Chapter 2 Midnight Terror
Midnightmare
Qingshui Bay Town, named after a clear spring on the top of Fengling Mountain, which gathers at the foot of the mountain to form a small pond of less than one mu. The water in the pond turns into a small stream, winding and crystal-clear, dividing the town into two parts. On the north bank of the stream lives the Wang family, and on the south bank lives the Ye family. The two families intermarry and live in harmony, with great joy. They elect leaders, form a civilian team, and recruit talented people. With a population of only 500-600 people, the town is managed in an orderly and harmonious manner, prospering together.
Yun Xiangtian walked along the winding riverbank, on the north shore of the creek. Ahead was a small bridge made of stone slabs, spanning the creek and connecting the two banks. Next to the bridge was a huge boulder, where someone lay sprawled out, with a messy head and dirty clothes. The person's head rested on a package that had lost its color, fast asleep. Yun Xiangtian knew it was Ye Zichun. But he didn't disturb him, instead leaning against the railing of the bridge to gaze at Fengling Mountain behind the water pool. He glanced at Ye Zichun with his peripheral vision. Ye Zichun looked like he was in his mid-twenties, and despite being covered in dirt and sleeping soundly, he still couldn't hide his extraordinary demeanor and handsome appearance. Yun Xiangtian thought to himself: What could be so frightening in the mountain stronghold that it would turn him into this state? How many ghosts, how many unknown secrets? And what lay hidden behind those secrets?
"Uncle, are you watching that madman?" A chubby thirteen or fourteen year old boy asked in a low voice standing beside Yun Xiang Tian.
Yun Xiangtian pretended to be surprised, pointing at Ye Zichun and said loudly: "Crazy? Is he crazy?" Ye Zichun suddenly sat up, turned his head to look at Yun Xiangtian, with a flash of sinister energy in his eyes, but it disappeared instantly, becoming dull and lifeless. Yun Xiangtian's heart skipped a beat, but he smiled playfully and said: "Is he really crazy?"
Ye Zi Chun looked at Yun Xiang Tian with a silly smile and said, "You're the crazy one, you two are both idiots." Suddenly stopping her words, she lifted her head to gaze at the sky, then jumped down from the stone and picked up her bundle, heading in the direction of the water pool. As she walked, she laughed maniacally and muttered to herself, "Hei Wu Chang used iron chains to tie up the stone and hang it on the gate of the village. The ghost grabbed Hu Zi's foot and threw him off the cliff."
Yun Xiang Tian looked at the little boy with a particularly curious expression; "What is he talking about? He's saying all sorts of nonsense, ghosts and unpredictable things. It's scary. Doesn't his family take care of him?"
The boy mysteriously beckoned him to lean down and said, "He, two years ago, he took me, Hu Zi Ge and Shi Tou Ge to the Ghost Village to catch ghosts. As a result, Hu Zi Ge and Shi Tou Ge disappeared, and he became like this. In the two or three years before he went to the Ghost Village, his whole family moved to the provincial city. His father looked for him later, saw that he had become what he is now, and never took care of him again. Uncle, have you been to the Ghost Village? What brings you here?"
Who told him to come? Is he causing suspicion among the people here? Yun Xiang Tian thought to himself. A surprised smile appeared on his face; "Ghost village? I'm just a mountain goods collector, what would I do there? Are there ghosts there?" As he spoke, he reached out to touch the little boy's head. The little boy dodged and said; "You're a mountain goods collector? Doesn't seem like it. People who collect mountain goods always bring their own things to exchange, where are your things?" He didn't even look back as he hopped away.
Yun Xiangtian knew he had made an irreparable mistake. He understood why the people here ignored him. The old man from Wangjiapo didn't even ask what business he was in. He decided to make the best of a bad situation. After many twists and turns, he finally moved into the home of a mountain villager.
