Chapter 92: Digging Up the Grave
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
The once serene Fufeng Mountain was abruptly shrouded in a pervasive, offensive stench. The relentless northern wind not only carried the cold but also mingled with the sounds of retching that echoed across the landscape.
In a swift motion, Lu Chao Chao retrieved two pieces of cloth and handed them to Yuan Man, who was frozen in shock, staring at the unexpected white fabric before him.
Furious voices filled the air, demanding accountability. “Who is responsible for this?!!”
“It was those two youngsters who arrived on the mountain today. Locate them immediately!”
“Those accursed children, it’s unbearably foul… I can’t stand it…”
“Why on earth would anyone think to blow up a latrine?”
Lu Chao Chao, with her hands tucked in her pockets, maintained a neutral expression throughout the chaos.
At that moment, the stronghold on Fufeng Mountain was plagued by the foul odors, causing Song Yu to grimace in discomfort.
“What is happening outside? Why does it smell so horrendous?” he asked, in the midst of a ritual, reverently holding incense sticks aloft.
The deputy head, his nose covered, replied, “Those two little scamps threw a firecracker into the latrine, causing an explosion.”
With a dismissive gesture, Song Yu commanded, “Send someone to handle it, and make sure they do not disturb my father’s rest. Today marks the anniversary of my father’s passing. It must proceed undisturbed,” he spoke calmly, his irritation momentarily visible on his face. “Ensure the little girl is safe. Children are naturally mischievous.”
This girl reminded him painfully of his own daughter, who had passed away young. This connection was likely why Sister Dong had abducted her.
The deputy head quickly nodded and left to carry out the instructions.
Returning his focus to his father’s memorial tablet, Song Yu’s face was solemn.
His mother, with a deep sigh, spoke, “Before your father passed away, he spoke of a prophecy. An old blind man had foretold his future, saying he would turn to banditry at twenty and establish his own domain. He did die at forty, just as foretold. But the blind man had also predicted a calamity at fifty.”
She looked confused, “He died at forty, and that was accurate. But what could this calamity at fifty mean? It’s been ten years since his death.” She had spent countless nights pondering these words after her recent recollection of this prophecy.
Song Yu dismissed the idea, “He was merely a charlatan of the martial world. What calamity could strike him ten years after his death? Mother, focus on your health instead of such superstitions.”
She sighed again, “Have you truly dismissed the idea of accepting the court’s amnesty? With your abilities, you could still have a future. This life as outlaws isn’t sustainable.”
His expression hardened, “Mother, please. When Father chose the path of an outlaw, it was our fortune to find refuge in Fufeng Mountain. We have no reason to leave our people now,” he softened his tone, adding, “Serving the court cannot compare to reigning as the king of Fufeng Mountain,” he chuckled lightly.
Meanwhile, Lu Chao Chao and Yuan Man had wandered to the back of the mountain. Yuan Man, exhausted, collapsed onto a rounded mound, taking sips from a milk bottle.
“Brother Man Man, look, there’s meat here…” Near a small mound, candles and paper money were arranged, along with offerings of chicken and duck.
Lu Chao Chao’s eyes lit up with mischief. She grabbed a roasted chicken and began eating voraciously. It was still warm.
“You can’t eat that! This is a grave, those are offerings for the dead. Spit it out, it’s bad luck,” Yuan Man protested, pulling her away in shock.
“It’s fine, it’s fine,” she reassured him, still chewing on the chicken leg until Yuan Man removed it and replaced it on the plate.
Around them, crows cawed ominously, and the shadows of grave mounds added to the chilling atmosphere.
“There’s a mushroom over there…” Lu Chao Chao pointed excitedly at a nearby grave mound.
Yuan Man, overwhelmed by grief, squatted in a corner, tears streaming down his face. “I miss my parents so much… When will Grandpa and Grandma come to rescue me?” His longing was profound, intensified by his loneliness. He eventually fell asleep under a tree, exhausted and homesick.
Lu Chao Chao, appearing unfazed, muttered, “Crybaby.”
She then took a small iron shovel from her space—a tool previously used for digging up spiritual herbs. Despite its compact size, it was robust enough to pry open sturdy rocks. She energetically began digging through the mud by a grave.
“Heave-ho, heave-ho, heave-ho…” she murmured as she worked. “Wow, there really are mushrooms here…”
She soon uncovered a pitch-black coffin, mushrooms thickly clustered around it. Delighted, Lu Chao Chao stood on tiptoes to harvest them. After gathering the mushrooms, she curiously slid the coffin lid open, revealing numerous small mushrooms thriving on stark white bones, shielded from sunlight. Overcome with excitement, she climbed into the coffin, her hands and feet busy collecting the mushrooms. In her enthusiasm, she even trampled the bones into fragments.
Ready to climb out, she tucked a skull into her bosom, surveyed the scattered mushrooms on the ground, and felt a tremendous sense of achievement. She then woke Yuan Man.
“Brother Man Man, Brother Man Man…”
When Yuan Man awoke, still groggy, he was startled to see her covered in mud. “What happened? Did you fall into a pit?”
Lu Chao Chao giggled, her voice tender, “Brother, mushrooms… Let’s go, let’s go stew the mushrooms.”
As they left the gravesite, Yuan Man, intimidated by their eerie surroundings, dared not look back and quickly followed her. When the pair returned to the stronghold, they were immediately apprehended by fierce-looking bandits and brought to the main hall. Despite the day’s chaos, the air was thankfully not too pungent.
“You little troublemaker, look at the chaos you’ve caused!” the deputy head scolded furiously, his disgust so intense that he had lost his appetite for the day.
“Believe it or not, I’ll punish you severely! How can you be so mischievous at such a young age?” the third in command raised his hand in anger.
Song Yu slightly raised his hand, silencing everyone.
He observed Lu Chao Chao, who, despite being only a year old, appeared well-cared for and adored. Now, after just a day, she was covered in mud, her hair in disarray, looking like a celestial maiden tarnished by the earth.
“I didn’t mean to…” Lu Chao Chao’s eyes welled with tears, her long eyelashes quivering, melting the heart of anyone who saw her.
Song Yu paused, struck by the girl’s appearance. He once had a daughter, born beautiful and beloved, the treasure of his life. He had even considered accepting the court’s amnesty for her safety. At the tender age of two, she succumbed to a mild illness, and despite all efforts, he couldn’t save her. His wife, devastated by their daughter’s death, soon followed her in death.
Lu Chao Chao cautiously approached. “Mud, do you want some mushrooms?” she asked timidly, standing on tiptoes and offering the mushrooms. “Chao Chao picked them for you.”
Seeing in her the image of his daughter, Song Yu saw a lovely, well-mannered child.
Bruh, even after death. ?
That grave she robbed? Was the bandit leader’s father? Indeed a calamity at the age of 50. Bone age. His grave dug up. All his bones crushed except for his skull. In which the baby took with her.