Chapter 008: The Sloppy Old Daoist

Liu Xicai also invited a group of monks to his home to chant scriptures and perform rites for the deceased, which was quite a novelty in Helong Village. The vast majority of people had never seen what a monk looked like, and they all rushed to Liu's house to witness the event. Some came to offer joss paper, while others were curious to see how the monks chanted.

Upon witnessing this scene, even the usually composed Mr. Kong could no longer suppress his inner fear. The ten or so people surrounding the coffin all exclaimed "Oh my!" in unison and scattered in all directions. I couldn't understand why I was so unfortunate; I wasn't even standing in the front row, yet I was pushed to the front by the fleeing crowd. Just then, I stepped on a banana peel—whoever threw it here must be a real scoundrel. My foot slipped, my balance was lost, and I was suddenly shoved into the coffin!

There was not a sound inside; I quietly took two steps forward and reached out to turn on the light in the room

I do not understand the dangers present here, but many of the older villagers in the yard are well aware that cats can communicate with the spirit world, especially black cats. If such a cat were to disturb someone who has just died, there is a significant chance that the deceased would rise from the grave

Human curiosity about the unknown is innate. Everyone present was eager to know what had happened inside the coffin, yet none dared to approach, fearing that Liu Genggui might suddenly jump up and grab someone by the throat. At that moment, Liu Xicai took on the role of a hero; after all, it was his son lying in the coffin, and his sense of fear was somewhat less than that of others. He slowly pushed open the coffin lid. The spirit hall had already been wired for lights, and in the dim light, he peered into the coffin. Liu Xicai first widened his eyes, then his expression turned to one of unbearable pain, and he shouted, "My son!" before collapsing onto the ground.

Everyone looked at each other, not daring to step forward. Liu Xicai extended his hands to support the lid of the coffin, which had not yet been nailed shut, and trembled as he called out to the inside of the coffin, "Gen Gui'er, do not feel wronged in your heart. If you need to be reborn, then be reborn; if you have things to do, go ahead and do them. You are already dead, so please do not cause any more trouble for your father!"

As I looked around Liu Genggui's head, indeed, there was a pool of brain matter on the ground, and I feared that his head was now completely empty. I could no longer bear to watch; my stomach was churning violently, and I felt like I was about to vomit, so I quietly returned home

During the two days that Xiao Lian stayed at my home, she and my mother have already gotten along very well. When I returned, I saw them chatting happily together. I am increasingly impressed by my mother, as it is remarkable that she has so many common topics to discuss with a female ghost

Uncle Kong is quite experienced and holds considerable prestige in Helong Village. Liu Xicai has always trusted his words and hurriedly asked, "Is it that serious? Then, what should we do?"

Upon seeing the corpse of Liu Genggui in the coffin, it was evident that there was no flesh left, only a set of white bones that sent chills down one's spine. Beside his skeleton, a creature resembling a large-headed infant was holding his arm, eagerly gnawing at the remaining bits of flesh. The monster was covered in blood, and from time to time, it would extend its green, slimy tongue to lick its lips, splattering the interior of the coffin with blood stains.

That night, the Liu family set up a mourning pavilion in their yard and specially invited a group of suona players from the town. The skills of these artists were exceptional, and the tunes they played were mournful and poignant, evoking a sense of desolation in those who listened

However, just as I approached the coffin containing Liu Genggui's body, a dark figure suddenly sprang out from the shadows. It first leaped onto the coffin lid, then kicked off with its hind legs and zipped past me, leaving behind a sharp, piercing cry, "Meow..."

I stood there in a daze with this note in hand, unsure whether to laugh or cry

As I was about to leave the room, I suddenly saw a note on the kang, written in fine, small characters. The handwriting was elegant: "Fourth Brother Dog, there will be a monk chanting tonight. I can't stand it, so I've gone to my sister's place. Don't worry about me—Xiao Lian."

We need to find a good feng shui master to break the spell, just in case. " said Uncle Kong

At this moment, a ragged old Taoist entered through the gate of the Liu family's courtyard, immediately capturing the attention of most people in the yard. His unkempt hair was disheveled, appearing as if it had not been washed for at least three months. He wore a gray Taoist robe that had several large holes, and it was unclear how many years he had been wearing this outfit. It was evident that he was an old Taoist wandering around in search of alms.

Upon hearing this, I thought to myself that I truly could not stay with the Liu family any longer. When Liu Genggui was half-dead, he frightened people quite a bit; now that he is dead, there is even the possibility of him coming back to life. This situation seems endless, and the notion of scaring people to death without any consequences is truly alarming

Before it got dark, my mother had already prepared a bundle of joss paper and asked me to deliver it in the evening. Noticing that the Liu family had begun to arrange the funeral, I picked up the bundle of joss paper and stepped out of my room, ready to take it over. As I stood in the corridor, I noticed that the door to the room where Xiao Lian lived was slightly ajar, and it was pitch black inside without any lights on. I wondered what she was doing in there, why it was so quiet.

