Chapter 7: The Bloody Feast (Part 2)
Volume One: Village of Still Waters
"You... you want to move into Axiu’s house?"
Village Chief Zhang was stunned by Li Yin’s request. He lowered his voice. "Is my hospitality lacking? Axiu’s place is so small, and you—"
"Not at all. You’ve been more than generous," Li Yin lied smoothly. "But we’re here to experience rural life. Your hospitality is too refined—it lacks authenticity."
The flimsy excuse wouldn’t fool anyone. The chief had clearly let them stay due to some misunderstanding, but they had to roll with it now.
The chief’s expression suddenly shifted to realization. "Ah... I see, I see."
"What do you mean?"
"I understand now. But Mr. Li, remember this." Chief Zhang’s tone turned grave. "If Axiu mentions hauntings or villagers disappearing around Bing’er’s death anniversary—don’t believe her. It’s nonsense. Yes, some people vanish that month, but it’s just coincidence."
"Coincidence?"
"Everyone wants to move to the city these days. Young folks think staying in the village means no future. They sneak off to chase fortune, then blame ghosts so no one hunts them down."
The logic was flimsy. Li Yin sensed deliberate concealment.
"Regardless... don’t trust a word Axiu says." The chief’s voice hardened. "She was too close to Bing’er. It’s warped her mind."
Leaving the chief’s house, Li Yin grew certain: the chief knew more than he let on.
And Axiu... was she hiding something too?
As they neared Axiu’s home, a bespectacled young man—Liang Renbin—stormed over.
"You’re those city outsiders?" He glared. "What business do you have here?"
Only respect for the chief kept his hostility in check.
Luo Hengyan recognized him—the man who’d pulled Axiu back during this morning’s confrontation.
"You’re... Renbin, right?"
"Liang Renbin." His reply was icy. "My father’s the village doctor, close with the chief. I don’t know why he’s humoring you, but Axiu’s brother warned me—you’re trouble. Leave now. These ghost stories are nonsense!"
Then he noticed their luggage.
"Wait... you’re moving in with Axiu?!"
"Yes," Li Yin confirmed.
Renbin exploded. "Who the hell do you think you are?! You can’t just—"
"What’s it to you?" Luo Hengyan shot back. "She your property?"
"She’s my fiancée!" Renbin grabbed Li Yin’s collar. "Get out of this village now, or I’ll break your legs!"
Li Yin remained calm. "A doctor’s son should show mercy. We’ll leave in a month. No trouble."
Renbin swung a fist—but Li Yin caught it mid-air. "Don’t push me."
They couldn’t afford to show weakness. If the villagers united to expel them...
Before Renbin could retort, two figures approached: Chief Zhang’s children, Hongwu and Suyue.
"Renbin! Stop!" Suyue pleaded.
"Suyue, you grew up with Axiu too!" Renbin seethed. "How can I let these strangers near her? You know how I feel!"
Suyue turned to Li Yin. "Please... no one here wants you."
"I do."
Axiu’s voice cut through the tension. She glared at Renbin. "Since when am I your fiancée? Who gave you the right to threaten anyone?"
"Axiu, listen—these people are dangerous—"
"Unlike you?" She spat. "I remember what you did to Bing’er."
Her accusing finger swung to Hongwu. "You tried to rape her! Called her a bastard, said her ‘dirty blood’ craved it!"
Hongwu paled. "Lies!"
"And you, Suyue!" Axiu’s voice shook. "You stood by when she suffered! Didn’t even visit when her mother died!"
Suyue hung her head, silent.
Li Yin watched, struck by Axiu’s depth of feeling—more than grief. It was vengeance.
Renbin, aghast, turned to Hongwu. "You... you actually—?"
"She’s insane! Next she’ll say Bing’er’s ghost is haunting us!"
Renbin ignored him, begging Axiu: "I’ll make amends! Today’s her death anniversary—I’ll kneel at her grave! Just... don’t shut me out!"
Axiu’s smile turned grotesque. "Prove it."
She pointed to the distant waterfall. "Jump from there. But first, cut out your tongue. Do that... and I’ll believe you."
No humor. Only malice.
Li Yin’s blood ran cold.
"You... can’t mean that," Renbin stammered.
"No? Then don’t speak of love."
Her hatred was palpable. Even Luo Hengyan shivered.
Meanwhile, Ge Ling barricaded herself at home, trembling.
"I killed someone... I killed someone..."
Her husband, Song Tian, frowned. "What’s gotten into you?"
"We... we need to burn paper money for Bing’er," she whispered, eyes darting to the window.
"You’re buying into Axiu’s delusions? A few disappearances don’t mean ghosts! Hell, people whisper Axiu’s the killer—but how could she manage that?"
"I... I saw..."
"Enough! Though... those city folks might connect to the letter the chief got last month. After reading it, he banned ghost talk entirely."
"What letter?"
"You never pay attention! Maybe that’s why he’s housing them. Now rest—I need the outhouse."
Outside, Song Tian entered the latrine.
As he squatted, cold liquid splashed beneath him—not water, but blood.
Chunks of flesh, organs... a half-severed head swirled up.
He screamed, yanking up his pants, slamming into the door—locked from outside!
"Aling! Open this damn door!"
Then he turned.
A bloodied hand emerged from the pit.
Then a head—dripping, hair plastered over its face—rose slowly...