Volume One, Chapter 26: Blood!

"Morning Glory, wormwood, datura, and a touch of patchouli—that should be enough." Zhang Yunling gently swirled a teacup, a confident smile gracing her poised and elegant face.

On the table sat a crudely stitched cloth doll; the poor needlework gave the figure a rather sinister appearance.

"Luo Shan is still the same. He’s just not as roguish as he used to be, but he still steals glances at me. It’s all just a facade of respectability."

"Uncle Luo and Aunt Gu are truly innocent. Thankfully, they haven't run into any trouble."

"In a while, I’ll have Luo Shan go ask the village chief for lamp oil. By the time he arrives, the medicine should take effect. The chief won't have time to reach the witch doctor, so Luo Shan will have no choice but to spend the night at the chief's house."

"That would be perfect, wouldn't it?"

"Luo Shan has been deliberately drawing attention to himself in the village these past two days, trying to show off his 'reformed prodigal' act. The chief trusts him, but when Luo Shan opens that door in the middle of the night, who knows what he’ll be thinking?"

Zhang Yunling flashed a sweet smile at the cloth doll, then sat down to continue mending a garment riddled with holes, humming a tune that sounded as melodious as an oriole.

Time ticked by, moment by moment.

Zhang Yunling finished mending the clothes, held them up to inspect her work, and nodded with satisfaction.

She turned her head to glance at the sky; the sunset had appeared, and a gleam of excitement sparkled in her eyes.

However, as the sun dipped lower and the sky grew increasingly dark, the courtyard gate remained silent. A shadow of gloom crossed her eyes.

Where was Luo Shan? Why hadn't he come?

Hasty footsteps suddenly rang out.

A glimmer of joy returned to Zhang Yunling's eyes.

The gate was knocked on urgently. She flew to open it.

To her surprise, standing outside were Gu Ya and Luo Feng.

"Xiao Ling, hurry and call Xiao Shan out. It's getting dark," Gu Ya said hurriedly.

Luo Feng frowned slightly.

"Xiao Shan... he hasn't come... I've been waiting for him," Zhang Yunling said, her heart skipping a beat.

"What?" Gu Ya’s expression shifted. "He hasn't been home since this afternoon. If he’s not here, then where is he?"

"Husband, hurry and find the village chief! It’s almost dark!" Gu Ya cried, frantic with anxiety.

Luo Feng’s brow furrowed deeper. "Let's go home first."

"No!" Gu Ya gripped Luo Feng’s forearm tightly. "How can you tell me to go home? Xiao Shan is missing! How can I be at ease!? Hurry and look for him! Where on earth could he be?"

Gu Ya was on the verge of tears, stomping her feet in distress.

"We’re going back. Maybe Xiao Shan is already home. He’ll be worried if he finds us gone; we shouldn't have come out in the first place," Luo Feng said, his tone firming.

"This..." Gu Ya had completely lost her composure, panicking. "Right... you're right... home... hurry, let's go home..."

...

The twilight deepened, slowly swallowing the last of the daylight.

Luo Bin sat on the threshold of the Mountain God Temple. Most of the time, he watched the road beyond the village outskirts and the dense forest, only occasionally glancing toward the village to ensure no one was approaching.

It was almost dark.

He felt trembling fear in his heart.

But beneath that, there was an inexplicable sense of resolve.

The truth was, he had no way to obtain lamp oil for the night.

There was none in the small wooden hut, and stealing from others was too risky. He knew nothing about the other villagers' homes; what would happen if he were caught?

Without lamp oil, once he lost control, he would become the greatest danger to his mother in this life.

Therefore, staying behind had become the best option.

He turned his head and looked silently at Gu Yiren. Luo Bin swallowed hard.

He hoped she had a way.

Otherwise... was she... also an option?

He stood up, preparing to close the door.

"No... don't close it..." A timid voice reached his ears. Gu Yiren had woken up; she was leaning against a pillar, standing up.

"Don't close the door?" Luo Bin felt sweat beading on his forehead.

"Come here..." Gu Yiren beckoned.

Luo Bin hesitated for a moment before letting go of the door and walking toward her.

Gu Yiren moved behind the statue of the Mountain God.

The statue was made of clay, sitting not directly on the ground but on a square stone platform.

The four sides of the platform were covered in old, dirty, and tattered cloth. Gu Yiren lifted the cloth at the back, revealing a small iron plate with a ring.

She pulled the ring, and with a creak, the plate opened. It was actually a small hatch about half a meter wide, leading into total darkness.

Gu Yiren crawled inside.

"Are you coming in?" she called out timidly.

"Phew..." Luo Bin let out a shaky breath and dove into the hole.

The hatch closed behind them.

A faint light flickered on.

An oil lamp?

Luo Bin was overcome with joy, but when his eyes landed on the flame, his heart sank. It wasn't an oil lamp at all, but a stub of a candle.

It was an incredibly cramped space. One couldn't even stand up, forced to hunch over; standing straight meant hitting one's head. It was at most two meters wide, filled with dirty, old cotton quilts, a grimy water jug, and a rusted chamber pot.

There was no ventilation, and the air was stifling. It had been a long time since anyone had been here, so the smell was just barely tolerable.

"We have to wait here. It's dark, they've come out," Gu Yiren said, her voice silent as she used lip-reading.

"Wait for what?" Luo Bin replied with lip-reading.

Gu Yiren didn't speak again, simply lowering her head in silence.

Luo Bin: "..."

In such extreme silence, one begins to hear a ringing in the ears.

Luo Bin heard the faint chirping of cicadas.

When the chirping stopped, he heard footsteps.

Then, as if guided by some unseen force, Luo Bin noticed a hole, roughly the size of a finger, in the wall directly ahead.

He carefully moved toward it, trying his best not to make a sound.

This caused a look of horror to cross Gu Yiren's face, and she repeatedly made shushing gestures.

Luo Bin crouched before the hole and peered through.

The hole was a clear passage; he could see the interior of the Mountain God Temple!

Several figures were pacing back and forth inside the temple.

In the pitch-black night, with no moonlight, the darkness was profound.

Yet, he could still clearly see their faces—lips pressed tight, void of expression.

Sweat trickled down his forehead, some stinging his eyes. Luo Bin blinked repeatedly to relieve the discomfort.

Slowly, the figures filed out of the Mountain God Temple.

The hole was too small and his view too blurred, but he could vaguely see silhouettes passing in front of the temple.

They were all evil spirits!

They hadn't discovered him or Gu Yiren!

After an unknown amount of time—perhaps ten minutes?

No more evil spirits entered the temple.

Yet, Luo Bin couldn't let out a sigh of relief. Although there were no oil lamps here and no light-aversion trigger, his throat was itchy and parched; it felt as dry as if it were about to spark.

"There are no more evil spirits here..."

"Didn't you say you could help me?"

"How are you going to help me?"

"What are we waiting for?" Luo Bin turned his head. He wanted to calm himself, but he couldn't. To resist the bloodlust, he stared with wide, bloodshot eyes, his expression becoming fierce and savage.

"Why aren't you saying anything?" Luo Bin shook his head, even striking his own temple hard, using the pain to soothe the burning in his throat.

Gu Yiren’s face turned even paler. She clutched her knees tightly, looking terrified, her expression filled with suffering.

Then, she raised her hand.

In her left hand, she held a dagger; her right palm was upturned.

The blade sliced across her palm, and blood began to flow.

"What are you doing?!"

Luo Bin gritted his teeth, his eyes bulging—he was stunned and shocked.

The next instant, Gu Yiren leaned forward. In the narrow, two-meter space, she pressed her bleeding palm directly over Luo Bin’s mouth!