Tan Wenbin then lit each small candle that had been prepared beforehand one by one.
The position of each candle had been calculated, including the arrangement of the sacrificial site, which could not be changed. The three nails had been pulled out, but not completely, leaving some room for maneuver.
This action sought to first give a slap and then offer a sweet date.
If you can talk, then let’s talk. If you can’t, staying here will eventually drive you mad and turn you into a menace, and we’ll just have to clash head-on.
Li Zhiyuan picked up the wine bowl and sprinkled it onto the river surface.
Then he extended his left arm for Tan Wenbin to hold, closed his eyes, and sought the state between sleep and wakefulness known as Underworld.
Many spells are actually useful, including the incessant murmurs and jingles of the Grandmaster at home, but the purpose of these spells is to "communicate."
But is there any better way than going directly to the Underworld?
When you can apply a formula directly, there’s no need to tediously deduce every step.
"We mean no harm. We just want to talk to you. First, please do not surface and disturb the living; second, please inform us who taught you to set up.
If you cooperate, we’ll reinsert the nails for you, and each of us will go our separate ways in yin and yang; if not, from tonight onwards, one of us will have no way out."
While Li Zhiyuan handed over his arm, Tan Wenbin had been silently counting in his mind, finally, he finished his countdown and immediately shook the boy vigorously.
Li Zhiyuan was abruptly awakened, breaking his light Underworld state – a safety precaution he had set for himself.
Although he had learned how to control the Corpse, he was just a beginner and wasn’t confident enough to use it now.
He felt a bit dizzy and a little pain - symptoms of being forcefully interrupted from an Underworld state. Luckily, having experienced excruciating headaches at Alii’s, this was nothing by comparison.
The message had been delivered; it was now up to Zhou Yong to decide.
Zhou Yong slowly turned around, his back to everyone, and then proceeded to walk slowly in the river.
"Brother Bin, you might as well go back."
"No, that’s not possible. I need to protect you."
"Oh, you’ve made your choice, don’t regret it."
"How could I possibly regret it? I won’t!"
Li Zhiyuan pointed to the arrangements on the ground, signaling Tan Wenbin to clean up, and walked along the riverbank, while Run Sheng walked in the river.
Tan Wenbin extinguished all the candles with his hands and feet and then gathered up the bowls, dishes, and everything else into a sack, then hurriedly ran after them, not wanting to miss anything again.
Luckily, with Run Sheng in the river, Xiao Yuan, despite being his brother, couldn’t tie himself up and toss himself into the reeds.
After walking a distance, Zhou Yong climbed out of the river.
Li Zhiyuan grabbed Run Sheng’s jacket, signaling to slow down, and when their pace eased, Zhou Yong, walking ahead, also slowed down; he was waiting.
He was leading them back to his house.
Once the intention was clear, Li Zhiyuan patted Run Sheng on the back, and the three resumed their normal speed.
Upon arriving at Zhou Yong’s home again, they halted their steps as Zhou Yong stood in front of the house door.
"Knock... knock... knock..."
He was lightly knocking on the door with his head.
After a while, a light turned on inside the house.
Through the coarse door crack, one could see someone appearing behind the door, followed by a series of crisp locking sounds.
Standing inside was Zhou Yong’s wife.
She stood there quietly.
During the day, she had been lying below a mat in the cotton padding.
Now, although it was night, with the help of the room light, it was discovered that not only her eyes, but cotton stuffing like wild grass was creeping out of her nostrils, ears, and even beneath her fingernails.
It was as if, this cotton stuffing was not simply sticking to her but was actually growing from inside her.
The woman stepped aside, letting Zhou Yong enter.
She continued to stand by the door, without closing it, seemingly waiting for the guests to enter.
Run Sheng looked to Li Zhiyuan, who nodded in response.
Since they had come to engage in dialogue and since they had been led to the doorstep, there was no reason not to enter.
Entering the house, Run Sheng glanced to the right, his body trembling conspicuously, having been startled.
This was the first time Li Zhiyuan had seen Run Sheng exhibit such a reaction in this kind of scene. He too entered the house and looked to the right.
The girl had already emerged from the rice container. She stood there as if welcoming her father home.
Her eyes were wide open, filled with densely packed rice grains.
At the same time, rice grains were embedded on the girl’s exposed arms, legs, and extremities of her clothes.
These white rice grains continuously fell off, yet the fallen portion did not appear reduced, as if rice grains were growing from the girl’s pores.
This scene caused Li Zhiyuan’s breathing to become abruptly rapid at that moment.
Tan Wenbin, being the last to enter as he had lagged behind tidying things up, and considering it was night, he naturally positioned himself to protect Xiao Yuan together with Run Sheng.
After entering, Tan Wenbin also looked to the right and then opened his mouth wide, stuffing his hand into his mouth and biting down hard before he could let out an involuntary scream.
This was a real bite; it even drew blood. There was no helping it, as the strong sense of fear had overwhelmed the pain.
Zhou Yong walked to the dining table and sat down.
The dining table was old, with many planks nailed onto it for repairs, and the chair was somewhat roughly uneven.