Chapter 11: Regret

As you are taking me away, at least let me take my luggage. I can't just go out like this and starve to death on the road, I thought, remembering my luggage and the box I took from my grandmother's bedroom.

At a time like this, you're still thinking about these material things? Haven't you heard that it's very dangerous here? Zhao He angrily accused me.

Since you've come, do you still care about this bit of time? Besides, it's daytime now. I've been here with this little girl all night. If you're afraid of dying, you should run for your life. I said with a smile.

Afraid of dying? You...

Zhao He, instead of getting angry, laughed and was about to retort, but was stopped by Zhao Qian's wave of her hand.

Alright, brother, they're just taking their luggage. Since we've come in, we might as well burn some incense for Zhou Xian's spirit. Captain Huo, what do you think?

Although Zhao Qian was asking, given her demonstrated abilities, even if she were to drive Huo Da Dong away, he wouldn't leave.

I also think this is better. Little Zhao is a decent person who understands manners. Let them take their luggage and go. Huo Da Dong said with a smile.

With a consensus, we immediately headed to my grandmother's house.

After Zhao Qian and Zhao He burned incense, I pointed to the locked suitcase and my previous luggage.

Zhao Qian had Zhao He carry the suitcase for me, and I carried my travel bag. We left without any incidents.

Yu Xiaoxue, still a sophomore in high school, had most of her clothes at school, so there wasn't much to take. When we got to her house, she packed a backpack full of sweet potatoes, which made Zhao He laugh uncontrollably.

She originally wanted to take two sugarcane stalks, but realized she was still tied up and gave up.

Zhao Qian almost couldn't hold back her laughter, and Huo Da Dong, seeing how obedient Yu Xiaoxue was, cut the plastic ties and let her successfully cut two new sugarcane stalks.

Huo Da Dong didn't dare to untie my handcuffs, probably afraid I would run away, but to show me a favor, he changed the handcuffs to the front, which made me feel more relaxed, and I developed a slight liking for Huo Da Dong.

Yu Xiaoxue hadn't eaten or slept all night, so she was both tired and hungry. As we walked, she started to chew on the sugarcane.

She carefully peeled the skin and offered it to me: Brother Tian, you should eat some too.

Seeing the sugarcane she had bitten, with saliva still on it, I swallowed hard. I was glad I hadn't let her work; such a pure girl would probably be sold if I looked away for a moment, and then she would be counting money for others.

You eat, I'm not hungry yet. I just had some cookies. I said, looking at Yu Xiaoxue awkwardly.

Oh, okay, then I'll eat it myself. Yu Xiaoxue said, disappointed that I wasn't eating.

Seeing her really eat it, I suddenly regretted it: Xiaoxue, why didn't you ask me a few more times?

At the village entrance, Zhao Qian held the feng shui compass, and the needle was still spinning wildly, but she could still move toward areas with weaker yin energy. When we passed the Si Bridge and areas with heavy yin energy, Zhao He led the way by burning incense and scattering paper money.

Zhao He, being quick-witted, relied on his strong yang energy and always walked in front, living up to his role as a professional assistant.

Zhao Qian should be a feng shui master, knowledgeable about yin and yang. Although I don't understand Daoist things, I can see that she is steady and capable.

This gave me some confidence in leaving Xiaoyi Village. I had planned to use a small ghost I raised to lead the way, but now that someone is doing it for us, why not?

However, the road from Xiaoyi Village to Kanglong Village has open forests and steep cliffs, making it difficult to travel, otherwise, cars would have been able to pass.

Moreover, my grandmother said that the entrance has become an exit, and it might not be possible to leave.

Passing the cemetery, I saw Zhang Yidan's body not yet buried, which made me feel sad: Zhang Yuan Yi is my brother. I don't want him to be left in the wilderness. Can we bury him before we leave?

Zhang Kai Fu was still being carried by Huo Da Dong, who was sweating profusely and frowned, saying: Young brother, let me be frank. It's not that I don't want to do you this favor, but the rules don't allow it. Moreover, I'm here to handle the missing person case. Now that he's dead, it's a major case. I can promise to call for reinforcements as soon as we reach Kanglong Village, and they will come to collect your brother's body.

A person who dies cannot come back to life. Accept it and move on. Since Captain Huo has said this, you should listen to him. Zhao Qian comforted me.

I sighed, realizing that it was impossible to bury Zhang Yidan.

We could only take one step at a time.

At the edge of the open forest, Zhao Qian's feng shui compass started spinning wildly.

My sister-in-law tugged at my sleeve, and I knew that something was waiting for us in the forest, and we would encounter danger.

However, there was no other way out. The mountains surrounded us on all sides, and we had to force our way through, no matter how dangerous it was.

Zhao Qian, being a decisive woman, immediately nodded and let Zhao He lead the way into the forest.

The forest was gloomy, and looking up, I could only see the dappled shadows of the trees, as dark as evening even in broad daylight.

