“My mother was known as the ‘Beauty of the Elaphe Taeniura’. The Elaphe Taeniura she raised were not only fat and big. Moreover, men would be especially energetic after eating them.
Many people were envious of my mother’s way of raising Elaphe Taeniura.
But my mother kept it a secret.
Only I knew that on every dark night, those Elaphe Taeniura would scramble to crawl towards my sister’s room.
01
When I went to my sister’s room to catch snakes.
Her face was bright red.
As soon as I got close to her, a pungent fishy smell hit my face.
I quickly took two steps back.
My sister stared at me straight and suddenly smiled, “Does it smell bad?”
“I’m so envious of you. Why can you live well!”
I quickly shook my head, rolled up my sleeves, and there were dense needle hole scars on my arm, “Sister, I’m actually not living better than you!”
My sister snorted coldly.
Suddenly, there was a meaningful smile on her face again, “It doesn’t matter. Bear with it a little longer. It will pass soon.”
My sister was acting strangely, and her smile made me tremble with fear. I didn’t dare to stay any longer.
I quickly carried the snake bucket and went out.
02
As soon as I went out, I saw my mother standing at the door with a look of disgust.
My mother glanced at the snakes in my hand.
Covered her nose and said, “You little brat, you can dawdle with snakes for so long.”
“I think she’s quite willing,”
After my mother finished speaking, she looked at me fiercely again, “What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and wash the snakes clean.”
“Someone will come to pick up the snakes later.”
“If there’s any smell left on the snakes, I’ll fucking kill you.”
I was so startled that I quickly carried the snakes and left.
03
In the evening, as soon as I closed my eyes, I smelled a pungent fishy smell.
This smell…
I was startled and quickly opened my eyes.
I saw my sister standing beside my bed, looking at me and smiling.
I hugged the quilt and shrank to one side.
Trembling all over, I called out, “Sister.”
My sister stretched out her hand as if she wanted to touch my face.
But for some reason.
She suddenly stopped when her hand was an inch away from my face.
My sister stared at me, “Starting from tomorrow, don’t eat a single bite of meat.”
“No matter what kind of meat it is, don’t eat it. Do you hear me?”
I was a bit hesitant and didn’t know why my sister would say this.
After all, meat was such a precious thing that I usually couldn’t even eat it even if I wanted to!
Seeing that I didn’t respond for a long time, my sister repeated it fiercely again, “Do you hear me?”
I was so startled that I quickly said, “I hear you.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t eat it.”
Only then did my sister turn around and leave.
04
The next day, I was woken up by my mother’s scolding.
As soon as I got to the yard, I saw that my sister had committed suicide.
She was wearing a bright red dress.
My legs trembled and I directly fell to the ground.
When my mother saw me, it was as if all her anger had found an outlet.
She took a stick as thick as her wrist and hit me again and again.
While hitting, she also cursed, “You two little brats.”
“Don’t you understand how hard it was for me to carry you in my womb for ten months and raise you up so big.”
“You just died like this. Fuck, how can we raise Elaphe Taeniura without you?”
“How can we make money?”
“Two ungrateful wolves, none of you is good, without any gratitude.”
“You died before you could take care of me in my old age.”
“It would have been better if I hadn’t given birth to you.”
I hugged my head with my arms.
Let my mother hit me again and again and didn’t dare to make a sound.
When my mother was tired of hitting and scolding, she stopped.
Out of breath, she asked me to take down my sister’s body.
I didn’t dare to delay. Bearing the pain from all over my body, I tremblingly took my sister down.
05
My mother directed me to throw my sister’s body into the snake pen.
I suddenly turned my head and looked at my mother in disbelief, “Mom, she’s already dead.”
My mother glared at me, “So what if she’s dead?”
“She has to endure it even if she’s dead.”
“While the body is still warm, we can raise one snake if we can.”
As she said that, my mother glared at me fiercely again, “What are you still delaying for?”
“If you don’t hurry up, I’ll beat you to death.”
I had no choice.
I could only grit my teeth and gently put my sister’s body into the snake pen.
06
In the evening, Third Uncle came into our house with a livid face.
My mother quickly went up to greet him. Before she could say anything, Third Uncle slapped her in the face.
Third Uncle gritted his teeth and looked at my mother, “At the beginning, I saw that you, a widow with children, were having a hard time. Out of kindness, I taught you this method. But I didn’t expect that you were so greedy that you forced Big Ya to death alive.”
“That girl was born in the year, month, and hour of yin. She was more evil than others since birth. Now that she died like this, she will surely become a fierce ghost.”
