Chapter 6, The Ghost Pressing the Coffin

After speaking, he took out a white candle, lit it, and placed it in front of the rice. At that moment, there was not a breath of wind, and the candle flickered a few times before burning steadily.

It is still intensifying, I can hardly bear it!

I was so scared that I was almost suffocated, is it a case of being haunted by a ghost?

I swallowed hard, instinctively wanting to refuse, truly frightened, not wanting to have any further ties with the Hong family. If it weren't for the purpose of finding Ma Jialiang today, I wouldn't have prepared to come here at all. Unexpectedly, upon my arrival, I was conscripted.

I swallowed a mouthful of saliva, and my heart sank; something is about to happen

As the candle was lit, I felt the weight on my shoulders suddenly lighten, and the coffin was instantly balanced.

Regardless of the matter, one must discuss right and wrong, mustn't one

The originally clear sky unexpectedly darkened at a visibly rapid pace, clearly indicating that a storm was approaching

I was taken aback and asked what was going on

Ma Jialiang nodded and said, "Yes, it was Boss Pi who mentioned that when Hong Qingsheng's wife passed away, it was inauspicious, and she should be buried as soon as possible"

What?

So soon

I saw him a few times when I was playing in his lumber warehouse as a child. He was a very cold person, rarely spoke, sometimes came alone, and occasionally brought a driver, driving a pickup truck

As soon as I heard it, my heart began to race

Such changes in weather are quite common in summer, but occurring at this time has caused many people to change their expressions. In particular, Chen Jiutong, the leader of the Eight Immortals, suddenly became serious and quietly said to me: "Xiaochun, quicken your pace"

I feel very strange; during my years in university, I encountered all kinds of people, yet I have never felt this way before. What am I afraid of? I do not owe him any money, nor have I stolen anything from him

I can't hold on any longer

However, after Ma Jialiang mentioned it, I do have a bit of an impression of this person

It is a grave taboo in funerals for the coffin to be placed down before reaching the cemetery. According to longstanding funeral customs, once the coffin is lifted, it can only be placed down once; it is absolutely forbidden to set the coffin down midway, as this could lead to serious consequences

My heart jolted violently, and I inexplicably turned to look at Ma Jialiang. What I fear the most hearing now are the words 'an incident'.

My scalp exploded, and before I could react, the coffin tilted, sending both the coffin and the person crashing into the river with me.

Delivering the Buddha to the West, I will guide you to your burial, which is yet another act of merit. If it is indeed as the Yellow Emperor said, that I have been marked by something from the village, and that something is the vengeful spirit of Hong Qingsheng's wife, then it should let me off the hook.

I nodded slightly, unable to say anything. Since he had the ability to make Hong Qingsheng's wife close her eyes, it would be wise to listen to him.

Without saying a word, I inserted the white banner into the ground and rushed over, placing it on the left side of the coffin. Ma Jialiang, along with two young men from the Chen family and several other men behind them, also pushed forward together.

Before I could speak, Ma Yongde said, "This was personally instructed by Boss Pi, so please be more accommodating. Jialiang will go along as well"

Although Chen Jiutong does not perform rituals and the role of a coffin bearer is merely a labor-intensive job, these individuals have carried many coffins and thus possess a wealth of experience and knowledge

I wanted to ask again, but I was interrupted by Chen Jiutong, who spoke in a rather serious tone: "Xiaochun, Jialiang, you two keep an eye on the road, and do not chatter aimlessly"

I dared not speak, looking ahead on the road, but just a few steps later, I heard a scream from behind: "Be careful!"

"I returned it. On my way to the hospital, I ran into him. He took the car away, and then I went to the hospital and found you. You took me back to the village, and not a word was spoken between us the entire way," said Ma Jialiang.

Everyone let out a sigh of relief, but before they could catch their breath, the candle suddenly extinguished with a soft "puff," turning into a wisp of blue smoke that floated upward

This coffin is not right

While we were talking, the village chief, Ma Yongde, approached me and said: "Xiaochun, when we carry the coffin into the mountain later, you will lead the procession."

