Chapter 2

Would a coffin board also become a spirit and seek revenge?

And why did it say it was the strange old woman's grandson, and why did it lock itself up in such a cruel way?

The bizarre scenes unfolding before his eyes, along with the intense unease surging in his heart, once again dealt a severe blow to Hu Ma's just-recovered mind.

Fear, doubt, and confusion overwhelmed him, making his vision blur and dizziness envelop him.

But this time, he managed to hold on and not faint, forcing himself to open his eyes and look at the old woman.

The old woman standing by the door had been staring at Hu Ma with a sinister gaze, her disheveled hair hiding eyes that seemed to never move.

She saw Hu Ma swaying but not falling unconscious, her expression becoming complex.

After a long while, she slowly lowered her eyelids and said in a faint voice:

"You woke up earlier than I expected, and you seem more energetic than I thought. It looks like you're getting better."

"..."

"Is she finally willing to talk this time?"

Hu Ma, struggling to maintain his composure, realized this was different from before.

He had shouted at the old woman countless times, sometimes fainting, sometimes waking up in pain, and sometimes trying to struggle and resist when she approached, but the old woman had always watched coldly, unmoved, and he had even suspected she couldn't speak.

Hu Ma immediately fixed his gaze on her and said in a trembling voice: "You... What's going on with me?"

"Why did you lock me up?"

"..."

"You're sick."

The eerie old woman slowly walked in, sat on a small stool, and said in a low voice: "I'm treating you."

"Treatment?"

Hu Ma's voice was almost distorted: "Does treatment require this?"

You pierced my shoulder blades and locked me to the beam, chanting scriptures, burning talismans, pouring hot oil, and torturing me by flaying and cutting. You say this is treatment?

This is clearly a form of punishment.

Or perhaps, it's more like some evil ritual being performed on me?

The old woman seemed to guess his thoughts and said in a gloomy voice: "You're very sick."

"?"

No matter how sick, no one treats someone by hanging them up.

Hu Ma felt his mind was in chaos and decided to take a bold step, shouting: "Stop playing tricks, you... let me down first..."

"..."

The old woman, hearing his shouts, only had a stern face and slowly put down the bundle she had brought back.

It seemed she had returned to her previous state of ignoring Hu Ma.

But the little girl with two small braids suddenly said in a clear voice: "Brother Hu Ma doesn't remember Grandma."

"The Meng family sent a ghost to kill Brother Hu Ma, but Grandma has great powers and brought Brother Hu Ma's soul back."

"But Brother Hu Ma always wants to run away, so Grandma fixed his soul and body."

"Grandma chants the soul-stabilizing spell every day, feeds Brother Hu Ma medicinal soup, and even gives him meat from Lord Taishui to eat. Now Brother Hu Ma no longer runs around, but he doesn't recognize Grandma or Little Hongtang."

"..."

She seemed somewhat unhappy by the end, pouting her lips.

But her words made Hu Ma suddenly feel lost.

What is this all about?

He couldn't help but recall the buzzing chanting that had been going on for a while, the strange talisman water and medicinal soups he had drunk, the distorted images, and the repeated tortures, which filled him with indescribable fear.

"His soul has just been stabilized, so it's normal not to remember."

As the little girl spoke, the old woman, with a gloomy face, slowly took things out of the bundle.

There were incense, paper money, and a large piece of meat wrapped in red paper, the oil seeping through the red paper.

Her voice was slow, and after a long while, she said: "You'll get better."

"The last descendant of the Hu family won't be killed by the Meng family..."

"..."

At this point, Hu Ma was in a state of utter confusion, recalling the chaotic memories and the eerie way she had looked at him like an enemy, making it hard for him to control himself. He wanted to shout, but stopped himself just in time.

He slightly pursed his lips and suddenly looked up at the old woman, tentatively saying: "Then..."

"Since I'm better now, can you..."

"..."

"Let me down?"

"..."

The most important thing was to get her to help him remove the hooks. If they insisted on talking, that was secondary.

Sure enough, under his worried gaze, the old woman's expression seemed to darken, and she slowly shook her head:

"Even though you're better, it's better to stay fixed for a few more days..."

