Chapter 16: A Contest with Wu Lele

  I shouted loudly several times, but there was no response from Wu Lele. I muttered in annoyance: "What is this girl doing? Has she gone home?" Zhong Ling'er said that Wu Lele might have entered the cave.

  "Why didn't we see her when we came out from inside?"

  "Didn't you say there were two paths in the stone room?" she said. "Maybe she went down the other one."

  If that's the case, then she might be in danger, and there may still be venomous snakes inside. I told Zhong Ling'er to wait at the entrance for a while, and I went in to take a look. Zhong Ling'er also wanted to go in, so I told her to guard the entrance. Just in case Wu Lele hadn't entered the cave or had gone to play in the woods, when she came back, someone would have to tell her to stay here and not run around again.

  I walked into the cave with a flashlight, worried and irritable. As I approached the stone chamber, I suddenly heard footsteps coming from inside, although they were very light. To be on guard against black snakes, I remained vigilant and stopped immediately, turning off my flashlight as well.

  The surroundings suddenly turned dark.

  Gradually, the footsteps got closer, I stuck to the stone wall, my heart was jumping violently, and with great difficulty, I swallowed a mouthful of saliva. Suddenly, I turned on the flashlight, strangely, there was nothing in front of me!

  How is this possible? Judging from the footsteps just now, the other party was only two meters away from me.

  I cautiously took two steps forward and entered the stone room, shining a light into the pile of rocks, but still didn't find anything. I asked in a low voice: "Who?"

  No one replied to me.

  Could it be that this time it's really a ghost? The footsteps just now were clearly made by a person, not the yellow-skinned ones. Could it be those three dead bodies from earlier... I'm getting more and more scared, my back is sweating profusely, my scalp is tingling all over, suddenly, a faint sound came from behind me, I quickly turned around, and in front of me appeared a person!

  "Ah!" I exclaimed, my heart almost jumped out of my chest.

  "Heh heh." The other party let out a giggle.

  I took a closer look, and oh my god, it was actually Wu Lele! It's really frightening to the death. I asked in great discontent: "What are you doing here?" Wu Lele saw that she had scared me enough and smiled with schadenfreude: "I haven't seen you guys come out for a long time, so I'm worried about you, therefore I came in to take a look."

  "Alright, let's get out of here." I couldn't wait any longer to leave this dark and eerie place, hastily making my way towards the exit.

  After coming out of the cave, we went home directly.

  A distant barking of dogs came from the village, almost all the dogs in the village were barking, their voices rising and falling, as if doomsday had arrived, making people feel extremely uncomfortable. I was puzzled, what's wrong with these dogs today? Could it be that the devils have entered the village?

  We first went to Dahei's home, and Dahei's mother heard us say that Dahei's soul was not in the cave, so she cried again with sorrow. I couldn't bear it, comforted her a few words and left.

  After I got home, I asked my mother what was going on in the village and why all the dogs were barking. My mother said she didn't know either, saying that it was Qin Uncle's hunting dog that started barking first, as if it had sounded a rallying cry, and then all the other dogs joined in, like they were shouting slogans or something. I asked if maybe Qin Uncle's dog had gone mad or something? My mother said that Qin Uncle's cow was missing, which left me puzzled - what did Qin Uncle's missing cow have to do with the dogs?

  Zhong Ling'er said she had to go back, my mother and I were busy persuading her to stay for dinner and spend the night at our place because it was already dark. Zhong Ling'er insisted on going back, very determined, so I could only offer to send her back by motorcycle. Wu Lele immediately said she also wanted to go back and asked me to take her first. This put me in a difficult position, my mother gave Wu Lele a look, and Wu Lele immediately changed her mind saying she wasn't in a hurry and told me to take Zhong Ling'er first. I was baffled by how a single glance could change someone's mind, this glance was too powerful.

  On the way back with Zhong Ling'er, Zhong Ling'er didn't say a word. Sitting in the same car as her, I felt very romantic, but unfortunately there were fewer words between us.

  After arriving at her home, I asked if there was any way to help find Da Hei's soul. Zhong Ling'er said she would make a phone call and ask her mother tonight.

  On the way home, I thought of that old man who had passed away after I gave him a ride. I always felt like there was someone sitting behind me, and my back kept feeling cool and breezy.

