67: Arrival

Leaving the village after dark means certain death.

The main hall instantly fell silent. Thinking back to Grandmother’s instructions to everyone, I felt puzzled. Since it was known that leaving the village after dark meant death, why hadn’t Grandmother told everyone this crucial information directly? Instead, she only vaguely warned not to venture out after nightfall.

Recalling her sigh and the struggle on her face, I suddenly understood why she did so. She knew the outcome of leaving after dark, yet chose to speak ambiguously because, deep down, she actually wanted some villagers to go out at night.

The events in the village had made everyone anxious. Although Grandmother held considerable authority, not all would heed her advice and stay. It was easy to imagine that some would ignore her warning and try to leave after dark, hoping to escape.

But escape was impossible. At first, I thought Old Qin’s arrangements outside the village were simply to prevent people from leaving. Now I realized he was clever, taking a reverse approach.

When trapped, people most desire to escape. Old Qin, to minimize trouble, hid his deadly traps outside the village. Those desperate to leave would enter the thick fog outside again and again.

But what awaited them was not freedom, but death.

Grandmother had not revealed the outcome because she wanted the disobedient to go as sacrifices.

“Why? Why let people go to their deaths?” I asked, wanting to know why Grandmother was willing to let some villagers become Old Qin’s offerings.

Knowing Old Qin wanted to open the so-called treasure, she didn’t stop him, but even watched as villagers became sacrifices. I couldn’t understand this.

Grandmother saw I understood her intentions and said weakly, “If we don’t do this, everyone will die. If we do, only some will. If it were you, what would you choose?”

Her words left me speechless.

It made sense—if she told everyone that leaving after dark meant death, no one would go. With Old Qin’s trap already set, the absence of sacrifices would only enrage him, prompting him to unleash his monsters on the village.

Then, the deaths would be countless.

All of this was because of a treasure whose nature was entirely unknown.

Everyone present was close; I couldn’t hold back and asked, “Grandmother, are the rumors about the treasure true?”

She nodded.

“What’s inside?”

I wanted to know what the treasure truly was, what could drive Old Qin to hide for over twenty years and ruthlessly use villagers as sacrifices.

“There is an evil creature sealed inside. That old man belongs to a sinister organization whose goal is to find things that can bring chaos, to disrupt society.”

After a brief pause, Grandmother continued, “At first, rumors said our ancestors left a rare treasure there. If found, it would reveal the secrets of metaphysics. That’s why your grandfather and I came. But during the process of opening it, we discovered we’d been deceived. There was no treasure, only a powerful evil. So we stopped and remained here, guarding the place and preventing others from opening it.”

Was this all there was to it?

I took a moment to process her words. I had expected something more tangled, but it was so simple: Grandfather and Grandmother came for what was inside, and upon discovering it was evil, became its guardians.

“Then why let Old Qin open it now?” Cao Guangshan couldn’t help but ask, and we all looked at Grandmother curiously.

From her arrangements, I suspected there was more to it.

“I’m old. I can’t guard it forever. After so many years, I’m curious if it really is evil inside. Besides, he’s planned for so long—there has to be an ending, or the trouble will keep involving you all.”

After speaking, Grandmother called Xu Buhuo to the kitchen to discuss something. Since she didn’t invite me, I stayed in the hall with Cao Guangshan and the others, speculating.

Night fell quickly. Grandmother and Xu Buhuo packed their things, clearly preparing for a final confrontation with Old Qin.

From Grandmother’s calm face, I knew she had further plans. Old Qin might be able to open whatever was hidden, but it would not be easy.

Just after midnight, Grandmother, who had been resting with her eyes closed in the hall, stood up. At the same time, I heard the sound of footsteps in the courtyard—Father had arrived.

Xu Buhuo also stood, carrying his bag, ready to act. I nervously followed, wanting to go with them, but just as I stepped out the door, Grandmother turned and said, “Ziwuw, you stay home. We’ll handle the mountain. If, after dawn, the fog outside the village has cleared, we succeeded. If not, take everyone to the secret chamber under the old house and wait for five days; the barrier will eventually dissipate.”

Her words sounded like a final farewell, making me uneasy.

