Zyklon-Säbel

Kapitel 129

Hearing her words, we could only sit down on the ground and quietly watch her. Grandma Yin sighed three times before slowly saying, "Your Lin family...you're monsters!"

I didn't say anything. I just looked at her.

"Tianhuo, you must have always wondered why there are so few older people in our village, right?" Old Mrs. Yin ignored me and suddenly turned to Yin Tianhuo.

“Yes, Aunt, didn’t you say that because of a plague back then, the old and weak couldn’t resist it and died young?” Yin Tianhuo said.

"Then do you know why..." Old Mrs. Yin glanced at me and said, "Why did Yin Xue's parents, your eldest brother and sister-in-law, die so young?"

"These...didn't they all die of illness?" Yin Tianhuo asked cautiously.

"Plague? Heh..." Old Mrs. Yin chuckled bitterly a few times and said, "You could call it a plague, a terrible plague!"

After a pause, Old Mrs. Yin's eyes darted around, as if recalling the past, and she slowly said, "Back then, there were quite a few elderly people in our village. This village was nestled against the mountains and by the water, and people lived a simple but happy and peaceful life, resting at sunset and working at sunrise. Unfortunately, after the war broke out, many people were conscripted by the government. My father, Yin Xiaotian, who was also your grandfather, and Lin Fan, the head of the Lin family, were both taken away. Lin Fan had just returned from doing business in Southeast Asia and hadn't even seen his twin daughters who had been born after he left. Then, they were never heard from again."

Then, ten years later, they actually returned! And Lin Fan had even become a general, with my father as his adjutant. This should have been a very happy occasion, but during the Nuo dance festival three years after their return, the mask also shed tears of blood! At the time, everyone thought it was just another prank and didn't pay much attention. But on the day of the Nuo dance, my father, the one presiding over the ceremony and responsible for wearing the mask, suddenly… fell ill halfway through the ritual!

"Onset of illness? What kind of illness?" Yin Tianhuo couldn't help but ask.

"I was only two years old at the time, and the details were told to me later by my older brother, your father! He was exactly 15 years old then, the same age as the Lin family's twin daughters, Lin Zhiping and Lin Zhian. My older brother told me that my father had no warning signs before he fell ill. In other words, he was perfectly fine before he started the sacrificial ceremony, but halfway through, he suddenly started scratching his body like a madman, probably because of itching or pain? In any case, he was desperately scratching his skin, and even after he had scratched himself until he was bleeding, he still wouldn't stop. Moreover, black lines started appearing under his skin. The sacrificial ceremony was stopped, but the villagers felt that the ceremony couldn't be abandoned halfway because of my father's sudden illness, so they let another person from the village take his place. But unexpectedly, this person also had the exact same problem as my father halfway through the ceremony, scratching his body frantically."

Then the villagers remembered the story of the blood-stained tears from the mask and believed it was a curse, so they dared not touch it again. But the ordeal didn't end there. Later, the father completely lost his mind. In agony, he frantically clawed at his own body, tearing his skin and flesh. Even when his hands were tied behind his back, he possessed enough strength to break free and continue clawing! He clawed until blood flowed endlessly, even rupturing the blood vessels in his flesh. The father, in fact, killed himself…

At this point, Grandma Yin almost choked up and couldn't speak, and we all felt a chill run down our spines! To kill oneself by grabbing oneself—what kind of death is that?

"Next to die was the person who took over the father's place in the sacrificial rites. Everyone thought the curse would disappear after the deaths of the two people who had touched the mask, but unexpectedly, one by one, black lines began to appear under the skin of the village's elderly. At first, they felt nothing, then a slight itching, then an unbearable, intense itching! Later, it seemed they were all scratching like they were possessed, addicted! They couldn't stop! At that time, the village was very isolated, with no good doctors at all! Even if a family traveled thousands of miles to take their elderly relatives to a large hospital in the city, they all never returned. Those who did say the doctors there were helpless against it." There was no other way but to send them back to their deaths! Soon, the nearby villages all knew about this strange illness in our village, and no one dared to come anymore! At that time, the whole village was like a ghost village! But strangely, those who fell ill were mostly the elderly or those with weak constitutions; the strong remained unaffected. Even so, the entire village lived in constant fear, watching their loved ones slowly and agonizingly die before their very eyes—not everyone could bear that. Just as everyone was watching their loved ones slowly perish, a quack doctor arrived from outside the village, claiming he had a way to save them! Unexpectedly, this doctor was not a benevolent figure, but rather a devil!

Volume 4, Chapter 11: Absurd Medicinal Ingredients

Volume 4, Chapter 11: Absurd Medicinal Ingredients

Yin Xiaolong stuffed rice into his mouth, because he knew that if he didn't eat more now, he wouldn't have a strong body, and without a strong body, he might get the same disease as his father!

