Chapter 4

"Found it first, why should I give it to you?"

Ercow held the snuff bottle, made of some unknown jade, tightly in his arms.

Several burly men surrounded Ercow and his father, while a crowd gathered around, their eyes gleaming with intense greed.

This scene was just witnessed by Lintian and his father, who had run outside.

The group surrounding Ercow and his father were the bullies from Houshan Village, led by Lidazhuang and his gang.

Lidazhuang glared at Ercow and said, "Nonsense, I saw it first, but someone got there before me."

"Ercow, we found it first, hand it over quickly."

The one speaking was Lidazhuang's younger brother, Li'erzhuang, his puffy eyes gleaming with greed.

"Why don't we let everyone decide who found it first?"

The one speaking was Ercow's father, Huangfei. He turned to the surrounding villagers, his face filled with indignation, and said, "Fellow villagers, please help us decide. I can't believe there's no justice in this world."

As Huangfei spoke, the crowd exchanged glances, their eyes still gleaming with greed, but no one stepped forward to support Ercow's family.

The Li brothers were notorious bullies in Houshan Village, and the villagers usually avoided them. No one was willing to offend the Li brothers over this matter, and they were also envious of the treasure Ercow was holding.

Lidazhuang and his gang remained relaxed, confident in their reputation in the village.

"Ercow, I believe in you."

At this moment, the crowd turned to the voice, which came from Lintian and his father, who were standing at the edge of the crowd.

The villagers looked at Lintian with various expressions—envy, jealousy, and even flattery, as Lintian was now a ten-thousand-yuan household, a wealthy man even in Qingfeng Town.

Not only did Lintian support Ercow verbally, but he also took action, breaking free from his father's restraint and rushing towards Ercow.

Seeing his son charge forward, Linchong, who was usually honest, felt he couldn't let his son be beaten. Despite the various gazes, he had no choice but to follow.

When Lidazhuang heard someone supporting Ercow, his face changed. Seeing Lintian push through the crowd, he sneered, "Who do you think you are? The big tycoon of Houshan Village?"

The Li brothers laughed at their leader's sarcastic tone. Linchong, who was usually honest, turned red with anger but couldn't utter a word.

Although the Lin family lived in Houshan Village, they came from a scholarly background, and Linchong, as a descendant, had no experience in cursing.

Lintian, who was sharp-tongued from a young age, saw his father being humiliated and immediately retorted, "At least I'm better than you, a scoundrel, who's crazy for money."

"Brat, what did you say?"

Lidazhuang, who had been relaxed, turned black with anger. The group surrounding Ercow's family slowly moved to encircle Lintian and his father.

Seeing this, Linchong, who was usually honest, became anxious.

"Lidazhuang, I'm your uncle, don't take it out on a child."

"Get lost, we're not even related."

Lidazhuang shouted at Linchong, his face dark.

Being insulted by his junior, Linchong, who was honest and proud, felt extremely embarrassed. Just as he was about to say something, Lintian, who was behind him, stepped forward and kicked Lidazhuang.

If it were a normal day, this kick wouldn't have done much to the burly Lidazhuang, but Lintian was different now. After sleeping in the ghost den, he not only gained the ability to predict but also had several times more strength.

This kick sent Lidazhuang sprawling.

The villagers, who were waiting for a show, were stunned. Those who had laughed at Lintian's overconfidence now shut their mouths, watching in shock.

"Damn, I'll skin you alive today."

Lidazhuang, who had been kicked, stood up and roared at his stunned brothers, "What are you waiting for? Beat him to death!"

Lintian was also stunned by his own power. Just as he was recovering, Li'erzhuang slapped him hard across the face, waking him up.

Raising his right hand, he formed a fist and punched Li'erzhuang's face.

Thud...

A direct hit, Li'erzhuang's face turned red and swollen.

"Beating my son, I'll fight you to the death."

Seeing his son being slapped, Linchong's eyes turned red. As the saying goes, when an honest man gets angry, even gods and ghosts will hide.

Picking up a stone from the ground, he threw it at Lidazhuang, and chaos ensued. Ercow, seeing Lintian fighting for him, also joined in, handing the item to his father and rushing to the center of the fight.

Ah...

A scream echoed, making Lintian's heart tremble. It was his father's voice.

With a swift kick, he knocked down Li'erzhuang and saw his father lying on the ground, blood trickling from his head.

Dad...

Lintian roared, picked up a large stone, and charged at Lidazhuang. Lidazhuang, who had lost face, vented his anger on Linchong. Despite Linchong's red eyes, he lacked fighting experience and was quickly overpowered.

With Lintian's roar, a black mist, invisible to the naked eye, rushed towards Lidazhuang. Lintian, in his anger, noticed the black mist but had no time to think about its origin.

Lidazhuang's expression changed, and he felt a sudden chill. Just as he was distracted, Lintian rushed to his side and swung the stone at his forehead. The stone missed and hit his shoulder, causing Lidazhuang intense pain.

After the hit, Lintian quickly ran to Linchong's side, helping him up and shouting, "Dad, are you okay?"

"Uncle Lin, are you okay?"

Ercow and his father also rushed over. Huangfei, after checking Linchong's wound, sighed in relief, "Nephew, your father is fine, just a scrape."

"Son, why are you shouting? You scared me. I thought it was a serious wound."

Lintian, who had been scared by the blood, was relieved to find it was just a scrape.

The villagers, who had been concerned about Linchong, now gathered around, their worried expressions making the honest Linchong feel grateful.

Ah...

A blood-curdling scream echoed, making the villagers shudder. They turned to see Lidazhuang, who was now acting like a madman, clawing at the air. His brothers watched with concern.

"Ghost, there's a ghost!"

Lidazhuang, while clawing and retreating, ran towards the back mountain, his words making the superstitious villagers shudder.

The Li brothers, seeing their leader in this state, glared at Lintian and Ercow and followed Lidazhuang.

"I heard from my great-grandfather that someone died by the spring on the back mountain. Could it be a ghost?"

A middle-aged man, about forty, said fearfully.

"I've heard that too. They say there was a cemetery here, but it's lost now."

Another middle-aged man responded.

"We must have disturbed the ghost. Lidazhuang is already possessed. Let's leave quickly."

Old Zhang trembled, and the once bustling back mountain was now empty except for Lintian and his father, and Ercow's family.

"Old Lin, if you're okay, let's go. I feel a chill here."

Huangfei, with a trembling voice, said to Linchong.

"I feel it too."

"Little Tian, help me up. Let's go quickly. I'm getting goosebumps."

"Uncle Lin, let me help you too."

Ercow and Lintian supported Linchong on either side, with Huangfei following behind, and the four of them left the spring and headed back to Houshan Village.

As Lintian helped Linchong leave, he occasionally looked back at the back mountain, his face filled with confusion, thinking: I divined that this place is not a place of great evil, so why is there a ghost?

Lintian couldn't answer this question now, as his ability was just awakening. Thinking about leaving the next day to return to school, he felt a sense of melancholy.