Chapter 1, The Tomb Dweller

"Wife!" The man, awakened from his dream, was drenched in sweat and was astonished to find himself in his old house. Surrounding him were the village chief and some close relatives. Before the village chief could speak, the man shouted, "Wife, where is my wife? She said she had given birth to a son for me!"

Everyone was taken aback by Changgen's actions, "What is Changgen trying to do?" someone mindlessly asked.

It is unheard of for a person to have children after death, and an infant born in a grave not only survived a great calamity but also lived well; this is an even more improbable event, yet it has indeed occurred.

"No way, I still need to keep digging," Changgen, who had come to his senses, frantically resumed digging the grave, muttering incessantly, "My wife just appeared in my dream and told me that she has given birth to a son. I must dig it open to take a look!"

Ah! I instinctively ducked into the corner, only to find nothing behind me. My whole body uncontrollably fell backward, and I never expected that behind me was a sheer cliff! However, my body did not fall vertically; instead, it was as if I were a piece of paper, being supported by an invisible current, aimlessly moving in a chaotic manner. Yet, regardless of the process, one thing I am certain of is that in the end, I will definitely end up as a pile of meat sauce

"How is this possible?" The village chief's mouth could fit several eggs, yet that cry indeed came from the grave mound. Looking at the astonished expressions of the crowd, it was clear that everyone had heard it.

Chang Gen was momentarily taken aback, and he suddenly pointed the shovel in his hand at the pitch-black night sky, shouting loudly: "Village Chief, do you know how much pain I feel in my heart? I am building a new house, my wife is about to give birth, what a wonderful thing this is! But what have I done wrong? Is the heavens blind? Why must they treat me this way?"

In the coffin, besides his deceased wife, there was an unknown object writhing beneath the clothes of his wife. Long Gen hurriedly pulled aside the fabric and indeed found a smooth-skinned baby hidden inside. The wind in the early morning was very cold, causing the baby to instinctively curl up, yet its loud cries could resonate through the sky. Long Gen was momentarily stunned, quickly took off his outer coat, and wrapped the baby in his arms. Looking at the child's tender face, an indescribable emotion overwhelmed him, leaving him unsure whether to cry or to laugh

On this day, the village was exceptionally lively, with the sound of orderly shouts ringing out loudly, creating a scene of great enthusiasm. A group of bare-chested men, under the blazing sun, shouted loudly in unison, marching in a synchronized manner as they worked together to lift a thick beam, preparing to place the final main beam for the new house.

The surroundings were terrifyingly silent, so quiet that one could hear the sound of their own heartbeat, harmonizing with our frantic footsteps to compose a haunting escape melody. Not far behind us, an evil presence permeated the entire corridor, appearing both near and far, yet always clinging closely to us, as if it were right behind our backs

With a loud "bang," a cloud of dust was raised, and immediately thereafter, a heart-wrenching cry echoed, "Wife!" The main beam had struck the village woman squarely on the head, and bright red blood gushed out profusely. Everyone was stunned, and the man was filled with terror, his hands covered in the woman's blood, blindly trying to cover her wound to stop the bleeding. However, the blood flowed like a gushing spring, continuously seeping through the gaps between his fingers.

"Qing'er, it's all right, it's all right!" I excitedly directed the light of the lighter towards Qing'er, wanting to see if she was unharmed, but the next second, my soul nearly jumped out of my head. This was not Qing'er; it was clearly a monster, a faceless visage grinning at me with a blood-red mouth, its eerie laughter piercing through my already fragile nerves like a demonic sound.

At the forefront stands a robust man, who, despite his short stature, is quite sturdy, with a simple and honest expression, embodying the typical Chinese man. Not far from him, a village woman dressed in a loose floral blouse, with a noticeably round belly, approaches the man with a delicate bamboo basket in hand, containing a locally produced ceramic water jar, her face beaming with a smile.

