The sky was now completely dark. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.From deep in the woods came the calls of unidentifiable birds and the loud chirping of crickets, cutting through the silence.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“You stupid old man—” Chen Peng was aggravated by the old man’s storytelling and wanted to berate him. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.But when he started to turn around, his mother quickly stopped him. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Tang Tian also shouted, without turning back herself, “Don’t look back!”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

If she had been the same person she was a month ago, she wouldn’t have believed a word that the old man had said, but after experiencing the supernatural multiple times, Tang Tian had learned to accept the existence of mystical beings or otherworldly presences that roamed the human world.

No wonder Chen Xu desperately wanted us to leave, she thought as she stared at the path that somehow had divided into two. 

Meanwhile, Chen Peng froze, no longer daring to move a muscle. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.In a panic, he hollered, “What the hell is all of this?”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Chen Yunzhi lashed out as well. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.“What is going on, old man?”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Hehehe…” The old man suddenly cackled, his voice no longer raspy, but shrill and high-pitched. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.“Go on, choose. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.If you choose the right path, you may leave with the body. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.If you’re wrong, all of you shall stay behind.’ read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

A shiver raced down their spines as they realised this was obviously not Wang Laowu’s voice. 

If the person at the back wasn’t Wang Laowu, who could it be? Who had been the one talking incessantly? Or, if it was truly Wang Laowu, could he have been… possessed? When had it happened? 

Shitou, who was lifting the front end of the stretcher, worriedly asked, “Dad? Dad? What’s the matter with you?” His concern for his father tempted him to look back, but he didn’t dare to. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.After all these years as a body fisher, he had witnessed enough supernatural occurrences to know he should never disobey the rules passed down by their ancestors. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Wang Laowu ignored his pleas, as if he had suddenly become mute. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.The entire weight of the stretcher had not fallen solely upon Shitou, so he knew his father was still behind him, supporting the other end of the stretcher. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

The others at the front started panicking, grasping their own arms to seek comfort. 

“W-we have to call the police!” Chen Peng frantically took out his phone, but was surprised to find no signal at all. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.He exclaimed, “This is not possible! There were still a few bars back at the hut!”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“What do we do now?” The elder woman cried out in distraught and she tugged on her son’s arm. 

Tang Tian shone her flashlight at the path on the left side, then shifted it to the right. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Both paths looked exactly the same to her, with wild grass covering most of the soil and overlapping footprints on damp soil that were beyond recognition. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.She had assumed they wouldn’t get lost as there was only one path leading to the riverbend and they had two locals as their guide, so she hadn’t left any markings or signs earlier.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Let’s go down the path on the left,” Chen Peng said in a forced, calm tone, attempting to disguise his fear, but his shaky voice betrayed him. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.“It’s part of our customs, right? Men to the left, and women to the right.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.1

Without thinking, Lin Luoyan tightened her hands around her son’s arms, digging her long nails into his skin. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Chen Peng yelped with pain. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.“Mom! What are you doing?”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

He paused as if he had suddenly realised his insensibility for saying such words without considering his own mother. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.“This won’t do…” he muttered, then his eyes glinted as an idea came to mind. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.“Why don’t you go ahead, Secretary Chen? Help us check which path is the safer option.” Chen Peng was aware that Tang Tian wouldn’t listen to him, and he didn’t trust her with his life either, so he picked on Secretary Chen instead. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.He was the perfect scapegoat if anything were to happen. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.He had never been fond of Secretary Chen, who had started working by Chen Yunzhi’s side at a relatively young age. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Even though his capabilities and his loyalty to the company were greatly valued by Chen Yunzhi, Chen Peng planned to get rid of him the moment he inherited the company from his father. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Before Secretary Chen could respond, a loud, angry voice thundered across the silent forest, “NO!”

Tang Tian raised her eyebrow, while Chen Peng and his mother froze at Chen Yunzhi’s reaction. 

“Boss.” Secretary Chen lowered his head. 

Chen Yunzhi sighed and said, “We don’t know what danger lies out there. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.There is no need to let anyone take the risk alone.” As the most authoritative figure in the group had made his stance clear, no one else dared to object otherwise. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Lin Luoyan’s hands that were still grasping Chen Peng’s arm tightened further, while the young man patted her hands comfortingly. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.A hint of disgust flashed through their eyes. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Wang Laowu remained quiet throughout the commotion, not responding to his worried son’s pleas. 

