Zhang Enpu’s deduction was correct. The Hanba was not actually injured; instead, she had chosen to wait silently for someone to approach, then strike them fatally. After waiting for a long time without anyone coming, she realized her plan had failed, and she abruptly leaped up, letting out a sinister laugh directed at Zhang Enpu.
“This…” Seeing the living Hanba, Liu Dashao and the others were completely stunned. Wasn’t this creature supposed to die the moment it was splattered with black dog’s blood? But now…
Zhang Enpu exhaled heavily and tucked the hem of his Taoist robe into his belt. Although this appearance was somewhat odd, these were extraordinary times, and there was no time to maintain any image of a refined Taoist priest. Watching closely, his eyes narrowed into slits as he warily observed the Hanba’s movements while pulling out the peachwood sword that had been stuck in the ground. “The situation has changed. I was too rash, dragging all of you into this mess. We weren’t properly prepared for this.”
“Master Zhang… what exactly does this mean?” Liu Dashao asked hesitantly.
Sighing deeply, Zhang Enpu said, “I originally thought that even if this corpse was extremely vicious, at most it had just transformed into a Hanba, not yet fully developed. I believed that with careful handling, we could eliminate this threat. But I didn’t expect… I didn’t expect…”
“Uncle, you’re going to drive me crazy! Why do you always stop right at the crucial moment?” Liu Dashao complained.
“She has already become a Blood Hanba,” Zhang Enpu said decisively this time, without hesitation.
“A Blood Hanba?”
Zhang Enpu’s deduction was correct. The drought demon, in fact, was not injured but chose to wait quietly, biding her time to deliver a fatal blow to anyone who approached. After a long wait with no one coming, she realized her plan had failed and immediately leapt up from the ground, letting out a sinister laugh directed at Zhang Enpu.
“This…” Liu Dashao and the other two were completely dumbfounded at the sight of the living drought demon. Wasn’t it supposed to be that just splashing black dog blood on her would make her kick the bucket? But now…
Zhang Enpu took a deep breath, tucking the hem of his Taoist robe into his belt. Although he looked somewhat out of place, these were extraordinary times, and he couldn’t afford to worry about maintaining an air of immortals. He narrowed his eyes, cautiously observing the drought demon’s movements while pulling out the peach wood sword stuck in the ground. “The situation has changed. I was too reckless, dragging everyone into this without proper preparation.”
“Uncle Zhang… what do you mean?” Liu Dashao stammered.
“Sigh!” Zhang Enpu sighed. “I thought that even if this female corpse was extremely fierce, at most she had just become a drought demon, not yet fully developed, and we could handle her with caution. But I didn’t expect… I didn’t expect…”
“Uncle, you’re driving me crazy! Why do you always stop at the critical moment?” Liu Dashao complained.
“She has become a blood drought demon,” Zhang Enpu said bluntly this time, without any hesitation.
“Blood drought demon?”
“Yes,” Zhang Enpu nodded, habitually stroking his short goatee. “I don’t know who did such a wicked thing. This place is east of the dam, west of the chaotic graveyard, where the water of the sunflower generates yin, and the yin carries water, combined with a strange evil aura, creating a continuous spiral cycle. And the person who buried her just happened to place her at the center of this vortex—the yin gathering pool. As a result, not only did it create this drought demon, but it also formed a mother-child pair of evil spirits!”
Zhang Enpu’s analysis was too profound, filled with special terms that Liu Dashao, a young lad, couldn’t fully grasp. He felt like he was lost in a fog, his head spinning. But when he heard the term “mother-child pair of evil spirits,” his heart suddenly trembled. He remembered that when he and Village Chief Tian narrowly escaped from the drought demon, they had indeed encountered a small child. Could that be A Lan’s son? But she wasn’t pregnant when she died. How could this be? He briefly shared his doubts with Zhang Enpu.
Zhang Enpu frowned, his eyes sharpening. “Then she must have become pregnant after death!”
“How is that possible?” Liu Dashao was stunned, feeling like the old man was spinning a tall tale.
“I don’t believe it…” Tian Guoqiang also shook his head, looking completely unconcerned.
Zhang Enpu glanced at them, catching the changes in their expressions, and sneered. “As long as something isn’t set in stone, it’s possible. This isn’t strange. It’s called a ghost birth.”
“Ghost birth?” Liu Dashao felt like he was learning something new. He had only heard of ghosts harming people, not giving birth. The old man was getting more and more outrageous. “Maybe it’s a ghost child she brought with her?” Liu Dashao ventured his guess.
“Hmph, just look at her belly!” Zhang Enpu flicked his sleeve, and the peach wood sword spun in the air before landing steadily in his palm. It was a pretty impressive move, almost like a circus act.
Following Zhang Enpu’s words, Liu Dashao quickly turned his gaze to the drought demon, who hadn’t moved for a while. Once his eyes landed on her, he couldn’t look away. Why? Because he was shocked to see that the drought demon’s belly was slightly bulging. In just a few breaths, her stomach had grown larger, stretching the blood-red wedding dress she wore. “Uncle Zhang…” Liu Dashao’s hand hung in the air, trembling as he pointed forward.
“I saw it earlier, so I warned you,” Zhang Enpu said, his tone becoming serious and authoritative.
“Keep an eye on her. The child is about to come out. One is already hard to deal with; if there are two, we’re in big trouble. This drought demon’s resentment is too strong. The only way to deal with her now is to douse her with black dog blood. I’ll keep her occupied to prevent the child from emerging. You find the right moment to pour the last bucket of dog blood over her head. I don’t care if you use a club or a brick, just make sure it’s accurate and forceful. Remember, you only have one chance. If you fail, things will get much harder.”
