The next day, early in the morning.

In the distance, the yellowing sun raised its head slightly, and the cries of jungle birds were endless. There is the crisp sound of the flute, and there is also the murmur of the erhu.

The country roads are muddy, and the earth washed by last night's heavy rain glows with fresh and natural vitality, slightly covering up the slightest coolness of life and death. Through a deep bamboo forest, Jin went straight to a courtyard, and could see that the fence of the courtyard had been beaten by the majestic heavy rain, and even the gourd flowers wrapped around it were curled up, and some of the small gourds scattered on the ground had been broken.

I saw a child trembling and tying a hay rope to the dying fence wall, and he made great efforts to support one of the fallen fences, and then mended them one by one with the hay rope left by the old pole head.

Just as Xiao Lan was doing it carefully, a familiar voice came from a distance, "Xiao Lan'er, how is the old pole head grandfather, is it better", listening to this voice is the next door neighbor Tu Da Aunt's son Tuwa, Tuwa is a good partner who has played with him since he was a child, and it is also his most intimate friend. As long as Aunt Tu has something delicious at home, he will bring it to him as soon as possible. Hearing the sound, Tuwa took a bag of medicine in her hand, and she didn't know where it came from.

Xiao Lan'er raised her head at his voice, "You see I asked my father to buy it from the Lin Family Pharmacy in the market yesterday, but it took a lot of effort to get it together, which will help the old pole head grandfather's injury" Tuwa looked at Xiao Lan'er enthusiastically and said.

"Thank you, Tuwa, but grandpa was gone last night"

With a "bang", Tuwa's trembling hands failed to hold the medicine she bought, like a thunderbolt on a sunny day.

"Xiao Lan'er, don't you have to joke with me, the old pole head is in good health, how can it be, how can it be" Tuwa couldn't slow down for a long time, couldn't accept this reality, in order to buy medicine for the old pole head, he was busy for a few days, just when he knew that the old pole head who came back from the hunt was seriously injured, without saying a word, he dragged his father to find the pharmacy doctor he knew in the town, and then spent a year's savings of the old man to buy these doses of medicine.

"I'm not kidding you, grandpa, he couldn't hold it yesterday." Xiao Lan'er said with a sad expression, he could feel the good intentions from Tuwa, but he also had to tell him the facts, in fact, the person who was most unwilling to accept it was himself, and he had to face the reality at this moment. Because he has been strong since he was a child, his grandfather often taught him to be strong, even if he encounters something that cannot be solved, he must hold his head high, raise his head, and be a good man.

"Ahh I was fine when I left yesterday, why did I go all at once?" Tuwa asked

"Grandpa was seriously injured this time, he knew that he couldn't hold it anymore, he didn't tell you at the time, and you were in a hurry to go with Tudad. Originally, he was old, and with some old injuries, it was difficult to hold on. ”

Tuwa suddenly sat down on the ground, refusing to get up for a long time, letting the mud on the ground be dirty, and he didn't care about it.

"Tuwa, grandpa finally told me, thank you and Tuda for your kindness, originally he wanted you not to toss, but you are in a hurry, and I haven't had time to say it."

"Don't say that, we are a family, and the old pole head is also my grandfather, this is what we should do" Tuwa rubbed the clothes on his body and patted the mud on his trouser legs, no way, the most uncomfortable person at this time should be Xiao Lan'er, then I also have to be an adult, I can't cry like a little baby, he will be Xiao Lan'er's best brother in the future, help him overcome any difficulties, he gritted his teeth and made up his mind.

"From then on, I will be your eldest brother, and I will cover you in the future, grandpa will definitely hope that you will be well, if you have anything, tell me, I will charge for you as soon as possible" said that Tuwa also compared an arrow posture, hunched over, looking full of strength, coupled with his resolute gaze, Xiao Lan'er was quite moved.

"Okay, then we'll make up our minds" After speaking, Xiao Lan'er and Tuwa compared their usual gestures, which is a tradition of trust between children, representing trust and commitment, and has the effect of being difficult to chase after a word.

No one could have predicted, but it was the simple promise of these two children that laid a deep friendship for the future opportunities of the two of them, and they never wavered even when they encountered all kinds of helpless tests.

