At dawn.
Zhang the blacksmith got up early to prepare for the day's work.
He first kissed his youngest son's cheek, then took the steamed buns and porridge his wife brought him, and ate them silently under her gaze.
The flickering candlelight illuminated this small home.
"I'm done eating..."
Like all men of this era, Zhang the blacksmith was not good with words. He put down his bowl and prepared to leave.
"You forgot your things again!" his wife said reproachfully. "Come back earlier, don't tire yourself out like that."
Zhang the blacksmith grinned, but didn't actually smile. He nodded and said, "Hmm..."
Squeak~
He pushed open the door, and starlight, moonlight, and morning light fell on his face. "By the way... that job as a helper at Master Zhu's house, if you think it's too tiring, then don't go."
The wife said, "That won't do! Even though they treat the servants badly, they're still getting paid..."
“I said I’m not going, and that’s final. Listen to me!” Zhang the blacksmith said decisively.
He took a few steps forward, paused, and said without turning around, "Business at the shop has been picking up lately, so you can just stay home and take care of the kids!"
Then he shouldered his tools and hurriedly stepped into the still-dark sky.
"I'm going!"
"Come back early, I'll make plain porridge again tonight!"
A gentle smile graced his wife's face.
In the morning light.
Zhang the blacksmith carried his load on his shoulder and walked briskly towards the city.
He felt his mood was like the first light of dawn breaking on the horizon.
Being a rough man, he didn't know that this feeling was called—hope.
"Cough cough..."
Just then, Zhang the blacksmith's vision went black, and he felt like he was about to faint.
He didn't think much of it, shook his head, and continued walking forward.
Thump!
The baggage he was carrying fell to the ground.
He had only taken a few steps when Zhang the blacksmith collapsed to the ground, bleeding from all seven orifices, and soon turned into a pool of blood.
The distant sky gradually turned a pale white, and the sky became increasingly bright.
The burden of supporting his family fell to the ground, and blood slowly soaked through the clothes his wife had painstakingly mended...
There is a difference between human hope and the rising sun.
The latter does not bring about the former; even if those who have hope die, the sun will still rise.
But when a person dies, not only does hope disappear, but everything else vanishes.
...
At the same time that Zhang the blacksmith died mysteriously.
Within a radius of a thousand miles, eight other people also died in a bizarre manner.
These nine people include fathers, husbands, sons, and daughters... They are just the most inconspicuous among the masses.
Perhaps their deaths will be hastily concluded by the government, remaining as a bizarre murder case, gathering dust in the archives.
They all have one thing in common—they were born in the yin year, yin month, and yin day!
...
The first light of dawn.
Majia Village.
A dilapidated house.
This is the home of Ma Laosan, a notorious local thug.
Ma Laosan, who had abducted and wantonly played with a village girl yesterday, was fast asleep.
"I'll fight you to the death!"
Old Man Ma's eyes were bloodshot as he stealthily made his way towards Old Man Ma's house, brandishing a wood-chopping knife.
Yesterday, after his daughter was kidnapped by this villain, she ran back disheveled, kowtowed to him, and then went to throw herself into the well.
Now, he wants to avenge his daughter!
Anyway, I'm an old man, so at worst I'll pay with my life!
He wiped his eyes, gripped the wood-chopping knife tightly, and quietly pushed open the door to Ma Laosan's house.
"Give me back my daughter's life!"
Old Man Ma, panting heavily, aimed at the person on the bed and slashed down hard.
Just then,
Ma Laosan, who was lying on the bed, suddenly opened his eyes. His eyes emitted a blood-red light, and a pair of fangs slowly grew out from the corners of his mouth.
It was like a monster, completely devoid of any human characteristics!
"roar!"
With a low growl, Ma Laosan pounced on Ma Laohan like a wild beast.
*Sizzle!*
A splatter of blood landed on the broken window.
...
The sun is setting.
In Wheat City.
Xiaoqian was captured by the Soul-Summoning Bell.
Mo Xie and Fa Lan walked down the street.
"They're dead! The entire village of Majia is dead!" A cocky, slovenly thug scrambled into the city.
Fa Lan and Mo Xie exchanged a glance and exclaimed, "Hey, this guy..."
The thug ignored him and kept running forward.
Someone died? Tell me the details!
Mo Xie grabbed his collar directly.
The thug roared in anger, "You son of a bitch..."
Snap!
A hard slap made his eyes clear up instantly.
Seeing Mo Xie's murderous aura, the thug was so frightened that he collapsed to the ground, pleading, "Please spare my life, brave warrior."
Mo Xie said calmly, "I want you to tell me what happened."
A group of people gathered around.
The thug rambled incoherently, "I went to the village to find my good brother, and I found the whole village dead! Arms and legs missing... something ate their flesh, and the ground was covered in blood..."
Mo Xie asked, "Is it that person?"
Fa Lan said with a solemn expression, "Resurrection through possession, cannibalism for rebirth... I reckon it is!"
Mo Xie nodded and kicked the thug in the butt. "Take me there!"
The thug said with a bitter face, "Ah... I heard there are ghosts inside, and government officials are there too..."
Mo Xie shrugged, the demonic sword was drawn and landed in his hand, held against his neck, "Is my sword still sharp?"
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