“Again?” Liu Dashao’s face twitched visibly.
“Yes, I can’t spare a hand.”
“Then… who’s going to do it this time?” Liu Dashao’s teeth chattered as he spoke, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he wished he could slap himself. Because at that moment, both Tian Guoqiang and Ma Xiaoyan’s eyes turned to him like spotlights, as if he had a garden growing on him.
“Why… why are you looking at me?”
“Dashao… hehe… you know,” Tian Guoqiang chuckled, but to Liu Dashao, the laughter sounded even more terrifying than the drought demon’s.
“I… I’m not doing it again! I already did it once,” Liu Dashao waved his hands frantically.
“Brother, don’t worry. Just go for it! I’ll cheer you on from the side, wishing you success!” Tian Guoqiang patted Liu Dashao’s shoulder earnestly.
“Screw you!” Liu Dashao felt like crying, but he realized he couldn’t even shed a tear. The sea was full of water, and his stomach was full of tears.
“Stop dawdling. Time waits for no one. I’ll count to three, and then we move!” Zhang Enpu shouted, and without hesitation, he charged at the drought demon with his peach wood sword. But after taking a few steps, he realized that only he had shouted the command—the other three hadn’t moved an inch. Zhang Enpu felt a chill run down his spine, but since he had already started, he had no choice but to press on. He cursed under his breath, “Don’t blame me if we can’t subdue this drought demon. We’ll all be done for!”
Zhang Enpu’s words had an effect. Liu Dashao, who had been praising the old man for being as brave as Liu Hulan, gritted his teeth, picked up the bucket, and followed with small, hurried steps. Tian Guoqiang spat into his palms, rubbed them together, and told Ma Xiaoyan to stay safe. Then he grabbed a thick tree trunk, carrying it like a small cannon, ready to strike the drought demon at the right moment. The thickness and weight of the trunk were such that even if the demon were the reincarnation of Sun Wukong, it would be sent into a frenzy!
Seeing Zhang Enpu’s sneak attack, the drought demon was already furious. Fortunately, her resentment was so strong, and she had become a drought demon, that a little black dog blood had no effect on her. Her abilities were completely unaffected. In her rage, she wildly swung her black claws, causing sand and stones to fly, and a fierce wind to blow. Dense stones and branches rained down on Zhang Enpu like a storm.
The drought demon’s fury put Zhang Enpu in constant danger. He barely had time to dodge the flying stones and branches, let alone attack. Soon, he was hit by a stone and fell to the ground. Of course, Zhang Enpu, having lived so long and practiced Taoism for years, wasn’t so easily defeated. He quickly performed a carp flip, got back on his feet, tightened his grip on the peach wood sword, and launched three swift strikes. The drought demon ignored them, relentlessly charging at Zhang Enpu, determined to tear him to pieces. Seeing that this wasn’t working, Zhang Enpu thought to himself, “You can’t catch a wolf without risking the child!” He gritted his teeth, leaned back into an iron bridge stance, and the drought demon’s claws narrowly missed his face. The closeness of the attack made Zhang Enpu feel the sting on his cheek. Seizing the opportunity, he pushed his right foot back to stabilize his center of gravity, then spun like a top, his left hand forming a spiritual void finger, swiftly reaching for the drought demon’s shoulder and clamping down like a vice. The drought demon’s thick skin didn’t feel much, but Zhang Enpu’s nails digging into her flesh made him cry out in pain. However, he knew what was more important at the moment. With a twist of his arm, he used a clever force to lift his entire body into the air, about two or three meters above the ground. The drought demon, still disoriented, was looking around for Zhang Enpu, who sneered, tightened his grip on the peach wood sword, and with the force of his descent, thrust it into the back of the drought demon’s neck.
“Thud!” The peach wood sword couldn’t withstand such force and let out a weak thud, one end stuck in the drought demon’s neck, the other in Zhang Enpu’s hand, bending into an arc.
“Die!” At that moment, Liu Dashao appeared out of nowhere behind the drought demon, pouring the bucket of black dog blood over her. After Zhang Enpu told him there was only one chance, Liu Dashao had quietly circled around to the back of the drought demon while she was fighting Zhang Enpu, holding his breath, waiting for the old man to create an opportunity.
“Ah…” The drought demon screamed as the dog blood drenched her, smoke rising from her body as she trembled uncontrollably.
“Perfect!” Zhang Enpu was overjoyed. Without delay, he jumped back to the ground, sheathed the battered peach wood sword, and charged at the drought demon, fingers forming a seal. He was confident that today he would subdue this menace, or else if they entered the village and started killing indiscriminately, it would be a disaster. But Zhang Enpu was also unlucky. As soon as he made contact with the drought demon, he felt a numbing sensation and was thrown back, tumbling several times before groaning on the ground. Meanwhile, a pool of dark black blood appeared beneath the drought demon’s feet, and within it, a small lump of flesh began to squirm. Slowly, the lump transformed into a baby.
“Not good! The little drought demon is out!” Zhang Enpu was horrified. He tried to get up, but a sharp pain in his shoulder made him collapse again.
Liu Dashao’s breath caught. The child’s left eye was blood-red, staring at him as if it could bleed. The eerie body suddenly merged completely into the drought demon’s form, leaving only the left eye embedded in the demon’s clothing, staring motionlessly at the group. The eye on the clothing was at the child’s height, less than a meter tall. But the large, blood-red left eye made Liu Dashao and the others shiver. Suddenly, a cry resembling that of a newborn baby echoed through the graveyard:
“Waa waa…”
The sound wasn’t one of joy but filled with hatred and disdain. The cry made Liu Dashao’s hair stand on end, even though he kept muttering to Tian Guoqiang and Ma Xiaoyan that it was just a crazy child and nothing to fear.