  As I approached home, I saw a person standing in the middle of the road from afar, wearing red clothes and holding a red umbrella. My heart sank suddenly - it was that red-clothed female ghost! How did she come to my doorstep again? Because there's no yin-yang knife, Father couldn't cure her illness, now that Father is gone, she came but nobody can help her anymore. I remembered Father's words, don't stare at strange objects, so I pretended not to see her and accelerated the car, passing directly by her side.

  I sped off for over ten meters, then glanced in the rearview mirror. What I saw made me almost fall off the motorcycle - that red-clad female ghost was floating after me! Moreover, her eyes were gleaming with malice and she was catching up fast. Luckily, I arrived home quickly, and as soon as I stopped the motorcycle, I jumped off and ran towards the house. Just as I reached the door, someone walked out from inside and almost collided with me. The other person fell to the ground due to my sudden impact, but fortunately, I was quick-witted and managed to grab hold of her in time.

  It turned out to be Wu Lele.

  My mother scolded me a few words, Wu Lele said it's okay, then asked me what's wrong, why I was in such a hurry. I looked back and saw the female ghost standing about 10 meters away from my house, although she looked gloomy, but didn't follow me again. Wu Lele looked in that direction and asked: "What are you looking at?" I said nothing, then slammed the door shut.

  My mother had already prepared dinner and asked me to take the bowl and put it on the table. I went to the window and looked outside, only to find that the female ghost turned around and walked away slowly, and I felt relieved.

  Wu Lele eats very little.

  After dinner, my mother asked Wu Lele to stay at my place tonight, and Wu Lele agreed. My mother gave me a meaningful look, implying that I should take good care of Wu Lele, this "daughter-in-law". Since Wu Lele was willing to spend the night at my place, it's clear that she has feelings for me too. Thinking back to our wedding night, I had a wicked thought - would we be having another honeymoon tonight? As soon as I thought about it, my blood rushed to my heart and I got excited. However, I already have someone in mind, so this evil thought only flashed by.

  As soon as the big black was mentioned, his mother sighed and said that the big black child was really pitiful. When would he be able to find his soul back? Wu Lele suddenly said: "I can find his soul." I snorted and said, don't brag, you can't even find Zhong Ling'er, how can you find it? Wu Lele immediately shouted: "How can she compare with me?" When she said this, her chin was slightly raised, her hands were on her hips, and she looked extremely arrogant.

  I don't want to hear this, how can she not compare with you? Her mother is a goddess, what about your mother? Wu Lele gave me a white eye and said that it's not about comparing mothers now. I solemnly said: "Since you're so confident, go find Da Hei's soul."

  Wu Lele called out fearlessly: "Find it then, I want you to admit defeat!"

  Mother smiled beside him.

  I watched her with a playful gaze, asking how she planned to find him. Wu Lele asked me what the situation was with Da Hei, so I told her about what happened between Da Hei and Huang Pizi. After listening, Wu Lele said seriously: "Since Da Hei hanged himself on the mountain, his soul is naturally also on the mountain. Can't you just go to where he hanged himself to find him?"

  "Go?"

  "Go!"

  "Are you sure?"

  "Confirmed!"

  "Alright, since you're so sure, let's go find it now." I said as I went into the room to look for a flashlight. Wu Lele also stood up from the bench and said "Let's go, who's afraid of whom?" I found the flashlight and walked out, waving my hand at Wu Lele, "Let's go!"

  "Let's go." Wu Lele immediately followed up.

  My mother saw us coming and hurried to stop us, saying it was so late that we were going to the mountain for nothing, and there were yellow skin on the mountain, very evil... The implication is that after Wu Lele and I went up the mountain, we might also hang ourselves like Da Hei.

  Wu Lele stretched out his hand to correct my mother, saying that the yellow skin on the mountain does not mean that the mountain is evil. In fact, the yellow skin is the most lovely animal in the world. Then, disregarding my mother's opposition, he resolutely walked with me towards the back of the mountain.

  The mountain behind was very dark, with only one relatively wide road extending upwards, and since it was a mountain road, there were inevitably stones that could trip you up. I reminded Wu Lele to be careful, but Wu Lele ignored me, her feet moving swiftly as she walked quickly, seemingly even more anxious than me. It seemed like this girl was someone who loved to compete with others.

  As I approached the big black hanging place, I couldn't help but tense up, and subconsciously shone my flashlight in that direction. My eyes also naturally looked over there. When my gaze fell on it, my heart suddenly skipped a beat. Under that tree, two dark shadows appeared!