https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-337-Direct-Provocation-Third-Watch-/12918624/
Chapter 336: The Ghostly Feast
Chapter 336: The Ghostly Feast
In the Yellow Dog Village, several days ago, a group of people arrived and busily set up a stage and burned incense.
They even prepared a feast and various wedding items, creating a scene that was both festive and eerie.
The one in charge was the old servant of the Huai'an Wei family. He sent someone to buy brand-new sets of tables and chairs from the city, which were then placed along the narrow path between two rows of houses in the village, making it look extremely extravagant.
Red lanterns had been hung several days ago, and every day they were refilled with oil. Every night, the village was illuminated, making it even redder than the Red Lantern Society, and filled with an eerie, ghostly red light.
The villagers didn't know what they were doing, and they were quite apprehensive of these unfamiliar faces. However, even the Wei family's old servant, who was in charge, had no idea what this was all about.
He had only been to the Five Sins Lord's temple and was ordered to return and prepare these things. On the seventh day, the Five Sins Lord was supposed to descend and save the master's life, so he was meticulous in his preparations, but the more he prepared, the more his heart felt chilled.
It looked like a wedding banquet, but he had also prepared a large amount of incense and paper money, and purchased the five sacrificial animals, without hiring a chef or setting up a kitchen. Instead, he had them cut up and served as cold dishes, waiting to be brought to the feast.
On the tables that were set up, no tea or snacks were allowed. Instead, each table had an incense burner with burning incense, and the smoke filled the air, making it feel like they were in an ancestral hall.
The best parade bands from the surrounding villages were invited, and they played throughout the night until dawn, with guards watching to ensure they didn't slack off.
Now, after five or six days, the old servant's unease had reached its peak. He didn't know how this strange feast would help save his son-in-law, but he could only follow orders meticulously.
Since they were inviting the deities of the inner hall, they had to follow the rules. The slightest mistake could bring disaster upon themselves!
Taking a break, he went to the entrance of his son-in-law's ancestral home to listen, and his face grew even more somber as he sighed softly.
Seven days ago, after returning from the Five Sins Temple, he had brought his son-in-law home and settled him in the ancestral house. But after several days, his son-in-law still showed no signs of improvement.
Every day, he held a memorial tablet and muttered to himself in the house, sometimes laughing and sometimes crying.
Sometimes he spoke softly, and sometimes his voice turned harsh, as if two people were arguing.
"Whether he can be cured or not depends on this..."
The old servant looked up at the sky, sighed with worry, and returned to the front, continuing to look at the tables with only burning incense and no guests. He felt increasingly anxious, not knowing what would happen.
The tables had been empty for the past few days, but now it was the last day. Could they get through the night with just an empty feast?
"Huff..."
Just then, a gust of Yin Wind blew into the village from afar.
Instinctively, he covered his face, but suddenly he heard the blowing and beating sounds, which had been noisy all along, suddenly disappear as the Yin Wind blew in. The surroundings became unusually quiet.
He quickly opened his eyes, ready to scold the musicians, as they were not supposed to stop playing after nightfall. But before he could speak, he was stunned, feeling his whole body turn cold and almost frozen.
"Are... are there guests coming?"
"..."
This time, when he returned, his heart was inexplicably startled.
Night had fallen, and the lanterns on both sides were lit, creating a festive atmosphere. However, the feast table remained dim and unclear.
It was as if even the light from the lanterns couldn't reach the table, and from time to time, a gust of wind blew through the village, causing the lanterns to sway, and the shadows of the living people beneath them to waver.
In the dim light of the lanterns, several people were sitting next to the Eight Immortals Table.
Or rather, they were just shadows.
There was an old man in a black robe with a small round hat, sitting upright with his back far from the chair. His face was covered with yellow paper, and no breath could be detected. His hands hung by his sides, hidden in the long sleeves.
Across from the old man in yellow paper was a woman in white mourning clothes, her head bowed and long hair flowing down.
"Huff, huff..."
Gusts of Yin Wind blew into the village from time to time, and in the hazy air, the shadows at the table appeared one by one, each more eerie than the last.
One wore silk brocade, but beneath the robe, a pair of chicken feet were visible.
Another's figure was indistinct, sometimes looking like a person, and sometimes just a memorial tablet on the seat.
One was soaked, and soon a puddle of water formed beneath the table. Another's robe kept moving, and a rat suddenly scurried out, squeaking as it ran away.
The once-empty feast, now seemed suddenly filled with people, but there was no sign of celebration. Instead, the Yin Wind blew, and from time to time, sobs could be heard, chilling the hearts of those present.
