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"Kelian, don't hate Mr. Beichuan... I did this on purpose," Nishijou Misaki gently stroked Nishijou Kelian's little head, and a trace of serenity appeared on her once-hideous face.
The foul, dark liquid kept oozing out, and her transparent body trembled in the cold wind, tending toward disappearance.
She spoke these words to prevent Nishijou Kelian from developing an 'obsession,' for if 'obsession' turned into 'resentment,' Nishijou Kelian would ultimately become a spiteful spirit.
Moreover, Nishijou Misaki had indeed been seeking death intentionally.
When her half-body was easily pierced through, Mr. Beichuan was already aware of this fact.
For no mother would want her child to see her in such a terrifying state. Parents should educate their children through both words and examples.
"Mmm... Mommy Meixiang..." Nishijou Kelian shook her head while crying, tears and snot flowing together.
Yet in such a silent night, her gut-wrenching cries were only audible to Mr. Beichuan.
Tears drifted into the air, turning into golden powder, taken by the cold wind, to destinations unknown.
Nishijou Kelian's small body clung tightly to Nishijou Misaki, her little hands gripping firmly, unwilling to let go.
"Kelian..."
Even if most of her sanity had been eroded by resentment, a mother would never harm her own daughter.
"Kelian." Black liquid also trickled from Nishijou Misaki's scarlet eyes, and from her terrifying face, Mr. Beichuan could clearly feel the sorrowful emotions.
She slowly extended her pinky,
"Kelian, do you remember what I used to tell you?"
Gazing at her mother's now-distorted finger, Nishijou Kelian forcefully nodded and extended her little hand to grasp the pinky, softly reciting in a trembling and childish voice,
"Mommy gets tired from working in the fields and wants to rest when she returns, and Kelian will be a good, obedient child and wait for Mommy to wake up."
The small palm and pinky swayed in the cold wind.
It was a promise often made between her and Nishijou Misaki, that as long as Nishijou Kelian behaved, Nishijou Misaki would play with her once she was rested.
"Mommy Meixiang... you sleep... I will try to be a good child." Nishijou Kelian said with tear-blurred eyes, stumbling over her words.
"Okay." Nishijou Misaki nodded with a smile, and she struggled to open her arms, wishing to embrace her daughter one last time.
Nishijou Kelian also closed her eyes and extended her arms.
But she waited and waited until the distant wails of sirens approached, yet the familiar embrace never fell upon her.
She slowly opened her eyes, but where was the shadow of Nishijou Misaki?
All she saw in front of her was an empty street, allowing a view of the other side.
No one was there.
The cold wind howled, making one tuck their neck into their collar.
Mr. Beichuan stood behind her, wanting to let Nishijou Kelian cry a little longer.
But to his surprise, Nishijou Kelian did not cry aloud; she just stood in a daze for a long time before finally standing up woodenly.
She raised her head and looked woodenly at Mr. Beichuan.
There was no guilt on Mr. Beichuan's face.
He had done nothing wrong, and letting Nishijou Misaki continue, she would eventually fully transform into a spiteful spirit, perhaps losing even the last trace of reason to speak.
But in the end, he was the one who acted, so even if Nishijou Kelian held a grudge against him, he had no complaints.
Compared to the father of Nishijou, who could harm his daughter and ex-wife, Mr. Beichuan found the human heart sometimes more terrifying than spiteful spirits.
Mr. Beichuan felt pity and regret for Nishijou Misaki, but he had no regrets.
He stood there with a clear conscience.
And when Nishijou Kelian closed her eyes, Mr. Beichuan saw Nishijou Misaki mouthing a plea to him.
"Please, Mr. Beichuan, don't hurt Kelian."
Even Mr. Beichuan couldn't help but look away when Nishijou Misaki's massive form bowed solemnly to him, and he nodded plainly yet firmly,
"I will take care of her."
This was his promise to Nishijou Misaki.
In Nishijou Misaki's fading moment, her lingering gaze at Nishijou Kelian seemed to dispel the resentment in her eyes.
Mr. Beichuan seemed to see a summer in her loving gaze—
"The kitchen aroma wafts.
I hand you my report card.
You turn off the TV.
Sign your name for me.
Strap on my backpack, holding my little hand.
Frogs croak in the fields.
You are still by my side."
Where is the way home?
If parents are present, it is home.
....
Looking at Mr. Beichuan's calm eyes, Nishijou Kelian opened her mouth but then closed it. Finally, she took a deep breath.
Mr. Beichuan didn't know if such a breathing action was useful for a spirit, but he saw Nishijou Kelian do it.
After doing this, Nishijou Kelian spoke no extra words, her small body shimmering with golden light flickered, and she crawled into Mr. Beichuan's travel bag.
To be precise, Nishijou Kelian should have entered the white round ball that Mr. Beichuan carried.
Nishijou Kelian was a smart child, seemingly aware of some agreement Nishijou Misaki had reached with Mr. Beichuan.
However, her thoughts were now intertwined, her consciousness muddled, needing calm to sort through them, so she didn't speak more to Mr. Beichuan and simply entered the white round ball in his travel bag.
Mr. Beichuan took out the ball.
Accompanied by a burst of golden powder, the jointed ball, originally like a doll, twisted and deformed, turning into a small Nishijou Kelian puppet wearing a brown checkered scarf.
Only, Nishijou Kelian seemed to want to make herself look more 'menacing,' replacing her mouth with a red 'X' cross, her chest patched with red and gray here and there. Those puppet eyes, like living things, stared intently, making one feel a chill at night.
But Mr. Beichuan's mouth twitched, knowing that she was not returning the scarf to him, wanting to vent her grievances in this way.
Yet he wouldn't bother squabbling over a scarf.
A cold system voice came, "You have discovered a new kind of 'weird' Good Spirit Puppet."
The system prompt remained as concise as ever.
"Good Spirit Puppet?" Mr. Beichuan turned to look at the puppet lying quietly in his hand.
Nishijou Kelian's 'menacing' look didn't seem like that of a 'good spirit'...
Mr. Beichuan couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. Perhaps it was an illusion, but he thought he saw Nishijou Kelian making a face at him from the small puppet's face.
Mr. Beichuan didn't know what use the Good Spirit Puppet had; he examined it for a while before casually trying to stuff Nishijou Kelian back into the travel bag.
But who would have thought the previously quiet Nishijou Kelian puppet would suddenly jump up, its limbs limply clinging to Mr. Beichuan's shoulder.
Mr. Beichuan reached to pull it off, only to find it clinging tightly to his clothes.
"..." Mr. Beichuan.
Realizing that pulling harder might tear his clothes, Mr. Beichuan glanced at Nishijou Kelian, saying plainly,
"This is fine for going out at night, but not for seeing people during the day."
After saying this, he calmly looked at Nishijou Kelian perched on his right shoulder.
Perhaps frightened by his gaze, Nishijou Kelian trembled slightly, and Mr. Beichuan saw her make a barely noticeable nod.
Seeing her agree, Mr. Beichuan said no more, disappearing into the night before the police car arrived.
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