Chapter Nine, I Want to Live

At this moment, it is the time when the mantis curse is most painful

As soon as night fell, Uncle Hei carried me on his back, setting off from the county town. The destination this time was the Chahua Cave, a place I had heard about from my master. Chahua Cave is located to the southwest of Fenghuang County, where a road has been built, allowing for travel by vehicle. However, Uncle Hei chose a mountain path that led through Wulong Mountain to Chahua Cave, where a perilous narrow path clung to the steep mountain wall

"Will I die...?" I asked. This is the question I care about the most; if I die, my home will have been hit for nothing, and Zhe Bingrui will think I am just an ant that has run away

Ah, the insect... is burrowing in...

I feel that I have regained my strength

I gritted my teeth, sweat pouring down my entire body, feeling as if the mantis spell within me was about to consume me.

At first glance, I saw the dark-skinned uncle in the morning light, his face full of sorrow. Upon noticing that I had woken up, he wore an expression of deep concern.

The black uncle swept away the gloom in his heart, slowly stood up, and carried me on his back again. As we exited the hospital, I turned back to take a glance at the hospital, and only then did I see the two characters "Jiujiang," realizing that this place was Jiujiang

"It's my fault, it's my fault, I was careless," the black uncle muttered to himself as he walked.

The black uncle pondered for a moment and said aloud: "Indeed, how could I be so foolish? I must find a way to go to Xiangxi."

No, I cannot die; I want to live

The black uncle came here, unafraid of the pitch-black mountain road, and walked for three hours until ten o'clock in the evening. The temperature in the mountains grew colder, and halfway through, the black uncle took off his coat and draped it over me

The black uncle, seeing my expression, said: "Don't worry, tonight I will take you to find someone. You want to go to Chahua Cave, right? The person I am looking for is in Chahua Cave. Once you are healed, you can find your master."

The black uncle chuckled and said, "Rest assured, as long as you are alive, I will definitely take you to meet your master. I, Bai Yueming, guarantee this to you. If I fail to do so, I will die alongside you"

I felt a numbness in my arm, as if it had been bitten. I could see that half of the mantis had burrowed into my arm.

In five minutes, we arrived at the fat man's house

Soon, the sky darkened, and Fenghuang Ancient Town appeared exceptionally beautiful under a myriad of lights, with the Tuo River flowing through the ancient town, carrying away an endless solitude

The black uncle smiled awkwardly, reached out to pat my head, and said, "Xiao Guan, you are truly impressive; you actually managed to starve the bug to death"

Since the deceased has already died, there is no fear of retaliation. The orders given are exceptionally tenacious, and the mantis curse is deeply rooted within me, unable to be expelled.

As I passed through the silent village, although it was quiet, it felt unbearably oppressive, to the point that I even forgot the pain in my body, as if something had followed me in upon entering the village

"Enough nonsense, I just want you to save his life," the big black uncle asked somewhat unhappily. Since I could tell that the fat man was asking knowingly, the big black uncle naturally could tell as well.

As night fell, the poison in my body began to act up again, and it felt as if all the bones in my body were being gnawed at by insects. The most unbearable pain was in my heart, as if that mantis had bitten through my chest and was about to crawl out from within. The big black uncle was afraid that I would bite my own tongue, so he found a towel to put in my mouth.

"White Impermanence, what have you brought this child here for?" the fat man asked directly

The square jar I carried with me emitted a warning sound, and by the time I turned around, the leaping mantis-like creature had landed on my arm

On the same bus, there were five young travelers, carrying cameras and taking photos along the way, full of youthful vigor

I might be the same way, almost poisoned to death, and before I die, I do not want to become a starving ghost, which is why I have a particularly strong appetite

After walking for another hour, it will be twelve o'clock at night, and at this time, we will arrive at Chahua Dong in Xiangxi.

After leaving the hospital, I have been feeling increasingly weak and can no longer eat solid food, only managing to drink some plain water. When I lived with my master, it was not always possible to have a full meal, so enduring hunger was not a difficult thing for me.

The black uncle was greatly shocked, recalling what He Mowu had said, realizing that his greatest mistake was allowing me to be attacked by the mantis and the gu worm

"Insidious bugs, venomous people," the black uncle said through gritted teeth, as he supported me firmly.

"No... If it were another child, I could help you... but he... he cannot... it's not that I won't save him... it's that I can't save him..." The chubby boy was not intimidated by the black uncle, but rather rejected him.

