Chapter Nine, Seeking Help

This person was also dressed in a black robe, with a pale complexion devoid of any color, and a pair of pitch-black eyes that were gloomy and lifeless. His hair and beard were both half-white, and his aged face was lined with deep creases, giving him the appearance of someone in their sixties or seventies

Although Lin Laoshi knew the location of the small temple, it was his first visit. The moonlight filtered through the clouds, revealing a dimly lit area where a dilapidated small temple stood on a flat section of the mountainside. Surrounding it were withered trees and desolate grass, with mounds of graves rising and falling among the grass, jagged stone tablets scattered about, and countless graves stretching out endlessly, seemingly without end.

Lin Laoshi thought of his wife and child at home, mustered his courage, and said: "I... I am here to find Wang Shiba, who can walk the Yin path."

The journey was devoid of stars and moonlight, with the sky overcast, giving the impression that a storm was imminent. Lin Laoshi felt that ever since the child was born, the weather had not been clear, resembling a sulking woman from some family, holding back tears yet always wearing a gloomy expression. The distance from Huai Tree Village to Guai Zi River Village was merely 10 li. Although the mountain path was difficult to traverse, with Lin Laoshi's stamina, he could usually cover it in half an hour. However, today he felt as if his feet were weighed down, taking nearly an hour to reach the village.

Old Lin kowtowed like pounding garlic, yet Old Wang showed no reaction at all. In the entire small temple, only the sound of Lin's incessant kowtowing echoed. After a long while, a hint of emotion finally appeared in Old Wang's cold eyes, and he said in a low voice: "You may rise; let me hear what is going on."

That night, Lin Laoshi and Li Shi tried every possible means, yet the child still refused to take a sip of water or milk. The cries were sharp and thin, resembling both weeping and the sounds of suffering. The child was completely covered in black hair, occasionally opening their eyes just a slit, revealing a gaze filled with helplessness. Li Shi held the child and cried incessantly, while Lin Laoshi gasped for breath, his eyes reddened. He turned and ran out of the house, standing in the courtyard, clenching his fists and shouting: "Damn it, if you have any ability, come at me! Bullying a child is no skill at all..."

Lin Laoshi was taken aback and hurriedly turned back into the room, only to see the child gasping in his mother's arms, making loud snoring sounds like a bellows. The child's eyes were wide open, yet devoid of spirit, and his small face was a deep purple, losing all semblance of a human appearance beneath the dark hair.

In the quiet mountain village, Lin Laoshi shouted frantically, instantly causing several households to turn on their lights, and the dogs began to bark incessantly. Lin Laoshi was momentarily stunned, fearing that others would discover that his child was a monster, yet feeling a deep sense of grievance. He squatted on the ground and cried out loud. Just as he was weeping sorrowfully, he heard Li's voice from inside the house: "Father, father, come quickly, what has happened to our child?"

Upon leaving the house, Lin Laoshi took a short axe with him. Still feeling uneasy, he woke up the Zhang family, asking the father and son to help keep an eye on things. Only then did he grab a worn lantern and set off for Guai Zi He Village in the dead of night

He called out several times without receiving a response. Lin Laoshi, feeling anxious, peeked into the small temple and saw that it was in ruins, with only one room remaining. Inside stood a statue of a stern-looking deity, and on the offering table were three plates of tributes, illuminated by a flickering everlasting lamp. The light was dim and unsteady, as if even a slight disturbance could extinguish it. The room was drafty, with occasional gusts of wind blowing in, yet the everlasting lamp stubbornly refused to go out.

Lin Laoshi's legs went weak, and he found himself unable to move his feet. At that moment, a cold voice came from behind: "Who are you? What are you doing here?" As soon as the voice sounded, there was a crisp crack, and Lin Laoshi, startled and frightened, couldn't help but turn around. He saw that a coffin lid in the center had been pushed aside, and a person sat up straight from the dark coffin.

After wandering for the duration of an incense stick, Lin Laoshi surprisingly arrived safely at the front of the small temple. He stood still, intending to knock on the door, but found that this dilapidated temple didn't even have a door. Hesitant to enter recklessly, he stood outside and quietly asked, "Is anyone there? Is there anyone inside?"

Old Wang slowly turned his eyes, fixating on Lin Laoshi, who was kneeling on the ground. In his usual cold tone, he said, "That black fox is quite skilled; I cannot interfere in your matters. You may leave now." After saying this, he slowly lay down in the coffin, and the coffin lid creaked as it was about to close.

After about half a stick of incense had passed, Old Wang suddenly shuddered, letting out a gasp as if he were coming back to life, his eyes suddenly filled with spirit, and that ghostly flame vanished without a trace. Lin Laoshi was at a loss for what to do, staring blankly at Old Wang.

Old Wang's murmuring abruptly ceased, his eyes rolled back, and he became completely motionless, as if he had died. The scene was incredibly eerie, leaving Lin Laoshi so frightened that he didn't even dare to cough, simply staring wide-eyed.

Lin Laoshi from Guizihe Village has visited a few times, always coming to help. In this small village of several dozen households, there is no need to seek someone to guide the way; one can head directly towards the abandoned City God Temple at the end of the village. The mountain village is already sparsely populated, and that small temple stands alone, more than a mile away from the village, isolated and detached from any nearby homes or shops.