The baby’s cry continued, distant as if from another world. Gradually, it transformed… from a cry into a cold laugh, piercing everyone’s eardrums. The sharp laughter made everyone’s hearts tighten, as if their hearts were being strung up like a taut bowstring!
“Be careful, I’ve seen this thing before. It’s just a crazy child!” Liu Dashao said, cautiously moving closer to Ma Xiaoyan and the others. Although he spoke lightly, even he didn’t know what was happening. Maybe it was self-deception, but it was better than running away in panic! The thing’s sharp laughter grew more and more piercing, as if mocking them, getting closer and closer. If the earlier cry was from another world, this laughter seemed to be right in their ears, leaving them nowhere to hide!
At that moment, Liu Dashao’s ankle tightened, and the wound on his foot reopened! The cold touch made his cloth shoe feel glued to the ground, unable to move. Liu Dashao looked down and saw a pair of almost skeletal hands tightly gripping his injured ankle!
The thin, almost skin-and-bone hands firmly held Liu Dashao’s ankle, the white skin stretched over the bone, stiff and cold! Startled, Liu Dashao tried to free himself, only to find his legs as heavy as lead, unable to move!
Gradually, a small head emerged from the grayish soil, slowly pushing outward. It looked up at Liu Dashao, its blood-red left eye reflecting his image. The tightly closed right eye also looked bizarre. The head tilted back, its large forehead a dark bluish color, pale lips revealing inhuman, jagged teeth, grinning widely at Liu Dashao.
“Damn it!” Liu Dashao struggled to shake his leg free, but it was no use. Now he truly understood what it meant to be at someone’s mercy—he was the dish on the chopping block! At that moment, Liu Dashao suddenly remembered the most memorable line from “Journey to the West” for him: “Wukong, come quickly and save your master…”
“Dashao!” Tian Guoqiang and the others bravely tried to help Liu Dashao, but the thing bared its teeth at Tian Guoqiang with a menacing growl. The roar, like that of a wild beast, not only stunned Tian Guoqiang but also made Liu Dashao freeze in fear. Ma Xiaoyan, being a girl, was even more distressed, tears streaming down her face.
The roar was an indescribable sound, something Liu Dashao never wanted to hear again in his life. It was like the angry warning of a provoked beast, ready to pounce and tear its prey apart at any moment!
The thing seemed pleased with their reactions, its gaze falling on Liu Dashao’s injured ankle, filled with greed. Its mouth suddenly extended a purplish-black tongue, long and thin, licking Liu Dashao’s wounded ankle. The earlier grip had already torn the wound, and now fresh blood seeped out. The tip of its tongue brushed against Liu Dashao’s blood, and it let out a series of “hehe” laughs, as if enjoying the taste!
It seemed the thing was in a good mood. Liu Dashao’s lips twitched. Damn it, this crazy child probably already sees me as food! If it’s like its dead mother and likes to drink blood… damn it… I don’t want to die in such a disgusting way!
Well, might as well try anything at this point!
“I command by the authority of the Heavenly Immortal Hua Daojun, the rivers, sun, moon, mountains, seas, and stars are in my grasp. I command light to be light, darkness to be dark. The thirty-three heavens are under my command, east is east, west is west, south is south, north is north. Those who follow me shall be ennobled, those who defy me shall be beheaded! That… Amitabha, Namo Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva… whatever, Taishang Laojun, as fast as the law commands!”
This was the first spell Granny Fan taught him. Let’s see if it can deal with this thing. Liu Dashao himself smoked, drank, and ate meat, breaking almost all the precepts of both Taoist and Buddhist practices. If it weren’t for the protective aura of his Pixiu ring, chanting this would be useless! Now, although the effect might be minimal, it was worth a try.
Liu Dashao’s hoarse voice chanting the Buddhist scripture immediately echoed through the graveyard. Although it sounded chaotic and disjointed, it still had some effect. In his vision, the jade pendant around Liu Dashao’s neck seemed to glow faintly, as if issuing a final warning.
Sure enough, the thing’s hateful left eye glared at Liu Dashao, and it suddenly sank back into the soil, releasing Liu Dashao’s ankle. As soon as it disappeared, Tian Guoqiang rushed over to support Liu Dashao, who almost collapsed.
“Dashao, are you okay?” Tian Guoqiang held Liu Dashao, and at that moment, Liu Dashao’s gaze fell on Ma Xiaoyan’s back! The sun in the dark clouds cast a dim yellow light, eerily tinged with a ghostly aura. A small shadow flowed like water to Ma Xiaoyan’s feet. Liu Dashao’s expression changed, and he pushed Tian Guoqiang away. In an instant, he watched helplessly as the small shadow climbed onto Ma Xiaoyan’s shoulder.
“Yanzi!” Liu Dashao almost shouted to convey his message.
Zhang Enpu’s analysis was too profound, filled with specialized terms. Liu Dashao, being only half grown, naturally couldn’t understand it all. He felt like he had plunged into a fog, his head throbbing. But when he heard the words “mother-and-child malevolent beings,” his heart suddenly quivered. He indeed recalled that when he and Village Chief Tian had narrowly escaped from this Hanba before, they had indeed encountered a very small child. Could that be A Lan’s son? But she hadn’t been pregnant when she died—how could this be? So he briefly shared his doubts with Zhang Enpu.
Zhang Enpu frowned, his eyes sharpening. “Then it must have become pregnant after death!”
“How is that possible?” Liu Dashao was dumbfounded, thinking the old man was just making things up like a storyteller.
“I don’t believe it…” Tian Guoqiang also shook his head repeatedly, clearly unconvinced.
