Chapter 38: Yanxia Village

The mountain path took about half an hour, and before they knew it, they had reached the village. The other guests hadn’t all arrived yet; only three were present.

This variety show featured six guests per episode: two or three regulars, and the rest were “flying” guests—not necessarily from the entertainment industry, but from other fields as well.

Tan Xueci looked up and froze. He Sui was there.

He Sui was roughly the same age as Tan Xueci, in his early twenties. He was wearing a black leather jacket that emphasized his broad shoulders. He looked at Tan Xueci, hesitated as if wanting to say something, but ultimately kept silent.

The guest lineup for this show had been finalized three months ago. Tan Xueci had only been invited because someone fell ill and couldn’t make it.

In fact, the original guest was supposed to be Tan Yanning.

Tan Yanning majored in finance with a minor in folklore and ran a popular folklore science account online with over three million followers. The production team had originally invited him, but he had suddenly been in a car accident. Although he had been discharged from the hospital, his head injuries hadn’t fully healed, preventing him from coming. The production team had to find a replacement.

He Sui, of course, had signed up alongside Tan Yanning.

Besides He Sui, two regulars had also arrived—one male and one female. The female guest, who looked to be in her thirties, wore bright, mature Hong Kong-style makeup. She was a very famous actress named Qin Shuyao, a multi-time “Television Queen.”

The male guest was a tall, thin, pale man with a somber expression. He was a writer famous for horror novels under the pen name Qingdengke; his real name was Chen Qing. Fans liked to call him “Brother Qing,” and he often hosted supernatural exploration livestreams.

When Chen Qing saw Tan Xueci and the others, his somewhat gloomy eyes suddenly lit up. “I heard about what happened with your film crew,” he said. “If there’s time, I’d love to chat with you all.”

Lu Qi glossed over the topic with polite platitudes, having no desire to associate with such “eerie” people.

The production team arranged for them to stay with local families. The rain wasn’t heavy, but there were few lights in the village. One could only vaguely see that the buildings were old-fashioned brick houses.

While passing through an alleyway, one of the cameramen suddenly let out a terrified “Holy crap!” The other guests and staff were startled and spun around. “What’s wrong?”

The cameraman trembled, unable to make a sound.

Tan Xueci looked up. Standing in the dim alley was a very thin, small girl, appearing to be seven or eight years old.

The nights in the village were exceptionally dark. Coupled with the rain, visibility was poor. In the black alleyway, it looked as if the girl had two heads growing from her thin shoulders.

Both heads had identical, snowy-white faces with pigtails and red blush painted on the cheeks. Their large, dark eyes stared straight at them. One head had thin eyebrows and curved eyes, looking both somber and festive; the other had a twisted mouth and slanted eyes, with saliva constantly dripping down—it looked like she had a mental disability.

Everyone in the production team instinctively held their breath.

“Xiao Cai,” Bai Shuizhang finally called out. He ran over, knelt down, and tucked an umbrella into her small hand. “Did your mom send you out to meet us? Why didn’t you bring an umbrella?”

Xiao Cai seemed unsteady on her feet and didn’t know how to hold the umbrella. The red blush on her pale cheeks was being washed away by the rain, looking like streaks of blood snaking down from her eyes.

The guests then realized the girl didn’t have two heads; she was clutching a paper effigy nearly as large as herself, which almost completely blocked her thin body. She had also painted her own face to match the paper doll’s makeup.

Though it was a false alarm, they were badly shaken. They didn’t feel a sense of relief; rather, their scalps felt tingly with lingering fear.

“I’m sorry,” Bai Shuizhang said apologetically, pointing to his head. “Xiao Cai, she’s… well. Her family used to make paper effigies. If someone isn’t watching her, she plays with them on her own. We’ll be staying at her house. It’s just ahead; her parents must have sent her out to meet us.”

His dark skin contrasted sharply with Xiao Cai’s pale complexion. In the pitch-black night of the mountain village, he looked like a “black monkey,” while Xiao Cai was so white she almost glowed.

She looked at Bai Shuizhang’s dark hands and giggled. She didn’t seem entirely unintelligent; she could understand some things.

Tan Xueci’s face, already pale, turned even whiter in the cold night rain. He was all too familiar with that gesture—he had often been the subject of those hints about having a “mental problem.” He bit his thumb, his effeminate, sheep-like eyes reflecting a bottomless darkness.

Bai Shuizhang, having spent three years in the village, seemed very familiar with everyone. He picked up Xiao Cai and led the guests to her home.

