Chapter 37

Logically, when people realized there was a problem with the big hole and those who went in didn’t come out, they should have gone back to seek help. But at that time, the people seemed to be possessed. Seeing that those who went in ahead did not come out, they followed one by one, saying they were looking for people, but in fact, they all disappeared into the hole. Even at the brightest time of the day, the hole was pitch black, and even piles of torches at the entrance couldn’t illuminate what it was like inside. So, everyone discussed it and, with heavy hearts, decided to seal the hole together. After that, nothing abnormal happened again, and many years passed, the strange incident gradually being forgotten.

After hearing this, Xue Ming thought it was not that simple. Based on Granny Ma’s description, the big hole was obviously filled with evil energy. Could it really be that easily filled? She felt it was necessary to call Yan Yuhe to take a look.

While she was thinking, Yan Yuhe came in from outside. He had changed into Granny Ma’s son’s clothes. Without the adornment of luxurious robes, he appeared less aloof and more approachable. Xue Ming remembered he had almost tormented her the whole night. Fortunately, the bed was sturdy; otherwise, if Granny Ma had heard the noise and come to ask, Xue Ming would have been too embarrassed to explain.

Yan Yuhe, not knowing what he had gone out to do, returned and sat across from Xue Ming. Granny Ma handed him a cup of tea. He thanked her but did not drink it.

Xue Ming hurriedly finished the porridge in her bowl, wiped her mouth, thanked Granny Ma, and then pulled Yan Yuhe aside. “I just heard from Granny Ma that many years ago, a strange hole appeared in the cemetery west of the village, and those who went in died. It feels suspicious. Should we go take a look?”

Yan Yuhe said, “This matter is not urgent.”

Xue Ming was puzzled, “Huh? Then what is urgent?”

Yan Yuhe said, “The scenery in this village is beautiful; we can take a walk and have a look.”

Xue Ming couldn’t understand why Yan Yuhe had the leisure to stroll around the village and enjoy the scenery at this time. Now, Hundred Crow and Jiang Ruoming were probably frantically searching for her. She had no idea what was happening with Bai Duo and the Ghost King Liu Li. Lu Man said that the Ghost Gate would open on the fifteenth of July, and the new Ghost King would be elected when a hundred ghosts entered the human world. Although Xue Ming did not know the exact date, she could tell from the nearly full moon that it was approaching. Yet, with so many things piling up in front of her, Yan Yuhe said they should go sightseeing.

Xue Ming followed closely beside him. As they left Granny Ma’s house, they saw the terraced fields in the distance, resembling natural staircases, lush and green, layer upon layer. The sunset hung in the western sky, and the clouds drifted slowly across, making the earth seem vast. Xue Ming knew that the dusk wouldn’t settle quickly; yesterday, they had walked for a long time along mountain paths before it gradually darkened at the foot of the mountain.

Granny Ma had said she had never seen the sunrise since birth but had heard from her ancestors that when night meets day, the east gradually lights up in white, and the brilliant sun slowly rises, casting golden light over the earth. Even in the coldest winter, the sunlight that falls upon them is warm. Humans can obtain sunlight effortlessly without any cost, but for Granny Ma and everyone in this village, it’s a luxury.

Young men and women worked on the terraced fields while the elderly played with children in front of their houses. A few curious young children followed Xue Ming and Yan Yuhe, thinking they were being discreet; their hiding skills were clumsy, and Xue Ming had noticed them long ago. She deliberately teased the children, pretending to look back occasionally, scaring them into hurriedly finding hiding spots, with their little heads peeking out to watch her secretly.

Xue Ming chuckled softly and said to Yan Yuhe, “This place feels like a paradise. Is there a way to free them from the ghost realm? It’s not right for mortals to live here forever.”

Yan Yuhe didn’t respond. Instead, he stopped, turned around, and waved to the hiding children. The children hiding in various spots dared not respond, so he pulled out a small paper crane from his sleeve and tossed it into the air. The little paper crane flew around for a few circles and headed toward where the children hid.

Xue Ming was quite surprised at the sight, looking at Yan Yuhe several times. She found it hard to believe that Yan Yuhe, who always appeared aloof and indifferent, was teasing children. He, who seemed like a person with a cold and heartless nature, was not only taking a leisurely stroll today but also using his paper crane to amuse the children?

The little paper crane flew a few circles, and the children’s eyes lit up as they followed, running out of their hiding spots. The crane flew to Yan Yuhe’s side and landed on the ground, transforming into Jiang Xing, which wobbled a few steps before stopping by Xue Ming’s leg.

Xue Ming squatted down to pet Jiang Xing. Seeing the eager looks of the children, she called them over, “Come here, have a closer look. Our Jiang Xing is very gentle and never bites.”

Perhaps her naturally kind and pretty appearance, smiling as she spoke, made the children feel she was approachable, and they gradually came closer. Both boys and girls, around seven or eight years old, with various little braids, some gathered around Jiang Xing, and a couple came to Xue Ming’s side, asking, “Big sister, did you come from outside?”

Xue Ming nodded. The little girl then asked, “What is it like outside?”

Xue Ming said, “The outside is not as nice as here. Your place is picturesque and harmonious, much better than outside.”

The little girl said childishly, “My grandpa says the outside is great. There’s everything, even the sun.”

Xue Ming turned to look west, initially wanting to say that they could see the sun too, but she saw the continuous mountains blocking the sunset entirely, except for the twilight spreading in the sky.

Xue Ming held the little girl’s hand and pointed to Yan Yuhe, “Do you see that brother over there? He is skillful and will definitely take you all out.”