Zhang Enpu caught the expressions of the three men with a glance and snorted slightly. “Anything that hasn’t been determined is possible. This isn’t unusual—it’s called a ghost giving birth.”
“A ghost giving birth?” Liu Dashao felt his knowledge expanding. He had only heard of ghosts harming people, never of ghosts giving birth. He thought the old man was making things up again. “Maybe it was just a little ghost she brought with her?” Liu Dashao offered his guess.
“Hmph, you can see for yourselves,” Zhang Enpu said, flicking his sleeve. The peachwood sword spun midair and landed steadily in his palm—an impressive feat, like a magician’s trick.
Hearing Zhang Enpu’s words, Liu Dashao quickly shifted his gaze toward the Hanba, who had been motionless for so long. However, once his eyes landed on her, they couldn’t move away. To his shock, he noticed that the Hanba’s abdomen had slightly bulged. Within just a few breaths, her belly had grown significantly, straining the blood-red wedding dress she wore. “Master Zhang… Zhang Bo…”
“I noticed it long ago, which is why I warned you just now,” Zhang Enpu emphasized, his tone becoming serious and authoritative. “Stay alert. The child is about to emerge. One is already difficult to handle; if there are two, we’re sure to be in trouble. This Hanba is filled with resentment. Right now, we must douse her with black dog’s blood to inflict serious damage. I will hold her off and prevent the child from emerging. You must seize the opportunity to pour the remaining bucket of black dog’s blood over her head. Whether you hit her with a club or throw a brick, as long as it’s accurate and forceful, it will work. Remember, we only have one chance. If we fail, things will get even more difficult.”
“Douse her again?” Liu Dashao’s face visibly twitched.
“Yes, I can’t do it myself.”
“Then… who’s going to do it this time?” Liu Dashao’s teeth chattered slightly. But as soon as he said this, he wished he could slap himself because he noticed that at this moment, Tian Guoqiang and Ma Xiaoyan’s eyes were all focused on him like spotlights, as if there were flowers growing on him.
“You… why are you looking at me?”
“Big brother… hehe… you understand,” Tian Guoqiang chuckled foolishly, but to Liu Dashao, this laughter sounded even more terrifying than the Hanba’s.
“I… I’m not doing it again! I already did it once!” Liu Dashao waved his hands repeatedly.
“Brother, don’t worry, I’ll cheer you on and wish you success!” Tian Guoqiang patted Liu Dashao’s shoulder earnestly.
“Go to hell!” At this moment, Liu Dashao felt like crying but couldn’t even manage that anymore. The sea was full of water, and his heart was full of tears.
“Don’t waste time. Time waits for no one. I’ll count to three, and then we’ll act separately!” After saying this, Zhang Enpu shouted three times and then resolutely charged forward with his peachwood sword toward the Hanba. However, after taking several steps, he realized that he was the only one shouting the battle cry. The three behind him hadn’t joined in at all. Zhang Enpu immediately felt his scalp tingling, but since he had already taken the first step, he had no choice but to press on. Before leaving, he even muttered a curse: “Don’t blame me if I didn’t warn you. If we can’t subdue this Hanba, we’ll all perish together!”
This sentence from Zhang Enpu finally worked. Liu Dashao, who had been praising the old man for being braver than Liu Hulan, had no choice but to grit his teeth, grab the bucket, and follow with small, hesitant steps. Tian Guoqiang spat into his palms, rubbed them together, reminded Ma Xiaoyan to stay safe, then picked up a tree trunk as thick as his thigh, wielding it like a small cannon, ready to seize an opportunity to strike the Hanba with all his might. With this thickness and quality, even if she were the reincarnation of the Monkey King, he would make her furious enough to lose her temper and go berserk!
Seeing Zhang Enpu’s sudden attack, the Hanba was already furious. Fortunately, her resentment was too strong, and her Hanba body was unaffected by a little black dog’s blood. Her abilities hadn’t been hindered at all. In her rage, the Hanba wildly swung her black claws, causing flying sand and stones, and a fierce wind. A dense rain of pebbles and branches attacked Zhang Enpu like a storm.
The Hanba’s fury put Zhang Enpu in a dangerous situation. He barely had time to dodge the flying stones and branches, let alone counterattack. Soon, he was hit by a stone that flew toward him, causing him to fall to the ground. However, Zhang Enpu, who had lived a long life and practiced Taoism for many years, wouldn’t be defeated so easily. He quickly got back up with a flip, tightened his grip on the peachwood sword, and launched three quick strikes. The Hanba, however, ignored the attacks and continued to charge toward Zhang Enpu, determined to tear him apart. Realizing the danger, Zhang Enpu thought to himself, “You can’t catch a wolf without sacrificing the bait.” He gritted his teeth, leaned his body backward into a bridge position, and at that moment, the Hanba’s claws just barely grazed his face. The close proximity allowed Zhang Enpu to feel the pain on his cheek. This was a great opportunity. At the same time, Zhang Enpu extended his right heel backward to stabilize his center of gravity. Using the power from his waist, he spun like a top on the spot. His left hand formed a mystical finger seal, moving like lightning to reach the Hanba’s shoulder, then clamped down like a giant iron clamp. “Ouch!” The Hanba had thick skin and tough flesh, so she didn’t feel much, but Zhang Enpu’s nails sank into her flesh, causing him to cry out in pain. However, he knew which was more important at this moment. He used the arm that had gripped the Hanba’s shoulder, bending and then extending his elbow to exert a clever force, lifting her entire body into the air to a height of about two or three meters. At this time, the Hanba hadn’t yet recovered, still looking around for Zhang Enpu. Zhang Enpu sneered coldly, tightly gripping the peachwood sword, and using the force of gravity, he stabbed fiercely at the back of the Hanba’s neck.
