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墨書 Inktalez
Human Sacrifice
"Wait a minute," Guo the Blind suddenly said, squinting towards the house where I was hiding. "There's someone inside."
"Who could possibly be there? You're being paranoid," Huzi complained, his expression tense. If Guo the Blind discovered I was hiding in the house, he certainly wouldn't let me go. And with Huzi standing nearby, Guo the Blind would undoubtedly silence him too.
At that moment, Li Fugui was not present. In a fit of anger, one might do something regrettable, and besides, no one knew we were looking for Guo the Blind. If he decided to destroy the evidence, we would die unjustly.
Guo the Blind walked to the door and casually grabbed a harpoon from beside the wall. Just then, the lights in the house suddenly flickered on, and a masked figure in black rushed out from behind the grain storage towards the door.
Guo the Blind was momentarily blinded by the light. He thrust the harpoon forward, but the Masked Man sidestepped and kicked Guo the Blind in the chest, sending him staggering backward.
The Masked Man quickly darted towards the wall. Guo the Blind grunted; his terrifying single eye turned fierce. In a moment of desperation, he bit his own tongue and spat out a mouthful of blood towards the Masked Man. The Masked Man pressed one hand against the wall and exerted himself, leaping over the high wall and disappearing from sight.
Guo the Blind got up and chased after him. Huzi signaled for me to hurry out from the corridor. As I stepped into the yard, I vaguely heard Guo the Blind's voice returning and quickly hid in the kitchen.
"Was that person trying to steal something? He was quite hefty; how did he jump over such a tall wall?" Huzi's voice echoed in the yard.
Guo the Blind replied, "Lucky for him; he wasted my blood energy. I'll check inside to see if anything is missing."
After saying that, Guo the Blind coughed weakly a couple of times. Huzi asked, "Are you alright?"
"It's nothing; just lost some vitality," Guo the Blind said as he entered the room where I had been hiding. Moments later, he emerged from inside and coughed again. "Fortunately, nothing seems to be missing. Let's go check your family's feng shui; I doubt that thief will dare return."
The sound of a door locking faintly reached my ears, and soon there was silence outside. I stepped out of the kitchen, intending to retrieve Guo the Blind's Zhou Compass from under his bed, but found that his wooden box had already been opened. Inside were only a few black nails—nothing else.
It seemed Guo the Blind had already taken precautions. The Zhou Compass was a Daoist Sacred Artifact; aside from me and Huzi, only Huang San'er knew about it. The physique of that Masked Man resembled Huang San'er, who had been missing for some time. Moreover, his movements were too skilled to be those of an ordinary villager; it was highly likely that he was indeed Huang San'er.
Without obtaining the Zhou Compass, I had no choice but to crawl out. However, when I looked towards Guo the Blind's herb garden by the wall, I discovered that most of the herbs had died. All the plant stems and leaves seemed as if they had been doused with a bucket of hot sulfuric acid, faintly emitting a pungent odor.
Not long after returning home, Huzi came to find me, asking if I had obtained the Zhou Compass.
I replied, "The compass that Guo the Blind took is the Zhou Compass."
Huzi said, "He didn't even use the compass; he just walked away after reaching our doorstep without any issues."
I nodded and said, "With Guo the Blind's cunning, he already knows I'm hiding at his place and understands that you only wanted to divert him. Therefore, he had no reason to come to your home. It was actually this Masked Man who provided us with a way out; otherwise, Guo the Blind would have surely killed both of us tonight."
"Guo the Blind doesn't seem that capable either; he's already in his seventies," Huzi remarked.
I responded, "Guo the Blind doesn't rely on brute strength. At that time, he spat at the Masked Man, wasting three months of his life. After you left, all the flowers and plants by his wall withered. Now I understand why Huang the Lame dared not confront him. Even if your grandfather could kill him, it would undoubtedly bring trouble upon us. We need to be more cautious around him from now on."
Huzi nodded and asked me to accompany him outside for a smoke before we each returned home.
Later that night, shortly after falling asleep, I dreamt again of the terrifying Big Black Cat. It stood outside my bedroom door, seemingly beckoning me to get up and follow it. Remembering some frightening legends, I was afraid it might steal my soul, so I lay in bed frozen with fear. Suddenly, the Big Black Cat called out to me, and amidst the haze, I vaguely heard Zhou Manman's voice.