Upon hearing Changgen, the village chief was so startled that his expression changed. "Changgen, we all know you are suffering, but you cannot curse the heavens; you will be struck by lightning!"

This man is called Changgen. Changgen felt something was amiss, an ominous premonition surged in his heart, and he grabbed the village chief by the collar, "Where is my wife? Tell me, where is my wife?" With his eyes wide open in anger, Changgen looked as if he were ready to devour someone.

Changgen seemed not to hear, still engrossed in his work, his pace not slowing but rather quickening. Seeing that Changgen was ignoring their advice, a few bold villagers, under the village chief's instruction, attempted to step forward and seize the shovel from Changgen's hands. However, unexpectedly, Changgen erupted in anger, gripping the shovel tightly, his eyes blazing red, causing everyone to hesitate in approaching. He roared, "Whoever dares to stop me, I will fight them to the death!"

The village woman gritted her teeth, slowly suppressing the look of pain, and a smile returned to her face, "It's nothing, our child is just kicking me!"

Chang Gen was overjoyed, his expression on his face exaggerated to an extraordinary degree. "Did you hear that? This is my child's voice, my wife did not deceive me." After saying this, he waved the shovel again, and the speed that had originally slowed down became fast once more

"He can't possibly be going to dig up a grave, can he?" Someone in the crowd replied, and immediately the crowd erupted, "The deceased is gone; how can they be dug up again? Everyone, hurry and stop him; don't let him do something foolish!" The village chief led the call, and the others rushed out in a flurry.

Ah! Daughter-in-law! The man's mournful wail echoed through the small mountain village

During the scorching days of summer, the blazing sun can directly cause death. A man, who has not had a drop of water all day, stares blankly, ignoring anyone who approaches him. He continues to gently sway beside the village woman, his cracked lips incessantly murmuring, and no matter how others persuade him, he refuses to let go. Under the dual effects of the intense heat and psychological pressure, the robust man ultimately cannot hold on any longer and collapses beside the village woman

With a loud bang, Changgen, who had been sulking, suddenly slumped down on the edge of the bed like a deflated balloon. Just when everyone thought he had finally calmed down, Changgen suddenly erupted again, pushing everyone aside, and swiftly grabbed a shovel from behind his door before storming out.

How is this possible? No one has ever heard of a dead person being able to have children. However, everyone just heard Changgen's cries, and their hearts softened. No one stopped him anymore. If this were to happen to anyone, it is likely that they would go mad. Thus, a large group of people awkwardly surrounded Changgen, watching him dig with all his might, as the height of the grave mound continued to decrease. Yet, having not eaten for a day, Changgen's body quickly entered a state of exhaustion, and his digging speed gradually slowed down. Nevertheless, with his iron will, Changgen continued to persevere. Thus, a large group of people awkwardly surrounded Changgen, watching him dig with all his might, as the height of the grave mound continued to decrease. Yet, having not eaten for a day, Changgen's body quickly entered a state of exhaustion, and his digging speed gradually slowed down. Nevertheless, with his iron will, Changgen continued to persevere.

A chill ran through my heart, and I immediately became flustered, shouting recklessly: "Qing'er, Qing'er, where are you, where are you?" I groped around aimlessly, but I did not hear the sound I longed for. I do not know how long I fumbled in my panic, but finally, I managed to grasp a hand and, filled with surprise, I asked: "Qing'er, is that you? I knew it had to be you!" Yet, before me, there was nothing but darkness.

Wow! The persistent baby once again emitted a unique cry, prompting those present to confirm that this was certainly not an auditory illusion; the sound was undeniably coming from the grave mound

At this moment, I feel that death is surprisingly close to me, yet it is not very frightening. In the midst of chaos and uncertainty, Qing'er, the fat man, the bookworm, and the ten famous swords appear before my eyes like slides, each frame floating into view... Twenty years ago, in a remote yet beautiful small village located within the borders of Yucheng County, where the provinces of Shandong, Henan, and Anhui meet in China, the local customs were simple and unpretentious, with green mountains and clear waters, picturesque scenery, and an almost untouched ecological environment, making it a rare paradise... Twenty years ago, in a remote yet beautiful small village located within the borders of Yucheng County, where the provinces of Shandong, Henan, and Anhui meet in China, the local customs were simple and unpretentious, with green mountains and clear waters, picturesque scenery, and an almost untouched ecological environment, making it a rare paradise.