The sound of "shasha" resembles someone scratching the coffin lid with their nails, or like sanding the inner walls of the coffin with sandpaper. Now, this coffin undoubtedly contains only Liu Genggui; could it be that he is truly causing mischief from within?

My heart raced wildly; I was indeed startled by that large black cat just now. At this moment, Elder Kong quickly called for the suona band to stop, pulling Liu Xicai to the front of the coffin, saying: "Xicai, that large black cat just jumped over the coffin lid, which is very inauspicious. If we are not careful, it could disturb the soul of Gen Gui, and if the corpse were to rise, it would be disastrous"

After quite a while, everyone finally followed the bold Uncle Kong to the coffin to observe the situation inside. I also mustered my courage to take a glance from the outside, and that one glance was enough to send a chill down my spine; it was truly horrific

The disheveled old priest entered the courtyard and inquired who the owner of the house was. When someone led him to meet Liu Xicai, the old priest performed a single-handed salute and said with a smile: "Esteemed benefactor, life and death are predestined, and wealth and nobility are determined by heaven. This misfortune is also fated, and I hope you will take care of yourself. This humble priest has traveled here; may I trouble you for a simple meal of clear soup and rice?"

After calling for a long time, there was no response from inside the coffin; only the sound of "rustling" became clearer. As I listened, my mind conjured an image of Liu Genggui scratching at the coffin lid with his fingernails, his fingers becoming bloodied and mangled. I gasped in horror, too afraid to continue that line of thought. At that moment, I suddenly noticed that the only person who did not display a tense or curious expression was the disheveled old Taoist, who stood in an inconspicuous corner, his demeanor calm and ethereal.

At that moment, I was so startled that my heart flipped, and I almost cried out. Upon closer inspection of the object that had swept past me, I realized it was just a large black cat

The people standing beside the coffin began to feel anxious. Could it really be as Old Master Kong said, that Liu Genggui, this fellow, was unwilling to remain in obscurity and intended to rise from the dead?

Liu Xicai has always been stingy, and at this moment, in his pain, seeing the old Taoist in such a miserable state only intensified his anger. He impatiently shouted, "Is this your damn meal? Do you want me to give you some excrement instead?"

Although I have come to accept the fact that Xiao Lian is a female ghost over the past two days, and I am no longer as fearful of her as I was at the beginning, it is still nighttime, and a female ghost resides in the dark room, with not a sound to be heard. My heart continues to race. The quieter the room becomes, the more curious I am, wanting to see what she is actually doing inside.

I mustered my courage and gently pushed open the door, softly calling out: "Xiao Lian, Xiao Lian, are you inside?"

I felt a bit puzzled, thinking about why this old Taoist, who I had never met before, was staring at me. I threw down the joss paper, and the atmosphere in the Liu family home, combined with the sorrow, made me feel uncomfortable all over. Moreover, Liu Genggui's death was directly related to Xiaolian, who was still living in my house. Just thinking about this made me inexplicably feel a bit guilty, and I just wanted to leave the Liu family as soon as possible

My mind went completely blank, and I almost fainted. My entire body collapsed onto Liu Genggui's stark white skeleton, even breaking two of his ribs. At that moment, the large-headed monster that had been devouring Liu Genggui's corpse was mere inches away from me, and I could clearly see its features.

Just as I was about to turn and leave, a "rustling" sound came from the coffin. The courtyard was now devoid of the sounds of the suona and the chanting of the monks, and this sound was distinctly audible in the stillness of the night

Upon hearing this, the old Taoist was momentarily taken aback, yet he showed no signs of anger. His dirty face still bore a smile as he stepped aside and ceased to speak. This was my first encounter with the legendary Taoist, and out of curiosity, I gazed at him a few more times. He left a deep impression on me; despite his disheveled appearance, he exuded an air of ethereal grace and extraordinary demeanor. At that moment, he was also looking at me with profound significance, as if among the hundreds of people in the courtyard, he was particularly interested in me.

I closed Xiaolian's door tightly and took the bundle of joss paper to Liu Xicai's house. Each family in the village sent a representative; some brought joss paper, some left a bit of money, and some of the older villagers offered their condolences to Liu Xicai, urging him to take care of himself during this difficult time

The room was empty and desolate, the quilt on the kang was neatly folded, and the room was tidied up very well. I scanned the room and indeed, Xiao Lian was not there. Where could she have gone? Could it be that she went to the courtyard to take a bath again?