The villager's surname was Wang, and his name was Shan Gen. He looked simple and honest, over 40 years old. Yun Xiang Tian explained the purpose of his visit. Wang Shan Gen said: "We don't accept goods in exchange for money, our mountain products are not good to collect. The people here like new and strange things from outside the big mountains, but they don't like paper money, it's not secure." After Yun Xiang Tian's repeated requests, Wang Shan Gen agreed to help him use silver coins instead of paper bills to purchase mountain goods. However, the mountain people only recognized bartering and did not recognize silver coins. Yun Xiang Tian's hanging heart finally put down, he originally didn't have many silver coins on him. He was just using the excuse of collecting mountain goods to secretly investigate the mountain stronghold. After several days of investigation, the various strange events in the mountain stronghold made him feel like he was walking in clouds and fog, unable to clear his head. Especially one piece of news made his heart tighten: "The mountain stronghold has countless treasures hidden within." Although it was just a single sentence that was interrupted by family members, Yun Xiang Tian's heart still skipped a beat. But on his face, he maintained an expression of indifference and nonchalance.
The night wind was gentle, and the crickets were chirping. Cloud Sky, who was sleeping, was startled awake by a nightmare. He had dreamed that he was drinking with Yezi Chun, and they were chatting and laughing together, and Yezi Chun was answering his various questions. But suddenly, Yezi Chun transformed into a fierce ghost, stretching out his bloody hands to pounce on him. Cloud Sky sat up, deeply perplexed by this strange dream, which was the third time he had basically the same dream, only this time it was clearer and more realistic. He thought that maybe it was because after seeing Yezi Chun, he always wanted to know something from him, as the saying goes, "what one thinks about during the day, one dreams about at night".
A sudden knock on the door was accompanied by the wailing of neighbor Wang's wife. Yun Xiang Tian and Wang Shan Gen hastily opened the door to see Wang's wife standing outside with her hair disheveled, crying out: "Big brother, my child's father has been possessed by a ghost!"
Wang Dazhuang was curled up in the corner of the bed, his face covered in blood and sweat, his whole body trembling violently, his teeth chattering loudly. He had his legs tucked under him, his arms crossed over his chest, and his left middle finger still dripping with blood, staining the bedding red.
Under everyone's inquiry, Wang Dazhuang looked at the ghost village he had just escaped from with a face full of fear, the Wang family's big village.
In the town of Qing Shui Wan, nestled in the mountains, many villagers make a living by hunting and gathering herbs. Not only have they developed strong physiques, but also a bold character. Wang Da Zhuang is one of the best among them, often climbing rocks and crossing ridges, and spending nights on desolate mountains. He has never believed in the rumors that the old Wang family mansion is haunted. He even boasted that he would catch a ghost from the haunted mansion to bring back home to play with.
Yesterday afternoon, Wang Dazhuang rushed into the vicinity of the King's Village to chase a yellow sheep. However, when he arrived near the King's Village, the yellow sheep had disappeared. At that time, the sky was already dark, and the sun was setting in the west. Relying on his many years of hunting experience, he knew that the yellow sheep was nearby. With his excellent martial arts skills and bravery, he decided to ambush the yellow sheep at the King's Village for a night.
The cool moonlight poured over the Fengling Mountain, illuminating the Wang family's large stockade. The gentle breeze rustled through the trees, casting eerie shadows that seemed like guarding spirits, making the Wang family's stockade even more mysterious and strange. Wang Dazhuang, who was hiding in the grass, moved his body slightly. He gripped his hunting rifle tightly, closely watching everything around him, perhaps the prey would appear at any moment, he didn't dare to be careless.
A faint sigh of a woman came from the village, followed by a sad mountain song. The general meaning of the song is: A woman's husband left home for several years, and in the absence of any news, she faced the desolate wilderness, expressing her sorrow and longing, nostalgia and resentment.
