Chapter 34 Returning to the Burial Mound

Chen Mu's thoughts settled, but he soon noticed a limitation to successfully executing this technique.

That is, he needed to be close enough to the target, preferably when their mind was wavering or their defenses were weak.

But the Cat-Faced Old Woman was always cunning and cautious; she hid herself during the day, and at night, she was protected by blood mist, moving with agility and nimbleness.

How could he get close to her? And how could he make her mind waver?

Chen Mu frowned tightly, thinking rapidly.

Suddenly, he recalled the Karma regarding the formation of the Cat-Faced Old Woman that he had passively glimpsed while saving Liu Ziming.

Blind Li and his wife were sent into the Death-Abandonment Kiln by their son. A black cat entered her body, the demonization began, and the first person she devoured was her young grandson who had come to peek, followed by their son and daughter-in-law who had rushed over at the sound...

It was the resentment, betrayal, and the flesh and blood of her own kin that day that allowed the Cat-Faced Old Woman to fully take shape.

A bold and risky plan gradually unfolded in his mind.

After deliberating for a moment, Chen Mu turned around abruptly and waved at the puzzled Liu Ziming.

"Let's go, back to Blind Li's house."

"Going back now, aren't we just waiting for that Old Woman?" Liu Ziming asked, confused.

"Waiting alone isn't enough; we need to make her have to come, to have to get close to us."

Chen Mu explained briefly and strode toward the village, while Liu Ziming followed, looking bewildered.

...

The two returned to Blind Li's small courtyard, which was still filled with Death Qi.

Blind Li squatted in the corner, muttering to the air, talking nonsense about his children's filial piety and delicious meals.

The old dog lay at his feet, dying, its tail wagging with extreme weakness.

Chen Mu walked slowly to Blind Li, blocking his gaze toward the Void Realm.

"Old man, you really want to see your wife, son, and grandson, right?"

Chen Mu spoke; his voice was not loud, but it carried a strange penetrating power.

Upon hearing this, Blind Li shuddered, and a flash of indescribable fear and confusion instantly crossed his hollow eyes.

Then he suddenly clutched his head, roaring hoarsely as if refusing to accept reality.

"No... I won't see them! They are doing just fine, enjoying life in the city! Enjoying life..."

Chen Mu stepped forward, reaching out to support Blind Li's trembling body. His tone was unquestionable, as if he genuinely intended to tear apart Blind Li's tender illusion.

"No, they are all at the Mass Grave right now, remember? The Mass Grave, you have been there."

"Nonsense! You're talking nonsense! I have never been there, never!"

Blind Li shook his head wildly, sat on the ground with a thud, and scrambled backward with all his might, his feet kicking up dust.

The old dog lying on the side also struggled to get up, let out a weak bark at Chen Mu, and tried to protect its master.

"Liu Ziming." Chen Mu said softly. Liu Ziming froze for a moment, understood immediately, and stepped forward to soothe the old dog.

Chen Mu also squatted down, silently activating the Flying Bear Dream Entry technique, feeling and soothing his wavering mental world, his voice now carrying a sense of bewitchment.

"Go and see, your loved ones are there, and the truth is there too. Then it will be over, and everything will be at peace."

Blind Li's struggle gradually weakened, his expression became even more hollow and confused, and he muttered, repeating after him.

"Over... peace... go and see..."

On the other side, Liu Ziming tried to approach the old dog. The old dog raised its head, and despite being weak, it still bared its teeth, letting out a threatening growl from its throat.

"It won't let me get close," Liu Ziming said helplessly.

Chen Mu nodded, walked straight over, and squatted in front of the old dog.

He made no move, just calmly locking eyes with the old dog's world-weary eyes.

"I know you can understand."

"The root of the disaster in Sangye Village is at the Mass Grave. Your master is wallowing in illusions, trapped here in a living hell, and those villagers outside who have turned into monsters can find no peace."

"Tonight, I will resolve all of this once and for all. I need your help and your master's help to go with us to the Mass Grave."

The old dog calmed down and looked quietly at Chen Mu.

After a long while, the fierce light in its eyes faded. It let out a low whimper, struggled to move its body, and rubbed its head against Blind Li's calf.

When it looked at Chen Mu again, it actually nodded slowly.

