Flowers of the Departed Souls - Chapter 27
Luo Xiaofeng nodded sorrowfully. “Actually, I should have suspected her much earlier. At the very least, her movements became increasingly strange. If I had spent more time at home, I might have found out sooner. The most terrifying thing is that she even eats rotten corpses. So, that night, as soon as I got back, I slipped into her room while she was in the restroom to search for things. I finally found this photo. I always wondered why there was a photo of Grandpa and my parents in the hall, but not one of her. Turns out she was afraid of being exposed. But she found me, so she brought me here. My grandma, my grandma…” She suddenly couldn’t speak anymore and burst into tears in Chi Ziming’s arms.
Chi Ziming stroked her hair. “When did you realize Grandma had been replaced?”
Luo Xiaofeng thought for a moment, then suddenly cried out, “It must have been the day before the first case happened at the inn! That afternoon, I went home to bring Grandma a bowl of freshly brewed chicken soup. I noticed she was very weak during that time, so I wanted to nourish her. But that day, when I went home, she wasn’t in the house. And strangely, I found a pool of blood on the floor. I was terrified, thinking something had happened, so I called out for Grandma. But then, Grandma came in from outside, holding a chicken in her hand. I looked at her, and seeing she was alright, I let out a sigh of relief. I asked her about the blood on the floor, and she said she had just killed a chicken, and the blood got everywhere. At the time, I thought it was very strange—she killed a chicken? But then I looked at her, and her spirits and body seemed much better than before. I thought she had recovered to her previous healthy state, so I didn’t think much of it. That blood, that blood—that pervert must have killed my grandma! And now, I suspect that the two eye-gouging suicides at the inn might also be related to her. Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence?”
The more Chi Ziming listened, the more supernatural he found the matter. He wished Kelou were here. Thinking of Kelou, he asked, “Kelou and Uncle Luo Bozi came here to look for you and told me to wait at the cave entrance. I saw they hadn’t come out for so long, so I came in. Have you seen them?”
Luo Xiaofeng shook her head. “Oh no, they might have been trapped again by this—this old woman.” Luo Xiaofeng originally wanted to say “pervert,” but when she thought of her face, she felt like she was insulting her grandma. However, her own grandma might have been killed by this impostor. Thinking of Grandma, her heart was filled with conflicting pain. She picked up an object nearby and smashed it against the door. “You old hag, you old monster, who are you? Why are you disguised as my grandma? What did you do to my grandma?! Speak up! If you dare, come in and kill me too!”
Chi Ziming desperately pulled her back. At this moment, a faint sigh came from outside. “Xiaofeng, although I am not your grandma, I am also related to you by blood. You must not curse your elders; you should know to respect the old and cherish the young.”
“Cut the crap, who are you? What did you do to my grandma?”
“I am your grandmother’s younger sister. You should call me Great-Aunt. My dear great-niece.” Great-Aunt? Why had Grandma never mentioned having a sister? But a sister like this really wasn’t worth mentioning.
The old woman continued, “Your grandma is over eighty. At this age, she has seen all the partings and reunions of this world, experienced all the things one must experience in life. There’s nothing to regret about her passing.”
“If you have no regrets, why don’t you go die? You old wicked hag who deserves to be cut into a thousand pieces, let us out!”
“Call me Great-Aunt, and I might consider it.”
“Go to hell.” The thought of Grandma made Luo Xiaofeng furious. It seemed Grandma had truly been harmed by this old witch.
“Then, you two can wait to become like those two corpses inside, heh heh.” Then there was no more sound from outside. For a moment, Luo Xiaofeng said nothing more, and Chi Ziming didn’t blame her. He knew that even if Luo Xiaofeng called the old woman “Great-Aunt,” she might not let them out. Luo Xiaofeng, however, still had too many questions. For example, why did she kill her equally old sister, or where did she hide her? Why did she appear here, and why did she eat rotting corpses? And it seemed she might be closely related to the carrion vultures. And the most important question was, were the deaths of the three guests at the inn related to her? And where exactly did Kelou and Luo Bozi go? No, it should be, what exactly did she do to them? They came in, and she was sitting there; it was impossible for her not to see them, yet they were gone, and she was still here.
