Chapter 107: The Charity Hall [5]

“You...”

Yan Yu struggled to break free from the madwoman’s grip, only to find her strength terrifyingly strong. Her five fingers clamped down like iron pincers, and her knuckles had turned blue from the excessive force.

“Save me—”

The madwoman forced the words out between clenched teeth.

Yan Yu’s pupils contracted sharply.

He hadn’t noticed anything unusual about this woman—she was indeed mad, but what had driven her to such madness?

Living in such a secluded paradise, she shouldn’t have ended up like this.

“Boss, has this madwoman latched onto you?” The fat man and others approached, wanting to help.

Yan Yu waved them off and softly asked the madwoman, “How do you want me to help you?”

“Save me... save me... save me...” she repeated weakly, her voice growing fainter until she finally sat on the ground, still clutching Yan Yu’s thigh.

Zhao Qingqing covered her mouth, stifling a laugh. “Honey, I’ve discovered your charm—it attracts the living, the dead, and even the insane... Though this woman does look pitiful.”

Yan Yu smiled helplessly, uncertain how to handle the situation. Just then, two figures appeared by the stream.

“Woman, instead of working at home, you’re out wandering again? I heard you bullied Aunt Li’s son!”

Before they arrived, their voices carried over. Yan Yu and the others turned to see an incredibly ugly middle-aged man running barefoot toward the madwoman, carrying a hoe.

The man’s skin was dark, his nose flat, eyes narrow, and lips thick. Most unsettling was the large flesh tumor on his neck—nearly the size of a child’s head—making it look as if he had two heads.

Behind him was an elderly man with a white beard leaning on a cane.

“You troublesome woman, causing me trouble again!”

The ugly man reached the madwoman and raised his hand to slap her. Terrified, she dived between Yan Yu’s legs.

Yan Yu moved to stop him, but the man seemed to reconsider, lowering his hand. “You’re students here for a spring outing, right?”

“Yes,” Yang Xuefei replied.

The ugly man glanced at Yang Xuefei, instantly captivated by her beauty; his already narrow eyes nearly closed from the intensity of his gaze.

Startled, Yang Xuefei quickly hid behind Yan Yu.

Yan Yu frowned. “Is she your wife?”

The ugly man reluctantly withdrew his gaze. Seeing the madwoman’s state, jealousy flickered in his eyes.

He bent down, forcibly pulling her up while slapping her back. “I told you not to cause me trouble. Wait until we get home—I’ll beat you to death!”

“Ee-ya—ee-ya—” The madwoman stopped speaking, emitting meaningless sounds as the man dragged her away.

After they left, the old man with the cane approached Yan Yu apologetically. “Sorry for the scene. I’m Wang Fugui, the village chief of Fengmen Village. That was my son, Wang Yong, and his wife.”

“Your son’s wife...” Yang Xuefei hesitated.

“She’s been mad for many years. Sometimes she bites people in the village. We’re helpless and keep her working at home, but she often sneaks out to cause trouble,” the chief sighed.

Yan Yu sensed something odd about the woman but couldn’t quite pinpoint it.

Yang Xuefei asked, “Grandpa Chief, do you know where our classmates and teacher are? We got separated when we set out.”

“I see,” the chief smiled kindly. “They’re on the west side of the village. Let me take you there.”

“Thank you, Grandpa Chief,” Yang Xuefei replied politely.

Led by the chief, the four entered Fengmen Village. Though a mountain village, it was surprisingly clean and had even won awards for being the most beautiful rural community.

Aside from the unexpected encounter with the madwoman at the village entrance, the village seemed harmonious. Without internet access, the villagers gathered during their leisure time to chat or play cards.

“Usually, guests stay in villagers’ homes, but since you’re a larger group, we’ve arranged for you to stay in an abandoned courtyard on the west side. You’ve brought tents anyway, and the courtyard walls will shield you from the wind,” the chief explained.

They soon arrived at the west side, where a winding mountain path led to a solitary large courtyard.

Zhao Qingqing couldn’t help but say, “Honey, that place feels a bit ominous.”

Yan Yu nodded slightly. “A feeling of gloom is normal. That’s not just an abandoned courtyard—it’s an old mortuary.”

The mortuary was originally a communal rural site, which could be a school, public field, or ancestral hall. Over time, it became primarily an ancestral hall and, in modern times, a special place for storing coffins.

Not empty coffins, but coffins containing bodies.

Those stored there were often temporarily kept—either because a proper burial site hadn’t been found, the deceased passed away far from home and awaited transport back, or the family lacked resources for immediate burial.

Sometimes, ancient corpse herders would lodge there with their zombies.

As if hearing Yan Yu’s words, the chief’s expression grew awkward. He whispered, “There’s no larger courtyard in the village now. This place has been abandoned for decades. Young man, don’t be afraid.”

Afraid?

Yan Yu almost laughed aloud.

If he told this village chief—who had one foot already in the coffin—that a drowned ghost was currently following him, he might be the one scared.

Yan Yu wasn’t concerned. Though the mortuary was heavy with gloom, the group was young and full of vitality, easily overpowering the dark energy.

Besides, they were only staying three days; it wouldn’t affect them.

The others hadn’t heard Yan Yu’s conversation with the chief and were cheerfully guessing if the place had once belonged to a landlord.

At the mortuary’s gate, laughter and chatter were heard inside. Deputy class monitor Ji Mengjie was leading several female classmates to fetch water from the spring near the mortuary. Seeing Yan Yu and the group arrive, she called out, “You’re finally here! Everyone’s busy, come help!”

Before Yang Xuefei could respond, Lin Xuan suddenly popped his head out from the mortuary, waving at Ji Mengjie. “Xiao Mengmeng, be careful when you go get water~”

Yan Yu wanted to smack his master for being such an old pervert.

Only two hours apart, and his master was already mingling with the female classmates.

What kind of nickname was “Xiao Mengmeng”?

And what was “be careful” supposed to mean?

He was over forty years old, for heaven’s sake!

“Hey, Yan Yu, you’re here too. Well, Feifei and the girls can go fetch water. Yan Yu, you come help set up the tents!” Lin Xuan said matter-of-course.