Chapter 2, Nightmare

The old man's voice was deep, seemingly somewhat dejected

There is indeed something dirty

He does not drink raw water, nor does he eat raw meat. The children from the same village can roll around in the mud, yet he never mingles with them, remaining untainted. Although he is merely a young child with yellow hair, he is cleaner than the vast majority of people in the village

You should also lie down and rest for a while, as it is still early before dawn

Of course, those who engage in idle talk are always in the minority, as his grandfather was one of the most learned individuals in the surrounding area, a teacher employed by the county academy. As the grandson of a scholar, it is quite normal for him to uphold certain standards.

I did not stop you

How is Wen Er doing

The wasteland behind the village

After his mind was slightly calmed, Feng Bingwen saw the old man's drooping black beard and the stern face that had been angry in the daylight. In this quiet night, it appeared kind and benevolent, evoking an indescribable sense of reassurance

I will take care of it for you later

Since he started having those strange dreams, he has developed some peculiar habits that seem very odd to others

I can endure this; my body is quite sturdy. I will just sit like this for now, and when I feel tired, I can take a short nap as well

In the flickering candlelight, the dancing shadows no longer seemed so frightening. A wave of fatigue washed over, and Feng Biwen, no longer filled with fear, closed his eyes once more, drifting into a hazy sleep as his breathing gradually became steady

I indeed have a fever

If only there were a 105 mm howitzer, firing a round at the wasteland behind the village would surely cure the illness

The body falls from the cliff, while the benevolent and kind-faced ancient Buddha sits calmly on the edge of the cliff, showing no intention of reaching out to offer help. An unprecedented fear wildly grows within the heart

Feng Bingwen lay on the bed, reminiscing for a moment. He recalled everything from last night, including the bizarre, illogical, yet exceptionally terrifying nightmare.

What exactly is that thing

... ... ''

The elderly woman snorted softly, no longer saying much. After checking her grandson's condition, which seemed satisfactory, she went to bed to sleep

The old woman still wanted to persuade.

I have almost finished sleeping, so let's just sit like this

The child feels a bit fearful; he occasionally hears the adults in the village discussing some rather chilling tales and anecdotes. However, most of the time, he simply takes it as entertainment, for no matter what, it cannot compare to the dreams he has.

At three poles of the day, Feng Bingwen groggily awoke from his bed, feeling parched and his head heavy as if filled with lead, his entire being in a daze, unable to muster much strength

The elderly woman with graying hair displayed a look of deep concern on her face

Still couldn't escape it

The child reached out to touch his fair and tender face, feeling some dried tear marks, confirming that what he experienced last night was not a dream

I seem to have cried

Feng Bingwen honestly stated that having a fever is an uncomfortable experience

In a state of drowsiness and overwhelming fear, a steady and powerful voice emerged. Subsequently, a pair of strong arms lifted him from the bed and held him close. In his state of panic, Feng Bingwen felt a warm and gentle embrace enveloping him, and instinctively, he opened his arms to hold on tightly.

Outside, the sound of footsteps emerged, and Feng Bingwen broke free from his unrealistic fantasies. He looked up and saw his grandmother, holding a stack of incense paper, gazing at him with a concerned expression.

If I fall asleep, this kid won't be able to sleep peacefully. It's fine, as long as I get through tonight. Go to sleep, it's still early!

In the dimly lit tile-roofed house, two elderly individuals looked at the child lying on the bed, whose brow was furrowed and complexion flushed, conversing with some concern...

You old fool, are you getting senile? Can a doctor really cure this? I will set the chopsticks, and when dawn breaks, I will go buy some incense paper. After calling out once, I will just sleep a little longer

Feng Bingwen struggled to prop himself up, sensing that something was amiss. He had experienced similar occurrences in the strange dreams he had before, and during the beating he received yesterday, he had a premonition that he would indeed fall victim to it that night.

However, despite his meticulousness, he has still fallen ill; whether this can truly be considered an illness is still debatable

In the tranquil night, time flows amidst the flickering lights. As the sunrise paints the eastern sky with red clouds, the quiet little village gradually becomes lively.

These anomalies, which are markedly different from those of the other children in the village, have not spared the elderly in the village from teasing. Some jokingly claim that he must have been a young master from a wealthy family in his previous life

This strange yet familiar sensation weighs heavily on the mind, as the wind carries the understanding of the current state

This nightmare was unlike any of the strange dreams he had experienced before. Even with a premonition, he felt a sense of dread and unease in his heart. The flickering candlelight in the room made him feel anxious, and the shadows cast by the flames filled him with fear, as if some malevolent spirit might emerge from them.

The heavy head was quite uncomfortable. After a while, Feng Bingwen recalled the unusual events of the previous night: the flickering candlelight, the shadows swaying with the flame, and the sound of insects, all of which filled his heart with fear and made it difficult for him to find peace.

That sense of dread

He has fallen asleep. You should feel his hands and feet to check if they are still warm. If they are too hot, apply a little vegetable oil. Tomorrow morning, I will carry him to see the doctor

Yesterday, my grandfather returned from the county academy, and upon hearing that he had visited the desolate land in the village, a sudden look of rage appeared on his face.

Under the flickering candlelight, an elderly man sits on the bed, silently holding a peacefully sleeping child. At the head of the bed, a three-foot-long, glistening rattan stick reflects the dim and shifting light, as if it is faintly glowing

Do not be afraid, grandfather is here

A sound that could be lowered emerged, striving not to disturb the children who were already sound asleep

Suddenly awakening from a nightmare, Feng Bingwen groggily opened his eyes. His mind was heavy, his body felt hot, his limbs were sore and weak, and he was drenched in cold sweat. His clothes were both wet and damp, making him feel extremely uncomfortable

The child, with an unusual flush on his cheeks, squints his eyes; he does not want to move now, he is too tired

The boulder, as massive as a mountain, rolls through the sky; gazing up at it, a sense of insignificance and helplessness rises within the heart

It is nothing, go to sleep

"Wen'er, are you awake? How do you feel? Are you thirsty?"

Look at how proud you are

The bright moon resembles a mirror, and the moonlight flows like water. Under the tranquil moonlight, the village, home to only a dozen families, appears particularly serene. Suddenly, a flicker of candlelight illuminates the night, standing out distinctly.

How can this be? You still have to go to the school to teach when dawn breaks. At your age, how can you endure this

I have a fever

Even ghosts and deities would be torn to pieces when faced with such powerful weapons

Recalling the scenes from his dreams, Feng Bingwen could not help but remember those sprayed flames that had appeared in his dreams, weapons possessing terrifying lethality and destructive power

Forget it, you cannot hold steady

I feel a bit dizzy, and my mouth is very dry

I know you do not like to seek the spirits, but is there really no other way

Just like in a dream