Chapter 5, Severing the Lineage

"Young man! Have you made your decision? I will give you five more days. If you do not marry our daughter within these five days, not only you, but your grandfather and everyone else will die!" The vicious words brutally erupted from the old woman's mouth, sending a shiver down my spine, nearly paralyzing me with fear.

A sharp cold wind blew in, and I suddenly opened my eyes. The scene before me was strange, as I had never encountered such a landscape before. Before me lay a grayish-white sky and ground, surrounded by a raging and unrestrained cold wind. For some inexplicable reason, I turned my head to take a glance and nearly wet myself, for at that moment, I was standing at the edge of a cliff.

Grandfather must know things that I do not, but why is he keeping them from me? After a while, I saw Grandfather carrying a shovel as he walked out of the yard. Why is he going out with a shovel at this time? A strong sense of curiosity compelled me to quietly get out of bed and follow him from a distance.

Even my whole body was trembling, and I hurriedly leaned forward to ask: "Grandfather, what is wrong? How is the Zhao family? Has the marriage with the deceased been arranged?"

I furrowed my brow; I heard everything my grandfather said. I could roughly guess what he was digging for, as the fox skin he had just stripped last night should be buried here along with its bones. But why did my grandfather want to dig it up? What could possibly be in there that he was unwilling to tell me?

I never expected that it was all because of this. That fox was hunted by Zhao Liushun, perhaps its body was never found, and coincidentally, my grandfather picked it up and accidentally skinned it. In this way, both families have offended their fox clan. The Zhao Liushun family has already been reduced to ruin; the son is dead, and the wife has gone mad. Even if it could be salvaged, it would be too late.

Since one believes in the existence of animal spirits, one should even more believe in ghosts and strange beings. If one were to be killed by them in some desolate mountain or wilderness, it would be too unworthy. It is better to stay at home, as the elders often say that every family has ancestors and deities to protect them. With the family deity as a witness, they would not dare to act recklessly.

Sigh, Er Gou, you do not understand. Grandfather did not intend for the Lao Zhao family to end up like this, but... but..." Grandfather hesitated for a long time, ultimately unable to express his thoughts. I did not understand what Grandfather could not say. Even if we consider it from a different perspective, this matter has not affected our family. Why does it seem as if the issue lies with Grandfather, and why is he speaking so hesitantly? After a while, Grandfather still could not find the words.

Why? Why must we all die? I finally couldn't help but ask, because I have never understood why this is happening. These people haunt my family relentlessly; could it be that my family has some deep-seated enmity with them?

What should I do

Grandfather slowly turned his head to glance at me upon hearing my words, his expression filled with sorrow and desolation. A sense of foreboding crept into my heart... "The child of the Lao Zhao family, Wen... has died! Not only that, but Lao Zhao's wife has also gone mad!"

With two knocks, I suddenly realized that the old woman was dissatisfied and had tapped her cane on the stone, then glared at me with a face full of anger. I looked back in surprise, and to my astonishment, a trace of fear surged within me, as if I had seen this old woman somewhere before. Huh? Isn't she the one...? Ah?

At the moment of my astonishment, I suddenly noticed two figures standing in front of a gnarled old tree not far away. The most striking was the woman with her back to me; why her and not the old woman facing me? Perhaps it is because I am also a youthful boy of a similar age. The view of the woman from behind was equally beautiful, adorned in a noble and luxurious long dress, its hem billowing in the wind, with long black hair, a slender waist, and slightly visible fair skin. I surmised that she was an extraordinarily beautiful woman, though regrettably, I could not see her face.

Not far away, grandfather was muttering to himself and continuously digging back and forth. After quite a while, he suddenly tossed aside the shovel and slowly sat down on a stone, looking quite exhausted.

Soon, I inadvertently noticed that my grandfather's hands were trembling, shaking violently. I immediately furrowed my brows. Hadn't my grandfather's shaking hands from drinking been cured a few years ago? Why had it started again? The renowned doctor Wang Yizhen had said that my grandfather's condition was due to a serious illness he had experienced in his early years, which was reportedly caused by my grandmother's passing. At this moment, my grandfather was not only trembling with his hands.

Seeing my grandfather turn around to come back, I hurriedly turned and ran home, directly returning to the inner room and jumping onto the bed, pretending to be asleep

Such a thing has happened, how can I possibly sleep? On one hand, I feel sorry for the Lao Zhao family, how could a good family end up like this? On the other hand, I am curious as to why my grandfather has suddenly become so irritable

Grandfather took out his pipe from his waist, lit it, and began to smoke with a rhythmic puffing sound. After a long while, he suddenly exclaimed, "Could it be that a wild dog dug it out and took it away? But there are clearly no signs of disturbance in this area. If it were someone else, they would have no reason to dig for such things at all"

I do not want anything to happen to my grandfather. This is the first thought that came to my mind. My grandfather raised me through thick and thin, and I have yet to fulfill my filial duties. I cannot bear to see him die because of this matter. I would rather... "When? Where? I am afraid you might change your mind later. Can it be at my home, with my ancestors as witnesses!"

Upon exiting the door, my grandfather followed the wall all the way around to the back of the house and headed directly towards the foot of the back mountain. This left me even more astonished; what on earth was my grandfather doing, so peculiar and strange.

