin Liu felt a bit puzzled as the other party kept staring at her.
“No… it’s just…” the old woman mumbled, but her gaze never left Qin Liu. It wasn’t until a sudden sound of footsteps from outside that the old woman’s attention was instantly drawn to the doorway. It was as if something terrifying would rush in at any moment.
Through the gap in the window, Qin Liu finally saw clearly what was outside. It was a man in a police uniform, but his clothes were completely soaked, and his entire body was puffed up and swollen.
After thinking for a moment, Qin Liu recognized who it was—Li Rongjun. Judging by the depth of the symbol on his chest, it was likely the first mirror ghost. But what was it doing here? Under Qin Liu’s gaze, Li Rongjun’s pale eyes seemed to be scanning something, and then he walked step by step towards the dilapidated steamed bun shop opposite, looking left and right as if searching for someone.
“Phew…” Seeing the monster outside gradually moving away, the old woman finally relaxed, her heart no longer hanging in suspense. However, when she saw Qin Liu standing fearlessly by the window, she spoke with a hint of anger, “Little girl! Come back quickly, what are you standing there for?”
Hearing the old woman’s deliberately lowered voice, Qin Liu could only hide and asked her, “Grandma, do you know the thing outside too?”
Upon hearing this, the old woman said with lingering fear, “Those ghastly things that aren’t human nor ghost, anyone would want to stay far away from them, wouldn’t they!”
“Except for you… this fearless little girl.”
“Listen to Grandma’s advice. After the fog dissipates, find a way to leave this town quickly, or by the time it gets completely dark, you really won’t be able to get out,” the old woman earnestly cautioned. This made Qin Liu even more confused. Setting aside the fact that the other party seemed to think she was human, why wouldn’t it be possible to leave here after it got dark? And why would those mirror ghosts appear in this place? All sorts of questions led Qin Liu to direct her gaze at the old woman in front of her, hoping to know something from her lips. But the first thing to ask, naturally, was about Liu Haoyu’s whereabouts.”By the way, Grandma, have you seen a man about this tall, this strong, wearing a black trench coat, named Liu Haoyu?”
However, when the old woman heard this, she was instantly stunned. She looked at Qin Liu, her gaze moving up and down, while memories gradually surfaced in her mind. After a few seconds of hesitation, the old woman’s eyes widened, and she said incredulously, “You… are Qin Liu?!”
“Ah…” Qin Liu was also stunned at this moment. It seemed she hadn’t introduced herself? How could this old person know her name? Moreover, she wasn’t a vengeful spirit but a living person… which was even stranger.
“Yes, I am Qin Liu.” Although she didn’t know what was going on, Qin Liu still frankly admitted her identity, “Grandma, do you know me?”
At this moment, the old woman’s expression began to become agitated. Her wrinkled hand suddenly reached out, attempting to grab Qin Liu’s wrist, but her hand passed right through. This sudden change stunned both Qin Liu and the old woman. Qin Liu quickly took two steps back, her gaze warily fixed on the old woman in front of her. But seeing that Qin Liu hadn’t reacted, the old woman frantically explained, “It’s me! It’s me!”
“I am Shen Qiumeng!” After the old woman spoke her name, Qin Liu finally realized. She looked at the old woman in front of her in disbelief, but the ravages of time made her appearance completely mismatched with that of the little chef from over forty years ago. However, the old woman also realized it at this moment. A full forty years had passed, and she had become an old woman with white at her temples, but… why had Qin Liu in front of her only transformed from a little loli into a graceful young lady?
Shen Qiumeng paused for a moment, then took a step back, a trace of terror in her eyes. “Are you… a ghost?”
Seeing her fearful expression, Qin Liu interrupted her own recollections and nodded, saying, “Indeed, I died a long time ago.”
“But don’t worry, Mengmeng jie. I am a ghost with a conscience.” Although Qin Liu repeatedly emphasized this, Shen Qiumeng still looked at her with some skepticism. It wasn’t until a low roar suddenly sounded from outside that both of them froze. Shen Qiumeng immediately fled into the inner room, and Qin Liu, worried about her safety, chased after her.
“Bang!” The blocked door was suddenly and forcefully pushed open. The mirror ghost, transformed from Li Rongjun, slowly entered the room. The distance between it and Qin Liu was less than ten meters. At this distance, Qin Liu could clearly see its true appearance. Swollen, ugly, the entire body was bloated from being soaked in water, presenting a decaying appearance like a giant. The symbol on its chest blinked like eyes, looking extremely strange. And upon seeing Qin Liu, this monster, which had long lost all reason and soul, rushed towards the two of them.
“What are you standing around for!” Shen Qiumeng had already opened the inner room window and said to Qin Liu, who was still standing at the doorway, “Run!”
Hearing Shen Qiumeng’s words, Qin Liu thought for a moment and decided not to use her abilities. She only threw out a talisman. “Boom!” White flames blocked the mirror ghost’s path and ignited it completely. Amidst shrill howls, Qin Liu caught up with Shen Qiumeng. The two of them escaped the house and arrived at another house not far away. Compared to the one they had hidden in before, this house looked even more dilapidated.
Upon entering the house, Shen Qiumeng saw a mirror hanging on the doorframe not far away. Her expression turned to shock, and she said to Qin Liu, “Don’t look at the mirror!” Then she picked up a brick from the ground and smashed the mirror on the doorframe.
“Clang!” The mirror fell to the ground. After confirming that the mirror surface had shattered towards the floor, Shen Qiumeng finally breathed a sigh of relief. Having finished this, Shen Qiumeng said to Qin Liu beside her, “You’re fine…” Perhaps Qin Liu’s appearance was too young, or perhaps Shen Qiumeng had truly aged. The old woman’s first reaction was to treat Qin Liu as a child. By the time she realized it, it was too late to change her words, but she didn’t feel embarrassed and continued, “Those monsters are probably after me. Qin Liu, find a chance to escape from here, and let me lure them away… This old body of mine is only useful for this.”
Just as the two were talking, a strange sound suddenly came from inside the house. Following the sound, they saw that the mirror, which had been shattered on the ground, was slowly piecing itself back together. After a brief silence, a hand reached out from the mirror and fiercely grabbed towards Shen Qiumeng’s direction.
