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墨書 Inktalez
Human Sacrifice
Old Man Wang's words left us puzzled. Guo the Blind's family, apart from him, had all perished, leaving him as the last of his line. Could it be that those connected to Guo the Blind were relatives from his hometown in Henan?
Guo the Blind had fled with his father to Futu Ridge during a time of famine, and after all these years, he hadn't been in touch with anyone back home. Now, seventy years later, with information so readily available and transportation so convenient, it was possible he wanted to return to his roots before he passed away.
Huzi and I didn't dwell on it much and continued our way toward the back mountain.
We wandered around the back mountain for a while but found nothing unusual—no dead animals and no foul smells. The area was lush with vegetation, and after searching for a short time, both Huzi and I began to feel tired.
I remembered when Huzi and I used to come here to play. One night, we had ventured into the woods chasing cicadas and ended up getting caught by Li Fugui and some villagers, who gave us a good scolding.
As we reached the dense Pine Forest at the back mountain, Huzi grabbed my arm and said, "We can't go any further; that's a forbidden area."
I replied, "You really believe in this forbidden area nonsense? It sounds like a rumor. Let's just take a quick look inside."
Huzi insisted, "No way! My grandfather warned me several times not to go in there. Even my mom says it's the territory of the Snake Goddess; if we go in, someone will definitely die."
"Then let's forget it. There's probably nothing in there anyway. Let's check out the wasteland below Winding Mountain Road instead. If we find nothing there, we can head back," I suggested.
Huzi hesitated for a moment before taking off a piece of jade from around his neck and handing it to me. "My grandfather gave me this yesterday; it's supposed to protect me. If you really want to go in, then let's take a quick look."
When I saw the jade, I realized it was the same piece that Li Fugui had taken from Huang San'er on the night Huang the Lame died. This jade was indeed a protective treasure; it could ward off ghosts and evil spirits. I returned it to Huzi and said, "This jade really can protect you; you should keep it on. If your grandfather finds out I took it, he might kill me! And what would you do if I took it?"
Huzi patted his chest confidently. "I'm tough; I'll be fine!"
"Alright then, keep your jade. We'll just take a quick look inside," I said as I handed the jade back to him and stepped into the Pine Forest first.
The pine trees in this forest towered ominously high above us, their needles carpeting the ground below. According to legends about the Forbidden Area of Pagoda Ridge, it was from this very Pine Forest that the mad County Leader emerged during the Snake Goddess incident many years ago.
As I nervously walked through Pine Forest with Huzi, we traveled about two to three hundred meters before suddenly encountering a barren clearing. At the far end of the clearing, a large cave entrance loomed ominously.
I stood at the edge of Pine Forest, peering ahead for a moment, and said, "No wonder this place is forbidden; there must be something hidden inside. This Pine Forest is just the garden before the real danger."
Huzi replied, "Let's head back. But I suggest you don't look to your right."
Instinctively, I glanced to my right and saw a snake skin hanging from a branch of a massive pine tree, thick as an adult's arm.
My heart raced in fear; Huzi knew I was terrified of snakes. Even seeing a snake skin made me uneasy. I turned and said, "Let’s go, let’s hurry back."
Once we exited Pine Forest, we finally relaxed and let out a heavy sigh, both of us bursting into laughter.
Afterward, I led Huzi to the cliffside wasteland below Winding Mountain Road. This area used to be the old Ancestral Grave of Futu Ridge, which Huzi was aware of. Despite all the time that had passed, a wrecked bus still lay at the bottom of the cliff, along with a charred coffin that was barely recognizable.
I recounted what had happened to Huzi and then looked toward the cave halfway up the cliff, obscured by cypress trees but faintly revealing a cave that housed coffins.
"Should we find a rope and go take a look?" Huzi asked.
"Forget it; there probably isn’t anything worthwhile. Let’s go."
After returning to Bright Moon Village, Huzi and I went our separate ways for dinner, agreeing to meet up later that evening to see if we could find any clues.
In truth, I had been contemplating how to stealthily steal the compass hidden under Guo the Blind's bed without him noticing.
If I could obtain that item, I would surely uncover some hidden secrets within Bright Moon Village and perhaps even get wind of any brewing conspiracies.
That night, Huzi and I arrived at Guo the Blind's doorstep. Looking at his tightly shut door, I felt puzzled. "Guo usually never locks his door at night. He’s such a lifeless person; everyone in Futu Ridge knows where he lives. Even if someone wanted to steal from him, they wouldn’t dare enter. I can’t believe he locked it tonight."
"We’ll stick to our plan," Huzi said. "I’ll lure him out while you go in and grab what you need. It’s only a five-minute walk from Guo's house to mine; that should give you enough time to find what you’re looking for."
I nodded and said, "It'll only take three to five minutes, no need for such a long time. Just don't give yourself away."
Once I hid behind the wall of Guo the Blind's house, Huzi walked up to the door and knocked, calling out, "Guo the Blind, are you home?"
There was no response from inside.
Huzi looked in my direction and said, "There's light, but no one is answering."
I made a shushing gesture to Huzi, urging him to continue knocking. This time, before Huzi could speak, Guo the Blind's voice came from inside, "Who is it?"
"It's me, Li Hu," Huzi replied.
"Oh, what brings you here so late?" Guo the Blind asked.
Huzi explained, "My parents have been complaining about neck pain for the past couple of days. My grandfather couldn't find anything wrong with them. I think it might be an issue with the feng shui at home, so I came to ask if you could help take a look. It won't take long."