Hearing the words “fierce ghost”, my mother’s legs went weak and there was a crying tone in her voice, “Third Uncle, you can’t ignore this matter.”
“I’m not afraid of death, but what about Shengzi?”
“He’s still waiting…”
“Enough.” My mother’s words were interrupted fiercely by Third Uncle.
I looked at them in doubt.
Shengzi was my brother’s name.
But he died seven years ago.
What did this have to do with him?
Before I could react, Third Uncle walked straight up to me.
He patted me on the head three times, “Kid, your mother has done evil deeds and she deserves to die.”
“But you’re the only heir left in your family.”
“I have to protect you no matter what.”
I looked at Third Uncle hesitantly.
“Was it you who taught my mother the way to raise snakes?”
If so, it proved that he wasn’t a good person either.
I didn’t believe that he would be so kind as to save my life.
Third Uncle sighed when he heard this.
He suddenly seemed to have aged ten years.
He nodded, “Yes.”
“I didn’t kill Bo Ren, but Bo Ren died because of me.”
“But kid, I was really forced to do it.”
“This world is a cruel world.”
“I didn’t expect that your sister would lose her life because of this.”
“At first, I just wanted to save you three.”
“To give you three a way to survive.”
“Kid, if you were me, what would you do?”
“Watch you starve to death or use a sinister method, sacrifice one person to ensure the livelihood of the whole family?”
I bit my lip. After a while, I looked up at Third Uncle.
“Third Uncle, I want to live.”
Hearing that I said I wanted to live, Third Uncle heaved a big sigh of relief.
Third Uncle touched my head, “If you want to live, then it’s easy to handle.”
“Kid, go to the snake pen and carry your sister out first.”
Third Uncle’s words made me stunned.
“Third Uncle, there are so many snakes in the snake pen. My sister is already dead. I’m afraid there’s nothing left of her bones by now!”
Third Uncle shook his head, “No, your sister is too fierce. Those snakes in the snake pen don’t even dare to touch her.”
I was still a bit hesitant.
Third Uncle urged me desperately, “What are you still standing there for? Hurry up.”
“Otherwise, if your sister stays with those snakes for a while longer.”
“It won’t just be your sister who’s in trouble. Those snakes alone will be hard to deal with!”
I didn’t dare to delay any longer.
I took a deep breath, turned around and ran towards the snake pen.
07
After I carried my sister out intact.
Third Uncle’s face looked a bit better.
Third Uncle squatted beside my sister’s body and looked at it for a few times, then turned to look at me, “Kid, it’s pretty much what I thought.”
“Your sister’s resentment is so strong that an ordinary coffin won’t be of any use to her.”
“Unless it’s the Heavenly Fiend Red Coffin.”
“Kid, you have to go to your Fifth Grandma’s place.”
“Borrow her Heavenly Fiend Red Coffin.”
I looked at Third Uncle with difficulty, “But I’ve heard since I was a kid that the Heavenly Fiend Red Coffin is made of extremely yin wood.”
“It’s a priceless treasure that’s hard to come by.”
“Fifth Grandma treasures it like her own eyes. She usually doesn’t even want to let others take a look at it.”
“Although Fifth Grandma is nice to me.”
“She’s not that nice to me. Will she give it to me?”
Third Uncle looked at me firmly, “Don’t worry.”
“She will give it to you.”
“And, she will only give it to you.”
Since Third Uncle said so, I had no choice.
I could only run to Fifth Grandma’s house as a last resort.
08
Fifth Grandma was very happy to see me.
But after walking around me twice, her face turned as pale as paper.
She suddenly reached out and grabbed my wrist, “Child, what have you done.”
“How did you get into such a big trouble.”
I felt a pang in my heart.
I told Fifth Grandma the whole story.
With every word I said, Fifth Grandma’s face became uglier.
After I finished speaking.
Fifth Grandma gritted her teeth and said, “Third Uncle is really calculating.”
“Using you as bait, making me have to lend it whether I want to or not.”
“What a good calculation!”
Hearing Fifth Grandma’s words, I looked happy, “Fifth Grandma, do you mean you答应借给我了?”
Fifth Grandma reached out her hand and tremblingly touched my head, “Forget it, forget it.”
“The coffin is dead, but you’re alive.”
“Nothing is more important than your life. Take it away.”
“But child, be careful in everything.”
“You must survive.”
I wiped away the tears that were pouring out with my sleeve and nodded solemnly to Fifth Grandma, “Don’t worry, I will definitely survive.”
“I will also take care of you in your old age.”
09
When I got home.
Third Uncle was so anxious that he was pacing around in the yard.
