Chapter 108 (The Hundred and Eighth Chapter)
Before his eyes closed, Pingyu saw several girls walking towards him in groups. They were carrying wild fruit, and the girl in the lead was holding a bowl made of leaves...
A drop of water fell from the tip of a banana leaf, landing on Nüba's chapped lips. Pingyu opened her eyes, and a drop of water also landed on her eyelid. The pair of legs in the well were now in Pingyu's arms, and Wang Tao came to her side from the doorway.
She covered her mouth in shock, staring at the limbs in the girl's hands. She hadn't expected there really were severed limbs at the bottom of the well in her home. The woman nearly vomited, and asked in a hoarse voice, "Is that all?"
"Yes, right away."
Before she could finish speaking, another cold raindrop landed on Pingyu's brow. The girl froze, then slowly looked up at the sky. The afternoon sun had been obscured by a drifting shadow. Rain continued to fall, pelting people and the earth.
It's raining.
...
Ping Yu felt like she had overlooked something. The moment she released her spiritual power to unleash the demon, the demon reminded her, "Your paper doll."
Holy crap!
Ping Yu was so shocked that she was ejected into the air. Holding the half-human body, a chill ran through her: "We're doomed!"
Seeing this, Wang Tao became anxious: "What's wrong? What's wrong? Is there something wrong with the rain?"
“The one who went out with your mother-in-law was a paper doll I made,” Ping Yu said very quickly. “It would melt if it got wet.”
She put away the part of the female demon again, pondering in her heart: it was impossible to rush to the mountain now, and she couldn't stay at the Wang family's house. It was perfectly clear that day, not a single cloud in the sky, so why did it suddenly start raining heavily in the afternoon? She could only blame the unpredictable weather. The rain grew heavier, and she called for Wang Tao to go back inside first. Ping Yu didn't dare imagine Wang Xu's reaction when she saw her melt; she would definitely think of her as a demon and incite the villagers to get rid of her!
After much thought, Pingyu realized that Zhang the Widow's house was the only place she could go. Her house was remote, and she was perceived as aloof by the villagers, so it wouldn't be easy to find her there quickly. Now that she had recovered her legs, her next step was to find the oldest person in the village to get more details. Zhang the Widow, who was of the same generation as Wang Xushi, would surely know more about these matters. Pingyu said goodbye to Wang Tao and rushed out the back door. No sooner had she left than the front door opened.
Wang Tao's heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly went out to greet them.
Sure enough, a large crowd stood outside the house. The leader, Wang Xushi, looked both shocked and terrified. She and Pingyu had been gathering wild game on the mountain, chatting and laughing happily until it suddenly started raining. Wang Xushi intended to bring the girl down, but when she looked up, she saw a horrifying scene: raindrops, like needles, pierced the girl's body, yet no blood seeped out. Wang Xushi then realized the girl was flattened; her features dissolved and became murky with the water, forming puddles of black liquid that flowed downwards. Finally, the girl's legs folded inwards, and the voice calling her "Grandma" sounded distorted and harsh, as if someone had twisted it. Finally, "Pingyu" dissolved into flowing pulp in the snow.
monster!
Wang Xushi had only one thought in her mind: either she had bought a demon, or this girl had ulterior motives for entering her home! Thinking this way, the pretty "Ah Mao" didn't seem like a poor person's child at all, and she wasn't interested in the greasy meat soup. In her haste to buy a human sacrifice to replace her daughter-in-law, she didn't pay much attention to the details. Demons and evil spirits both liked to eat the flesh of pregnant women, or even cut off unborn children to eat.
Wang Xushi grew increasingly frightened, but thankfully Wang Tao in front of her was unharmed. She shook off the pulp she was holding and asked Wang Tao, "Where did that demon child go?"
Wang Tao pretended not to know and lazily yawned: "What demon child? Mother, why did you bring so many people home!"
“Go back to your room and get some sleep,” Wang Xu said without suspicion. “Don’t come out unless you have to. Things haven’t been peaceful these past few days.”
Having said that, the woman turned away. The day of the human sacrifice was approaching, and hearing of the evil spirits causing trouble, the neighbors all came to help. Wang Xu thought for a moment, then instructed the man beside her, "Take a few live chickens and some jars of wine; let's go find the village chief's old man."
.
On the other side, someone climbed into the open window of Widow Zhang's house, which was meant for ventilation.
