Tang Ning haphazardly 'organized' his clothes, addressing Ji Lianyan, who was inexplicably sweating on his face: "Just now, I heard someone screaming outside, and that person seemed to be—"
"It seemed to be Ji Ke," Tang Ning confirmed.
Upon hearing this, Ji Lianyan struggled to stand up from the coffin. His whole body swayed, and Tang Ning tried to support him, but with little strength, he inadvertently pulled Ji Lianyan back into the coffin.
Despite Ji Lianyan's frailty, his tall stature pressed onto Tang Ning, who managed to push him away. The blood-stained lips brushed against Tang Ning's earlobe, eliciting a choked sound as Tang Ning curled up inside the coffin.
Ji Lianyan's expression was blank, and inexplicably, he uttered, "Warm fragrance, embracing jade in full arms."
Why was he so gentle?
The warm breath scattered on Tang Ning's ear, causing him to tremble slightly. With weakened hands, he struggled to push Ji Lianyan away, "You, you need to get up."
Tang Ning felt that Ji Lianyan's condition had worsened. Before, he could fetch water, but now even getting up seemed difficult.
Oh no, judging by the deterioration of Ji Lianyan's health, he might lose his husband?
Worriedly, Tang Ning looked at Ji Lianyan, noticing the thin sweat on his forehead. Ji Lianyan didn't meet his gaze, but instead, he reached out and gently lifted the limp Tang Ning.
Despite Ji Lianyan's visibly ailing condition, it couldn't be denied that having him by Tang Ning's side brought an unusual sense of security. Especially now, staying by the side of the ailing Ji Lianyan, Tang Ning worried only about him fainting.
Timidly, Tang Ning embraced Ji Lianyan's arm. After the series of events on the wedding bed, he felt justified in such simple physical contact. However, Ji Lianyan's body stiffened for a moment, which Tang Ning failed to notice.
Unaware of Ji Lianyan's discomfort, Tang Ning focused on his surroundings, fearing some supernatural entity might suddenly appear. Eventually, he nervously stared at the door as Ji Lianyan reached out to open it, and Tang Ning hid behind him, only daring to show half of his face.
A chilly wind swept in.
Tang Ning caught a whiff of a metallic, bloody scent.
He lowered his head, spotting Ji Ke lying in a pool of blood. Fresh blood flowed continuously from his left eye, as if a crimson flower had blossomed within the eye socket.
In an instant, Tang Ning's face turned deathly pale. He gently covered his face with one hand, and Ji Lianyan softly uttered, "Don't look."
Quivering lashes brushed Ji Lianyan's palm like a butterfly.
Ji Lianyan crouched down to assess Ji Ke's condition. Grayish-white powder covered Ji Ke's face and body. Ji Lianyan dipped his fingers in the powder, first sniffing it under his nose, then licking it with the tip of his tongue.
"It's ashes," Ji Lianyan murmured.
Tang Ning dared not look at Ji Ke. He guessed that the ashes were Ji Ke's mission item, similar to the talisman Lin Yun used.
"He's not dead," Ji Lianyan strained as he lifted Ji Ke. "Considering the rate of blood loss, he's far from death."
Tang Ning immediately stepped forward to help Ji Lianyan lift and drag Ji Ke into the house. He dared to look at Ji Ke's body but avoided looking at his face.
After placing Ji Ke inside, Tang Ning followed Ji Lianyan to the adjacent utility room. They grabbed some herbs and returned. Ji Lianyan applied the herbs to Ji Ke's left eye and performed a simple bandaging.
Upon finishing this, Ji Lianyan weakened and coughed.
"Will he be okay?" Tang Ning asked anxiously.
Ji Lianyan seemed exhausted, closing his eyes and softly saying, "Leave it to fate."
"Are you very tired?" Tang Ning was afraid Ji Lianyan might fall asleep. It was still the middle of the night, and he worried that a sleeping Ji Lianyan wouldn't be a deterrent to supernatural entities.
As if sensing Tang Ning's concerns, Ji Lianyan slowly opened his eyes and whispered, "If you're thinking of sleeping, I can continue to accompany you."
Tang Ning was actually quite tired, but he struggled to open his eyes and quietly said to Ji Lianyan, "I'm worried about my cousin Lin Yun. He's used to sleeping alone, and I want to check on him."
With the black hair from the well emerging, Ji Ke almost died at his doorstep. The village seemed to be in disarray. Tang Ning was worried that something might happen to Lin Yun.
Apart from facing hardships together, Lin Yun was an effective teammate. He provided the rope that tied Uncle Wang's legs, suggested the solution to break through the ghost wall, and even informed Tang Ning about the lyrics of the ghost child's song.
"Alright," Ji Lianyan nodded in agreement.
Tang Ning glanced at the still unconscious Ji Ke in the room. They had moved him into the coffin, knowing that he might be startled if he woke up and found himself in the coffin.
"Oh, by the way, why is there a coffin in your room?" Tang Ning asked curiously.
"My health is good, so I prepared the coffin early for myself," Ji Lianyan explained as he opened the wardrobe, picking up his regular clothes to change out of the wedding attire. Tang Ning knew it was impolite to stare at someone changing clothes, but he couldn't help feeling flustered when he saw Ji Lianyan.