He saw me and his face lit up, “Did it work?”
I pointed outside the door, “The coffin is on the cart outside.”
“It’s too heavy. I couldn’t move it down by myself.”
Third Uncle quickly ran towards the door.
At the sight of the coffin, Third Uncle visibly relaxed.
ṭû⁻10
After putting my sister into the coffin.
My mother was observing Third Uncle’s face.
Carefully asked, “Third Uncle, is this matter… solved?”
Third Uncle snorted coldly, “A fierce ghost, it’s not that easy to solve.”
“I can only use this coffin to temporarily suppress her.”
“But to bury her…”
Third Uncle shook his head, “My skills are not enough.”
“I have to go to the city and invite my Little Martial Uncle over.”
“When he comes, this matter will be easier to handle.”
After Third Uncle finished speaking.
He turned to look at my mother.
“I’ll be gone for about a day and a night.”
“I’ll tell you three things. You must handle them well while I’m away.”
“First: Those snakes in the snake pen can’t be kept anymore.”
“They’ve been tainted with Big Ya’s yin energy and they’re not good things anymore.”
Hearing Third Uncle’s words, my mother felt a bit reluctant.
But my mother cherished her life too much, so she still gritted her teeth and agreed.
“Second: As soon as I leave, you go and invite all the villagers to your house.”
“When there are more people, their yang energy will be stronger and it can suppress Big Ya’s yin energy.”
“Third: And this is the most important point.”
Third Uncle stared at my mother firmly, “The Heavenly Fiend Red Coffințŭ₂ must not be opened by anyone!”
My mother patted her chest to reassure Third Uncle.
Third Uncle took another deep look at my mother.
Then he turned around and left.
11
As soon as Third Uncle left, my mother asked me to go from house to house to invite people to our house.
I didn’t dare to delay and quickly trotted out.
When I came back, a big pot had already been set up in the middle of our yard.
I followed the sound and ran to the kitchen. I found that my mother was chopping off the snake heads with a clatter.
In the basket for holding the meat, there were a bunch of Elaphe Taeniura without heads but their bodies were still writhing and entangling desperately.
I looked at my mother in horror, “Mom, didn’t Third Uncle say that these snakes can’t be kept anymore?”
My mother glared at me and didn’t stop what she was doing.
“Keep your voice down.”
“Otherwise, if people hear you, I’ll beat you to death.”
“Inviting the whole village, how many mouths there are. How much money would it cost to buy pork?”
“These snakes are excellent things. It’s such a waste to throw them away.”
“It’s better to let the villagers eat them.”
“The educated people often say that the law does not punish the masses. I don’t believe that something bad will happen if so many people eat these Elaphe Taeniura.”
“If you’re afraid you just don’t eat it later.”
I lowered my head and didn’t say anything anymore. After all, what I said didn’t carry much weight.
It was useless to say anything more.
12
After my mother finished chopping the Elaphe Taeniura.
The water in the yard had just boiled.
My mother poured baskets of Elaphe Taeniura into the water.
The snakes that were still entangling with each other immediately became still when they touched the water.
I trembled all over as I watched the people in the yard scooping up the Elaphe Taeniura one bowl after another.
They ate heartily, with oil dripping from their mouths.
For no reason, I remembered what my sister had said to me before she died.
“Don’t eat a single bite of meat.”
“No matter what kind of meat it is!”
Could it be that my sister was referring to today?
But how did she know?
While I was still in doubt, I saw several burly men walking towards my sister’s coffin with flushed faces.
I was startled and quickly ran to the coffin.
Looking at them warily, I asked, “What do you want to do?”
They glanced at me and a malicious smile appeared on their faces, “What do we want to do?”
“What else can we do?”
“There’s a woman’s fragrance in this coffin. It’s so fragrant. We just want to have some fun.”
Woman’s fragrance?
I sniffed at the coffin suspiciously. There was clearly no smell.
I stammered, “You, you’ve smelled it wrong.”
“There’s no woman’s fragrance in the coffin.”
“It’s my sister. She’s already dead. She…”
Before I could finish my words, I was interrupted impatiently.
They impatiently called my mother over, “The Beauty of the Elaphe Taeniura.”
“Brothers want to have some fun in the coffin.”
“Whether it’s alive or dead, we don’t care. Do you agree or not?”
My mother rolled her eyes and stroked her chin, “You can open the coffin.”
“But you get what you pay for. My daughter is in the coffin and still has to serve you.”
“We can’t do it for free, right?”
The people were laughing and scolding my mother for being too money-minded.
While they were stuffing money into my mother’s hands one after another.
