Chapter 25: The Ominous One (Fifth Update)

Er Pang’s words sent a chill through my heart.

“That’s nonsense! I don’t believe it!” I said.

Er Pang, harm me? What a joke—there’s nothing amusing about that.

But when I tried to help him up, Er Pang shoved me away. He clenched his teeth, his breath coming in short gasps, and I noticed his eyes had grown red. He shouted at me, “Boss, I’m begging you, go! Leave me, don’t worry about me!”

His strange behavior startled me.

“Er Pang, did you… did you drink the Karma Soup too?” I asked, barely daring to trust my own suspicion. But Er Pang had once described how his mother looked after drinking the same concoction. Looking closely, I saw grayish-black hairs sprouting on his face and hands, bizarre and unnatural. These were unmistakably the symptoms that appeared when someone drank the Karma Soup but didn’t keep up with the doses.

“Boss, stop asking, just go!” he said, fists clenched, backing away step by step to distance himself from me. If I were to abandon him like this, would I even be human anymore?

“Er Pang, there must be an antidote for the Karma Soup. I’m sure Granny Wang can find one! Let’s go to her now, she promised she’d help me…”

I spoke, watching his face, my heart aching terribly.

But Er Pang just shook his head. “It’s no use. If she could help, she’d have come by now. Don’t worry about me, Boss. I’ve already drunk the Karma Soup, so I’m one of them now. Since I’m the same as them, I’m sure they won’t do anything to me. Go, Boss, I’ll be fine. I’ll wait for you to come back and save me!”

With that, Er Pang turned and ran toward the villagers who were closing in. As he ran, he shouted, “I’m here, Ma Weiguo, you bastard! If you’ve got the guts, come chase me!”

“Come on, you wimp!”

The villagers, who’d been searching the woods, hesitated at the commotion, then swarmed toward him. Even those who’d been preparing to surround us from another side changed course and charged his way. Ma Weiguo led the throng, villagers surging after him like a pack of hungry wolves. They caught up to Er Pang and wrestled him to the ground.

Hidden in the darkness several hundred meters away, I watched, unnoticed. Ma Weiguo demanded to know who Er Pang’s accomplice was and where he’d gone.

Er Pang merely grinned, refusing to answer.

“Tell me! Where’s Lin Yi?” Ma Weiguo barked, grabbing him by the collar.

“Come close and I’ll tell you,” Er Pang replied.

Ma Weiguo did lean in, but as he did, Er Pang struggled and kicked him hard in the stomach.

Ma Weiguo doubled over, clutching his belly.

“How’s that, you bastard? Feels good, doesn’t it?” Er Pang was pinned again but continued to struggle, laughing wildly at Ma Weiguo. Even as blood ran from his mouth, he kept sneering, never once crying out in pain. I knew he was doing it for me—if I heard him scream, I’d never be able to leave.

But seeing Er Pang suffer so, how could I just abandon him? Swearing under my breath, fury blazing in my chest, I rushed toward them.

Yet, as I took my first step, a wave of icy dread washed over me, freezing me in place.

It was as if a cold snake slithered over my shoulder, winding around, binding me tight.

From the corner of my eye, I saw a hand as pale as paper gripping my shoulder.

“Brother Lin Yi, you can’t go,” a voice said. Only then did I realize it was He Xiaojing behind me. I hadn’t expected her to appear here.

But, worried for Er Pang’s life, I ignored the fact that she was a ghost and my fear of her. “Let me go! If I don’t get over there, Er Pang will die!”

“You can’t go!” she insisted.

I tried to break free, but I couldn’t move a muscle—apart from speaking, I was completely paralyzed.

“Please, I’m begging you, let me go. Er Pang can’t die. As for your mother’s situation, I’ll beg Granny Wang to help you!” I pleaded, hoping she’d release me.

But she only shook her head stiffly.

