Chapter 369

We waited for two whole days.

Over the past two days, the temperature in Five Blessings Town has been climbing; the town itself is still bearable, but the ground temperature on the Pearl Plate River side can hit fifty degrees Celsius, and ghost flames constantly flicker in the deep ravine. At night, the whole area glows an eerie green, which is quite frightening.

What's even more frightening is that at night, the sound of a baby crying constantly comes from across the river.

The Pearl Plate River is quite wide; across the river lies a low hill covered with large patches of mixed trees and overgrown weeds.

And that baby's crying seems to be coming from the woods, sometimes near, sometimes far.

We hadn't thought much of it at first, guessing it might be some kind of bird call.

However, on the second night after the Pearl Plate River ran dry, a large black bird burst into a home in the southern part of town that had just had a newborn baby, smashed through the window, and carried off the infant who was not yet a month old.

Fortunately, Huang Fan, who was on night patrol, happened to pass by, transformed into his true form, leapt up and grabbed the bird, rescuing the child; the bird escaped, leaving only a few black feathers behind.

According to Huang Fan, the large bird was about the same size as the blue hawk that had suddenly appeared over Five Blessings Town earlier, its talons were exceptionally strong, and most terrifying of all, it actually had a ghostly face.

That thing was clearly after the baby!

Huang Fan led a group in pursuit; after passing through the area of ghost flames over the Pearl Plate River, they saw mist rising over the hill across the river, so thick they couldn't see their own hands in front of their faces.

Waves of a baby's crying came from the woods ahead; Huang Fan worried that another infant might have come to harm, so he followed the sound deeper into the forest.

The crying came and went; Huang Fan felt he had been walking for a long time yet couldn't reach his destination. He suddenly realized something was off, turned to head back, but kept getting lost in the woods, unable to find his way out.

Fortunately, Hui Moqiong, who was taking over his shift, was alert and rushed over immediately, bringing him out.

But Huang Fan ultimately lost two of his subordinates.

Since that night, we've strengthened our defenses, guarding not only the ground and underground but also the sky.

In Five Blessings Town, every family with a child lived in fear.

Some even packed up their whole families and fled to the town hall of Five Blessings Town.

Before, the townsfolk feared Mei Lin Shuang, but after everything they've been through, they now trust her more than ever.

This feeling is too wonderful.

Li Qingying kept urging me: "Xiao Jiu, bring Mei Lin Shuang in; she'll get along just fine with Wan Wan."

I shook my head: "First, we don't have the extra energy to set up a memorial tablet for her; second, matters in Five Blessings Town are settled, so she might want to go on to reincarnation."

Li Qingying scratched his head: "That's true—once her great grudge is avenged, her obsession should have mostly faded; going to the netherworld to register and then reincarnate is even more urgent."

Having said that, she still couldn't help sighing, looking regretful over losing a talent.

After waiting left and right, two nights later someone finally arrived from the Southern Ridges.

To our surprise, Sergeant Yun and Wang Pan not only came themselves but each brought a team of ten; Li Qingying immediately prepared the guest rooms in the backyard of the pawn shop.

Sergeant Yun and Wang Pan said that only the two of them would stay in the pawn shop, while the others could just set up tents by the river.

That won't work at all!

In the end, Chen Fu Ying said, "Let them stay at the tea house—it's spacious, closer to the Pearl Plate River, has plenty of supplies, and they can be self-sufficient."

And that was settled.

Despite their dusty journey, Sergeant Yun and Wang Pan showed no sign of fatigue; after quickly filling their stomachs, they headed straight for the Pearl Plate River.

Liu Junyan and the others went as well.

I had wanted to go too, but over the past two nights I've been feeling unwell, so Liu Junyan told me to rest in the pawn shop.

That very night, I had that dream again.

I dreamed I was standing on a yellow sand road lined with red spider lilies, when a wedding procession came toward me, exactly the same as before.

The difference was that when I appeared there, my clothes had changed.

My pajamas turned into a bright red wedding dress.

A red veil was lowered over my head.

Even in my hand I suddenly had a length of red silk, with a large red embroidered ball tied in the middle, while the other end of the silk was held by a man's hand.

I yanked off the red veil, tossed the red silk aside, and without hesitation struck the man with a palm.

No need to ask—I knew exactly who he was.

Besides Feng Xianqiu, who else could it be?

But for some reason, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't bring that palm down.

Feng Xianqiu stood opposite me holding the embroidered ball, a sneer on his lips: "A Li, quit the struggle—you're my wife, we're betrothed; do you really want to murder your husband?"

He raised his hand to grasp my uplifted wrist; a cold breath hit me, and I felt a powerful pressure wash over me, making my whole body tremble uncontrollably.

When this fear arose, I was completely bewildered.

I've never been this afraid of Feng Xianqiu before—what's wrong with me?

Feng Xianqiu seemed pleased with my reaction; he lifted my chin with a half-smile and said, "A Li, plotting to kill your husband will earn you heavenly thunder and lightning."

I gritted my teeth and snarled, "Feng Xianqiu, what have you done to me?!"

The last time this happened, I wasn't so passive.

Later, Xue Feng appeared just in time and sent me back.

But this time, the situation has completely changed, heading toward a terrifying, uncontrollable direction.

"What have I done to you?" Feng Xianqiu gave a sinister smile. "Of course I'm fulfilling our marriage treaty—coming to take you as my bride."

Saying that, he stepped back and gave my back a big push, making me stumble toward the lowered sedan chair door.

I don't know if that jab aggravated my back, but a fierce pain shot through my shoulder blade, so intense it jerked me awake from sleep.

I lay in bed, eyes wide open, gasping for air.

The fear from the dream still lingered in my body, refusing to fade.

What on earth is happening to me?

Could it be that as my soul becomes more consolidated, my older sister's influence over me grows stronger?

No, that's not right.

My sister lacks spiritual sense; her perception isn't that sharp.

So only one possibility remains... that is, as the fusion becomes more complete, the Birthbound Curse's influence on me increases.

Feng Xianqiu summoned me to the past tonight; he is testing.

He is testing his control over the Birthbound Curse, using its feedback to gauge how far my soul fusion has progressed.

What is he scheming?

If Di Luan truly comes from the Feng Clan, could Di Luan be Feng Xianqiu?

No, Di Luan cannot be Feng Xianqiu.

No one has ever mentioned Feng Xianqiu chanting sutras or reciting Buddha; he bears no trace of incense.

So the greatest possibility is that Di Luan and Feng Xianqiu know each other; they have long been cooperating...