Once they arrived, the final guest showed up—a middle-aged man in his forties wearing a suit, named Zhang Chengfa. He was the owner of a pharmaceutical company. In his early thirties, he had appeared on a dating show that became a hit, gaining him some online fame, and he had since participated in several other variety shows.

Furthermore, he was originally from Yanxia Village, though he hadn’t returned in over a decade. Half the villagers in Yanxia were named Zhang; outsiders sometimes called the place “Zhang Family Village.”

Xiao Cai’s parents were also named Zhang. The couple looked to be in their fifties or sixties, appearing more like grandparents to her than parents. Their skin was wrinkled and sallow, and their hands were calloused and cracked, but they were very hospitable, greeting the guests and helping with their luggage.

“Leaders,” Old Man Zhang said with a smile, pointing his tobacco pipe at the yard. “This house can fit seven or eight people.”

Yanxia Village had a permanent population of only about a hundred people. It was a small, secluded village. Seeing these glamorous stars and wealthy businessmen, they could only bow and call them “leaders.”

Zhang Chengfa, having spent many years in the business world, was well-versed in social graces. Regardless of whether he truly respected them or not, he maintained a polite facade. “It’s we who are imposing,” he said. “Besides, we’re fellow villagers; there’s no need for such formality.”

Old Man Zhang paused, then let out an “Oh!” He said Zhang Chengfa looked familiar. In a village this small, everyone knew everyone. He remembered him now.

The family’s yard was quite large, and they had cleared out several empty rooms. Jin Chen and Tan Xueci shared one, Zhang Chengfa and the writer shared another, the female guest had her own, and He Sui also stayed by himself.

Not counting today, the variety show would be filmed over seven days. The guests were supposed to cook for themselves during the recording, but since time was short today, the production team provided dinner—a large pot of stewed vegetables and local free-range chicken.

The village had internet access. It wasn’t exactly in the middle of nowhere. Since many people were waiting to see Tan Xueci, the livestream the director started before dinner actually lagged a bit due to the traffic.

[Ahhh finally the new episode!] [Heavens, Xiao Xue is even prettier than in the drama. If Xiao Xue insisted on chasing me… lop-eared rabbit head.jpg] [Slurp slurp, I wanted to say this when I watched that horror movie: Xiao Xue has such a perky butt when he bends over.] [Let me touch, let me touch.]

Some were there for the other guests.

[Sister Shuyao! Brother Qing!] [Shame Yanning couldn’t come. He got sick right before the show; wonder how he is now.] [He Sui is fine too. Ugh, why is this screen not a touchscreen? Why can’t I touch him?]

He Sui had an international social media account where he often posted fitness photos. He had a great family background, good grades, and a great physique; such a glamorous resume made him the center of attention anywhere. He had over eight million followers and was a popular “visual” blogger, with a level of popularity that far exceeded many celebrities. However, he worked as a deputy general manager at his grandfather’s company and didn’t rely on social media for money, so he didn’t usually maintain the account actively.

Mountain Wanderer had remained popular for so many years not just for its folklore content, but because several couples had formed on the show. Every episode was full of “lovey-dovey” moments, making it half a dating show.

When Tan Yanning had accepted the show, He Sui wanted to follow. After Tan Yanning’s accident, he had lost interest, but his hospital visits to see Tan Yanning had ended in several arguments. Hearing that Tan Xueci had accepted the show, he came anyway out of spite.

He Sui had thin eyelids and a look that was slightly “sanpaku,” giving him a brooding handsomeness. Being young, this coldness gave him a bit of a “bad boy” vibe that many fans loved. He silently glanced at Tan Xueci several times. He felt… Tan Xueci looked even better than before, as if his frame had relaxed.

Though Tan Xueci might not have felt it himself, he was no longer the boy curled up in the corner of an attic, looking terrified and ready to cry at the sight of anyone. He Sui’s expression was complex. It was a good thing Tan Yanning was sick; otherwise, seeing Tan Xueci now would probably keep him awake with jealousy.

[??? No one told me Tan Xueci was coming. Could those rumors be true? Is he still pestering Brother Sui?] [He’s been popular lately, but is his status high enough for this show?] [Well, inside word is he’s Yanning’s brother and has an arranged marriage with the He family. With their backing, he can do whatever he wants in the industry.]

Tan Xueci’s identity was no secret. Tan’s parents had often publicly called Tan Xueci their second son. Even after he fell ill and was rarely seen, they would emphasize they had another son. Previously, Tan Xueci wasn’t famous, so no one dug into him. Now, much of his information had been uncovered, including the fact that he seemed to be living at the He estate and that business cooperation between the Tan and He families had suddenly increased. These were all considered “evidence” of the marriage, though no one knew exactly who Tan Xueci was married to.

