chapter 1
On the eve of my ninth birthday, my grandfather made a Coffin and buried me in a desolate graveyard.
This is a strange tradition in our family.
Since I was three, my grandfather would make a Coffin for me every year. The first year it was willow wood, the second year cypress, the third year sandalwood…
Inside the Coffin, he would first lay down a layer of chicken bones, then sprinkle a layer of Copper Coins. After I lay inside, he would cover me with a yellow scripture cloth, densely inscribed with prayers for the afterlife and exhortations to abandon evil and pursue good.
The characters were tiny as fly heads, dark purple-black in color, all written with my grandfather’s own blood.
Finally, he would seal the Coffin and bury it three feet underground.
The first year, I was buried underground for two hours. When my grandfather dug me out, my little face was already blue and purple from suffocation.
Once I recovered, my grandfather said something very strange to me: “If you’re ever buried alive, you must find a way to survive!”
After that, he began teaching me a Breath-Holding Technique, so I could live longer inside a sealed Coffin.
This year was the seventh, and he used a very ordinary stone Coffin, crudely made, without any embellishments.
This time, I was buried underground for a total of three days before my grandfather dug me out.
Usually, at this point, my grandfather would cook a big table of dishes, and the two of us would happily celebrate my birthday together.
But this time, my grandfather took me on a full day’s journey by car, seeking out a prestigious family-the Cao Family.
It turned out that when my grandfather found me, he discovered a large, strange bluish birthmark on my back, like a tattoo, resembling the King of Hell’s palace!
Grandfather said I possessed the rare King of Hell Fate-extremely noble, yet extremely sinister!
Such a fate is not something ordinary people can bear.
Grandfather named me Lin Shou, and did everything he could, but could only manage to raise me to the age of nine, and beyond that, he was powerless.
To keep me alive, he had no choice but to make a deal with the Cao Family.
He would disregard the greatest taboo of feng shui and help the Cao Family resolve the Dragon-Locking Lair, saving their family, but on the condition that I be bound with a Red Thread to one of the Cao Family’s granddaughters-living in the same room by day, sleeping in the same Coffin by night.
Only after marriage and consummation could the Red Thread be severed.
The Cao Family immediately agreed without hesitation.
Hearing this, many people would probably scoff, “Another marriage contract? Some old, trivial affair-what’s so special about it?”
But what I’m mentioning here is only the surface; the true horror of the matter goes far beyond imagination!
It even involves the most terrifying, legendary first taboo of folk tradition!
That very night, the marriage contract was established, and my grandfather left behind a Green Lotus White Jade Lamp as a betrothal gift.
The Cao Family granddaughter I was engaged to was named Cao Xuerong. She was exquisitely beautiful, and from that day on, the two of us children ate and slept under the same roof.
Cao Xuerong was exceptionally kind to me-she took off my shoes, brought hot water for me to wash my feet, and when it was cold in the Coffin at night, she would hold me tightly to keep me warm.
Until one deep night, two months later, a loud boom suddenly echoed from Green Dragon Mountain, where the Cao Family’s Ancestral Grave was located, shaking the earth and mountains!
The Cao Family was so excited they woke everyone up in the middle of the night to worship their ancestors in the ancestral hall, and the next day held a grand banquet in celebration.
But that very night, Cao Xuerong cut the Red Thread in front of me, pointed at me, and cursed, “Anything he’s touched, throw it all away!”
My heart sank, and I asked her what she meant.
“What do I mean?” Cao Xuerong’s beautiful little face was frosty as she sneered, “Your grandfather calculated that my fate is incomparably precious-a Phoenix of the Nine Heavens-so he forced me to get engaged to you, letting your wretched fate bask in my glory!”
“If it weren’t for my parents telling me to do this, do you think I’d let someone as lowly as you taint me? Just thinking about it makes me sick!”
I really hadn’t expected that such a terrifying thing could come from a nine-year-old girl!
“Fine, I’ll leave!” Seeing that they had the numbers, I deliberately shouted angrily and turned to go.
“If he dares to run, break his legs!”
But as soon as Cao Xuerong gave the order, a group of people surrounded me with sticks, blocking the doorway.
Unable to get out, I retreated and sneered, “These hands of yours even washed my stinky feet. Shouldn’t you chop them off?”
“You’re asking for death!” Cao Xuerong flew into a rage, snatched a stick, and started swinging it at me wildly.
I grabbed it, pulled her over, snatched a glass bottle from the table, smashed it, and pressed it against her neck, shouting, “All of you, get out of my way!”
I took her hostage and headed for the door.
Just as we were about to reach the entrance, Cao Xuerong suddenly pulled out a dagger from her sleeve and stabbed at me.
Caught off guard, I could only shove her away, narrowly dodging the attack. Cao Xuerong screamed in pain-the dagger had grazed her left cheek.
It was just a small cut, but it left her pale with fright.
I seized the chance to dash outside, dodging the crowd blocking my way. I was about to climb over the wall and escape when a shadow flashed before my eyes.
I couldn’t dodge in time and crashed straight into the person, as if I’d been hit by a truck. I was sent flying back, rolling across the ground.
A sallow-faced middle-aged man walked over and stomped on my left leg, breaking it. Then he proceeded to break all my limbs.
“You actually dared to hurt my face! How dare you, how dare you!”
Cao Xuerong, clutching her left cheek and holding the dagger, stabbed my palm again and again, screaming, “Where are the tendons? How do I cut the Tendons of Hands and Feet?”
“Miss, that’s enough. This little wound can be treated,” the Sallow-Faced Man advised.
“Shut up! I want to cut his Tendons of Hands and Feet!” Cao Xuerong shrieked.
“Yes, I’ll do it,” said the Sallow-Faced Man.
“Teach me how to do it. I’ll do it myself!” Cao Xuerong said viciously.
The Sallow-Faced Man was silent for a moment, then grabbed my left hand and pointed at my wrist, “Cut here.”
Cao Xuerong stabbed down fiercely. Because she was inexperienced, my wrists and ankles were sliced into a bloody mess, splattering blood onto her snow-white dress.
I knew what it meant to have the Tendons of Hands and Feet cut-even if I survived, I’d be crippled. But I had promised Grandpa to keep living.
I clenched my teeth, silent, twisting my body and struggling to crawl outside.
Suddenly, a group of people rushed in from outside.
“What’s going on? Rong’er, what are you doing?” Father Cao exclaimed in shock.
“He cut my face! I want him dead!” Cao Xuerong screamed venomously.
“His grandfather may be dead, but this boy is still useful,” Father Cao frowned.
It felt as if a giant hammer had smashed into my chest, my ears ringing. Even though I’d had a bad feeling, hearing the Cao Family say it out loud nearly made me faint.
“I don’t care! I want him dead! I want him dead!” Cao Xuerong shrieked.
Father Cao, helpless, waved his hand and ordered, “Drag him away and kill him. Make it clean.”
“No! That’s too easy for him!” Cao Xuerong refused. “Doesn’t he like sleeping in a Coffin? Then let him sleep as much as he wants!”
“Hurry up and treat his wounds. Don’t let him die yet. I want him buried alive in a Coffin in the mountains. When he’s dead, dig him up and nail his corpse!”