“Crack!” The peachwood sword couldn’t withstand such a heavy impact. It let out a weak muffled sound as it pierced the Hanba’s neck, bending into an arc with one end stuck in her neck and the other held tightly in Zhang Enpu’s fingers.
“You die now.” At this moment, Liu Dashao suddenly appeared behind the Hanba without warning, covering her with a bucket of black dog’s blood. After Zhang Enpu told him there would only be one chance, Liu Dashao had quietly circled around to her back while the Hanba was fighting with Zhang Enpu, holding his breath and waiting for the old man to create an opportunity for him.
“Ahh…” The Hanba let out a painful scream as the black dog’s blood drenched her head, her body emitting green smoke and trembling uncontrollably.
“Great job!” Zhang Enpu was delighted. In the blink of an eye, he jumped back to the ground, re-sheathed the nearly broken peachwood sword behind his back, and rushed toward the Hanba with a determined finger seal. He believed that today he would surely subdue this menace. Otherwise, if they entered the village and started killing innocents, it would lead to a major disaster. However, Zhang Enpu was also very unlucky. As soon as he approached the Hanba, he felt a numbness throughout his body, was forcefully repelled, and fell several times before groaning in pain with a dusty face. At the same time, a pool of dark black blood appeared under the Hanba’s feet, and within it, a lump of flesh was slowly wriggling. Gradually, the lump transformed into an infant.
“Oh no! The little Hanba has come out!” Zhang Enpu was greatly alarmed. Just as he was about to get up, a series of sharp pains in his shoulder forced him back down.
Liu Dashao’s breath caught in his throat. The child’s left eye was staring at him, blood-red and almost oozing blood. The strange body suddenly disappeared completely into the Hanba’s body, leaving only the left eye embedded in the Hanba’s clothing, motionless and fixedly staring at everyone. The eye on the clothing was exactly at the child’s height, less than a meter tall. But that large, blood-red left eye, staring fixedly, made Liu Dashao and the two others feel their hair stand on end. Suddenly, a sound like a newborn baby’s cry echoed through the entire graveyard:
“Guagua… guagua…”
That sound was not one of joy at birth, but filled with hatred and contempt at coming into the world. That cry almost made Liu Dashao’s entire body’s hair stand up, even though he kept muttering to Tian Guoqiang and Ma Xiaoyan that it was just a foolish child having a fit, nothing to be afraid of.
The baby’s cry continued, distant, as if coming from another world. Gradually, it changed, transforming… from crying into a cold laugh, which suddenly burst out, piercing everyone’s eardrums. The sharp laughter caused everyone’s hearts to feel uneasy, as if their hearts had turned into tight strings, tightly squeezing everyone’s hearts!
“Everyone be careful, I’ve seen this thing before, it’s just a foolish child!” Liu Dashao said while cautiously moving closer to Ma Xiaoyan. Although he spoke lightly, even he himself didn’t know what was happening now. Perhaps it was self-deception, but it was better than fleeing in panic! The sharp laughter of that thing grew more and more piercing, as if mocking them, drawing closer and closer to everyone. If the previous cry was from another world, then this laughter was like hiding right by your ear, giving you nowhere to escape!
At this moment, Liu Dashao felt a tightness around his ankle. The wound on his foot, which had been scraped earlier, had now reopened! That icy sensation made his cloth shoes almost stick to the ground, unable to move an inch. Liu Dashao looked down and saw a hand, almost skeletal, tightly gripping his injured ankle!
That thin, almost skin-covered-bone hand firmly clamped onto Liu Dashao’s ankle, the white skin almost like a layer over a bone hand, rigid and icy cold! Startled, Liu Dashao quickly tried to free himself, only to discover that both his legs felt like they were filled with lead, unable to move at all!
Gradually, from the grayish soil, a small head slowly emerged, gradually protruding outward. It looked up at Liu Dashao, its blood-red left eye reflecting his image. Its right eye was tightly closed, making it look even more bizarre. Tilting its head back, its large forehead was a dark bluish-black color. Its pale lips curled around non-human beast-like teeth, jagged and widely open toward Liu Dashao.
“Damn it!” Liu Dashao struggled hard to shake off his leg, but he couldn’t move at all. Now he finally understood what it meant to be at someone’s mercy—his own body was like a dish on someone else’s chopping board! At this moment, our Liu Dashao suddenly recalled a line from “Journey to the West” that had left a deep impression on him: “Wukong, come save your master quickly…”
“Big brother!” Tian Guoqiang and the others, very bravely, wanted to help Liu Dashao, but the creature glared fiercely at Tian Guoqiang, baring its teeth. Accompanied by a roar like that of a wild beast, it not only stunned Tian Guoqiang but also froze Liu Dashao in place. Ma Xiaoyan, being a girl, was even more distressed, directly bursting into tears.
Its roar was an indescribable kind of growl. That creature was simply… simply… to put it bluntly, it was the most terrifying sound Liu Dashao had ever heard in his life. It was like a provoked and enraged beast, fiercely warning the intruder. If possible, the next second it would definitely pounce and tear the prey in front of it into pieces!
The creature seemed to be very pleased with the reactions of the people, its gaze falling on Liu Dashao’s injured ankle, showing greed in its eyes. Suddenly, its mouth extended a somewhat purplish-black tongue, long and thin, licking over Liu Dashao’s injured ankle. Because of its previous grip, Liu Dashao’s ankle had already torn open, and now it was slowly oozing fresh red blood. As the creature’s tongue brushed over Liu Dashao’s blood, it seemed to be enjoying itself, and it began to giggle incessantly again!
