"My son, come to Mother's side. Come home with Mother..."
The Weird Mother swayed the rattle drum, its skull-headed beaters swinging as they struck the drumheads.
Bolong, bolong... bolong, bolong...
Sunshine Boy's body moved forward of its own accord. Everyone tried desperately to stop him, but it was utterly useless.
Sunshine Boy had a sudden idea and shouted, "Drag Good Fortune Born over to me!"
Foodie stepped forward, seized Good Fortune Born by the wrist, and dragged him over like a butcher hauling a dead pig.
Sunshine Boy reached out and grabbed Good Fortune Born by the hair.
His body abruptly stopped.
"Damned Good Fortune Born! Damned Good Fortune Born! Damned Good Fortune Born!"
The Weird Mother said it three times. The unconscious Good Fortune Born spat out a mouthful of blood with a wah, his vision flickered, and he passed out again.
The Weird Mother's chest and belly heaved. Then, with another wah, she spewed a dense grayish-yellow mist from her mouth. It fell all over the ground, corroding the earth with sizzling sounds and giving off an indescribably strange stench.
Riiip...
The sound of clothing tearing rang out.
The garments over the Weird Mother's swollen belly split open, revealing a square brocade pillow embroidered with red peonies. It was wrapped in a colorful cotton quilt, like an infant swaddled in blankets.
Sunshine Boy pointed at the pillow and shouted, "Commandant, please help!"
The Commandant froze for a moment, swept his gaze deeply over the crowd, then grabbed the last Thunder Talisman from Book-Listener's hand with his left hand. His right gripped the Divine-Pattern Flying Sword. True Essence surged through him, fierce winds whirled around his body, and his clothes billowed.
"When the Night Guard conducts business, those who do not retreat are enemies!"
The Commandant charged forward. Within