Judge of Souls - Chapter 40

When Jiang Feng appeared in the Shaoling Mountain range, he happened to run into Chu Xuanliang who was about to head down the mountain.

“Why did you come too? Didn’t I tell you to take them home first?” Chu Xuanliang stopped and said, “It’s too dangerous for you here, and you especially attract ghosts… You might as well go to the Mountain God Temple to watch over them, to prevent them from wandering off.”

Jiang Feng: “Mm.”

Chu Xuanliang said, “I’ll go first. They don’t seem willing to leave. If you can persuade them, then do so. If not, don’t argue with them. I’ll bring the other students up as well.”

Although he had some sympathy for this group of students, to be honest, he wasn’t sure about these children’s temperaments and currently didn’t dare to provoke them with direct confrontation.

The little Mountain God followed alongside Jiang Feng to the Mountain God Temple. The two pushed open the door, and the old wooden door creaked. The four people inside all looked over at once.

The girl was tense, her eyes flashing, her whole body slumped against the edge of the table.

The boy shrank into the corner of the wall, shaking his head, “I’m not going home!”

Jiang Feng walked in and sat down in a clean spot. “If you don’t go home, will you just stay here forever?”

The boy stubbornly said, “I’ll stay right here!”

“Stay here and let the little Mountain God support you for life?” Jiang Feng said, “Does he owe you something?”

The boy was momentarily speechless, not having considered this. “I…”

Then he fell silent.

The little Mountain God sensed the awkward atmosphere between them, crouched next to Jiang Feng, looking at them in confusion.

Jiang Feng placed his hands on his knees and asked, “How much money do your parents give you each month?”

Boy: “What?”

Jiang Feng: “From childhood until now, how much money have they given you? How much have they spent on your education?”

“Is giving money enough to raise a child? They don’t deserve to be called parents!” The boy stood up excitedly, rolling up his sleeve to reveal a ten-centimeter-long scratch on his arm. “They knew this was an illegal, non-compliant school and still sent me here! I showed them my injury, but they didn’t believe what I said. They thought I was lying to get out, and watching me trembling in fear, they laughed and said I’d become obedient. F*ck! Aren’t they more terrifying than ghosts? I’d rather stay here than go home!”

Jiang Feng looked at him expressionlessly.

“I deliver food, rent my own place, and still have to attend classes. When the temperature exceeds forty degrees, there are high-temperature warnings, and schools start their holidays, that’s our peak working period.” Jiang Feng’s voice was calm and detached, showing no emotion or bias. “Everyone has to learn, everyone has to grow up. You’re just a step behind others, but that doesn’t mean you can escape. This is no longer an era where you can’t survive without your parents.”

The three of them turned their heads, cautiously observing him.

“You use their money, enjoy their care, and you take it all for granted. They pay you enough living expenses, and you accept it without qualms. Because deep down, you believe they owe you. How do they owe you? It’s because you believe your parents must naturally love you, inherently, inescapably. But one day you discover they don’t love you anymore, so you panic and hate.”

Jiang Feng paused then said, “But why? Why? Not everyone will unconditionally love their children—have you realized this? At least you have one advantage: parents who have money and are willing to spend it. That’s luckier than some people.”

Everyone remained silent.

The girl sitting in the corner began to sob quietly again.

Boy: “So you’re saying I deserve to be sent here? But when I was born, they didn’t ask me either!”

“Sending you here was your parents’ choice, and previously living off your parents was your choice. They were negligent, and you were useless. People sympathize with you because in this matter, you’re not the only ones at fault, but you are the only victims. And you’ve endured punishment far exceeding your mistakes. But that doesn’t mean your rebellion and dependence are right.”

“You can choose to continue using their money, shouting at them, then complaining about your fate, only to be sent back to a walking school for rehabilitation. Then after they get old, you can take revenge, abandon them, humiliate them… Is that what you want?”

The boy’s mouth twitched. He turned away, not wanting to engage.

“Think whatever you want, it’s your life. But have you ever, even once, thought about what your future should look like? What you should do, what kind of person you should become. How you’ll support yourself, how you’ll become independent?” Jiang Feng said, “Your parents don’t love you anymore, they won’t indulge you anymore, that’s true, that’s how it is now. Then what? Society is harsh and cruel, it won’t give you any special treatment just because you’re pitiful. What will you do in the future? In a few years, you’ll be an adult, and the Mountain God Temple won’t protect you forever.”

Jiang Feng stood up and said, “If you can only survive by relying on others, then it doesn’t matter where or when.”

He beckoned to the little Mountain God. “Close the door here. Let’s go.”

The little Mountain God stood up and followed behind Jiang Feng out of the temple. He looked back worriedly and said, “They’re still young.”

“Mm.” Jiang Feng said, “Older than you.”

Even if everyone blamed their parents, it wouldn’t change their family relationship. Criticism doesn’t mean they should cut ties completely. Minors still need to rely on their elders, at least according to national law, which stipulates relevant responsibilities and obligations.

Their guardians are their parents, and there won’t be a second person in the world who would sacrifice for them like that. It’s just that feelings that have already grown thin are difficult to deepen again, and trust that has already collapsed is difficult to rebuild. If they don’t resist, they’ll continue to live this miserably forever.

Defying parents isn’t resistance; facing the future is.

Endurance, pretense, outburst, breakup, rising up… anything is possible, but they must make a change. No one can save them; in this world, everyone needs to save themselves.

****

The little Mountain God was stepping unevenly on the uneven slope.

Seeing him repeatedly about to fall, his arms waving dramatically yet somehow managing to stay upright, Jiang Feng found it so amusing that he simply went over and picked him up, then headed down the mountain.

After passing the boundary between the mountaintop and the foot, Jiang Feng became vigilant, constantly alert for black shadows that might suddenly appear.

Each step made a rustling sound. Suddenly, the little Mountain God drew a sharp breath, his hair almost standing on end, pointing ahead in warning. “There’s—there’s someone!”

Jiang Feng kicked some gravel with his toe, looking in the direction he pointed, taking a moment to understand.

On a withered tree to their left front, a human face appeared on the surface of the brown bark.

The ghost had concealed its form perfectly, probably intending to approach them this way, but unfortunately was detected by the little Mountain God from far away.

Jiang Feng put him down, then turned to look for a stick.

The little Mountain God waved his hand, full of confidence. “Dad, don’t move, I’ll protect you! I can kick him to death!”

Jiang Feng bent halfway over, looking at him skeptically.

The little Mountain God spread his arms, waving them up and down while shouting. “Grow bigger, grow bigger, grow bigger!”

With his chant, his body truly began to rapidly grow taller, and his originally well-fitting clothes began to tighten.

Jiang Feng suddenly had a bad feeling.

Halfway through growing, the little Mountain God’s face momentarily turned purplish, and his form rapidly shrank back. He tumbled to the ground.

Jiang Feng quickly went over and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Squeezed! Chi-! Chi-!” The little Mountain God clutched his crotch, teary-eyed. “Balls hurt!”

Jiang Feng: “…”

The little Mountain God’s exposed little white legs kicked repeatedly, and then he burst into tears with a “wah.”

“So pitiful!”

Jiang Feng: “…”

He picked up the little Mountain God and sprinted down the mountain.

At the same time, a humanoid ghost emerged from the tree ahead, holding an iron rod, rapidly chasing after them.