Xu Buhuo gave me a look, his complex expression telling me this mission would be perilous. I wanted to argue, but before I could, Grandmother shot me a fierce glare and, taking Father—now a corpse demon—and Xu Buhuo, left the courtyard quickly.

Staring at the empty gate, I collapsed onto the threshold, my heart heavy.

I feared this parting might be forever.

The waiting was excruciating. I couldn’t sit or stand still, my whole body uncomfortable—it felt like endless days.

During the night, several villagers, not very familiar, came looking for Grandmother. They said they had tried to leave, but their family members screamed as soon as they entered the fog, and then fell silent. They wanted Grandmother to check.

Among them, the men were calm, but the women were crying, unwilling to leave without Grandmother. Their commotion annoyed me, and I angrily drove them out.

In eighteen years, I had never felt time pass so slowly. Again and again I grabbed my flashlight, wanting to rush to the mountain, but stopped at the door each time.

Cao Guangshan finally said the night was too dangerous; we were powerless. If we went, Old Qin might catch us, making us a burden and ruining Grandmother’s plan.

He was right. Grandmother and Xu Buhuo were capable and had prepared. If we forced our way in, Old Qin would only threaten them with us.

The torment dragged on until the sky slowly brightened.

As daylight finally flooded the village, we each grabbed suitable tools and headed out. At the village entrance, someone ran toward us, excitedly announcing the fog had dispersed.

Hearing this, we rushed to the entrance and saw the fog outside the village dissipating.

At least twenty people had entered the fog last night and died; blood stained the ground, along with discarded shoes and belongings. No bodies.

The clearing of the fog meant Grandmother and Xu Buhuo had succeeded.

After a tense night, such good news at dawn swept away the gloom. Excited, I ran straight toward Blackwater Ravine.

Blackwater Ravine had changed overnight.

Previously, wild grass grew thickly there; now all was dead. The ground was torn like after an earthquake, fissures wide enough for feet.

But where were they?

Scanning the area, I saw no sign of Grandmother and Xu Buhuo. My excitement faded into unease.

On the way up, I’d thought the dissipating fog meant they had succeeded, and we should have met them by now.

But as we searched, hope dwindled.

“Look.”

I jumped into the deep ravine, thick with wild grass, knowing the place must be nearby, but not exactly where.

“Over here.”

Finding nothing in the ravine, I heard Cao Guangshan’s call and rushed over. Part of the hillside had collapsed, revealing a cave entrance.

Beside the cave, a heap of headless bodies lay scattered—all villagers who ignored warnings and became sacrifices last night. Their heads, from the blood trails, had been taken into the cave.

It was the first time we had seen so many headless corpses; we couldn’t help but vomit, and it took a long time to recover.

The cave was quiet, with no sounds at all.

Thinking of Grandmother and Xu Buhuo’s absence, my unease deepened. Suppressing my nausea, I led the way inside.

The cave was deep, with a narrow man-made path leading further in. The thick smell of blood stung our noses.

Along the way, the stones bore bloody inscriptions.

“Look.”

Shitou grabbed me, pointing. Between the rocks, the corpse demon Xiaolong lay.

Last night’s fight must have been fierce. Xiaolong’s hands were gone, torn off. His head twisted around, his face on his back.

The sight made me think of Father.

Going further, Xiaoling’s head lay on the ground, body missing. Deeper inside, stone niches had been carved into the cave walls, each containing a head—familiar faces, all villagers.

Even though we had already vomited, we couldn’t help throwing up again, our limbs weak.

From the scene, I guessed the seal on the evil creature had been opened. My heart trembled—hadn’t they succeeded? Why was the seal broken? Steeling myself, I moved quickly deeper.

A larger chamber appeared ahead. The stone door lay toppled, and a complete corpse sprawled on the ground. I rushed forward, turned it over, and instinctively stepped back.

Old Qin was dead.

He died horribly; his face was dry, the skin shriveled and stuck to his bones like a mummy.

This should have been a relief, but I had no time to feel it. I hurried into the cave, desperate to find Grandmother and Xu Buhuo.

“Oh my god.”

Turning on the flashlight, seeing what lay within, we all involuntarily retreated in shock.