It seemed the creature was now in a very good mood. Liu Dashao’s mouth twitched. Damn it, this foolish child might have already considered me as food! If it’s like her dead mother and also likes to suck blood… damn… I don’t want to die such a disgusting death!
Well, better to try treating a dead horse as a live one!
Zhang Enpu’s deduction was correct. The drought demoness was not actually injured but chose to wait quietly, biding her time to deliver a fatal blow to anyone who approached. After a long wait with no one coming, she realized her plan had failed and immediately jumped up from the ground, letting out a sinister laugh directed at Zhang Enpu.
“This…” Liu Dashao and the other two were completely dumbfounded. Wasn’t it said that just a splash of black dog’s blood on her would make her kick the bucket? But now…
Zhang Enpu took a deep breath and tucked the hem of his Taoist robe into his belt. Although this made him look rather unorthodox, these were extraordinary times, and he couldn’t afford to worry about maintaining an air of immortal grace. He narrowed his eyes, cautiously observing the drought demoness’s movements while pulling out the peach wood sword that was stuck in the ground. “The situation has changed. I was too reckless, dragging you all into this without proper preparation.”
“Uncle Zhang… what do you mean?” Liu Dashao stammered.
“Ah!” Zhang Enpu sighed. “I thought that even if this female corpse was extremely fierce, at most she had just become a drought demoness, not yet fully developed. I believed we could handle her with caution and resolve this disaster. But I didn’t expect… I didn’t expect…”
“Uncle, you’re driving me crazy! Why do you always stop talking at the critical moment?” Liu Dashao complained.
“She has become a blood drought demoness,” Zhang Enpu said bluntly this time, without any hesitation.
“Blood drought demoness?”
“Yes,” Zhang Enpu nodded, habitually stroking his short goat beard. “I don’t know who the brainless fool was who did this wicked deed. This place is east of the dam, west of the chaotic graveyard, where the water of the sunflower generates yin, and the yin carries water. It also carries a strange, malevolent energy, causing the two forces to merge into a continuous spiral, operating in cycles. And the person who buried her just happened to place her at the center of this vortex—the yin-gathering pool. As a result, not only did this create the drought demoness, but it also gave rise to a mother and child pair of malevolent spirits!”
Zhang Enpu’s analysis was too profound, filled with specialized terms that Liu Dashao, a young lad, couldn’t fully grasp. He felt as if he was lost in a fog, his head spinning. But when he heard the words “mother and child pair of malevolent spirits,” his heart suddenly trembled. He remembered that when he and Village Chief Tian narrowly escaped from the drought demoness, they had indeed encountered a small child. Could this be A’Lan’s son? But she wasn’t pregnant when she died. How could this be? He briefly shared his doubts with Zhang Enpu.
Zhang Enpu frowned, his eyes sharpening. “Then she must have become pregnant after death!”
“How is that possible?” Liu Dashao was stunned, feeling like the old man was spinning a tall tale.
“I don’t believe it…” Tian Guoqiang also shook his head, looking completely unconcerned.
Zhang Enpu glanced at them, catching the changes in their expressions, and let out a cold laugh. “As long as something isn’t set in stone, it’s possible. This isn’t strange—it’s a ghost giving birth.”
“Ghost giving birth?” Liu Dashao felt like he was learning something new. He had only heard of ghosts harming people, not giving birth to children. The old man was getting more and more outrageous. “Maybe it’s a little ghost she brought with her?” Liu Dashao offered his own guess.
“Hmph, just look at her belly!” Zhang Enpu flicked his sleeve, and the peach wood sword spun in the air before landing steadily in his palm. This move was quite impressive, almost like a magic trick.
Following Zhang Enpu’s words, Liu Dashao quickly turned his gaze to the drought demoness, who had been motionless for a while. But once his eyes landed on her, he couldn’t look away. Why? Because he was shocked to see that the drought demoness’s belly was slightly bulging. In just a few breaths, her stomach had grown larger, stretching the blood-red wedding dress she wore. “Uncle… Uncle Zhang…” Liu Dashao’s hand hung in the air, trembling as he pointed forward.
“I saw it earlier, that’s why I warned you,” Zhang Enpu said, his tone becoming serious and commanding.
“Keep a close eye on her. The little one is about to come out. One is already difficult to deal with; if there are two, we’re in big trouble. The drought demoness’s resentment is too strong. The only way to deal with her now is to drench her in black dog’s blood. I’ll keep her occupied and prevent the little one from emerging. You seize the opportunity to pour the last bucket of dog’s blood over her head. I don’t care if you have to hit her with a stick or throw a brick, just make sure it’s accurate and forceful. Remember, you only have one chance. If you fail, things will get much harder.”
“Again?” Liu Dashao’s face twitched visibly.
“Yes, I can’t spare the hands.”
“Then… who’s going to do it this time?” Liu Dashao’s teeth chattered as he spoke, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he wished he could slap himself. Because at that moment, both Tian Guoqiang and Ma Xiaoyan’s eyes turned to him like spotlights, as if he were the center of attention.
“Why… why are you looking at me?”
“Dashao… hehe… you know,” Tian Guoqiang chuckled, but to Liu Dashao, the laughter sounded even more terrifying than the drought demoness’s.
“I… I’m not doing it again! I already did it once!” Liu Dashao waved his hands frantically.
“Brother, don’t worry. Just go for it! I’ll cheer you on from the sidelines, wishing you success!” Tian Guoqiang patted Liu Dashao’s shoulder earnestly.
“Go to hell!” Liu Dashao felt like crying, but he realized he couldn’t even shed a tear. The sea was full of water, and his stomach was full of tears.
