Chapter 004: The Severity of the Situation

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"Uncle Lai, just tell me, what I'm inquiring about is nothing else but my father's whereabouts." I couldn't hold on any longer, so I negotiated with Uncle Lai through the window.

Looking at his expression, I suddenly had a feeling that Uncle Lai was very concerned about my safety. Following that, I speculated that before my father went to handle his affairs, he must have informed Uncle Lai. At this moment, Uncle Lai was entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring my safety. With this thought, I felt more at ease. Today, no matter what method I had to use, even if it meant forcing Uncle Lai, I had to make him tell the truth.

Uncle Lai, take a look.

Uncle Lai opened a flashlight, and the basement beneath the door was constructed very roughly. A heavy wooden ladder was the only passage connecting the upper and lower levels. The two of us descended the ladder one after the other, and the emotions I had just calmed began to churn again, as the stench and the wretched moans intensified severalfold

Prepare yourself mentally

I am a bit nervous, but Uncle Lai beside me remains calm. I think to myself that there probably isn't any danger ahead. Observing Uncle Lai's skilled movements as he lifts the door panel, it is evident that this is not his first time venturing here. Moreover, if there were any danger, he would not have brought me along.

Uncle Lai fell silent, standing in place as if deep in thought. Seizing the opportunity, I pressed him a few more times. Finally, Uncle Lai sighed, possibly indicating a willingness to compromise

I asked the question while carefully observing Uncle Lai's expression, trying my best to discern whether he was concealing anything. However, after listening to me, Uncle Lai appeared somewhat confused; his expression did not seem to be feigned, as if he genuinely did not know about the ancient tomb. I believed there was nothing to deceive him about, so to obtain his honest account, I recounted the entire sequence of events in detail. Uncle Lai remained very calm, and even after hearing about the little notebook, he did not show much reaction. However, when I casually mentioned the matter regarding Zhang Qiao's eyes, he suddenly furrowed his brows.

Uncle Lai, what are we going to do

Do you see that house in front? Uncle Lai tugged at me, pointing to a place that resembled a fish pond not far away. I noticed a simple house in a small grove next to the fish pond, where people might live.

Your friend is very dangerous Uncle Lai continued from where I left off

Uncle Lai, I have acrophobia. If I lose my grip after a long time, you know the consequences. I still clung to the window frame, appearing completely unhurried: "What I'm asking is not unreasonable, right? Are you really trying to drive me to my death, Uncle Lai?"

"No. " I shook my head immediately: "I will wait here, so that if you change your mind after going down, I won't be caught off guard. Also, Uncle Lai, we are all grown-ups now, and we need to speak reliably. I know some things, so don't try to deceive me."

When Uncle Lai opened the door panel, I immediately discerned that the faint moans I had heard upon entering the room were not an illusion; the source of the sound seemed to be right behind this door panel. Accompanying the sound was a very unpleasant odor, reminiscent of the smell of meat that had been left out in the summer to prevent spoilage, a scent that made one want to vomit

My father? He ... ...

The back of the small house and the library face a very small courtyard that is enclosed by itself, where a few vegetables are planted, and the kitchen is also located here. Uncle Lai led me into the kitchen, and in one corner of the kitchen, he bent down to lift a few bricks. In that moment, I felt as if I had suddenly returned to the anti-Japanese base in the Jin-Cha-Ji region from decades ago, because I saw that after Uncle Lai removed the bricks on the ground, there was clearly a hidden door.

Is this a place where people live? I looked around, raising my head and glancing left and right. There was a scent of incense in the room, and for some reason, as soon as I quieted down, my ears seemed to experience a slight auditory distortion. I felt as if I could vaguely hear a weak yet penetrating moan. The sound was chilling, sending shivers down my spine and making my scalp tingle.

"A curse, a ghostly curse." Uncle Lai picked up a piece of clothing nearby, putting it on as he spoke: "Put everything else aside for now. I'm not trying to scare you; if we delay any longer, your friend will definitely be doomed and it will be very tragic."

"Uncle Lai," I said, hesitating to move forward. I grabbed the arm of Uncle Lai, who was walking ahead, and asked, "Can you tell me what is down there?"

Gazing at the dark, cavernous basement behind the door, my calves began to cramp. Although I had yet to see what lay below, the mournful moans and the unpleasant stench had already set my nerves on edge like a taut bowstring. Uncle Lai was still very considerate of me; he said that if I was unwilling to go down, I should not look, for there was nothing good down there.

Little child! Come down! Do not act recklessly! Uncle Lai's tone became more severe with the book.