I looked at my mother in shock, “Mom, Third Uncle clearly said before he left…”
Before I could finish my words, I was kicked to the ground by my mother.
My mother crouched down, put her mouth close to my ear and whispered, “If you keep blabbing and delay me from making money, I’ll beat you to death.”
I had no choice but to watch helplessly as they opened the coffin.
And one by one jumped into the coffin.
13
After they all left, it got dark.
I stumbled to the coffin, cleaned my sister up, and covered her body with my clothes.
I stood in front of the coffin and muttered to her body, “Sister, I’m sorry. I really couldn’t stop them. I’m sorry.”
After I finished speaking, I don’t know if it was my illusion.
I always felt that my sister seemed to be smiling.
I quickly covered the coffin lid with lingering fear.
14
Third Uncle came back at noon the next day.
There was a young man following behind him.
Third Uncle introduced to my mother that this was his Little Martial Uncle, named Tiansheng.
My mother put on a flattering face and handed Tiansheng a bowl of water.
Tiansheng didn’t take it.
He just shook his head at my mother, “When the funeral affairs are not finished, we don’t accept food from the host family.”
“Not even a sip of water. This is the rule in our line of work.”
“Auntie, don’t bother.”
Only then did my mother withdraw her hand awkwardly.
Tiansheng didn’t say anything more and walked straight towards my sister’s coffin.
The moment the coffin came into view.
Tiansheng’s face visibly turned ugly.
He suddenly turned his head to look at Third Uncle, “This thing is different from what you told me!”
Third Uncle wiped the sweat on his forehead, “This is strange.”
“When I left yesterday, the red coffin clearly suppressed her.”
“How come after a day, her hostility and resentment have increased so much.”
While talking, Third Uncle turned his head to look at my mother, “The three things I told you yesterday.”
“Did you do them all?”
My mother patted her chest, “It’s a matter of life and death. How dare I not listen to you!”
After my mother finished speaking, Ťúₜ Third Uncle muttered, “Yes.”
“You’ve always cherished your life. You probably wouldn’t dare to cause any trouble.”
I lowered my head and remained silent.
Third Uncle still didn’t understand my mother.
People die for wealth, birds die for food. My mother cherished her life, but she loved money more.
Seeing that he couldn’t find out anything.
Tiansheng also lost the interest in asking further.
He just ordered Third Uncle to prepare black dog blood and peach wood nails.
And prepare for the burial the next day.
Third Uncle looked reluctant.
He bent over and stood in front of Tiansheng, speaking in a respectful tone, “Little Martial Uncle, does it have to be like this?”
“This child was a poor thing when she was alive.”
“There’s no need to make her unable to reincarnate even after death, right?”
Unable to reincarnate?
My heart skipped a beat.
I wanted to say something.
But my mother spoke before I did, “This worthless thing was born by me.”
“Even if she’s dead, I’m the one who makes the decisions.”
“Master, as long as this matter can be completely solved, whether it’s grinding her bones to ashes or making her unable to reincarnate, as long as it can be solved, it’s fine.”
I felt my heart getting colder inch by inch as I listened to my mother’s words.
I really didn’t understand.
Why did she give birth to us?
She always said that she had worked so hard to raise us.
That our existence was the cause of her suffering.
But if I had a choice, I would rather she hadn’t given birth to me.
I thought my sister felt the same way.
If she had a choice, she wouldn’t want to come to this world either.
15
Seeing that Third Uncle was still hesitating.
Tiansheng snorted coldly, “Third, when dealing with ghosts, we should avoid being too soft-hearted.”
“Do you want to save two living people or protect a dead ghost?”
“You choose for yourself.”
Third Uncle bowed deeply to Tiansheng, “Little Martial Uncle, I’ve learned my lesson.”
“I’ll go and prepare the black dog blood and peach wood nails right away.”
16
After Third Uncle left, Tiansheng stared at me for a long time.
Suddenly, he smiled.
“Your village is not big, but there are so many things going on.”
“It’s really chaotic!”
I scratched my head and asked him with some confusion, “What are you talking about?”
Tiansheng answered my question with another question, “Do you have an older brother?”
I looked at Tiansheng in shock, “Yes, I do.”
“But he’s been dead for several years!”
“You, how do you know?”
The smile on Tiansheng’s face grew wider, “When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits.”
“Some people are trying their best to make others die.”
“But there are also people trying their best to make others live.”
Tiansheng patted my shoulder, “Young man, don’t let others down.”
Tiansheng’s words made me a bit confused.
I wanted to ask more questions.
But Tiansheng refused to say anything more.
