I'm an evil spirit. Don't believe what I say

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"": "Once he was well away from Zhang Yunling's courtyard, Luo Bin silently thought, I really am a man of strong will.

Perhaps he had left a little too abruptly, a little too quickly, and a little ungentlemanly.

But Zhang Yunling, looking as fresh and lovely as a lotus rising from the water, had been far too hard to resist.

She had seemingly mentioned chopping firewood in passing, and any normal man would surely have gone straight to work...

Luo Bin had serious business to attend to. He couldn't let himself get "sucked in."

The sunlight warmed him gently, while the mountain breeze carried a slight chill.

It took a long while for his emotions to settle. Luo Bin wasn't planning to go home yet, but he didn't know where the Spirit Medium lived. After a moment's thought, he headed in another direction.

Before long, he reached a bamboo grove. The wind rustled softly through the leaves. The gate in the fence was shut, but the main room's door stood open. There was no one inside.

"Zhang Li!" Luo Bin called.

He certainly couldn't go straight to the Spirit Medium, nor could he find her through the Village Chief. The other villagers avoided him, and Luo Feng was even less supportive of his attempts to save the outsiders. His best option was still Zhang Li.

Zhang Li had a little intelligence in him, but not much.

Even if he, too, rejected Luo Bin, he might at least listen with Gu Yiren in danger. Getting him to persuade the Village Chief to release her was certainly impossible, but if he could find the Spirit Medium's house and tell Luo Bin where it was, Luo Bin could keep working on a solution.

Luo Bin had an idea that would definitely change Zhong Zhicheng's mind. But he had to see Gu Yiren before he could determine whether it was feasible.

The doors to the rooms remained silent. Zhang Li didn't come out.

"Zhang Li?" Luo Bin called again.

Still, there was no response.

Is this really necessary? He won't even say a word to me?

Luo Bin pushed open the gate and entered the courtyard.

He knocked on every room's door in turn, but received no answer.

Zhang Li wasn't home.

Feeling helpless, Luo Bin wondered whether Zhang Li had already gone to see Zhong Zhicheng.

The man looked refined and cultured, but in reality, he was far too reckless.

Frowning, Luo Bin could only turn around and head home.

As he passed through the narrow alley, he stopped at the spot where he had found the sack earlier.

Zhu Qianqian had passed through here before she died.

There was nothing unusual about that. This alley was on the route to Bamboo Grove Upper Village; anyone going there had to pass through it.

Inside the house, separated from him by only a door.

Chen Xianxian held her long ponytail between her teeth as she struggled to bind Zhang Li's hands and feet.

Zhang Li was unconscious, blood steadily seeping from his forehead. A hammer lay on the floor nearby.

A faint clattering came from the inner room, accompanied by what sounded like a woman's giggling.

Chen Xianxian's beautiful eyes sharpened, and her delicate brows drew together.

She tiptoed to the door, but it fit so tightly in its frame that there wasn't even a gap to peek through.

She simply stood there in silence, utterly motionless.

She listened closely.

She heard footsteps start up and gradually recede.

Chen Xianxian gently cracked the door open.

At the far end of the alley, Luo Bin was walking away.

She closed the door.

Luo Bin... what was he doing here?

She glanced thoughtfully at Zhang Li on the floor, and her eyes brightened slightly.

Then she dragged Zhang Li into the inner room.

For a petite young woman, a grown man like Zhang Li was far too heavy, far too much dead weight.

It took her ages to get Zhang Li into the Underground Room.

Against one wall, another woman who looked exactly like her watched her with a cold, sinister smile.

There was a great deal of blood on the floor, and even more on the woman's hands, face, and mouth.

Normally, after feeding her older sister, Chen Xianxian would clean everything the following day while her sister slept soundly.

Between dumping the corpse that morning, everything that had happened in the village, and luring Zhang Li back home, she hadn't had time.

Then Luo Bin had passed by and woken her sister, making it even more impossible to clean up the blood.

"Big sis, this is a companion of that woman from yesterday. Your little sister hasn't disappointed you these past two days, has she?"

"There's someone else in the village who's quite extraordinary. I know extraordinary men are your favorite. I'll definitely lure him here for you in the next couple of days."

Chen Xianxian made her promise with utmost seriousness.

The woman gave a soft shush, then gently beckoned. Her gaze seemed to invite Chen Xianxian closer, as though she had something to tell her.

Chen Xianxian pouted slightly, looking a little hurt.