Lin Laoshi was taken aback, and only then did he remember the purpose of his visit. With a thud, he knelt down and bowed to Old Wang, saying: "Brother Wang, I am Lin Laoshi from Huai Shu Village. Yesterday, my wife gave birth to a child, but the baby is covered in black hair and cannot drink a drop of water. You are a capable person; I beg you to save my child. I will repay you for the rest of my life by serving you like an ox or a horse..."

"His father, at this point, stop worrying so much and just do as Doctor Li suggested. If you don't go now, this child won't be saved..." Li tightly held the child in her arms, crying out in anguish.

Old Wang sat up from the coffin and saw Lin Laoshi staring at him in a daze without saying a word. He snorted coldly and asked again, "What do you want from me?"

This place, nestled between mountains and rivers, is considered a land of good fortune, and naturally, the villagers regard it as such. However, it is looked down upon by wealthy families, and since the land is unclaimed, the nearby villages have buried their dead here for generations. Over time, this has formed a vast circle of graves, with the City God Temple at its center. It is unclear from which dynasty this temple originated, but due to years of neglect, it has long lost its original appearance and has become a dilapidated structure with numerous drafts.

Old Lin grunted in acknowledgment, then pulled out a small cloth pouch from the kang hole. Inside were two taels of scattered silver, the remainder left by the black fox. Aside from what had been spent, this was all that remained. He had initially hoped to use these two taels to help his wife regain her health, but now he could no longer afford to think about that.

Old Lin usually couldn't produce a sound even with three strikes, yet these words flowed smoothly, all reflecting his true thoughts, heartfelt words. As he spoke, he took out the two taels of scattered silver he had brought and placed it on the ground. Old Wang glanced at the silver on the ground, and a smirk appeared at the corner of his mouth, his face full of mockery. However, under the dim yellow light, a sudden expression emerged on his pale face, making it appear even more sinister.

Under the offering table lay four black coffins, none made of good wood, but rather the cheapest thin-skinned coffins. Behind each coffin stood a pair of paper figures representing young boys and girls, crafted with remarkable lifelikeness, dressed in burial garments, far surpassing his own skills. Upon seeing the paper figures, Lin Laoshi couldn't help but take a closer look. Once he clearly discerned them, he was instantly terrified and let out a scream, falling to the ground in shock.

Lin Laoshi was still puzzled as to how Old Wang knew about the Black Fox without him saying anything. But he soon heard what Wang said next, and he became flustered, losing all composure. He began to kowtow, speaking incoherently: "Please save my child, I will serve you as a cow or a horse in this life and the next... As long as you save my child, you can take my life if you wish... I beg you, have mercy on me..."

Old Lin was so shocked that he couldn't utter a word. He clenched his teeth and prepared for a fight. The other person, seeing that he remained silent, furrowed his brows and asked in a chilling tone, "I asked you a question, why aren't you answering?" The tone was cold, yet it seemed devoid of any malice.

Lin Laoshi had always been timid and afraid of trouble. Seeing the dilapidated temple in such a place, he inwardly lamented. However, thinking of the child at home who was still suffering, he steeled himself and cautiously moved forward, while hurriedly bowing to the people around him: "Esteemed villagers, I am just passing through and do not dare to be presumptuous. Please do not be alarmed, please do not be alarmed..."

"What do you want from me?" The person's voice remained cold and unpleasant. Lin Laoshi was taken aback. In the dim light of the lantern, he could see that the eyebrows and eyes belonged to none other than Old Wang. However, he never expected that the person before him, looking like a living dead, was Old Wang. He had seen Old Wang a few years ago; at that time, although Old Wang was also gloomy, he still had some vitality. He was old, but only appeared to be in his forties. How could he have aged so drastically in just a few years?

In the graveyard, ghostly lights flicker, and occasionally there are rustling sounds in the grass, uncertain of what wild creature has emerged in search of food. At times, a breeze passes through, instantly producing a strange sound akin to ghostly wails. The eerie green ghostly lights often suddenly appear, drifting away only to reappear again.

Regardless of how much Lin Laoshi pleaded, Old Wang remained unmoved. As the coffin lid was about to close with a creaking sound, Lin Laoshi, feeling utterly helpless, suddenly remembered that Old Wang was a solitary man without any children. He shouted, "As long as you save my child, let him acknowledge you as his father!"

Old Lin's words were filled with an indescribable sorrow, and the creaking sound suddenly ceased. From within the coffin came Old Wang's chilling voice: "Is that true?"

These paper figures were exactly the same as the two he had seen last night. Lin Laoshi felt both fear and confusion, and he did not see Old Wang in the temple either. Trembling, he stood up and wanted to turn around and leave. However, just as he turned around, he heard the coffin behind him creaking, creaking... a sound similar to grinding teeth

Lin Laoshi did not understand what he was saying, and thought he was going to ask himself what had happened. He wanted to tell Lao Wang the whole story, but then he saw Lao Wang suddenly speak, muttering some words he could not comprehend. It sounded like a monk chanting scriptures, yet it was not quite the same, and the speed of his mumbling was very fast. As Lao Wang chanted, a sudden gust of cold wind blew outside, and then a small ball of ghostly green fire floated to Lao Wang's ear.