529 The Village (2/2)
Chen Xin beamed and gave him a few banknotes.
”Sir, please lead the way.”
”This woman is actually pretty useful.”
Fang Yuan observed this scene with interest.
The big man led the five of them into the village and to an audience with the village chief.
”Wow, there are actually people who managed to find their way in?”
The village chief was a man who looked to be in his fifties or sixties. He wore a Zhongshan suit with a blue cap. He smoked a cigarette and had a sly look in his eyes.
”Looking for an accommodation? No problem, the Donghua family has an empty house. Tidy up the place and bring them some fresh food. Get a pot too…”
”No need for all that trouble. We brought our own rations!”
Chen Xin declined their offers politely.
”We'll pay too. A thousand per night, how does it sound?”
”Great, great!”
The village chief broke out into the widest grin, which made Chen Xin wonder if she had made an excessively generous offer.
”Right, what is the name of this village?”
Tantai Guihu asked.
”The entrance sign seems to say Five Ghosts Village? Was it changed from an older name?”
”Eh? Lad, how do you know about this?”
The village chief squatted on the floor and lit up another cigarette with a matchstick. He inhaled and exhaled contentedly.
”It seems like you people did not just come here for a tour. Haha...relax, we won't interfere in your affairs. In fact, we want to do business with you!”
”Hmm?”
Tantai Guihu was worried that the village chief might have misunderstood them, but a sudden thought rushed through his mind.
”Are there many graves in the mountains?”
”There are many. Many officials of days long past were buried here. Sometimes, when the rains are heavy, mud would slide off the mountains to reveal bones…”
The village chief was slightly baffled.
”Are you...grave robbers?”
”Of course not!”
Fang Yuan replied coldly.
They were professional exorcists, with absolutely no ties with those petty graverobbers.
”Oh!”
The village chief nodded, but he did not look convinced.
”Alright, we have climbed the mountains for the whole day and are tired. Could we retire to our lodgings?”
Tantai Guihu had listened enough.
”No problem. I'll get Madam Donghua to come!”
The village chief grinned, revealing his yellow teeth.
”Oh, by the way, was the Five Ghosts Village previously named...Ghost Sealing Village?”
As the prepared to leave, Tantai Guihu asked his question casually.
”Lad...you ask too many questions!”
The village chief had dropped his friendly countenance and regarded them coldly for a moment. He gave a dry laugh.
”The village was renamed hundreds of years ago. How can you expect anyone to remember? Haha…”
'Something isn't right!'
Even the most superficial Chen Xin had noticed that there was a problem.
__________
”How is it? What do you think of this village?”
Madam Donghua was a woman in her thirties with wrinkles at the corner of her eyes. She wore a flowery dress and was still a good-looking lady despite the test of time. She did not bother with the niceties and left after preparing the rooms and food.
After she had left, Tantai Guihu gathered the rest to discuss all that they had seen.
”Do you all think that there is anything wrong with this village?”
”Amituofo…”
Jiese began to speak.
”I just feel that this village conceals many secrets, with meaning to be found in every corner. The array expertise displayed over here is too profound even for me. I don't know where to start.”
”Mm, ever since we entered this place, I feel like we are in constant danger. It gives me the chills!”
Tantai Guihu creased his brows.
”It seems like this village is haunted.”
”Alright, let's eat first!”
He looked at the dishes laid out on the table and smile.
”This may be a little village, but this is good food.”
Because the preparation was rushed, there were only two vegetable dishes and one meat dish. There was also a hotpot that gave off a pleasant and mouth-watering aroma.
The Chen siblings prepared to dig in at the mention of food. However, Fang Yuan continued to sit there with an amused look on his face.
”Is there something else?”
Tantai Guihu asked gingerly.
”Yes!”
Fang Yuan had no intention of picking up his chopsticks.
”There is something very wrong with this village indeed. Have you all not realised...everyone here is dead!”
...
[1] Geomancy, also known as Feng Shui, is the art of using energy forces to harmonize individuals and buildings with their surrounding environment.