So many questions made Chi Ziming extremely agitated. And now, he and Luo Xiaofeng were trapped here. Why did she trap them here? Was everything the work of this seemingly elderly old woman? Chi Ziming thought carefully; this possibility was unlikely. Although it might be related to her, it might not all be her doing. So, behind her, there must be someone else, or a group of people.
But what now? Were they truly going to sit here and wait for death?
Luo Xiaofeng’s eyes held an apologetic look. “I’m sorry.” Chi Ziming smiled. “Silly girl, sorry for what? We should be thinking of a way to escape this secret room now.”
Staying in the same room with two corpses could drive anyone insane. At this moment, Luo Xiaofeng looked towards them again. “I don’t know who these two people are. They don’t look like villagers. The village doesn’t have a large population now, so you’d at least recognize them. But these two are completely unfamiliar.”
Chi Ziming thought for a moment. “Look, there are so many jade artifacts and burial offerings here. Could these two people have been here to steal things? They got trapped and starved to death, or were killed by someone here.”
Luo Xiaofeng gave him a cold look. “You’re really suited for writing mysteries. I wish you one day become famous not only in China but globally, becoming the next Arthur Conan Doyle or Agatha Christie.”
“Alright, just let me be Stephen King or Bentley, or Edgar Allan Poe. I still prefer things with a touch of mystery. Sigh, don’t get sidetracked. I don’t want to die here, like these two rotting corpses.”
For a moment, Luo Xiaofeng also fell silent. Both of them searched everywhere for an exit, but this secret room was actually naturally formed within the cave. All around were thick walls. The only exit was that door, which was sealed shut.
“It’s over. Now, we’ve truly become burial offerings for these jade artifacts, with two companions.” Luo Xiaofeng suddenly deflated.
That sentence, however, reminded Chi Ziming of something. He meticulously examined the place. It was actually quite large inside. The interior was divided by railings, and the arrangement of these jade artifacts was very particular, not just for neatness. The walls were carved with patterns of human-beast goddesses and some strange characters. He softly called out Xiaofeng’s name. “Look, does this place look like a tomb?”
“Tomb?” As she said these two words, Luo Xiaofeng felt her speech slurring slightly. She carefully picked up the jade bracelets, jade beads, and necklaces to examine them, then looked around. She was a bit shocked. “I think so too. And it looks very, very old. Moreover, the tomb owner might have been a woman, a very prestigious woman, or perhaps the wife or daughter of a renowned family. Look at how many burial offerings there are; ordinary people wouldn’t have this many.”
Chi Ziming nodded. “It should be from the Liangzhu period.”
“Liangzhu?”
“Yes, Liangzhu was distributed in the Taihu Basin, mainly in Zhejiang and Jiangsu, and its implicated and extended areas were very vast, almost occupying half of China at that time. In ancient times, the monarch Yao passed the throne to Shun, and Shun passed it to Yu. But in Yu’s era, great floods appeared, and the nation of Liangzhu, it should be said, existed at that time. Great floods occurred then, very similar to the great floods recorded in the Bible. You’ve heard of Yu controlling the floods, right? Later, the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties appeared, and Liangzhu has a history of 5300 years. Later, Liangzhu mysteriously disappeared. There are many reasons for its disappearance, and experts have different theories: some say floods, some say changes in topography, and some say that after the floods, plagues ravaged the land, many people died from diseases, the city was abandoned, and later, due to crustal movement, it was buried underground. I just never thought that inside this cave, it turned out to be their burial ground. Perhaps, five thousand years ago, this was also a grassy field.”
Luo Xiaofeng nodded thoughtfully. “You certainly know a lot. It seems that beneath this Vulture’s Lair is the Liangzhu ruin. Oh, by the way, since it’s a tomb, these two dead people might be grave robbers, and I think the owner of this tomb must be buried inside.”
Chi Ziming’s eyes lit up. Both of them were excited. They almost forgot their dangerous situation. “Yes, maybe we can see what people looked like five thousand years ago.”
“Sigh, Brother Ziming, please. Thousands of years have passed; even the bones would have rotted away.”
“Maybe we can find a skull and use technology to restore it.”
“If you find it, I’m not looking. Oh, I remember there’s a large box over there that looks quite like a coffin, but it seems a bit too delicate.”