Almost

Hong Village is located deep in the mountains, where there are not many other resources, but the timber resources are quite good. There is also a state-owned forest farm in the county. This person has a timber warehouse in our village and occasionally seeks help from villagers to cut down or transport timber, which is also a good opportunity for villagers to earn extra income during their farming off-season

Suddenly became heavy

I find it somewhat strange that although this leather-clad man has many interactions with the village, he has never shown even the slightest bit of warmth or kindness towards the villagers. Why is it that he not only took charge of the Hong family's affairs but also personally delivered the coffin

Secondly, I harbor a sense of defiance against fate; no matter what, I have never offended the Hong family. I exerted all my efforts to save their child, which also completely antagonized Gao Mingchang

What should we do? Many people's faces have turned pale

This is the ghost pressing the coffin! There are terrified screams from the Eight Immortals

In conclusion, for various reasons, I still went on this trip

Such a strange occurrence left those present feeling both anxious and fearful

Confirm? I have confirmed once again

Regardless of the circumstances, Hong Qingsheng's wife has closed her eyes, which is a good thing. Finally, there is no need to seek the Wong Tai Sin anymore. Once the burial is completed, perhaps all these chaotic matters will come to an end

... ...

"Oh, no, it's nothing. I haven't been resting well these days." I shook my head, unwilling to discuss this matter with Ma Jialiang. Firstly, if he were the one lying, it would be unwise to expose him at this moment. If he wasn't lying, I feared that even if I spoke up, he wouldn't believe me.

I quickened my pace, and the entire funeral procession behind me immediately accelerated to nearly double its speed. Those eight immortals were indeed skilled in their trade, traversing the undulating mountain path as if it were flat ground, without falling behind in the slightest

Just thinking about this makes my legs feel weak

Then ...? ... Who is the Huang Daxian that jumped down from the top of my car in the hospital

Hong Qingsheng's wife nailed the coffin at exactly 10 o'clock, using coffin nails that were as thick as a thumb. According to Ma Jialiang, they were brought by the leather-clad guests. Additionally, the coffin was bound with three horizontal and two vertical black lines, the purpose of which is unknown, as such practices have not been seen in previous funerals.

I shot him a glare and quietly said to him, "What did you just say, that you don't need help?"

He seemed to sense something, and turned his head to look at me. Our eyes met, and instinctively, I turned my head away. I don't know why, but his gaze made me feel a vague sense of emptiness, much like the feeling of being caught by the teacher while copying homework in school

Thinking of the car, I was reminded of the lady's motorcycle belonging to the Wong Tai Sin, so I asked: "Have you returned that motorcycle to Wong Tai Sin?"

What the hell is going on here

"By the way, Hong Qingsheng's wife was buried at noon," Ma Jialiang said to me

On the right side of the coffin are still four immortals, carrying it with ease, while on the left side, about ten people struggle to balance it!

You said nothing? I only felt a tingling sensation on my scalp. Ma Jialiang said nothing, so who was it that just spoke those words?

The coffin will be carried out at 11 o'clock sharp, lifted by the Eight Immortals, while Ma Jialiang and I, along with two young men from the Chen family, will walk at the front holding white banners

I was surprised, as according to the local funeral customs, the deceased is not embalmed until the second day after death, and after embalming, the coffin must be kept for three days before burial

Hong Qingsheng's wife just closed her eyes this morning, which means today is officially the day of her burial. The previous ceremony conducted by the Wong Tai Sin does not count, as her eyes were not closed.

Oh right, let me tell you, Hong Qingsheng's wife has closed her eyes, and this time, everything is finally fine. At this moment, Ma Jialiang smiled at me, looking completely relaxed; he was also quite frightened by what happened that day.

Hold on!

How can it be so heavy

His statement left me even more confused; according to Ma Jialiang, that Huang Daxian never even went to the hospital

Ma Jialiang looked innocent and shook his head, saying, "I really didn't say anything just now"

At that moment, the man in the leather jacket rushed up from behind, and he poured a bowl of half-cooked rice onto the ground, kneeling down to bow three times. He then inserted three unlit incense sticks beside the rice and said:

The Eight Immortals were in a state of chaos, and the coffin swayed unsteadily, seemingly on the verge of tilting to the ground.

It has never been the custom in Hong Village to bury someone immediately after the embalming process

I pondered for a moment and couldn't help but shake my head; the strange events I have experienced during this period have made me increasingly suspicious and paranoid

The leather-clad man's hand also shook violently.

The coffin is becoming increasingly tilted, and it seems it is about to fall into the river

At that moment, Ma Jialiang's voice suddenly came softly from behind me: "Something will happen later, do not go to help."