Uncle Lai, it is now my turn to ask you, why are you responding with a question? Let me ask you a question first. I also feel that hanging outside is quite unsafe, so I climbed in through the window and sat on the windowsill: "On the southern bank of the Peacock River, about twenty kilometers away, there is an ancient tomb. Do you know about it?"

I was frightened by the eerie tone of Uncle Lai, and I put away all my nonsense, obediently following him. Uncle Lai is not very tall, but his steps are remarkably quick. We walked all the way to the side of the fish pond, where Uncle Lai went to knock on the door

Who else has fallen under this curse

The first impression of this large iron cage is that it contains something inside

The door opened, and the first thing I saw was a wrinkled face. There were no extra people in the small room; this was likely the Taoist priest Qiu that Uncle Lai had mentioned. He appeared to have returned to secular life, dressed in casual clothes, around fifty years old, and looked quite unkempt. The whole person resembled a piece of firewood with fungus growing on it, both dry and thin.

The area of the basement is not large. After descending, under the beam of the flashlight, I immediately noticed a very large iron cage in the basement, half of which was buried in the ground. The cage was directly welded together with steel bars as thick as a finger, making it quite sturdy

Uncle Lai and Daoist Qiu whispered a few words, and then led us into the house. The house was built by hand, very simple, and hardly let in any light. Even though it was daytime, the moment I stepped into the house, I immediately felt a chilling cold, causing my body to shiver.

I mentioned hetushu.com, this is a curse, a curse that is difficult to completely break. Coincidentally, I have seen more than one or two people afflicted by this curse. What I want to tell you is that among those who have been cursed by the ghostly shadow, there may only be one who can live safely in the latter half of their life.

Uncle Lai had already reached the door, pausing with his hand on the doorknob, and turned back to look at me: "Your father."

"Little child, be a bit more serious." Uncle Lai sighed, "If you don't see it with your own eyes, you will never know how terrifying the ghost shadow curse is"

Only this person can save your companion Uncle Lai casually glanced at the dazed Zhang Qiao and said to me: This person is reliable, we have known each other for many years, his surname is Qiu, and he has been a Taoist priest for a few days...

"Xiao Tong, come with me," Uncle Lai beckoned to me, leaving Zhang Qiao and Daoist Qiu behind. Zhang Qiao was not foolish; seeing Daoist Qiu trembling all over, he immediately became reluctant to stay as soon as I left, wanting to follow. However, I trusted Uncle Lai; he would at least not harm Zhang Qiao. Therefore, I persuaded Zhang Qiao to stay and then followed Uncle Lai out through the back door of the small house.

What on earth is going on, Uncle Lai? Please tell me. I stared at Uncle Lai's expression, feeling increasingly anxious; I do not want to lose my friend Zhang Qiao

"Stop messing around! This is not a joke!" Uncle Lai knew that I was just being unreasonable to scare him, but this is the eleventh floor; if I slip up, there will be no room for recovery.

Come down, let's talk slowly.

Following Uncle Lai's instructions, I called Zhang Qiao out. Uncle Lai found a vehicle and took us out of the city, heading east, which should be towards Pi County. Zhang Qiao sensed that something was off and quietly asked me, but I truly knew nothing and could not provide an answer, only telling him that there was nothing to worry about.

Having seen this, you will understand how dangerous your friend is and how serious the situation is Uncle Lai lifted the door panel laid out on the ground and said to me, "Xiao Tong, this is no joke"

Yet my curiosity burns intensely like a fire within me, and I am eager to know what lies ahead

"We will discuss these matters later; for now, we must save this young man's life." Uncle Lai opened the door and led me outside, finally whispering in my ear, "He cannot die yet; I need to ask him some questions."

What exactly is in his eyes? It is very unusual

I suspect that this secular Taoist priest is acquainted with Uncle Lai, and perhaps even with my father. Uncle Lai probably introduced me to him quietly. When my gaze fell upon the Taoist priest, the old fellow smiled at me. Although I could tell that his smile was relatively kind, it is better for such a person not to smile at all; when he does, he resembles an old monster who has just eaten a dead child.

The car sped along, passing through Pixian, and reached a village at the easternmost edge of Pixian. Then Uncle Lai led us on foot, during which he did not say a word. The further we walked from the village, the more remote it became. At first, we could still see the crops being cultivated by the villagers, but as we continued, it turned into vast stretches of wasteland. I knew that if we went any further and crossed the mountain ahead, we would be out of the provincial boundary.

Qiu Chuji