"Alright, just wait a moment," Guo the Blind said.
A moment later, Guo the Blind emerged with a pipe in his mouth. Fearing he might spot me, I stayed hidden behind the wall and didn't peek out.
"Why lock your door? Our village doesn't have thieves, and your house is empty," Huzi asked.
Guo the Blind replied, "In these unusual times, we must take unusual measures. I have several Dao books left by Old Scholar at home; I'm worried someone might come in and steal them. Those things are worth more than money. Let's go."
Guo the Blind took the lead toward Huzi's house while Huzi followed behind and gave me a hand signal.
As soon as they left, I quickly approached Guo the Blind's house and indeed found that the front door was locked. I looked around and noticed a few poplar trees leaning against the wall next to their house. I climbed up one of the poplars and managed to swing my leg over the wall into Guo the Blind's yard.
Once inside Guo the Blind's living room, I rushed toward the bedside. When Guo the Blind left, he was only wearing a tank top; there was no way he had brought a compass with him. I crouched down to open the box but noticed something strange in the light: there was a copper wire stuck in the lock hole!
Guo the Blind must have suspected that someone would tamper with his box, which is why he took precautions. Fortunately, I was observant.
I carefully twisted the copper wire off the lock hole of the box before daring to open it. Sure enough, the Zhou Compass was still inside.
I took the Zhou Compass out and placed it on the ground, preparing myself for an electric shock. However, this time when my finger pressed against the jade scale inside the compass, there was only a slight tingle in my arm, much less painful than before; it seemed to be less resistant to me now.
A puff of blue smoke emerged from the compass, but nothing happened. I recalled the scale indicated by the needle and adjusted it to that position.
A hazy glow spread out, and I saw a younger Guo the Blind, holding a tearful boy in his arms. "Son, you must remember, your mother drowned."
The boy nodded, and then Guo the Blind carried a woman wrapped in a blanket out of the house.
This scene was exactly what I had seen last time. I reached out and moved the compass needle back one notch; the glow shifted, and the room's arrangement changed accordingly. However, I did not see anyone at first. Just as I was about to adjust the needle again, I suddenly saw someone rush into the room—it was still that boy.
But he appeared to be two years older than in the previous scene. His expression was frantic as he rummaged under the bed for an old book and quickly took matches from a drawer by the bedside to ignite it.
In the flickering firelight, I saw that the boy was trembling. After a while, he lifted his head as if he heard something and immediately crawled under the bed, too scared to make a sound.
Footsteps echoed outside as a group of youths pushed a younger Guo the Blind into the room. His hands were bound behind him, and he wore a white tall hat; blood covered his head and face. A wooden plaque hung from his chest with crooked calligraphy that read: "Come and take me down; I am a remnant of feudalism!"
The leader of the group looked at the smoldering ashes of the book on the floor and stomped his foot angrily. He suddenly glanced under the bed and pointed at it while shouting, "You traitor! How dare you help burn books? You think I won't beat your father just because there's no evidence? Get out here!"
The boy remained silent under the bed. The youth continued, "You won't come out, huh? Fine!"
He then went behind the door and pulled out a stick, jabbing it wildly under the bed. The boy began to cry loudly.
"Still not coming out? Dai Shun, bring me my harpoon!" The youth shouted back.
"Got it!" another boy replied.
"Get out here!" Guo the Blind shouted.
"Who the hell told you to talk? You scared me!" The young man slapped Guo the Blind across the face.
Hearing Guo the Blind being hit, the boy crawled out from under the bed. The young man kicked him into the corner, and the boy stood up with his fists clenched.
"Oh, you’ve got some guts, huh? Go ahead and clench your fists!" The young man approached and slapped the boy, turning his face red.
One of the boys holding Guo the Blind said, "Why didn’t you call your son’s name just now? What’s his name?"
"His name is Dog!" Guo the Blind replied.
"I’m not named Dog! My name is..."
"Who the hell told you to speak?" The young man slapped him again and turned to Guo the Blind. "What do you think?"
Guo the Blind said, "He’s called Dog, and I’m Big Dog!"
The group of boys burst into laughter.
The leading boy said, "I’m asking what you think about me hitting him!"
"Good hit!" Guo the Blind replied.
"Speak louder, I can’t hear you!" The young man boasted arrogantly.
"Good hit!" Guo the Blind shouted.
The boys laughed heartily, but at that moment, I suddenly heard Huzi's voice faintly coming from afar.
“Guo the Blind, what on earth did you forget to bring? I just asked you to check what was wrong with the feng shui, what do you need to take?”
I knew Huzi was deliberately reminding me that Guo the Blind had suddenly returned. I quickly picked up the compass from the ground and placed it back in the Wooden Box, wrapping it around the lock hole as it had originally been.
Footsteps from Guo the Blind echoed in the courtyard. I hid behind the door of the main room, and just a few seconds later, Guo the Blind walked in. He glanced at the wooden box under the bed, seemingly unaware that it had been disturbed.
“What exactly do you need to take?” Huzi asked. He spotted me hiding behind the door and gestured for me to sneak out quietly; otherwise, Guo the Blind would definitely see me if he turned around.
I quietly slipped out of the main room and hid in the adjacent room. Guo the Blind's voice rang out in the corridor. “I forgot to bring the compass; we need it to check the feng shui. We can't be careless when helping your parents with their health; visual estimates aren't accurate.”
“Then let's hurry up; it's already so late,” Huzi replied.
“Wait a moment.” Guo the Blind suddenly said. “There’s someone in the house.”
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