Illness! What a terrifying illness! Yin Xiaolong involuntarily shuddered. It was an extremely horrifying disease, a disease that had literally killed him by scratching himself! He would never forget the way his father looked when he died, his body a bloody mess, especially the moment his father had forcibly ripped out the veins on his neck, splattering blood all over him. Yet his father's facial expression remained twisted and distorted, as if he wanted to continue scratching his body even in death.

She turned to look at her 5-year-old sister. She wasn't there when their father died, and thankfully she wasn't, otherwise it would probably have been a nightmare for her forever!

"Xiaofeng, eat some more!" Yin Xiaolong put all the food into his younger sister Yin Xiaofeng's bowl.

"I can't eat! And there are only vegetables, I want meat!" Yin Xiaofeng pouted in dissatisfaction.

“Where can we find meat at this time? The people outside won’t come in to sell to us! Little Feng, be good, in a few days your brother will go up the mountain and try to find something for you to eat! Okay? You must eat more now, otherwise you’ll get sick!” Yin Xiaolong pushed Little Feng’s rice bowl, indicating that she should eat some more.

"But... why isn't Mother eating?" Yin Xiaofeng looked at her brother Yin Xiaolong with a puzzled expression.

"Mother?" Yin Xiaolong glanced hesitantly at the silent inner room. Although their father had been dead for some time, their mother hadn't come out. It was as if the immense grief had completely overwhelmed her; she was just drifting through life, and he had taken care of everything at home. Thinking of this, Yin Xiaolong suppressed his own sorrow, gave his sister a comforting smile, and said nothing more.

This damned illness. When will it ever end? But that traveling doctor yesterday seemed quite confident; I wonder if he really has a solution?

Just as I was thinking this, there was a knock on the door.

"Who is it?" Yin Xiaolong asked.

"Zhiping!" Yin Xiaolong jumped up excitedly and opened the door. Standing outside was a beautiful girl with long, flowing hair and incredibly bright eyes, possessing an ethereal and otherworldly quality. However, Yin Xiaolong suddenly thought of her younger sister, Zhi'an. Although they were twins and almost identical in appearance, their temperaments were completely different. Lin Zhi'an exuded a bewitching, almost wicked charm; the two sisters seemed like a lily and a hibiscus, one pure and ethereal, the other alluring and seductive.

"What's the matter so late?" Yin Xiaolong asked.

"Did you know? That itinerant doctor's medicine is working!" Lin Zhiping exclaimed excitedly, almost jumping for joy, to Yin Xiaolong.

"Having an effect doesn't necessarily mean you're cured!" A faint voice came from behind Lin Zhiping. Lin Zhian had a face exactly like Lin Zhiping's, but with a pair of unusually alluring eyes.

"An'an, why do you always have to put people down?" Lin Zhiping pouted, a little unhappy.

"I'm just telling the truth!" Lin Zhian shrugged helplessly, then asked Yin Xiaolong, "Want to come with us and take a look?"

"This..." Yin Xiaolong turned to look at his sister with some difficulty, but in the end his curiosity prevailed and he nodded in agreement.

After finally coaxing his younger sister to sleep, Yin Xiaolong and the two Lin sisters headed towards a large house in the village usually used for gatherings and meetings. Yin Xiaolong followed behind, carrying a lantern. Looking at the two Lin sisters, both with equally beautiful figures, he suddenly felt his heart race. How wonderful it would be if things could always be like this? Even if only one of them were always with him, how wonderful that would be? Just as Yin Xiaolong was naively dreaming of his happy life, Lin Zhian turned and glanced at him. Her eyes seemed to hold a mixture of… seductive… or… jealousy…? Yin Xiaolong was somewhat at a loss. He followed them blankly.

When they finally arrived, the fairly spacious house was already packed with people. At the far end of the house sat Lin Fan and the itinerant doctor.

Perhaps due to his years of military service, Lin Fan's handsome face had acquired a touch of sternness, while the itinerant doctor had a gentle expression, making his already kind face even more approachable.

"Tell me, how much money do I need to buy the medicinal ingredient you mentioned?" Lin Fan asked.

"A medicinal guide?" Yin Xiaolong scratched his head in confusion and quickly asked a villager nearby. It turned out that although the itinerant doctor's medicine had worked, there was only one dose left! The itinerant doctor told the villagers that while the individual herbs in the prescription weren't difficult to find, the medicinal guide was extremely rare. Without it, the entire dose was just an ordinary prescription.

"Mr. Lin, as I've said before, this medicinal ingredient cannot be bought with money! So, no matter how much gold and silver you have, it's useless!" the itinerant doctor replied slowly.

"So what exactly is it? If I can't buy it with money, I'll steal it if I have to!" Lin Fan said.

