Twenty-second day 2 hanged ghost

  The three words "I am a mummy" I forced myself to say, this is the feeling that I have been refusing to acknowledge for so many days, now that I've said it out loud, I feel much more at ease.

  But Siyao didn't seem as flustered as I had imagined. She shrugged and said, "You really are confused."

  I'm telling you, don't you believe me?

  Xiyao said, have you seen a mummy? Have you touched one?

  I shook my head, and Siyao said, "Then how would you describe this feeling?"

  I'm saying, it's like a drumhead that's been dried out for hundreds of years, the cowhide on the outside is so dry and cracked, but inside it's still full and plump. Do you understand what I mean? I can't quite put it into words, it's just that when you touch something lifeless, you can feel a vitality pulsing inside. I really can't describe it, but if it's not my imagination, I'm 100% sure that what I touched is neither dead nor alive, it's something in between.

  Xiyao was taken aback and said, "Devil?"

  I said, zombie.

  Xiyao seemed to be afraid this time, but she still looked very calm. She said, "You're still delirious from the fever. Look, the temple is just ahead of us. Let's go take a look and we'll know."

  Actually, I wanted to say that I had already seen it yesterday, I deliberately looked at it, thinking that there was a vivid woman staring coldly at me, and then scared me out of my wits, but nothing happened.

  I saw everyone standing still at the temple gate. These people who spoke bravely were actually quite scared, and they must be even more afraid than me.

  Life is like that, many times you are afraid and fearful, but it can't be the reason for not doing something, because there are more important things than being afraid, but here, it's just a dozen or so hormonal men trying to impress a goddess.

  It's not worth watching for me.

  After I walked over, all the students were silent, but they didn't move forward either. It seemed like they wanted to find a leader, and all eyes were on me.

  Actually, I'm not very familiar with you all either, just a year or two older, no need to let me take the lead in everything, how come when you were chatting and laughing with Feng Yue just now, you didn't know how to respect your elders?

  I muttered to myself, but my feet had already stepped inside, quickly passing by the strange plastic statues at the entrance and standing in the small courtyard. In front of me were three rooms, one straight ahead and one on either side, all very dark and impossible to see into. As we stood under the courtyard, I said, "Why don't we split up and search? I'll go with Siyao to the front room, and you two can take the rooms on either side."

  A boy said, let's be together, it's safer.

  What's there to be afraid of in broad daylight?

  The boy said, "The devil doesn't care about day and night."

  I was taken aback, this is the second time I've heard this word today. In China, when referring to some inexplicable supernatural things, people usually say "ghost", and rarely say "devil". Moreover, based on my years of watching American TV series, a ghost refers to a spirit, which is completely different from a devil. Hearing the word "devil" mentioned frequently here really makes me think twice.

  I admit that I'm a bit too sensitive, but I say, this is China, where are the devils? If you do encounter them, it's just your bad luck. It would be strange to see ghosts in broad daylight, wouldn't it?

  The boy didn't make a sound, and another boy next to him seemed to want to mediate, saying, "Let's just stay together, there are girls here too, if we split up I don't think it's safe either."

  I nodded and said, we saw the front yesterday evening, let's go left first.

  After finishing speaking, the leader went into the left room. Inside was very dusty and felt suffocating. As soon as I entered, my eyes turned black. After slowly adapting to the darkness, Fengyue said, "Look, there are footprints here."

  I remembered that the two of them went out from this room that night, probably thinking it was too dirty. I went to take a look at the footprints and indeed there were two pairs - one big and one small, one male and one female.

  Fengyue said, "Si Yao, take a look and see if it's Da Peng's footprint."

  Siya looked and shook her head, saying, I don't know either.

  Another boy said, "And whose is that other footprint? It's so small, it must be a woman's."

  The room was very small and shabby inside. I carefully skirted the footprints and looked around, but there was nothing worth noticing.

  The smell in the room was really unbearable, a group of people saw me shaking my head and they all retreated.

  A boy standing outside said, "Something's off."

  Another person said, "Something's off."

  The boy said that we had been to this temple before, but the rooms on both sides, I remember that at that time, it was just a glance, and there was nothing. Then no one entered, how did there be footprints?

  Someone said, a man and a woman, we are just like Da Peng and Si Yao who fell in love here, Si Yao, have you been with Da Peng before?