"Help me."
I was drenched in cold sweat from fright and found myself waking up several times in a daze throughout the night, unable to sleep well at all. Zhou Manman's death still weighed heavily on me; after all, she was truly gone.
The next morning, an announcement from the Village production team informed us that someone from the Provincial Cultural Troupe had arrived in our Village. The County Leader had specifically issued a directive for everyone to treat them well and ensure their safety.
The cultural troupe's visit to Futu Ridge for research on local customs wasn't unprecedented; however, given Futu Ridge's remote location and its reputation for being a place people feared to tread due to various rumors, those who came here were often individuals not favored by their superiors.
In the eyes of outsiders, there are other names for Futu Ridge, such as Taboo Ridge, Wild Mountain, and Savage Zone.
More than a decade ago, members of the Cultural Troupe visited and had a meal with village officials like Li Fugui. After quickly stamping the village seal, they hurried back to the county town, where they stayed in a hotel for some time before receiving notice to return.
Every night in Futu Ridge, wild cats and owls would call out, sounding eerily like children crying. Sometimes, if the noise got too loud and a few dogs barked in response, it would set off all the dogs in the village howling along. Generally, newcomers from the city were frightened by this.
This time, however, the person coming from the Provincial Cultural Troupe was a young man who had actively requested to investigate Futu Ridge and intended to stay in one of the villages for a while.
The young man was quite bold. The province had sent documents down to the county, which then forwarded them to the township committee of Futu Ridge. Coincidentally, Old Man Wang was playing cards at the township committee when he caught sight of the photo of the investigator on the document. Panic surged through him; he dropped his cards on the table and ran out, repeatedly exclaiming how much the young man resembled someone he knew.
Old Man Wang kept this matter to himself. After returning home, he tossed and turned all night without sleep. In a hurry, he went to burn paper offerings at the old Ancestral Grave east of Bright Moon Village, praying that he hadn’t mistakenly encountered something unclean. Just then, Huzi happened to pass by and saw him; after giving him a pack of soft China cigarettes, Wang managed to mumble something about it.
Futu Ridge had been a remote and impoverished area for centuries, with poor transportation and no economic development. The villagers had never seen any big shots. Even hundreds of years ago when officials came from the county to handle cases, they would follow in groups like tourists watching animals at a zoo. A few prominent men felt uneasy under their gaze. This reputation spread further, making it even less likely for outsiders to visit Futu Ridge.
Decades ago during the Snake Goddess incident, when a leader from the county came, everyone thought he was an important official. Now that provincial leaders were rumored to be visiting, it felt akin to hearing that an emperor was touring or a deity had descended. The entire village gathered at the entrance to welcome this high-ranking official, hoping that their simple and sincere hospitality would touch him enough for him to report back to higher authorities about paving a road to prosperity through their mountains. The villagers also dreamed of living lives like those they saw on television in the near future.
The radio specifically announced that no one should mention any superstitious beliefs, especially regarding the recent Ghost Killing incident. It emphasized that if the Provincial Leader asked about the Wind Stabilizer at the village entrance, it was merely used for warding off evil spirits.
The villagers understood this well enough; some even brought their underage children out to stand at the front of the village in hopes that provincial leaders would bless them with good fortune.
To show their respect, they also invited Old Man Wang out—a centenarian and learned teacher—to greet the Provincial Leader and meet Wenquxing; appearances mattered greatly.
As the only university student in Village, regarded by villagers as educated, I was naturally called upon as well.
However, when that young Provincial Leader stepped out of his car, some villagers’ faces changed from joy to dismay.
The younger generation seemed fine, but those over forty or fifty had rather grim expressions. They exchanged glances, hesitant to show any signs of fear, worried they might offend the Provincial Leader.
The young Provincial Leader had a square face, resembling a male protagonist from a television drama. He wasn't exceptionally handsome or wealthy, but he exuded a refined charm, and his smile felt like a breath of spring air. He was the kind of scholarly young man that was hard to forget after just one glance.
Several villagers in their twenties and thirties eagerly brought their newborns forward, hoping the young leader would hold them and share in the blessings of his status.
The young man responded with a smile. One baby, startled by the noisy environment, began to cry loudly, but as soon as it was placed in his arms, it immediately quieted down. The villagers praised him as if he were a celestial being descended from the heavens, and the child could sense it.
