Chapter 1

Sichuan Province is located in the northwest of Huaguo, anciently known as 'Jiuli'. The province is characterized by its mountainous terrain, with the capital city, Rongcheng, situated in a basin with fertile land and a long history of agricultural civilization. Other cities are mostly built on the mountains, often surrounded by rugged peaks, and have historically been the habitat of various ethnic groups.

Hengze City in western Sichuan, specifically Guxian County, is a small town that seems to be nestled in a primeval forest. It developed from ancient Miao and Yi mountain villages and was once the poorest region. However, with the rapid economic growth of Huaguo, the prosperity of the people, and the opening up to the outside world, the tourism industry has flourished. The town has become increasingly wealthy due to its pristine natural scenery, which has remained unchanged for ages.

In late autumn, the weather was cold and overcast. At noon, the bright but cold sunlight shone on the stone paths of Guawo Village in Damu Town, casting patches of shadows.

In the distance, a group of teenagers, around sixteen or seventeen years old, wearing slightly worn school uniforms, were walking along the stone paths, following the shadows cast by the trees, laughing and playing.

If they had been born in a big city, these teenagers would have been under immense pressure, either diligently studying for good universities and a bright future, or, if more rebellious, already involved in dating, smoking, drinking, and fighting, with some even frequenting nightclubs.

However, in this remote mountain village, which had become somewhat restless due to the influx of travelers, the teenagers still retained a simple and unadorned quality.

Unfortunately, being simple and unadorned does not necessarily mean being kind and peaceful, especially in Guawo Village, where the local culture has always been fierce and diverse.

"Big Egg, my father said that a network base station is going to be built in our village soon. Then we won't have to go all the way to town to get online."

"You must be dreaming. How could the network company build a base station in such a remote place? That would be foolish."

"Why can't they come to our village? This is a provincially approved 'Natural Ecological Folk Tourism Area.' Tourists, both domestic and foreign, come to our village to see the scenery. Even foreign old men come to give us classes. Why can't they lay some internet cables?"

"Look at you, you low-IQ guy. Tourists are all rich people. They use satellite internet. They don't need base stations. And without the internet, our village will seem more 'pure and natural.' Do you know what 'pure and natural' means? You, like the nickname your father gave you, are just a 'coarse stone.'"

"You dare to insult me and call me a coarse stone? I'll give you a black eye."

On the stone path, a few young boys started arguing. One of them, a square-faced teenager with a large face and small eyes, turned red with anger and was about to fight his companion.

However, it wasn't entirely the square-faced teenager's fault. Guawo Village is predominantly inhabited by the Miao people. The teenager, named Gepu Shi, belongs to one of the three main Miao clans: Black, White, and Red. He knew that 'coarse stone' referred to a type of stone that is porous and difficult to use, often used to line latrines. His parents gave him this name to avoid the envy of the gods and to make him easier to raise, but as he grew up, he felt ashamed and would lash out at anyone who called him by this name.

Usually, when Gepu Shi got angry, the other students would back off, but this time, Hejia Heiyu, who was also known for his mischievous behavior, was not one to back down. He rolled up his sleeves and confronted Gepu Shi, like a rooster ready to fight.

Seeing Gepu Shi and Hejia Heiyu about to fight, the more timid students on their way home quickly moved to the side. Their mischievous friends, instead of trying to stop them, cheered them on.

"Stone, give that guy a black eye. He'll know your power when he sees blood."

"Heiyu, haven't you heard the saying 'strike first to gain the upper hand'? Don't be the one to lose."

Encouraged by his friends, Gepu Shi roared and swung a punch. However, the lean Hejia Heiyu nimbly jumped off the stone path, dodging the punch, and kicked Gepu Shi in the buttocks.

The impact affected Gepu Shi's entire body. His punch missed, and due to the force on his buttocks, he lost control and hit an innocent teenager who was walking by, unaware of what was happening.

The innocent teenager was thin and had high cheekbones. After being hit, his nose started bleeding profusely, and he stood there in shock.

"Mountain Bug, how did you get hit?" Seeing the blood on the thin teenager's face, Gepu Shi's face turned pale, and he stammered. However, his youthful vanity made him realize he couldn't show weakness, so he said in a harsh tone, "Why did you stand in front of my punch? Are you with Heiyu? Hmph, you deserve to be hit for not watching where you're going."

