Chapter 280: Evil Spirits Wed

Lang Xiao Ba had an excellent memory; he'd come this way several times on duty before and remembered all the place names and routes.

Behind Miao Yu stammered, about to tell Lang Xiao Ba where to go, when the other already asked: "In this direction, into Xiao Yu Shan, there are two large tombs occupied by malevolent spirits."

"One is the General's Tomb, the other is Iron Coffin Slope—neither should be these places."

"There are four other locations, mentioned in legends or local records, where large tombs exist."

"One is in Zou Zhu Gou, one in Lao Hui Ling, one in Shan Qi Zhuan, and the last is in Lacquer Tree Forest."

Lang Xiao Ba finally asked: "Which one?"

Behind Miao Yu opened his mouth, stunned that the moment they arrived, the other had already guessed the general range.

Xu Yuan's subordinates truly have no shortage of talent!

"It's Zou Zhu Gou," Behind Miao Yu answered.

Lang Xiao Ba spurred his horse forward: "Follow me."

After entering the mountains, everyone moved cautiously.

Today's almanac forbade: daytime dreaming, marriage, sexual intercourse, and gazing into mirrors.

Xu Yuan asked from behind: "Are there any ghost brides or rats hereabouts?"

Lang Xiao Ba suddenly remembered and slapped his forehead: "Thank you, my lord, for reminding us—we must take another path."

So they reached a small stream ahead, and Lang Xiao Ba led everyone to turn left.

"The original route was shorter, but along it lies 'Lao Shu Kou,' home to a nest of rat malevolent spirits."

"These things enjoy easy profits—not by robbing travelers, but by marrying off their daughters."

"Whenever someone passes by, they blow and beat drums, forcing their rat daughters upon the travelers."

"They extort a bride price or demand a wedding feast."

"If the traveler refuses or can't pay, they force him to sign a debt note, specifying repayment time and interest."

"Every coin the traveler earns after leaving will mysteriously vanish until the debt and interest are fully repaid."

"If the money isn't paid within the deadline, on some night, his heart and liver will be devoured clean by his rat bride!"

Everyone shuddered in relief—thankfully, my lord remembered.

Otherwise, today forbidding marriage, this nest of rats would be Fu Daxiong!

Passing through 'Lao Shu Kou'… ten deaths, no survival.

After detouring, they arrived at Zou Zhu Gou an hour late.

As noon neared, Behind Miao Yu said: "Let's eat some dried rations first, restore our strength before entering."

Another half-hour passed before they finally entered the mountain ravine.

The ravine floor was covered in wild boar footprints.

After entering, Behind Miao Yu was again lost; though the gambler admitted the ancient tomb lay within Zou Zhu Gou, this ravine stretched twenty to thirty li long—where exactly?

Lang Xiao Ba led everyone up the hillside: "Don't walk in the ravine—you might run straight into a whole herd of wild boars."

"Who knows which one of these boars has already become a malevolent spirit?"

After walking seven or eight li along the hillside, Lang Xiao Ba looked around at the terrain and pointed to a grove ahead: "It should be inside there."

Behind Miao Yu glanced at it—the grove's edge scattered with stones, shaped as if worked.

Likely leftover stone from when the tomb was built.

Behind Miao Yu nodded inwardly—it must be right.

He was about to move forward when he suddenly saw Xu Yuan signal him.

Everyone stopped, hearing the distant sound of drums and flutes carried by the wind.

A wedding procession was approaching from the valley below!

At the front were four musicians, draped in red silk, a large red flower on their chests.

They blew their suona with all their might, the sound deafening.

Behind them came the gong and drum players, dressed the same.

But these were no humans—they were giant black-furred rats with red eyes and long tails.

Besides them, dozens more giant rats carried sixteen redwood chests.

These were the bride price.

Each chest was heavy; two fat, man-tall rats carried each, stumbling as they walked.

The bride price was no light burden.

In the center of the procession, the groom was a pig-headed humanoid, two curved fangs protruding from its mouth, its body covered in bristles like steel needles, clad in a bright red wedding robe, over ten feet tall, its body immensely heavy—its pig hooves left deep imprints in the earth.

It grinned joyfully, laughing with a bloodied maw, waving its palm-sized hands, urging the procession: "Hurry up! Don't make the bride wait!"

"Play louder, or I'll twist off your rat heads and serve them to the bride as wine!"

The rats fell silent, redoubling their efforts.

Suddenly, the noisy wedding music filled the air.

The procession headed straight for the grove on the slope.

Xu Yuan and Behind Miao Yu exchanged glances, both faces grim.

Do malevolent spirits marry too?!

Produce a litter of little malevolent spirits?

"Go!"

Everyone immediately fled, but the malevolent spirits moved astonishingly fast—after only dozens of zhang, they were already upon them.

Everyone scrambled to hide behind boulders and trees.

Today forbids marriage—this nest of rat malevolent spirits is Fu Daxiong.

This wild boar can actually command them to escort the bride... clearly even more vicious!

The wild boar looked impatient, urging the rats: "Take long strides! Do not delay the auspicious hour!"

Soon they reached the spot where Xu Yuan and the others had just been; the wild boar suddenly twitched its nose, its two small eyes flashing with ferocity: "What is that? Get out here!"

Xu Yuan and the others dared not move.

The boar spirit flew into a rage, casually grabbing a boulder the size of a millstone beside it and hurling it over with a whoosh.

The one hiding in that place was Qin Ze.

Qin Ze drew his blade and slashed the boulder head-on.

Boom!

The boulder exploded, containing a terrifying power within.

Qin Ze spat out a mouthful of fresh blood and was smashed several zhang away.

The boar's eyes gleamed: "A living human! Hahaha, a delicious meal delivered right to my door!"

It grabbed a large rat by the scruff that was accompanying it: "Quick, quick, quick, catch them all, alive! We'll add them as a dish at the wedding banquet later!"

That large rat was covered in black fur with gray patches, also thinner and more emaciated than its companions; its rat face was lined with wrinkles, appearing extremely old.

The boar grabbed it and, just like the stone, threw it directly over!

The boar's strength was too great; the old rat stumbled upon landing.

It wore a ceremonial robe of a master of ceremonies, its two dark-red small eyes scanning the surroundings.

Everyone felt that the stones and vegetation blocking their view had turned transparent.

The old rat's gaze lingered on each person for a moment.

Then it pulled a piece of beast skin from its bosom, used its other claw to pinch a long whisker at the corner of its mouth, and yanked it out with force.

The pain made the old rat's face twitch violently.

Next, it used this rat whisker, dipped in its own saliva, and began writing on the beast skin: "Today, Lord Boar undertakes a great matter; this old man, honored by Lord Boar's esteem, serves as the master of ceremonies, managing all affairs of the ceremony; all guests must obey this old man's orders!"

This was a command!

"This old man shall now add these living humans to the guest list."

It started with Qin Ze: "What is your name?"

"Qin Ze." Old Qin, in a daze and unable to refuse, answered honestly.

The old rat then used the rat whisker to write Qin Ze's name on the guest list.

A cold, sinister power rose from an unknown place, drilled into Old Qin's body, and coiled around his soul!

(End of this chapter)