"Hehe, Mr. Lin, there's no need for that. You don't need to snatch this medicinal ingredient." The traveling doctor stroked his beard and said, "The medicinal ingredient for this medicine is..."

As he said this, the traveling doctor deliberately dragged out the words, and the previously slightly noisy room immediately fell silent, as if everyone had held their breath and were waiting for this savior to speak.

"It's... the heart of a heartless person!" The wandering doctor's words caused an uproar in the room. What was the heart of a heartless person? If someone had no heart, how could they still have one? Besides, could a heartless person live? However, just as everyone was discussing this, Yin Xiaolong seemed to see a strange expression flash across Lin Fan's face. Was he seeing things? Yin Xiaolong turned to ask the two Lin sisters beside him, but instead saw Lin Zhian's smiling face.

A smile? She was actually smiling? Did she think the itinerant doctor's suggestion of a medicinal ingredient was too absurd? Or... something else? Just then, Lin Zhian turned to look at Yin Xiaolong, his face showing the same puzzled expression as his own.

"Xiaolong, what is this doctor talking about? Does such a thing even exist?" Lin Zhian asked quietly.

"Oh...this...this..." Yin Xiaolong couldn't find the words to answer for a moment.

“Of course not, how can it still have a heart if it doesn’t have a heart?” Lin Zhiping immediately chimed in from the side.

"You don't believe me?" The itinerant doctor's voice was not loud, but it made everyone stop arguing and look at him.

“The world is full of wonders. Although my medicinal ingredient is rare, it is not non-existent. Without this ingredient, you can only watch those patients slowly die. Moreover…” The traveling doctor smiled smugly and said, “This disease cannot be guaranteed not to be contagious to the following strong people in the future.”

Instantly, everyone gasped, fear like invisible tentacles touching their hearts.

Volume 4, Chapter 12: The Ancestral Tomb of the Yin Family

Volume 4, Chapter 12: The Ancestral Tomb of the Yin Family

In the chilly night, the moonlight spread slowly around him like ripples on water… Yin Xiaolong sighed helplessly, recalling the words of the itinerant doctor in the main house, and felt a chill run down his spine. Not wanting to see the villagers pleading with the doctor again, Yin Xiaolong quietly slipped away and went to a clearing on the grass behind the main house.

What to do? Does that medicinal ingredient really exist? Or is this doctor lying? With a heavy sigh, Yin Xiaolong lay down on the grass, staring blankly at the moon, his eyes squinting in a daze…

"What are you doing here?" Lin Zhi'an's voice came from behind. In the moonlight, the 15-year-old girl possessed a stunning allure. Her jet-black hair seemed to shimmer with silver light, and the silver light seemed to shine into her black pupils, swirling around incessantly. Her clothes clung to her body in the night breeze, revealing her beautiful and already shapely figure.

Having already reached puberty, Yin Xiaolong immediately felt a dry mouth and his face seemed to flush. Lin Zhi'an always seemed to excite people more than her older sister, Lin Zhiping.

"I...I...I don't want to be inside..." Yin Xiaolong stammered.

"You don't want to see them begging, do you?" Lin Zhian sat down next to Yin Xiaolong naturally and asked with a smile.

"Okay." Yin Xiaolong lowered his head shyly.

“If your loved ones or you yourself were sick, you would also beg him for help,” Lin Zhian said calmly. “It’s just that death is something everyone has to face. There’s no escaping it.”

"Yes! I'm actually very scared too, but..." Yin Xiaolong looked up at the moon in the sky. He remembered the saying: "People have sorrow and joy, separation and reunion; the moon has its phases of waxing and waning, and nothing in this world is ever perfect." But even if everyone knows this saying, how many people can truly see through it? How many can truly understand it? Recalling the days when his father was ill, he even wondered if living like this was worse than being dead.

"But what?" Lin Zhian pressed.

"It's nothing!" Yin Xiaolong shook his head. He asked, "And you? Are you scared?"

"Me?" Lin Zhian suddenly smiled mysteriously, slowly placing his hand on his chest, and said slowly, "I will not die. Never. Because I am a heartless person."

"You...you..." Yin Xiaolong jumped up in fright. But to his surprise, Lin Zhian burst into laughter.

"Little Dragon, you're such a scaredy-cat! Haha, just kidding!" Lin Zhian winked at him playfully.

"You! You scared me to death!" Yin Xiaolong could only say angrily.

"You're all here!" Suddenly, Lin Zhiping ran over from the main house, grabbed Lin Zhian, and said, "Let's go home quickly, it seems Dad went back too!"

"Got it." Lin Zhian nodded, then made a face at Yin Xiaolong before Lin Zhiping pulled him away at breakneck speed, leaving Yin Xiaolong standing there dumbfounded.

