Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Suddenly, gusts of eerie wind swept through the courtyard.
The wind was thick with the stench of decay and rot.
The world dimmed as dark clouds swallowed the moon that had only just emerged.
Strange sounds began to echo from all directions: sobbing, eerie laughter, furious roars, and blood-curdling screams.
Wang San felt a prickle of fear. “Mother, I… I think I hear someone calling me.”
“No, that’s not right. There are so many people calling my name!”
Granny Li’s face paled with shock. “Soul-calling ghosts!”
“Sanwa, from this moment on, don’t you dare answer anyone unless it’s me calling you!”
“This old woman will fight you bastards to the end!”
Deaf Granny stomped her foot on the ground three times in rapid succession.
“I invite Eighth Master Chang to possess me!”
In an instant, Deaf Granny’s appearance transformed drastically.
Her aged, stiff body became incredibly fluid and agile. Her eyes turned a piercing green, with vertical slits for pupils.
Two distinct voices emerged from Deaf Granny’s mouth, one after the other.
“I must trouble you, Eighth Master.”
Eighth Master Chang gave a sheepish chuckle. “You know my abilities are limited. If the evil spirits that come are too fierce, I’m slipping away!”
“You can’t blame this old snake if I do.”
Just as the words fell, the rustle of footsteps echoed through the silent night.
Old Li spoke up, “Deaf Granny, why does it sound like a crowd of people is heading our way?”
Deaf Granny gave a bitter smile. “Old Li, you’d better brace yourself. Those aren’t ‘people’ coming!”
Who was Old Li? He was a veteran of a hundred battles who had crawled in and out of piles of corpses!
Hearing Deaf Granny’s warning, he didn’t show a hint of fear. Instead, he drew his big knife and stood guard at the door.
In the darkness, the blade shimmered with a faint, blood-red light.
“Hahaha! This reminds me of the days I spent trading bayonets with the Japs,” he laughed. “I wonder if these filthy things have heads hard enough to take my blade!”
Wang San was a filial son; he wouldn’t dream of letting two elders face danger alone. He turned and rushed the newborn baby into the house, not forgetting to tell his wife to look after the child.
Then, he charged back out brandishing a kitchen cleaver.
“Anyone who tries to hurt my mother will have to go through me!”
Deaf Granny felt both touched and amused. If a kitchen cleaver could kill ghosts, why would anyone bother making offerings to the Immortal Spirits?
“Sanwa, don’t cause trouble. Go get the incense burner; I have a use for it.”
Deaf Granny grabbed a handful of incense ash and scattered it evenly around the perimeter of the courtyard. The black ash stood out starkly against the white snow.
“Sanwa, take my Great Seal and go sit on the roof. Remember, no matter what happens, you are not to speak or move!”
“If… if Old Li and I can’t hold off these filthy things, take your wife and run. Head for the old pine tree at the East Mountain Peak. Do you hear me?”
Wang San nodded heavily. “Mother, I understand! Once I get her there, I’ll come right back to help you!”
Deaf Granny reached out and patted her son’s head. “Oh, you silly boy!”
Old Li’s eyes were fixed forward, burning with intensity. “Deaf Granny, if things get dangerous, you and Sanwa leave together. I’ll hold these filthy things back!”
Before Deaf Granny could respond, a startled cry erupted from Wang San’s Wife inside the house.
“Mother! This child… he, he…”
Deaf Granny grew anxious, but she couldn’t leave her post. “Daughter-in-law, what’s wrong with the child? Speak up!”
“Mother, the baby… he’s eating the raw meat in the house!”
If this had happened with any ordinary infant, it would have been terrifying. But for an Extreme Yin Child, it was almost expected.
Deaf Granny shouted her instructions: “Daughter-in-law, as long as he doesn’t bite you, leave him be! If he tries to hurt you, take the wooden sword from my room and smack his bottom!”
As she spoke, the yin energy in the courtyard grew even heavier.
Even the thick-skinned Wang San felt his skin crawl. By the dim light, he could vaguely see a trail of footprints appearing, heading straight for the courtyard gate.
There were only footprints; the person walking was nowhere to be seen.