He just kept repeating, “Heaven’s secrets must not be revealed.”
“I don’t want to be involved in other people’s karma.”
17
At night, when I was sleeping soundly.
I suddenly felt my body getting colder and colder.
I struggled to open my eyes and saw Fifth Grandma standing beside my bed.
I quickly got up from the bed.
Called out, “Fifth Grandma.”
Fifth Grandma stretched out her hand, wanting to touch my head.
But for some reason, her hand stopped in mid-air and then withdrew.
Fifth Grandma said in a low voice, “Tomorrow, don’t look when your sister’s coffin is being lifted.”
“It’s best if you don’t go up the mountain.”
Although I didn’t know why Fifth Grandma would say this.
I still wrapped myself in the quilt and said tremblingly, “Fifth Grandma, whether I go up the mountain or not is not something I can decide.”
Fifth Grandma stared at me for a few seconds before speaking again, “Then when your sister’s grave is being filled, don’t fill the first shovel of soil.”
I scratched my head. I always felt that Fifth Grandma was a bit strange tonight.
But I couldn’t tell what was strange about her.
Fifth Grandma took another deep look at me, “Remember, you must remember what I said.”
“Sister, no, I won’t harm you.”
I felt a thump in my heart.
I suddenly looked up at Fifth Grandma.
I finally realized what was strange about her.
Fifth Grandma was a little old lady.
She wasn’t that tall.
I looked at Fifth Grandma’s feet under the moonlight.
She was standing on tiptoe.
Cold sweat immediately covered my back.
I was so scared that my whole body was shaking.
“You, don’t worry,” I said, “I’ve remembered what you said.”
After I finished speaking.
“Fifth Grandma” seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and turned around and went out the door.
18
The next day, Third Uncle specially invited the eight strong men from the neighboring village who were professional coffin bearers.
My mother was muttering beside them, “The people in the village could have carried it.”
“Why did you have to invite these expensive ones? What’s the point…”
My mother was chattering non-stop.
Third Uncle glared at her fiercely and then my mother shut her mouth.
Tiansheng poured black dog blood on the coffin while explaining, “Your sister.”
“Ordinary people can’t suppress her at all.”
“They won’t be able to lift the coffin. Even if they lift it, they won’t be able to carry it up the mountain.”
“The eight strong men have the strongest yang energy and evil spirit. This Heavenly Fiend Red Coffin must be carried by them.”
The moment the black dog blood dripped onto the coffin.
The coffin made a sizzling sound like red-hot iron falling into cold water and white smoke rose up.
After the commotion stopped.
Tiansheng took a deep breath and shouted loudly, “Lift the coffin!”
I felt a thump in my heart.
Thinking of what happened last night…
Finally, I gritted my teeth and turned around.
I didn’t dare to look when the eight strong men were carrying the coffin.
19
After the coffin went out the door.
I hesitated for a moment.
Then I walked up to Tiansheng and said, “I, I’m not feeling well.”
“Can I not go?”
“No,” Tiansheng refused firmly.
“For a fierce ghost of this level, a blood relative must lead the way.”
“Your mother is a woman and has too much yin energy.”
“So, you must go up the mountain.”
Tiansheng’s words were so certain.
I had no choice.
I could only lower my head and follow the coffin.
20
When my sister was being buried.
I deliberately stayed far away from the graveyard.
I was afraid that Tiansheng would ask me to shovel the first pile of soil.
Fortunately, Tiansheng didn’t say anything.
Everything went smoothly.
21
When I got home, I found Fifth Grandma sitting on the stone pier at my doorstep waiting for me.
My mother gave Fifth Grandma a cold look and didn’t say anything. She just walked straight into the house.
I quickly helped Fifth Grandma up.
Fifth Grandma took the opportunity to stuff something into my hand.
The moment the thing was in my hand.
It was so hot that I trembled all over.
I almost dropped it on the ground.
Fifth Grandma held my hand tightly.
“Child, don’t drop it, don’t throw it away.”
“This village will soon be in chaos.”
“It will be in chaos tonight.”
“Keep this thing well.”
“It can protect you.”
“Don’t throw it away no matter what.”
“And don’t let anyone see it.”
“Remember this, remember it well!”
I frowned tightly, “Something will happen tonight?”
“What will happen?”
“But Fifth Grandma, didn’t my sister already get buried?”
Fifth Grandma closed her eyes and shook her head at me, “Child, among thousands of words, Fifth Grandma has only one sentence to remind you.”
“Trust your sister.”
“No matter when, no matter what situation, you must trust your sister.”
“That’s your own sister who shares the same blood with you.”