"Then I'll take one last look at the old pole head, and then ask my dad to prepare for the funeral." Tuwa turned around and walked to the thatched house, and Xiao Lan'er also stopped what she was doing and accompanied him in. In this case, according to the customs of the village, it is necessary for the elders with prestige in the village to arrange a grand funeral ceremony, and the old man used to often handle these large and small things in the village with the old pole head, and he was also a good helper.

Although the scale of Fenglan Village is not large, it is very important to face the rituals of old age, sickness and death in some villages, because of their beliefs. To do a white event, the whole village will gather together, and then prepare some sacrificial objects, kill pigs and sheep, and then the sacrificial in the village will lead everyone to the ancestral hall on the mountain not far away for the next ceremony. The ancestral hall is enshrined in the totem of Fenglan Village, it is a very large stone statue, everyone will display a tablet under the ancestral hall after death, every New Year's Festival, the people in the village will come here to burn incense and worship and remember the ancestors.

Looking at the lifeless old pole head lying on the bed, Tuwa and Xiao Lan'er had mixed feelings, the old man who was talking and laughing with everyone with a spring light a few days ago has now become a shriveled corpse, his face is wrinkled, and there are residual blood stains in his mouth. Tuwa shook the hand of the old pole head and said with tears: "Grandpa the old pole head, you go all the way, I will take care of Xiao Lan'er in the future, you can rest assured, he is my own brother when you are away, I will not let him be bullied by anyone." ”

The two children looked at each other and couldn't help but hug each other.

"Hey, old pole head grandfather, why do you have a few tooth marks on your neck, as if you have been bitten by something." Looking at it, the bruises on the tooth holes of several fingers have coagulated into scabs, and it is difficult to find if you don't look carefully, plus the clothes that the old pole head usually wears are relatively thick, the collar is vertically high, and the lights in the room are also very dim, it is also possible that he deliberately covered up the wound, and Xiao Lan'er didn't find it.

In the past few days, he has been immersed in excessive sadness, and he didn't notice that his grandfather's neck was still bitten by sharp teeth, but he only knew that his grandfather had always crooked his neck, and thought it was caused by the loss of qi and blood.

"What kind of monster is this, do you know, Tuwa" Xiao Lan'er asked in a voice, he also didn't know much about those monsters, because in the deep mountains and old forests, there are many strange beasts and ghosts, and the old hunters can often meet them.

"Well, I don't know very well, I want to ask my father, see if he knows, I guess it's something similar to a wild wolf dog, he said that there are many such wild wolf dogs in the ancient forest, they all have sharp teeth like knives, and they are very infiltrating." Tuwa's hand was a little harder, and she clenched Xiao Lan'er's hand, and suddenly there was a breeze outside, which made him both shiver.

"I've heard my grandfather say before, they encountered a lot of strange things when they were young, once I don't know why, the wind is gusting over there in the Houshan ancestral hall, and I will hear a lot of ghostly voices at night, I don't know if it's true or not, it may be that my grandfather doesn't want us little children to go to the ancestral hall to make trouble, I'm afraid of messing up Gangchang." Tuwa muttered with palpitations, I don't know if he made up some weird stories, anyway, he has lived in Fenglan Village for so long, but he has never heard of any demons and monsters, at most the wild boars in the mountains and forests will occasionally run out to steal vegetables to eat, and some wild foxes come to the farmer's house to steal chickens.

"Tuwa, don't be alarmist, grandpa may also have been injured by wild beasts, after all, there are some fierce beasts everywhere outside, what kind of ghosts and things like that. Even if there were, those Imperial Masters would take action to solve it as soon as possible. Now it's time to bury your grandfather first, don't think so much. Xiao Lan'er didn't want to think much about it at this time, after all, it was all speculation, and no one could say for sure. If you can't listen to the wind, listen to the rain is the rain, and scare yourself, so I'm not so small.

"Oh, too, blame me for my broken mouth, and there is no basis for association. Then I'll go back and tell my father, and ask him to talk to the old priest in the village about how to arrange the funeral of the old pole head. ”

"Okay, that's bothering you, don't talk nonsense to Aunt Tu, you also know that your mother is a well-known loudspeaker in the village, you can say anything, grandpa is gone, let him go in peace, don't make extraneous branches, make something out of nothing" Xiao Lan'er commanded, and did not forget to explain that Tuwa should pay attention to the next measure, although the child's words are unscrupulous, but he doesn't want his grandfather to leave after the city is full of wind and rain, and the gossip confuses the public or something. Originally, the families of the parties involved were very sad when they encountered white things, and they didn't have much spare time to toss extra things.