"Big sis, why do you still want to eat me? Does becoming an evil spirit really leave you without a heart?"

On the floor, Zhang Li opened his eyes shakily.

He was awake.

A wad of cloth stuffed into his mouth kept him from speaking.

But everything before his eyes, the words he had heard, and the hammer from earlier made him feel as though he had fallen into hell!

He strained with his mouth and thrashed incessantly, making muffled cries and thumping noises. He was utterly terrified.

"Oh, men really are different. You woke up much faster than Zhu Qianqian did." Chen Xianxian crouched and pinched Zhang Li's face.

"It's a pity my big sister is an evil spirit. Otherwise, she could definitely let you experience it for yourself. Cabinet Mountain Village isn't all horror, you know. There's a gentle side to it, too. She used to be a lady bodhisattva."

"But now the lady bodhisattva no longer saves others. She has to eat people to save herself. You rotten men enjoyed what she gave you, so you ought to give something back."

Chen Xianxian smiled with narrowed eyes, looking utterly impish.

Zhang Li's eyes bulged, nearly popping from their sockets, and his muffled cries grew louder.

"Little Shan, why are you back so soon?" Gu Ya watched in surprise as he pushed open the courtyard gate.

"Sister Ling was taking a bath. I felt awkward hanging around her courtyard too long. I shouldn't look at anything improper," Luo Bin explained quietly, scratching his head.

Gu Ya froze again.

Seated on the threshold, Luo Feng looked up, appearing thoroughly pleased.

"But, Little Shan, before..." Gu Ya began, then hesitated.

"All right, don't bring up ancient history. Little Shan has matured and learned some sense. Aren't you happy?"

This time, it was Luo Feng who was all smiles.

Gu Ya said nothing more. She merely sighed softly, seeming unsure whether to laugh or cry.

Luo Bin was taken aback. Gu Ya didn't seem unhappy, either. What was that expression supposed to mean?

Had I... had the original owner done something before?

"Go chop some firewood, Little Shan. We have plenty at home, too. Put that strength to good use here. All that matters is keeping the family safe and sound," Luo Feng said.

"Okay." Luo Bin nodded and walked toward the woodshed beside the kitchen.

He had just been worrying that doing nothing would make him feel even more uncomfortable. Luo Feng's suggestion was exactly what he needed.

With crack after crack, the wood was split into sticks of firewood.

His palms grew sweaty, but the talisman the Spirit Medium had drawn showed no sign of wear.

His mind grew much calmer.

There were actually still many things about this village he didn't know.

The Spirit Medium, for instance.

Could evil spirits actually be dealt with, rather than avoided all the time?

The afternoon passed in a flash. Gu Ya made dinner and called the father and son to eat.

During the meal, Luo Bin and Luo Feng tacitly refrained from speaking.

Gu Ya remained silent as well.

Afterward, Luo Bin returned to his room. He rummaged around for a long time, finding several bottles and jars, along with some plastic bags.

Luo Bin locked the door, then drew

the curtains. Even so, he waited until dark before he began dividing up the lamp oil.

The night was silent and deep.

As usual, Luo Bin took a small sip, suppressing his aversion to light and his thirst for blood.

Tap, tap, tap.

A faint knocking sounded.

Luo Bin didn't go over.

Whatever was outside the window had to be an evil spirit!

Tap, tap, tap. The knocking grew more urgent.

A faint voice drifted into the room.

"The people in this house aren't normal. That couple are actually two evil spirits. They're extremely dangerous."

"This village is even less normal. You only just arrived. There are plenty of things you don't know yet..."

"Hurry and open the window. I'll get you out."

Luo Bin was dumbfounded.

Xu Kaiguo... he just won't quit...

Wouldn't I know whether there's something wrong with Luo Feng and Gu Ya?!

But what exactly is Xu Kaiguo trying to do?!

In theory, there shouldn't be anything wrong with him, either, should there?

Luo Bin sprang to his feet, walked to the window, and pulled back the curtain.

Xu Kaiguo... was gone.

But through the gaps between the wooden slats, he spotted a patch of white condensation left by someone's breath on the glass. It was slowly fading...

Was there a line of writing there, too, disappearing just as quickly?

Tick, tick. It was the soft sound of the second hand moving.

The hand slipped back two seconds without warning, and the instant when he had opened the window flashed before Luo Bin's eyes.

The white mist on the window dissipated rapidly, taking the blurred writing with it.

In that brief instant, Luo Bin made out the words.

"I'm an evil spirit. Don't believe what I say."