Chapter 106: The Madwoman [4]

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Encountering a restless spirit on the road was merely a minor accident, and Yan Yu dispatched it with ease. Reflecting on the earlier quarrel among the driver, the elderly woman, and the passengers, Yan Yu sighed softly. None of the seventeen victims were truly innocent. Everyone bore some fault; the tragedy had simply unfolded by chance. There was no one to blame—only fate or oneself. Yan Yu had already shown them the path to reincarnation at the City God Temple, which was a kindness; otherwise, these vengeful spirits would have continued to wreak havoc. The Rongli Bridge would inevitably become a site of repeated accidents, earning the grim title of the "Bridge of Death." The only lingering worry for Yan Yu was the five bodies still missing. Their souls would drift with their remains, uncertain where they would finally rest, likely becoming restless spirits themselves. Yan Yu woke Yang Xuefei. Upon opening her eyes, she instinctively grasped Yan Yu’s arm timidly and whispered, “Just now... just now...” “Just now what?” Yan Yu feigned confusion. “Squad leader, did you have a nightmare?” Hao Zhuang asked. Before Yang Xuefei awoke, Yan Yu had already spoken with the two others, and all agreed it was better to keep such matters from her. Seeing their calm expressions, Yang Xuefei’s fear eased somewhat. She released Yan Yu’s arm and murmured to herself, “When did I fall asleep... was that really a nightmare?” Looking around, the bus was steadily moving along the highway with no unusual passengers, and the three were watching her with puzzled looks. “Maybe I was just too tired,” she told herself. Even so, Yang Xuefei dared not close her eyes again—the nightmare had felt too real, and she never wished to relive it. The storm had come and gone swiftly. After the rain ceased, sunlight pierced through the clouds, casting beams of light on the earth, creating a stunning sight. The warmth of the sun finally dispelled the gloom in their hearts. The others, knowing Yan Yu was with them, felt safe and resumed their casual chatter. Soon, the bus arrived at the destination and pulled over by the roadside. The driver opened the door and stepped out, smoking heavily with a furrowed brow.

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He probably wouldn’t dare drive again this year after what had just happened; even if he did, he would never cross Rongli Bridge again. “Driver, how do we get to Fengmen Village?” Yan Yu and the others asked as they stepped off the bus, noticing the desolation around them. The driver took a deep drag of his cigarette and said, “Just walk a few hundred meters down this road, and you’ll see the stone tablet marking Fengmen Village.” “Thank you, sir.” Yan Yu led the three along the highway. Not far ahead, a stone tablet stood by the roadside, with the characters “Fengmen Village” painted in red. Beside it was a winding path lined with tall reeds. “Fengmen Village is so remote. How did we end up in such a ghostly place for a simple outing?” the stout man muttered. Yang Xuefei explained, “Fengmen Village is the only original natural village around Rong City. The villagers maintain their traditional lifestyle, with only basic electricity and internet access, living a farming life. The school arranged this trip so we could experience rural living.” As the four walked along the path, Zhao Qingqing suddenly floated out from Yan Yu’s backpack. Resting her head on Yan Yu’s shoulder, she said, “Honey, you just let those little ghosts go just like that?” “Their first death anniversary just passed; their hearts are restless. I gave them a chance since it was their first mistake,” Yan Yu said softly with a smile. “Otherwise, that hanging ghost Zhao Qingqing and the mentally challenged ghost Feng Liang would have been wiped out by me.” Zhao Qingqing stuck out her tongue. “Got it.” Passing through the short path, the scenery suddenly opened up. Ahead was a stone arch bridge spanning a clear stream where fish played. Along the bank lay a pebble beach, the sunlight refracting through the water to paint the stones in dazzling colors. Nearby, several farming women were washing clothes by the river, laughter ringing through the air. In the distance, fields and houses were interlaced, smoke curling up like an ink wash painting of serene beauty. “My goodness... this is a paradise on earth,” the stout man exclaimed, his earlier disdain replaced by awe. Just then— “Foolish woman, madwoman, sneaking into another’s bed at midnight. At dawn, before the rooster crows, the husband comes with a stick to chase you away...” The four turned instinctively toward the riverbank, where a woman in a floral padded jacket sat on the ground. Children circled her, jumping and singing an unpleasant nursery rhyme. “Eeya—eeya—” The woman seemed displeased by their teasing, but her anger came only in meaningless sounds.

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“Foolish auntie, foolish auntie, come and hit us!” one child picked up a stone and threw it at the woman’s head. There was a dull thud as the stone struck, and the woman’s head began to bleed. “Eeya!” The woman suddenly flew into a rage, grabbed the child who threw the stone, and charged toward the stream with the child in her grasp. Yan Yu’s expression changed. He hurried forward, pulling the woman back and rescuing the child. The child was already terrified and burst into tears once safe. “Crazy woman?” Yan Yu frowned as he examined her. She looked to be in her forties, disheveled, with poor skin and an acrid stench from long neglect. “Madwoman!” Suddenly, a farming woman rushed over, shoved the crazy woman hard, causing her to fall, then quickly scooped up her crying child. “Madwoman, if I catch you bullying my child again, do you think your husband won’t throw you into the mountains?” she shouted, pointing at the woman. “This woman is terrible—her son bullied others first, and she just watched without stopping him!” Zhao Qingqing whispered into Yan Yu’s ear. Yan Yu frowned and said, “Auntie, you should control your own child.” “My child’s none of your business!” The farming woman was utterly unreasonable, glaring at them before cursing and leaving while still pointing at the crazy woman. Yan Yu sighed and helped the woman to her feet. She seemed to understand his kindness and smiled at him before suddenly clutching his clothes tightly. Her eyes were no longer vacant but filled with intense purpose and longing—as if a drowning person clutching at a lifeline.