ctually rummaging through his backpack, and he hurriedly said to me: "Don't be afraid, we have a divine weapon in hand."What kind of artifactI looked at him with hope, but then, he pulled out a bottle...I sneaked a glance. The woman at the door was wearing a simple ethnic wrap dress and speaking in a dialect I couldn't understand.

"Brother Long, should we follow this person's car" I whispered.

Long Xiaoge pondered for a moment, then spoke in a low voice: "Observe further. The aura around here is chaotic, and there are strangers. Be careful."

Old Zhang hurried back, whispering to me, “Little girl, do you know a bit about these things I’m really at my wit's end… Just now, my sweetheart told me that someone harvesting mountain goods saw that my residence in the forest farm had collapsed, and told me not to go there. As an outsider, it’s inconvenient for me to live in the village. This small bamboo hut is my temporary lodging on the outskirts of the village. I can't stay here for long… And I suspect this place is haunted. If you know a thing or two about these matters, could you please help me exorcise any evil spirits”

"...Where is the exorcism"

"Over at the farm, I...well...to be honest with you, I stashed some savings there. I came here this time to use the business as a cover and transport those savings back. Unexpectedly, the atmosphere feels eerie upon arrival, and I'm too afraid to go alone. You see, we're fellow countrymen, it's fate that we happen to meet in this vast world! Could you possibly accompany me I'll grab my things and leave right after."

"How did you get here" I asked.

"Huh I have a car, it's parked at the entrance of that lumber yard over there. I can drive to nearby Langwa Bon, where I have a transportation truck boss who could take me back...Oh, and he could take you all as well!" he hurriedly said.

If you could hitch a ride back with someone, wouldn't that be much easier At least you wouldn't have to walk the mountain roads while fearing pursuit.

Lao Zhang was very anxious, he begged us to accompany him: "I came here in a hurry this time and didn't bring anyone. Now I am short of manpower, the people here are also xenophobic, and I don't know where the men have gone... Two, for the sake of our fellow countrymen, please go with me. After that, I will send you back to the border, absolutely free of charge, okay"

He pleaded with me repeatedly, and I was moved a little.

The beat-up car we commandeered is almost out of gas. Brother Long wants to take the backroads to get to the corpse, but there's a problem... transporting a corpse requires two people!

He's definitely planning to rope me in as temporary labor, teaching me how to dig graves—I wouldn't dream of learning such a creepy skill.

Long Xiaoge didn't want to waste any more words. He stood up and asked, "Where is the shed in the forest"

Old Zhang was overjoyed. He immediately grabbed his hunting rifle and pushed open the back door of the small bamboo hut.

Outside the back door, there was also a round protective stone placed. Although he didn't know much about it, his alertness was still commendable.

People often feel that their ideas are suppressed, but they mostly just complain verbally and never think about making any changes. They always think these are feudal superstitions.

But luck, as a concept, lacks any "scientific" basis.

Old Zhang may have escaped a demonic attack by burying this stone.

Long Xiaogē is also a person from the yin-yang circle. He is good at dealing with corpses, but it is unknown if he has the ability to deal with demons and ghosts.

I'd heard of Laotian red sandalwood before, but I didn't know it was one of the tribute woods. Old Zhang, who makes a living doing this kind of business, wouldn't stop talking about his experiences in the trade.

I was getting impatient and grumbled, "Merchants are really willing to risk their lives for money, aren't they Even after the house collapsed, they still go back to dig out their belongings. They're not afraid of danger at all! What good is money if you don't have life to spend it"

"Tut tut tut, little girl don't say inauspicious words, this place is too eerie, I need to get out of here quickly..."

"Did you give up on your sweetheart"

“What am I supposed to do She’s a widow, and I haven't treated her badly these years. She can't possibly leave here and come back to my country with me… The political situation here is chaotic. Where would I get a legitimate channel for her to marry and immigrate Our country's immigration policies are very strict.” Lao Zhang said helplessly: “At most, I'll give her a large sum of money and let her arrange her life herself.”

I shrugged, too lazy to care about his personal affairs.

The old forest was dense with towering trees, their thick canopy blocking out the sun. Even though it was only afternoon, I already felt a chill as the shade seeped into my skin.

I rubbed my goosebumps and whispered, "Brother Long, I feel something's off... It's too weird, how come it's so chilly already this afternoon"

Long Xiaogē turned his head to look into the depths of the forest. Inside, it was grayish and murky, as if a giant chasm was spreading within.

Old Zhang's house was on the edge of the old forest, where there was a clearing with several buildings that looked quite opulent by local standards. The yard was large and likely used as a logging camp to temporarily store timber.

The tracks of the vehicle on the ground had been washed by rain and baked by the sun, turning into a hard dirt road.

There was a two-story wooden house that had collapsed halfway. Lao Zhang said this was his residence.

"It's all collapsed halfway, you go in carefully, you might get buried alive." I couldn't help but frown.

"Don't worry, don't worry, this is built with activity board materials. I opened a secret room underneath, just go in and move the stuff out. Even if this house collapses, no one will be crushed."

"You can't kill a person, you'll be buried with them yourself! Look at me and my little brother, both so thin. We can't save you with our bare hands, just fend for yourself." I said unhappily.

"I'll be out as soon as possible, don't worry!" Old Zhang scratched his head and said.

He walked in, talking as he went, along the collapsed side of the house. We weren't feeling brave enough to join him, so we just stood at the doorway and looked around.

This lumberyard is surrounded by a fence of wood and barbed wire, with sandbags piled up in some places. It looks like a small military outpost.

"...I think this Lao Zhang isn't simple. With this forest and village radiating such an eerie atmosphere, how dare he come back What important family property could make him stay here, yet absolutely have to take it" I whispered to Long Xiaoge.

"...Something's coming, just ask and you'll know." Long Xiao turned his face towards the forest and suddenly let out a cold laugh.

"What is it" I quickly looked up.

Deep in the forest, something was swaying back and forth.

I probably spend too much time on my phone and computer, so my eyesight isn't that great. It took me half an hour to realize it was a human figure.

"Are you villagers from Cai Shan who come to sell goods How can I ask them if they speak the language" I rolled my eyes.

Long Xiaogē didn't speak. He walked into the half-collapsed house and searched through the pile of wood.

This seems to be the living room. I see that the ceiling lamp has smashed into the coffee table, making a mess.

Long Xiaogē fished out a dusty A4 paper from the tea table's shards of broken glass, and said with a sneer, "Use this if you must."

"You're going to... draw talismans" I suddenly understood.

He bit his finger and drew some symbols I couldn't understand.

I stood aside and looked up. The figure in the woods was slowly walking towards us. As it got closer, I could see that the person was hunched over, seemingly with difficulty in their legs, and walking very slowly.

He hovered at the edge of the woods, then changed direction and vanished among the thick trees.

"Huh What's going on, didn't that person see us"

I puzzled over my question to Long Xiao Ge, but before he could answer me, I faintly heard a voice in my ear: "…run quickly, go back the way you came."

Who is that speaking againl you I always feel someone talking outside my door! It's driving me insane! I heard it again today! I'm going to beat this lunatic to a pulp!""What did you just hear" I asked.“Isn’t that right! Just...