Li Zhuiyuan sat on the ground, gently massaging his temples. This was the first time he had controlled the dead to fall, and he felt somewhat exhausted. He needed to quickly relax and unwind because there were still many things left for him to do. If nothing unexpected happened, he was about to experience the most significant physical strain in his life. This kind of strain would likely cause considerable harm to his body. He knew this very well, but he still chose to proceed. Because he was angry. A feeling precious to him.
At this moment, the girl and the woman knelt down before him together. Seeing this, Li Zhuiyuan waved his hand, but it had no effect. He had released his control over them, so they should have been standing still now, or at least gone back to their respective places—the girl to the pot and the woman back to the bed. Li Zhuiyuan helplessly stood up, and the mother and daughter also got to their feet.
Li Zhuiyuan walked to the table and sat down in his original position. The girl and the woman followed him, taking their seats on his right side. Originally, Tan Wenbin had been sound asleep there. Now, he was stuck between the two of them, tightly squeezed in. Li Zhuiyuan didn’t bother to adjust the seating; at least this way, he could ensure that the fast asleep Binbin wouldn’t fall over.
However, the expressions and actions of them sitting down began to twist slightly, which seemed to indicate a certain loss of control. Li Zhuiyuan might not fully understand the reasoning behind it, but he had a rough idea of how to respond: “Don’t worry. I will definitely do what I promised you. Now, please bear with me for a little while longer. Zhou Yong is merely a tool being used by someone else. You wouldn’t want to let go of the true culprit behind all your suffering, would you?”
The girl and the woman fell silent upon hearing this. “Runsheng, first control Zhou Yong and package him up. When you’re done, call me. I’ll take a snooze first.” “Sure, don’t worry, Xiaoyuan.” At this time, Zhou Yong was cornered by Runsheng, a Yellow River shovel fixed against his neck, physically trapping him. He felt very weak now; despite trying to push the shovel away with his hands, he was too powerless to resist.
Runsheng walked to the sack and took out the soul-retrieving basket and the returning home net, laying them out on the ground. He pulled out his box of ink and pressed all ten fingers down, following a specific sequence to make hand gestures, capturing various spots on the returning home net. Finally, he clapped his hands together, synchronizing the red marks on the net so that their effects could be assuredly activated. The whole process was smooth, ritualistic, and visually appealing, but it lacked practicality.
After all, not every dead body can just stand there motionless, giving you ample time to prepare your tools. Of course, Runsheng wished he could do as Xiaoyuan did, simply brush some red mud with a fingertip and casually coat it, allowing the tools to be “activated.” He had tried this before but failed; Xiaoyuan’s simple and casual action was grounded in calculation. He knew exactly where and how much to apply, and although Xiaoyuan had taught him, he couldn’t quite grasp it.
After completing the preparations on the soul-retrieving basket and the returning home net, Runsheng placed the basket on Zhou Yong’s head and pulled it down, enclosing him entirely, and then wrapped him in the returning home net, effectively turning Zhou Yong into a rice dumpling. Finally, Runsheng took out the talisman paper personally drawn by Xiaoyuan and stuck it on Zhou Yong’s head.
With each application, it changed color; tearing it off and replacing it with a new one continued the color change. After sticking on seven sheets in succession, Runsheng finally stopped, marking the completion of the final ritual step. At this action, even Zhou Yong’s murky eyes seemed to show some confusion and doubt. Li Zhuiyuan had told Runsheng that the talisman paper he drew wasn’t very useful, but Runsheng didn’t believe him; he thought Xiaoyuan was merely being modest.
Once everything was packed up, Runsheng turned his back and lifted Zhou Yong onto his shoulders. At that moment, Tan Wenbin woke up. He felt utterly exhausted, as if his body had been hollowed out. Groggily, he raised his head, opened his eyes, looked at the girl pressing against his left, then turned to the woman on his right. He felt as if he hadn’t fully woken up; he closed his eyes and lay back down.
Soon, he opened his eyes again, looked left and right. He swallowed hard. Suddenly sitting up, ready to scream, his mouth was covered by Runsheng’s hand. "Mmm... mmm..." "Shh." Tan Wenbin nodded. Runsheng removed his hand. Tan Wenbin turned to look, just as Runsheng leaned sideways to nudge Li Zhuiyuan; Zhou Yong, on Runsheng's back, pressed his face against Tan Wenbin.
Li Zhuiyuan woke up, and seeing Runsheng was ready, stood up but still asked with concern: “Binbin, are you okay?” “I… what’s wrong with me? Oh, I’m fine, just a bit tired.” “Why don’t you go sleep at Old Dashan’s house?” “No, I can handle it. I can still help.” Tan Wenbin trembled as he stood, finally free from restraint, then bent down and began to gasp for breath.
