Chapter Twenty-Nine: Let’s Eat Together

The butcher's knife was too large. He had tried to fit it into a wooden box, but it wouldn’t go in; commissioning a custom box would also be a hassle. If it ever came to a critical moment where he needed to use it—say, a matter of life and death—fumbling with a box would be far too cumbersome. No one would give you the time to open a box in such circumstances.

A leather sheath was far more suitable—and useful.

A crisp clang rang out, and Fang Mu was very satisfied.

“Oh, and here’s this,” the tailor said, handing him something else. “I promised I’d give you one.”

It was a leather holster. Fang Mu strapped it to his waist and slid the Ghost Thorn into it, concealing it beneath his clothes.

“Perfect.”

After paying, Fang Mu left the tailor’s shop.

As a coroner, it’s perfectly reasonable for me to carry a butcher’s knife for dissection, he thought.

Leaving the shop, Fang Mu planned to head home. These past few days, he hadn’t been idle; he’d gone to the charnel ground again, but, unfortunately, found nothing. His Corpse-Touching Technique only worked on those connected to the supernatural—without that, it was a fruitless effort.

A Bai perched steadily on Fang Mu’s shoulder, eyes half-closed and dozing off.

He hadn’t gone far when he heard a voice calling from behind.

Turning around, he saw a young girl, flanked by a middle-aged couple.

“Kitty!” the girl cried, pointing at A Bai, her face alight with joy.

Fang Mu smiled but didn’t respond, continuing on his way. Children always loved animals, but A Bai was no ordinary creature; Fang Mu had no intention of lingering.

The girl looked disappointed when Fang Mu didn’t respond.

“Xiao Lan, come on; let’s go see our new home first,” the woman said gently, patting her daughter’s head. “If you like cats, I’ll buy you one tomorrow.”

“But…the kitty was just looking at me,” Xiao Lan pouted, trying to be cute.

The woman shook her head, comforted her a bit more, and led Xiao Lan away.

As she was led off, Xiao Lan glanced back at Fang Mu’s retreating figure, obediently following her mother.

…

Outside a residence in Jinglong County, a middle-aged man pushed open the door and sighed.

The room inside was simply furnished, everything visible at a glance. The only consolation was its cleanliness; the previous owner must have been diligent.

“Ah, it’s nothing compared to Meng County,” the woman sighed. “But at least the owner was cleanly. If I tidy up a little, we can move in right away.”

“Xiao Lan—”

“Yes, Mother?” Xiao Lan looked up at her, puzzled.

“Go play in the courtyard for a while,” her mother said, producing a small leather ball and smiling. “Your father and I need to clean up a bit—too much dust isn’t good for children. Once we’re done, we’ll make dinner.”

“Okay, Mother!” Xiao Lan agreed cheerfully, hugging the ball and running outside.

Once Xiao Lan had left, worry clouded the woman’s face.

“Don’t overthink it,” the man said, shaking his head. “It’s tough being away from home, but it’s still better than staying there. The business in Meng County…they say it’s resolved, but there’s always something off.”

The woman nodded. “First those strange deaths, then they said it was over, but after all these years…now these incidents have started again. I have nightmares every night—it’s terrifying, truly terrifying…”

She clutched her head in pain as she spoke.

“It’ll be fine now that we’ve left,” the man said, holding her and trying to comfort her. “Old Wang from next door left and nothing happened to him.”

“Maybe…” she murmured, looking around. “Let’s get this place cleaned up. It was someone else’s home—best to tidy it up properly.”

“Mm…”

Meanwhile, outside in the courtyard, Xiao Lan was playing with her ball.

She was well-behaved, never running off; if told to stay in the courtyard, she stayed, never causing her parents trouble.

“Hey, you missed again!” Xiao Lan huffed, picking up the ball from the ground and speaking—to thin air!

“Xiao Lu, I’ve told you so many times—catch it, then throw it back to me.”

The air was silent; no one replied.

The ball was thrown again and again, always falling back down; each time, Xiao Lan would complain, yet after each complaint, she’d pick it up and play again, tireless.

Time passed. The sun set in the west.

“Xiao Lan, dinner’s ready.” Her mother called from the courtyard, face pale and sweating.

“Coming!” Xiao Lan picked up her ball and followed her mother inside.

At the table, only simple dishes were laid out. The man had already been waiting a while.

The family of three sat together, sharing their meal in a scene both harmonious and warm.

After dinner, they chatted together.

Night fell, and one by one, they retired to their rooms.

Xiao Lan placed her ball in the corner. The oil lamp was blown out; the hall fell into darkness and silence.

Thud…thud…thud…

Then, something strange happened.

The ball, quiet until now, suddenly moved—first rolling, then bouncing up and down, making a rhythmic thumping sound, as if someone were playing with it.

In the dark, the sound was especially eerie.

Creak—

The door opened. The man and woman emerged, their faces stiff.

“Are you Xiao Lan’s friend? Oh, you want to eat…” The woman’s face was blank as she lit a candle and slowly approached the ball. “Eat up, eat up…all delicious!”

The ball stopped moving and rolled to the corner.

Hiss—

A sharp intake of breath echoed in the air, and the orange candlelight instantly turned green.

Bathed in green light, the couple’s faces grew even more uncanny.

Creak—

The wooden door shifted again.

“Father, Mother, why aren’t you asleep?” Xiao Lan rubbed her eyes, drowsily stepping out—just in time to witness the scene before her.

The man and woman turned to her, their gazes vacant, as if looking at empty air.

“Come…Old Wang, come eat with us,” the man called to someone behind Xiao Lan. “We’re all neighbors, don’t be shy.”

Startled, Xiao Lan looked back—and froze.

Three shadowy figures were materializing, drifting past her to the table.

“And you…who are you? Come eat with us,” the man said, his gaze shifting to Xiao Lan, turning sinister.

Terror twisted Xiao Lan’s face as she realized she couldn’t move.

Before her, a headless child seized her by the neck, slowly lifting her up…

“Xiao Lan…Xiao Lan…come play ball with me—the bloodstained ball…”

The green candle flame blazed, bathing the entire house in its ghostly glow…