Ghost Granny
1259 Words
The runaway carriage traveled from dusk until dawn, finally arriving at the Bamboo Forest as the sun was about to rise. Gu Xiong jumped down from the carriage first, followed by Shen Ci, who looked at the sleeping Xiyao before also disembarking.
The two exchanged glances and walked into the bamboo hut. Inside, they were met by an old woman with a cane. Her hair was silver, and her face was partially covered by a silver mask that concealed everything above her nose. The exposed skin below was smooth and white, almost youthful.
The cane she held was made of rosewood, about 1.5 meters long, with a snake’s head carved intricately at the top. The snake’s eyes were adorned with jade, giving the head a lifelike, menacing appearance. The open mouth revealed sharp teeth and a curled tongue, which made the sight quite intimidating.
“Gu Xiong.” “Shen Ci.” “Greetings, Grandmother Witch.”
As Gu Xiong and Shen Ci bowed, the Grandmother Witch’s sharp gaze swept over them.
“You are an hour late from the agreed time.”
Her icy tone made Gu Xiong and Shen Ci uneasy. They both dropped to their knees, speaking in unison, “We failed to complete the task. Please punish us, Grandmother Witch.”
The Grandmother Witch’s gaze fell on the Mingwang Cauldron tied to Shen Ci’s waist. Shen Ci hurriedly unfastened the cauldron and offered it to the Grandmother Witch with both hands.
The Grandmother Witch, using her snake-headed cane, walked slowly towards them. The rhythmic tapping of the cane on the ground made them break out in cold sweat.
Taking the Mingwang Cauldron from Shen Ci, the Grandmother Witch examined it closely, her face gradually showing a smile.
“The Mingwang Cauldron! This is the rare artifact crafted by the old man of Ghost Valley with his life’s work! It’s magnificent—simply magnificent! Where is the Mingwang Sword? Quickly, show me the Mingwang Sword!”
As the Grandmother Witch eagerly looked at the Mingwang Cauldron, she urged them to present the Mingwang Sword. Shen Ci glanced at Gu Xiong, who responded, “Grandmother Witch, we were unable to obtain the Mingwang Sword.”
The Grandmother Witch’s fierce gaze returned to them. Gu Xiong and Shen Ci dared not meet her eyes and bowed their heads.
“Unable to obtain it?”
The Grandmother Witch’s voice was laced with skepticism. Gu Xiong nervously replied, “When we took the Mingwang Cauldron, we accidentally triggered a hidden mechanism. The situation was sudden, and we were unable to retrieve the Mingwang Sword. We only managed to bring back the Mingwang Cauldron. However, although we did not succeed this time, we will certainly get the Mingwang Sword next time. Please give us another chance.”
The Grandmother Witch sneered, causing Gu Xiong and Shen Ci to feel even more uneasy.
“A chance? Do you think you will have another chance? You have stolen the Mingwang Cauldron and alerted Mingwang Manor. They will definitely issue a Mingwang Order to hunt you down. Once the Mingwang Order is issued, from the court to the martial world, anyone who sees you will capture you and hand you over to Lu Qian. Under severe torture, you will inevitably reveal my identity. Rather than let you betray me, it’s better to deal with you now to prevent future problems!”
As soon as the Grandmother Witch finished speaking, two poisoned needles shot out from the snake’s mouth on the cane, piercing Gu Xiong and Shen Ci’s foreheads. They let out muffled screams before collapsing to the ground.
The Grandmother Witch took out a vial of corpse-corrosion powder from her sleeve and sprinkled it over their bodies. With a foul odor, the corpses of Gu Xiong and Shen Ci gradually dissolved into a pool of black sludge.
In the forest, Xiyao’s eyelashes fluttered as she woke up.
Unfamiliar with her surroundings, Xiyao felt anxious. She lifted the carriage curtain and climbed out, nervously moving forward.
Under a tree, a small boy sat motionless on the ground. His eyes occasionally blinked, making it hard to believe he was anything but a statue.
Xiyao approached the boy and followed his gaze, asking in confusion, “What are you looking at?”
The boy did not look at Xiyao but replied, “I’m waiting for someone.”
“Waiting for someone? Who?”
“I’m waiting for my father and mother.”
“Your father and mother? Where did they go? When will they be back?”
The boy shook his head. Xiyao sat down beside him, following his gaze.
The boy turned his gaze to Xiyao and asked, “Who are you? How did you get here?”
Xiyao blinked and answered earnestly, “I’m Xiyao. It was very hot last night, so I came out to get some fresh air. Then I saw a little cat and followed it into the carriage. I fell asleep without realizing it. When I woke up just now, I found myself here. I think it must have been that little cat that brought me here.”
“A cat? How could a cat bring you here? Unless it’s a cat demon. But if it were a cat demon, why wouldn’t it eat you?” The boy’s face showed a rare smile. Xiyao looked at the boy and said, “You have a nice smile.”
The boy blushed shyly. Xiyao continued, “Big Brother, do you know where this place is? I want to go home. Can you help me get back?”
“Well…” Just as the boy was about to respond, they heard the tapping sound of the snake-headed cane growing louder.
Seeing the boy’s silence, Xiyao couldn’t help but ask, “Big…”
The boy quickly covered Xiyao’s mouth. “The Grandmother Witch is coming. Don’t say anything.”
Xiyao’s eyes were full of confusion. The boy whispered, “The Grandmother Witch doesn’t like to see strangers. If she sees you, she will definitely kill you.”
Xiyao’s eyes showed concern. The boy pointed in a direction. “Follow this path straight ahead, and you’ll get out of here. The sound of the Grandmother Witch’s cane is getting closer. I’ll hold her off for you. Hurry and escape!”
Xiyao nodded in agreement. The boy removed his wolf tooth necklace from around his neck and placed it around Xiyao’s.
“This wolf tooth was given to me by my father on my tenth birthday. He said wolves are the fiercest animals in the world. The wolf tooth can ward off evil and bring good luck. I’m giving it to you now. It will surely protect you and help you leave safely.”
“Thank you, Big Brother.” Xiyao smiled in gratitude. The boy then said, “My name is Gu Xiao. Gu is for favor, and Xiao is for elegance.”
Xiyao imitated Gu Xiao’s tone and introduced herself. “My name is Xiyao. Xi is for morning and evening, and Yao is for precious jade.”
Gu Xiao seemed about to say more, but the increasingly clear sound of the cane tapping left him no time for anything else.
“Go quickly! The Grandmother Witch is almost here. Remember, don’t look back. Keep running forward! Even if you get tired, rest only after leaving the Bamboo Forest.”
Xiyao nodded and ran in the direction Gu Xiao pointed. Gu Xiao watched as Xiyao’s figure gradually disappeared, a trace of melancholy in his eyes.
- Writer
