98: All follow you

Two white steamed buns lay in the oiled paper package, glowing invitingly in the dim yellow room.

They knew their own situation; although Yan Province allowed people to live, that wasn't really living—it was worse than death!

Thinking this, Granny Chen had resolutely exchanged a silver bracelet she had treasured for many years for them before she set off.

"Mother, you should eat some too."

Li Cui carefully broke off a small piece, and the bun crumbs fell into her rough palm lines.

She slowly savored the long-lost taste of wheat, then rewrapped the remaining bun and put it back into her mother-in-law's hand.

"Mother, where have you been these past few days?"

She lowered her voice, "I heard that monsters are rampant outside. My husband and I were almost frantic with worry."

Granny Chen's fingers paused, and the bun made a slight rustling sound against the oiled paper.

She vigilantly looked around, and the mottled lamp shadows on the mud wall swayed slightly with her movements.

"Cui'er, close the door."

The old woman's chapped lips trembled, "Some things... cannot be overheard by others."

Only after the creaking, broken wooden door was completely shut did Granny Chen lean close to her daughter-in-law's ear: "I was abducted to Qing Province... Although I suffered a bit, I at least survived, and there, I saw the True God."

Xiao Zhu Zi emerged from the shadows, his dirty little face full of curiosity: "Granny, what does an immortal look like?"

"White robes whiter than snow, features as beautiful as a painting."

A strange light suddenly burst forth in Granny Chen's eyes, and her withered fingers traced an arc in the air, "With a wave of his hand, Nine Heavens divine lightning struck down!"

"Cui'er, take Dashan, let's move to Qing Province!"

"Mother!"

Li Cui stood up abruptly.

"No, Mother, absolutely not."

"Demons are rampant outside. Even if Yan Province is dry, at least... at least we can survive!"

She pointed out the window, "Look at those who fled before; which one didn't run back after not getting very far?"

Granny Chen's nails dug deeply into her palm, her voice hoarse like sandpaper rubbing.

"Foolish child, do you think Yan Province is safe?"

"What do you mean by that..."

"The great drought in Yan Province is not a natural disaster."

Granny Chen suddenly lowered her voice, the veins on her neck bulging, "There's something... beneath Yan Province."

Li Cui gasped, a cold shiver running down her spine.

"The elders say that a thousand-year-old Corpse Demon sleeps beneath Yan Province."

"Originally, it was peaceful, but these past few years..."

Granny Chen suddenly coughed violently, "It's either waking up or something, it's madly devouring the Qi of the entire land. Well water, crops, even the air people breathe... are all its food."

"Mother!"

Li Cui's voice trembled, "This is too absurd, it's just..."

It's just a rumor.

"Cui'er, whether it's a rumor or not, the drought is a fact. If this continues, we can only wait for death. It's better to take a chance in Qing Province."

"Besides, the children are still young. We can't just wait for them to die of thirst and starvation, can we?"

Li Cui looked down at the bun in her hand and the child in her arms, wavering slightly.

"Mother, should we tell the villagers about this?"

***

That day, besides Granny Chen's family in Bai Shui Village, several other families in Yan Province were also struggling with the same dilemma.

To go, or not to go?

The conservatives felt that although Yan Province was a bit difficult, it was stable and safe. In these times, being able to preserve one's life was enough; who would dare to ask for anything more?

No one had dared to go to Qing Province for three years. They would rather starve to death here than be devoured alive by monsters.

In previous years, the demons in Qing Province had been too rampant, and the imperial court had long since given up on it. But their Yan Province was different!

Although there was a drought, the imperial court would definitely provide disaster relief.

Of course, there were also those who advocated going to Qing Province, mainly some young people who felt that before dying of hunger and thirst, they should struggle no matter what.

Amidst the various opinions, the team from Bai Shui Village that had gone to search for water finally returned.

However, they didn't look too good, each one dejected and listless.

When Chen Dashan pushed open the courtyard gate, the hinges let out a death-like groan.

An empty waterskin hung on his shoulder, and his chapped lips were crusted with blood. Each step he took left bloody footprints on the yellow earth.

"Husband!"

Li Cui cried out and rushed to him, but the heat from her husband's body made her recoil—this was not the body temperature of a living person; it was clearly like a stone that had been baking in the scorching sun for three days.

Chen Dashan said nothing, only mechanically untied the rope from his waist.

The iron hook tied to the end of the rope was already blunt, and a few withered yellow grass roots still hung from its tip.

He stared at the grass roots for a long time, then suddenly let out a gasp that was half a cry, half a laugh.

"No water..."

His voice seemed to be squeezed out of a crack, "We searched everywhere... It's dry... All dry."

Granny Chen, seeing her son in such a state, handed him a waterskin with a pained heart. Chen Dashan took it, only moistening his lips and throat, then put it away and returned it to Granny Chen.

"Mother, you found water?"

"Not only did Mother find water, she also found a good place. From now on, we won't have to worry about dying of thirst or starvation, or being devoured alive by monsters!"

A strange light suddenly burst forth in Granny Chen's eyes, and her withered fingers tightly gripped her son's arm: "Dashan, Mother saw the True God in Qing Province! There's clear springs, fertile fields, and also..."

"Husband..."

Li Cui held her child, her voice trembling, "Listen to Mother..."

"I'll go."

Chen Dashan suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse yet firm.

He turned to look at his old mother, noticing that her cloudy eyes were actually glistening with tears.

His old mother was not yet senile, and she had no reason to lie.

"But it's not because of any True God."

He pointed to the cracked well wall, "It's because of this."

By the moonlight, everyone finally saw—the well wall was, at some unknown time, covered with eerie black patterns, pulsating slightly like blood vessels.

Most terrifyingly, these patterns were spreading upwards at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"Pack your things."

Chen Dashan strode towards the woodshed, picked up the rusty kindling knife, and vigorously sharpened it on the whetstone, "Only take dry food and water. We leave before dawn."

***

At dawn the next day, when Granny Chen's family stepped out of their dilapidated courtyard gate, the sight before them stunned them—the entire village, old and young, carrying simple bags, leading emaciated livestock, stood silently in the morning mist, waiting.

Everyone carried hoes and sickles; all their valuable belongings were brought along;

Village Chief Li, usually the most stubborn, leaned on his jujube wood staff, a symbol of his authority, standing at the very front of the crowd.

"You all..."

Chen Dashan's Adam's apple bobbed, his voice caught in his dry throat.

"All twenty-three households, one hundred and seven people in the village."

Village Chief Li walked forward unsteadily, "They're all going with you."