I watched quietly; this should be considered a family matter.
Grandpa tapped the ash off his pipe and stood up abruptly, saying, "We can't delay any longer. Let's go to her now. After midnight, your son's soul may return, but it will be difficult for him to go back into his body."
Du Zhanxiong hesitated, "But what if Yu Li refuses?"
"It depends on whether she has the ability," Grandpa said firmly, then asked Du Zhanxiong to find a black rooster in the village. When the rooster was brought back, Grandpa directly twisted off its head with a sea bowl, the rooster struggled violently, but it was in vain. After filling half of the bowl with rooster blood, he walked out with it.
It was already past eight o'clock at this moment, with a gust of chilly wind blowing by the small river. The nights in the countryside were much colder than in the city, and by the riverside, it was even colder.
I hadn't brought much warm clothing, so I huddled on the ground, rubbing my arms to keep warm.
This time, Grandpa didn't follow the usual conventions. After calculating the time, he suddenly said it was time just as Du Zhanxiong was about to take out a cigarette.
I instinctively stood up; this time, Grandpa didn't instruct me to do anything. Instead, he reached into the sea bowl, dipped his hand in rooster blood, and sprinkled it into the river.
As the rooster blood fell into the river, it sizzled like hot oil meeting water, producing a crackling sound. I leaned over to look and saw the river surface churning like countless small fish. The scene was quite spectacular.
Grandpa continued to sprinkle the rooster blood, causing the entire river to boil uncontrollably. Du Zhanxiong had never seen such a sight and was amazed, saying, "Uncle, do you have some kind of magic?"
Without a word, Grandpa glared at him. I held back a smile and said to him, "This is to summon the female ghost."
Du Zhanxiong nodded, seemingly understanding. After all the rooster blood was sprinkled, a piercing scream erupted from the depths of the river.
As the sound continued, the river water seemed to be struck by an invisible giant axe, surging up along the shore. We couldn't dodge it in time and were soaked to the bone by the river water.
After the water receded, a woman in a white dress stood in the center of the river. I thought of her as a woman at first, but at this moment, she was not as I had seen her before. She looked like a swollen corpse, with her dress tattered, revealing horrific skin covered in wounds, appearing extremely grotesque.
Du Zhanxiong staggered back, and Yu Li let out a cackling laugh, saying, "Du Zhanxiong, are you afraid?"
"I'm not afraid," Du Zhanxiong shook his head repeatedly. "No matter how you look, I have always loved you. But why are you so foolish? You are seeking death for no reason?"
"You're lying!" Yu Li yelled, clutching her head. As her emotions intensified, the river water began to flood.
"I am not lying. I have always spoken sincerely to you," Du Zhanxiong said loudly.
Yu Li lowered her hands and said, "I have turned into this ghostly form now, but you still love me? Your words are insincere; you just want to save your son."
"Li Li!" Du Zhanxiong hurriedly took a step forward, pointing at his chest. "If you don't believe me, I can take out my heart and show it to you. My feelings for you have never changed."
"Enough! I don't want to listen!" Yu Li shook violently and suddenly glared at us, saying menacingly, "All you men are liars, not a single good person among you. I won't believe in any of you anymore. I want you all to die!"
Her hostility has reached its peak, the river water soaring into the sky like giant waves, suspended in mid-air, ready to come crashing down on us, sweeping us into a deep ravine at any moment.
"What a fool, really asking for it!" Grandpa swiftly opened a wooden box and took out a palm-sized peach wood sword from inside. He bit his finger and smeared the blood on it, then made a move to rush down to the already dry creek.
Yu Li laughed coldly, her long hair flying, showing no intention of dodging. My heart sank, she was seeking death. If she died, Du Feng would be impossible to find. Killing Yu Li would be like killing Du Feng.
Just when I was at a loss for what to do, Du Zhanxiong beside me suddenly pounced down as if he had been injected with chicken blood. This guy really could run fast.
Just as the peach wood sword was about to pierce Yu Li's chest, Du Zhanxiong suddenly blocked in front of her. With a 'puff', the peach wood sword pierced into Du Zhanxiong's abdomen.
Grandpa asked coldly, "Do you know what you're doing, boy?"
Facing me, Du Zhanxiong frowned deeply and, under the dim moonlight, looked very fierce, "I know. Two years ago, I failed to protect Li Li. Even if I die this time, I can't let her get into trouble."
This scene was straight out of a melodramatic TV show. I found it hard to handle that it was happening right next to me.
Grandpa sighed deeply and pulled out the peach wood sword, saying something about committing sins, then threw the sword aside. Du Zhanxiong didn't hurt himself fatally, the peach wood sword only pierced an inch, just drawing a bit of blood, like he was fine.
Yu Li's flying hair fell instantly, and she looked at Du Zhanxiong in amazement, "Zhanxiong, you did this for me..."
"Li Li, like I said, even if it means my death, I will protect you." Du Zhanxiong stumbled over to touch Yu Li's almost rotting face, "You are still the same as before, you haven't changed at all."
"Ah..." Yu Li screamed wildly, taking a step back, avoiding Du Zhanxiong's hand, shaking her head, "I have changed, I have become unrecognizable, I am no longer the Yu Li you knew!"
" No, you haven't changed. In my heart, you've always been beautiful. Even if you are covered in scars now, I will continue to love you as before."
This poignant scene had a bit of a taste of Qiong Yao. I turned away and wiped my eyes. I wasn't touched to tears, but was brought to tears by the sourness.
"Zhanxiong!" Yu Li's voice suddenly softened, and the river water suspended in mid-air slowly descended, immersing Grandpa and the others in the slowly flowing creek.
"Li Li, stop making mistakes, as long as you spare my son, I will give you the life you want." After saying this, Du Zhanxiong suddenly snatched the peach wood sword from Grandpa and stabbed it into his own chest.
Grandpa didn't react at all, and I yelled.
Although I didn't ask for Du Zhanxiong's life the first time, this time, it was in his chest. As long as it went in, even if he didn't die, he would be in agony.
At the critical moment, Yu Li suddenly flashed in front of Du Zhanxiong and hugged him tightly, and the peach wood sword instantly entered Yu Li's back.