“Binbin, you should eat well lately and replenish your strength.” “Yeah, I will. I didn’t realize my body was so weak.” “Runsheng, let’s get going.” The three of them left the room and walked down the small platform. Then, they heard the sound of the door locking, followed by the light being turned off. Under the moonlight, shadows flashed past in the kitchen and bedroom.
Since Zhou Yong had left his home’s boundary, the girl and the woman could only return to their previous positions, waiting for Zhou Yong to come back. This was the life Zhou Yong wished to maintain. Li Zhuiyuan turned back, gazing at the well on the platform. “Runsheng, you stay here.” “Alright.” “Binbin, do you still have strength?” Tan Wenbin nodded vigorously: “I’m still good.” “Thank you for your hard work.” “Xiaoyuan, it’s nothing. Trust me.”
Li Zhuiyuan and Tan Wenbin climbed back onto the small platform. Runsheng, still outside with Zhou Yong on his back, meant that the girl and the woman in the house hadn’t been compelled to move again. Li Zhuiyuan lifted the straw hat from the well cover, took the rope from the nearby bucket, and tied it around himself. He tossed the other end to Tan Wenbin. “Hold on to it.” “Alright.” As a precaution, Tan Wenbin wrapped the rope around himself twice, signaling completion.
Holding the flashlight in his left hand and his smaller Yellow River shovel in his right, Li Zhuiyuan descended into the well, lowering himself bit by bit until he stopped half a meter from the water surface. At the well’s edge, Tan Wenbin lay down, using his arms to brace himself. Under the flashlight’s beam, Li Zhuiyuan spotted the engraved patterns on the well wall. Ripples disturbed the water’s surface beneath his feet, and shining the flashlight downward, he saw a robust water snake swimming below.
Li Zhuiyuan didn’t worry about the snake; it was trapped underwater, unable to escape. He picked up the Yellow River shovel and began to modify the engravings. The well was cold, but he began to sweat from the heat. Changing someone else’s markings was far more difficult than setting up his own; it required more thought. But there was no other choice; time did not permit, and also, Li Zhuiyuan found it hard to gather all the necessary materials for laying things out.
Most importantly, by retaining the original layout, it would be easier to deceive the other party. An hour later, Li Zhuiyuan tugged on the rope. Above, although his body was cramped and painful, Tan Wenbin forced the rope up bit by bit, exerting himself.
As Li Zhuiyuan gradually ascended, he looked down at the water's surface. The water snake was still there, but it didn’t seem as lively as before. Moreover, under the flashlight’s shine, the snake’s body below the water exhibited vibrant, varied colors. A smile appeared on Li Zhuiyuan’s face; this was more like it. Illusions and reflections were rather low-level.
Once out of the well, inhaling the fresh air, Li Zhuiyuan wiped the sweat from his face and felt a stickiness on the back of his hand. The flashlight illuminated it; it was red. “Xiaoyuan, you’re bleeding from your nose.” Tan Wenbin started searching his body for tissue. “Yeah.” Li Zhuiyuan lifted his head, took the paper ball to stuff his nose, and then untied the rope around himself. “Xiaoyuan, are you too tired?” “It’s fine. No worries.” Li Zhuiyuan brushed it off; this was nothing.
After carefully checking the ground for any blood stains, he covered the well again, restoring it. Stepping down the small platform, Li Zhuiyuan signaled that Runsheng could leave. Upon arriving at the nearby small river, Li Zhuiyuan held the compass, walking ahead, muttering the “Liu Family’s Qi Observation Technique,” while pointing out the spots that needed digging and raising to Runsheng.
When they reached the bridge, Li Zhuiyuan collapsed onto the ground, tilting his head back, asking, “Runsheng, did you remember everything?” “Don’t worry, Xiaoyuan, I’ve remembered.” “Let’s get the work done.” “Mhm!”
Runsheng put Zhou Yong down from his back, picked up the Yellow River shovel, and began digging and laying down. “Xiaoyuan, can I go help?” “No need, Binbin. Stay and help me deal with my nosebleed; it won’t stop.” “Oh. Okay.” Runsheng was strong, and the Yellow River shovel was suited for this environment; he was more efficient alone and less prone to mistakes.
Meanwhile, Tan Wenbin finally managed to stop Li Zhuiyuan’s nosebleed, asking with concern: “Xiaoyuan, are you really okay?” “I’m fine.” “So, what exactly are we doing?” “Someone plotted against us, nearly causing our deaths. Right now, I’m setting up a counterattack.” “Okay, I understand.”
Behind them, Zhou Yong still writhed. Tan Wenbin looked at him, feeling a lingering fear. Even though they had sat at the same table before, he was still scared of the dead falling. “Binbin, after we return this time, I’ll teach you some methods to deal with the dead.” “Really? That would be great!” Then, the two of them said in unison: “Keep it a secret from your dad.” “Keep it a secret from my dad!”
