Chapter 15: The Injury

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A question nagged at me—Tiger had taken off before me, yet somehow he ended up behind. Tiger charged forward, seemingly oblivious to the little girl standing there, nearly colliding with her.

The girl raised a rag doll in her hand and tossed it to Tiger, her voice tinged with plaintive innocence. “Brother, I’m lending you Xiao An to play with. Help me get back the stones from his hand.”

Tiger froze for a moment, clutching the doll tightly as he ran toward me, as if the rag doll was more precious than anything else in the world.

Beneath the moonlight, I saw his face darken ominously.

The little girl held the string attached to the doll, a faint smile curling at her lips—as if she was watching a drama unfold.

I knew then that Tiger was under a spell; there was something wrong with that rag doll!

Like a man possessed, Tiger lunged at me, swinging his fists wildly.

Though I was taller, he worked the fields every day; his physical strength far outmatched mine.

I immediately retreated, but the path behind me sloped downward, and as I stepped back, my heel hung in the air—I stumbled and fell.

Panic surged in my heart—this was bad!

Tiger’s strike missed, and he stumbled forward, collapsing alongside me.

As we both fell, the rag doll slipped from Tiger’s grasp, the string pulling it away.

Suddenly alert, Tiger lay atop me, his voice trembling with uncertainty. “Xiao Fang, what’s going on?”

His face hovered just inches above my stomach, pressing down on my leg.

My terror was etched plainly across my face.

Sensing Tiger’s awakening, I cried out urgently, “Run! There’s a ghost!”

He froze, eyes darting behind him. “Where?”

I glanced past him at the man with the blackened face, who was already lunging forward.

Tiger shook his head as if searching for something. “Damn, a kid just gave me a bag of money—where’s that bag gone? Xiao Fang, did you see it?”

He scanned the ground, still hunting for the missing pouch.

I realized with a jolt that Tiger couldn’t see the others at all.

My heart raced—the black-faced man was already behind Tiger, arms outstretched, ready to grasp him.

I sprang upright, striking at the black-faced man with the stones in my hand.

A flash of white light burst forth, sending the man flying.

My hand tingled from the impact. As I withdrew it, my eyes widened—the stone had cracked.

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Tiger shook his head and stood up.

“Xiao Fang, let’s go home and drink,” he said, his hand pressed protectively over his pocket, as if guarding a precious treasure he didn’t want me to see.

I rose quickly as well. The black-faced man had vanished, but the two others still lingered nearby, casting wary glances at the stones in my hand.

The woman in red looked toward the little girl.

The girl glared back, silently daring her to attack me. Yet the woman in red hesitated, unwilling to advance.

The girl’s brow furrowed sharply; with a flick of her finger, the rag doll, tethered by its hemp string, flew toward Tiger once more.

Alarm surged through me—if Tiger fell under its spell, we'd be in serious trouble.

Desperate, I struck again at the doll with the stones in my hand.

Another sharp sound rang out as black smoke billowed from the doll’s interior.

The girl screamed in agony, flickered twice, and vanished.

I staggered back, falling once more.

“Xiao Fang, what’s wrong? Why can’t you stand steady?” Tiger, still searching for his money pouch, rushed to help me up.

“I’m fine, Brother Tiger. Let’s get out of here quickly.”

I rose swiftly, eyes fixed on the woman, ready for another fight.

“Xiao Fang, what’s behind me? Don’t scare me,” Tiger said, noticing my gaze lingering over his shoulder.

At that moment, the woman in red turned and disappeared into the darkness.

Tiger never saw the three of them—I understood this was due to my own unique constitution.

Suddenly, sharp pain shot through my body.

I had twisted my ankle when I fell after striking the doll.

My tailbone, injured once before, throbbed painfully, and sweat poured down my face.

“Brother Tiger, I twisted my ankle. Help me up,” I said, reaching out.

“You’re too weak, Xiao Fang. Come home with me; some wine will ease it,” Tiger replied, helping me limp back.

Before we entered, Tiger urgently released me, needing to relieve himself.

Inside, I saw Fat Fang’s left hand just moving away from Xiao Lian’s rear. They were sitting on the kang, drinking.

“Damn, you’re only just back?” Fat Fang crossed his legs, lifting his cup to drink.

Xiao Lian sat beside him, also holding a cup.

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The three of them wore smiles, watching me like I was some performing monkey.

“Damn it, you two are heartless, ditching us and running off,” I snapped, annoyed.

Fat Fang’s face was a sickly mix of red and white, clearly not taking what happened seriously; he continued to mock me.

“Look at you—limping back like a clown. What big deeds do you expect to do looking like that?”

Anger brewed inside me. If I hadn’t acted, Tiger would have been in serious trouble.

When Tiger returned, carrying two bottles of wine, he said, “Come on, brothers, let’s have a drink to calm the nerves.” He hadn’t even changed his pants before sitting down.

He squeezed in next to Fat Fang, biting off a bottle cap and pouring out the wine. I noticed his pocket was now empty.

I understood immediately—he had gone to hide something earlier.

“Damn, Tiger, why didn’t you bring out the bottled wine sooner? This homemade stuff’s way too harsh,” Fat Fang said, pushing the small cup aside.

I stood on one foot, the ankle throbbing, silently cursing this bunch of scoundrels.

Hopping on one foot, I sat on the kang, gritting my teeth. “Brother Tiger, what should I do about my ankle?”

Tiger seemed to remember, turning to Xiao Lian. “Wife, go rub it for our brother. He twisted his ankle.”

Xiao Lian looked back, smiling as she saw me rolling up my pant leg. “Brother, rubbing it with wine will make it better.”

She picked up the small cup Fat Fang had pushed aside, turned to me, and began removing my sock.

“Ouch, wife, that hurts!” I grimaced, my hand hesitant to touch my ankle.

“Hahaha, you’re wrong—once the first pain is gone, it feels good every day after,” she teased.

“Ha! Xiao Fang’s right; he’s still a rookie. Pain is natural,” Tiger joined in the teasing.

I shot Tiger a sideways glance, silently cursing him: You ungrateful bastard, forgetting your wounds so quickly. I saved you twice just now, and you joke about me? Heartless and ungrateful—you’re like my own son!

At that moment, someone entered behind me.

“Hey, Brother Tiger, got guests at home?”

“Er Lengzi, come in quick. I’ll introduce you to some good friends,” Tiger called out with a smile.

Hearing the name Er Lengzi, I looked back. He had changed dramatically—now tall, nearly six foot three, and looking quite different.

Er Lengzi wasted no time, kicking off his shoes and climbing onto the kang. After a half cup of wine, the four of us became fast friends.

Before long, everyone was drunk. The topic shifted, and Fat Fang invited Er Lengzi to join them on another trip to the tomb tower the next day.