Ghost Village Night Watchman

3 AM.

The village was deathly silent.

The streamer's viewers had long since lost the spirited energy they had upon arriving.

After several scares, they were now tired and terrified, huddled in the gap between the walls of two houses, praying for dawn to come quickly.

"Huh?"

Just as everyone was drowsy but afraid to sleep.

Zhang Ming, who had been lying on the ground, suddenly jolted, quickly flipped over and got up, perking his ears as if he had heard something.

"What's wrong?"

"What's happening?"

"Did you find something?"

The others, who were half-asleep, immediately sobered up upon seeing Zhang Ming's actions and continuously asked in hushed tones.

Their voices were filled with tension and fear.

"Shh," Zhang Ming put a finger to his lips, making a shushing gesture.

Instantly, everyone shut their mouths, their eyes still fixed on him.

"Listen!" Zhang Ming whispered, quietly pointing a hand in the direction of the red brick house.

"It sounds like something's moving."

It was dark outside, and nothing could be seen.

The dim light from a few streetlights couldn't penetrate the smog and darkness.

Prompted by Zhang Ming, everyone held their breath and listened carefully.

Soon, they too heard a strange sound.

"Bang! Bang!"

"Bang! Bang!"

"Bang! Bang!"

The sound was like someone performing the night watchman's beat!

Everyone exchanged glances.

In this eerie village, even an idiot could guess that this couldn't be the work of a living person.

Besides, what era was this? How could a profession like the night watchman still exist?

So the answer was obvious.

This was... ghosts performing the night watchman's beat!

Upon thinking of this answer, terror and unease spread across everyone's faces.

Had the ghosts come looking for them?

The only girl among them trembled violently, unable to stop herself from crying softly again.

Tears streaked her makeup, making her look like a painted clown on a stage.

"Don't cry!"

"Are you trying to die?"

The bald uncle's face changed when he heard the crying.

He cursed in a low voice and covered her mouth, preventing her from making any sound.

At a time like this, any inappropriate action could lead to eternal damnation.

The others also had grim expressions, their hearts pounding as if they would leap out of their throats.

If they weren't afraid of drawing unwanted attention and attracting malevolent ghosts, they would have thrown the girl out.

At this moment, the streamer Zhang Ming squatted on the ground. He didn't dare to look outside directly but quietly turned on his phone, exposing the camera.

His position was on the outermost edge of the gap, less than a meter from the exit. If the malevolent ghosts targeted them, he would likely be the first to suffer!

Of course, if an escape was necessary, he would also be the first to flee the gap.

The night watchman's beat outside was getting closer.

Each strike of the clapper seemed to hit everyone's heart.

Everyone was filled with dread, daring not to make the slightest move, deliberately slowing down even their breathing.

"It's the fifth watch—"

"Sleep early, wake early, take care of your health!"

A sinister voice drifted in from the street.

The voice was not loud, but it clung to everyone's ears like a persistent parasite, making their hair stand on end and their spines chill.

Zhang Ming closely watched the screen on his phone.

Soon, he saw a faint green light from a sinister oil lamp appear at the end of the street.

"Tap tap--"

"Tap tap tap--"

Then, heavy footsteps echoed.

From within the mist, a thin, hunched figure slowly materialized.

The figure wore tattered cloth clothes, a skullcap on its head, and had a palm-leaf fan tucked into its waist.

But what terrified Zhang Ming the most was that a small hand, like a chicken's foot, had grown on its belly.

This small hand swayed precariously, holding a lantern.

"Oh my god."

A chill crawled from his feet straight to his forehead.

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

The Night Watchman Ghost walked with a bobbing gait and soon arrived at the gap where everyone was hiding.

"No one found..."

"No one found..."

"No one found..."

Everyone prayed that the Malevolent Ghost was just passing by and hadn't discovered them.

However, fate had other plans.

The Night Watchman Ghost paused its steps and stopped right outside the gap.

"Hehehehehe."

A sinister chuckle erupted.

It made everyone tremble like sieves.

The Malevolent Ghost stared at the group of unfortunate souls who had stumbled into the ghost realm, a malicious grin spreading across its face.

Suddenly, it struck its clapper.

"Time to go."

The voice was eerily sharp, like fingernails scraping against a blackboard.

It sent goosebumps all over.

And with the sound of the clapper, the girl who had been crying suddenly stiffened.

She felt as if a thin film had settled over her consciousness, making her thoughts hazy.

Her body involuntarily stood up, and under the terrified gazes of everyone, she tiptoed, step by step, towards the outside.

"Hehehe."

With a dark chuckle, the Malevolent Ghost glanced at the girl, seemingly satisfied.

It then struck its clapper again.

"Bang!"

Hearing the sound, the girl's body trembled slightly, her skin rapidly turning ashen white, losing all signs of life.

A faint smell of decay began to emanate from her, as if she had been dead for over ten days.

This scene made the scalps of those in the gap tingle.

After taking a life, the lantern in the Malevolent Ghost's hand seemed to shine brighter.

Its gray-white eyes, devoid of pupils, constantly scanned the crowd.

Everyone remained stiff, daring not to move, not even daring to blink.

"Hehehehehe."

The laughter rang out again, as sinister and terrifying as the cry of a night owl.

It seemed to have discovered something amusing, and a hint of excitement and mockery flickered across its wrinkled face.

"Time to go."

It said to the crowd, and struck its clapper once more.

Instantly, two more people in the group stiffened, tiptoed, and involuntarily walked out of the gap.

Moreover, as they walked, their bodies began to rot, and by the time they reached the entrance, only a pile of white bones remained.

Gag--

Many couldn't help but vomit directly.

Fear and disgust intertwined, churning their stomachs.

Under immense pressure, several people in the group suddenly screamed hysterically.

A flicker of madness flashed in their eyes, and they rushed straight out of the gap.

"Fuck you, I'll fight you to the death!"

However.

Clack!

Clack!

Clack!

Clack!

The watchman's clapper sounded unhurriedly all around.

The few who rushed out immediately stiffened and fell to the ground, dead.

"Hehehehe."

A sinister laugh carried a hint of mockery.

A bunch of little bugs, trying to resist?

Seeing this, the bald uncle slowly closed his eyes, a wry smile appearing on his face.

He had achieved some success in his career and had a happy and fulfilling family.

His wife had just given birth to their second child, a daughter.

Everything was so wonderful.

What was wrong with him tonight? Why did he have to join a bunch of youngsters and come to this damn party.

Despair also appeared on the faces of the others.

Seeing their expressions.

The Night Watchman Ghost was very satisfied.

Its favorite thing to do was to catch a group of humans, then beat them to death one by one, watching their desperate expressions as they waited to die.

It was truly amusing.

A malicious smile appeared on the Night Watchman Ghost's face:

"It's the fifth watch, not too early, time to hit the road."

Saying that, it prepared to strike the watchman's clapper again.

But just then.

From the side of the street, a lazy voice came:

"Are you in such a hurry to hit the road because your mom is stuck in a pot at the crematorium waiting to be flipped?"