Chapter 8: The Fierce Ghost Arrives

  After talking to Zhao Yuer about those things, I didn't have a bad impression of her. I really don't want to watch them go to their deaths with my own eyes.

  My second uncle let out a soft sigh, looked up at me and said faintly, "You've already persuaded them, haven't you?"

  I was taken aback.

  Zhao Yuner and the others' plan to go camping at Dog Head Slope Ghost Cave soon alarmed the old village chief. The old village chief came to our home, earnestly advising Zhao Yuner and the others not to go to the ghost cave, lest they invite disaster. As a result, Zhao Yuner and the others, with their high cultural level, launched into a long-winded speech about "there are no ghosts in the world, only psychological illusions; we all live in the 21st century, we should believe in science" and other materialistic views, which left the old village chief speechless.

  Finally, the old village chief could only sigh helplessly and leave our home.

  The old village chief couldn't persuade them, and neither could Erniang. When someone is determined to die, no one can stop them.

  The second daughter no longer tried to persuade them, but instead invited a few of them to stay for dinner. After some thought, they agreed. I knew this was the second daughter's delaying tactic, wanting to give them more time to think carefully, but I felt it was probably useless.

  After dinner, Zhao Yuer and others said they wanted to pay us money, but Erniang firmly refused. For people from our place, treating outsiders to a meal is just a trivial matter, who would be so utilitarian as to ask for money?

  The second daughter was determined not to accept, but they were equally determined to give. Both sides pushed back and forth, also speechless. In the end, Zhao Yu'er and the others still couldn't push past the second daughter, so they had no choice but to put the money away. But looking at their expressions, it was clear that they felt uneasy about eating a free meal. Sure enough, immediately after, they proposed giving us some small items they had brought with them. We naturally refused, but this time we couldn't push it away.

  The two sides fell silent again, and Second Uncle walked out quietly with a few talismans in hand. He glanced at us calmly and said to Second Aunt, "Take them back, consider it the talisman money they paid." As he spoke, he handed each of Zhao Yun'er's group a talisman, instructing them to carry it with them at all times and not lose it.

  When Er Shu said so, Er Niang had to accept the small things they gave her. These things were edible and useful, and there were many varieties. Zhao Yu'er also specially sent a small bottle of perfume and a small tube of moisturizing cream to Xiao Mei, which Xiao Mei liked very much.

  Seeing them so polite, Second Aunt asked me and Little Sister to lead the way for them and take them to Dog's Head Slope.

  Then, my younger sister and I took Zhao Yuer and others to Gou Tou Po. At this time, the sun had set, and the western sky was filled with a brilliant sunset, casting a reddish glow on the trees in the forest. Zhao Yuer and another girl said it looked great, and quickly took out their phones to take pictures. I told them that when night falls, they must not take pictures, lest they capture some unclean things as well.

  Before long, we arrived at Dog's Head Slope.

  The Dog's Head Slope is located in the shade of the back mountain, standing here can't see our village, and from our village can't see the Dog's Head Slope. Under the sunset glow, the forest and grassland on the Dog's Head Slope are a brilliant red, as if stained with blood. In front of the Ghost Cave above, talismans flutter in the wind, and the dark entrance to the cave looks very deep and mysterious, like a big mouth waiting to swallow prey.

  Thinking of them spending the night on Dog's Head Slope, I feel uneasy in my heart. But looking at them, they are all full of wonder and excitement, and the words of persuasion have already been said several times, so I don't want to waste my breath anymore. I only warned them not to enter the ghost cave at night, and then left with Little Sister. As we were leaving, Little Sister suddenly remembered something, took out a Buddhist jade pendant from under her neck, and said she wanted to give it to Zhao Yu'er.

  This Buddha jade pendant is not worth much money, just a few dollars each, but it's also considered Xiaomei's kind intention. I didn't say much. Zhao Yuer was very surprised and delightedly accepted it, and immediately asked Xiaomei to put it around her neck.

  As I and my little sister returned home down the mountain, dusk had quietly fallen, with distant mountains and forests shrouded in a dim haze, making one feel inexplicably oppressed.

  At night, Erniang took out the small things left by Zhao Yu and others. Xiaomei was very happy to open them one by one. I didn't have any mood, feeling inexplicably uneasy. I saw my uncle standing alone in the yard looking at the starry sky, so I went out too.

  I walked up to Second Uncle and anxiously asked, "Second Uncle, do you think Zhao Yu'er and the others will be okay?"

  "You listen." Second Uncle gave a low, inexplicable laugh and didn't answer the question.

  "Hmm?" I quieted down and listened carefully, discovering that from the back mountain on the Dog's Head Slope side, faint sounds of human voices and laughter were coming over.

  "Perhaps they are now singing and dancing around the bonfire." I thought to myself, "I hope nothing unexpected happens to them."

  Before going to bed at night, I went to the yard on purpose and listened for a while. I found that the back mountain was quiet, and there was no sound in the direction of Dog Head Slope either. A few points of unease arose in my heart.

  "Have they fallen asleep already?" I thought to myself.

  It's probably already 10 o'clock at night, and Zhao Yuer and the others should have gone to sleep after playing around for a while.

  I didn't think much more and went back to the house, got on bed and fell asleep.

  I don't know how long I slept, but I suddenly heard the crazy knocking on the door and was startled awake, sitting up in bed.

  Bang, bang, bang! Someone was knocking frantically on my door, rapid and crazy. The knocking sound mixed with a girl's frightened cry for help, filled with desperation and hopelessness.

