Chapter 9: Enchanting Nightmare

It is said that this room was once renovated by Old Lady Zhang and converted into a guest room. Although some farming tools are still piled up, it now features an additional sleeping area. A curtain hangs in the room, and items such as a stove, a kettle, and a water tank have been added. Granny Li placed little Liu Ping on the sleeping area, poured a basin of hot water, and used a warm cloth to wipe the fine beads of sweat from her forehead, then fed her some warm water.

Zheng Jie and Li Caixia shook their heads simultaneously and said, "No, she was just fine a moment ago, playing with us and even trying to scare us!"

Wang Wuwen, upon hearing this, did not respond but instead stared intently at Xiao Liuping's face, increasingly feeling that she resembled a long-lost acquaintance. His heart grew heavier, and he thought, "No! I must make a trip to Ergou; this doctor probably cannot help!" After saying this, he turned and plunged back into the rain.

Wang Wu, upon witnessing this scene, was immediately drenched in cold sweat, his legs went weak, and he sat down in the muddy ground, gasping for breath. After a long while, he finally calmed down slightly. He recalled that someone seemed to have called his name just moments ago, and hurriedly turned his face around, only to see a bullock cart parked on the road, with an elderly man sitting upright on it, looking quite spirited and healthy, and at that moment, the old man was staring at him.

Old Lady Li hurriedly got up and said: "Old man, you came just in time. Xiaoping suddenly developed a high fever for some unknown reason. Hurry and find a doctor to take a look!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Wu hurriedly walked to the bunk, seeing that Xiao Liuping lying on the bed had a flushed face, her eyes tightly closed, gasping for breath, and was mumbling incoherently. His heart sank, and he quickly asked, "What happened? Did she catch a cold?"

Old Lady Li shook her head and said: "Everything was fine before, there were no signs of catching a cold at all, and suddenly it became like this. I don't know what illness it is, you should quickly find a doctor to take a look, that would be more appropriate"

Old Lady Li watched as Wang Wu's figure gradually receded into the distance, opening her mouth but saying nothing.

However, Xiao Liuping seemed to be getting worse, her little face flushed bright red, and she kept babbling nonsensically, mentioning things like cats and weasels.

Could it be that I have caught a cold? Wang Wu thought to himself, while simultaneously quickening his pace, eager to find Wang Daxian in Ergou Village, believing that once he saw Wang Daxian, the matter would be resolved. However, things did not go as planned; after walking for a short while, the scenery before him gradually became blurred, and he found himself unable to muster even a bit of strength. He raised his eyes to look ahead, and it seemed there was still some distance to Ergou Village, but the landscape ahead was shrouded in a haze, making it impossible to see anything clearly, as if a thin layer of paper had been placed over his eyes. However, things did not go as planned; after walking for a short while, the scenery before him gradually became blurred, and he found himself unable to muster even a bit of strength. He raised his eyes to look ahead, and it seemed there was still some distance to Ergou Village, but the landscape ahead was shrouded in a haze, making it impossible to see anything clearly, as if a thin layer of paper had been placed over his eyes.

Just when Wang Wu felt he could no longer hold on, a voice suddenly rang in his ears: "Wang Wu! What are you doing?" This voice was like a bolt from the blue, startling Wang Wu so much that he shivered, and the things before him suddenly became clear. The heavy rain continued, but he found himself standing in front of a solitary grave by the roadside, surrounded by muddy footprints that had just emerged.

The person who just called Wang Wu was none other than the venerable Wang Daxian, who was now over eighty years old. At this moment, he was still dressed in a grayish-blue long robe, and beside him was the same wooden box from many years ago. Apart from the additional wrinkles on his face, he looked remarkably similar to how he did several decades ago. Wang Daxian said: "Just now, if I hadn't awakened you, your little life would probably have been lost here today! Did you feel that no matter how you walked, it still seemed so far away?"

At that moment, Liu Ping'er felt her head becoming somewhat dizzy, her eyes constantly wanting to close together, and the egg in her hand seemed to grow heavier and heavier. Finally, with a "bang," it fell to the ground, and she fainted as well.

Outside, the rain poured heavily, accompanied by thunder and lightning. However, Wang Wu was preoccupied with thoughts of the past. He hurried along the road, but unexpectedly, a journey that should have taken just a couple of hours seemed never-ending. Although he wore a raincoat, he was already soaked to the skin. The strong wind added to his discomfort, and at that moment, he felt an indescribable chill throughout his body, and his head began to feel somewhat dizzy.

Upon hearing this, Granny Li became even more anxious. How could a perfectly healthy person suddenly fall ill? With such heavy rain outside, where could she possibly find a doctor and books in such a short time?

Zheng Jie and Li Caixia merely thought she was fooling around again, giggling and playfully poking her underarm, but Liu Ping showed no reaction at all, mumbling something indistinctly.

Seeing this, Grandma Li hurriedly ran to Liu Ping's side, felt her forehead, and found her face burning hot. A sense of unease gripped her heart as she said, "How could she suddenly have such a high fever? Zheng Jie, did Xiao Ping mention any discomfort just now?"

What heavy rain! Wife, please pour me a cup of hot water!" Following the sound, I saw Wang Wu, who had somehow entered the house wearing a raincoat, shaking off the water droplets from his body, preparing to take off the raincoat

"Master Wang! What brings you here?" Upon seeing the old man, Wang Wu immediately perked up, scrambled to his feet, and approached the cart, saying: "Master, I was just about to look for you, but for some reason, I couldn't make it to the second ditch..."