Chapter 007: Cutting Flesh to Save One's Life

Old Lady Sun wanted to say more, but was silenced by Sun Bansian, who lowered his voice and said: "You don't need to say anything; I already know. The problem lies with this family. Listen to me, sister, from now on, you must not mention this matter again. Keep your distance from that filthy thing, and absolutely do not provoke it. Do you understand?"

Liu Xicai stared blankly, nodding dumbly in agreement, "Alright, alright"

Grandma Sun had never seen her brother so anxious before, and she also realized the seriousness of the situation. Xiao Huang rolled her eyes, opened her mouth, and nodded.

No one dared to disturb Master Sun while he was catching insects anymore. People held their breath and widened their eyes, fearing that even the sound of their breathing might scare the insects away and prevent them from coming out

Sun Banjian was caught off guard; due to the proximity, the insect flew out at an astonishing speed, leaving him no time to evade. Realizing the situation was dire, he quickly covered his face with his hand, his fingers transforming into claws as they grasped the flesh where the insect had burrowed in.

As time passed second by second, Sun Banjian suddenly shouted, "Hey!" With that shout, he pinched a black worm that had just poked its head out with two fingers of his right hand and swiftly pulled it out from Liu Genggui's eye.

Sun Banjian was well aware of the danger posed by the white worm. Although he was currently wearing shoes, he could not guarantee the safety of his feet. In a moment of desperation, he violently shook his foot, trying to quickly rid himself of the deadly creature on the surface of his foot

At that moment, Grandpa Kong's five-and-a-half-year-old grandson suddenly pointed with his hand and exclaimed, "Look, the black bug in Uncle Gen Gui's eye has grown this big!"

Immediately, Sun Banjian decisively stepped on the white worm, crushing it with a "puff" sound. Lifting his foot, he saw that the fluid from the worm's body had spilled everywhere. This repulsive pool of fluid was mixed with some reddish-brown streaks of blood, evoking an involuntary association with the piece of flesh that had been eaten from Sun Banjian's face

What? Mr. Sun, please don't scare us! We only have this one son, and if anything were to happen to him, what would we have left to live for!" Upon hearing that their son was in serious trouble, Liu Xicai's wife fell to her knees in tears, pleading with Master Sun.

I watched closely from the side and couldn't help but let out a gasp. Sun Banjian's face was missing a chunk of flesh, and the missing part was a gaping hole oozing blood. At that moment, the blood flowing from his face was streaming down his neck!

Sun Banjian exhaled deeply, saying: "That was close, that was close. If I hadn't desperately held onto this piece of flesh on my face and cut it off, I might have lost my entire face by now"

Sun Banjian proudly picked up the black insect, examining it from left to right, and muttered to himself: "After so many years of facing great winds and waves, I have truly never encountered such a strange occurrence..."

Master Sun traveled a long way to come here, primarily for the sake of wealth. Upon seeing Liu Xicai's generous demeanor, he was well aware that this black insect was quite peculiar and dangerous, yet he could only brace himself and proceed. He rolled up his ample sleeves, used his left thumb and index finger to pull apart Liu Genggui's eyelids, and positioned his right hand at the corner of his eye, waiting for the right moment to act

Sun Banjian shook his hand and the book, his goatee twitching up and down. "Old Liu, it's not that I haven't tried my best, but your son is indeed afflicted by something malevolent. However, from what I can see, the malevolent force that has harmed your son has cultivated for at least a hundred years. I truly... truly cannot contend with it. You should seek someone more capable!" Saying this, he returned the one thousand yuan he had pocketed back to Liu Xicai, then turned and walked towards the village entrance.

However, just as Liu Xicai was about to set off for Dagu Mountain Town, everyone present clearly heard several soft "puff" sounds coming from Liu Genggui. Upon closer inspection, it nearly frightened the timid ones into wetting their pants. Liu Genggui's ears and mouth were oozing a mixture of red and yellow brain matter. After a while, his nose and eyes also began to expel brain matter, and in an instant, it flowed all over the ground, filling the air with a foul, bloody stench.

Sun Bansian hurriedly walked towards the village entrance, as if fleeing for his life. Sun Pozi, who had been watching from the side, quickly caught up with him and said, "Brother, I know who is responsible for these bugs..." As she spoke, Sun Pozi pointed to my family's house, "This is the home of Yan Sigezi; recently, someone has come to his house..."

I looked at Liu Genggui lying there, and I felt a bit uneasy. Although this guy is somewhat bad, isn't Xiaolian's reaction a bit excessive? Then I thought again, people have different ways of thinking and handling situations, not to mention that Xiaolian is just a vengeful female ghost filled with resentment! Perhaps the trauma she suffered over a hundred years ago has made her desire for revenge so intense. Sigh, although Xiaolian is quite pitiful, I still have to find a way to get rid of her. If she continues to stay in my house, there will surely be unpredictable tragedies.

Liu Xicai and his wife were weeping bitterly, gazing at Liu Genggui, who lay on the wooden plank resembling a corpse. They were too afraid to approach him, fearing the black insects crawling in and out of his eyes.

