The hunched Budacuo was standing at the entrance of Longzhao Village, and even his posture was exactly the same as when he watched Jiang Chuyan and He Yuan leave.
He just stared quietly at the two people in the car through the front windshield of the SUV, his expression firm, as if he had already anticipated the scene at this moment.
Jiang Chuyan, bathed in the calm and almost eerie gaze of the Longzhao Village chief, felt dizzy and almost nauseous.
"No..."
Hot tears involuntarily seeped out of his eyes, his face was pale and he looked like he was on the verge of collapse.
"Why... why are you back again... We didn't even take the wrong road. We should have left!"
He grabbed He Yuan's arm tightly, and a weak and frightened whimper came from his throat.
A feeling of despair that was completely beyond the control of reason washed over Jiang Chuyan's heart like a tsunami, so much so that when He Yuan helped him out of the car, he could hardly walk independently.
His body was shaking like a sieve, and his eyes were wandering, as if he had fallen into a nightmare.
"Chu Yan! He Yuan! What the hell is going on with you?!"
"Yeah, you know we've been calling you from the back... there's something in the back seat of the car!"
"We were yelling at you two the whole time. It was terrifying! What the hell were you driving?!"
…
Then, a familiar voice sounded.
Bai Ke, Liu Tianyu and Xu Yuanzhou rushed out of Longzhao Village in a hurry. After seeing the two people leaning against the SUV, they all raised their voices and shouted - according to them, they were still packing their luggage in the room, but He Yuan and Jiang Chuyan seemed to ignore them and drove away without them.
Moreover, they all saw that in the back seat of the SUV, there was something that was obviously not a human.
But no matter how they reminded them, Jiang Chuyan and He Yuan still left them alone and drove away.
"Chu Yan, are you okay? Did that thing attack you? Damn, what's wrong with you? Don't scare me—"
Xu Yuanzhou's eyes met Jiang Chuyan's face, and he seemed to be frightened by the latter's collapsed expression at the moment. The boy walked towards Jiang Chuyan anxiously and reached out to pull him.
The boy's expression, voice, and actions were exactly the same as the childhood sweetheart Jiang Chuyan knew, without any difference.
However, before Xu Yuanzhou got close enough, Jiang Chuyan couldn't help but yell at him, "Don't come over!"
Jiang Chuyan was gasping for breath. He held He Yuan tightly and looked at Xu Yuanzhou with endless vigilance and caution in his eyes.
"Don't touch me."
After a pause, he added in a trembling voice.
Xu Yuanzhou's expression froze on his face. He stared at Jiang Chuyan in great confusion: "Chuyan, what's wrong with you..."
"Yes, Chuyan, Brother Yuanzhou just wants to care about you."
Bai Ke also came over, looked Jiang Chuyan up and down and said.
"What happened to scare you like this?"
Liu Tianyu seemed to echo from the side.
Before they knew it, the three boys were surrounding Jiang Chuyan not far away.
Their gaze is focused and their eyes are dark and deep.
They were clearly the most familiar faces, clearly companions he spent every day with, but when Jiang Chuyan looked at them, he felt that every face would begin to become unfamiliar if he looked at it for just a little longer.
Are these three people really the three people he knows?
While thinking this, Jiang Chuyan felt a chill on his back.
He was like someone who had been frightened to the point of insanity, unable to judge anything. The only thing he could do was to cling tightly to the arm of the boy beside him to absorb the little warmth from him.
Unknowingly, He Yuan has become Jiang Chuyan's only support in this terrible village.
"Jiang Chuyan was just frightened. Please step back and give him some space. Don't worry about anything else."
He Yuan obviously noticed that something was wrong with Jiang Chuyan. He stepped forward and blocked Jiang Chuyan behind him, then spoke to the three people in front of him.
"But--"
Xu Yuanzhou seemed unwilling to give up and wanted to move forward, but at this moment, Budacuocuo suddenly spoke up: "I told you a long time ago that the water monkey will not let you get away like this..."
"Water monkey, water monkey, you only know how to tell us to be careful of water monkeys, so tell me - what the hell is a water monkey?!"
As if he had finally lost all patience, He Yuan roared at Budacuocuo with a gloomy face.
"…"
Budacuocuo was silent for a moment.
At this time, Jiang Chuyan also turned his eyes to him.
Just like He Yuan, Jiang Chuyan was also eager to know the answer to that question.
"Yes, yes, what exactly is a water monkey..."
The other people seemed to have finally realized something as well. They all looked at Budacuocuo and urged him hurriedly.
Under the scorching gaze of the outsider, Budacuocuo sighed dejectedly.
He waved his hand, and then asked everyone to follow him back to the small building.