We can’t continue standing here. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.If this goes on, we’ll be trapped forever, read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Chen Yunzhi thought anxiously. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.He raised his voice, loud enough for Tang Tian who was all the way at the front to hear. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.“Xiao Tang, you’ve been leading the way all this while. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.I’ll let you make the decision. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Whichever path you choose, we’ll follow.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

He paused, his tone lowered and now filled with love and affection. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.“Xu’er is a good child. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.He entrusted you with his dying wish and so I trust you too. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.If we make it out of here, the Chen family will surely treat you well.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

It was clear as day, what he was trying to convey. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.If Wang Laowu had been the one entrusted with the decision, he would probably have raised the price sky-high. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.As it was, Tang Tian kept silent. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.She was on her guard, exceptionally wary as she felt the presence of something unpleasant prowling nearby. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.She needed to find a way out of this mountain, regardless of whether they asked for her help. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“I need to think.”

Tang Tian’s eyes surveyed the two paths carefully, while she chanted desperately in her mind, Chen Xu, please come out!

She tried to summon him by repeatedly thinking his name, to no avail. 

Perhaps he doesn’t want to show himself in front of Chen Peng and Lin Luoyan when they’re standing right behind me. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Or perhaps he can’t materialise because the river and mountain deities are preventing it.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Tang Tian waited for another few minutes. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.No freezing cold finger trying to write a message on her back, either. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Hurry up!” Chen Peng and his mother both urged. 

There’s no other way, Tang Tian thought resignedly and sighed. 

Intuition told her to go with the path on the right. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Possibly due to her having literally died, if briefly, she was now more sensitive to the Yin aura. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.As she observed the path on the left, she could see a translucent haze swirling around it, radiating a familiar, eerie cold, as if it was leading them straight to Hell. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“We’ll go right.” She lifted her foot and started walking with quick, decisive steps. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Everyone else followed suit in silence, finding their way using the flashlights on their phones, the only source of light in the pitch-black forest. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

After a while of treading through the seemingly never-ending forest, they finally saw something—the old, rundown houses on the west side of the village. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.They had made it out of Graveyard Mountain. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“We got out!” 

All of them panted heavily as relief washed over them, their backs drenched in cold sweat.

Wang Laowu and Shitou, who were the last to arrive, stopped beside the Chen family members and placed the stretcher on the ground. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Wang Laowu suddenly widened his eyes, as if he had just woken up from a dream. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.“Weird…How did we get out of the mountain so fast?” read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Tang Tian glanced at the time displayed on her phone screen. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.She recalled that the one-way trip to the riverbend had been at least half an hour, including the trek up, then down, the mountain path. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.But their way back to the village had taken only 20 minutes and led them through the forest without needing to hike up any slopes, as if they had somehow passed through the centre of the mountain.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Shitou gently shook his father’s shoulders. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.“Dad, don’t you remember what happened? You were being very creepy in the forest!” He hurriedly summarised Wang Laowu’s weird behaviour and eerie voice, but Wang Laowu merely frowned, equally confused and dazed. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“What are you talking about? I was really exhausted trying to help you carry this dead body. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Besides, it was so dark in the forest, I was too busy focusing on the path I’m treading on, I barely have any strength to come up with stories to scare you people.” read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Wang Laowu glanced at the forest behind him that was shrouded in pitch darkness. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.His years of experience dealing with dead bodies naturally meant that he was less easily fazed by unnatural occurrences than most people. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.But now, he shuddered as a shiver shot down his spine. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.His raspy voice was laced with fear as he said, “The village elders often say that deities do exist, presiding over rivers and mountains. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.The deity that watches over Graveyard Mountain is nourished by the countless bodies buried there since ancient times. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.It has always been our tradition to bury the dead as soon as possible after they pass, and over time the corpses rot away, seeping through the coffins and becoming nourishment for the trees in the forest. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.It’s said that the taller and healthier the trees were, the more corpses you would find buried beneath them.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“If we don’t leave the mountains by nightfall, we would likely find ourselves trapped in a Ghost Snare. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.In the past, kids that snuck onto the mountain at night to play have been known to go missing, and no one in the village has been able to find them ever since.” The old man gazed at them with an odd expression. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.“If what Shitou said was true, how did you people live to get out from there?”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Anxious eyes flitted to Tang Tian. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Carefully choosing her words to give off an air of light-hearted nonchalance, she said, “Oh, it’s probably because I’m going to die soon that I’m able to see things ordinary people can’t.”