Chapter 28
Chapter 28
After returning home, Hua Jiunan looked at Wang San with concern.
“Granny, although I managed to wake Third Uncle, many of the lead pellets are still embedded in his flesh. If they aren’t removed, they’ll cause an infection.”
“We don’t have any herbs for infections at home. I need to go to town to buy some.”
Looking at the darkening sky, Deaf Granny felt a sense of worry. “Child, it’s a dozen miles of mountain road from the village to the town and back. You’ll have to pass through the Chaotic Graveyard. Can you handle it alone?”
Hu Wa, a half-grown boy who had rushed over upon hearing the news, shouted, “I’ll go with Brother Jiunan!”
Hua Jiunan comforted Deaf Granny softly. “Don’t worry, Granny. I’m fast on my feet. I’ll definitely be back before dawn.”
Deaf Granny remained worried. She knelt before the incense altar in the house, chanting under her breath. After a long while, she gathered some incense ash from the burner, wrapped it up, and handed it to Hua Jiunan and Hu Wa.
“Children, keep this on you. Whatever you do, don’t lose it.”
“Remember, when walking at night, do not look back, no matter what sounds you hear.”
Hua Jiunan nodded to show he understood, then donned his animal-skin coat and disappeared into the wind and snow.
A person possesses three fires: one on each shoulder and one on the forehead. If you look back while walking at night, the fire on your shoulder will be extinguished, making it easy for filthy things to cling to you.
By the time Hua Jiunan and Hu Wa passed the Chaotic Graveyard on their way back from town, it was already the middle of the night. Flickering ghost fires danced and floated over various grave mounds, appearing exceptionally eerie against the backdrop of the lingering snow.
Hua Jiunan held the purchased herbs tightly in his arms. He turned a deaf ear to the strange sounds in the wind, focusing only on hurrying forward. Hu Wa was somewhat frightened and gripped Hua Jiunan’s sleeve tightly.
“Brother Jiu, listen. There’s someone behind us calling our names.”
Realizing they had encountered filthy things, Hua Jiunan quickly said, “Hu Wa, whatever you do, don’t look back. Just keep walking forward with me. We’ll be fine once we’re past this place.”
As they walked, the whispering sounds of an opera performance suddenly drifted from all sides, as if they had entered a theater.
“Brother Jiu, did you see that? There are so many people over there.”
Hua Jiunan felt Hu Wa let go of his sleeve. Without looking back, the boy began running toward the front.
“Hu Wa, come back!”
Hua Jiunan ignored his own fear and chased after him. Rounding a mountain bend, an opera stage appeared before them, decorated with paper lanterns and white cloth. Over a dozen pale-faced musicians with bright red circles painted on their cheeks played gongs, drums, and suona horns.
Several antique-style long tables were set out in front of the stage, laden with various fruits and pastries. The other tables were filled with people dressed in ancient costumes, staring silently at the stage. At the largest table in the center stood a Taishi Chair, seemingly reserved for a person of great importance.
With a dazed look in his eyes, Hu Wa walked straight to one of the tables, sat down, and began stuffing pastries into his mouth.
Hua Jiunan rushed over to pull him away. “Hu Wa, stop eating! We have to go back quickly, or Granny will be worried!”
Seeing Hua Jiunan trying to take Hu Wa away, the “people” at the nearby tables turned to glare at them. Their eyes were deathly white, with no pupils!
“Little brat, you’d better sit down quietly and watch the play!”
Hua Jiunan’s heart skipped a beat. *A malevolent guest blocking the path. This is bad!*
Knowing he was no match for so many evil ghosts, he could only grip the incense ash Deaf Granny had given him and wait to see what happened.
At that moment, two young maidens arrived, supporting a lavishly dressed old woman. They sat at the central table. The old woman’s face was also deathly pale, with bright red circles on her cheeks. When she ate, her cheeks puffed out like an old ape’s.
The maidens continuously handed food to the old woman. She ate incredibly fast; in the blink of an eye, the pastries before her were swept clean. Eventually, as if frustrated by the maidens’ slow pace, she reached out with a withered, pale hand to grab the plate and poured the food directly into her mouth.
Her mouth, which had originally been just a small red dot, split open all the way to her ears, revealing scorched yellow teeth. Eating too quickly caused the old woman to break into a fit of violent coughing.
During her coughing fit, her head actually rolled off her shoulders and hit the ground. Her eyes remained fixed on the stage, and her mouth continued to chew incessantly. Falling to the ground along with her head was an iron nail that had connected her head to her body. Attached to one end of the nail was a long iron chain.
The two maidens hurriedly and respectfully picked up the old woman’s head and reattached it to her body.
Hua Jiunan was horrified. Pushing aside his fear, he took out two golden needles and pricked the Baihui Point on both himself and Hu Wa.
The Baihui Point: Its nature belongs to Yang, yet it contains Yin within Yang. Thus, it can connect the Yin and Yang meridians, linking the acupoints of the entire body.
This was a subconscious action for Hua Jiunan; even he didn’t understand why he was doing it.
“Hu Zi, run! These are all ghosts!”
Hua Jiunan pulled the dazed Hu Wa and ran. In the chaos, the iron chain attached to the nail snagged around his ankle.
At the same moment Hua Jiunan and Hu Wa encountered danger, Deaf Granny stared at the incense burner in front of her and cried out, “This is bad!”
“A man fears three longs and two shorts, but incense dreads two shorts and one long! The children are in danger!”
“Third Brother, go call the villagers! We’re going to the Chaotic Graveyard!”
Deaf Granny held great prestige in the village. Within moments, the men of half the village had assembled. A long line of torches moved toward the Chaotic Graveyard, the shouts of “Hua Jiunan! Hu Wa!” echoing continuously.
By the time Hua Jiunan woke up again, a day had passed. When the villagers found him and Hu Wa, they were both unconscious. Fortunately, the incense ash Deaf Granny had given them had formed a circle, protecting the two of them in the center.