The little girl looked up at Yan Yuhe, who neither denied nor agreed, just looked down at her.

Xue Ming guessed he couldn’t handle children of this age, so she took the initiative to chat with them, asking for their names. In the village, children rarely had proper names before growing up; most had names like “Tie” for good survival. Xue Ming held the hand of the little girl named Ying Ying in front of her, asking the children to lead her and Yan Yuhe to play around the village and see other sceneries.

Afterward, the two of them and the crane wandered around the village with a group of children. The boys, sturdy and fast, were used to playing wild in the village, running into open doors and coming out with dumplings and steamed cakes to give to Xue Ming. The girls, much quieter, competed to hold Xue Ming’s hand; five of her fingers held six little hands, while the other hand held a steamed cake to eat, followed by several dogs of different sizes, feeling immensely comfortable and refreshed.

Under the dense trees sat chatting elders, who, seeing Xue Ming and Yan Yuhe from afar, waved their fans and greeted them warmly, treating them like family.

After walking for a while and leaving the village, they came across a clear river. The village people lived by the water, and this river sustained the entire village, so it was well-protected, so clear that you could see fish swimming in it. The children who grew up by the river were now playing by the water, and Xue Ming took a break, finding a lush tree to sit under.

A gentle breeze caressed her face, the dense leaves overhead rustling. She leaned against the tree comfortably, gazing into the distant horizon. The sounds of children playing and the occasional barking of dogs filled the air while Jiang Xing lay obediently by her side, resting its head on her leg. Soon, Yan Yuhe sat beside her, quietly watching the children playing by the water.

Xue Ming felt admiration and said, “This kind of life is truly enviable. I wish I could live here, too.”

Men farm, women weave, they work at sunrise and rest at sunset, with excellent relationships between neighbors. The entire community raises children, and when the evening cools down, they visit each other to chat. No work, no threats to their lives—it’s the ideal lifestyle.

“Do you like this place?” Yan Yuhe suddenly asked.

“Yes, I do,” Xue Ming replied without hesitation, but she reconsidered. The peaceful life in the village had led to their current state, forever unable to see the sunrise. She remembered her heartless boss speaking at a meeting, passionately declaring into the microphone, “Without ambition, it’s a dead end! If others lack ambition, it’s their death! If you lack ambition, it’s your death!”

Startled by the memory, Xue Ming added, “But I think people should have some ambition. Maybe when all this is over, I’ll find a master on a mountain, learn some skills, and avoid being bullied.”

Yan Yuhe responded calmly, “Do you think I’m not capable enough? Why seek another master?”

Excited, Xue Ming moved closer, “So, you can take me as a disciple? But didn’t you say I couldn’t join your sect?”

Yan Yuhe said, “These are just simple tricks; I can teach you without formal discipleship.”

Overjoyed, Xue Ming grabbed his wrist, “It’s settled then. A gentleman never goes back on his word; don’t you dare regret it!”

Yan Yuhe responded quietly and said no more. In high spirits, Xue Ming lay beside him, looking up at the sky. His promise to stay with her eased her burdens, removing worries about where to settle and how to survive in this strange world.

Moreover, she had been with Yan Yuhe since arriving in this world, and naturally, she didn’t want to be separated from him. Living together in the future would be ideal.

As the refreshing wind blew, Xue Ming closed her eyes, thinking about many things, and eventually fell asleep. She didn’t know how long she had slept, but when she woke up, it was already dark, and the children who had been playing by the river had gone, probably back to the village with the dogs.

Yan Yuhe was still sitting beside her, his position unchanged, as if meditating. As soon as she moved, Yan Yuhe opened his eyes and looked at her.

Xue Ming rubbed her eyes and asked, “Have the children gone back?”

Yan Yuhe responded affirmatively, then stood up, “Let’s go.”

“Where?” Xue Ming slowly got up, stretching her arms and waist.

Yan Yuhe said, “Didn’t you want to see the village’s west side?”

Seeing the surroundings dark and the moonlight bright, Xue Ming felt a bit uneasy about going at night, but since it was Yan Yuhe’s decision, she did not argue. Watching him take out a paper and conjure a lantern, she followed closely.

The journey was peaceful, with nothing unusual happening. As the two gradually reached the graveyard, Xue Ming saw the scattered graves and felt a bit scared, instinctively holding onto Yan Yuhe’s arm. Their shadows on the ground looked intimate.

They walked for an unknown time and seemed to be in the depths of the graveyard, surrounded by tombstones, when Yan Yuhe said, “We’re here.”

Xue Ming turned her head to see a very thick tree in front of her, its canopy sprawling and occupying her entire field of vision. Yan Yuhe slightly raised the lantern in his hand, casting its light upwards, causing Xue Ming’s gaze to follow. A gust of wind suddenly blew from an unknown direction, making her squint. She hurriedly closed her eyes and rubbed them, and when she opened them again, she saw Yan Yuhe release something like a firework into the sky.

In an instant, it was as bright as daylight. The night wind shook the dense canopy, and at that precise moment, Xue Ming’s scalp tingled with fear, and a cold sweat broke out on her back. She saw hundreds of branches covered with hanging corpses, old and young, swaying gently with the wind. They all had their mouths sewn shut, their hands nailed, and their necks tied with a rope, hanging from the trees so densely that there was no gap between them.

Xue Ming’s shocked gaze swept over them. She saw Granny Ma, the children who had called her ‘big sister’ today, the faces of those who had chatted under the trees, and the young men and women who had carried hoes and dried hay.

These were all the people living in the village.