Having just signed the documents, Su Ning'an had gotten everything she wanted. Grandma was of no further use to her.
I guessed what she was about to say next and instinctively stood tensely in front of Grandma, wanting to stop her.
"Su Ning'an, don't say it! Get away! Get away from her!"
Even though I could hear my own voice roaring in my ears, they couldn't see or hear me.
Grandma's current physical condition simply couldn't handle the shock.
Desperate to know my whereabouts, she grabbed Su Ning'an's hand. "What do you mean? What's happened to my girl? Why can't I see her anymore?"
"Just what the words mean. Su Wan... she's been dead for a long time."
Grandma's face froze, she stood there stunned, muttering, "You... what did you say?"
Her voice was so faint. I felt like Grandma was about to shatter the next second.
I reached out, covering Grandma's ears. "Grandma, don't listen to her. Don't listen to a single word."
I knew the truth that followed was something Grandma couldn't bear. My heart pleaded for someone to interrupt this.
Nanny Wang, who usually stayed with Grandma, didn't know what she was doing in the kitchen for so long. The other servants were also absent. This was all part of Su Ning'an's plan.
Su Ning'an smiled playfully. "Old woman, I said your precious granddaughter is long dead! That finger was cut off a long time ago. I didn't just cut her hands; I did many other things too."
While Grandma was dazed, Su Ning'an took the human-skin book from the altar.
"Old woman, do you know what this is made of?"
"Su Ning'an, shut up!" I lunged furiously at Su Ning'an. I was enraged, wanting to kill her.
Even though I knew my spiritual form's attack was less effective than a physical one, that I couldn't harm her in the slightest, I still instinctively charged at her.
I want to kill her!
I have to stop her!
Perhaps my hatred was too intense. Suddenly, a fierce wind blew outside, violently rushing into the room.
The flames of the red candles on the altar flickered wildly. The rising incense smoke wavered and danced in the room.
A scripture book on the table fluttered its pages rapidly in the strong wind, the rustling sound filling the entire room.
My screams seemed to merge with the cold wind, forming a ferocious monster.
Su Ning'an's intended words were cut short by the sudden gale.
After all, the weather had been clear just moments ago. For such a strong wind to arise without warning was indeed eerie.
Grandma leaned on her cane, her body swaying precariously in the fierce wind. She glared fiercely at Su Ning'an. "What is it?"
Su Ning'an finally snapped back to reality. Clearly, she wasn't afraid of ghosts or gods.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have committed such heinous acts against her own sister.
"This? It's a human-skin book made from your dear granddaughter's skin. You've been studying it daily. Didn't you feel a sense of familiarity?"
Grandma's aged face froze in place. It was as if she was hearing things, starting to doubt Su Ning'an. "What did you say this is?"
Su Ning'an's fingers stroked the human-skin book. "Look, such a fine texture. No other animal's skin is as smooth and delicate as hers. Like a peeled hard-boiled egg."
"What a shame, though. Before Su Wan died, she was stabbed through the waist. So there are several large holes in her skin. It's not perfect. Otherwise, it could have been peeled off completely and made into something with even more artistic value!"
Hearing this, Grandma still didn't believe it. Her fingers clenched, the aged, bark-like skin on the back of her hands revealing the veins.
She was suppressing her fury. "Su Ning'an, regardless of your motives, I've given you the shares you wanted. I don't ask for much, just for Wanwan to come back. This kind of joke is not funny at all!"
"Joke?" Su Ning'an took out her phone. "Do you really think I'm joking? Then take a good look at how your granddaughter was skinned."
As she searched for the photos, she narrated to Grandma: "Oh, you probably don't know when she died, do you? It was on her wedding night. She went alone, heartbroken, to Binjiang. Someone stabbed her twice in a vital spot. Her body fell by the water, blood pooling everywhere."
"Before she died, she was still calling Lu Shiyan, begging for help. At that time, Lu Shiyan was watching fireworks with me. Later, her blood slowly drained away. She struggled, trying to reach her phone. I reckon she wanted to say goodbye to you. But alas, she lost her breath before she could even touch the phone."
"Her body was brought back. To make skinning her easier, we coated her corpse with a special potion. Here, look."
The photo on Su Ning'an's phone was from that snowy night. I lay alone by the river, my white wedding dress stained with glaringly bright blood.
More ironically, across the river, brilliant fireworks were set off, illuminating the sky for a moment, along with my face that would never wake again.
I never thought the last glimpse of myself would be through Su Ning'an's phone.
The next photo showed my naked body, coated with the potion, lying on a stone slab.
Tears slowly welled up in Grandma's eyes. She couldn't believe that the little girl she had cherished her whole life had left this world in such an undignified manner.
Without even having the chance to say goodbye.
There were more photos of the skinning process. Grandma only glanced at one before raising her cane and swinging it violently at Su Ning'an's head.
"You murderer! I hope you die a horrible death!"
But she was too old. Even with all her strength behind the blow, Su Ning'an easily dodged, causing Grandma to lunge into empty air.
"Grandma!!!"
This was an attack with all of Grandma's strength! With no obstacle, her body fell straight towards the ground.
I tried to catch her.
The wind howled, tousling the white hair at Grandma's temples.
Grandma's body passed right through my arms and crashed heavily onto the floor.
A loud thud echoed.
"Grandma, are you okay?"
I knelt beside Grandma, wanting to check on her. I was frantic, my body trembling violently.
"Someone! Help! Someone, please!"
I screamed desperately. Su Ning'an walked over to Grandma. I tried to grab her. "You demon! Get away! Get away from her!"
She stopped in front of Grandma, her eyes showing not a trace of pity for the elderly, only hatred.
"Does it hurt? This is just the beginning, old woman. This is what your Su family owes me!"
"What do you want?" Grandma's face was streaked with tears, her voice hoarse.
She sensed something was wrong and started shouting, "Help! Someone, help!"
Grandma had lost the ability to move. She could only crawl towards her phone.
Just as her fingers were about to touch it, Su Ning'an stepped on Grandma's hand.