  Si Yao shook her head and said, "No."

  Another boy said, "Who is that? With just a few girls, who exactly came over?" Siyao, it really wasn't you?

  I saw Siyao's face turn red, seemingly a bit angry, and hastily said, it's not just the few of you in here, wasn't my friend yesterday a woman? Can't say whose footprints those are.

  Actually, I've already confirmed that it's the footprints of these girls, but I'm looking at them pressing Xiaoyao too tightly, and I don't want to make Xiaoyao uncomfortable. Just now, I took a closer look, this shoe is not big, at least that tall woman can be ruled out, the remaining few girls seem to have similar shoes.

  The man said, "Is there anyone else here? If not, go back and ask your friends?"

  Another person said, "Do you dare ask? Yesterday's situation, I reckon even if she woke up, she wouldn't remember it. This is called being possessed by a ghost, isn't it, fortune teller?"

  I didn't like it as soon as I heard this, although it's true, but there's no need to say it. I said, can you stop talking nonsense and quickly find someone in the room on the right.

  After finishing speaking, he led the way into the room on the right side. This room was even dirtier, without even a footprint, and it was pitch black.

  It seems there's no need to look at this place again, but I still went in and took a walk around. I felt like I was buried in dirt all over my body. When I turned back, only Siyao followed me in, the others were just peeking from the doorway.

  It's clear that they're not really worried about Da Peng's disappearance, but rather eager to solve the problem and escape this haunted place as soon as possible.

  I'm a bit dissatisfied in my heart, but the warmth and coldness of human relationships are like this after all. People like me who show such great enthusiasm for the disappearance of strangers must think I have some ulterior motive in their eyes.

  I also wanted to go back quickly, putting Da Ai by herself in the room made me worried, I walked out quickly and pointed at the main hall saying, we already saw this place yesterday, do we need to see it again today?

  Several men and women all said they didn't need to look anymore, yesterday was quite frightening, now thinking about it makes them feel scared.

  Siya opposed it and said, "I didn't see clearly yesterday, let's go in and take a walk around."

  Since we're all here, let's take a look.

  I let out a cry and quickly walked in, but stopped dead at the door. All the hairs on my back stood up, and I broke into a cold sweat instantly.

  The sculpture is back again.

  Standing on the offering table in the great hall.

  No, it's floating above, I can only see its body and feet floating in mid-air, I can't see its face.

  But I can feel it staring at me...

  Something is staring at me, staring at me dead.

  I feel something rushing into my trachea, frantically escaping in my body, as if it's going to occupy my soul.

  I took a few steps back and returned to the sunlight, suddenly bending down at the waist, panting desperately.

  My sudden movement startled everyone behind me. Feng Yue hurried over and patted my back, while Si Yao also walked over and asked in a low voice, "What's wrong? Did you see something?"

  I pointed to the main hall and said, "There's something inside, there's something."

  Although I said so, no one was curious enough to rush over, and everyone stood behind me, with no one daring to move forward.

  I now know that this group of students is even more afraid than I am, I stood up, trembling with fear and staring at the main hall's gate, which was pitch black inside, nothing could be seen.

  But I can still feel the eyes staring at me in the darkness, something has been watching me all along, with wide open eyes waiting for my arrival.

  I walked over again, putting my body at the door and stretching my head in. I saw a figure still floating there, I shouted several times, but the figure didn't move. I walked in again, slowly approaching the altar, until the broken curtain no longer blocked my line of sight, when I saw someone hanging from the beam.

  He is a man.

  I couldn't see clearly if it was Da Peng or not, that's enough for me, I ran out and whispered, someone hanged himself, I couldn't see clearly if it was Da Peng.

  Xiyao let out a cry and rushed in, the fortune teller closely followed her in. Fengyue didn't move, but turned around to say, "Go take a look, what are you waiting for?"

  The boys behind her all ran in, and after a while, Si Yao ran out crying and shouting, "It's Da Peng, it's Da Peng."

  I suddenly felt relieved, this feeling is really a bit confusing, but it's the most real feeling I have at the moment, I feel a wave of relief.

  This feeling of relaxation comes from where I really don't know, but I feel that the people around me are also relaxed like me, then there is a girl's scream, and then there is a boy's scream.

