Chapter 354: Being broke is terrifying indeed

Yongzhou enters September; the mist is thin, the evening wind unending.

The courtyard is tranquil, free of worldly disturbance; the pillow is steady, sweet sleep comes.

After the month passed, Du Shanü always loved to sleep.

Taking advantage of this good time for heaven and earth to sleep, a single nap always leaves her sleeping until sky dark and earth dim, tangled in many dreams.

But today this nap, she actually slept somewhat strangely——

She dreamed she was carrying a small swaddling blanket on her back, finding herself on a narrow, endless mountain path.

Flanked on both sides by dense forest, visible within arm's reach yet forever untouchable.

Cloud shadows veil the moon; the sky darkens, the earth dims.

The forest leaves rustle, as if ghosts whisper.

Du Shanü also rarely dreams of such a dream that at first glance feels deeply netherworldly.

She could only shield the child behind her with one hand, observe with the other, and move forward carefully.

However, reality proved she still overestimated her abilities!

Du Shanü had barely taken a few steps when a heavy vibration suddenly came from behind; the ground trembled slightly, as if a massive creature were slowly approaching.

That movement was heavy and dull, advancing step by step, pressing so that even breathing felt somewhat obstructed.

Du Shanü's body stiffened, her scalp suddenly tightened, a bone‑chilling chill surged from her heart, she jerked her head around, her gaze locked firmly on the disturbance behind——

In the deep night, a colossal black shadow that blotted out sky and sun slowly stood, as tall as three people, bulky and huge, blocking all the faint light behind......

It was not some ghost or monster, but an old, heavy ledger.

Wait, a ledger?!

Is this right?

Can this be right?!

But never mind whether it's right, it seems real!

The ledger's cover was dark and black, its edges worn and curled, the yellowed, mottled pages stacked in layers, the script blurred and twisted, as if countless tiny insects crawled over it, looking especially eerie.

The massive book's body swayed slightly, carrying a dull wind pressure that pressed the surrounding weeds to rustle and fall.

Most shocking and absurd, this giant ledger actually produced two grayish phantasms, opening and closing like a mouth that isn't a mouth, emitting a hoarse, mournful howl filled with endless grievance, the sound rasping and grating, echoing repeatedly in the dead‑silent night, layer upon layer pressing down:

「No money! Give me money! 」

「I really can't hold on any longer! 」

「I am so poor, don't ignore me—I am truly so poor——

Du Shanü has seen every kind of scene......

This scene, Du Shanü truly has not seen.

Even though Du Shanü is usually extraordinarily composed, suddenly encountering such a bizarre and absurd thing still feels somewhat ridiculous.

I've seen a ghost.

Really, I've seen a ghost.

Wrong, what ghost could be more terrifying than a ledger chasing you!

Ghosts scare people to death; people who die become ghosts and can still stare at each other face‑to‑face—clearly not the slightest bit scary.

But being dunning for money by a ledger—that really means having to fork over silver!

Du Shanü felt a sudden chill in her heart, the pain twisting her face several times.

She stared at the giant ledger approaching step by step, finally unable to hold back, she made a snap decision, turned and bolted:

「Ahhh—don't chase me, don't chase me—I have no money, I really have no money—(#>дд