Hearing this, I couldn't help but laugh, "Auntie, why do you have such a rich imagination, just like your Fat Dumpling?"
Fat Dumpling's mother looked embarrassed, and then said in a stern voice, "Xiao Mu, stop joking with Auntie. Fat Dumpling is missing, and Auntie is worried. It's really inappropriate for you to joke about it."
"Okay, okay." I immediately stopped laughing and said seriously to Fat Dumpling's mother, "Auntie, please call Fat Dumpling's father and also ask Uncle to bring a few more people from the town, preferably from families with new graves on this hill. Tell them to bring hoes and shovels. We have some work to do tonight."
Fat Dumpling's mother asked, "What do you mean?"
I was a bit helpless. Fat Dumpling's character must have been inherited from his mother. Why did she have so many questions too?
I said, "Auntie, you'll know when the time comes. Hurry up and make the call so we can find Fat Dumpling early."
"Okay." Seeing that I wasn't saying anything else, Fat Dumpling's mother finally stopped asking and went to make the phone call.
At this point, I looked at the other graves on the whole hill and felt more and more uneasy. As Fat Dumpling had said, there were quite a few new graves on this hill, and most of them had been buried for no more than half a year.
However, these new graves were really strange.
Generally, newly buried graves would have a strong ghostly aura and a lingering resentment towards the world. After all, who would want to leave right after death?
And for those who had just died, their souls had just left their bodies, so their energy would be the strongest.
But oddly enough, all the new graves on this hill seemed to be lifeless. I couldn't even feel any ghostly aura or a hint of resentment. These new graves gave the feeling as if they had been buried for decades.
I guessed it right. These graves, as Fat Dumpling had said, might have a problem.
Shortly after Fat Dumpling's mother finished the call and returned to my side, she said, "We're lucky, Fat Dumpling's father is nearby. Xiao Mu, do you really have any idea what you're doing? We came to find Fat Dumpling, so why do you want to dig up a grave?"
I was a bit helpless again and replied to Fat Dumpling's mother, "Auntie, digging up the grave must be related to finding Fat Dumpling. As for the specifics, even if I told you, you wouldn't understand. Just get Fat Dumpling's father here quickly."
"I'm here." As soon as I finished speaking, there was a sudden rustling in the woods, and then four or five figures walked out, with Fat Dumpling's father at the head. As for the others, they seemed to be people from the old town, and several of them were carrying hoes.
Fat Dumpling's father came forward and said, "I happened to run into them doing farm work nearby, so I asked them to help me search. I've already searched near the hill, but I couldn't find any trace of Fat Dumpling. I don't know what's going on with this kid. Speaking of which, what do you need us for?"
Though Fat Dumpling's father's words seemed casual, and even a bit cursing, I could see the worry in his eyes.
Hearing Fat Dumpling's father, Fat Dumpling's mother immediately pointed at me and said, "Xiao Mu asked you to come and bring hoes to dig up a grave."
"Dig up a grave?" Upon hearing these words, the faces of everyone changed immediately. The others who had come with Fat Dumpling's father even raised their hoes and pointed at me, saying, "What's going on here? We're looking for a missing person, and instead of doing that properly, you want to do something unethical. If others find out, they'll skin you alive."
As everyone's gaze focused on me, I remained calm and said, "Don't worry, I'm just going to bring someone. That's why I'm here."
"Looking for people is one thing, why are you digging up graves? This is simply nonsense, we won't tolerate this. By the way, who are you, and why are you spouting nonsense?" Among the several people brought by Pang Dun's father, someone pointed at me and said.
This person was clearly not just speaking, but actually insulting. However, I silently listened and didn't argue, calmly saying, "Is that so? But I think you should be grateful to me instead."
While speaking, I suddenly recognized one of them. In a small town like this, I know about any deaths that occur. About a month ago, this person's father had died, and his grave was buried on this hill.
Recognizing this person, I immediately said to him, "Right, your old father's grave is buried on this hill, right? Shouldn't we dig it up and take a look?"
Upon hearing this, the person immediately got angry, "Damn it, where did this nonsense kid come from? Say another word and I'll tear your mouth open."
To be honest, I generally have a good temper. After all, as a person of cultivation, one should clear the mind and limit desires, which is the key to longevity. But at this moment, being cursed at every time I spoke made me feel like I couldn't hold back and wanted to explode.
As soon as I spoke, I immediately received a torrent of abuse, which no one would enjoy. What's more, the language used by this person was truly vulgar.
There's a saying: "When you can't bear it any longer, you don't need to." Finally, I couldn't bear it and exploded, "Fine, if you've got the guts, come and do it. But will you dare to dig up your old man's grave? If I'm not just spouting nonsense, then I'll tear your mouth apart."
"Hmph." This person immediately rolled up his sleeves, "You little brat, talking about my old man, today I'll teach you a lesson on his behalf."
With that, he actually lunged forward as if to strike someone. At this moment, Pang Dun's parents suddenly stopped him and hurriedly said, "Let's talk things out, let's all calm down."
This person still glared at me with his eyes, then suddenly said, "Alright, with an old acquaintance present, I shouldn't act, so as not to be accused of bullying. Instead, I'll dig up my father's grave. If you're just talking nonsense, I'll beat you to death on this grave hill today."
As he spoke, he fiercely picked up a hoe and headed towards one of the new graves. I silently watched his back and didn't pay any attention, just letting out a long sigh in my heart: "Mortal beings, despite my good intentions, to think it would end up like this, truly pitiful."
At this point, Pang Dun's parents also looked at me with an unpleasant expression.
Before long, the sound of digging up the grave started to echo throughout the entire hill. I also walked to the side of the grave mound, silently staring at the gradually uncovered grave. After a while, the grave was finally completely dug up.
However, after seeing the situation inside the grave mound, everyone present was stunned. Because inside the grave, the coffin was open, but there was no body inside.
At this point, the person who had earlier threatened to teach me a lesson began to wail, "What's going on? Where did my dad's body go?"