[Either way, it’s not Brother Sui.] [No wonder he acted so well in Entanglement. I thought it was acting skill, but it turns out he was just being himself. He’s so used to “entangling” people in real life, so of course he’s good at it.]

Actually, when Mountain Wanderer released the guest silhouette posters a few days ago, many suspected Tan Xueci was one of them, and criticism began to appear online. The director’s team had anticipated this—negative publicity was still publicity. They were happy as long as people were talking about the show.

Tan Xueci didn’t know what the comments were saying. He was feeling listless today, as if he were physically unwell. His usual obedient and timid demeanor was gone; his excessively long eyelashes cast deep, dark shadows under his eyes. He didn’t speak to He Sui at all.

After the livestream, the production team gave the guests small tasks. Tan Xueci was sent to feed the sheep. The cameraman filmed some footage and then left the guests to work on their own. That was when He Sui walked over.

He Sui had dyed his hair light gray before the show, styling it to look slightly messy. He had found his recent interactions with Tan Yanning to be very exhausting. He truly missed Tan Xueci a little; when they were “dating,” Tan Xueci would wait at his company every day to have dinner with him. Sometimes He Sui finished his meetings very late and would find Tan Xueci asleep on his desk, but he would wake up the moment he heard He Sui’s footsteps, like a little puppy, nervously trying to take his hand and asking what he wanted to eat.

Once, He Sui was in a bad mood for several days after a fight with Tan Yanning and had lost a lot of weight. Tan Xueci, who was so clumsy he could barely do anything, learned how to cook for him. But in his foul mood, He Sui found the sight of Tan Xueci—reminding him of Tan Yanning’s brother—to be annoying, and he threw the food away without taking a bite.

He was always mean to Tan Xueci, but Tan Xueci never got angry. At most, he would wait quietly nearby, then later timidly ask, “Can you talk to me now?” No matter how many times he was pushed away, Tan Xueci would always come back. He Sui knew Tan Xueci loved him deeply.

Once, while calling from his car, He Sui noticed it had started raining. Since he didn’t have an umbrella, he casually told Tan Xueci to bring him one. Tan Xueci, being “slow,” only remembered to bring an umbrella for him but forgot one for himself. He ended up running back in the rain, caught a high fever that night, and called him. He Sui initially thought he was going to be blamed, but Tan Xueci’s voice was soft and clingy as he whispered, “It’s okay. I just wanted to talk to you. I miss you so much.”

“I’ll help you,” He Sui said after a moment of silence, reaching out. “At this rate, you’ll be feeding them forever.”

Though he came from a wealthy family, he wasn’t pampered. His father often sent him to various places for “training,” and he had lived in environments worse than Yanxia Village. Filming this show was nothing to him. He saw that Tan Xueci wasn’t feeding the sheep well; several sheep were straining their necks but couldn’t reach the stalks, their eyes turning green with hunger.

Tan Xueci: “…”

Tan Xueci thought He Sui had a “foul mouth.” Even good things sounded unpleasant coming from him. He was even worse than the “dead ghost.”

If it had been a certain dead ghost, he would have held his hand to teach him how to feed, while praising him, “Xiao Xue is so impressive.” Everyone else treated him like a fool, trampling him into the mud and then complaining that he was dirty. But that dead ghost, for whatever reason, had always treated him as “Xiao Xue,” picking him up from the ground and placing him cleanly on a branch, as if he were meant to be that clean all along.

“Are you hungry?” Tan Xueci suddenly interrupted He Sui.

“…” He Sui was stunned, thinking Tan Xueci was concerned about him. He said softly, “Hmm?”

Tan Xueci glanced at a pile of dark sheep droppings in the pen, then at He Sui. “I thought you were here for an extra snack.”

His mouth is like it’s full of crap, talking so unpleasantly.

He Sui’s brain raced for several minutes. By the time he realized what had happened, Tan Xueci had already walked away with a grumpy face. He Sui’s expression darkened as he muttered, “F*ck…”

Tan Xueci had actually insulted him.

It was nearly winter, and the mountain nights were exceptionally cold. The houses used heated brick beds (kang), which required burning wood.

After feeding the sheep, Tan Xueci and Jin Chen gathered some wood. When they returned, the lights were on in the main hall, but the lighting was dim. When they pushed open the door, they saw someone standing there smiling at them, and they both nearly fell over in the rain from fright.

It was a tall, somewhat chubby young boy with crossed eyes and a vacant expression, his mouth occasionally twitching.