"..."

Just as Hu Ma's mood sank, she suddenly looked at him, as if making a decision.

Her gaze was too sharp, and Hu Ma quickly looked away.

He could feel her eyes scanning him, perhaps noticing the blood seeping from his shoulders when he tried to escape the hooks.

Then, unexpectedly, her tone softened:

"But hanging is indeed uncomfortable. If you want to be freed, then be freed."

"..."

Hu Ma was somewhat surprised: "Then..."

"I'll do it!"

Just as he was about to ask how, he suddenly heard the little girl in red on the ground excitedly call out.

She was very short, less than a meter tall, with thin arms and legs, but her movements were surprisingly agile.

She sprang up and landed on Hu Ma's back.

Her feet, wearing embroidered shoes, pressed against Hu Ma's shoulders, and her white, tender hands grabbed the iron hooks, tensing her body and exerting force.

"Thud..."

A sharp pain shot through Hu Ma before he could react, and one of the iron hooks was already pulled out.

She quickly moved away, rolled on Hu Ma's back, and grabbed the other iron hook, repeating the process.

Blood gushed from both shoulders, and Hu Ma felt a sudden lightness.

But the pain soon hit his brain, making his vision blur and his body fall to the ground uncontrollably.

Then he heard a series of giggles, and his vision was filled with chaotic red shadows.

A cold, bone-chilling sensation followed the burning pain on his shoulders, making him feel more alert.

Opening his eyes, he saw the little girl in red extending her tongue to lick his wounds.

Her long, slender tongue licked over the wounds, and the bleeding stopped immediately, along with the intense pain.

"What is this little girl...?"

Hu Ma realized the problem but couldn't think clearly in the chaos. The little girl had already flipped him over and was licking the two blood holes on his back. Despite his weak and thin body, which weighed over a hundred pounds, she easily turned him with her slender arms.

The rapid changes in such a short time made Hu Ma's mind race, and he panted heavily.

Throughout the process, the old woman sat on a stool, slowly pouring herself a cup of cold tea and drinking it.

Her eyes slightly narrowed, as if deep in thought.

The room was quiet, with only Hu Ma's heavy breathing.

She seemed to feel a slight relief and, after a long while, slowly stood up and said to the little girl:

"Little Hongtang, take care of your brother. I need to go check on the Cui family's grave."

"Grandpa Cui's death was suspicious. I had a locust wood board watch over him for twenty years, but perhaps the rain and thunder a few days ago washed away the grave, and the coffin board came back to seek revenge. Grandpa Cui's body probably won't stay still..."

"..."

She walked to the door, then turned and reminded Hu Ma:

"You're still weak and can easily attract evil spirits, so don't run around outside."

"Wait for Grandma to come back, and she'll treat you..."

"..."

"Don't run?"

Hu Ma vaguely heard her instructions, thinking to himself: "If I don't run, I'm a fool!"

With his eyes closed, he could still see the sharp, cold gaze of the old woman.

The torture and suffering of the past few days were still fresh in his mind. Each time he woke up, the pain of being boiled in oil and flayed was vivid.

It felt like he was experiencing the tortures of the eighteen levels of hell every day!

He remembered the eerie way the old woman looked at him in his dazed state, the pain and dizziness after being forced to eat the strange meat, and the feeling of something monstrous growing inside him.

He had reached his limit and couldn't determine what terrifying things would happen if he continued.

Sacrifice? Soul transfer? Raising a ghost?

What does she mean by "treatment"?

Many questions flooded his mind, but Hu Ma knew he had only one chance. If he was hung up again, it would be over.

His panicked mind made him clench his teeth, silently gathering the last of his strength, and forcing himself to stay awake.

Estimating that the old woman had walked far enough, Hu Ma suddenly opened his eyes.

The moment he opened his eyes, he saw the little girl in red squatting nearby, staring at him.

Their eyes met, and neither spoke.

Hu Ma's heart sank, and he forced himself not to run out of the house.

Although the old woman had left, she had left this little monster to watch him. If he wanted to escape, he had to deal with this little monster first.