Damn it. I cursed resentfully in my heart. In this dark and desolate underground world, my senses, which were originally quite sharp, have now almost diminished to zero. The only thing I can feel is the sound of my own heavy breathing. I cannot pinpoint the exact reason, but I know that if we stop, the corpse king in the tomb will surely pounce on us and tear us apart. I do not know how long we have been running, nor do I know where we are headed. In this completely dark passage, we can only use our hands and feet, groping our way forward. I cannot pinpoint the exact reason, but I know that if we stop, the corpse king in the tomb will surely pounce on us and tear us apart. I do not know how long we have been running, nor do I know where we are headed. In this completely dark passage, we can only use our hands and feet, groping our way forward.

The village woman's face was also beaming with a happy smile, when suddenly she let out a soft hum, "Ouch!" with a look of pain, gently covering her prominently rounded belly with both hands

The village chief, being advanced in age, was panting heavily as he ran. Seeing Chang Gen digging vigorously from a distance, he shouted at the top of his lungs, "Stop! Chang Gen, you cannot dig! Do you want your wife to be restless even in death? This is against the rules, and there will be consequences!"

The village chief, seeing that a hard approach was ineffective, thought that this reckless young man might truly become estranged from all kin. He could only resort to a softer method, and thus spoke earnestly: "Changgen, why must you go through this? Your wife has already passed away, and you are well aware of the customs here. Why must you demean yourself?"

Many hands make light work, and with the help of the villagers, the grave was quickly unearthed. Due to the simplicity of the arrangements, there was only a thin coffin in the pit. Long Gen eagerly pried open the coffin lid with a shovel, and at the same time, the first ray of morning sunlight greeted everyone from behind.

In the sweltering heat of the day, a deceased body quickly begins to emit a foul odor. The village chief, unable to bear the man's continued decline, decided that it was better to endure short-term pain than long-term suffering. He took it upon himself to have the man carried back to his old house to rest. There is an unwritten custom in the area: if a family is celebrating a joyous occasion and a sudden death occurs, it is considered an ominous sign. The deceased must be buried as soon as possible; otherwise, it will bring misfortune to the entire family. Therefore, the village chief did not wait for the man to awaken and hastily arranged for the village woman's body to be buried in the ancestral grave that very night. Consequently, the unborn life still in its mother's womb was inexplicably buried alongside her.

"I just want to curse, damn it, if you have the ability, strike me dead," Long Gen's legs went weak, and he knelt at the grave, crying out, "The one who is willing to die is me, my wife is about to give birth, why is this happening?"

At that moment, someone suddenly shouted, "It's down, the beam has collapsed!" Everyone present felt a tightness in their hearts. The main beam, which had just been erected, somehow lost its stability and fell in an instant, its speed so rapid that it caught everyone off guard

Why is Qing'er not answering me, and why are her hands so cold? I actually feel no trace of the warmth that a human body should have

"You must be thirsty, take a rest first." The gentle and graceful village woman poured a bowl of cool water for the man, and then took out a handkerchief from her bosom, slightly infused with her body fragrance and warmth, to gently wipe the sweat from his forehead

"Ah Sheng, I... I can't run anymore!" A voice that was extremely exhausted and faint came from behind. I hurriedly turned around to say something, only to feel an emptiness in my hand; the small hand that had been tightly clasped with mine suddenly vanished into thin air.