Once the revered figure in everyone's eyes departed, Liu Xicai completely lost his anchor, feeling that his son was beyond saving. Now, he is filled with despair, resembling a living corpse, and is on the verge of preparing for Liu Genggui's final arrangements.

The onlooking villagers were all taken aback, their faces pale with shock; this sudden and drastic change left them all in a state of stunned disbelief. It is important to note that Sun Banjian is a remarkable figure in this area, and for him to fall victim to this creature is truly inconceivable

The little white worm that had eaten a large chunk of flesh from Sun Banjian's face has now grown quite large. Although its entire body is round and plump, it does not appear clumsy at all. Its abdomen is adorned with pairs of small claw-like teeth, with dozens of tiny teeth neatly arranged in a row, firmly adhering to the surface of Sun Banjian's foot. Despite using all his strength, Sun Banjian could not shake off the white worm. Seeing the fat white worm gnawing at his cloth shoe, he could no longer maintain his dignified demeanor. With a loud cry of "Oh my!", he kicked the heel of his shoe with his other foot and finally managed to take it off. Despite using all his strength, Sun Banjian could not shake off the white worm. Seeing the fat white worm gnawing at his cloth shoe, he could no longer maintain his dignified demeanor. With a loud cry of "Oh my!", he kicked the heel of his shoe with his other foot and finally managed to take it off.

"Mr. Sun, can't you even deal with these damned bugs? No matter what, you must save my son!" Liu Xicai, terrified by the horrific scene just witnessed, turned pale, but his only thought now was to save his son, desperately grasping Sun Bansian's hand and pleading earnestly.

Sun Banjian was concentrating on preparing to catch insects when he heard this remark, which made him so angry that he blew on his goat beard and replied irritably: "Do you really take me for a deity? That meat won't grow back. Right now, if I can just get these insects out, it would be a stroke of luck, at least it could save his life. These black insects feed on human flesh; if we delay any longer, they might crawl into his brain through his eyes, and his mind would be devoured!"

Mr. Sun, I will give you more money; you must save my son! Liu Xicai said, taking out 1,000 yuan and placing it in Sun Banjian's pocket.

Sun Banjian said no more and hurriedly left Helong Village

Sun Banjian rolled on the ground, unable to endure the excruciating pain that pierced to the bone. He took a sharp knife from his pocket, steeled himself, and shouted loudly as he sliced off the piece of flesh he had been gripping on his face. After a cry of agony, he released his grip.

I looked into Liu Genggui's eyes, and indeed, the few black worms crawling in and out of his eyes had doubled in thickness compared to before. At this moment, Liu Genggui still had his eyes tightly shut, and his eyelids had noticeably sagged. It was clear without guessing what was happening; his eyeballs were almost devoured by the black worms.

Ah ... ...

However, it was of no avail. Sun Banjian, suffering from an unbearable itch, began to wail in agony. In less than half a minute, he was actually rolling on the ground in pain

Old Lady Sun, emboldened, approached for a closer look. Turning back to the group of *Tu* and *Shu*, she lamented, "It's over; this child has had all the orifices eaten through by insects, and the brain has oozed out..."

At this point, there's no need to worry about so much, Xicai. Quickly go to Dagu Mountain Town and invite Daoist Zhou Fuxuan. He wants a young lady to accompany him to sleep, so just spend a bit more money to find one for him! If this continues, it is certain that Gen Gui will die!" Uncle Kong said anxiously, stamping his feet.

The faces of those present changed color upon hearing this, as they had just witnessed the black insect devouring Liu Genggui's eyeball and firmly believed what Sun Banshen had said

As soon as he had spoken halfway, Sun Banjian suddenly let out a strange cry. The black insect in his hand bizarrely shed its outer skin, flying out like a golden cicada emerging from its shell. The insect that emerged was entirely silver-white and, at an astonishing speed, flew onto Sun Banjian's face, and in the blink of an eye, it burrowed into his flesh

Liu Xicai's wife said tearfully, "Mr. Sun, look at my son's hand; the bones are all exposed. Can you please give us some medicine to treat it?"

Sun Banjian truly lives up to his reputation as an old hand; even after enduring such excruciating torment, he remains calm. He tears off a corner of his clothing and presses it tightly against the bleeding wound. Looking again at the piece of flesh he had cut off himself, a silvery-white worm is greedily gnawing at it. With each bite it takes, its body grows a little larger, and before long, it has completely devoured that piece of flesh. This silvery-white worm has now grown to the thickness of a finger; it rolls its bloated body on the ground and suddenly crawls onto Sun Banjian's foot. Looking again at the piece of flesh he had cut off himself, the silvery-white worm is greedily gnawing at it. With each bite it takes, its body grows a little larger, and before long, it has completely devoured that piece of flesh. This silvery-white worm has now grown to the thickness of a finger; it rolls its bloated body on the ground and suddenly crawls onto Sun Banjian's foot.