Chapter Seven, The Call of Death

I did not expect this day to pass so quickly. Calculating the time, my grandfather and I still have four days to stay indoors without going out. What will happen in four days, I do not know, and my grandfather is also at a loss. Perhaps we can only wait silently... enduring in silence...

I am not doing much better, feeling completely drained of energy, lacking any interest in food. Over the past few days, I have only managed to drink some water and eat a bit of dry food. My mind is consumed with thoughts on how to get through these five days. Fortunately, today is the last day; as long as my grandfather and I can endure it, I must go out tomorrow no matter what. I feel utterly suffocated!

The door was violently struck like this, continuing until the late hours of the night. Fortunately, the door did not break open, but my grandfather and I remained in a desperate state of readiness

I just didn't expect that my grandfather brought back both disaster and salvation at the same time

Do not be afraid! There is grandpa here!" Grandpa's voice sounded slightly hoarse, his hand firmly resting on my shoulder. No matter when it is, as long as I am with grandpa, I always feel a great sense of security. Even if the sky were to fall, there would be nothing to fear for me.

It seems that he is not coming tonight; otherwise, I will go out to take a look! Grandfather said to himself, having been smoking dry tobacco incessantly these past few days, his fingers were stained a deep yellow from the smoke. Just as he was about to go out after putting down the tobacco pipe, I stopped him.

But soon there came a louder sound of banging on the door. The dust on the door, illuminated by the dim light, rose in the room like a gray mist, and the door panel gradually loosened, seeming as if it would soon be broken open. My first thought was of the talisman that Yang Yuanshan had me imprint above; I did not know if it would be effective. What if the door was broken open?

I am well aware of the reasoning behind this, which is why I cannot allow my grandfather to go out

At that moment, the door to the main hall was suddenly struck by something, and my heart instantly leaped to my throat. I looked at my grandfather in panic, who angrily shouted a curse, grabbed a weapon, and rushed into the main hall, bellowing loudly at the outside: "You bastards! If you have the guts, come in! I'll chop you to death!"

Could it be that they thought we would not leave the door even a step, so they retreated in the face of difficulty? I looked at my grandfather in surprise, and he looked back at me with the same bewilderment. The dim light flickered in the darkness, with no wind, it was very quiet, so quiet that even the sound of a needle dropping to the ground could be clearly heard, and even the chirping of the insects outside seemed to have ceased.

Perhaps at the beginning, the fox clan was wary of our family not for any other reason, but because of the middle-aged man Yang Yuanshan who was recuperating at our home

I also thought about it, and in the end, I still believe that what my grandfather said makes sense. Moreover, if there are more people at home, they might be able to help out a bit more.

The seals painted by Yang Yuanshan, although more blurred, remain intact, and the door panel of my home is also undamaged. This has led me to completely believe in Yang Yuanshan, who is still in a coma; he is no ordinary person. I often recall the fox clan that was startled away by a cough in that dream, and I feel that it must have been Yang Yuanshan secretly assisting me. Thus, in addition to an indescribable sense of gratitude towards Yang Yuanshan, I also hold boundless admiration for him

"Old Li! Old Li..." A loud voice suddenly came in, and I immediately recognized it as Zhao Liushun from Zhao Village, as he often went hunting in the mountains with my grandfather and had visited my home. How could I forget his voice? But right after that, there followed a long, mournful cry. Zhao Liushun pushed open the gate of my house and walked towards the door of the main room, taking uneven steps... "Old Li! We've been brothers for so many years, hunting in the mountains together, getting drunk together, like true brothers. Now, my family is facing a great disaster, and we are already broken and homeless. How can you not care about me?" Zhao Liushun pushed open the gate of my house and walked towards the door of the main room, taking uneven steps... "Old Li! We've been brothers for so many years, hunting in the mountains together, getting drunk together, like true brothers. Now, my family is facing a great disaster, and we are already broken and homeless. How can you not care about me? ... Wuwuwu ... Old Li, please open the door!"

I was anxious, looking at my grandfather in confusion, his gray hair and frail figure. At his age, he was still striving to protect this family. My eyes were slightly moist; I did not want to burden him. I secretly wiped away my tears. If I could, I would rather rush out alone and confront them, but I knew my grandfather would not allow me to go out.

It is quite good; it seems that someone is walking towards my house. I frowned; it is already late at night, who could be coming to my house?

What nonsense are you talking about! I just can't believe it could be so strange; it's clearly Old Zhao outside!" Grandpa explained impatiently, but seeing that I was still holding onto him, he thought for a moment and reluctantly nodded, saying: "Alright, let me ask about his family's situation. If everything he says is correct, then it must be Old Zhao, and we can just open the door, right?

Grandfather ... ... outside ... ... there are many dirty things outside! I exclaimed breathlessly, wanting to point, but my fingers had already stiffened, cold, my whole body was cold, even to the marrow.