We walked for what seemed like a long time, and Zhao Qian's hand holding the bronze feng shui compass was trembling, but we still hadn't left the forest. Normally, the compass should help us find the direction, but it was acting strangely.

I knew we had encountered a ghost wall and watched how Zhao Qian would handle it.

What a ghost wall! Zhao Qian understood and immediately took out red cloth and white rice, setting up an altar and burning incense to perform a ritual.

Zhao He helped set up the altar, moving the paper money and placing the offerings.

Brother Tian, look, Yu Xiaoxue is standing very close to me, holding my hand tightly. She nodded her head toward a direction not far away.

I looked in the direction Yu Xiaoxue was looking and felt a chill. A woman in a red dress with black hair was standing in the forest, looking at us with a blank expression.

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding. Seeing a ghost in broad daylight, how terrifying.

Zhao Qian and Zhao He didn't see her, and Huo Da Dong was completely unaware, taking the opportunity to put down Zhang Kai Fu and rest.

The red-dressed female ghost had terrifying white eyes and a thin face full of cuts. I didn't know how she died, but I believed she suffered a lot before her death.

The female ghost stood in front of Huo Da Dong, examining him from head to toe, and then walked toward Yu Xiaoxue and me.

My heart raced, but I pretended to look elsewhere. Yu Xiaoxue's legs trembled, and she almost hid in my arms.

Perhaps I have strong yin energy, and the female ghost's face was very close to mine. I could clearly see the terrifying cuts on her face but held my breath and didn't make a sound.

Yu Xiaoxue had already closed her eyes in fear and was tightly huddled in my arms, which indirectly increased my yang energy.

My sister-in-law didn't pull me, indicating that I was not in danger, and Yu Xiaoxue was in my arms, a soft and tender girl. This kind of encounter is not something that happens every moment.

After a while, the female ghost seemed to lose interest in me and turned to look at the unconscious Zhang Kai Fu.

As she approached Zhang Kai Fu, the situation changed, and my sister-in-law started tugging at my sleeve.

I immediately felt that my sister-in-law was favoring Zhang Kai Fu: The female ghost was right in front of me, and you didn't pull me, but now that it's Zhang Kai Fu, you're worried. I really want to see what will happen.

Zhang Kai Fu had only been taken by the river's yin soul, which made him go mad. He was now unconscious and would likely wake up after an hour of sun exposure, though he would never be normal again.

But looking at the female ghost's actions, she was trying to possess a body. Ghosts can't possess a body in broad daylight, so the easiest target would be someone unconscious or asleep.

Zhao Qian and Zhao He, of course, didn't know we had a spirit communication talisman that could see ghosts. They were focused on the ritual and didn't notice.

Gag.

Zhang Kai Fu made a strange sound, and his restrained hands twitched, which immediately alerted Huo Da Dong, who went to check on him.

But as soon as Huo Da Dong stood up, Zhang Kai Fu started to struggle violently, trying to pull his hands out of the handcuffs. On the third attempt, a terrifying cut appeared.

Zhao Qian was shocked, and Huo Da Dong was confused. Could a person be so cruel to themselves?

Snap!

Zhang Kai Fu's hand fell to the ground, and blood spurted out!

Ah! Yu Xiaoxue screamed, closing her eyes in fear.

Huo Da Dong's eyes widened, beyond his imagination.

Zhao He and I were also stunned. This female ghost was ruthless. I thought she was just trying to possess a body, but she broke his hand under the handcuffs.

Zhang Kai Fu panted, his body twisting into a bizarre position, making our hair stand on end. Then he returned to his human form, but his eyes were now completely white.

I knew Zhang Kai Fu was dead. This was not a regular ghost.

Zhang Kai Fu lunged at Huo Da Dong!

Huo Da Dong, still in shock, but seeing Zhang Kai Fu's bizarre state, knew he couldn't be alive. He decisively drew his gun, cocked it, aimed, and fired!

The bullet hit Zhang Kai Fu's chest, making him stagger back a step.

True to his role as a police captain, Huo Da Dong's actions were fluid, but Zhang Kai Fu, now a ghost, was only more enraged by the bullet wound!

He pounced on Huo Da Dong and bit a chunk of flesh from his neck!

Blood spurted like a water gate opening, splattering Zhang Kai Fu's face, making him even more monstrous!

Zhao He reacted, picking up a board used to stabilize the altar and running over, whack! whack!

This time, Zhao He had experience. Two hits shattered Zhang Kai Fu's head, splattering red and white brain matter on his face and body.

The gruesome scene shocked Zhao Qian and Yu Xiaoxue.

Zhang Kai Fu, with his head smashed, turned and showed a sinister smile with blood-stained teeth.

I trembled. This didn't kill Zhang Kai Fu. It seemed that the female ghost wouldn't stop until she was destroyed. I felt immense regret for the situation I had caused.