Huh? A series of coughs came from the next room. Has that middle-aged man named Yang Yuanshan woken up? I hurriedly got out of bed

After a while, I could only hear my grandfather's footsteps gradually approaching, followed by the sound of the door closing. It seemed that he had given up on digging any further. I secretly breathed a sigh of relief. My grandfather, really, running to the foot of the back mountain in the middle of the night to dig here and there, not feeling tired at all. Well, tomorrow I will go help my grandfather dig, and at that time, I will conveniently ask him about the reason behind this matter.

Cough cough ... ...

Has your grandfather not yet told you the truth? That old man, can he still hold on? Hahaha... He thinks that by not telling you, he can bear all the consequences alone, but such thinking is utterly foolish! The old woman forcefully struck her cane and continued, "Young man, you must realize that we are not human, but rather a clan of celestial foxes. Zhao Liushun from Zhao Village has harmed our girl in the mountains, and although our girl's death has nothing to do with your family, your grandfather actually dared to bring our girl's corpse back home and skin it! Such a disgrace is even more detestable than Zhao Liushun! The Zhao family must be exterminated, while your family still has a glimmer of hope!"

"How? Marrying our maid is already a great honor for you. If you refuse, both you and the Zhao Liushun family will have to pay this debt with your lives!" After the old woman finished speaking, she suddenly struck the ground with her cane, causing the earth to shake violently, and the raging winds around us grew even more ferocious. My legs trembled slightly, and I found it hard to maintain my balance. Could it be that I would be blown off the cliff? Wouldn't that mean certain death?

A few simple sentences struck like a bolt from the blue, leaving one in a daze. What on earth is going on? Not only has someone from the Lao Zhao family died, but his wife has also gone mad. Wasn't his son just preparing to celebrate the posthumous wedding? This means he died before the celebration could even take place. I hurriedly comforted my grandfather, saying, "Grandfather, the dead cannot be brought back to life; those who are alive should live well, and you need not be too sorrowful."

He waved his hand at me and said, "It's getting late, you should go to bed early. If there's anything to say, we can talk about it later. Besides, it's of no benefit for a little child like you to know so much!"

The sky had not yet brightened, and the cool wind outside was blowing against the window paper, causing it to sway back and forth. I reached out to wipe the cold sweat from my forehead and turned to see my grandfather sleeping right beside me. I then began to breathe heavily, as in my dream, it was unexpectedly so real

What? Marriage? Let me and ... ... Could it be her? I hurriedly looked at the young woman who had her back to me.

Cough cough! Cough cough... ...

How could there be none

I was unexpectedly scolded by my grandfather, and scratching my head, I could only turn around and head into the inner room

What place is this? How did I come to be here

Ah? So that's how it is... I was drenched in cold sweat, realizing that my grandfather had gone to Zhao Liushun's house and already knew about this matter. However, my grandfather, fearing that I would worry, did not tell me the details and wanted to bear the consequences alone. Sigh, but since the other party said that our family still has a glimmer of hope... I would like to hear it, perhaps it could spare both my grandfather and me from disaster... You tell me! What should I do to ensure my grandfather's safety!

The old woman, after hearing my words, looked at me with a hint of surprise, and then coldly laughed, saying: "You still have a bit of backbone. Our fox clan is not unreasonable; rather, it is you humans who are cunning and sly, a hundred times more wicked than other beings. This time, we will discuss the matter at hand. Our girl died before she was married, and after her death, she has no status within our clan. Therefore, in order to retain her spirit and provide her with a sense of belonging, she must marry within nine days. Only then can her status be preserved. If you can accomplish this, you can ensure the safety of both you and your grandson, and our grievances will be resolved!"

In this way of thinking, I fell asleep unconsciously

How could there be none

No! Indeed, that old woman flatly refused. Now I felt uncertain; it seemed she really intended to put both me and my grandfather in danger. The old woman continued, "It's not because we fear lacking evidence, but because we cannot enter your home, simply because your family has..."

After quite a long time, Grandpa had almost dug a large pit, yet he still had not unearthed a single bone of the fox. At this point, Grandpa let out a deep sigh and stood quietly in front of the pit, seemingly lost in thought, as if he were pondering something. In any case, I felt that ever since Grandpa returned from the old Zhao family's house, he had changed significantly compared to before his visit

Suddenly, before the old woman's words could finish, a cough echoed in my ears. This cough was clearly a man's voice. Looking around, I saw only women; there were no men in sight. As that seemingly intentional yet casual cough reached my ears, the old woman's voice abruptly stopped. She became inexplicably furious, raising her cane and striking it forcefully against the ground. At that moment, everything went dark before my eyes... When I opened my eyes again, I sat up abruptly, realizing that I had just been dreaming... As that seemingly intentional yet casual cough reached my ears, the old woman's voice abruptly stopped. She became inexplicably furious, raising her cane and striking it forcefully against the ground. At that moment, everything went dark before my eyes... When I opened my eyes again, I sat up abruptly, realizing that I had just been dreaming...

I originally did not believe in the legends of animals transforming into spirits or monsters, but the series of strange occurrences I have encountered this time has compelled me to believe. Therefore, it can be said that what I encountered in that chaotic graveyard was also from their fox clan, as Zhao Liushun had already hunted that fox, and their revenge had long since begun

In a secluded place, my grandfather suddenly stopped in his tracks. I hurriedly shrank back, hiding myself, and peeked over. I saw my grandfather glance around, then he found the inner side of a large rock and began to dig vigorously with a shovel. Seeing this, I couldn't help but wonder, was my grandfather digging for...