“Stop dawdling. Time waits for no one. I’ll count to three, and then we move!” Zhang Enpu shouted the count, and without hesitation, he charged at the drought demoness with his peach wood sword. However, after taking a few steps, he realized that he was the only one who had shouted the count—the other three hadn’t moved at all. Zhang Enpu felt a chill run down his spine, but since he had already started, he had no choice but to press on. He muttered, “Don’t blame me if I didn’t warn you. If we can’t subdue this drought demoness, we’re all done for!”
Zhang Enpu’s words had an effect. Liu Dashao, who had been praising the old man for being braver than Liu Hulan, gritted his teeth, picked up the bucket, and followed with small, quick steps. Tian Guoqiang spat into his palms, rubbed them together, and told Ma Xiaoyan to stay safe. Then he grabbed a thick tree trunk, hoisted it like a small cannon, and followed behind, ready to strike the drought demoness at the right moment. The thickness and weight of the trunk were such that even if the demoness were the reincarnation of the Monkey King, it would make her three corpses leap and seven orifices smoke!
Seeing Zhang Enpu’s sneak attack, the drought demoness was already furious. Fortunately, her resentment was so strong, and she had become a drought demoness, so a little black dog’s blood had no effect on her. Her abilities were completely unaffected. In her rage, the drought demoness wildly swung her black claws, causing sand and stones to fly, and a fierce wind to blow. Dense stones and branches rained down on Zhang Enpu like a storm.
The drought demoness’s fury put Zhang Enpu in constant danger. He barely had time to dodge the flying stones and branches, let alone attack. Soon, he was hit by a stone and fell to the ground. Of course, Zhang Enpu, who had lived for so long and practiced Taoism for many years, wasn’t so easily defeated. He immediately performed a carp flip and stood up, gripping the peach wood sword tightly. He launched three swift strikes, but the drought demoness ignored them, charging straight at him, determined to tear him to pieces. Seeing that this wasn’t working, Zhang Enpu thought, “You can’t catch a wolf without risking the child!” He gritted his teeth, leaned back, and formed an iron bridge. At that moment, the drought demoness’s claws brushed past his face. The distance was so close that Zhang Enpu could feel the pain of the scrape on his cheek. Seizing the opportunity, Zhang Enpu extended his right heel to stabilize his center of gravity, then twisted his waist, spinning like a top. His left hand formed a spiritual void finger, swiftly reaching for the drought demoness’s shoulder and clamping down like a pair of iron pliers. The drought demoness’s thick skin didn’t feel much, but Zhang Enpu’s nails dug into her flesh, causing him to cry out in pain. However, he knew what was more important at the moment. With a twist of his arm, he used a clever force to lift his entire body into the air, about two or three meters above the ground. The drought demoness, still disoriented, was looking around for Zhang Enpu. Zhang Enpu sneered, gripping the peach wood sword tightly, and with the force of his descent, he thrust it into the back of the drought demoness’s neck.
“Thud!” The peach wood sword couldn’t withstand such force and let out a weak thud. One end was stuck in the drought demoness’s neck, while the other was held in Zhang Enpu’s fingers, bending into an arc.
“Die!” At that moment, Liu Dashao suddenly appeared behind the drought demoness and poured the bucket of black dog’s blood over her. After Zhang Enpu told him that there was only one chance, Liu Dashao had quietly circled around to the back of the drought demoness while she was fighting Zhang Enpu, holding his breath and waiting for the old man to create an opportunity.
“Ah…” The drought demoness screamed as the dog’s blood drenched her, her body smoking and trembling uncontrollably.
“Perfect!” Zhang Enpu was overjoyed. In the blink of an eye, he jumped back to the ground, sheathed the battered peach wood sword, and charged at the drought demoness with a hand seal. He was confident that he could subdue this menace today. Otherwise, if they entered the village and started killing indiscriminately, it would be a disaster. But Zhang Enpu was unlucky. As soon as he touched the drought demoness, he felt a numbing sensation and was thrown back, tumbling several times before landing in a heap, groaning. At the same time, a pool of black blood appeared beneath the drought demoness’s feet, and within it, a small lump of flesh began to wriggle. Slowly, the lump transformed into a baby.
“Not good! The little drought demoness is out!” Zhang Enpu was horrified. He tried to get up, but a sharp pain in his shoulder made him collapse again.
Liu Dashao’s breath caught in his throat. The child’s left eye was blood-red, staring at him as if it could bleed. The eerie body suddenly merged completely into the drought demoness’s form, leaving only the left eye, which seemed to be embedded in the drought demoness’s clothing, staring motionlessly at the group. The eye on the clothing was at the child’s height, less than a meter tall. But the large, blood-red left eye made Liu Dashao and the others feel a chill run down their spines. Suddenly, the graveyard echoed with a cry that sounded like a newborn baby:
“Waa waa…”
The sound was not one of joy but filled with hatred and disdain. The cry made Liu Dashao’s hair stand on end, even though he kept muttering to Tian Guoqiang and Ma Xiaoyan that it was just a crazy child and nothing to fear.
The baby’s cry continued, distant as if from another world. Gradually, it changed… from a cry to a cold laugh. The laughter pierced everyone’s eardrums, sharp and unsettling, making their hearts feel like tightly wound strings, constricting their chests!
“Be careful, I’ve seen this thing before. It’s just a crazy child!” Liu Dashao said as he cautiously moved closer to Ma Xiaoyan and the others. Although he spoke lightly, he himself didn’t know what was happening. Maybe it was self-deception, but it was better than running away in panic! The thing’s sharp laughter grew more and more piercing, as if mocking them, getting closer and closer. If the earlier cry was from another world, this laughter seemed to be right in their ears, leaving them nowhere to hide!
