Chapter 89: Trap | Ink East

Otherworldly Merchant

“No problem.” I gave him a slight nod and confirmed, “I just need to wait for the golden silk quilt to cover the little dolls, and then I will bring that quilt to you, right?”

Receiving the old man’s confirmation, I heaved a sigh of relief and set off with the others. It wasn’t good to bring a big group as it was easily spotted. I wanted Yin Xinyue to stay and only Li Mazi and I would go. But Yin Xinyue said, “Compared to the graveyard, I’m more afraid of that odd old man.”

Right, I wasn’t sure if that man was a gentleman. I couldn’t put my mind at ease leaving Yin Xinyue, a great beauty, with him. So I took her along.

Groping around in the night, we used the light from our flashlights to get to the graveyard. Perhaps I had experienced this situation too many times, so I was not really scared.

Throwing the little dolls towards the golden quilt, we hurried to hide behind a tombstone, trying to observe the situation from there.

The night was dark and the wind was raging horribly. And as we were standing against the wind, we couldn’t open our eyes properly and could barely see the little dolls.

Since it was in a desolate, mountainous area, it became a wildlife paradise when night fell.

After staying here for a while, I saw green eyes flying around the graveyard. At the same time, we heard strange movements.

Although we understood that those sounds came from wild cats or stray dogs, under such an atmosphere and seeing so many green eyes flying around, we were somewhat fearful. However, no matter how scared I was, my eyes never left the dolls.

When it reached midnight, that was when negative energy was the thickest. I was certain that the quilt would take action…

Indeed, after an hour, I heard a woman sobbing at a grave in the center. Her voice was barely audible but it was really pitiable and mournful.

When I heard her, my heart couldn’t help but feel the same sadness.

I joked, “Li Mazi, don’t you want to be a hero and rescue the beauty? I’m sure that the sobbing woman needs some comfort.” Being provoked, Li Mazi glared at me.

The crying seemed to come from a distance, but somehow it sounded as though it was next to my ears. I felt flustered. It seemed to be very dangerous; it was no wonder that the old man said that we were not its match. I became more cautious. To avoid being possessed, I kept biting the tip of my tongue, using the pain to stimulate my nerves.

Right at that moment, the sorrowful sobbing stopped.

We heard a commotion from the grave the rich kid had dug up; it sounded like something was trying to climb out of it. I tried to open my eyes wide to see better. However, except for the mass of darkness, I saw nothing.

Then, a scene out of a horror movie took place. The golden quilt on the ground suddenly swelled as if someone had just gotten into it!

Not good! There’s really a ghost here!

And, from inside the quilt, a charming, female voice was heard, which wasn’t different from the previous sobbing, “Sir, you’re here. Let’s rest.”

Then, the quilt floated up, slowly flying toward the little dolls.

Li Mazi hid behind the tombstone, shivering. “Little Brother Zhang, I think I got it! Those two, before they died, I’m sure they had fun with her. They must’ve been overjoyed to make love with a ghost.”

I threw him a glance. “Well, if you like, you can be on top.”

Li Mazi waved his hand dismissively. “No, no, I still need to earn a lot of money…”

Afterward, things went smoothly. The quilt covered the dolls, and the whole world quieted down. No more crying. No more rattling sounds. And even the raging winds had somewhat calmed.

“Now!” I screamed then rushed toward the quilt. Yin Xinyue and Li Mazi followed close behind me.

Although the quilt had just shrouded the dolls, it felt as if two people were sleeping inside.

I knew one of them was the female ghost. Immediately, I stretched my arms, ready to grab the quilt.

However, as soon as I got it, a boy’s voice rose behind me. “Stop, don’t touch it.”

I was scared, my legs felt weak. I turned around and found a short silhouette standing inside the graveyard. I didn’t know when he had appeared there.

Who is that boy? Why didn't I hear anything when he approached us?

Li Mazi jolted back. However, seeing that it was a little boy, he was enraged and scoffed, “It’s really late at night. Who are you? Are you trying to scare people to death?”

“Hmph! You can’t tell the good from the bad. That old man wants to harm you. Drop the quilt and head west; there’s a small river. When you reach the river, all of you should jump in. No matter what happens, do not turn around. Just stay inside the river until the break of dawn.

“Of course, if you can stay there until dawn, I will save you. But if you can’t make it to dawn, I will come to pick up your corpses…”

The boy spoke with indifference, and listening to him made me shudder.

That old man is plotting against us? Why would he want to harm us?

I didn’t want to believe this child.

However, why did I feel his voice was familiar? It seemed that I had heard his voice somewhere before. So, I shone my flashlight on him.

When I saw the boy’s face, I almost screamed.

He was no one else but the little brother of the man wearing the Kumamon t-shirt, the little Daoist child who watched the gate of Mitu Temple in Hong Kong.

How did he appear in this graveyard?

Anyway, if he was with the Kumamon t-shirt man, I was sure I could trust him. I turned to snap at Li Mazi and Yin Xinyue, “Why are you still standing there? Do as he says!”

I took the initiative and dropped the quilt, running towards the west.

Along the way, my head was filled with questions.

That Daoist child should be in Hong Kong, shouldn’t he? How come he’s got to the Mainland?

And, why hadn’t he made a sound while approaching us?

Could the little boy be an imposter?

The more I ran, the more disordered my thoughts became because I didn’t know if it was our salvation or a bottomless abyss waiting ahead.

While we were running, another familiar voice came from behind us. “Zhang Jiulin, stop.”

That was the voice of the man in the Kumamon t-shirt.

I reacted immediately, halting. Li Mazi and Yin Xinyue also stopped. Unconsciously, they were about to turn around to look at him.

However, I still remembered what the Daoist boy had warned. I cried, “Don’t turn around. Continue running!”

Li Mazi cursed under his breath, “Who’s the bad guy, and who’s the good guy here? It’s a mess…”

Reluctantly, I forced a smile. “Just run, the faster the better. Head west. I don’t think we will die here.” Then, I sped up.

As the man wearing the Kumamon t-shirt had appeared out of the blue behind us, I felt something was off. So, I decided to ignore him.

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