"Old... Old Uncle Sun, this..."
The guards beside him were so scared that they trembled. They had all trained in martial arts since childhood and were brave, but at this moment, they took a step back, their voices shaking as they looked at the old servant.
"Don't... don't panic..."
The old servant was also afraid, and he realized that these guests were not what they seemed, but he forced himself to remain calm. In a low voice, he said, "Prepare... bring out the dishes!"
As he gave the order, he added, "Get a few brave ones to serve, don't forget the etiquette."
The guards hurried to relay the instructions, as if rushing to do it themselves.
In no time, sounds of knives being drawn came from the kitchen. Several villagers, who had been temporarily pulled in, trembled as knives were held to their necks, and they cautiously carried out baskets one by one.
Their eyes were closed, not daring to look at the guests at the table. They shivered as they placed the prepared 'dishes' on the table.
But the so-called snacks were paper money, raw meat, raw fish, cold rice, candles, and the like.
As they tremblingly placed the items on the table, these 'guests', who had been mostly motionless and at most emitting a cry, now reacted, reaching out their wooden hands to throw the items into the baskets.
To their surprise, the baskets contained mud-stained gold rings, dirty pearls, a pair of embroidered shoes soaked in filthy water, and even two silver teeth, which appeared to have been freshly knocked out.
And as these items were placed in the baskets, the faint cries became louder, as if in sorrow.
"What in the world is this? Can this really save my son-in-law?"
The old servant's heart was in torment, cold sweat pouring down his back. He felt like this banquet had turned into a ghostly realm, but just then, a sound of jingling locks and trumpets came from outside the village.
Amidst a gust of cold wind, an old lady in a paper palanquin floated over.
She held a smoking pipe in her hand, a smug smile on her face. Beside her was a young man in plain clothes, holding a grass rope that tethered a staggering figure.
"Oh my, a banquet is underway..."
As the old lady in the paper palanquin drew closer, she smiled at the people present and said, "The host is quite impolite. I, Seventh Aunt, am well-known in this area, yet you didn't think to inform me of this banquet?"
"They're just ignorant, Seventh Aunt. Please don't take offense."
The young man beside her looked around and noticed the strange shadows sitting at the table and the items in the baskets.
Smiling, he said, "The host is quite generous, inviting all the neighbors and even accepting gifts from each of them."
"Seventh Aunt is here to join the banquet, and she won't be outdone."
"Consider this a gift, a makeshift one at that!"
"..."
Saying so, he tugged the hemp rope forward, pushing the staggering person in front of him, then stood beside Seventh Aunt, smiling at the crowd.
Upon seeing this gift, the entire hall fell silent.
The old servant, in particular, was so nervous that his heart felt like it would jump out of his chest. He had seen the Malevolent Fate Altar Keeper before.
Back at the Five Sins Lord's temple, he had been so intimidating that a mere glance could make people faint. Yet now, he was being led like an animal?
As for the unwilling, blurry shadows sitting at the table, they were even more frightened, stealing a glance at Seventh Aunt before quickly lowering their heads, fearing to offend this minor official.
Earlier, it was this minor official who had spoken, causing the entire Bright State to dare not rescue the son-in-law of the Wei family from Huai'an. Now, right after the banquet began, this mysterious official had arrived, bringing the Five Sins Lord as a gift...
Was this a direct confrontation, a challenge?
There couldn't be a more provocative act than this. In their eyes, the old lady was as imposing as a deity.
But as the 'gift' was pushed forward, the old lady didn't say a word, only smiling as she walked towards the upper three tables with burning incense.
When she reached the table, she scanned it, then suddenly paused, surprised. On an Eight Immortals Table, the left position is the most honorable, followed by the right; the upper position is more honorable than the lower; and the center is the most honorable, with the sides being less so. With Seventh Aunt's arrival, she naturally deserved the most honorable seat.
However, a strange old man with yellow paper stuck to his face had already taken that seat.
Seventh Aunt was actually good-tempered, and although Hu Ma had said he wanted the upper seat, since someone was already sitting there, she could change places.
But when Hu Ma heard this, his eyes turned cold, and he slapped the table, startling the old man with yellow paper on his face. The old man shivered and quickly stood up, floating to the side table.
Following him, several other figures suddenly rose and floated to the adjacent table, leaving the upper table completely empty.
Hu Ma didn't seem to mind. He helped Seventh Aunt to sit at the table and smiled, "That's better."
"Here, let me offer you a pipe to smoke..."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