At that moment, Liu Dashao’s ankle tightened, and the wound on his foot reopened! The cold touch made his cloth shoe feel as if it were glued to the ground, unable to move. Liu Dashao looked down and saw a pair of almost skeletal hands gripping his injured ankle!
The thin, almost skin-and-bone hands firmly held Liu Dashao’s ankle, the white skin stretched over the bones, stiff and cold! Startled, Liu Dashao tried to free himself, only to find that his legs felt as if they were filled with lead, immovable!
Gradually, a small head emerged from the grayish soil, slowly protruding outward. It looked up at Liu Dashao, its blood-red left eye reflecting his image. The tightly closed right eye also looked bizarre. The head tilted back, the large forehead a dark bluish color, the pale lips revealing inhuman, jagged teeth, grinning widely at Liu Dashao.
“Damn it!” Liu Dashao struggled to shake his leg free, but it was no use. Now he finally understood what it meant to be at someone’s mercy—he was the dish on the chopping block! At that moment, Liu Dashao suddenly remembered the most memorable line from “Journey to the West” for him: “Wukong, come quickly and save your master…”
“Dashao!” Tian Guoqiang and the others, loyal as ever, wanted to help Liu Dashao, but the thing bared its teeth at Tian Guoqiang. With a roar like a wild beast, it not only stunned Tian Guoqiang but also made Liu Dashao freeze in place. Ma Xiaoyan, being a girl, was even more distressed and started crying.
Its roar was an indescribable growl, something that Liu Dashao never wanted to hear again in his life. It was like the angry warning of a provoked beast, ready to pounce and tear its prey apart in the next second!
The thing seemed pleased with their reactions, its gaze falling on Liu Dashao’s injured ankle, showing greed. Its mouth suddenly extended a purplish-black tongue, thin and long, licking Liu Dashao’s wounded ankle. The earlier grip had torn Liu Dashao’s ankle, and now fresh blood was seeping out. The tip of its tongue brushed against Liu Dashao’s blood, and it seemed to enjoy it, letting out a series of “hehe” laughs!
It seemed the thing was in a good mood now. Liu Dashao’s lips twitched. Damn it, this crazy child probably already sees me as food! If it’s like its dead mother and likes to drink blood… ugh… I don’t want to die such a disgusting death!
Well, desperate times call for desperate measures!
“I, by the command of the Heavenly Immortal Huadao, hold the rivers, sun, moon, mountains, seas, and stars in my palm. I make light shine and darkness fall. The thirty-three heavens are under my law. I command east, west, south, and north. Those who follow me shall be ennobled; those who disobey shall be beheaded! That… Amitabha, Namo Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva… never mind, Supreme Lord Laozi, as fast as the law commands!”
This was the first spell Granny Fan had taught him. Let’s see if it can deal with this thing. Liu Dashao himself smoked, drank, and ate meat, breaking almost all the precepts of both Taoist and Buddhist practices. If it weren’t for the protective talisman he wore, this spell would probably be useless! Now, although it might not have much effect, it was worth a try.
Liu Dashao’s raspy voice recited the Buddhist scripture, echoing throughout the graveyard. Although it sounded chaotic and disjointed, it still had some effect. In his vision, the jade pendant around Liu Dashao’s neck seemed to glow faintly, as if issuing a final warning.
Sure enough, the thing’s hateful left eye glared at Liu Dashao before it suddenly sank back into the soil, releasing Liu Dashao’s ankle. As soon as it was gone, Tian Guoqiang rushed over to support Liu Dashao, who was about to collapse.
“Dashao, are you okay?” Tian Guoqiang held Liu Dashao, and at that moment, Liu Dashao’s gaze fell on Ma Xiaoyan’s back! The sun, hidden behind the clouds, cast a dim yellow light, eerily tinged with a ghostly aura. A small shadow flowed like water to Ma Xiaoyan’s feet. Liu Dashao’s expression changed, and he pushed Tian Guoqiang away. In an instant, he watched helplessly as the small shadow climbed onto Ma Xiaoyan’s shoulder.
“Yanzi!” Liu Dashao almost shouted to convey his message.
This was the first spell taught to him by Grandma Fan, and now he would see if it could deal with this creature. Liu Dashao himself smoked, drank, and ate meat, having violated almost all the taboos of both Taoist priests and Buddhist monks. If it weren’t for the protection of the Pi Xiu ring light pendant on his body, reciting this spell would be useless. Now, although it might not be very effective, he had no choice but to try.
Liu Dashao, reciting the Buddhist sutra in a hoarse voice, made a loud noise throughout the entire graveyard. Although it sounded chaotic, messy, and disjointed, by the end, he couldn’t even tell which part connected to which. Nevertheless, it did have some effect. In his field of vision, the jade pendant around Liu Dashao’s neck seemed to glow slightly, as if making a final warning.
Sure enough, the creature glared at Liu Dashao with its vengeful left eye and suddenly disappeared back into the soil. Along with it, Liu Dashao’s ankle was also released. As soon as it left, Tian Guoqiang rushed over to support Liu Dashao, who was almost collapsing.
“Big brother, are you okay?” Tian Guoqiang supported Liu Dashao. At that moment, Liu Dashao’s gaze suddenly fell on the back of Ma Xiaoyan! The sun behind the dark clouds emitted a dim yellow light, eerily tinged with a ghostly aura. A small shadow, like flowing water, slid to Ma Xiaoyan’s feet. Liu Dashao’s expression changed, and he pushed Tian Guoqiang aside with one motion. In an instant, he watched helplessly as the small shadow climbed onto Ma Xiaoyan’s shoulder.
“Yanzi!” Liu Dashao almost shouted with all his might.
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