The two rushed over to the large box. The box was dark red, very heavy, about the length of an adult. Its surface was carved with very delicate and intricate patterns. At first glance, it didn’t really look like a coffin, but the lid seemed very tightly sealed. No matter how they pushed, they couldn’t open it.
Chi Ziming found a Luoyang shovel and an axe near the two corpses. When the lid was finally pried open, a strange fragrance emanated from inside. The moment the lid was opened, Luo Xiaofeng turned her face away; she didn’t want to see those rotting bones.
However, Chi Ziming’s gaze froze. Inside lay a lifelike woman, as if asleep. But this woman was clearly Ke’er.
28. Luoyang Village and the Divine Bird Cult
All the people in the Divine Bird Fortress were busy preparing for the most important assembly of the year. These few days, there was probably no time to deal with members who tried to escape the fortress.
On one hand, Guangming worked alongside them, diligently performing his duties like any devout member. On the other hand, he tried every possible way to contact his colleagues; otherwise, all his efforts would be in vain.
Guangming finally got his chance. The cult needed to send a few people to purchase supplies for the assembly venue. The items needed were numerous and fragmented. Fortunately, Guangming, in his early days of catching thieves, used to run all over the place and was very familiar with what was available where. So, when he overheard their conversation, Guangming politely walked over. “Buying lanterns, are you? There’s a shop next to Zhongyang Market that makes delicate items at affordable prices. And there’s another shop on South Street that specializes in sacrificial supplies; you can find many things there.”
The person in charge of procurement, named Shen Liu, said, “You seem pretty familiar with this. What did you do before?”
Guangming chuckled dryly. “I used to hang around there a lot, occasionally picking people’s pockets.” The people nearby roared with laughter. “So, you used to do such a highly skilled job. Alright, then you come with us. You lead the way.”
So Guangming followed them out of the Divine Bird Fortress to buy things in the city. When they arrived at the lantern shop, the lanterns they needed were all of a single type and were quickly ordered. Guangming couldn’t find an opportunity. At the sacrificial supplies store, while they were picking out items, Guangming said, “I’m going to relieve myself first.”
He entered the shop, looked around to ensure no one followed him, then found a public telephone booth and called his superior. He made it quick: “I’ve found the cult. Their den is in that burned village north of the city. If you go straight down an alley, you’ll see it. The deaths of those tattooed people are all related to them. I’ve already infiltrated their organization as an undercover agent. Tomorrow night at ten o’clock, they will have their most important assembly. All the masterminds will be present. You can catch them all then. If there are any changes, I’ll find a way to let you know. If not, proceed as planned. I have to hang up; they’re watching closely.”
As Guangming emerged from the phone booth, he saw Shen Liu standing behind him. His heart sank.
Shen Liu’s eyes were as dark as a poisonous scorpion, reminding Guangming of Tang Xieqiang’s death. His voice was equally cold. “Who were you—calling?”
“Oh, my mother… she’s always been unwell; she has diabetes. But I can’t always be by her side. Sigh, I’m truly useless.”
Guangming just wanted to lie and see if he could get away with it for now. If he couldn’t, he’d reveal his identity immediately. He had already reached this point; there was no other way.
“So, even a thief has filial piety? I truly couldn’t tell. Let’s go back, brothers are waiting for you.” Shen Liu’s expression held a teasing tone, but he seemed much more relaxed. Guangming let out a long sigh of relief, but he wasn’t sure if Shen Liu had overheard their conversation. He would take it one step at a time. Guangming had initially looked around carefully. It was possible Shen Liu had just arrived. Regardless, he should always remain vigilant. He didn’t want to make a pointless sacrifice.
After purchasing the items, they walked out. The car was parked at the intersection of the main road. They had to pass through an alley, which was crowded and chaotic. Guangming was genuinely afraid someone would recognize him. One of Murphy’s Laws: If you worry that something will happen, it’s more likely to happen.
Still at the alley entrance, someone shouted, “Thief!” He saw a shifty-looking man holding a wallet turn and run. Guangming instinctively rushed forward, but halfway, he suddenly realized his current situation. For a moment, his mind was in a fierce conflict: What should I do? What should I do? That thief was a habitual one. If he caught him, he would definitely recognize him as a police officer, and if he said anything, everything would be over. All his hard work these past days would be for nothing. But he glanced at the old woman wailing in distress, hardened his heart, and chased after the thief, knocking him down, snatching the wallet back, and leaving.