“Oh, sorry about that,” Mother Zhang said as she hurried over, looking at them apologetically. “This is my son, Xiao Shuan. He has a bit of a mental problem. Just ignore him. Did he scare you?”

Jin Chen and Tan Xueci nervously set down the wood and stepped outside. Jin Chen couldn’t help but mutter, “There must be a genetic problem with this family…” Both children were mentally disabled.

Tan Xueci had always felt the name Yanxia Village sounded familiar. He suddenly remembered the two men sent to guard him when he was first married—one was named Zhang Chunping and the other Jiang Heng. Zhang Chunping seemed to be from Yanxia Village.

In the evening, the guests had dinner with Mother Zhang’s family. The director set up cameras to film for a while. Xiao Cai and her brother Xiao Shuan couldn’t quite care for themselves; Mother Zhang fed one and then the other while also attending to the guests, hardly getting a bite for herself. The guests couldn’t help with the children, so they waited until after the meal to help clean up and wash the pots before going to bed.

Tan Xueci and Jin Chen were in the east room. The staff’s quarters were very crowded, so Lu Qi came to sleep with them. Tan Xueci slept on the far left against the wall. He placed his small backpack beside him, resting his fingers on the strap like a child holding a security blanket.

The kang was already heated and felt warm. They slept with their heads toward the edge. On the side cabinet sat a palm-sized idol that looked neither Buddhist nor Taoist. Two red incense candles were lit before the idol, along with an offering bowl of raw rice.

“I haven’t seen that one before,” Lu Qi said, scratching his chin. “Maybe it’s their local Earth God or something?”

But they were too tired to care; even if a god was in the bed with them, no one had the energy to look. They soon fell asleep.

In the middle of the night, Tan Xueci rubbed his eyes and woke up. He heard a rustling sound in the room, as if something were crawling along the roof beams. Tan Xueci immediately shivered but didn’t dare open his eyes, burrowing further under the duvet.

Maybe it’s a mouse. He had seen mice in the attic at home. Once, half-awake, he had felt something furry near his pillow and thought it was the little sheep plushie. He opened his eyes to find a sleek, gray rat. There were likely even more mice in the village.

Tan Xueci tucked his feet tightly under the covers, hoping the mouse would leave on its own. But the thing seemed to crawl down from the beam, followed by a loud “crunch, crunch” of chewing. The sound was very loud; Tan Xueci didn’t know if a mouse’s chewing would be that noisy. An image involuntarily appeared in his mind: someone burying their head in the raw rice before the shrine, chewing greedily, their saliva dripping into the bowl.

But what if… what if mice also smacked their lips and ate loudly? Mice were known to gnaw on wood. Tan Xueci carefully reached out and pulled his backpack under the covers to hold it.

“Heh…”

The voice was muffled and cold, letting out a satisfied sigh.

It’s a person! No, it’s a ghost…

Tan Xueci’s scalp tightened instantly, and his heart raced. What’s going on? Didn’t I have the Taoist’s talismans? Why am I encountering these things again?

It was late at night. The Taoist priest had said he would catch the ghost tonight. No matter what, it should have already begun, but there seemed to be no change in his surroundings. He hadn’t woken up from a dream as he had imagined; nothing had changed. This was his original world. And in this world, there might really be ghosts.

Tan Xueci tried his best to keep his breathing even as if he were still asleep; some ghosts could be fooled that way.

However, Lu Qi was a light sleeper. Hearing a noise below and thinking it was Tan Xueci or Jin Chen, he said groggily, “Why aren’t you asleep yet?”

Tan Xueci almost punched Lu Qi out of fright, but it was too late. The thing stopped. He felt a weird gaze watching them in the darkness, followed by the sound of shuffling footsteps slowly approaching them.

Jin Chen refused to sleep next to another man, so Lu Qi slept between them. Tan Xueci reached out a hand and pressed down on Lu Qi, preventing him from getting up. Fortunately, Lu Qi stayed still after being pressed.

Tan Xueci kept his eyes tightly shut, his pale face buried under the covers. Time seemed to stretch. Cold sweat drenched his back and his body was stiff, but he didn’t dare move.

Only when the room was completely silent and no strange sounds could be heard did Tan Xueci wait for a few more minutes before finally letting out a soft breath. His eyelashes trembled; he wanted to open his eyes.

Yet before he could, a coarse, unpleasant voice whispered right against his ear.

It was as if someone had noiselessly leaned their entire head over, holding their breath and waiting for him to open his eyes. The entity let out an eerie laugh and invited him:

“…Do you want to eat with me?”

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