C9 The Whole Village Went Missing

The entire village had been transformed into corpses, their bodies shrouded in thick black smoke, presenting a horrifying sight.

As they were about to be attacked, Changshun caught a glimpse of a pink ribbon fluttering before his eyes, and then he blacked out.

Upon regaining consciousness, Changshun discovered that he and Xiuxiu were lying on the main road that led to the town. They had managed to escape the village.

"Xiuxiu, wake up. We're safe now," Changshun said, gently shaking her awake.

Once they were both on their feet, they flagged down a passing tractor from a neighboring village. With a small payment, the driver agreed to take them into town.

Changshun had attempted to reach out to the belle during their escape, but she remained silent, as if she were a figment of his imagination, never truly there.

Feeling a sense of loss, Changshun and Xiuxiu arrived in town. Changshun spent ten yuan on ten steamed buns, which they devoured hungrily.

"Brother Changshun, should we report this to the police? Our village..." Xiuxiu began.

"Our village is so remote, the town hardly bothers with it. Even if we report it, the police might not do anything," Changshun replied.

"But what do we do? We can't just do nothing about an entire village..." Xiuxiu protested.

"It's not that we're doing nothing. It's just... you know this isn't a typical murder case. No one would believe us if we told them," Changshun explained.

Xiuxiu was adamant; her father was still in the village, and she wanted to give him a proper burial, even in death.

With a heavy heart and a sense of determination, Changshun led Xiuxiu to the nearby police station.

The town was small, but the people had a warm sense of community. After sharing their harrowing tale with the police, two officers were promptly dispatched to accompany Changshun back to the village for an investigation.

Changshun was reluctant to return. Having narrowly escaped with his life, going back seemed like a death wish. However, seeing Xiuxiu's grief and thinking of the villagers who had watched him grow up softened his resolve. He steeled himself and led the way back to the village.

This time, they took a tractor, aiming to reach the village before dark. Upon arrival, Changshun led a door-to-door search, only to discover the village deserted. Not a soul remained, and even the carcasses of dead livestock had vanished without a trace, along with any bloodstains.

It was as if the entire village had evaporated from existence.

Overwhelmed, Changshun collapsed to the ground, unable to comprehend the surreal events of the past two days—it all felt like a dream.

After an exhaustive search, the police found no leads and ultimately classified the case as a mass disappearance. Since no evidence suggested foul play and all possessions were intact, Changshun was ruled out as a suspect.

The inexplicable disappearance of an entire village left everyone baffled. Changshun returned to town with the police and sought out Xiuxiu, who was temporarily residing at the hotel.

"They're all gone?" Xiuxiu asked in disbelief.

"Not a single trace left. It's as if they vanished into thin air. Without any clues, the investigation is at a standstill," Changshun replied.

Xiuxiu burst into tears.

Seeking solace, Changshun stepped outside to buy a pack of cigarettes. Despite years of hard work, he had never once smoked, but now he felt compelled to light one up to ease his mind.

Coughing violently, Changshun's first attempt at smoking left his face flushed with discomfort. Xiuxiu offered him a teapot.

"Have some water first," she suggested.

Taking a sip, Changshun's gaze met Xiuxiu's, his thoughts a whirlwind of chaos.

"Brother Changshun, I'm homeless now. You're all I have left. Will you take me with you? I promise not to be a burden. I can earn money, wash clothes, and cook for you," Xiuxiu pleaded, her eyes reflecting her desperation.

Changshun sighed deeply. How could he turn his back on Xiuxiu now?

"Don't worry. We're the only two left from our village. I won't leave you behind. From now on, you're my sister, my own dear sister," he assured her.

Xiuxiu's face was etched with disappointment.

"I don't want to be your sister."

She fidgeted with the hem of her shirt, eyes cast down at her toes, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Ahem! Xiuxiu, I need you to understand that I already have feelings for someone."

"I know, but that's not even a human. Don't let the monsters deceive you."

Changshun was at a loss for words; the belle in the Tang suit certainly didn't resemble any ordinary human.

Yet, he couldn't help but think she bore a closer resemblance to a celestial being than to any ghost or demon.

"Xiuxiu, we're both exhausted. Let's get some rest here today, and tomorrow I'll take you to where I work."

Changshun had made up his mind. With the entire village gone, he and Xiuxiu were all each other had. Once he was financially stable, he planned to ensure Xiuxiu was well taken care of and find her a good home to marry into, fulfilling their bond through thick and thin.

Xiuxiu seemed about to speak, but ultimately, she remained silent and lay down to sleep.

To save money, they shared a room. Changshun simply wrapped himself in a blanket and slept on the floor.

The night was uneventful.

The next morning, Changshun woke Xiuxiu, and they grabbed a quick bite at a snack stand. He bought some corn and buns, packed them in a plastic bag, and together they boarded the long-distance bus to the city.

Silence enveloped them on the bus as they gazed out at the undulating mountains. What should have been a picturesque view felt ominous to Changshun and Xiuxiu, like gaping maws of monstrous creatures sending chills down their spines.

Xiuxiu, perhaps unsettled, instinctively clutched Changshun's hand.

He glanced at her and, finding he couldn't bring himself to let go, held on.

The journey back felt surreal, haunted by the memory of the beautiful, enigmatic woman and her peculiar shopping list. Should he take it seriously or dismiss it as a mere joke?

Changshun's hand moved of its own accord, gently stroking the fragile wooden box that seemed ready to fall apart at any moment.

If this jade were of high quality, could it fetch a considerable sum of money if sold?

The thought had barely crossed his mind when a sudden, sharp pain pierced his head, as if jabbed by a needle, causing him to cry out.

"Changshun, what's the matter?" Xiuxiu asked, gripping his arm anxiously.

Clutching his head with one hand and his pants with the other, Changshun was in too much pain to utter a single word.

The agony persisted for a full minute before it began to subside.

Catching his breath, Changshun whispered to himself.

"Grandfather, I was wrong. I promise to safeguard this treasure and never let greed take hold of my heart again."

"Changshun, what's wrong?"

Tears welled up in Xiuxiu's eyes as she voiced her concern.

Changshun forced a weak laugh.

"No, nothing's wrong. Maybe I just didn't sleep well, or I'm coming down with a cold."

"Pfft! Fool!"

A faint, tiny voice echoed in Changshun's mind, so fleeting and soft that he thought he was hearing things.