Chapter 4: The First Bloodsucking
Just as a parched land encounters a nourishing rain, my organs are frantically absorbing the blood, and my heart is gradually becoming more active due to this influx of blood
From late at night until the dawn broke, over a span of more than 4 hours, I hunted and killed a total of 15 wild rabbits and 9 pheasants. I did not even skin them; after nailing them down, I pierced the carotid artery of the prey with my sharp teeth to drink their blood. Since rabbits and chickens are small animals, each contains very little blood, and I could drain it in just a few sips. I did not even skin them; after nailing them down, I pierced the carotid artery of the prey with my sharp teeth to drink their blood. Since rabbits and chickens are small animals, each contains very little blood, and I could drain it in just a few sips.
This desire compels individuals to disregard the consequences and abandon moral principles.
When I reached the bend in the mountain road at an altitude of 800 meters, I saw a figure standing perplexed at the edge of the cliff at the corner, looking around aimlessly, not knowing whether they were waiting for someone or searching for something.
I approached the wild boar with composure, revealing my sharp, menacing teeth as I unhesitatingly bit through its throat. The vibrant, warm blood flowed continuously as I consumed it, while the wild boar, still not fully dead, stared at me in fear with wide-open eyes
The slightly beating heart quickened its rhythm, indicating its thirst for blood. It was akin to a long-starved single man suddenly encountering a naked beauty, a desire so intense it penetrated to the marrow, so profound it reached the soul
My internal organs have regained their most basic vitality, although they are still in a terrible state and severely shriveled. However, I believe that as long as I consume more blood and flesh in the future, I will return to my former self.
The bamboo that grows in this mountainous area is very hard, and the cut ends of the bamboo are extremely sharp. After piercing the fur of the wild rabbit with the sharp point of the cut end, I easily peeled off the rabbit's outer skin. This is not a difficult task for me, as I learned to survive in the wild from a young age
After being skinned, the entire rabbit was enveloped in its dripping fresh blood, and the most primal desire within me was clashing with my moral values, like a devil, constantly tempting me to drink its blood
I opened my bloodthirsty mouth and sank my teeth into the rabbit meat, voraciously sucking its blood
What did I leave in that grave? Was it some kind of burial item? But when I woke up, I didn't see anything else, except for the set of clothes I was wearing. Wait, I just thought of something.
Due to the replenishment and nourishment of blood, my originally emaciated body has also recovered to that of a 15 or 16-year-old youth, but it is still far from a complete return to normalcy
Driven by hunger, I employed the hunting skills I learned in elementary school to sharpen a bamboo stick and hunt down a wild rabbit
It may be because I was too hungry, having drained all the prey that came my way. I have basically recovered, and the organs within me are functioning systematically, just like an ordinary person.
Hiss! I instinctively glanced down the cliff and saw a crashed Jeep, its parts scattered all over the ground, and the vehicle was covered in blood
Ah, I almost forgot, I am no longer human, still lacking in determination, sigh
This is the primal force, the most difficult force to resist. It is akin to people who are driven by extreme hunger, frantically searching for anything that can be consumed. In cold weather, they wrap themselves up tightly. This is the most fundamental power of humanity
The blood of animals is merely a substitute taken out of necessity; the staple is still human blood. If I were to consume animal blood again, my blood vessels would become clogged, and my body would begin to deteriorate. Alas, it is not easy to exist as something neither human nor ghostly
This wild boar truly represents a significant harvest. I drained its last drop of blood, stood up straight, and my height of 184 cm fully stretched out. Thanks to the blood of this wild boar, I was able to return to my original state, though my skin still appeared unusually yellow, as if something was lacking.
I am delighted by the changes in my body, it seems I must continue to live, as blood has become my sustenance. The once withered and dull skin has regained a hint of color due to the nourishment of this blood
The man is approximately 30 years old, with short hair, dressed in casual attire. At a glance, I could tell he was here on vacation in the mountains
Hehehe... My hand that was grabbing the rabbit began to tremble uncontrollably, as a powerful force took control of it, attempting to bring the bloody rabbit to my mouth
I nodded slightly and said, "Uncle, what have you lost?"
Not bad, except that my complexion is too sallow; everything else is just as it was in my lifetime. I looked at the not-so-handsome face in the stream and nodded in satisfaction
Having grown up in these mountains and forests since childhood, I am able to discern my location even in the dead of night
Hey, what are you doing there? It's so early in the morning, why have you gone up the mountain? Suddenly encountering a living person, I am still quite excited; after seeing ghosts all night, I can finally interact with a real person.
During the hunting process, I was astonished to find that my strength had actually increased. A bamboo pole, as tall as 2 stories and as thick as my forearm, I was able to throw with all my might to a distance of approximately 300 meters, which is more than three times the world record for javelin. Moreover, the bamboo in my hand was much heavier than that javelin
On the mountain path at dawn, there is no trace of anyone. I find myself quite at ease, gazing at the scenery along the way with a complex mood. In the past, when I walked this path, I was alone. Now, as I walk this mountain road once more, which is marked by my footprints, I exist in a state that is neither fully human nor ghostly.
The sensation of blood flowing down my throat felt like thick soy milk, yet it was far more unpleasant than soy milk, with a taste that was both fishy and bitter. Strangely, I did not experience any feelings of disgust; typically, one would feel nauseated and have a tendency to vomit when consuming blood.
After walking for a quarter of an hour in the dense forest, I finally realized that I had truly left the cemetery. Now, I find myself in a deep mountain forest, 5 kilometers away from the cemetery.
