Chapter 3: She is here

Home is the final harbor of one's soul. No matter what troubles one encounters outside, returning home brings solace and protection.

But now…

She had entered the house!

Li Zhuiyuan, unable to wake his grandmother Cui Guiying no matter how hard he tried, ran frantically into the inner room. His siblings were fast asleep on the floor mat.

"Brother Pan! Wake up!"

"Brother Lei! Get up quickly!"

"Sister Ying! Wake up!"

He darted from sibling to sibling, shaking and shouting for each one, but none stirred, just like his grandmother in the kitchen. No matter what he did, they wouldn't wake up.

"Drip… drip… drip…"

A faint dripping sound drew Li Zhuiyuan's gaze toward the door separating the kitchen from the inner room.

The figure of Oriole—the mysterious performer—did not appear there.

"Whew…"

He exhaled in relief.

But in the next moment, he noticed a pool of water spreading under his feet, steadily accumulating and seeping along the uneven floor.

"Drip… drip… drip…"

The droplets fell on him, soaking his clothes, bringing with them an unshakable damp chill that clung to his skin.

Suddenly, two pale, cold hands appeared in his peripheral vision.

And finally…

Those icy hands gripped his neck.

Li Zhuiyuan's body trembled violently as a suffocating sensation overwhelmed him.

But just as suddenly, the choking grip faded, and the hands began sliding downward.

A shadow loomed above him. Struggling, Li Zhuiyuan lifted his head.

A figure was lowering itself toward him. Wet hair cascaded downward, clinging to his face like strands of dark silk, enveloping him inch by inch.

Until—

Darkness.

Later That Night

"Slow down, Hanhou! This ride is killing me!" complained Li Sanjiang as he shifted uncomfortably on the back seat of the bicycle, one hand gripping Li Weihan's waist and the other rubbing his sore backside.

"Uncle, stop moving, or we'll both fall!"

"Well, stop riding like a madman!"

Li Weihan had pedaled nonstop since fetching Li Sanjiang from a funeral event earlier. He wanted to get home as quickly as possible, hoping all was well with his grandson.

The narrow, uneven farm path jolted the old man uncomfortably, and at his age, the ride was an ordeal. Sighing, Li Weihan slowed down slightly as they approached their home.

"Finally!" Li Sanjiang groaned, pulling out his cigarette case. "Hanhou, let's stop for a smoke break."

"We're almost there, Uncle. Smoke when we get home."

"Why the rush? Didn't you already send Liu the Seer to handle things? Your boy's probably running around fine by now."

"Do you really trust Liu?"

"Liu Jinxia may have started as a con artist, but she's picked up some real skill over the years. People only break down where they're weakest, and she's seen enough to know how to handle trouble like this. Your past kindness to her mother and daughter likely earned you today's favor."

Li Weihan remained doubtful. He cared for his grandson deeply and would rather bear the misfortune himself if it meant protecting the boy.

"You're too sentimental, Hanhou," Li Sanjiang teased, chuckling. "Always favoring the girls first, now the grandchildren. But your daughter's certainly worthy of pride—wasn't it she who bought you this bicycle? Hard to come by in those days!"

Their banter was cut short when they reached the courtyard. Li Weihan braked abruptly.

"Guieying! Guieying!" he called out.

"Lower your voice," Cui Guiying hissed as she emerged. "You'll wake the children." She greeted Li Sanjiang, "Uncle, you're here."

"Let's check the boy," Li Sanjiang said, striding toward the door.

Li Weihan followed, holding his breath as Li Sanjiang knelt by the sleeping Li Zhuiyuan to examine him.

"Shall I wake him?" Cui Guiying asked.

"No need. The boy's fine now—no sign of lingering spirit trouble. Liu Jinxia must've resolved it," Li Sanjiang confirmed.

He listened as Cui Guiying recounted the events of the afternoon, nodding approvingly. "Your goodwill toward Liu's family in the past has paid off."

The couple felt reassured—until Zhuiyuan suddenly woke with a scream.

"Oriole! Oriole! She came here!" he shouted, pointing toward the back door.

Cui Guiying hurriedly comforted him, insisting it was only a nightmare, but Li Sanjiang's face darkened. He quietly retrieved a flashlight, motioning for Li Weihan to follow.

The two men stepped outside to the riverbank behind the house. As the beam of light cut through the darkness, an eerie silence surrounded them.

"Hanhou," Li Sanjiang muttered, "Do you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"Exactly. Nothing. No cicadas, no frogs—nothing. It's too quiet."

His words sent a chill through Li Weihan.

Returning inside, Li Sanjiang performed an unusual ritual. He poured yellow wine over Li Zhuiyuan's neck and shoulders, rubbing the boy's skin roughly as if scrubbing away invisible grime. Then, sniffing the boy's skin, his face turned pale.

"Corpse scent," he whispered.

"What?" Li Weihan asked, alarmed.

"That water spirit—it's here."

"Then we'll fight it!" Li Weihan declared, grabbing an axe.

But Li Sanjiang shook his head gravely. "You can't fight what you can't see. If it stays hidden, it will slowly destroy your home, one member at a time. It must be dealt with carefully, or the whole family will suffer."

"Uncle, you have to help us," Li Weihan pleaded.

Li Sanjiang hesitated, then nodded. "This will be dangerous, Hanhou. But we'll do what we must."

Outside, the stillness deepened, as if the very air awaited their next move.