That haunting melody, Wang Dazhuang had heard it several times before, and as a young man, he was also moved by it. But this time, in this place, listening to it again, even though he considered himself brave and skilled in martial arts, it made him feel chills run down his spine. He raised his hand and fired a shot at the mountain stronghold, and the singing stopped abruptly. Everything fell silent. The calm was short-lived, as two figures, one black and one white, floated down from the wall of the stronghold and walked towards him. They were definitely human, not ghosts. Ghosts moved with a hopping motion, while humans walked. Thinking this, he stood up, holding his hunting rifle, which still hadn't been reloaded. He pointed the gun at the two figures and growled, "Who are you? Stop right there, or I'll shoot!" His roar had no effect. The black and white figures quickly rushed towards him. Closer, closer they came. In the bright moonlight, he saw clearly that it was Hu Zi and Shi Tou. Hu Zi wore a black outfit and a tall hat like the one worn by the legendary You Xian, holding a book-like object in his hand. Shi Tou's attire was similar to Wang Dazhuang's, except for the white color of his clothes and hat. He held a long iron chain in his hand. Both had pale faces with bloodstains, their tongues hanging down to their chests, making eerie sounds that seemed to come from hell; "Good will be rewarded, evil will be punished, it's just that the time hasn't arrived yet, but now is not early, follow me." Terror made Wang Dazhuang almost lose his will, and he was about to stretch out his hands for Shi Tou to bind him. Just as they were about to get close, a goat's bleat suddenly woke him up. He picked up his rifle and swung it at Hu Zi and Shi Tou. As they paused, Wang Dazhuang bit open the middle finger of his left hand, splashing blood forward, turned around, and ran down the mountain. Behind him, he heard the sound of iron chains clashing against rocks, and even smelled the stench of death and decay, feeling the tongue covered in blood licking the back of his head. He didn't dare look back, waving his left hand behind him, splashing blood everywhere, desperately running towards home. Forgetting fatigue, forgetting pain. Until he curled up in a ball at the corner of his bed, unable to shake off the fear that entwined him, with a pale face and helpless eyes, looking around for help. A moment later, he seemed panicked and disoriented, shrinking into the corner of the bed, pressing himself against the wall as if something was about to grab him.
Yun Xiang Tian and Wang Da Zhuang sat opposite each other at the table, silent. The whole night was entangled with Wang Da Zhuang's panic and fear, they were already exhausted. Let the dead silence swallow everything. "That...Tiger and Stone." Yun Xiang Tian tried to break through the silence; "Aren't Tiger and Stone already dead? How can they appear in the mountain stronghold?"
Wang Shan Gen stared with eyes full of bloodshot, saying word by word: "That is a ghost! It has become a black and white ghost without constant! The ghost that guards the Wang family's big stronghold!" His face showed an extremely yearning expression, suddenly changing to a ferocious, terrifying, evil, and eerie one; "That is ours, the Wang family's. Only people with the surname Wang can guard it!" Wang Shan Gen's face had already distorted, his teeth chattering with a clicking sound.
Yun Xiang Tian couldn't understand the excitement and hidden meaning in Wang Shan Gen's words, how many unknown stories were there in the Wang family's big house. It had been three days, he should do something. He had an impulse to take action tonight, to uncover the mysterious and eerie veil of the ghostly village, to solve the many doubts that had been entwining his mind. He thought it was time to act. He lay in bed, listening to the sound of the mountain wind blowing through the trees, the sound was like a mournful sigh, heart-wrenching. Like an evil spirit wailing, taking away people's souls, the clear moonlight cast tree shadows on the window, the swaying tree shadows danced in the wind, like ghosts with sharp teeth and claws, ready to tear apart the window, snatch away souls, take lives. Yun Xiang Tian pulled up his quilt, put his hands and feet into the bed, even wanted to hide his head under the quilt. The things he had heard and seen over the past few days seemed to have made him less brave. He smiled wryly at himself. A soft rustling sound, a faint fragrance, Yun Xiang Tian felt like he was drunk, but also exceptionally clear-headed. He saw a figure floating in from the skylight on the roof, it was a monk, with a shiny bald head, the scars of his tonsure still visible, wearing a yellow robe, holding a Zen staff, walking slowly towards Yun Xiang Tian step by step. Yun Xiang Tian wanted to get up, but found himself unable to move like a sheep waiting to be slaughtered. The monk walked in front of Yun Xiang Tian, put down the Zen staff, revealed an evil smile on his face, yet with hands clasped together, piously and softly chanting; "Amitabha, good, good, the world is full of disasters. Master, follow old monk to the Western Paradise." He lifted up Yun Xiang Tian's quilt, pulled him up, then gently put him back down, took the jade pendant hanging from his neck and examined it carefully for half a day. Then he covered Yun Xiang Tian with the quilt again, retreated two steps, bowed respectfully, and disappeared into thin air with a wisp of smoke. It was as if he had come without a shadow and left without a trace, Yun Xiang Tian woke up from his dream-like state, suddenly sat up, reached out to take the jade pendant hanging on his chest, and fell into endless reverie along with the faintly disappearing fragrance. A soft knocking sound awakened Yun Xiang Tian from his deep thoughts, he walked to the window and looked outside. When he saw the person whispering to Wang Shan Gen, he was shocked, then quickly got dressed and slipped out of the back window.