After saying this, both laughed. Runsheng alone couldn’t act as two people, and an extra helper was indeed needed. The previous scenario resembled the game of taking a goat and a wolf across a river; either he or Runsheng had to stay behind, watching Zhou Yong to prevent any accidents.
Li Zhuiyuan closed his eyes, starting to rest; he felt very tired. Just as he was sleeping soundly, someone shook him awake: “Xiaoyuan, Xiaoyuan.” He opened his eyes, bloodshot. Runsheng felt a flash of pity but didn’t try to dissuade him. Instead, he asked, “I’ve done everything as you said; what should we do next?”
Li Zhuiyuan stood up, holding the compass and walked to under the bridge. Runsheng protected him as they came down together, fearing the boy might accidentally fall and be swept away by the river.
Li Zhuiyuan began to explain the modifications needed under the bridge—no major projects were necessary; small adjustments on the existing basis would be sufficient. Runsheng could manage this alone with the tools. Additionally, Li Zhuiyuan found that while Runsheng might struggle with calculations, his memory was quite remarkable.
Every instruction Li Zhuiyuan gave, he remembered with clarity, ensuring completeness in the task. “Did you remember clearly, Runsheng?” “I did.” “Mhm.”
After Li Zhuiyuan acknowledged him, he tilted forward, losing his balance. Runsheng reacted quickly, catching him and bringing him back to the shore. After telling Tan Wenbin to care for Xiaoyuan, he took his tools and climbed up to the bridge from the side. Tan Wenbin had already prepared clean water and paper balls, but this time, in his semi-conscious state, Li Zhuiyuan didn’t have another nosebleed. However, blood was still oozing from the corner of his eye.
“What’s happening…” He first used water to help wash away the blood but noticed that once clean, the blood quickly returned to seep out again. But this wasn’t the nose; he didn’t know how to stop the bleeding. He could only lay Li Zhuiyuan’s head on his lap, using both hands to gently massage the boy’s temples in hopes of alleviating his fatigue.
“Xiaoyuan, Xiaoyuan…” Li Zhuiyuan was awakened again and asked: “Runsheng, why are you covered in blood…” “Xiaoyuan, I’m fine. It’s you who’s bleeding from the eyes.” “Oh.” At that moment, Li Zhuiyuan realized his vision was all crimson.
He struggled to stand up, crouched by the riverbank, scooping up water to wash his eyes. Although he could still see the blood dripping, at least his vision was somewhat clearer. Turning back to Runsheng, he noticed Runsheng was covered in dirt and lime, with multiple abrasions and bleeding hands and feet. “Xiaoyuan, check yourself.” “Mhm.”
“Here, I’ll carry you to the river.” Runsheng lifted Li Zhuiyuan onto his back and walked into the river. Li Zhuiyuan looked up, not checking for “construction details,” but directly assessing the Feng Shui layout. After three successive washes of his eyes to remove the blood, he confirmed that the Feng Shui here had already been altered by him. “Runsheng, you did well.” “What should I do next?” “Runsheng, you can rest now.”
“Then let’s go back to my grand uncle’s house to sleep; I really think you can’t hold out much longer.” “No, there’s one last and most important task I need to do.” “Let me do it.” Li Zhuiyuan fell silent. Runsheng understood. “Can you manage it?” “Even if I can’t, I must. We don’t have much time left. They will arrive the earliest by tomorrow evening.”
Feng Shui can be divided into two types: natural phenomena and man-made layouts. Natural phenomena are long-lasting; unless a large-scale change in terrain occurs suddenly, only the passage of time can change these phenomena. Thus, the ancients usually chose cemetery sites for this very reason, leveraging the longevity of natural phenomena.
Man-made layouts are like setting a trap to raise fish in a river; if not maintained and repaired regularly, the net will inevitably break, and the fish will return to the current. This kind of layout in a small river is simple yet fragile. During the day, Li Zhuiyuan already noticed deviations; it was time for the other side to come back and repair things.
Of course, they could also choose not to return for repairs, but at the very least, they must check the results of the “exercise.” Therefore, Zhou Yong was utterly deceived; what he thought was permanence had an actual shelf life. If the other party didn’t come to maintain it, it would quickly rot in the river or his home, taking his wife and daughter with it.
In any case, this matter couldn’t be delayed. Before dawn, he must complete all arrangements and then take a good rest to recover from his injuries. Returning to the riverbank, Li Zhuiyuan sat down before Zhou Yong. Entering calm.
The nearby Runsheng and Tan Wenbin had faded from view, leaving only Zhou Yong, who now appeared very weak, like a fish that had been out of water for too long. This was great because Li Zhuiyuan himself was very fatigued.
