The bed was cold, because it was damp, and the blankets felt chilly.
Staring at the intersecting beams of the ceiling, I couldn't express the complex emotions stirring within me.
Old Qin, he was truly the best person to me.
Without Old Qin, I would have long been a withered skeleton in the ice and snow.
Where would I have the ability today to stand against Sun Zhuo?
Where would I have the ability to get rid of Sun Da Hai?
The destiny that is plotted for me? I have no destiny, in fact, Old Qin even added a "crossing the underworld" fate for me because of it, having killed someone and taken someone's life.
Did they want to take advantage of the earth energy in my body? When I was young, I knew nothing, and it would be easier to control...
He arranged for me to marry Xu Nuang and left No-Head Woman and Yu Xiu to protect me.
Even at the last moment, he instructed me that if the Xu family changed their minds, I should go into hiding and change my name!
The Xu family did regret the marriage.
I just didn't go into hiding and change my name.
If I had done as Old Qin instructed, I would never have returned to Laoguai Village, and there wouldn't be any intersection at all with the person he used to be.
Then what can Old Qin possibly be after?
I don't want to believe that Old Qin has any issues in my mind.
But objectively, Mao Yousan did point out something.
That seed is still taking root and sprouting.
It makes me very eager to see Old Qin's coffin and see if there is a body inside...
See if Old Qin is actually alive or dead!
Thinking too much caused a slight headache, and I drifted off to an unclear sleep.
When I woke up again, it was already past midday, and it was another sunny, beautiful day.
After finishing my meal, I left the courtyard and went straight to find the village chief, Qin Zhao.
Around fifty years old, he had wrinkles on his face like orange peels, and a bald head reminiscent of the Mediterranean Sea.
He appeared even older than before, with dark circles under his eyes and a puffy face, as though he hadn't rested well for a long time.
Seeing me, Jin Zhao became very excited, reached out to shake my hand, and stammered, "Xian Shen nephew, geez, when did you come back? Why didn't you say anything?"
I breathed out a mouthful of impurities, explaining that I had been back for two days.
Jin Zhao was taken aback for a moment before saying, "It's been two days. These past few days, I've been worried, so I didn't notice."
Indeed, if it were any other time, with the village bustling when I returned, as the village chief, he would have heard about it right away.
However, I didn't ask Jin Zhao about what was troubling him; instead, I asked directly where Liu the Widow's grave was located?
Even though yesterday didn't go as planned, I can't ignore the significant potential threat posed by the old man.
He was injured by Mao Yousan's bell, which is the perfect opportunity!
As for the dead man from yesterday, he is nothing to be feared.
"This... Liu the Widow." Jin Zhao nodded and sighed again, "The relationship with Lao Qin is something you want to pay respects to, that's fine. However, Liu the Widow's grave is gone."
"Grave is gone?" My expression slightly changed.
Jin Zhao began to explain the details.
It turned out that on the day I left, someone in the village had discovered Liu the Widow's body, and they had pooled their money to arrange for her burial.
Before they could find a suitable burial site, when the body was placed in the ancestral temple for temporary rest, they could always hear strange singing coming from within the temple, which was undoubtedly Liu the Widow's ghost performing an opera.
This caused the entire village to be in a state of unease. Since I wasn't there, they had to invite Old Liang, who was skilled at making coffins, to come and check the situation.
Old Liang said that Liu the Widow was haunted by an evil spirit, and she had been possessed. The spirit still lingered around her things, even after her body was buried. No matter where she was buried, she would still come out to sing at night, and there would still be an evil spirit there to listen to her performance.
Therefore, Old Liang took the coffin away, but I don't know where it was placed.
In any case, from that day on, the village no longer heard Liu the Widow's ghost singing.
As for the old ghost thing that Old Liang mentioned, it hasn't appeared since then, likely also taken care of by Old Liang.
Upon hearing everything, I broke out in a cold sweat down my spine.
In the western part of the village, Old Liang who makes coffins...
But isn't he already on the back mountain?
Eight men were carrying the three coffins he had made, heading up the back mountain where the Six Immortals were causing a commotion!
The chill in my heart grew even stronger.
I might be wrong about one thing, assuming that Lao Liang going up the mountain means he's doomed to die and won't be able to come down.
In fact, the Eight Immortals have a problem.
There is a problem with the coffins made by Old Liang.
The Eight Immortals are targeting me, and the three coffins are for Ling Dao Ren, Shao Si, and He Changli.
As for the fact that all the dogs in the village died at that time and Liu the Widow was singing,
These strange events, I mixed them up at the time, but in reality, the first two were used by the Spirit Xian to deal with me, and the latter was the work of the old man.
Since Old Liang is a means by which the Spirit Xian is targeting me, how could he have killed himself or left behind when delivering the coffin?
Realizing this, sweat beads formed on my forehead.
Going to see Old Liang is risky...
But not going to find Old Liang means I won't be able to locate Liu the Widow's body, and therefore won't be able to deal with the old man...
"Xian Shen nephew?" Jin Zhao gently touched my crutch, cautiously probing, "Don't be angry. Nobody else in the village can help, so we can only seek Old Liang's assistance. Geez, I had no choice."
I just barely regained my composure.
It was the village chief who misunderstood.
He thought I was upset because the village had enlisted Old Liang's help, and I was being petty.
"There's nothing wrong with that. As long as someone can handle the village's affairs properly, it's fine. I just think it might be difficult. You know, Old Liang doesn't really like me or Old Qin. Liu the Widow might be intimidated by him. I want to pay my respects, but he might not agree."
"Uncle Jin, why don't you ask?" My tone was slightly lower.
Only then did Jin Zhao realize what I meant.
"Of course, of course! Xian Shen nephew, you should have said so earlier! I'll go ask right away! Oh, by the way, if you don't mind, just say that Liu the Widow has come from a distant relative." Jin Zhao's face was filled with smiles.
After that, with nothing else to do, Jin Zhao had me wait at his house and left the courtyard in a hurry.
I sunbathed in the courtyard, pacing back and forth.
However, no matter how long I waited, the village chief didn't return.
His wife had cooked a meal for him and made several calls, but none of them were answered.
An unease settled in my heart.
His wife called out for me to have something to eat, suggesting that he would likely return soon.
I shook my head and was about to leave the courtyard.
As soon as I reached the gate, I saw a person standing by the side of the door, and it was indeed Jin Zhao!
He had his hands pressed together, clutching his arms as if he was cold, shivering constantly.
The unease in my heart subsided. I furrowed my brow and said in a low voice, "Uncle Jin, why don't you come in?"
"Geez..." Jin Zhao had a bitter expression and sighed.
"Enter, enter, is it not about to enter?"
"R Liu the Widow is gone... burned... Don't go to Old Liang's house, geez... Old Liang doesn't like you, he's probably guessed I'm asking on your behalf."
After saying this, Jin Zhao bowed his head and hurriedly entered the courtyard.
He didn't stop in the hall, but instead, with his head low, he ducked into a room.
His wife went over to knock repeatedly on the door, but Jin Zhao didn't open it at all.