“In this world, anyone might harm you.”
“But she won’t!”
Fifth Grandma finished speaking and then left in a hurry.
I wanted to ask something.
But Fifth Grandma didn’t give me a chance to speak.
22
At night, Tiansheng suddenly pushed open my door.
His face was extremely ugly.
It was so gloomy that it seemed as if water could drip from it.
It was the first time I saw him lose his composure like this.
Tiansheng took a big step and walked up to me, then tightly grasped my wrist, “What happened to that body?”
“Why are all the villagers being haunted by evil spirits and their stomachs are full of snake eggs?”
“Tell me, what happened to that body.”
“Otherwise, when the snake eggs break out of their bellies tomorrow, everyone in the village will die.”
“When the nest is overturned, are there any unbroken eggs?”
“By then, you will die too.”
Tiansheng’s words scared me so much that I trembled all over.
I didn’t want to die.
Even if I had to live like a dog, I didn’t want to die.
I’ve done so much just to stay alive.
I took a deep breath and told Tiansheng what had happened yesterday word by word.
With every word I said, Tiansheng’s face turned paler.
After I finished speaking, Tiansheng slumped heavily onto the chair.
“No wonder, no wonder.”
“The moment I saw that coffin, I felt something was wrong.”
“So, it was like this.”
“That ignorant woman, how dare she?”
“How dare she?”
Tiansheng suddenly turned his head to look at me, his eyes were bright red, “Why didn’t you say anything at that time?”
I shrank my neck and said weakly, “I’m treated like a dog at home.”
“At that time, if I dared to say one more word, my mother could have beaten me to death.”
“How could I dare to say anything?”
I secretly looked at Tiansheng’s face, “Is there still a way to solve this matter?”
“Solve,” Tiansheng chewed on these two words.
Then he suddenly turned his head to look at me.
“Of course it can be solved.”
“But it might cost your life to solve it!”
I took two steps back in shock, “What, what do you mean?”
Tiansheng narrowed his eyes and looked at me, “For a fierce ghost of this level, only the life of a blood relative can break the spell.”
“Since it’s your family that caused this trouble, your family’s life should be used to make up for it.”
“Otherwise, if so many innocent people are involved, wouldn’t it be too unfair?”
I turned around and wanted to run.
But Tiansheng tightly grabbed my arm.
His strength was so great that I couldn’t break free no matter how hard I tried.
I looked at him almost pleadingly.
“But I haven’t harmed anyone!”
“I also have the right to live.”
“I also want to live!”
“And they’re not innocent either!”
“If they hadn’t desecrated my sister’s body, they wouldn’t be in danger of losing their lives!”
Tiansheng’s face was gloomy and unclear, “Desire for food and sex is human nature.”
“Although they broke the rule of lust.”
“They made a small mistake, but they don’t deserve to die!”
I wanted to say something more.
But Tiansheng coldly interrupted me!
23
He dragged me and walked straight out of the room.
Heading towards the mass grave.
The commotion was so big that it woke up my mother and Third Uncle.
I looked at my mother and Third Uncle with my last glimmer of hope.
My mother just took one look at me and then turned her head away.
Third Uncle sighed.
He walked up to me and touched my head, “Child, in this life, the villagers have let you down.”
“Repay it in the next life!”
“I know you’re a kind person.”
“And I know you’re a good child.”
“But it’s better for you to die than for the whole village to die.”
“Using your life to exchange for the lives of the whole village.”
“It’s a great merit.”
“Child, you’ve gained a lot.”
My heart grew colder inch by inch.
I was dragged by Tiansheng to the mass grave.
24
When we arrived at the mass grave, Tiansheng started digging the grave without saying a word.
The soil had been dug up today and hadn’t been compacted yet.
Moreover, Tiansheng’s physical strength was much better than that of ordinary people.
So it didn’t take long for my sister’s grave to be dug open.
The bright red coffin looked extremely eerie under the moonlight.
Tiansheng grabbed my neck and threw me onto the coffin.
Then he started filling the soil again.
I looked at Tiansheng with resentment in my eyes.
“Aren’t you particular about cause and effect?”
“Now you’re harming an innocent life.”
“Aren’t you afraid of retribution?”
Tiansheng paused when he was holding the shovel.
Then he crouched in front of the grave pit, “It doesn’t matter.”
“You can hate me if you want!”
“But I killed one person to save a hundred people. I have no regrets in my heart!”
Moreover, a smile appeared on Tiansheng’s lips.
“And, if it were someone else, I might worry about cause and effect and retribution!”
“But you, you don’t need to worry!”