The frequencies of both their weaknesses matched perfectly now, and soon they entered a synchronized state. This also led Li Zhuiyuan to a new discovery: to control the dead effectively, it was easier to complete steps on the black book when the dead were on the brink of death. However, there’s a paradox; if one can easily resolve the issue through other means, would he still need to control it?
For now, maintaining a single dead body was difficult. One had to create a suitable living environment and maintain it regularly, always on guard against potential backstabbing. The existence of the dead was destined to provoke resistance. The earlier duo of mother and daughter showed signs of losing control as soon as he didn’t directly suppress Zhou Yong.
The only exception was Xiao Huangying. But Xiao Huangying had a more extended existence due to “it” in the fish pond, and at the moment, Li Zhuiyuan didn’t even know where Xiao Huangying was; perhaps…. She had already been taken underground with that “it.”
Weizhengdao in the black book also described this as a powerful means to deal with the dead, not simply a “taming manual.” Because one cannot expect something continuously tormented to possess lasting loyalty toward you. Weizhengdao understood this clearly, yet his friend didn’t. He had successfully raised something, but at the cost of turning himself into a dead body.
Thus, Li Zhuiyuan thought that guy was incredibly foolish; which beast tamer’s goal involves locking themselves inside a cage? “Come on, Zhou Yong, let me see your memories.” Li Zhuiyuan placed his hand on Zhou Yong’s forehead.
Exhausted, he lacked the energy to delve into Zhou Yong's tragic and sorrowful memories of his wife's illness; he swiftly skipped over those moments, lingering only on a few critical nodes. The first being when Zhou Yong cried mournfully by the bedside for his deceased wife while hearing words from outside the window. Zhou Yong ran out, but he couldn’t find anyone; that person had only left a letter.
The letter said they could help him keep his wife and daughter close. After his daughter died, that voice appeared again, and Zhou Yong went out yet again, still unable to find anyone, receiving another letter with identical content. After the deaths of his wife and daughter, one sleepless night, Zhou Yong sat alone in his house, drinking heavily when the voice came once more.
He still didn’t see anyone and found yet another letter outside. Opening it, he discovered it detailed specific methods. Li Zhuiyuan sighed; he couldn’t help but admit the other party’s methods were very clean.
Doing something bad without leaving a trace is a behavior logic similar to Granny Liu and her group. This doesn’t mean Liu Yumei is also bad; it’s just that they both consistently avoided certain things, fearing being implicated. For example, this group knew they were committing grossly vile acts yet never truly dirty their hands.
Even if they most likely killed the girl and the woman, for those bedridden, death during that time became a form of relief, akin to Western euthanasia. In that moment of killing, they wouldn’t feel resentment but instead gratitude, as they wouldn’t realize what awaited them after death… If not for Li Zhuiyuan’s revelations, their hatred would be channelled entirely toward Zhou Yong.
Such cleanliness in action; was this reverence for some taboo? This is also why when I suggested a plan with Black Cat, it was met with amazement: can righteous individuals really do this? It turned out there indeed existed such “rules of the righteous path.”
However, Li Zhuiyuan did not retreat because of this. For him, the worst-case scenario was to complete the task and return home to hug his great-grandfather more. Zhou Yong was truly interesting; relying solely on three letters, he laid bare his entire foundation to arrange the bridge.
But recalling the image of Jesus placed in his home made it all the more understandable. This person indeed believed in such things, fitting the mold of someone easily deceived. He would rather lead a frugal life at home than send money to charlatans while believing he was clever and wise, thinking he was the only one awake in a drunken world.
Li Zhuiyuan forced himself to gather his wits. In Zhou Yong’s perspective, he began speaking: “Now, I will say something, you watch, I’ll tell you… the truth.”
Step three from the Weizhengdao black book: deceive! Zhou Yong's perspective was shifted back to the moment just before he returned home and discovered his wife was dead. As Zhou Yong approached his home, he heard dialogue from behind the house: “Alright, I’ve killed his wife.” “Good to hear, dragging it out isn’t helpful.” “Once he returns and sees this, he’ll be heartbroken, making our next step easier.”
“Is the letter prepared?” “Done, but do we leave specific instructions now?” “Not yet; his daughter hasn’t died.”
Li Zhuiyuan struggled to maintain mental clarity, continuing to turn the visual perspective back to the moment Zhou Yong discovered his daughter was dead. The scenario repeated itself; the same eavesdropping, with only slight changes to the dialogue. It wasn’t that Li Zhuiyuan didn’t want to craft a more detailed scene, but rather he was quickly losing his strength.
He well understood that brutally altering someone’s memories could cause confusion in Zhou Yong’s original memory links. Even if you were dealing with a normal case of the dead falling, one couldn’t apply such heavy-handed methods. After a brief shock, people would tend to adopt the wrong memories, like normal individuals forgetting a dream from the previous night.
