Chapter Eleven: Paper Figures
1368 Words
After so long, the black-browed vipers finally emerged from the mud, four or five heads peeking out, their bright red tongues flicking, looking utterly terrifying under the flashlight.
Actually, the horror of these creatures is often more legendary than reality. Because my mind was preoccupied, regardless of how truly terrifying they were, just seeing these things made my heart pound.
The flagstones above hadn't even been moved yet, and they didn't even wait that long, which filled me with fear and a surge of anger.
I picked up a watermelon-sized block of solidified rammed earth and slammed it down, hitting all the snake heads squarely, embedding them deep in the mud.
Even if I didn't kill them, they wouldn't be able to climb out anytime soon.
I immediately turned around, forcefully pushed up a flagstone, moving it aside to create an opening about a foot wide and fifty centimeters long, just big enough for a person to barely fit.
I helped the still trembling Xiaoxi sit up, and she slowly stood up and peered out.
Just then, the snake that had been pressed into the mud at the end of the tunnel, surprisingly, hadn't died and crawled out again at this critical moment.
It was dripping wet and charged at Xiaoxi's legs with hatred. Luckily, the girl's head was sticking out of the opening, and she hadn't seen the terrifying scene below, or she would have been terrified.
I tried to swing my shovel, but Xiaoxi blocked it, preventing me from doing so. Seeing the creature's ferocity, I instantly made a death wish; no matter what, I couldn't let the girl get poisoned.
So I slapped at the snake's head, and by sheer luck, I struck the snake's head, sending it flying back to its original spot.
"What's going on down there?"
Xiaoxi's voice trembled as she guessed there was a snake attack.
I lifted her legs up and said, "Let's get out of here first."
With a struggle, her hands and feet crawled out of the opening.
I breathed a sigh of relief. Now that this burden was gone, even if I were bitten to death, I wouldn't be so worried. I picked up the shovel, scooped up a large amount of dirt, and scattered it on the viper that had just wriggled up. Then I threw the shovel and all, straightened up, grabbed its mouth, and pushed off with both hands, crawling halfway out.
Xiao Xi was now lying at the mouth, using the dim light of the flashlight to see what was below. Her face was contorted with shock, her eyes wide: "Snakes, so many..."
Hearing this, I almost peed my pants. I grabbed at something, something that looked like a wooden beam,
grabbed it, and leaped diagonally forward, jumping out of the mouth.
But at the same time, my head hit something, and I saw stars.
Xiao Xi frantically grabbed something nearby and started hitting it down, knocking all the black-browed vipers that had jumped up back down.
I turned around, shining the flashlight down, and immediately gasped.
The snake, about two-thirds of its length, had slithered out of the mound, its mouth a large, dark patch that sent chills down my spine.
If we hadn't opened the exit in time, we would have been its meal.
After calming down a bit, I quickly replaced the slab of bluestone that had been moved.
The slab was three feet long, perfectly positioned across the opening so it wouldn't fall.
With the opening sealed, there was almost no gap; even if they had the digging skills of rats, they couldn't get out.
We both breathed a sigh of relief. We sat on the ground, disheveled and covered in mud, but at that moment, we looked inexplicably attractive to each other.
We gazed at each other for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh.
After laughing for a while, Lin Yuxi suddenly blushed and shyly cursed, "You pervert!"
She then clutched her ample breasts.
Perhaps she remembered our intimate moments... I'm shameless, anyway; when men are together, men always have the upper hand.
But as we laughed, I realized what I was holding was a paper figure.
This is a common item in funerals. Locally, they make paper horses, which used to be carriages, sedan chairs, men, and even small houses.
Now things are different. With the times, paper horses have evolved. Carriages have been replaced by cars, and refrigerators, color TVs, and computers have been added. Small houses have been replaced by villas, but the men still look the same.
This thing itself isn't evil, but it's unlucky.
I quickly told her to throw it away. The girl, seeing the paper figure in her hand, was startled and hurriedly threw it away.
Only then did we have time to look around. This didn't look like a tomb. To the left of the entrance was a wall, and above the entrance seemed to be a table.
What I had been clinging to was a beam under the table, and my head hit the tabletop.
The table was made of sandalwood, sturdy and heavy; no wonder it didn't break even after I almost fainted.
There was a chair on each side of the sandalwood square table. Lin Yuxi then began to show off, saying that the layout of ancient tombs often mirrored the habits of their owners during their lifetime, with most having a front hall and a back chamber, the burial chamber in the center.
This must be the front hall. When the owner had free time, he would come out of the coffin, sit on the chairs outside, drink tea, and chat with his wife; he wouldn't be lonely then.
She spoke as if it were the truth, making my heart pound.
Turning my head, I saw a pair of hands dangling on the right chair, and I was immediately terrified!
Lin Yuxi became more and more enthusiastic, clearly taking me for an easily fooled "tomb raider novice," rambling on and on.
I nudged her with my elbow and shone my flashlight on the right chair.
In the bright light, I could clearly see a pair of hands wearing a bright red silk robe with embroidered brocade hanging down to the knees, and embroidered shoes with high heels.
I recognize these shoes; Grandpa Chen has a pair. He says they're Manchu shoes, something like flowerpot-bottomed Manchu shoes.
Lin Yuxi immediately covered her mouth, her eyes wide like light bulbs.
I thought to myself with a bitter face, "You little brat, go ahead and tell me! You've revealed the owner of the coffin, and now she's drinking tea here."
But I didn't see anyone on the chair to the left. Her husband was probably still sleeping, and she was sitting alone in the front hall to pass the time.
But thinking about this, I almost cried. She was all alone and lonely, and now she had us two unlucky suckers to keep her entertained!
I just wondered what kind of special fetish this old lady had—like whips, bondage, or dripping wax?
Just as I was lost in thought, the paper figure that had been tossed aside suddenly stood up. It was a man, with two dark eyes under the light, a chubby little face, and bright red lips, almost as if he were alive.
Lin Yuxi gasped repeatedly, "Then, then, that wasn't its husband who came to catch it, was it?"
I almost fainted when I heard this. This girl's imagination is too rich; she's really lacking talent if she's not a screenwriter.
I immediately grabbed her small hand and rushed out from under the table.
I burned one of the two talismans I picked up to repel the snake, and the other, which I had hidden in my underwear, fell out while I was climbing over the wall.
This paper figure was clearly possessed by a ghost; now it had nothing in its hands, only the ability to escape.
Just as I was looking for a way out, Lin Yuxi tugged at my sleeve and said, "Look!"
Her voice trembled violently.
I turned around following her gaze and broke out in a cold sweat!
- Writer