The man's expression changed dramatically, and the porcelain bowl in his hand shattered with a loud crash as it fell to the ground, breaking into pieces. He quickly supported the village woman with both hands, saying, "Wife, what has happened to you? Please do not scare me!"

"Child, do not be afraid, your father has come to save you!" A single sentence from Chang Gen pulled everyone's thoughts back from shock

Chang Gen is a hot-tempered person, raising his large fist and gritting his teeth as he fiercely asked again: "Where is my wife?"

Not tired, the man raised his head with a sense of heroism, downing the cool water in the bowl in one gulp, the refreshing chill reaching his heart, and with a hearty laugh, he said, "Wife, look, soon, when the house is built, you and our child will have a new home to live in"

A sense of foreboding surged within my heart, "Light, light, I need light!" In my haste, I rummaged through all my pockets and finally found a lighter. I wanted to ignite the lighter, but my trembling hands refused to obey; the more anxious I became, the harder it was to light it, leaving me drenched in sweat. "Click!" With that sound, the lighter finally sparked to life, and at that moment, the faint glow appeared extraordinarily precious

The village woman soon showed no signs of life. For the man, this was an unbearable blow; his wife was gone, and so was the child—one corpse, two lives lost. There is no greater tragedy in the world than this. Yet the man continued to hold the gradually cooling body of the village woman, gently rocking it, unwilling to let go for a long time.

The village chief knew that if he did not speak the truth, the next moment this fist would surely land on his face, and he answered nervously: "Buried, buried!"

The cries of Changgen pierced the hearts of everyone present, with each person's eyes reddened, and many who are more sensitive to emotions had already begun to weep. Who can face such a situation with composure? Who can remain calm? Yet, the event has already occurred; what can be done now?

Without saying a word, Chang Gen picked up the shovel and began to dig. With each scoop, his years of physical labor had already endowed him with proficient skills. Before the neighbors who were chasing after him could arrive, more than half of the grave mound had already been excavated.

Upon hearing the man's nonsensical ramblings, everyone thought he had gone mad. The village chief patted the man's shoulder and comforted him, saying: "Changgen, a person cannot be brought back to life after death; you should try to let it go a little more!"

"What are you looking at? Hurry up and lend a hand; saving lives is the priority!" The village chief, disregarding any taboos, quickly called for assistance.

The heartbroken man desperately searches for the figure of his wife in his dreams. Although she seems to be within arm's reach, he can never grasp her, as if separated by a transparent barrier. In the dream, the village woman chokes back tears and laments: "My dear, I must leave now. You must live well. I have left you a son; you must raise him well!" After saying this, the woman's figure gradually fades, slowly disappearing from the man's sight. No matter how he shouts, he cannot stop his wife from leaving. In the dream, the village woman chokes back tears and laments: "My dear, I must leave now. You must live well. I have left you a son; you must raise him well!" After saying this, the woman's figure gradually fades, slowly disappearing from the man's sight. No matter how he shouts, he cannot stop his wife from leaving.

They are all from the same village, who wouldn't feel heartbroken upon seeing this? Even the hardest-hearted village chief turned back, unable to bear to watch any longer. However, it didn't seem quite right to help with the digging, and not helping also felt inappropriate. At that moment, the infant, as the protagonist, let out its first cry in life. Although the sound was not loud, it was distinctly heard by everyone present.

I will not hide it from everyone, this baby is me

In this small mountain village, nearly all the inhabitants belong to the same clan, with the surname Hua being predominant. Therefore, whenever someone passes away in any household, they are buried in the same ancestral grave. This was something Changgen was well aware of, so he quickly ran to the Hua family's ancestral grave, looking around anxiously. A brand new grave mound was not far away, with unburned incense still emitting wisps of smoke, and the scattered paper money indicated the target for Changgen.

This scene frightened the village chief so much that he broke out in a cold sweat and stammered, "Let me tell you..."

The man let out a long sigh, "It's good that nothing is wrong, it's good that nothing is wrong!"