I didn’t know what more to say. Just then, a gray-robed Taoist emerged from the woods and called to the villagers, “Enough, stop beating him. He’s already drunk the Karma Soup—he’s one of you now.” He pulled a bowl of soup from his sleeve and handed it to them, instructing them to force Er Pang to drink it.

Er Pang had claimed he’d already drunk the soup, but I had no idea when. Now that the rat spirit himself said so, it must be true.

“Xiaojing, help me—save Er Pang!” I begged.

She only shook her head, lowering her gaze. “I’m sorry, Brother Lin Yi. I can’t fight that rat spirit…”

Her voice was so soft, I finally realized how hard this must have been for her. After all, she was only a wronged soul. She could handle those fox puppets, but that was only because they were not fully formed—without Ma Quezi’s dark magic, they wouldn’t even look human. But the rat spirits were different; she stood no chance against them.

After Er Pang was forced to swallow the soup, several men dragged him toward the brigade office. The gray-robed Taoist whispered something to Ma Weiguo, who then announced, “Folks, this Karma Soup is for the good of everyone in the village. But some people haven’t yet enjoyed its blessing. Let’s split up—if there’s anyone who hasn’t drunk the soup yet, bring them to the brigade office. The Taoists will give them soup themselves!”

“Yes!” the villagers chorused.

“And remember, keep an eye out for that Lin Yi. Lin Wu is here, so Lin Yi must still be in the village. The Taoists have promised that whoever captures him will be personally rewarded with the secret to immortality!” Ma Weiguo added.

The villagers cheered their agreement and began searching house to house.

I asked He Xiaojing if there was any way to save those who hadn’t yet drunk the soup. She said she’d been keeping watch in the village and knew who they were, so she could take me around to warn them to hide.

I nodded—there was no time to lose. She led me along side paths into the village, and together we went door to door, knocking and warning people.

But to my dismay, no one believed a word I said. They claimed that many illnesses had been cured, that the Taoists were good men, living saints, and that they were eager to try the Karma Soup themselves. They accused me of being unlucky, saying my grandfather’s jealousy over the Taoists’ presence had cost him his standing in the village, and that was why he was sending me out at night to scare people away from the soup.

Eventually, they grew impatient and slammed the doors in my face, fed up with being disturbed so late.

After repeating this five or six times, I was left speechless.

He Xiaojing said quietly, “Let it go, Brother Lin Yi. They don’t appreciate what you’re doing, even curse you. There’s no need to risk your life for them.”

“They just don’t know the truth…” I replied, though deep down I was deeply disappointed. None of these villagers had ever truly regarded me as one of their own. Because of rumors about my origins, they saw me as unlucky and forbade their children to play with me.

Only Er Pang had ever ignored such talk. Whenever other boys bullied me, he’d always step in to help. He’d been bigger than the other kids since we were small, so with him around, I was spared many beatings.

Thinking of Er Pang, my heart ached.

“Come on, Brother Lin Yi,” He Xiaojing said.

“No, I have to go back. Grandpa Niu doesn’t know what’s happened yet,” I replied. She nodded, and together we hurried toward my house.

But before we even got close, I saw a dozen villagers had already surrounded our gate.

At their head was Ma Weiguo, calling into the courtyard.

“Old Niu, I know you’re in there! Open up, quit stalling!”

“Open up! Open up!” the villagers echoed, their shouts ragged and chaotic.

After a while with no response, Ma Weiguo instructed the others to break down the door. The gate was sturdy, but with a dozen men pushing together, it wouldn’t last long. If they broke in, not only would Niu Dahuang be in danger, but they’d probably take my grandfather as well.

Seeing this, I knew I couldn’t just stand by and watch. If I showed myself, I could draw them away.

So, as He Xiaojing was distracted, I prepared to dash out—she would have tried to stop me otherwise.

But before I could move, the gate creaked open from within.

The villagers, ready to break it down, fell silent.

Niu Dahuang stepped out into the yard.

Why would he open the door at a time like this?