To ease the awkwardness, Tang Ning continued, "Why is the betrothal gift you gave me so valuable?"
"Betrothal gift?" Ji Lianyan turned around, frowning at Tang Ning.
Tang Ning hesitated, then found the wooden box in the corner of the room. Although he had discarded the pearl necklaces, the gold bracelets, necklaces, agate, and gemstones were still inside.
"It's this." He handed it to Ji Lianyan.
Ji Lianyan's expression darkened. "Who gave this to you?"
Tang Ning's heart tightened. "Lin Yun said it was from someone on your side."
"Have you used this betrothal gift?" Ji Lianyan asked sternly.
"Yes," Tang Ning realized something was amiss. "I discarded a few pearl necklaces."
"Where did you throw it?"
"I remember now, I threw it from the bridal sedan. Did I do something wrong?"
Ji Lianyan calmly said, "It's okay. We just need to pick it up and return it."
"But, but..." Tang Ning stammered, "I broke the thread, and all the pearls scattered everywhere."
Ji Lianyan remained silent for a while. "Then we'll pick up each pearl one by one."
Nervously, Tang Ning watched as Ji Lianyan changed his clothes. Ji Lianyan wore several layers, seemingly more susceptible to the cold. After changing, he also brought a set for Tang Ning. "You can wear mine; it might be a bit big."
This wedding attire was a useful item, and Tang Ning thought about taking it off. However, when he heard what Ji Lianyan said next, Tang Ning immediately took it off himself.
Because Ji Lianyan whispered, "This outfit also needs to be returned."
Ji Lianyan's clothes were a bit big for Tang Ning. He had to roll up the sleeves and pant legs several times, especially around the waist, leaving a large gap.
"Raise your hand," Ji Lianyan took out a belt and looped it around Tang Ning's waist. Although it reached the innermost hole, it was still loose on Tang Ning's slender waist.
"Why are you so thin?" Ji Lianyan asked.
Of course, it's for a flattering appearance.
Ji Lianyan seemed satisfied with this answer.
"No meat at all," his gaze fell on the curves below the waist, "eat a bit more."
Tang Ning bit his lower lip, and in his ears, he seemed to hear Ji Lianyan's excited and blurred words, praising with a slightly hoarse voice, "Lady's waist is so slender."
The voice and the face, however, belonged to two entirely different individuals.
"To whom do we return those things?" Tang Ning shook off these chaotic thoughts and turned to the thing he cared about the most.
"To a dead person."
Tang Ning's breath caught. Although he had vaguely anticipated it, hearing this answer made him freeze. He had received a betrothal gift from a deceased person, worn a wedding dress of the dead, and even sat in a bridal sedan used by the dead?
Ji Lianyan led Tang Ning out of the room, holding a red lantern hanging at the door. He whispered to Tang Ning, "Perhaps you've heard someone mention that our village is a guardian tomb village. It's said that our ancestors were all tomb guardians."
Tang Ning knew nothing at all, listening blankly as Ji Lianyan revealed the village's secret. "It's just that the time has passed so long that almost no one knows we're tomb guardians, not even the people in the village are aware of it."
"Until recently, someone discovered that tomb."
Ji Lianyan's voice lowered. "The tomb was filled with gold, silver, and jewels. The villagers had never seen such wealth. They took what they deserved from that tomb."
"Initially, everyone was delighted."
"Until gradually, people started dying, and those who took the most died the fastest."
A chill crawled up Tang Ning's spine as he lowered his head to look at the betrothal gift box in Ji Lianyan's hands. The sparkling jewels emitted a dazzling brilliance.
"And then?" Tang Ning held the betrothal gift like a hot potato, his voice slightly trembling.
"Then Ji Ke's grandfather came up with a solution. He proposed to hold a temple fair, a ritual for the spirits, for the person in the tomb."
No wonder every household in this village had red lanterns. "Is it effective?"
Ji Lianyan nodded. "It was effective at the beginning."
"At the beginning?" Tang Ning looked at Ji Lianyan, who was holding the red lantern, and there was a thin layer of melancholy in his eyes. His voice was very soft, so soft that it made Tang Ning strain to hear clearly. "After those people went to steal for the second time, it was no longer effective."
The second time?!
Tang Ning could hardly believe what he heard.
"Some people are blinded by greed. They believe that after taking the wealth from the tomb, which has been squandered for generations, they only need to hold a temple fair to gain forgiveness from that existence."
The cold evening breeze swept through the silent village, emitting a mournful sound.
Tang Ning's voice was tense. "And then?"
"Then they went to Ji Ke's grandfather for another solution." Ji Lianyan's voice remained calm, as if he were an observer with no warmth in his words. "Ji Ke's grandfather came up with another idea. He told everyone to slaughter their livestock, sprinkle the blood throughout the village, making that existence believe that people in the village had already paid a price."
This method seems to carry a sinister undertone. Tang Ning asked quietly, "Is it effective?"
"Mmm," Ji Lianyan whispered, "It was effective at the beginning."
Again, it started being effective.
"Does that mean someone went to steal for the third time?" Tang Ning asked.
Ji Lianyan shook his head. "No."
"But suddenly, everyone realized that once this method started, it was never allowed to stop."
He looked at Tang Ning, speaking gently, "Tell me, whose blood do you think we need to use to irrigate the village tonight?"