Some women in their thirties and forties pushed their children to the front, hoping the young leader would pat their heads, believing it would bring enlightenment or inspiration.
However, one or two elderly women awkwardly stepped forward to pull their children back into the crowd before heading home.
The young man didn't seem embarrassed; instead, he displayed a hint of regret as he politely declined the requests from the crowd.
Only then did the village officials ask everyone to step aside, signaling for the Old Man and me to meet with the young leader.
"Hello, Leader. It is truly an honor for someone of your stature to visit our Bright Moon Village. I am Liu, the captain of the production team here. The Outer Village chief is unwell and couldn't come to greet you; he specifically asked me to represent him and express his apologies. Please feel free to let me know if you have any requests," Liu said.
"Captain Liu, you are too kind. I'm not really a leader; I'm just a clerk in the cultural group who recently took office. I've heard so much about Futu Ridge's beautiful mountains and rivers and its simple folk. Since I just started my position and it's time for our annual provincial inspection tour, I thought I would come here to write a report," replied the young man.
Captain Liu smiled and praised him for being humble and promising at such a young age. He then introduced the Old Man behind him: "I forgot to introduce you properly; this is our village's centenarian, whom we all call Old Man."
The Old Man extended his hand to shake hands with the young leader, his gaze enigmatic and momentarily silent.
The young man held Old Man's hands with both of his own and politely said, "No need for formality."
"Captain Liu introduced me, saying, 'This is Old Man's most prized student and the only college student in our village.'
I extended my hand and said, 'Yang Hao, nice to meet you.'
The young man replied, 'Guo Huaiyi.'
As soon as Guo Huaiyi spoke, many of the older villagers gasped in surprise. I noticed that even Old Man and Captain Liu had goosebumps, awkwardly laughing to mask their unease.
Captain Liu looked at Old Man as if seeking his opinion. Old Man said, 'Liu, let's accompany the leader around Village for a bit. Before long, it will be lunchtime. I have a bottle of fine sorghum liquor hidden in my grain storage that I only bring out during festivals. Let's get it and have a couple of drinks with Leader Guo.'
Guo Huaiyi responded, 'I can't handle much alcohol.'
Old Man replied, 'This liquor is different from what you find outside; you can't buy it on the market, and it won't get you drunk.'
Guo Huaiyi said, 'In that case, I would be honored to accept. Old Man, please lead the way.'
I followed behind silently, observing Guo Huaiyi's bright eyes and the slight fear in the expressions of some of the older villagers. Suddenly, I felt a sense of familiarity with this young man, even though I was certain I had never seen him before.
During lunch, the production team in Village prepared a lavish spread. Captain Liu and Guo Huaiyi chatted amiably as if they were old friends. Later, when Old Man's sorghum liquor was brought to the table, Captain Liu said, 'Let Old Man share some stories about our Futu Ridge while I step out for a moment.'
Guo Huaiyi nodded politely. Old Man subtly placed his hand on my leg and gestured for me to follow him outside. I nodded apologetically to the young man and stepped out with Captain Liu.
Captain Liu led me to a nearby room equipped with sound equipment; it was the village's Production Team broadcasting station. He invited me in and then closed the door, taking a document from a young man's hands.
This document was an official red-headed file regarding Guo Huaiyi's inspection visit to the countryside. It bore Guo Huaiyi's electronic portrait at the top and was clearly stamped with the seal of the Provincial Cultural Office at the bottom."
"What's the village chief like?" Captain Liu asked.
The young man replied, "The village chief is real; I've already verified it over the phone."
"Then this is strange. How can there be someone so similar, with the exact same name?" Captain Liu said.
"What exactly is going on, Uncle Liu?" I asked.
Captain Liu explained, "This Guo Huaiyi looks just like someone who died at the end of 198. That person was also named Guo Huaiyi."
"The key point is that Guo Huaiyi is the son of Guo the Blind!"
PS: I can give you a little spoiler; Zhou Manman's story isn't over yet.
Suspense and supernatural elements, Conspiracy, are bound to be hard to guess.
But every plot point is under control and makes sense; the story will gradually unfold.
Digging a pit must be filled.
During the new book period, there will be two updates. If you have tickets and diamonds, please vote for this book.
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