Chapter Twenty-One: Advice

There was a constant murmur in my ear, indistinct voices saying something I couldn't quite grasp. My consciousness hovered between wakefulness and oblivion, yet I had no control over my body, my eyes stubbornly shut. I couldn't speak, couldn't move.

Deep inside, I knew the cause—Old Man Zhou had gripped my forearm. Was he draining my lifespan from me?

Drowsiness crept into my half-lucid mind, but I felt a gentle hand caressing my face, finally coming to rest lightly on my forearm.

Recalling the last face I saw, it overlapped with the woman I’d met in the blue-bricked, blue-tiled courtyard of the ghostly old woman. My heart skipped; could she have been following me all along?

The thought made my fatigue deepen, and I finally succumbed, slipping into unconsciousness.

Who knows how long it was before I opened my eyes to utter darkness—no light at all within the room. The familiar feel told me I was in my own chamber. After I'd fainted, had they carried me here?

A sharp ache swelled in my lower abdomen, my bladder painfully full. Gasping, I found my right forearm still weak, and propped myself up on the bed edge with my left hand.

I got out of bed, intent on relieving myself. After a sleep, I felt much better, my strength largely returned except for the lingering limpness in my forearm.

I pushed open the door; the courtyard lay bathed in cold moonlight. The air was fresh with the scent of earth after rain, the previous stench of death in the house mostly dispelled.

The yard was slick and wet, still bearing traces of the downpour. Before I lost consciousness, I’d seen Wang Erjun unharmed, and both my father and Aunt Hui were safe. That settled my nerves somewhat.

Looking down at my arm, a shudder of fear lingered.

After using the outhouse, I was about to return to my room for more sleep. Everyone else was resting; Wang Erjun hadn’t fainted earlier, so anything that needed saying had surely been said. With Granny Li in the house, at least our safety was assured.

As I crossed the yard, I suddenly heard a hushed voice outside the gate, calling my name.

My heart skipped a beat. The voice sounded a lot like Wang Erjun’s. Had he slipped out again to look for his mother?

Annoyance welled up inside me. Back in the old village, if not for Wang Erjun’s wandering, I wouldn’t have ended up in the headman’s ancestral house.

Still, safety was paramount, especially with Granny Li’s warning that tonight would not be peaceful.

I hurried to the gate and pulled it open a crack.

There was Wang Erjun’s plump figure, wobbling toward his home. Perhaps he’d bruised his backside earlier, for his steps looked awkward.

I lowered my voice and whispered harshly, “You fat fool! What are you running for? Come back here!”

But Wang Erjun kept his head down, never looking back.

Our houses were only separated by a narrow village road. From where I stood, I could see two pale lanterns hanging over his family’s gate.

Sweat beaded on my forehead.

There shouldn’t be any problem at Wang Erjun’s house with the old village secretary’s teacher present.

But just as Wang Erjun reached the middle of the road, I noticed his toes were floating, as if something was wedged under his soles, keeping him from touching the ground.

A chill shot up my spine. That idiot Wang Erjun!

There must be a ghost riding on him!

The elders used to say there were two ways for a ghost to possess someone. One, the ghost enters the body and takes full control. The other, a person carries a ghost on their shoulders, the ghost’s feet resting on the person’s, so it can touch the ground—since spirits can’t stand on their own. Many ghosts preferred this, enjoying the illusion of life.

There was no time to fetch Granny Li for help; I feared if I even turned around, the ghost would kill Wang Erjun.

I still had one last black donkey hoof in my pocket. Gritting my teeth, I summoned my courage and dashed straight for Wang Erjun.

In moments, I was right behind him.

That’s when I noticed Wang Erjun cast no shadow.

My heart pounded. But I couldn’t recall if people carrying ghosts were supposed to be shadowless.

Just then, a sleepy, mumbling voice sounded behind me: “Xie Yuan, you’re up in the middle of the night instead of sleeping—are you looking for ghosts?”

The muttering startled me so fiercely I nearly jumped. That voice—it was Wang Erjun’s, too!

I spun around. Sure enough, there he was, standing perfectly fine at the courtyard gate, rubbing his eyes with one hand and his backside with the other, grumbling, “Come back already. Granny Li said tonight isn’t safe. I haven’t gone home yet—you shouldn’t go out either.”

Wang Erjun… was in my courtyard the whole time, never having left.

And he hadn’t noticed the other him, out on the road!

Terror numbed my scalp. That meant only I could see that thing!

It definitely wasn’t Wang Erjun!

I dared not look back. I bolted.

But suddenly, a pair of hands clamped tightly around my throat.

