Chapter Thirty: Extending Life

I didn’t answer Wang Erjun, simply watching him warily, keeping my guard as he tried to approach. I was certain the old village secretary’s mind was clear; he was shaking with anger, gripping his cane tightly and shouting, “Liu Dagen, do you want me to drive you out of the village?”

But Liu Dagen showed no fear. “I’m avenging the village chief and Old Man Zhou! That funeral Liu woman did something so vicious—how do you know her daughter was innocent?”

“And I’m not afraid if you drive me out. Hundred House Village is dirt poor. Old Wu has already promised me a job at his place after this is over! I’ll eat and drink well with him—why would I stay here, taking grief from you?”

With that, Liu Dagen gave a hard shove. The old village secretary was no match for his brute strength and fell flat on his back. Trembling, the old man pointed at Zhou Gang, his voice hoarse, “Zhou Gang, your uncle wouldn’t want to see you doing this. You’ll pay for it!”

Just then, Mr. Wang stepped forward, walking up to Wang Erjun. He slapped a handful of glutinous rice onto Wang Erjun’s head. Wang Erjun’s eyes went wide, something seemed to rush out of him, and his heavy body collapsed in a heap, unconscious. Clearly, he’d fainted dead away.

I had no idea what spirit had possessed Wang Erjun. I’d guessed earlier it might be the village chief’s younger son, since he was the only one missing at the Earth God Temple. Now, seeing him try to stop us, I was sure of it.

“Forget them. Let’s go,” Wang Gang sneered. “Wang Erjun really is an idiot—he was the one who warned us, and now he’s the one blocking us. Dumber than a pig.”

My eyelids fluttered. Wang Gang didn’t realize Wang Erjun was now possessed.

I carried Aunt Hui back home. Soon, we reached the yard. The gate was open, the place eerily empty, and there was no sign of my father. I went inside and called out for him, but no one answered. A chill spread through me.

I was worried about something else too—my father didn’t know Aunt Hui’s child was a ghost fetus. If I didn’t explain, and he tried to help her with the delivery, he’d fight with all his might. But now he was gone. Where had he gone?

I carried Aunt Hui into my room. Granny Li checked her pulse and told her to lie quietly, not to worry. Zhou Gang stood at the door, telling Mr. Wang not to induce labor yet. He wanted to send a few men around the village, beating gongs and drums, spreading the word to give Funeral Liu two hours to come out and exchange herself for her daughter.

Uneasily, I glanced at Granny Li. She shook her head at me. I knew what she meant: stay out of it, and truthfully, I couldn’t do anything anyway.

Inducing labor for Aunt Hui would bring shame to my family, but first, it was to get rid of the ghost fetus and protect Aunt Hui. Second, if we could lure out Funeral Liu, we could finally eliminate the threat.

When Wang Gang finished giving instructions, he went out to organize the villagers.

Aunt Hui suddenly said she wanted to speak to me privately, asking Granny Li and Mr. Wang to give us some space. Granny Li sighed, and Mr. Wang said nothing, simply stepping out. It was just Aunt Hui and me left in the room.

I sat by the bed, looking at her haggard face, my heart aching. In a low voice, I said, “I’m sorry, Auntie. I couldn’t protect you.”

Aunt Hui’s smile was gentle. “None of this is your fault, or anyone else’s. If anyone’s to blame, it’s my father. I never imagined he’d do such a thing.”

I hesitated for a long time, unable to ask the question on my mind. Aunt Hui sighed. “You must want to know about that thing I mentioned, right?”

I nodded quietly.

She was silent for a moment, her eyes full of complicated emotion. Then she said, “I have a younger brother.”

I was stunned. “My father never mentioned that.”

Her gaze grew even more distant as she looked up at the rafters. “He died many years ago, before he was even two. My father tried everything to save him, even giving him special medicines to trap his soul in his body—like a living corpse.”

“When he couldn’t keep it up any longer, my brother’s body started to rot, and only then did my father give up.”

“I thought life had returned to normal, that I no longer had to fear a living corpse in my house. But then I realized my father would disappear for a few days every month. When he came back, the chill around him was terrifying, nothing like he’d just been to a funeral feast.”

“I didn’t dare ask or interfere. I knew my brother must still be around, but now only as a ghost.”

“A few years later, I fell ill with a strange disease—my limbs would go weak, sometimes I’d faint. My father gave me medicines, and I’d get better, but if I stopped, I’d relapse.”

“At first, I didn’t know what the medicine was. One day, by chance, I found out: it was made from grave grass. By then, it was too late.”

“My body had become dependent on that yin energy, less and less like a living person. I even grew afraid of sunlight and became half dead, half alive. I thought about ending it, but then Heaven let me meet your father.”

“I didn’t want to die. I wanted to be with your father.”

“I’m sorry, Xie Yuan. I kept this secret from you all. If I hadn’t been so selfish, I wouldn’t have dragged you into this.”

I felt a deep sadness too, and a new understanding of how cold and ruthless Funeral Liu’s schemes had been. How long had he been planning to slowly turn Aunt Hui into a living corpse?

“Don’t worry, Auntie,” I said. “With Granny Li here, nothing will happen. Once the ghost fetus is gone, you’ll recover.”

She fell silent, her face growing paler. In a faint voice, she said, “Xie Yuan, you must wait in the yard later. If your father comes back, make sure you explain everything to him so he doesn’t act rashly.”

I nodded hard. “I will.”

“I want to rest now. You should go.” She turned her face to the wall.

I left the room and told Granny Li and Mr. Wang that Aunt Hui wanted to sleep. Granny Li sighed. Mr. Wang, still silent, paced around the yard, occasionally leaving something in the corners.

I saw that they were talismans.

Standing in the yard, I could hear the beating of gongs and drums, and someone shouting. That must be the people Zhou Gang sent to spread the word.

I felt stifled, sitting silently by the well. It was already deep into the night. If Aunt Hui survived until morning, would she be spared this calamity? But the ghost fetus couldn’t wait until morning to be born; Mr. Wang and Aunt Hui surely knew that better than I did.

That was why Funeral Liu wanted to steal my lifespan—to extend Aunt Hui’s.

At that moment, I caught a whiff of a peculiar, unpleasant incense, faint and fleeting. I looked around, searching for the source. The scent was similar to what I’d smelled at the Earth God Temple.

I searched for a long time but found nothing.

Soon, Zhou Gang returned, his face grim. I could tell at a glance he’d come back empty-handed. I knew, deep down, that Funeral Liu wouldn’t return for Aunt Hui—but he’d certainly protect the ghost fetus.

Suddenly, Liu Dagen cursed, “What a damned place! How did such a huge black cat get up there?”

My heart gave a jolt. I looked at Liu Dagen. He was holding a stone, aiming at the roof.

My face fell.

Sure enough, sprawled atop the eaves of my house was a pitch-black cat, carrying an urn on its back. Next to it on the tiles was a bowl—one of our family’s own. Stuck in the bowl was incense, and I could just make out some rice.

A chill ran through me. I shouted, “Granny Li, come out! Something’s happened!”

This was the setup for a lifespan-stealing ritual, and it looked as though it had already worked. There was even a second bowl for Aunt Hui in reserve.

Had Funeral Liu already extended Aunt Hui’s life? Whose life had he taken?