“When a person dies, it’s like a lamp going out—there are no gods or Buddhas in this world.” Grandma Thompson shook her head.

So, there really aren’t any?

William Thompson silently crossed “underworld” off his list of options, gaining a bit more understanding of this new world, and said regretfully, “I thought there was reincarnation… hmm…”

Suddenly, he felt as if his body had been drained, clutching his lower back, and slowly collapsed to the ground.

This feeling was all too familiar. Every time he had an all-nighter with a girl from an online hookup, his back would ache and feel weak the next day. But now, it felt like he’d been at it for three days and nights straight.

He could barely stand upright.

“I told you, it would overdraw a bit of your energy.” Grandma Thompson squatted down beside him.

William Thompson: “Energy… Grandma Thompson, do you have some kind of misunderstanding about what ‘energy’ means?”

Grandma Thompson was taken aback: “Besides your kidneys feeling empty and sore from overexertion, do you have any other discomfort?”

“No…”

“Then that’s it, energy.”

William Thompson was on the verge of tears: “The ‘energy’ you’re talking about is not the same as what I thought.”

Grandma Thompson explained, “I am a battle soul. The energy of a battle soul comes from the host. The stronger the host, the more power I can use. Like a fan on low or high speed, the power consumption is different. In your current state, you’re at most at 0.5 speed.”

William Thompson’s face turned pale: “Damn, I want to be a five-speed fan.”

He remembered his late father’s will—Grandma Thompson is a little demon who wears people out.

So that’s what it meant?!

If he’d known that the “energy” Grandma Thompson referred to was this, he would never have agreed, not even if it killed him. A man’s kidneys are his greatest treasure.

Chapter Four

I Like This Era

“Grandma Thompson, I suddenly couldn’t see the old lady just now.” William Thompson sat on the curb, clutching his lower back, needing a moment to recover.

“I temporarily sealed your spirit eye. Remember, from now on, if you see a resentful spirit, do not make eye contact.” Grandma Thompson said, “Just now, I used the secret Li family spirit pupil technique. I borrowed your energy to open your spiritual vision.”

William Thompson nodded, half understanding.

The night breeze was cool and pleasant. The great-grandson sat on the ground, clutching his back and frowning, while Grandma Thompson stood tall and graceful, her black hair fluttering in the wind. She looked around curiously, the city lights reflecting in her moist, beautiful eyes, filled with the innocence of a newborn and brimming with curiosity about the new world. Besides the unimaginably tall buildings and beautiful lights, what she looked at most were the cars and electric scooters.

The last time she’d been in this world, following Edward Thompson, cars were a rare thing. The previous great-grandson felt quite sophisticated just riding a Phoenix-brand bicycle every day.

Times change, but people don’t necessarily. The current great-grandson doesn’t even seem to have a bicycle.

Tsk, my Li family is getting more and more down and out.

After sitting by the roadside for about ten minutes, feeling the pain in his back ease a bit, he stood up, supporting his waist: “Grandma Thompson.”

William Thompson’s voice interrupted her wandering thoughts. She turned her head, looked at her new great-grandson, and said crisply, “What is it?”

“What kind of person was my dad?”

“He was just that kind of person.”

“What kind of person is that?”

“He was pretty good. Among all my great-grandsons, he was the most outstanding, but his fate was unfortunate, luck was against him, and he died young.” Grandma Thompson pinched her fair chin. “If he were still alive, maybe by now I’d have broken free of all my shackles.”

Maybe I’d have already broken free…

William Thompson thought of what his late father said in the will and blurted out, “Did my dad develop you to that extent?”

Grandma Thompson frowned: “I feel like there’s something weird about what you just said. Your dad was a rare talent. If he’d had another twenty years, maybe I could have used his strength to break all my shackles.”

Draining his essence, huh.

William Thompson shrank his neck, worried about his own future. “What shackles?”

Grandma Thompson didn’t answer him, gazing into the distant lights with a smile.

Her smile was beautiful, hiding many stories. For the first time, William Thompson saw the vicissitudes of time in her eyes.

She was nothing like the girl who, during the day, rolled around on the sofa demanding snacks.

When they passed a convenience store, Grandma Thompson clamored for snacks. Afraid she’d go in and open things at random, William Thompson told her to wait outside and went in to buy them himself.

When he came out, he saw Grandma Thompson outside the store, chatting happily with an old man with graying hair.

The old man was wearing a security guard uniform, and when he smiled, his face wrinkled up like an old chrysanthemum.

William Thompson recognized him—the gatekeeper of their community: Mr. Foster.

At this moment, Mr. Foster was holding one of Grandma Thompson’s delicate hands, bowing obsequiously, his face full of fawning smiles.

Damn, this old perv is making a move on my Grandma Thompson.

“Hey, Mr. Foster, this is my girlfriend.” William Thompson strode out of the convenience store and pulled the tall, beautiful Grandma Thompson behind him.

“When did you get a girlfriend?” Mr. Foster and William Thompson were old acquaintances. He clicked his tongue and said, “And such a pretty one, too.”

William Thompson rolled his eyes: “None of your business.”

Mr. Foster: “Young man, don’t be so guarded. I’m not going to steal your girlfriend.”