  "Who is outside?" I was instantly wide awake, hastily got out of bed, hurriedly put on my pants, and rushed out of the bedroom with bare feet and upper body. At this time, the light in Xiaomei's room also turned on, and Xiaomei and Erniang came out in a hurry wearing their nightgowns, asking me what was going on?

  "Someone is knocking at the door." I hastily said a sentence and rushed towards the gate.

  The gate was knocked loudly, shaking constantly. The hoarse and desperate cry of the girl outside sounded a bit familiar. I was shocked in my heart and quickly opened the gate.

  The moment I opened the door, the person outside rushed into my arms. The soft and fragrant feeling was indeed a girl. Under the light, I saw the girl's face and couldn't help but gasp, exclaiming: "Zhao Yuer, what happened to you?"

  The one frantically knocking on the door was Zhao Yuer, her face covered in tears, looking terrified, and shouting wildly: "Quickly, quickly, save me, save me, there's a ghost, a ghost..." She yelled loudly while turning her head to look back, her hands tightly grasping my arm, holding so tight it hurt.

  I realized that something must be chasing her, so I hurriedly endured the pain in my arm, dragged her into the house and asked little sister to quickly close the door.

  "Save me, quickly, it's coming, it's coming..." Zhao Yuer's spirit completely collapsed, shouting non-stop. Although her words were a bit hysterical and neurotic, I was still startled in my heart, alert, staring at Zhao Yuer, loudly asking: "Who did you say is coming?"

  "Save me, save me quickly, there's a ghost, there's a ghost..." Zhao Yuer didn't hear my words at all, she just tightly grasped my hand and cried out hysterically, tears and snot covering her face.

  I was really worried that if she continued like this, she would be scared to death. In a panic, I gritted my teeth and suddenly struck her on the back of the head with a palm knife. Zhao Yu'er let out a muffled hum, her eyes rolled back, and her body slumped into my arms, fainting.

  "Little sister, Second Daughter, quickly help her into the house and close the doors and windows tightly. Whatever you do, don't make a sound!" I said to Little Sister and Second Daughter as soon as I sensed that something had already arrived outside the courtyard.

  The second daughter and younger sister knew it was urgent and didn't hesitate, quickly supporting Zhao Yu'er as they went into the house.

  At this time, gusts of cold wind were blowing in the yard, and the cold wind was blowing through the gap under the gate, revealing a chilling chill. The gate was blown by the cold wind and creaked back and forth.

  "Brother, come in quickly!" My little sister shouted anxiously from the next room.

  I won't enter the house, I must stand guard outside, even if it means death, I will protect Little Sister and Second Mother.

  "Shut the door quickly!" I glared at Little Sister and hastily shouted.

  The little sister was somewhat frightened and at a loss, standing still without moving.

  I stomped my foot in anger, fortunately Erniang quickly closed the door at this time.

  Now, Erniang, Xiaomei and Zhao Yuer are already in the inner room, relatively safer, my heart is slightly settled. I stood alone in the main hall, guarding the first pass, thinking anxiously: Now outside must be some unclean things, I don't know any spells, can't deal with it at all. Right, where's Erbo? Why hasn't he gotten up?

  "Second Uncle!" I shouted loudly, hastily walking into the other room to knock on Second Uncle's bedroom door. As soon as I knocked once, I found that his bedroom door was not closed, so I directly walked in, but discovered that Second Uncle was not in the room. I frantically searched for the talisman to ward off evil spirits in Second Uncle's room, but couldn't find anything. At this moment, I heard something scratching at the big gate, and hastily rushed out of the house to the main hall. Now I have nothing on me, if that thing outside rushes in, I can only fight it with my bare fists!

  As I thought of this, my heart grew cold and the creaking of the large door in the wind made me shudder involuntarily. At this moment, the sound of scratching on the door started again, each sound piercing and disturbing.

  I tried to calm myself down, but I couldn't calm down no matter what. Just then, I suddenly heard a gentle and pleasant girl's voice in my ear: "Don't be afraid." This voice carried a warm and soothing comfort, which made me pause for a moment. Next, I felt that my right hand was being held by another hand, the hand was soft and cool, just like a girl's hand.

  "Who?" I hastily turned my head, but couldn't see anything. However, I could clearly feel that someone was standing beside me, holding my hand, so real and reassuring. From childhood to adulthood, every time I encountered danger, the feeling of having a backing appeared again at this moment.

  I can feel that there is a girl standing beside me accompanying me, but I cannot see her. I asked her, she didn't answer, just silently accompanied me like that.

  The strong wind outside grew more urgent, and suddenly there was a loud bang on the gate, as if something was heavily hitting it.

  I suddenly tensed up all over, came back to my senses, turned my head and stared intently at the gate, with cold sweat constantly seeping from my palms.

  At this time, the outside of the gate suddenly echoed with a squeaky mouse call. But this squeak sounded more chilling and terrifying than a mouse call. When you heard this sound, you felt as if something was gnawing at your heartstrings.

  What's going on outside? And Second Uncle, is he okay?

  My heart was filled with anxiety and urgency.

  Bang! The large gate was heavily slammed shut again. Whatever was outside had a lot of strength, and with one slam, the door hinges creaked loudly. If it slammed two more times, the gate would definitely be smashed open.

  "Squeak!" The terrifying and chilly cry of the mouse rang out again.

  I shuddered all over, and a chill ran from the soles of my feet to the top of my head.

  No choice, let's go all out!

  Just as this thought flashed through my mind, the creaking sound outside the door suddenly stopped, as if it had been abruptly cut off. The rustling of the wind ceased, and all around fell into a dead silence, the atmosphere was oppressive to the point of suffocation.

  Suddenly, a loud croaking sound of a frog came from the courtyard.