"Alright! You know, don't worry, I won't talk nonsense. Blame me, blame me" After chatting a few words, Tuwa will go back to the house to find Daddy, after he came out, his father was still busy in the kitchen to decoct some healing medicine, ready to come over later to give the old pole head to drink, but I didn't expect it to be used now.

After Tuwa left, Xiao Lan'er was stunned, thinking back on the past few days, grandpa's abnormal state, it seems to be faintly like what Tuwa said just now, as for what it is, he can't say what the doorway is, he simply doesn't want to think so much, he shook his head, and tidied up the collar of the old pole head and neck, not wanting other villagers to see it.

After tidying up the messy furnishings in the house a little and sorting out his grandfather's daily necessities, he suddenly felt that something was missing.

"That's right! Why is grandpa's cigarette stick gone, he has to take it with him wherever he goes, this is his heart and soul baby, did he lose it on the way back, it seems that he hasn't seen him bring it back since his grandfather came back, according to his past habits, the first time he gets home is to add tobacco to his cigarette stick, take a few puffs, and relieve the fatigue of going out for a few days" Xiao Lan'er muttered, or grandpa came back in a hurry, plus he encountered danger, and lost it on the way.

"Dad, the old pole head grandfather left last night, and I just went to Xiao Lan'er's house to see him for the last time." Tuwa has returned home, only to see Father Tu and Aunt Tu still busy in the kitchen.

"Make evil, poor little Lanwa" Aunt Tu said excitedly, although she usually has a big grin, and she has taught his disobedient son a lesson, but what to do is delicious is also the first time to take it to the old pole head and Xiao Lan'er to eat, when the child is in trouble, she is also the first time to educate her son, never reprimanded Xiao Lan'er, because their grandchildren live a hard life for two days, and there is no young labor force and woman at home to take care of, and occasionally help if they can. So she regards Xiao Lan'er as her second son.

"Let's go! Accompany me to see it again," Daddy said in a deep voice.

Then he hurriedly came to the old pole head with Tuwa, and shook his head helplessly.

"You two are good at home, I'll go find the high priest, see how to arrange next, Tuwa, you take care of Xiao Lan'er for me, don't run blind" After that, the old man turned around and walked away in the direction of the end of the village, the high priest is also a respected old man in the village, he usually likes to be quiet, so he has been living at the end of the village, plus he is old and needs to recuperate, and he doesn't like to talk about miscellaneous things.

After a short run, Daddy ran to the residence of the high priest at the end of the village.

"High Priestess, it's not good!" Daddy knocked on the door in a hurry, he was anxious, and he had a bad premonition.

After a long time, there was a small sound of getting up inside, and the wooden door opened. Through the crack in the door, a dark space was revealed, and a thin and folded hand slowly stretched out from it, this hand seemed to have no nutrition, dry and a little scary, and the nails on the top five were black, so it was scary. If you are not familiar with the high priest, you will not dare to contact him easily.

The door opened, and an old man with a skeletal cane stood inside, with waist-length white hair, his bun covered with ornaments of different styles, and two long braids hanging from his ears, bound with red rope a few inches from the ends of his hair. The lights in the room were dim, the more strange and penetrating the old man became, and when he fixed his eyes, his left eye was tied with a black eye bag, which seemed to be blind, and a bloodshot eyeball in the sunken eye socket blinked his eyes without thinking, needless to say, the high priest in front of him was not in a very good mental state, and it was possible that he could not sleep all night.

"Come in," came the hoarse voice from the mouth of the high priest, who turned and walked towards the candlestick, took the fire fold on it, lit the candle, blew it and put it back.

By the light of the candle, Daddy Tu took a deep breath and said, "High priest, do you know, the old pole head died last night, didn't he go out hunting a few days ago, and when he came back, he was in a state of collapse, I hurried to the market to get medicine, and before I could he was gone." ”

"I saw that he was not lightly injured this time, and I don't know what powerful things he encountered, it stands to reason that with his skills and experience, it is difficult for ordinary beasts to hurt him, even if it is an extremely fierce beast, he is careful, and he will hide if he can't fight, I don't know why he is injured like this." After leaving Xiao Lan'er's house, he was full of thoughts, the old pole head left too suddenly, there must be something strange, and hurriedly asked the high priest.

