Chapter 4, the sound of knocking at midnight

There was no response; if there was, it was only the cool breeze brushing against me, striking my body and face, refreshing and chilly. I shivered all over and, in a daze, looked up at the sky. I did not know when the rain had stopped; the air was filled with the fresh scent of damp earth, particularly refreshing and exceptionally quiet

I do not know when grandfather fell asleep; I only remember that just as I was about to doze off, I heard him tapping his pipe. In a daze, I seemed to hear a series of sighs and murmurs. Huh? Is that grandfather's voice!

I sighed and lay down, wondering why I couldn't communicate with my grandfather. I was clearly speaking the truth, yet my grandfather dismissed me by claiming that I was merely imagining things out of fear. Tomorrow, I still have to go to Zhao Village to apologize. I couldn't make it there tonight, and I can't tell if Zhao Liushun from Zhao Village is angry or not

Sigh

The sky outside remains overcast, and although it is already bright, such weather truly evokes a sense of gloom.

Upon returning to the inner room, I saw my grandfather's face was ashen. I hurriedly asked him what was wrong and where he felt unwell

What happened during your trip to Zhao Village that caused such a drastic change in your temperament?

Is there really something in this world that seeks revenge? ... I recall that my grandfather had previously skinned that fox, could it be ...? ... Could it have come so quickly?!

Stop overthinking it; encountering some ghostly lights in a graveyard is quite normal. My grandfather once encountered something similar in the mountains, and he came back just fine, didn't he? Moreover, that fox was found in the back mountain; it was already dead when we found it. How could it possibly be related to the events in the graveyard?" After saying this, my grandfather patted my shoulder, gave a wry smile, and said, "Is it because you've grown up that you're thinking this way?

Seeing my grandfather quickly regain his spirits after detoxification, the concerns that had been lingering in my mind seemed to waver somewhat. Perhaps I was indeed overthinking it; in reality, it may not be as sinister as I had imagined

Late at night, my grandfather suddenly returned home, which surprised me. Wasn't he supposed to go to Zhao Village to help the Zhao Liushun family deliver the deceased? It is still considered early in the night, so why has he come back?

The night wind blows against the paper window, the worn-out paper emits a crackling sound. This night, I have never felt such helplessness and loneliness. I am very afraid of losing my grandfather, very afraid.

Grandfather remained silent, merely shaking his head. It seemed he was about to speak, but suddenly bent over and vomited onto the ground. The substance he expelled had a smell that was as foul as that black blood, extremely putrid

Perhaps the wound is healing, it hurts a bit! Although Grandpa casually brushed it off with a remark, it was evident that his expression was one of great pain. I saw that wound; it was somewhat deep but not large. Logically, it shouldn't hurt this much, especially since it had been disinfected and bandaged. Seeing Grandpa continue to sleep, I stubbornly lay down as well. After a while, I suddenly saw Grandpa sit up abruptly.

Grandfather casually ate a little and left me to take care of the unconscious middle-aged man at home, while he took the bone knife and went to Zhao Village. That man is not as easy to wake up as grandfather; it seems that his condition is not merely due to injury, as anyone with a discerning eye can see that his breath is very weak, almost like that of a dead person

Moreover, he is covered in wounds, such a strange person

Before I could even ask what was wrong, I saw my grandfather anxiously reaching to untie the bandage on his hand, tearing off the cloth strips in a hurried manner, and gritting his teeth as he pressed on the wound

No, no, it is definitely not that. Grandfather is just poisoned, just poisoned. There is absolutely no such thing as strange ghosts or monsters in this world, none!

I originally wanted my grandfather to rest for another day, but he is a person who cannot stay idle. As long as he can move, he will not lie in bed; if he is not lying in bed, he will not be loitering at home. Before I could finish preparing lunch, my grandfather had already returned from outside with his hands behind his back, looking particularly spirited. I saw this and felt a great joy in my heart. Although the weather was gloomy, it was no longer raining. My grandfather said that after lunch, he would go to Zhao Village to take a look, as he had promised the family of Zhao Liushun to help them with the funeral arrangements. He certainly could not go back on his word.

Have you proposed to your wife? Even in your dreams, you are still marrying a bride? Haha! Well, Er Gou, you are already seventeen this year. In the mountain village, children get engaged early. By next spring, your grandfather will find someone to act as a matchmaker. What do you think?

The outer gate suddenly burst open after three dull thuds, and I even wondered if those two doors had been smashed to pieces.

I was terrified! In an instant, I was at a loss for what to do. I did not know what had happened to my grandfather, so I could only help him lie down slowly on the bed. My grandfather let out a deep sigh and weakly told me: "Er Gou, your grandfather may have been poisoned. That beast must have been drugged by someone before it died. Just now, I accidentally cut my hand, and the poison entered my body. I have stored some antidote recipes; you must hurry and get a packet. Boil it with three bowls of water until it reduces to one bowl, and it should be able to detoxify!"