Shen Liu and the others were still standing there. When he returned the wallet to the old woman, she seemed to recognize him. “You’re that—” He cut her off. “Yes, I used to live next door to you when I was little. I have an urgent matter, so I’m leaving first.” He wished he could disappear right then, but Shen Liu slowly said, “You really don’t look like a thief; you look like someone who catches thieves. Let’s go, brother.”
Guangming kept explaining from behind: “No, that old woman was so good to me when I was little. She didn’t have a son, and she almost treated me like her own. Whatever was good to eat or fun to play with, she’d bring to me. She loved me so much, how could I just watch her get robbed by a thief?”
Shen Liu grunted, not responding. A skinny man next to them said, “You, don’t cause us trouble. If things get out of hand, our heads won’t be safe.”
Guangming quickly bowed and nodded. “Yes, yes, I won’t cause any more trouble.”
But in his heart, he was already cursing. I’m playing the grandchild for these sons of b*****s. Just you wait, I’ll make you all cry for your daddies and mamas, see how long you can be smug. As Guangming cursed internally, he still maintained a respectful facade. Indeed, this matter was of great importance, and the people he was facing were not good-natured. If there was any mistake, not only would the plan fail, but his own life might also be at stake.
Upon returning, he saw Cai Yilian. She was also busy, but that day she wasn’t wearing her strange black robe; instead, she wore a neat black suit. She was directing several women in cleaning. When she saw him, her gaze swept past him, as if he were just another familiar stranger here. This was the first time Guangming had seen her since that day. In his heart, Guangming truly hoped he could help her, or at least, successfully deliver that letter to Chi Ziming.
As he passed by Cai Yilian, Guangming softly said, “Chi Ziming is in Luoyang Village. Even if his suicide attempt fails, he might still be in danger.” He walked straight past her, probably about forty meters away, then stopped and looked back. He saw that Cai Yilian’s face was exceptionally pale. He knew his words had had an effect.
Sure enough, sometime in the evening, Cai Yilian led him out. She stood with her back to him, her voice cold. “You know Chi Ziming?”
“Yes, he looks very dejected, and his mental state seems very poor.”
“Can you find a way to make him leave that village?”
“Why?” Cai Yilian seemed very wary of this village, but she didn’t directly answer the question. “This village is very ominous. He must leave, immediately.”
“Very ominous? Is that the only reason? If you can’t be more specific, I can’t help him. But that place is indeed very ominous. Three out of the four guests at the inn where Chi Ziming is staying have died, all in very strange ways, and he is the last one alive.”
Cai Yilian suddenly turned her head, her face looking even paler. “How did they die?”
“Two committed suicide after their eyes were gouged out, and another died after his blood was completely drained by Departed Soul Flowers.”
“Departed Soul Flowers?” She almost gasped uncontrollably, her face changing drastically. It was no longer her usual cold expression, but one of extreme agitation and anxiety.
“You know about Departed Soul Flowers too? It seems you know this village very well?” Guangming asked cautiously. Cai Yilian looked at him. “Three years ago, I went to this village with Chi Ziming. Actually, I had an ulterior motive; Chi Ziming didn’t know. At that time, I discovered many strange things about that village, and it was even more terrifying than I imagined. But I didn’t dare to speak out. Chi Ziming thought I was too sensitive. But one day, I passed the bishop’s hall and inadvertently heard the name Luoyang Village again, a very familiar name to me. Although I didn’t understand what they were saying, I was sure there must be a connection between them.”
“You’re saying that Luoyang Village is connected to the Divine Bird Cult?”
At this moment, Cai Yilian gave Guangming a meaningful look and lowered her voice. “Some people are coming this way. I need to go over there to avoid suspicion. Remember, make Chi Ziming leave Luoyang Village. I beg you.”
Looking at Cai Yilian’s retreating figure, Guangming became increasingly puzzled. He felt the situation growing more and more convoluted. Were the Divine Bird Cult and Luoyang Village truly connected?