But Li Zhuiyuan trusted Zhou Yong; he was indeed very easy to deceive. Moreover, he was adapting based on facts, which aligned with the internal logic of the memory chain.
Continuing to adjust the perspective, he returned to the moment when Zhou Yong sat drinking alone after losing his wife and daughter. Outside, he overheard: “Alright, we’ve killed his wife and child; we can proceed with the next plan now.” “Mhm, he’s really foolish. I’ve tossed the letter here; he’ll clutch at it like it’s a saving grace and do exactly as told.”
“Just toss it; he’s coming out soon.” “Mhm.”
Li Zhuiyuan initially intended to enrich the last part of the dialogue, but he could no longer hold on. His state of entering calm was hard to maintain, and the visual perspective began to tremble and fragment. However, it should suffice. Exhausted, Li Zhuiyuan released all his energy and closed his eyes.
When he wanted to open his eyes again, he found he couldn’t; it felt as if they were blocked. He realized he had reached the end of his calm state because the sounds of Runsheng and Tan Wenbin echoed in his ears. “Runsheng, this blood won’t stop; it’s terrifying.” “Wipe it again; I’ll fetch some clean water.” “Binbin.”
“Xiaoyuan, you’re awake; don’t panic; we’re finding a way to stop the bleeding.” “Binbin, check on Zhou Yong and tell me how he is now.” “He… is shaking his head nonstop, like he’s having a seizure, but don’t worry, he can’t escape the basket and the net.”
“Keep watching him and tell me what changes occur; I can’t see right now.” Runsheng returned quickly, and soon Li Zhuiyuan felt a cooling sensation at his eyes. His eyes opened now, but his vision remained pitch black, unable to see anything at all.
“Xiaoyuan, why do your eyes lack any focus? Can you see how many fingers I’m holding up?” Li Zhuiyuan shook his head. At this point, he felt that even Liu Jinxia with cataracts in front of him could boast of clear vision. He was now no better off than blind. “Xiaoyuan, are you okay?”
“Xiaoyuan, don’t scare me!” “No need to worry; I just overexerted myself. I can’t see right now, but I’m not truly blind. After resting, I’ll gradually recover.” The Weizhengdao contained similar entries: if one’s sight was lost, it would return in a set time, leading to the understanding of moderation.
Weizhengdao had previously pushed himself to the brink too, but he eventually recovered. The term “set time” wasn’t easy to interpret; it could mean a month or ten months, or anywhere from ten days to a month. Li Zhuiyuan felt the last interpretation fit best; if one truly went blind for ten whole months, when Weizhengdao wrote this, his tone would likely be more solemn, and it wouldn’t be framed as “leading to the understanding of moderation,” but rather “the fright of a near calamity” or “a rebirth.”
“Xiaoyuan, the mucus in Zhou Yong’s eyes has faded; his gaze has turned red again and looks very furious.” “Is he staring at the three of us?” “No, he isn’t looking our way.” “Mhm, good, it worked.”
Hatred had transferred. “Runsheng, take off the net and the basket; put Zhou Yong in the water.” “Okay!” Though this demand sounded unreasonable, Runsheng never questioned why. He carried Zhou Yong to the riverbank, took off the net and basket, and looked at the man flopping like a dead fish on the shore, lifting his leg to kick him back into the water.
As soon as Zhou Yong hit the water, the near-death figure instantly became animated, diving beneath the surface. “Xiaoyuan, let’s go to the hospital,” Tan Wenbin said. “Binbin, endure a bit more and ride the three-wheeler to take me home. Runsheng, stay here to look after Old Dashan and my great-grandfather.
Starting tomorrow, make sure to check back at Zhou Yong's home in the morning and evening. If you don’t see that pair of women waving at you from the yard, check the nearby river; you should be able to pull out a dead fish.” “Xiaoyuan, is there anything else to pay attention to?” “Remember to recalculate with the village chief.” “Okay.” Runsheng agreed and then turned to Tan Wenbin, “Can you still ride?” “No problem.”
With a genuinely concerned tone, Runsheng asked, “You look very tired; do you want me to slap you to wake you up?” “No, I can give myself a slap while riding.” “Stay safe; don’t let anything happen to Xiaoyuan.” “Of course, rest assured.”
Runsheng tidied up his things and personally carried Li Zhuiyuan back home. Inside, two drunken old men were snoring loudly. This time, he had helped his great-grandfather resolve another problem. However, the boy didn’t mind helping his great-grandfather alleviate such disasters. Being alongside his great-grandfather allowed him to act more freely. His great-grandfather’s logic of behavior had always been at odds with the so-called righteous path.
