https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-8-The-Call-from-Old-Yin-Mountain/12834383/
Chapter 7: Truly Unfair
Chapter 7: Truly Unfair
"When will this life end?"
After returning from the old fire pit, Hu Ma had no thoughts of escaping. Now, not only could he not consider running away, but he had to stay by the old woman’s side every single day. Her casual words seemed to have subtly resolved his doubts. So, those torture-like memories were just side effects of his return to the world of the living, and the old woman had truly been trying to save him all along?
It seemed she really cared for him. She watched over him every day, and even when she went out during the day to cut the Evil Deity’s Flesh, she would have the little girl in the red dress, Little Hongtang, stay with him.
He didn’t know where he was or what dynasty it was, but he was certain that this world was filled with bizarre and terrifying things. Even during the day, he often felt uneasy, as if something was watching him from the shadows.
Being by the old woman’s side or in that eerie room was somewhat comforting. But once he stepped outside or moved away from her, or when Little Hongtang wandered off to play, he would feel extremely uneasy, as if something sinister was staring at him. When he turned around, there was nothing to be seen. Occasionally, he would hear a sudden laugh or a strange wind, which would send shivers down his spine.
In this state, escape was out of the question. Even trying to gather information from others was impossible. The villagers seemed more afraid of him than he was of the evil spirits.
And if the days were hard, the nights were even worse. The failure at the old fire pit seemed to have put a lot of pressure on the old woman. She not only gave him that strange meat to eat every day but also burned talismans on his body and lit incense by his bed. At night, she would chant scriptures in the outer room, non-stop.
Hu Ma felt like he was both awake and in a daze, often unable to distinguish reality from illusion. He wasn’t sure if he was getting better or worse, but one thing was clear: he was suffering from severe insomnia.
Day after day, the pressure mounted, and Hu Ma’s headaches worsened. One night, he couldn’t bear the noise and quietly slipped out of the room. He first poured a cup of water for the old woman and then cautiously asked, "Grandma, don’t you need to rest?"
The old woman looked up at him, her eyes bloodshot. She took the water, drank a sip, and said softly, "Just go to sleep. The evil spirits are strongest at night. I need to chant scriptures to protect you, or you won’t be able to have a peaceful night’s sleep."
"Ah?"
Hu Ma never expected this to be the reason. He felt a pang of guilt. "But, shouldn’t you rest too?"
The old woman suddenly looked up at him, her eyes cold and piercing. Hu Ma was startled—had he said something wrong?
She spent her days with endless herbs, paper figures, and bone talismans, and went out of the village every day to cut the Evil Deity’s Flesh for him. At night, she chanted scriptures all night long. Wasn’t it reasonable to express concern for her?
As he hesitated, the old woman’s gaze softened, and she said calmly, "I’m fine. I’ve thought of a way. I have a plan."
Hu Ma quickly nodded and returned to the side room.
"Little Hongtang, what plan did Grandma come up with?"
With his mind full of doubts, Hu Ma was afraid of saying too much and revealing his true thoughts. He didn’t dare ask the old woman many questions. When he couldn’t hold back, he would quietly ask Little Hongtang.
In this world, no one dared to talk to him much, but this little girl, who should be quite scary, was surprisingly innocent and easy to talk to.
"Get married," Little Hongtang giggled, sticking her head out from the beam, her two pigtails swinging. "If you marry someone from the Zhao family, you’ll become part of the Zhao family, and their ancestors will protect you."
"Ah?"
Hu Ma never expected this solution. He hadn’t even had time to get married in his previous life, and now he was supposed to jump right into it?
He became nervous. "To whom?"
Little Hongtang pouted. "They picked someone from the Zhao family."
"Zhao family..."
Hu Ma didn’t know much about the Zhao family, but he had vaguely heard the old woman and Little Hongtang mention that the Hus were outsiders and a minor family in the village, while there were a few major families who had lived there for generations.
These major families had many ancestors buried in the old fire pit, so they were most protected by it. Their children were less likely to be harmed by evil spirits.
But the shock was too much, and he asked, almost instinctively, "Is she pretty?"
"..."
Little Hongtang’s eyes lit up. "Very pretty! She’s famous for her beauty and is the flower of the village."