The taste of blood is quite unpleasant, and the pungent fishy flavor makes me feel somewhat uncomfortable. Fortunately, this blood is warm. Otherwise, if it were cold, it would coagulate due to the platelets in the blood, and coagulated blood would be undrinkable
I discovered something that surprised me; in the darkness, I was able to see each object clearly. Leaving that graveyard, I was engulfed by a strong sense of hunger. A voice within urged me to consume blood
With this thought in mind, I walked out of the dense forest and followed the small path that had been cleared through the mountains, making my way up the mountain. The elevation of this dense forest is approximately 400 meters, while our mountain village is situated in a large basin at an elevation of 1,000 meters. The distance from here to the village is about 4 kilometers
My vision has improved significantly, and I immediately spotted the male corpse in the driver's seat of the jeep, which was the man next to me
Beside a small stream, under the faint moonlight, I saw my own reflection. The clothes that fit me before my burial were draped over me like a robe, and I had become nothing more than a skeleton, with at most a layer of skin wrapped around it.
Ah, ah, ah! I have gone mad; every inch of my body is in a state of excitement. Upon encountering blood, my withered teeth instantly become sharp and unmatched, sprouting spikes that pierce through the resilient flesh of the rabbit in one swift motion, and the warm blood flows profusely into my mouth
Alright, uncle, don't worry, I will help you look for it. I readily agreed and walked to the edge of the cliff, where the view was expansive and I could see further.
The sharp bamboo pole swiftly swept through the dense forest, accurately piercing the heart of an adult wild boar, pinning it firmly to the ground, with the pole embedded half a meter deep in the mud, which attests to the great strength I possess
"Young man, my belongings are missing. Can you help me find them?" he said to me anxiously
The withered organs and tissues gradually regain vitality under the nourishment of blood
From this moment on, I am no longer human
The first beam of light in the early morning opens a gap in the night, radiating boundless vitality onto me, bringing a long-lost warmth.
I do not know whether it is due to the consumption of blood or the enhancements I gained from being resurrected. In any case, this is certainly a good thing
It seems that I am not entirely a ghost, at least I am not afraid of sunlight. I chuckled self-deprecatingly, found a small stream, and washed up briefly, cleansing the dirt on my body and the bloodstains at the corners of my mouth.
I suddenly felt a sense of desolation, and my body's instinct told me that blood is my daily sustenance, just like rice and noodles. It seems that I am no longer truly human, whether just now or at this moment
I have thus come to realize that blood is harmful to me and of no benefit; as for human ethics and morality, ha, I am no longer human. Therefore, in the latter half of the night, I roamed about with a sharp bamboo pole, frantically hunting and consuming blood.
He looked at me, seemingly very surprised
I suddenly thought, it must be that copper coffin. I suspect that my resurrection is closely related to that copper coffin. When dawn breaks, I will return to the cemetery to take a look; there must be hidden secrets there.
The sky has brightened, and I am going to the village to find my grandfather to ask him if he knows about what has happened to me and everything that occurred at the cemetery last night. My grandfather is the village chief of the mountain village, and since I was young, he has often told me all the supernatural stories of the village, so he must know something
A little girl was pinned beneath the man, her pure white dress stained red with blood
"My car is missing, and so is my daughter." I could tell he was very anxious
The most significant change is the heart; at this moment, the heart, nourished by blood, has regained its strong beating and is squeezing the limited blood out of itself, transmitting it through the blood vessels to all directions
I no longer suppress the instincts of my body, enduring the madness of bloodlust, slowly bringing the bleeding rabbit to my lips
I can feel a strong sense of heaviness in the blood circulating within me, and my steps have become somewhat unnatural, akin to a robot with rusted parts. I realize that animal blood can no longer satisfy my needs, as the mechanisms of animal blood and human blood are fundamentally different; my body requires human blood to sustain its circulation
Everything changed because of blood
Do my instincts no longer acknowledge that I am human? Even my instincts urge me to drink this blood greedily
My hands are trembling, and I am desperately suppressing my desire to donate blood, yet my instincts tell me that this blood is very important to me. As I breathe in the spicy scent of this blood into my abdomen, the once exhausted organs are now emitting excited cries
Since I am no longer human, why should I adhere to human ethics? Some living individuals have already abandoned the codes of being human. From now on, I will no longer live as a human; I will live for myself
Looking at the terrifying skull in the river, my heart suddenly turned cold, for that was indeed me! My entire body withered, my eye sockets sunken; if anyone were to see me now, I am certain I would frighten them to death
Hoo! This time, during the shooting, I exerted all my strength, and after swinging the bamboo pole, the veins on my arms bulged, and the intense blood surged through my veins, greatly enhancing my power
Call! I have discarded the rabbit from which I drained the blood, with dark red stains still lingering at the corners of my mouth
I have always believed that the most fundamental difference between humans and animals is that humans do not consume raw flesh and drink blood like animals do. Although I know that I am currently in a state that is neither fully human nor ghostly, my appearance may have changed, but my inner thoughts remain those of a human, and my soul is still filled with ethics and morality
Fortunately, the faint heartbeat supports my steps forward
I walked up to him and found that he was not carrying anything, had not driven, and had no luggage, just a set of casual clothes on him, which struck me as odd
Indeed, after my blood has flowed out completely, I am no longer human; I have already died. The current me is merely a corpse. Since I have personally come to understand my own life, I must bear even the most malicious curse myself, my own sins, I shall endure.