After descending from the mountain, the black uncle took me to a hospital, where he asked a nurse for a small knife. He then hung a bottle of glucose to replenish energy. The black uncle took the knife himself and worked on it for half the night, sweating profusely in his anxiety, yet he still could not force out that detestable mantis gu worm

The black uncle said, "Don't worry, everything will be fine. I guarantee you can live." The black uncle picked me up and started to run back along the mountain path, racing all the way, feeling the wind blowing incessantly by my ears, cold against my body

I quickly stood up, started running, and with one misstep, I fell from a great height

The mantis gu struggles in its death throes, delivering a final blow infused with He Mo's last will. The mantis gu insect grows in darkness, possessing a strong survival instinct. In the final moments of its attack, even the formidable Black Uncle Bai Yueming cannot withstand it

The black uncle is a man of his word, and upon his saying this, my heart was set at ease. I closed my eyes and suddenly heard someone singing; five young people began to sing, it was a song of youth, a song of life

Xiao Guan, this poison insect was placed by He Mo before his death, and I cannot unravel it. Uncle Hei felt somewhat guilty

At that moment, I woke up

A night has passed, yet the mantis gu worm has still not been forced out

I looked far through the window, not knowing what the days ahead will be like

It seems that all the strength in my body has returned

My lips have turned pale, and it feels as though all the strength in my body has been drained away, as if I am on the verge of death

Along the way, several kind-hearted individuals saw me and couldn't help but say: "The child is about to die, isn't he?"

The entire process lasted less than two seconds, while the excruciating pain gradually spread. I opened my mouth and let out a scream, feeling as if the insect was rapidly burrowing inside me. My body swayed, and I was about to collapse to the ground

"Uncle Hei, you must have a way, I believe in you. Now that you have finished your business, let us go to Xiangxi," I said.

Upon arriving in Fenghuang County, after getting off the bus, it was already 5 PM. The temperature began to drop, but my spirits improved significantly. I insisted on walking on my own and no longer allowed the black uncle to carry me. When it was time to eat, I not only drank some water but also had two bowls of rice and a bowl of cured meat

As soon as I think of this, I lower my head

I cannot die, at least not this early

"I will take you into the village. You have come at an inopportune time, so you all must be cautious," the stout man said calmly. After finishing his words, he glanced at me and slightly shook his head.

I noticed something unusual about the black uncle, and it reminded me of some elderly people in the town who had been bedridden for many years and could not eat. However, one day, they surprisingly got out of bed to do housework and could even eat half a jin of meat. In fact, this phenomenon is what is known as a return of light before death.

The thought of being able to seek guidance from my master fills me with strength.

The big black uncle did not ask much and carried me on his back

I shook my head and said, "Uncle, it would be great if I could see my master just once before I die"

I laughed and said, "Uncle, I have strength now. Has that bug starved to death because of me?"

At four o'clock in the morning, I had already fainted from pain. In a daze, I dreamt of my master, who was limping ahead of me, walking very slowly. However, no matter how fast I ran, I could not catch up. As I chased, I felt very tired, with cold winds blowing on both sides, and several patterned venomous snakes coiled on the rocks, flicking their tongues at me.

The black uncle did not pay them any attention. After a ten-hour journey by car, we arrived in Huaihua, Hunan, and then took another vehicle to Fenghuang County.

About ten minutes later, a person emerged from the village, wearing a pair of cloth shoes and holding a flashlight. He approached silently, as if he were a ghost. When he came closer, I could see him clearly; he was a middle-aged man with a stout build. The combination of a stout man and a ghostly presence created an unusual and eerie impression.

The black uncle told me, Xiao Guan, you must hold on, when you grow up, you should also go to university like them and fall in love, do you understand

The creature known as the Gu worm, when raised to maturity, often becomes exceptionally ferocious, transforming into a being that is half ethereal and half corporeal. The mantis Gu entered my body, and what was once a dying struggle suddenly revived.

Now, I have lost my master, I have no home, and what is even more terrifying is that the insects within me could bite me to death at any moment. The idea of going to university is all a lie

The black uncle did not immediately enter the Miao village, but waited for a while at the village entrance and made a phone call. I observed that the expression on the black uncle's face was very serious, as if he was also uncertain about what would happen next

The old black man originally intended to use the black bug he caught to force out the mantis curse, but considering my young age, if both bugs entered my body, I would undoubtedly die

Upon hearing this news, I suddenly felt a bit flustered. However, seeing the expression on the face of the black uncle, I was still somewhat moved