However, it’s also possible that this so-called righteous path is entirely false and wrong, and his great-grandfather’s approach is the true path. But from another angle, had he not come, his great-grandfather might not have faced this matter. Because without him, his great-grandfather wouldn’t have found Zhou Yong’s home, even with that compass.
The dawn broke. Exhausted, sitting on the tricycle with the cool morning breeze blowing past, Li Zhuiyuan found his earlier fatigue had vanished. Although his eyes remained dark and could not see, his mood was quite cheerful, and he even began humming a nursery rhyme, “Let us row our double oars.”
Everything he had achieved previously had come too easily. In the “body retrieval” subject, this time he experienced the feeling of failure for the first time. He struggled hard, yearning for even the slightest improvement, yet the moment he was framed, he himself fell into cheating! Why was this acceptable?
Then, he planned to annihilate them. Tan Wenbin rode while slapping his own face, but upon hearing the singing behind him, he couldn’t help but smile. The boy sitting behind seemed to have given off a sense of terrifying maturity that far exceeded his physical age since the very first meeting. Many times, he felt as if his father appeared suppressed in front of the boy.
Thus, when he called out in a brotherly manner; it wasn’t mere flattery, as the boy was inherently more intelligent and mature than himself. Now, hearing the boy sing, he felt delighted, as this was the genuine appearance of a child. “You seem happy, Xiaoyuan?” “Mhm, extremely happy.”
The tricycle safely made its way onto the family’s platform. The rider, Tan Wenbin, was almost slapped silly from exhaustion. Upon arrival, he groggily pulled the brake and collapsed on the ground, conking out.
This day and night, he had been busy, subjected to constant shocks, and had his Yang energy drained by the dead, so managing to hold on until now was indeed a small miracle for a normal person. Liu Yumei and Aunt Liu were having breakfast when they saw him and immediately dropped their chopsticks, rushing over.
Li Zhuiyuan's left hand and right hand were grabbed by Liu Yumei and Liu Ting. Then, they exchanged a glance. Aunt Liu let go and dragged Tan Wenbin back to the dining table before returning to get medication. Liu Yumei, with a grave expression, stared at Li Zhuiyuan, sighing.
Li Zhuiyuan enjoyed this peaceful atmosphere where there were no unnecessary concerns or inquiries; everyone could see clearly. Moreover, since he couldn’t see now, everyone didn’t have to manage their expressions. The world suddenly became much simpler.
Until suddenly, his hand was grasped by a pair of soft, warm hands. The monotonous world immediately turned rich and full. “Ali, come here; I want to whisper something to you.” She leaned in closer, pressing herself against the boy. Li Zhuiyuan sensed his lips brushing against the girl’s hair as she pressed her ear closer.
“I’ll tell you; there are some people trying to scheme against me. I’m quite angry and have already made arrangements. I will surely be able to bring them down.” Liu Yumei undoubtedly overheard the whisper. Initially, she thought her granddaughter would be angry at the boy for ending up like this, but surprisingly, after he finished speaking, the girl’s face displayed two distinct dimples.
“Ali, I can’t see right now; please take me back to the room.” Li Zhuiyuan felt the girl take one of his hands to guide him forward while the other steadied his arm. Previously, he had always been the one leading her.
Once in the room, they climbed upstairs step by step, returning to his room. Li Zhuiyuan lay down, reaching for the blanket but finding nothing. However, just then, the blanket was placed over his stomach, folded in a manner he was accustomed to.
Once the girl left, Li Zhuiyuan heard the sound of the door opening. After a while, the door opened again, and the girl returned, feeling a wet towel being rubbed across his face. Rubbing for a while, folding it, and then continuing, just as he used to do for her.
It turned out she had been learning all along. The door to the room opened once more, with adult footsteps approaching. “Xiaoyuan, just lie there and don’t move; I’ll apply medicine for you.” “Thank you, Aunt Liu.”
The medicine was pasted on his eyes and then secured with a cloth strap around the back of his head. A comfortable feeling swirled around his eye sockets, followed by deep exhaustion.
Forcing himself not to sleep just yet, Li Zhuiyuan asked, “Aunt Liu, how long until my eyes heal?” “In a set time.”
Li Zhuiyuan: “…” Aunt Liu laughed, “Haha, a month, you can take a break for now.” Li Zhuiyuan smiled as well. “You little rascal, how can you still smile?” “In a month, the summer vacation will be over, so school won’t be delayed.”
During the day, Li Sanjiang woke up, learning that Xiaoyuan and Zhuanzhuang had returned; however, he didn’t think much of it. Instead, he picked up his gear and led Runsheng along the river for several turns. Runsheng thought to accompany Li Sanjiang to pass the time and play along.