***************

The next day, the itinerant doctor's words came true. The first to collapse was none other than Lin Fan, the father of the two Lin sisters!

"How could this be?" Yin Xiaolong and a group of villagers stood guard in the courtyard of the Lin family mansion. Standing before them was Lin Fan's wife, an extremely gentle and graceful yet strong woman. Even with her husband fallen, she calmly soothed the villagers, whose emotions were beginning to rise.

"Everyone, please be quiet!" Madam Lin shouted. "Lin Fan just started feeling unwell; it might not be that illness yet!"

"Madam Lin, please stop trying to comfort us! We're determined to find that doctor again today, no matter what, we have to get him to hand over the prescription!" a villager shouted.

“Yes! The idea of a heartless person’s heart is just a hoax!” another villager immediately chimed in.

"That's right! We must make him hand it over, we can't let it go any longer!" The villagers shouted, as if they were about to beat up the itinerant doctor and force him to hand it over.

"Everyone...everyone...thank you!" Madam Lin suddenly bowed to the noisy villagers, who were stunned by her gesture and fell silent.

"Thank you all for your concern for my husband, Lin Fan, but please think about it. This doctor didn't ask for money or make any other demands. Regardless of whether his medicinal ingredient is real or fake, his motives are very unclear. What if he refuses to produce the prescription if we rush over rashly? Please calm down and go home to take care of your sick relatives. My husband is unwell, but he's not dying yet. He just told me he'll definitely find a way. Please wait a few more days, okay?" Madam Lin's pleading words were heartbreaking, and the villagers were a group of very honest and simple people. After Madam Lin's repeated pleas, they finally quieted down and went back to take care of their sick relatives. In the end, only Yin Xiaolong remained.

"Xiaolong, why aren't you going back?" Madam Lin asked as she walked over.

"I...I..." Yin Xiaolong didn't really want to go back and face his mother, who was almost mentally impaired, and besides, his younger sister was being taken care of by his second uncle.

"How is your mother? Is she still the same?" Mrs. Lin asked with concern.

"Yes, that's right." Yin Xiaolong answered with a bit of shame. Why couldn't his mother be as strong as Madam Lin? Didn't she know that he and his sister were waiting for her to take care of them?

"Sigh!" Madam Lin sadly took Yin Xiaolong's hand and said, "Would you like to come inside with me to see your Uncle Lin?"

"Okay!" Yin Xiaolong nodded obediently. Because his mother and Madam Lin gave birth at the same time, the two families were very close. Madam Lin had liked him very much since he was a child.

Following Madam Lin into Lin Fan's bedroom, they found Lin Fan still sitting there, though faint black streaks had appeared on his face and exposed hands. His expression was extremely gloomy, with a slight redness, as if he were enduring something. Lin Zhi'an and Lin Zhiping were constantly wiping him with hot and cold towels.

"How are you?" Madam Lin stepped forward, took the towel from Lin Zhi'an, and pressed it against Lin Fan's face.

"Don't worry, I can still bear the itch by wiping it with alternating hot and cold water!" Lin Fan glanced at Yin Xiaolong behind Madam Lin and said, "Xiaolong, you're here!"

"Well, Uncle Lin, how are you now?" Yin Xiaolong seemed to see the tragic scenes of his father's death again: the dripping blood, the horrifying clawing, the stench. All of this made him feel slightly nauseous.

"You all go out first, I want to talk to Xiaolong alone," Lin Fan suddenly said to Madam Lin and the others.

"But..." Lin Zhiping was about to say something when Lin Zhian grabbed her. Madam Lin didn't say anything, but just gave Lin Fan a deep look before leaving the room with the two sisters.

What did Uncle Lin want to talk to him about? Yin Xiaolong was a little nervous and curious, unsure of what to do. But Lin Fan's expression seemed even more serious. After confirming that Madam Lin and the others had really left, he slowly asked Yin Xiaolong, "Xiaolong, do you want to save everyone?"

"Save everyone? Me?" Yin Xiaolong pointed to himself and asked in confusion.

"Yes!" Lin Fan nodded and continued, "I want you to find the heart of that heartless person?"

"Go find it? Where am I supposed to look?" Yin Xiaolong asked excitedly. If such a thing really existed in this world, he would find it even if he had to travel across mountains and rivers! But where was he supposed to look?

"Go to the cemetery, go to your Yin family's ancestral graves to look!" Lin Fan's words exploded like a bomb in Yin Xiaolong's heart. Ancestral graves?? Look there? Will it even be there? Judging from Uncle Lin's tone, it seemed like he already knew where that thing was. No wonder his expression seemed a bit strange after hearing what the traveling doctor said that day!

Volume 4, Chapter 13: Lin Fan's Entrustment

Volume 4, Chapter 13: Lin Fan's Entrustment