She was pouring water when she saw Pingyu and nearly dropped the kettle. Widow Zhang glanced out the window, and after confirming that no one was near her house as usual, she quickly locked all the doors and windows. She said to Pingyu, "Why are you here? People outside say that Wang Xushi has been possessed by a demon, and they're all looking for you."
"I'm here to help out."
With a flash of the bracelet, Nüba appeared on the ground. The girl took two steps forward, obscuring the image of her legs and body writhing and piecing together. Since Widow Zhang had come to the Wang family to snatch the child, the villagers would eventually find her here. She smiled at Widow Zhang: "I'll be leaving soon, but I have something I want to ask you."
"You're asking?"
“I want to know where the village legend originated,” Pingyu said. “Sister Taotao said it was at the village chief’s house. I can’t just walk around and visit each house without any trouble, so could you please give me directions, Auntie?”
“I advise you not to go,” Widow Zhang said, and Ping Yu stared in astonishment: “Why?”
“Since the Wang family calls you a monster, they will definitely go to the village chief’s house.”
Widow Zhang said, “There is no sorceress in the village. The old man from the village chief’s family is the only one in the village who can read incense, ask questions, exorcise evil spirits, and summon souls. If you go now, it will be like walking into a trap.”
Ping Yu's lips twitched; he was completely surrounded by enemies.
"Has there never been any other shamans in the village?" Pingyu asked.
After saying that, Widow Wang added as if she had thought of something: "The human sacrifices were also presided over by him."
The village's legends about drought demons include accounts of Taoist priests exorcising them; since ancient times, power has always been linked to strength. That old man has lived so long; if he wasn't a cultivator, then lingering in old age and not dying would make him a demon. As the only person in the village with the ability to understand the supernatural, he must know some inside information.
This trip is something I have to go to, whether I want to or not.
Just then, some noises came from outside.
Ping Yu suddenly fell silent, and Widow Zhang pushed the window open a crack and peered through.
She glanced at him before turning away, her eyes filled with anxiety: "Wang Xushi has brought a few people, but not many. She's not someone to be trifled with. How are you going to avoid her?"
Before Pingyu could answer, someone poked her calf. Turning around, she saw Nüba handing her something.
"Are you all better? How are you feeling?" Pingyu looked down and saw a small, round bead. She couldn't immediately recall what it was, so she asked, "Where did you get this?"
"The one in your bracelet," Nüba said, "don't you know it's your own thing? It's a water-repelling pearl."
She went straight to the well in Widow Zhang's yard, and the woman watched as the girl jumped into the well.
She felt as if all the blood in her body had frozen, and she stood there motionless. A short while later, Wang Xushi arrived, looking extremely aggressive. Upon seeing Widow Zhang, she demanded, "Did you try to take my child?"
Widow Zhang snapped out of her daze and snorted coldly. She slammed the door shut, leaving Madam Wang feeling humiliated.
The water flowed past Pingyu's ears, and she could clearly hear herself being thrown into the water like a stone, the splashing sound never ceasing.
This water-repelling pearl was found by Pingyu in his parents' room. After that day, Nezha gave it to Lin Dong and Xue Yue'e for protection. All the magical artifacts given to Nezha by Taiyi Zhenren had been recognized as his own. Nezha, who was on his way down the mountain to find Jiang Ziya, felt the water-repelling pearl being activated.
He kept all the surviving members of the Lin family in the Five Lotus Pond. Could it be that something happened to Pingyu?
His brows furrowed with a sinister glint, and he immediately channeled his spiritual power into the spirit pearl.
At the same time, a bright red light shone brightly within the bead.
The expected coldness did not come, which made Pingyu slowly open his eyes.
She felt herself sinking, but in the darkness, a long ribbon, like a rope to save those in distress, descended from the sky.
It shone brightly, forcefully capturing Pingyu's entire gaze.
Ping Yu tentatively touched it, murmuring in a daze, "...The Universe Ribbon?"
The instant her fingertips touched it, crimson light exploded like fireworks. Powerful and scorching spiritual energy surged forth from the pearl's surface, rushing to squeeze between Ping Yu's fingers. She felt an undeniable force pull her towards it, instantly drawing her into a warm embrace. The crimson ribbon woven from light transformed into a hairband, drifting down. The light coalesced into a human form, like the crimson figure from her dream. Sound shouldn't travel in water, yet the boy's words echoed in her mind:
"Pingyu..."
He sighed softly, somewhat helplessly: "What have you been doing again?"
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