In that instant, I thought I would surely die.

“Give me back… my life!”

A furious roar exploded in my ear.

My soul nearly fled in terror. I struggled desperately, glancing back.

It wasn’t Wang Erjun at all, but the ghost of Old Man Zhou!

He looked noticeably younger than before, no longer as wizened.

My heart quaked—he must have devoured some of my lifespan to regain his youth!

On his nose was a distinct wound, still seeping black vapor—the mark left by the black donkey hoof.

In my panic and agony, I fought through the suffocation, fished out my last black donkey hoof, and jammed it into Old Man Zhou’s mouth.

His face twisted with ferocity. He didn’t dodge; his eyes gleamed with resentment and greed as he drew a deep, ravenous breath.

I felt as if I were being sucked dry, my limbs going rigid.

Weakness overwhelmed me.

Before my eyes, Old Man Zhou’s ghost grew even younger.

Behind me, Wang Erjun finally screamed in terror, “Granny Li, hurry! Xie Yuan’s in trouble! The headman’s father is here!”

I wanted to struggle, but all strength had left me. Even my eyelids grew heavy, ready to close.

Resentment burned—I was to die like this? I still didn’t know who the real killer was, and White Liu hadn’t appeared…

At the last, the image of the long-haired woman flashed in my mind.

“Who is she? Why does she follow me…”

“Why was she in the ghost woman’s house?”

Old Man Zhou’s face wore a look of satisfaction, his features now those of a man in his forties or fifties.

Anger seethed within me—none of this had anything to do with me, so why was he so set on killing me?

Just then, behind Old Man Zhou, a white silhouette appeared soundlessly.

She was cool and graceful, her black hair cascading down. Her hand drifted down onto Old Man Zhou’s head and pressed.

His eyes bulged in terror, and he spat out a breath of milky vapor.

The woman gently blew at the vapor, and it shot straight into my body.

I had felt myself on the edge of death—not just from suffocation, but from being drained dry.

But at that moment, Old Man Zhou’s hands released me, and strength flooded back into my limbs, my forearm as good as new.

Old Man Zhou shriveled, his flesh clinging to his bones, more withered than before.

“Come for him again, and next time I’ll scatter your soul.”

The woman’s voice was cool and clear as she spoke.

Terrified, Old Man Zhou’s ghost fled into the night.

For reasons I couldn't explain, with her arrival, most of my fear had melted away.

As he fled, I hurled the black donkey hoof after him.

The night was too dark, the donkey hoof just as black. I couldn’t tell if it hit.

Old Man Zhou vanished into the darkness.

Breathing hard, I looked up at the woman.

She drifted lightly to stand before me.

We were less than a hand’s width apart.

My heart pounded wildly.

She lifted her hand and touched my chest.

I wanted to speak, to ask why she’d saved me, but my throat felt clogged, the words stuck.

Before I could say anything, she turned her head to look behind me.

I paused and looked back as well.

Granny Li’s plump figure hurried toward me, followed by Wang Erjun, my father, and Aunt Hui, all running with anxious faces.

“Xie Yuan, are you alright?” Aunt Hui’s voice was tinged with worry.

Wang Erjun suddenly exclaimed, “Look! Xie Yuan’s arm is healed!”

Granny Li glanced at my arm; her eyes grew complicated.

But my thoughts were elsewhere. I turned back—the woman had vanished.

A sharp emptiness filled my chest. Pressing my hand to my heart, I felt something hard.

I realized at once—it was the hairpin Granny Li had told me to pick up at the gate.

I pressed it tightly to my chest, not taking it out just yet.

“Child, let’s talk inside,” Granny Li said gently.

Back in the courtyard, Aunt Hui fetched me a stool.

My father frowned at me, scolding, “Didn’t Granny Li warn you? It’s dangerous outside at night. Why can’t you listen?”

Aunt Hui muttered, “Old Xie, don’t scold him. He’s fine, isn’t he? Xie Yuan wouldn’t go out for no reason. Didn’t you see? His arm is healed.”

Granny Li shook her head. “You all go rest. I want to speak to the child alone.”

My father hesitated, but Aunt Hui pulled him inside. Wang Erjun patted my shoulder and went into another room, still rubbing his backside.

I took a deep breath. My father and the rest hadn’t seen the woman.

But had Granny Li?

“Child, listen to me,” Granny Li said softly. “No matter what sort of ghost you see, if she helps you, let her help. But you must never speak to her, nor make contact. Do you understand?”

I was taken aback and replied awkwardly, “Granny, weren’t you the one who told me to pick up the hairpin? She’s not an evil spirit…”