Rumble!
The thunder roared, and panic spread among the villagers. Two black dogs barked incessantly, and soone could no longer suppress their cries.
Kou Yushan led the village guard team, a group of able-bodied young n, and swiftly navigated through the woods to find the highest ground with the densest canopy above.
"Leave behind the heavy stuff, everyone co this way!"
Kou Yushan shouted, and everyone dropped their packs and quickly gathered at the spot Kou Yushan indicated.
Adults with children, over seventy people huddled together, clutching each family’s rooster, nervously watching Kou Yushan take out a spool wrapped in hemp twine from a bundle, placing it in a wooden basin handed over by He Baosheng, and opening a bamboo tube at his waist, pouring out the black dog blood inside to soak it thoroughly.
Skinny, with a cloth wrapped around his head, joined the other guard team mbers, using shovels to dig drainage channels around the gathering spot.
Skinny’s old mother, after all, did not leave with him.
Everyone cooperated seamlessly and moved swiftly, indicating Kou Yushan had often led them in drills.
Having soaked the hemp twine, Kou Yushan and He Baosheng used it to encircle the gathering spot around the trees, creating a barrier that enclosed everyone within.
Cold rain fell on Sang Que’s face, and in an instant, lightning flashed, thunder bood, and torrential rain descended.
Old village chief Du Enfu and Liu Tianyou used their raincoats to shield several young children, while others donned bamboo hats to protect the won and children.
Xia Chan tucked Xuan Yu into her coat and held it tightly, while He Shou’an, seeing Sang Que, pulled He Shouhui and moved closer, as if only Sang Que could provide him a sense of security.
"I haven’t had a chance to thank you for last ti," He Shouhui shouted. "Where have you been these past few days?"
"Busy!" Sang Que casually deflected.
The forest was filled with the chaotic sound of rain, and everyone was drenched quickly. Fortunately, it was sumr, so it didn’t feel too cold.
Kou Yushan and his guard team mbers stood ready with shovels, keeping vigilant on the outskirts of the crowd, closely watching the ground.
"It’s just a passing storm; it’s fierce but will soon pass. Watch your step; if there are signs of pooling water, drain it quickly. As long as the water depth doesn’t exceed a fingertip, we’ll be fine!"
Kou Yushan spoke loudly to reassure everyone.
"Don’t panic or act rashly. It’s dayti now; the water ghosts won’t be too aggressive, and the black dog blood can repel other rain-ti evil spirits. We just need to withstand this rain, and we’ll have enough ti to travel. No need to worry."
"Let remind you again: stay away from the trees. In the forest, don’t pat soone’s shoulder from behind or call out their full na. If soone calls your full na or pats your shoulder, don’t turn around, don’t pay attention. Everyone, keep an eye on those around you. If anything unusual happens, shout for imdiately!"
The village guard team was busy draining water everywhere. In the crowd, an area hadn’t been drained in ti; a pale, swollen arm just extended out before Kou Yushan doused it with black dog blood, causing it to retract.
Kou Yushan was experienced, and the guard team cooperated well. The rain lasted about half an hour before gradually stopping.
"Before the sun rises, keep an eye on the puddles while traveling. Be sure not to step into them."
Kou Yushan reminded everyone again, leading them to pack up and proceed quickly out of the woods.
This delay left them little ti to travel.
In the crowd, He Baosheng guarded Qin Fangru, shouldering most of the luggage, while He Shouhui also carried quite a bit, leaving He Shou’an with a small bundle as she went ahead to help her mother.
"He Shou’an!"
Just as He Shou’an took a step, he suddenly heard soone call his full na, just like when Zhao Tiancong had called him to play by the lake.
Trembling with fear, He Shou’an dared not turn around and quickly shouted upon spotting Sang Que ahead.
"Sister Mulan!"
Young and frightened, He Shou’an stumbled on a stone in his panic, slipping into a muddy water hole.
A pale, swollen arm imdiately extended and grabbed his leg.
Hearing the shout, Sang Que turned back but saw no sign of He Shou’an, only bubbles erging from the water hole.
Before Sang Que could act, the nearby Xia Chan’s hair grew rapidly, like a black brocade, and rushed into the water hole at lightning speed.
Splash!
Saturated in mud and water, He Shou’an was pulled out, crashing to the ground, coughing violently.
On his leg was a pale, swollen severed arm, still clutching him tightly.
"Shou’an!"
Qin Fangru dropped her belongings and ran over to embrace the trembling He Shou’an while He Baosheng took the wooden basin used for the black dog blood and poured the remaining blood over the severed hand, which finally released its grip.
Xia Chan slowly retracted her hair. Seeing Sang Que watching her, she proudly puffed up her cheeks, "Am I not amazing?"
In front of those she knew and trusted, Xia Chan was still cheerful.
"Honey! Quickly, co see, is this our Tiancong?"
A woman looked in terror at the severed hand dropped by He Shou’an’s foot, as a middle-aged man approached, squatting down to examine it closely. Seeing the flower string tied into the wrist, he sat back in shock.
What had dragged He Shou’an down was undoubtedly Zhao Tiancong, who had been missing for a long ti. The Zhao couple had never known Zhao Tiancong had died in the lake.
Sang Que once saved He Shou’an by summoning his soul, but the water ghost still wouldn’t let He Shou’an go.
Sounds of grief echoed in the forest, but there was little ti for mourning.
Everyone safely exited the woods and continued their journey, the sky still gloomy and sunless, with puddles slowing everyone’s pace.
By six in the afternoon, the sky was dark and heavy with clouds, blocking even the moonlight, as night enveloped them completely. They still hadn’t glimpsed Tangyuan County.
Sang Que began to detect wandering souls nearby, while Kou Yushan had so corpse mud made to conceal the presence of the living, applying it on everyone’s forehead.
Sang Que lit a soul lamp and hung it on a mule cart, affixing an Exorcism Talisman to protect the children inside.
The atmosphere was tense; everyone lit their torches and pressed onward in silence, avoiding straying or stopping.
At ten past seven, Sang Que finally saw a cluster of lights deep within the pitch-black plains, outlining a small stronghold.
"We’re almost there! Just a bit further, everyone hang on!"
The lights of Tangyuan County filled everyone with joy and hope for survival, prompting them to quicken their pace instinctively.
Boom!
The ground suddenly shook violently, causing many to fall with alard cries.
Xia Chan nearly fell while holding Xuan Yu, but Sang Que supported her arm, looking gravely toward Tangyuan County.
The lights vanished, the entire city... had collapsed in an instant!
A harsh wind swept across the plains, carrying a nauseating stench of blood.
Following that, tremors continued to ripple through the area from all directions.
The surge of blood-red air stained the clouds overhead a dark crimson, black and red intertwining like a fierce theatrical mask, dominating the sky and mocking the vast earth.
This mont unleashed extre terror in everyone’s hearts, and as the night seethed, all terrifying entities rapidly revived.
Hope of survival was instantly crushed, leading so to break down and scream, losing their sanity.
This night, not only Black Mountain Village was sacrificed, but the entire Tangyuan County along with surrounding villages.
If not for that storm, even Sang Que dared not imagine the consequences.
Yet now, where could they brave through the night, facing the midnight evil spirits and possibly, even Evil Ghosts!
Moreover, tonight was the Mid-Autumn Festival, when spirits road freely!
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