After boiling the medicine, I forced him to take it, and then let him sink into a deep sleep, not knowing when he would awaken. I stared at the middle-aged man with boredom; although his complexion did not look very good, there was a subtle comfort in the aura he exuded.

Grandfather! My eyes once again filled with warmth; I was at a loss for words, unable to utter a single phrase. I collapsed into my grandfather's embrace and wept bitterly.

Zhuang sent the Yin relatives? Fortunately, you didn't go; the intricacies within are quite profound. Just being in the chaotic division would scare you like this. If you were to reach Zhao Zhuang and open the coffin of that female corpse, it would surely frighten you to the point of losing control.

How could I dare to be negligent? I am well aware of the items stored by my grandfather. I have found the antidote recipe. People in the mountains generally keep some antidotal herbs on hand, as there are many poisonous creatures in the deep mountains and forests. If one is accidentally bitten, timely treatment is essential. Now that I know my grandfather is poisoned, I will promptly prepare the medicine.

It has begun

In summary, as long as my grandfather is well, I do not care about anything else

This was the first thought that came to my mind, and the only one. The black blood that my grandfather anxiously squeezed out, combined with the inexplicable door that was suddenly flung open, all of it was telling me that things were not that simple. Perhaps it was because my grandfather was at home that I immediately gathered my courage and rushed out of the main room, sweeping my gaze towards the direction of the door. At that moment, I suddenly saw a flash outside the door.

I hurriedly sat up and saw my grandfather turning over to the side, with one hand continuously rubbing his injured hand. I quickly asked him, "Grandfather, what happened to you?"

I poured most of the detox soup into my grandfather's stomach. My legs went weak, and I collapsed onto the edge of the bed, staring unblinkingly at my grandfather, who lay unconscious. At that moment, tears streamed down my face, and I covered my mouth with my sleeve, crying out in anguish. Since childhood, I have lost my parents and have never seen my grandmother. My grandfather said that she passed away over thirty years ago, and it is just the two of us relying on each other at home. If anything were to happen to my grandfather, I truly cannot imagine what I would do in the future

Bang! Bang! Bang!

A white shadow passed by, and it seemed like I was seeing things, but I was certain that what I saw was real. I reached out to touch the shovel, quickly rushed to the front door, searched around, and shouted loudly: "Who is it?!"

What happened

A faint, foul odor suddenly enveloped the surroundings, and I was jolted awake, unable to fall back asleep. I sensed that my grandfather's hand was not just slightly injured; it was extremely serious. Yet, it was clearly just a small wound. How could it be so severe? I lit the oil lamp, and the scene before me nearly left me dumbfounded. I could only see the dark blood oozing from the wound on my grandfather's hand.

To my dismay, I had fallen asleep beside my grandfather, who was also lying down. I do not know how long it had been, but a warm, wrinkled hand gently patted my head. Instinctively, I opened my eyes and sat up abruptly. When I saw my grandfather's kind smile, I couldn't help but rub my eyes in astonishment. It was not a dream, it was truly not a dream; my grandfather was awake!

Unable to wake him, unable to move him, there is no way; with tears in my eyes, I slowly poured the medicinal soup into my grandfather's mouth, while in my mind, the scenes from that nightmare inexplicably resurfaced, echoing the words "You all must die! You all must die! You all must die..."

Grandfather was taken aback by my inexplicable actions. I went straight to the point and recounted the events that had transpired around me tonight in detail. After listening to what I had to say, Grandfather slightly furrowed his brows, picked up his pipe, and took a few puffs. He then turned to me with great seriousness and said: "You little rascal, are you still holding the bone knife and planning to go to Zhao?

But as soon as Grandpa finished speaking, he gave a strange smile and then said: "However, our Er Gou can also go out to run errands, good, very good!"

Clang!

In his early forties, he could be considered handsome, yet a person like him should logically be at home taking care of his wife and children. How could he end up in a remote area like this, wandering in the deep mountains and forests?

The horror is terrifying!

Seeing that my grandfather no longer spoke to me about these matters, I had no choice but to reluctantly turn my head and continue sleeping

The medicine was ready, and when I brought it to my grandfather, I found that he had already fainted. I lifted him with one hand and forcefully pried open his mouth. At that moment, tears streamed down my face uncontrollably, and I choked out, "Grandfather! You cannot be in trouble! Grandfather! Wake up quickly and take your medicine!"

I urgently exclaimed, "Grandfather, I am discussing something serious with you, not joking. Don't you think there is some inexplicable connection between the ghostly eyes I encountered in that graveyard, the fox you brought back, and the nightmare I had? Could it be that this fox has some peculiarities? Has it perhaps become a spirit?"

Grandfather entered the courtyard, without saying a word, rushed into the main room, sat down heavily on the stool, forcefully slammed the bone knife on the table, turned his head to pull out a bottle of liquor from the cabinet, opened the cork, and gulped it down in large mouthfuls. He then gazed blankly at the night outside. I was startled by Grandfather's actions; what has happened to him?