The thin teenager, who had been hit for no reason, came to his senses and, without a word, wiped the blood from his nose and ran away quickly.

Behind him, the students whispered, "Stone, Mountain Bug is no one, but his father is not to be trifled with. You shouldn't have been so tough."

"These are the times of satellites. Do you really believe in those feudal superstitions? Watch 'Science and Life.' There are no ghosts or spirits." Although Gepu Shi's words were harsh, his tone clearly showed a hint of regret.

Others might not understand, but Gepu Shi, despite his youth, was a true 'old Miao.' He knew that in the dense forests and areas infested with venomous insects, a boy named Zhang Lisheng, who used the word 'bug' as his nickname, was not someone to be underestimated.

The Zhang surname is one of the twenty-seven Miao surnames, including Wu, Long, Zhao, Ou, Teng, Hu, and Xiang. Although not one of the three main Miao clans, the Zhangs have a lineage of over a thousand years. In particular, the Zhangs are said to have a tradition of witchcraft, making them different from other families. As a result, travelers in western Sichuan who bear the surname Zhang are particularly well-received and face fewer disturbances.

Gepu Shi felt regret as he stood on the stone path, while Zhang Lisheng, who had been hit, ran quickly along the village path to an old house with a worn peachwood door.

Guawo Village, located in the deep mountains, is humid in summer and cold in winter. The houses were originally bamboo huts, but in recent years, they have been rebuilt as imitation bamboo huts with high cement pillars at the corners.

The old brick and stone house, with its ancient Chinese style, gave a sense of something unusual.

The lock on the old house was a square branch lock made of brass. Zhang Lisheng quickly unlocked it with the key around his neck, entered the courtyard, and securely bolted the wooden door with two heavy door latches.

"Finally, I made it back in time," he said, panting heavily after pulling the door to ensure it was locked.

Then, he began to make strange sounds, "sisi xixi sisi xixi," as if in a frenzy.

Zhang Lisheng's chanting seemed meaningless, with no discernible pattern, but it had a chilling rhythm.

As the sounds grew more urgent, a thin ridge appeared on the yellow earth in the courtyard, moving back and forth. When Zhang Lisheng's voice finally stopped due to exhaustion, a black and red, thumb-thick cord suddenly burst out of the ground, climbing up his right leg like a living creature.

Upon closer inspection, the cord was a giant centipede over 50 centimeters long, with a black and red glossy shell. It had a flat head with black, shiny eyes and two black fangs, giving it a fierce appearance. It soon climbed onto Zhang Lisheng's face.

"Blood, there's blood," Zhang Lisheng said, not showing any fear, but rather a smile. "Eat quickly, don't waste it."

As if understanding the boy, the giant centipede stopped being affectionate and slowly moved down from his nose, absorbing all the blood that had flowed, even the dried blood.

As the centipede began to feed, Zhang Lisheng felt a sense of relief and sat down on the ground. However, soon he felt dizzy and nauseous, and his face turned pale like a corpse.

Zhang Lisheng, who usually only fed the centipede a few drops of blood, now realized how foolish and dangerous his actions had been. It was almost suicidal, but it was too late to change anything. He could only pray to heaven to help him survive this crisis.

The more pain and fear Zhang Lisheng felt, the more pleasure the centipede derived from feeding on his blood. As it fed, its terrifying body glowed faintly, and it moved with a visible speed, causing Zhang Lisheng's body to become emaciated.

Fortunately, just as Zhang Lisheng's eyes were about to bulge out of their sockets, the centipede finished feeding and began to rub against him affectionately, giving him a chance to catch his breath.

Zhang Lisheng, weak and exhausted, slowly regained some strength. His emaciated body, like an inflatable doll, gradually regained some volume, though he was still very thin.

With great effort, he grabbed the centipede from his face and threw it to the ground, his voice hoarse. "Qinghong, you almost killed me. After eating so much blood and essence, you must listen to me and not let me get beaten by my father again. Otherwise, I won't forgive you."

Mentioning his father and remembering that he hadn't completed his morning 'homework,' the boy shivered, and the pain in his weak body seemed less unbearable. He quickly began to chant the ancient incantation again.

As the incantation sounded, the centipede began to move strangely, its long body wriggling, and its many legs crawling in all directions, but it did not respond to the boy's commands.