After having a simple meal, my grandfather and I stayed indoors, going nowhere. Of course, during this time, I also prepared medicine for Yang Yuanshan, completing it quickly before the sun set. When the last rays of the setting sun fell behind the western mountains, I knew that the difficult night had arrived once again

Old Zhao has arrived! Grandpa suddenly stood up, anxious to go outside and open the door. I hurriedly pulled him back, and Grandpa urgently questioned me: "What is it this time? Old Zhao is not a stranger; perhaps he is drunk and has come to seek comfort from me. How can I turn him away at the door? What would that make our family, the Li family?"

Grandfather, no matter what, I believe we should wait until after tonight to discuss this. Regardless of whether they come or not, we will not go outside. What if they are waiting for us out there? If we step out and get caught, all our efforts over the past few days would be in vain. I sincerely warned Grandfather, knowing his fiery temperament. In his younger years, he was a well-known skinner and has been hunting for many years. There really isn't much that can frighten him. After being cooped up for several days, his personality has surely made him impatient. Perhaps it is for my sake that he is so willingly staying at home without moving.

Grandfather did not speak again; he silently filled a pot with tobacco and continued to smoke it, producing a rhythmic sound. After a long while, the exact time was unclear, as I was too preoccupied with my anxiety to keep track of it. I only knew that Grandfather had filled three pots of tobacco in succession, and this was the fourth pot.

Just when my grandfather and I thought that this disaster had quietly passed, there was suddenly a commotion outside. Due to the eerie silence of the night, even the sound of someone walking outside the courtyard gate could be heard. In the mountain village, there were not many people to begin with, and the sound of footsteps could almost be heard whenever someone passed by.

"If you come back late, I will strike you down!" Grandfather scolded fiercely, then turned and walked inside. It was only then that I realized all living beings fear thunder. On stormy days, they have no ability to harm others; they can only hide in every possible place.

Taking advantage of the remaining light outside, I curiously went out to look at the talismans on the doors and windows. They were still there, though somewhat blurred after a night of wind and rain. I wondered if they could still help us get through these four nights. In any case, I found myself somewhat believing in the talisman drawn by Yang Yuanshan, because the thick courtyard door was easily smashed open by them, while the old and thin living room door remained unscathed. I can still vividly remember the force of the impact against the door; if it had been a more ordinary door, it would have likely been broken by now. Upon inspection, I found it to be intact.

What if the person outside is not Mr. Zhao himself? What if it is a ghost or some other supernatural being in disguise... I myself feel that my reasoning is somewhat far-fetched, but I have heard old people tell ghost stories before, saying that those mountain spirits and monsters can transform into human forms to deceive people. I used to just listen to these ghost stories, laugh them off, and never take them seriously, but this time... To be honest, I still do not quite believe in those illusory things. But I have heard old people tell ghost stories before, saying that those mountain spirits and monsters can transform into human forms to deceive people. I used to just listen to these ghost stories, laugh them off, and never take them seriously, but this time... To be honest, I still do not quite believe in those illusory things

I saw a white bridal sedan chair parked outside the main gate, surrounded by a group of oddly dressed individuals who were moving back and forth. Just as my gaze swept over, I happened to catch a pair of deep blue eyes staring directly at me. I felt my whole body go weak and collapsed beside my grandfather. He quickly grabbed me and asked anxiously, "Ergou, what’s wrong with you?"

Rumble rumble ... ... crack!

Not having waited until tomorrow, after dark, it continued until midnight, yet we still had not heard the sound of banging on the door from outside. My grandfather and I were both puzzled; isn't today the ninth day? On this final day, they should be even more frenzied, so why is there not a single sound?

Suddenly, a pale flash of lightning appeared in the sky outside, followed closely by a deafening rumble of thunder. It began to rain, a torrential downpour, cascading down as if someone were watering the roof. I could hear nothing and see nothing. I do not know how much time passed, but when I looked towards the door of the main room, I found it completely still, as if no one were striking it anymore. Could it be that they have left?

Bang bang bang Bang bang bang

In three days... In two days... By the time my grandfather and I reached the last day, both of us were utterly exhausted. My grandfather's eye sockets were dark, and his complexion was a waxy yellow. Over the past few days, not only had we not slept well, but we also had not eaten well. Coupled with the incessant banging on the door every night, we were living in a hellish state, suffering, needless to say.

"Old Li, my son is dead, my wife has gone mad, and my home is no longer a home. My heart is filled with sorrow... Wuwuwu..." Outside, Zhao Liushun was crying and banging on the door. Upon hearing this, Grandpa intended to ask a question but could not bring himself to do so; instead, he directly unlatched the door.

I do not know how this night passed. Just as dawn was approaching, I began to feel drowsy. My grandfather, too, was exhausted; he sat on the edge of the bed, leaning against the wall, and had already fallen asleep. Perhaps the calamity we, as grandfather and grandson, experienced is beyond the imagination of ordinary people, yet it truly occurred.

Outside, the sky remains clear and calm, with not a hint of movement.

Grandfather! I rushed into the main room, only to find that Grandfather was no longer in the house

When I woke up, it was already close to dusk outside