“Because even if I didn’t use your life to fill it today, you wouldn’t live long anyway!”
I looked at him with rapid breathing, “What do you mean?”
Tiansheng clapped his hands and sat aside, “Well, since you’re about to die.”
“I’ll tell you what’s going on with you.”
“Let you be a sensible ghost.”
“It can be considered that I’ve treated you a little fairly.”
25
Tiansheng stared at me and said word by word, “You’re almost eighteen, right?”
Without thinking, I said, “There are still seven days until I’m eighteen.”
Tiansheng nodded, “That’s it.”
“There’s a Soul-leading Talisman on you. It will take effect when you turn eighteen.”
“By then, you’ll surely die anyway.”
I looked at Tiansheng in astonishment, “Soul-leading Talisman? What is it?”
Tiansheng glanced at me, “The Soul-leading Talisman is used for blood relatives to borrow corpses to return to life.”
“Didn’t I ask you if you had an older brother who died early?”
“Originally, if there hadn’t been this incident, when you turned eighteen this year.”
“He would have borrowed your body to be reborn.”
“So to speak, you’re quite pitiful.”
“You’ve been living for others all your life.”
“Even living isn’t for yourself.”
Tiansheng continued talking non-stop behind.
I didn’t have the heart to listen anymore.
So, this was the truth.
No wonder my mother didn’t like me but still had to keep me and didn’t use my body to raise Elaphe Taeniura.
So it was like this.
And Third Uncle’s hesitation to speak.
So it was like this!
In an instant, I understood everything.
26
By the time I came to my senses.
I was already buried in the soil.
Underneath me was my sister’s coffin.
It was emitting bursts of coldness.
The coffin was spraying bone-chilling cold air at me.
I closed my eyes and waited for death to come.
But in the darkness, I don’t know how long had passed.
I was still alive.
And I could breathe very smoothly.
How could this be?
Just when I was puzzled.
My pocket became hot.
I suddenly remembered that in the afternoon, Fifth Grandma had stuffed a small gourd into my hand.
I casually put it in my pocket.
Could it be…
Was it this small gourd that protected me?
Could it be…
Did Fifth Grandma know from the beginning?
I took a deep breath.
My thoughts became active again.
Perhaps.
I might not have to die.
I thought like this.
27
Sure enough, after a while, dots of light appeared in front of my eyes.
I opened my eyes and saw.
Fifth Grandma was shoveling the soil covering me bit by bit with a shovel.
Fifth Grandma saw me and heaved a big sigh of relief.
She kept murmuring, “Thank goodness, thank goodness.”
“Thank goodness I made it in time.”
“Child, you’re still alive. That’s great.”
“It’s so good!”
Fifth Grandma stretched out her hand and pulled me out of the grave pit.
I hugged her tightly.
“Fifth Grandma, thank you for saving me.”
“But, what’s going on exactly?”
Fifth Grandma took a deep look at me.
“Child, don’t you still understand?”
“Your sister died to save you.”
Then I heard the truth that had been buried for decades from Fifth Grandma’s mouth.
28
“Back then, when your brother died, your mother was in despair.”
“She spent a lot of money to get the method of borrowing corpses to return to life from Third Uncle.”
“Your sister was the soul guide, and you were the soul body.”
“Your mother raised Elaphe Taeniura with your sister. On one hand, it was to make money.”
“On the other hand, it was to increase the yin energy in the family.”
“So as to keep your brother’s soul.”
“Just waiting for you to turn eighteen, so that your brother could be successfully reborn using your body.”
I looked at Fifth Grandma in confusion, “But.”
“Fifth Grandma, but why?”
“My brother, my sister and I are all my mother’s children.”
“Why did she treat my brother so well but treat my sister and I like dirt?”
Fifth Grandma took a deep look at me, “Actually, strictly speaking, you are half-brothers and sisters.”
Fifth Grandma took a deep breath, “Back then, your mother got pregnant before marriage.”
“Before she got married, she was already pregnant with your brother. Nobody knew whose child it was.”
“Your grandparents were upright all their lives and couldn’t accept this child of unknown origin.”
“They forced your mother to abort the child.”
“Your mother refused and insisted that your brother was the crystallization of love.”
“But as her belly grew bigger day by day and it was almost impossible to hide it.”
“Your mother had no choice but to set her sights on your father.”
“Your father was honest and dull all his life.
“He got drunk after being coaxed by your mother with a few drinks.”
“When they were discovered, they were lying naked on the bed.”
“Your father had no choice but to grit his teeth and marry your mother.”
“After marriage, your mother gave birth to the child.”