  The shrill cries of several men mingled with the woman's voice, causing Fengyue to furrow her brow.

  Feng Yue didn't seem afraid, but she also didn't take a step into the main hall. She stood outside the door, watching the boys and girls' terror and unease with a detached air, like an onlooker.

  I'm actually the most authentic bystander, I watched Fengyue and felt that this girl has been shocking me from start to finish. I saw Sihua seemed to want to go back, but was caught by Shenpo. Shenpo shouted at someone behind her, "Hurry up and help me, let's get out of here first."

  This time without any nonsense, the group of boys did the same, they went up and lifted Siyao, and forcibly pulled her out.

  The remaining people followed like receding waves, all running out at once, using their legs as if afraid that walking slowly would cause them to be left behind.

  I turned back to take a look, but nothing could be seen in the pitch-black main hall, not even the thing that I felt was staring at me all along, leaving only endless darkness.

  With a confined soul.

  The poor albatross became the first victim.

  But why did I say the first one?

  I was startled at the door by my own thoughts, as if there would be a second and third one. I finally walked out, Siyao was crying in Shenpo's arms, Fengyue looked at me and said, what to do?

  I have no idea what to do. However, Fengyue seems to have a kind of superpower, that is, any man wants to show off in front of her, even me, who doesn't care about Fengyue's beauty.

  I say, the person is definitely dead, we have to admit it and not deceive ourselves. Now we can only call the police and let them solve it, so we cannot destroy the scene, what do you think?

  As soon as this was said, everyone naturally agreed, but the agreement of others was useless. The eyes finally focused on Siyao. Siyao's eyes were red, her lips pursed, she looked around and nodded slightly.

  The second question is, I asked, is there anyone left to protect the scene?

  The atmosphere immediately turned cold, and no one was willing to stay in this desolate wilderness with a broken temple and a corpse, including myself. I still had the Great Love in my heart, but this temple was too evil, and soon someone would hang themselves here. As for whether the Great Love was safe or not, I wasn't even clear about that anymore.

  Damn this place doesn't even have a signal.

  The wind and moon are visible without anyone making a sound, saying to me: "If you dare, let's stay here together."

  I shook my head and said I wasn't afraid, but my friend was at the inn and I was a bit worried.

  Feng Yue hummed and then said, "Is there anyone who wants to stay behind and help Si Yao?"

  This time, the temptation of beauty may not be able to withstand the fear of reality, and no boy has taken over. Siyao looked at Fengyue with some gratitude and said, "Otherwise, I'll stay here."

  Fengyue said, "A girl like you, aren't you scared to death here? Think about it, we need to go to the town to find the police, how long will that take? I reckon by then it'll be dark."

  As soon as the lights went out, Xi Yao's face turned white. Even someone with a lot of courage would be scared at this moment. A boy said, "This place is deserted, and besides, who dares to make a move?"

  These words are reasonable and in line with people's thoughts nowadays, immediately gaining echoes of approval.

  My heart was burning with anxiety, I just wanted to go back and see if Dà ài was safe, at that time I also nodded, suddenly a group of people turned around and walked towards the village exit.

  Fengyue followed me this time and walked a few steps, turned back to look at Siyao who was left behind, slowed down her pace, and went over to comfort Siyao.

  I didn't expect a beautiful girl like Feng Yue to be not only brave but also very kind, knowing how to care for people. I have to say that my affection for her is soaring, unfortunately, I'm no longer the otaku I used to be, and Da Ai has taken over my heart since she appeared.

  I must protect her completely, I don't care about other things.

  We crawled back to the hotel, and when we went in, the dwarf looked up at us with a cold, unsettling gaze.

  Ma Tiancheng heard the voice and ran out, shouting from afar, "Is there any news? Is there any news?"

  I nodded, Ma Tiancheng was startled by my expression, slowed down his pace, looked at the students coming in one after another behind him, and said in a low voice, how is he?

  I said something's happened, someone was found in the ancient temple and it's not clear what's going on... Now they want to call the police, can you guys lend us some transportation?

  Ma Tiancheng said that there are only bicycles as a means of transportation now. Those two are outside, we have one in the back, I'll push it over for you to use.

  To be honest, I was confused. It just occurred to me that I have two bicycles. I said, who's going to report the theft? The bicycles are outside, are two enough?