"Hmm," muttered for a moment, and the high priest replied, as if he already knew about it. After all, he has the power of a prophet of the unknown. His expression did not change, he took out a turtle shell from his arms, stuffed a few copper coins into it and shook it, and muttered in his mouth, all of which were some divination and hexagram formulas.

"Murmur...... Woo...... Belch...... Woo...... Huh"

Suddenly, the high priest coughed in his mouth, spurting a few mouthfuls of old blood, his eyes were full of horror, and the trembling turtle shell in his hand couldn't hold it and fell to the ground, what was it that made the powerful high priest so out of shape. Daddy hurriedly supported his body. There was a look of concern in his eyes.

"High Priest, what's wrong, it's okay"

"That's it! You can't escape what is coming! Who let this be fate! The high priest's emaciated body looked even more haggard at this time, as if it had been drained of strength.

"Is something bad happening, isn't it?" Daddy asked

"I don't know exactly what it is, as if there is a very powerful force interfering, and I can only perceive one or two from the scattered fragments. The old pole head has run out of luck, and his life will not last long. With this calamity, he has already completed his mission, and it is good to leave early, so as not to add to the troubles. ”

"The wind rises, the blood looms out, the ghosts are born, and everything is dry!"

"What do you mean?" Daddy Tu looked stunned and didn't know how to ask.

"I can't understand a thing or two, it seems to have something to do with our village, no one can say what is going to happen, I can't say" The high priest shook his head and groaned helplessly, now he is facing something that his ability cannot understand, maybe some powerful existence will foreshadow it.

"Since even you can't understand the mystery, it must be a very big thing, and we can't do anything about it, high priest, you also have to ensure your health, we still need you as the pillar of the village, the old pole head is gone, it's up to you" Father Tu was also very at a loss, he didn't want to lose a beloved elder again, and couldn't imagine how the entire Fenglan clan would face the ups and downs of the future without him. The high priest has always been their protector, and with him, the heart is at peace! Although his appearance may seem very strange to the outside world, after getting along with him for a long time, you will know how simple and unpretentious the kindness in his heart is.

"You go and gather the young people in the village, prepare some matters needed for the funeral, let's hold a ceremony for the old pole head later, send someone to the ancestral hall to settle things, I will clean up here and come, remember not to let people touch the statue, just clean it up a little bit, so as not to disturb the peace of the statue of the god." The High Priest commanded. Every time a sacrificial ceremony is held in the village, they are inevitably reminded to pay attention to these trivial things.

"Okay, I'll arrange it right away, you can take a break" Daddy Tu has followed the old pole head since he got married, he is very steady, he will arrange things big and small in the village in an orderly manner, usually the high priest is rarely involved in the management of the affairs of the clan, these juniors are dealing with it, and they can rest assured, after all, everyone has to grow up, and the older generation must know how to let go. It is precisely because there is such a virtuous old man in the clan who teaches by word and deed, so Fenglan Village has always been extremely united, except for the children who have a small fight, there has never been anything discordant.

The ancestral shrine statue has always been a sacred and inviolable belief in the village, and the people in the clan will organize sacrificial activities during the New Year's festival to pray that the Fenglan god will bless the Fenglan people with good weather and prosperity in the coming year. The ancestral hall is located in the cave of the back mountain, about a few miles away from Fenglan Village, because the mountain is close to the water source and the terrain is flat, so the people of the Fenglan tribe live at the foot of the mountain. It is said that this idol has existed since the rise of Fenglan Village, and the idol inside is called "Fenglan God", and the history is very long, even the knowledgeable high priest does not know the details of the origin, only knows that he is a god with great ability.

Leaving the high priest's residence, the old man did not have time to go home to explain to his wife, so he went to every household in the village to find someone to prepare for the funeral together.

In an instant, the news of the death of the old pole head spread throughout the village, and the noisy sound could be heard in the distance, the roosters and dogs barked in the dust, and Fenglan Village had broken the previous tranquility, and the undercurrent was surging, which meant that the small village was about to be involved in a shocking catastrophe.