Strangely, this person occasionally appears in the village, always dressed in leather. No one knows his name, and many villagers refer to him as the Leather Boss, or more fashionably, the Leather Guest

Due to the fact that Hong Qingsheng's family has no relatives, and both Hong Qingsheng and Hong Xiaoyun are in a state of mental instability, the funeral procession appears somewhat sparse, consisting of only about twenty to thirty people in total. The leather-clad man also arrived, walking at the back of the procession, with a cold and expressionless face

After Ma Yongde finished speaking, he turned and left. I opened my mouth but ultimately did not manage to utter the words of refusal. Firstly, I truly did not know how to refuse; the events I had encountered in recent days were so bizarre, even absurd, that no one would believe them if I were to speak of them.

"What is it?" Ma Jialiang said with a puzzled expression, "What happened?"

... ...

It is astonishing that the force coming from the shoulders is still increasing, while the strain underfoot is becoming more intense, and it seems we are on the verge of being unable to bear it any longer

Stay steady

I?'' Ma Jialiang was baffled, saying: ``I... I didn't say anything at all.''

Ma Jialiang has never been good at lying since he was young, and his demeanor just now did not seem like that of someone who was lying

I never expected that this leather-clad stranger, who had intersected with the village for many years yet remained unfamiliar, would be proficient in handling funerary matters, resolving issues that even the renowned deity could not manage.

I shivered and turned back to look again, only to see that the coffin was tilted, and the person on the left among the Eight Immortals was actually half-kneeling on the ground

"Chun Ge, are you alright?" Ma Jialiang asked me when he noticed my unusual expression

Just now, there were two of me, and now there are two Huang Daxian again

To all the mountain deities and dragon kings, today as the new souls traverse this sacred land, I have not yet sought permission to pass through, and I have inadvertently caused offense. A bowl of five grains is offered as a token of respect. Afterward, I will certainly present three sacrificial animals as a tribute. I kindly ask for your leniency

Fortunately

As we walked along, we arrived at the stretch of road by the water. On the right side, there is a mountain, and on the left, a river. The drop between the road and the river is several meters, and the road itself is not very wide, just enough for the Eight Immortals to carry a coffin through. If they are not careful, the four Immortals on the left side could easily be pushed into the surging river.

Chen Jiutong is also from Hong Village, making a living by crafting coffins and assisting in carrying them. The coffin of Hong Qingsheng's wife was made by him, as he is a skilled artisan

"Hold it up, we must not let the coffin touch the ground!" Chen Jiutong's expression changed dramatically

I followed the direction he pointed and indeed found a middle-aged man in a leather jacket, with a square face, looking rather stern. At that moment, he was seated in the guest of honor position, accompanied by the village head Ma Yongde and several elders from the village

"Over there, the one in the leather jacket, he is the timber boss from our village. He recited a passage from some scripture, and then with a wave of his hand, Hong Qingsheng's wife closed her eyes. He is much more reliable than the Huang Daxian. " Ma Jialiang said, and then, in anger, added: "I think Huang Daxian is just a fraud, incompetent, causing our villagers to be anxious and unsettled."

Just as we were about to reach the section of the cliff road that was close to the water, an unexpected event occurred

"No, Old Jiu, the coffin has become heavier," one of the Eight Immortals said.

Damn! I cursed under my breath, feeling that my mind had become somewhat dark, even starting to doubt my childhood friend with whom I grew up.

Upon reaching this point, the team had no choice but to slow down once again

Quickly think of a solution

The white banner is raised to guide the souls of the deceased, walking in front of the coffin. An old saying goes: when the white banner is raised, the living must make way.

Ghost Blows Out the Light

Everyone exerted their strength together, yet a strange thing occurred; no matter how hard we tried, the coffin remained unbalanced, still tilted as if a mountain were pressing down upon it

If you want to find an enemy, go look for Gao Mingchang

Hong Qingsheng's wife's grave is located on the back mountain, about three to four li away from the village along a mountain path. There is a section of the road that must pass through a precarious path along the water, which is not easy to traverse. The preceding part is quite smooth, and the Eight Immortals are composed of several specialized households from different villages, also known as coffin bearers. Their physical strength is unquestionable, and their experience is quite seasoned.

... ...

Is he purely acting out of kindness, or is there some other reason behind it

"Alright, Uncle Jiu." I nodded, observing his serious expression, and my heart sank.

Chen Jiutong's face suddenly lost all color

Does that not imply that there are ghosts on the coffin lid resting on our shoulders

This matter is quite peculiar, and most people are reluctant to engage in it

What does the leather jacket wearer want me to do

"Get up!" Chen Jiutong said in a low voice.

Call!

"Hurry, come over and help, lift from the left!" Chen Jiutong, drenched in sweat, urgently called for someone to assist.