  Several boys looked at each other, two of them raised their hands and said, "I'll go, the two of us will go." But this back-and-forth trip might take a long time, are you guys okay with staying here?

  My bicycle wasn't locked, just pointed to, a few people were about to leave when the dwarf suddenly spoke up, he said, no need to make so much effort, after leaving that cave and riding for a few hundred meters there will be signal, go and make an emergency call, say you're in Gucun, the police will naturally come.

  Two boys said, "Let's go to town anyway, what if the police don't come? We'll follow you over."

  I can hear that the two boys are a bit scared, planning to follow the police uncle to boost their courage. This kind of thing happening to anyone is a nightmare. They came out to travel and have some fun, but one companion hanged himself in an ancient temple, and this place is a ghost village. Last night at dawn, they even witnessed a strange wedding with their own eyes.

  That thing can leave a childhood shadow on these students if it's said out loud.

  He didn't intend to let them off, he said. This thing has come out, looking at your expression I also know what's going on. Whether it was suicide or murder, what we said doesn't count, but everyone is a suspect. At this time, no one can leave. Tian Cheng, ride a bike and follow those two, go report to the police, don't let anyone leave.

  Ma Tiancheng grunted in response, seemingly a bit unwilling, but also seemingly not daring to disobey the dwarf. He went to the back and pushed the cart to the front, shouting at the entrance, "Let's hurry up!"

  The dwarf's words made sense, and at this time everyone was suspicious. After discussing with several students, they also nodded in agreement. As soon as I nodded, I had no obligation to continue taking care of it, and I went up the stairs three steps at a time, directly to Da Ai's room, and knocked on Da Ai's door.

  I saw that everything was fine and I breathed a sigh of relief, it seems I was too tense.

  In the big love room, I said a few words and simply told what happened, only saying that Da Peng was found, but the person was gone, without saying where he was found.

  The word "ancient temple" seems to have become a taboo in front of Da Ai, I don't even want to mention it.

  Dai Ai's spirit has never been very good. I saw it in her eyes, looked at my watch, and lingered in her room for a long time. The students should have almost reached the entrance by now.

  I said, you rest first, after today, I'll take you out for a stroll.

  Dai Ai nodded and said, "I'd like to go take a look at the ancient temple."

  I said, aren't you afraid?

  What's the use of saying I love you? My intuition tells me what is really taking our lives.

  As soon as I mentioned this, I suddenly remembered that I had a photo of the county annals on my phone, which didn't seem to have any clues.

  If I was still half-believing and half-doubting before, taking these things as a mysterious joke, Da Peng's death undoubtedly made it more serious.

  Jokes won't kill people.

  It seems that I have to stay up all night to finish looking at those pictures. Just thinking about those small characters makes my head ache, but what can I do? It's a matter of life and death, not to mention it's my own life.

  I asked, Da Ai, did you know what was the previous name of Gu Miao Village?

  Dà ài shuō, xiàn zài jiào gǔ cūn, yǐ qián jiào gǔ miào cūn. Yě bù duì, xiàn zài kǒng pà yào jiāo guǐ cūn le ba.

  I said it's not this one, what was it called before this?

  Dai Ai thought for half a day and said, "Hong Yi Village."

  I was stunned and said, Red Clothes Village?

  Dai Ai nodded and said, I remember when I was a kid, my grandfather told me that this place used to be called Red Clothes Village. Because of the ancient customs where people liked to wear red clothes, outsiders would call it Red Clothes Village. This impression is quite deep for me.

  I nodded, knowing that if I called it Red Robe Village, I would be much easier to find, at least I had a goal.

  I said, why don't you take a rest for now? It's hard to say when we can have dinner tonight. The police might still come later, so don't worry about it.

  Dà ài diǎn tóu shuō, méi shìr, wǒ zhème dà de rén le huì zhào gù zìjǐ. Nǐ yě tǐng lèi de, qù tǎng huìr ba.

  Translation:

  Dai Ai nodded and said, "It's okay, I'm a big person now, I can take care of myself. You're also very tired, go lie down for a bit."

  I nodded and walked out, opened my lock, and as soon as I entered the house, I saw that the window was not closed. I blamed myself for being careless, closed the door and just stepped inside when a hand suddenly covered my mouth.

  A woman whispered in his ear, "Don't speak, I am Da Ai."