“Your father didn’t complain at all and didn’t say a word of disgust.”
“But your mother wasn’t satisfied.”
“She insisted that your father had defiled her body and desecrated her love.”
“So she didn’t treat you and your sister well.”
“When your father was alive, things could still look okay on the surface.”
“But after your father died, she became even more extreme.”
Fifth Grandma stroked my head while talking, “Child, Fifth Grandma has been a peasant all her life and doesn’t understand the love your mother always talks about.”
“But I know that what she did was wrong.”
“So, I told your sister about her plan.”
“Your sister was silent for a long time.”
“At that time, she said she wasn’t afraid of death.”
“But her younger brother couldn’t be bullied like this.”
“Even if she died, she had to protect her younger brother.”
29
I wiped the tears on my face hard with my sleeve, “So, it was like this?”
“I always thought she hated me.”
Fifth Grandma shook her head, “It was just an illusion.”
“She could sacrifice her life for you.”
“She chose the most tragic way to die without hesitation just to have the ability to fight against Third Uncle and the others.”
“Even after death, she set up a trap and was…”
Speaking of this, Fifth Grandma sighed, “How could she hate you?”
“A strategist throws himself into the game and can outwit fate by half a move.”
“The previous plans have succeeded.”
“Now it’s up to you, child.”
“Only your blood can break open this Heavenly Fiend Red Coffin.”
I nodded without hesitation, cut my wrist and dripped my blood onto the coffin.
30
When I got home, my mother was arguing with Third Uncle in the room.
“Now both of the worthless children are dead.”
“The plan of borrowing corpses to return to life has failed.”
“Poor my Shengzi, what should my Shengzi do?”
Third Uncle snorted coldly, “If you think it’s a pity, go to the mountain and dig open the coffin now. I guess she’s not completely dead yet.”
“But if Big Ya comes out, she definitely won’t let you go.”
“Whether you live or Shengzi lives, you’d better think it over.”
After Third Uncle finished speaking, my mother didn’t say anything more.
I sneered. After all, my mother didn’t love anyone but herself.
I didn’t want to listen to their nonsense anymore and suddenly pushed open the door.
My mother looked at me in shock, “You, how come you…”
Before she could finish her words.
She saw my sister.
As my sister walked closer step by step.
I closed the door.
The begging for mercy in the room was the most pleasant sound I had ever heard in my life.
31
Then I went to Tiansheng’s room.
Tiansheng saw me and suddenly stood up.
Looking at me in horror, “You, you’re not dead.”
“So, your sister…”
Before he could finish his words.
My sister appeared behind me.
I looked at Tiansheng.
And said word by word, “The cycle of heaven’s law, the retribution of cause and effect.”
“Since you wanted my life, you have to bear the consequences.”
“Isn’t it?”
Tiansheng listened and slowly closed his eyes.
“I’m no match for the Heavenly Fiend fierce ghost.”
“You, do it.”
Extra Chapter:
After everything was settled.
My sister looked at me with blood and tears in her eyes.
My sister raised her hand, wanting to touch my head, but stopped in mid-air.
I took two steps forward, wanting to hug her.
But she suddenly stepped back and shook her head at me, “Ŧų₃ I have too much evil spirit on me.”
“You’ll shorten your lifespan if you touch me.”
“Child, sister is leaving. You must live well in the future.”
“This village is already a dead village.”
“Don’t stay here anymore.”
“Go out and see the big mountains and rivers.”
“Let sister see the prosperous world through your eyes too.”
I suddenly raised my head and looked at my sister in shock.
I nodded with tears in my eyes, “Sister, I will. You don’t have to worry about me.”
My sister smiled slightly, but that smile was full of bitterness and reluctance.
Then, she slowly turned around and walked away. I watched her figure gradually disappear into the distance, feeling an indescribable sadness in my heart.
I knew that from now on, I would be alone in this world, but I also knew that I had to be strong and live on as my sister hoped.
After a long time, I finally collected my emotions and started to pack my things. I decided to leave this place full of painful memories and start a new life.
I walked out of the village along the path I had walked countless times. Looking back at the familiar yet now desolate village, I couldn’t help but sigh.
This was once my home, but now it was just a ruin filled with sadness and hatred. I hoped that with my departure, all the grudges and tragedies here would come to an end.
As I walked further and further away, I felt a strange sense of relief in my heart. It seemed that I was finally breaking free from the shackles of the past and moving towards a new future.
I didn’t know what awaited me ahead, but I was no longer afraid. Because I knew that as long as I remembered my sister’s love and sacrifice, I would have the courage to face any difficulties.
