Chapter 9: The Paper Money Town Ghost

Moreover, it is not just me; everyone has sensed this difference. Some of the more timid individuals have already involuntarily wrapped themselves tighter in their blankets

The outcome was entirely expected; not a single person was able to make it out. After entering the mountains, each individual took a long detour and returned.

These individuals appeared pale and expressionless, their gazes vacant, as they gathered outside the ancestral hall without uttering a word, simply staring intently at the people inside the hall

I turned my head and was instantly startled by that scene

The meeting place is the ancestral hall. Logically speaking, the ancestral hall enshrines the ancestors, which should provide a sense of security. However, when I arrived, I found the hall to be cold and gloomy, and the expressions of the villagers were somewhat strange and numb.

That is my father, why is he at the door

I endured until nightfall, and when night arrived, the last glimmer of light disappeared from the horizon

Upon hearing what the third uncle said, the villagers, who had been in a daze, seemed to have found their anchor, and one by one, they returned home to fetch their bedding

Everyone held a meeting, but in the end, it seemed that it was of no help, and no one was able to resolve this predicament

And the last thing is that last night, all the dogs kept by everyone at home inexplicably died

As one person jumped in, soon countless others followed, and the courtyard quickly became crowded with people

This thought and image inexplicably surged in my mind, but at this moment, even if I were to express it, it would be of no use

At that moment, I noticed that something seemed to have walked in from outside the ancestral hall

For example, why did Lin Wanwan want to kill those dogs

Please go out

I don't know if it's just my illusion, but I always feel a chilling wind blowing through the entire ancestral hall, with an indescribable scent rising within it.

This is also a common sentiment; everyone knows that there are foul entities causing trouble in the village at this time, so who would dare to return home

However, everyone truly feels helpless; all conceivable methods have already been exhausted. At this point, it seems that there is no other option but to wait for death.

In other words, if I had gone out at that time, I might have run into Lin Wanwan

Everyone was wrapped in their blankets, watching the large crowd outside, shivering and completely unaware of what would happen next

By the time it was discovered, all the dogs in the house had been torn to shreds, appearing as if they had been violently ripped apart by human hands. Blood was splattered everywhere, and the scene was extremely tragic.

The villagers were terrified by this scene, with some of the more timid ones even kneeling on the ground and repeatedly bowing their heads.

But once those joss papers are burned, they immediately begin to stir restlessly again

Seeing that the person is still jumping forward, they are about to jump into the ancestral hall.

At this moment, everyone is filled with fear in their hearts

However, although the meeting and the book club did not resolve the issue, everyone was still reluctant to leave, remaining gathered in the ancestral hall. They did not speak, merely looking at one another, as if this was the only way to feel secure

What do they intend to do

The people standing outside have all been identified, without exception, and they are all individuals who have already passed away

Su Bansian

Everyone was terrified beyond measure

Everyone is well aware that if this continues, the probability of survival for all will decrease increasingly. Now the water is no longer usable, and the village's water source is limited. Even if Lin Wanwan does not come out to harm everyone, they will all starve to death.

Hearing this, I inexplicably recalled the sound of barking dogs I heard last night

Then, I saw a person jump up, leap over the threshold of the ancestral hall, and land in the courtyard of the ancestral hall

Because everyone knows the true identities of these people outside, they are malevolent spirits

Upon hearing this, someone immediately ran to rummage through boxes and cabinets in search of paper money

At this moment, the villagers inside the ancestral hall also noticed the unusual happenings outside, each of them widening their eyes in surprise

Is it possible that, in fact, dogs are able to see through Lin Wanwan's true nature?

This discovery sent chills down my spine

That means everyone had the same dream last night

Brother Ming

Indeed, there is such a saying in our area, for example, that black dog blood can ward off evil spirits, and that dogs can see things that humans cannot.

The people who were previously bouncing in from outside suddenly all came to a halt, their fierce expressions calming down.

Do not come in anymore, I am afraid

Isn't she dead

The originally numb expressions have now transformed into an incredibly grimace of pain, as if something is tormenting them.

Mom, I know I have not treated you well, and I realize my mistakes now. Please do not come over anymore

Firstly, I am young and have little say; even if I speak, it may not be taken to heart by others

By twelve o'clock, everyone inexplicably fell asleep

Because everyone gathered together, the distribution of supplies became much more convenient, and everyone started to share a communal meal.

Uncle Wu

Upon careful consideration, it is likely that it was during that time that all the dogs in the village met with a tragic fate.

But at a certain moment, the barking of the dog suddenly ceased, and it was then that I fell asleep

Based on the timeline, the barking of the dog should have occurred while Lin Wanwan was manipulating everyone into dreaming

This has always been a place for ancestor worship, so there is naturally no shortage of joss paper, and soon a large pile was found

Outside the ancestral hall, a large crowd had gathered at an unknown time, mostly consisting of elderly individuals, interspersed with some young people and a few individuals with disabilities.

If we left the village yesterday with the dog, can the dog lead us to the correct path of the map?

I soon understood why the villagers acted this way. After dispersing yesterday, there were still quite a few who refused to believe in the supernatural, thinking they had taken the wrong path, and chose to venture out alone.

The restless spirits, having caught the scent of the incense from the joss paper, gradually calmed down.

Then I heard my third uncle openly say, "This is not a solution. How about this: everyone should move their bedding here, take a nap in the ancestral hall during the day to regain some energy, and at night, we will supervise each other. We must not fall asleep again."

After waiting for nearly an hour, the expressionless people outside seemed to have been stimulated by something

Everyone has also started to gradually ignite

Moreover, the dog is already dead; what use is there in saying these things?

Only after I memorized the number did my parents take me out. This was a rule established yesterday, where the villagers gather for a meeting every day.

Currently, resources are limited, and every effort is made to save. Apart from a few children who can eat their fill, others can only manage to be somewhat satisfied. However, at this time, no one expresses any complaints

In addition to some villagers' disbelief in the supernatural, there was another matter that equally instilled fear and dread in everyone

The crowd is densely packed, making it impossible to discern exactly how many people there are

At that time, it seemed to be just when everyone was dreaming, while I was unable to sleep due to the barking of dogs.

Seeing the villagers and the state of the library, Uncle San could only let out a sigh

Strangely enough, after it caught fire, the smoke that surged forth actually flowed outward, then split into countless small streams that were drawn away by the crowd outside

Everyone became flustered, and in an instant, the already overcrowded ancestral hall turned into a chaotic scene

Soon, someone noticed this and shouted, "Burning joss paper is useful, everyone quickly look for it, bring all the joss paper from the ancestral hall!"

However, why are all the spirits gathering outside

Many people, like my parents, are afraid of having that strange dream and try to stay awake at night

"Damn it, I have a worthless life. If you want to kill me, just go ahead and do it. Why harm my ancestors!" Someone shouted angrily, but it was evident that he was merely putting on a brave front; his voice was trembling.

For no apparent reason, I felt a chill in my heart, as if a wave of coolness was rising from the depths of my being

It is better to gather together, at least one can seek a sense of peace.

I was startled by this sudden scene, and the most crucial part was that I actually saw Su Banjian among the crowd

But only I have thought of something deeper.

Even the expression seemed somewhat indulgent

Soon, the villagers returned to the ancestral hall in small groups.

In a state of panic, a person grabbed some joss paper placed nearby, lit it, and while burning the joss paper, shouted, "I am burning joss paper for you, please do not come in anymore!"