Then he saw Li Sanjiang pull out the compass. The compass pointed due south, so he followed Li Sanjiang to the base of the bridge. Beneath the bridge, Li Sanjiang undid his belt and relieved himself.
Men typically don’t like to look down while urinating but instead scan the surroundings like they’re on top of the world. He noticed the stone tablet beneath the bridge and remarked: “Runshenghou, is this Zhou Yong from your village?” “Yes, sir.” “Tch, is he wealthy? Did he fund a bridge by himself?” “Um… I’m not very familiar with people in the village.”
“You’re from the village, so how can you not know?” “Sir, you know, I work with my grandfather and rarely interact with villagers.” “That shouldn't be the case; aren’t you the one who loses money in the card games?” “My grandfather often doesn’t have money for cards.” “Oh, that makes sense.”
Runsheng sighed in relief, believing he had depleted his wisdom to smoothly navigate this situation. However, the following scene left Runsheng dumbfounded. With the compass in hand, Li Sanjiang walked south to the bridge’s base. Ahead was the river’s bend, with no path; then he turned to follow the compass's reverse direction, heading north.
Zhou Yong’s family conveniently resided at the village’s northern edge. Thus, Runsheng trailed behind Li Sanjiang until they arrived at Zhou Yong’s house, his expression akin to seeing a ghost. His grandfather always said Li Sanjiang was of no talent; was this really talent?
Last night, Li Zhuiyuan had exerted considerable effort to find Zhou Yong’s home, while all Li Sanjiang had to do was take a whizz nearby! “Hahaha, hello there!” Li Sanjiang waved, greeting the mother and daughter sitting in the yard.
“Grandfather, let’s not move ahead.” Runsheng decided that if Li Sanjiang continued forward, he would physically carry him away. “We won’t go; it’s just the two of them at home, it’s not interesting.”
With the womenfolk at home, it wasn’t appropriate for a big man to approach closer. However, in Runsheng’s ears, this bore another interpretation: did Sanjiang know Zhou Yong wasn’t home? After lingering until the afternoon, Li Sanjiang returned to Old Dashan’s house.
The village chief was also in the courtyard, inquiring about the progress. Li Sanjiang confidently patted his chest, assuring him it wouldn’t be long before they found Zhou Yong. After the village chief left, there was still plenty of leftover high-quality liquor from last night, which the village chief had also generously supplied with some pickled dishes.
The two old men sat down, continuing to drink. As they drank, they grew more spirited. By the time night fell, Li Sanjiang remembered he had come for a purpose and decided to rise and take a look while it was still not too dark. Old Dashan grabbed him, urging him to continue drinking and then encouraged Runsheng to step outside for another round.
Runsheng replied in the affirmative, gathering his belongings, as Xiaoyuan had instructed him to check Zhou Yong’s home early and late. He dashed to the yard of Zhou Yong’s house. This time, the mother and daughter were nowhere to be seen.
Nighttime came. An adult was seen walking along the riverside with a boy on his shoulder. This looked like a father-son duo out for a stroll, but their conversation was shocking, as the adult referred to the boy at his neck as “father.”
“Dad, someone from Liu Xiazi’s family sent our money back; what should we do?” “We’ll need to visit again another day, and the price will double; I don’t believe she won’t be tempted.” “Sure, are they really that significant?” “Very much so; they are quite hard to kill, especially that little granddaughter named Cui Cui.”
“Dad, are you interested in her?” The dwarf forcefully smacked the man under him on the head, causing him to yelp. “Are you stupid? Do you think marrying someone so hard to kill is good? You’re hoping for your dad to die sooner, huh?” “Dad, if that’s not your intention, why are you eyeing other people's girls?”
“Why? Because it’s useful. If I can connect with their family, it’ll allow for some things to be handled by them in the future. They’re hard to kill, three of them can replace one, how nice.” “Then why not force them…”
“Don’t be stupid. Did you forget how I taught you? In this line of work, we’re most wary of death-related matters. Even if you have your own plans, you must pay attention to how it’s carried out, maintaining a clean hand. Otherwise, heaven knows when misfortune might strike, and you won’t even know how you died.
This father and son pair, one with dwarfism and the other gigantism, already had it hard; not only did heaven look down upon them, but people also looked at them differently, thus they must be careful in their actions. Understand?” “Got it, Dad.”
“By the way, remember to ask about that boy’s situation the next time we visit Liu Xiazi’s family.” “Dad, you still remember that boy; he’s just a kid.” “I get the feeling he can see right through me.”
“How is that possible, Dad? Aren’t you overthinking? Out there, everyone thinks you’re my son.” “There’s no mistake; that boy can see right through me. It’s as if he caught a glimpse of my inner thoughts. You weren’t there; you don’t understand, that boy’s gaze is terrifying.”
