Zhang Yunyao had already thanked me more than once today, yet I didn't expect her to bring it up again just now.
After all the chaos we'd been through, I was feeling physically drained. I slumped against a coffin, managing a weak smile and said, "Yunyao, you don't have to be so polite. Like I said earlier, I'm just doing what I was paid to do."
"No, you're not like the other feng shui masters—completely different! Before this, my family already invited others to help with the ancestral grave. As soon as they sensed something was wrong, they backed out immediately. Either they weren't capable or simply too afraid to take the job. Only you were willing to risk your life for us," Zhang Yunyao said with emotion in her voice.
The truth was, I didn't help because I wanted to be a hero. I was left with no choice. This was my first job since starting out on my own, and Uncle Huzi and I were already at the end of our rope. Without taking this case, we wouldn't even have money for food.
What I didn't expect was to stumble into something this dangerous on my first outing. Honestly, I felt more frustrated than anything.
They say money's hard to earn and shit's hard to swallow—but a promise is a promise. Since I'd already accepted the job, I had to see it through, no matter what.
That was a rule my master had drilled into me.
Still, I couldn't say any of this to Zhang Yunyao. So I quickly changed the subject: "Yunyao, hurry back home and bring the things I asked for. Be quick. Those workers can't hold on much longer."
She nodded firmly, picked up her pace, and ran toward the car.
I watched her drive off, finally feeling a bit more at ease.
The reason I sent her to fetch vinegar was because I was running low on glutinous rice. My master had once told me that a mixture of vinegar and soot scraped from the bottom of a pot could also neutralize corpse poison, though it wasn't nearly as effective.
That soot, scorched in intense fire, is rich in yang energy and can suppress creatures of extreme yin, like zombies.
It was the best backup plan I had.
Once Zhang Yunyao was gone, I was the only conscious person left at the Zhang family's ancestral tomb.
The silence around me was stifling.
For some reason, I started worrying about Uncle Huzi again. I still had no idea where he had gone. All the other workers had been found—even that scoundrel Zhang Yunliang—but Uncle Huzi was still missing.
If anything happened to him, I wouldn't be able to face my master.
Just as that thought crossed my mind, I heard faint footsteps nearby.
I peeked out from behind the coffin—and my heart jumped.
It was Uncle Huzi! He was walking toward the ancestral tomb from the other side.
I was about to call out to him, but the words caught in my throat.
Something wasn't right.
His gait was strange—he was tiptoeing, body tilted forward. In the dim moonlight, his expression looked blank, his eyes empty, his mouth slightly open.
It looked like something—or someone—was controlling him from behind, moving him like a puppet.
When I looked closer, I noticed a swirling red glow hovering above his head, radiating an intense aura of malevolence.
That sealed it. Uncle Huzi was possessed by something wicked.
He wasn't walking toward me—he was heading toward the small grove where Zhang Yunliang had passed out earlier.
What was he planning to do in that grove?
I held my breath, got to my feet, and quietly followed him into the trees.
I watched as Uncle Huzi, still walking unnaturally, reached Zhang Yunliang. With his legs stiff and back bent unnaturally, he reached down, grabbed Zhang Yunliang with one hand, and effortlessly lifted him off the ground, dragging him deeper into the woods.
At that moment, a chill ran down my spine.
Uncle Huzi definitely meant him harm.
I had to stop him—but I wasn't in any shape to fight.
After that earlier scuffle with the reanimated corpse, my arms were injured and I was beyond exhausted. And judging from the red glow, this was no ordinary ghost—it was a fierce spirit.
Only powerful spirits emitted that kind of murderous energy.
And with Uncle Huzi's body under its control, that spirit could push his physical strength beyond normal limits. If I tried to confront him head-on, I'd probably be beaten to death.
No—I couldn't afford to be reckless.
But I also couldn't let him hurt Zhang Yunliang.
And I couldn't stray too far from the tomb either. What if Zhang Yunyao came back and couldn't find me? Or worse—what if one of those corpses suddenly turned? That would be a disaster.
As I watched Uncle Huzi dragging Zhang Yunliang away, a sudden idea struck me.
I pulled out my phone and found a ringtone I'd downloaded for fun—a loud rooster crow.
Perfect.
I crept closer, hiding in a patch of tall weeds, then played the rooster sound at full volume.
The sharp crow pierced the night.
Uncle Huzi jolted violently and froze in place.
A flicker of fear flashed in his previously lifeless eyes. He glanced around anxiously and gently set Zhang Yunliang down.
Seeing that it worked, I quickly played the sound again.
This time, the panic on his face was unmistakable. His breathing turned ragged, and a moment later, he dropped Zhang Yunliang and ran off into the woods, disappearing into the darkness.
I finally let out a breath of relief.
Once I was sure he was gone, I rushed over to Zhang Yunliang, hoisted him onto my shoulder, and quickly carried him back to the ancestral tomb.
But I knew it wouldn't last—the spirit possessing Uncle Huzi would soon realize it had been tricked.
And it would come back.