"Village flower level..."
Hu Ma thought about it seriously. He rarely went out and had seen few people in the village. Most of them were dark and dull, and the few women he had seen were short and dark, wearing bulky cotton clothes, with no notable beauty.
But in every village, there are always a few standout women who can be called the village's flower. They couldn't be too bad, right?
His spirits lifted a bit, and he felt a twinge of anticipation.
He couldn't help but ask, "How old is she? Do you know?"
"She's not very old."
Hong Tang tilted her head in thought and said, "She was only seventeen when she died."
"?"
Hu Ma was completely taken aback. "She's dead?"
"Yeah..."
Little Hong Tang said cheerfully, "If she were alive, she would have married into the Hu family, but then there would be no one in the old fire pit to protect you. But if you marry into her family, you can get the ancestors' blessings from the old fire pit, and your family will be empty. So, Grandma is helping you find a spirit bride. With a spirit bride, your wife can protect you from below, and you can still burn paper money for her."
"Clan leaders came up with this idea recently, and Grandma thought about it for a few days before agreeing."
"Except the Zhao family is a bit greedy and asked Grandma for a lot of dowry..."
"..."
"What the hell kind of logic is this?"
Hu Ma almost exploded with anger.
It was only then that he understood what the old clan leader had said to Grandma after worshipping at the old fire pit.
But he had never been married in either of his lives, and now he was supposed to marry a spirit bride?
Even in his previous life, the thought of a ghost marriage would send shivers down his spine, let alone in this world where ghosts and spirits were everywhere. If he really did it, wouldn't that bind him for life?
He could let other things slide, but this was one he needed to discuss with Grandma first. He quickly moved a small stool to the door and waited for her to return.
Grandma finally came back as it was getting dark.
She leaned on her cane, carrying a large piece of meat tied with a hemp rope, swinging back and forth.
Hu Ma immediately recognized it as the flesh of the Evil Deity, and it was even bigger than the pieces he usually got.
Was the dowry already prepared?
"Um..."
Hu Ma stood up, about to speak, but then he saw Grandma's weary face.
He held back his words, quickly helped her sit down, and took the meat from her. "Take a rest first."
He put the meat in the barrel, poured a bowl of water for Grandma, and handed it to her.
Grandma looked at Hu Ma, slowly took the bowl, and drank it bit by bit, her expression seeming complex.
"Don't sit outside for too long. Although you're much better, you still need to avoid the wind."
After finishing the water, Grandma handed the bowl to Hu Ma. When he tried to pour her more, she slowly waved her hand. "I took you to the old fire pit, but the ancestors didn't recognize you. It's not their fault; the dead are the dead, and they only recognize kin, not reason."
"Only when I die and you carry me into the old fire pit will our Hu family truly stand firm here."
Hu Ma quickly said, "Don't talk like that, Grandma. Your health is more important than any blessing."
Grandma fell silent, her eyes trembling slightly.
"Yes..."
She sighed and continued, "I can't lie in the fire pit yet, but you need someone to protect you..."
"The clan leader was worried I would lose heart and suggested I arrange a marriage for you..."
"..."
Hu Ma's heart sank. Finally, they were getting to the point. He was about to try to persuade her to reject the idea.
Then he heard Grandma sigh. "I thought about it and decided to refuse."
"Ah?"
Hu Ma was pleasantly surprised and quickly looked at Grandma.
"Your body is weak. If you marry a spirit bride, you might not be able to handle the ghost woman's antics."
Grandma slowly added, "Besides, you're the last of our Hu family. We need you to start a new branch, to have sons and daughters. If you marry this spirit, you'll either be stuck with a ghost wife for life or have to divorce her and marry again. Neither is a reliable option."
"So that's why?"
Hu Ma felt a weight lift off his chest. He started massaging Grandma's shoulders. "I'll do whatever Grandma says."
That night, as he drifted off to sleep, he saw a slender, young woman in a red dress standing by his bed, crying and wiping her tears. She said, "My family asked me, and I didn't want to marry, but your Grandma gave a lot of dowry, so I agreed. I was ready to climb into your bed, but then your Grandma called off the engagement..."
"You're bullying me. What will people think of me down there..."
(End of Chapter)
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