“Could it be that boy has the same illness as you?” “I don’t know, so the next time we go to Siyuan Village, we need to check again. It would be best to visit that boy’s home, too. Oh, right, that gentle woman beside him is truly beautiful, just like the people on TV.” “I see her too; she doesn’t look hard to kill?”
“Can’t tell; she should be easy to deal with.” “Then she should be my wife in the future?” “Haha, you’re my son. Don’t you understand the rules? How can you go first?” “Dad, you don’t act like a father.”
“Alright, stop the nonsense; we’ve arrived. Go into the river and call that fool out, let’s see how the outcome of what you did last time turns out so I can also check your grades.” “You can count on me, Dad; no problem.”
The man went down into the river, preparing to summon him. Unexpectedly, bubbles suddenly floated up before him. Zhou Yong’s back emerged, then slowly turned, finally revealing his form. “Dad, look, my dead body is so clever it doesn’t even need to be summoned; it’s coming out on its own.” “Indeed, not bad, son. I told you, I’ve never seen anyone more talented than you in this line of work.” “Of course.”
“Roar!” Suddenly, the mucus in Zhou Yong’s eyes dissipated, turning bright red and lunging toward the man. “Dad!” the man screamed. The dwarf, however, produced a piece of talisman paper and swiftly stuck it onto Zhou Yong’s forehead, stopping him momentarily.
“Dad, how terrifying, what just happened?” “It’s common for the dead to lose control; there’s no need to worry—” At the bridge’s head, a cold wind blew, and the malevolent energy in the river surged to a boil. The talisman on Zhou Yong’s forehead ignited instantly.
“Roar!” Zhou Yong’s hands pierced through the man’s chest, and his mouth opened wide to bite down on the man’s neck. “Crack! Crack! Crack!” The sound of fractured bones rang out, sharp and clear. The man was viciously overpowered and fell into the river.
“What’s happening? How could this happen? No, this is impossible!” The dwarf floundered in the water, unable to believe what he witnessed. What brought this turn of events? In the river, blood and chunks of flesh surfaced as Zhou Yong continued to pursue the dwarf.
“You’re going to die; you’re going to die! You return my son!” The dwarf’s features twisted, wholly losing the childlike appearance. A thorny rope appeared in his hand, slithering through the water like a fish, deftly maneuvering behind Zhou Yong. The rope looped around Zhou Yong’s neck, tightening fiercely. “Ah! Ah! Ah!!!” Zhou Yong screamed, his neck rapidly melting away.
However, when Zhou Yong let out that roar, the well cover at his home clattered downwards. The vibrant, multicolored water snake below opened its mouth, emitting a silent hiss and subsequently burst apart, dissolving into pus. “Bang!” “Bang!”
The windowpane of the house and the kitchen shattered as both women leapt out, racing toward the river. Runsheng was also running towards the river when he suddenly saw two figures rush past him. He recognized them but didn’t know why. The mother and daughter were now gliding along the ground like two swift-moving snakes.
Then they both jumped into the river, creating two ripples on the surface. “You deserve it; you harmed my son! That was my son!!!” The dwarf nearly decapitated Zhou Yong with the rope, and Zhou Yong's aura rapidly diminished, the malevolence quickly dissipating.
This force-feeding Feng Shui layout was inherently fleeting. But just then, Zhou Yong suddenly reached out, grabbing the dwarf by both feet. The dwarf didn’t care; all he knew was that this dead body was nearly cut to death by him. But then he glanced to his side, seeing something beneath the water.
Suddenly, two figures shot up from beneath the water, one on each side, grabbing the dwarf and beginning to savage him. Their eyes shone like those of snakes, and each bite released not red blood but black. “Ah!!!” the dwarf screeched. He intended to throw them off, but the three dead bodies clung tightly, leaving him with no space to maneuver.
Ultimately, his face morphed an ashen gray, poisoned and losing all vitality. Alongside the three dead, he sank slowly to the bottom of the river. After Li Zhuiyuan altered Zhou Yong's memories, his resentments shifted from a craving to be with his wife and daughter to a desire for vengeance for his shattered family.
Once the enemy perished, vengeance was complete, and the resentment began dissipating. Even if unexpected occurrences arose, there lay another layer of safety in that this river’s Feng Shui had been adjusted by Li Zhuiyuan to expel malevolence, naturally igniting this area’s malevolence into a boiling effect, including that of the dead body.
In any case, Zhou Yong was utterly obliterated. When he disappeared, the ghostly presences of his wife and daughter also finally found liberation. As they all embraced and sank beneath the water, they gradually spread apart, only that pair of women still held together.
When Runsheng reached the riverbank, he was startled by the sight before him; the river was filled with many floating corpses. “Xiaoyuan, you were right; look, so many fish, so many dead fish!”
(This chapter ends)