This dog was surprisingly spiritual to this extent.

Liu Ziming watched from the side, dumbfounded, and couldn't help asking: "Chen Mu, what exactly are you going to do?"

"Recreate the past."

"The Mass Grave, the Death-Abandonment Kiln, Blind Li, and this dog are all indispensable parts of the scene back then."

Chen Mu said concisely.

"Recreate the past, and that Old Woman will come? And get close enough?" Liu Ziming was still confused.

"She will come."

"That is the place of her birth, filled with the most intense resentment. Recreating the past is the strongest stimulus to her obsession."

"And tonight happens to be the full moon. Although her power will reach its strongest Realm, she will also be most easily attracted by such stimuli."

Chen Mu paused, suddenly looking at Liu Ziming with a meaningful gaze.

"But having just the husband and the dog is not enough. The first one who provoked her to act back then, allowing her to taste the flesh and blood of her own kin, was..."

Liu Ziming felt creeped out by his gaze and subconsciously asked, "Was what?"

Chen Mu's lips curved slightly, revealing an expression that looked malicious to Liu Ziming.

"A child, her young grandson."

"A child?"

Liu Ziming was stunned and looked around.

"Where would there be a child in this godforsaken place? Are you going to..."

He suddenly thought of a possibility, his eyes widened instantly, and he pointed at his own nose.

"Me? Chen Mu, are you kidding me! I'm a grown man, how do I look like a child?"

"You don't need to look like one."

Chen Mu stepped closer, his voice low.

"I just need you to play that role and disrupt her mind at the critical moment."

Liu Ziming suddenly realized and remembered what Chen Mu had mentioned seeing in the dream.

It was the little grandson's cry of "Grandma" that stimulated the newly transformed and mentally confused Old Woman, leading to the subsequent tragedy.

It was clear that this was the key to making the Cat-Faced Old Woman's mind waver.

But for him, a grown man, to pretend to be a child and call her Grandma...

Liu Ziming's Face turned pale and then green. Chen Mu stared at him and said calmly.

"It's a matter of life and death, defeating the evil spirit. Do you still care about this bit of Face?"

Looking at Chen Mu's unquestionable gaze, thinking of the dangers they had faced along the way and the responsibility he carried, Liu Ziming gritted his teeth and steeled himself.

"Fine! To get rid of this scourge, I'll go all out! How do I act? What do you want me to do?"

"Just call out 'Grandma' loudly at the critical moment to disturb her mind."

"But the voice must be natural, with a bit of a child's curiosity, or even dependence. That will have the greatest impact on her."

Liu Ziming's mouth twitched, and he tried to speak with a bitter Face.

"Grand...ma."

The voice was dry and awkward, without any sense of a child.

"Softer. Imagine you really are a little baby." Chen Mu frowned as he listened.

Liu Ziming took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and held it for a long time. When he spoke again, his voice was a bit thinner.

"Grandma!"

Although it was still awkward, it barely had a hint of a child's tone.

Chen Mu nodded, barely accepting it. He turned to help Blind Li up and walked out, while the old dog struggled to follow at their feet.

The group walked step by step under the moonlight toward the gloomy and eerie Mass Grave.

...

Chen Mu settled Blind Li in front of a kiln cave, and the old dog crouched at his feet, watching the surroundings vigilantly.

He and Liu Ziming stood a bit further away, but still within the effective range of the forced dream drag.

Then, he sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and concentrated, sinking into a mysterious state between sleep and wakefulness. He fully activated the Flying Bear Dream Entry technique, perceiving the subtle changes in the dream, waiting for the prey to trigger the trap.

As time slowly passed, the blood mist completely enveloped the Mass Grave, and the view gradually became blurred.

The chilling wind swept through the dead branches on the ground, making a rustling sound, as if countless wronged souls were weeping.

One moment, two moments... everyone tacitly fell silent.

Suddenly, the surrounding temperature plummeted, and a bone-chilling cold instantly pierced through their clothes.

Liu Ziming's teeth began to chatter, not from the cold, but from the shivering after being locked onto by an invisible malice.

He felt that something was quietly approaching their location from deep within the mist.

At the same time, Chen Mu suddenly opened his eyes.

"It's here!"