"It's only because of the care of the ancestors that I dare to tell these things." Budacuocuo stammered, then looked up at the countless masks hanging from the ceiling.
Jiang Chuyan frowned, looked up for a moment, and then quickly looked away.
——The mask that Budacuocuo mentioned not only failed to give him a sense of security, but made Jiang Chuyan feel even more uncomfortable.
Immediately afterwards, Jiang Chuyan heard the hoarse and low voice of Budacuocuo.
"The water monkeys were actually originally humans, a group of people who had made a serious mistake..."
*
Fifty years ago, Longzhao Village was a primitive village located in the deepest part of Xi Mountain, almost completely isolated from the outside world.
Their lives are no different from those of their ancestors hundreds or even thousands of years ago.
Although the government has sent people to travel through mountains and rivers and find ways to get here, no matter what those "outsiders" say, the "outside world" they talk about is still distant and illusory to the villagers of Longzhao Village, like a legend.
They didn't trust these outsiders, nor did they trust the world that had already become different.
They only believe in living off the land and living off the water.
With no education, no healthcare, and no infrastructure, the villagers of Longzhao have been battling the cruelest elements of nature almost since birth.
Just surviving has exhausted all their strength...
However, precisely because they have lived like this for generations, they have never been dissatisfied with this kind of life.
That year, God showed his most cruel side to everyone in Longzhao Village - a continuous heavy rain that lasted almost a year turned the entire Xishan area into a vast ocean.
Landslides and mudslides completely cut off the only rugged road leading to the outside world from Longzhao.
The entire Longzhao Village was completely isolated in the deepest part of the mountains.
The flash floods completely washed away the villagers' meager crops, turning them into a swamp of rotting mud. Their hard-earned food stores also began to mold and rot. Worst of all, even the prey in the forest disappeared without a trace due to the heavy rain.
As a result, Longzhao Village fell into an unprecedented famine.
They ate everything they could eat, from moss to tree bark, and in this painful struggle, the plague began to spread like wildfire...
Longzhao Village is about to be destroyed.
It was at this time, accompanied by rumbling thunder and strange black clouds as thick as ink, that huge monster fell from the sky in thunder that seemed to make the world explode completely, and fell heavily in front of a cave not far from Longzhao Village.
The scarlet blood dyed the muddy stream near the cave red.
It was a creature that the villagers of Longzhao Village had never seen before: it was huge, covered with scales, and had numerous sharp claws of varying sizes on both sides of its body.
It looks somewhat similar to the murals in Luolong Cave that were painted by an unknown person.
...Is this the Dragon God?
When the villagers saw it for the first time, this question came to their minds.
Naturally, no one dared to offend the Dragon God at first. They even considered the dragon the village's final salvation. Tired and desperate, the villagers guarded the Dragon God day and night, applying their remaining precious medicine to the dragon's body.
They prayed for the Dragon God to get better, and that because of their piety and respect, the Dragon God would save the village that was on the verge of death.
One day, two days, three days...
The dragon did not grant the villagers the extraordinary power to transcend the world and save them from the terrible famine and plague as they had expected.
When did that saying come about? To this day, no one can tell for sure.
By the time they realized it, all the villagers had already heard those words.
The reason why this dragon fell into the Dragon Swamp was not for anything else but to allow the villagers to enjoy its flesh and blood and no longer suffer from famine.
Otherwise, why didn't the dragon fall earlier or later, but just at this moment when the entire Longzhao Village was about to be destroyed, did this dragon fall in front of them?
What a huge dragon it was, enough to feed the entire village for a long, long time.
The scales on its skin were so hard that even the sharpest axe in the village couldn't cut through it, yet its body was covered with scratches deep enough to see the bone.
Through the gaping wound, the villagers could clearly see the bright red flesh pulsating beneath the scales.
Soon, even when praying to the Dragon God, some people couldn't help but swallow their saliva at the dragon's wounds.
In less dire times, villagers would catch fresh wild deer from traps, and the men would slit the deer's throats as it howled and howled, then drink long gulps of the warm blood that gushed from its flesh.
It's so sweet and delicious. After drinking it, you won't feel hungry for several days and you will feel more energetic.
What if you eat this dragon?
The flesh and blood of the Dragon God should be more delicious than that of a wild deer, right?
…
"When people are starving to the point of going crazy, they can't think about anything."
Budacuocuo said softly.
"Later, the situation got out of control. My great-grandfather was at a loss and had to come up with a compromise. At that time, there was a man in our village who broke his hands and feet while hunting. After he couldn't get treatment, he became a useless cripple."
"so?"
Jiang Chuyan couldn't help but frown.
"They fed that crippled man a mouthful of dragon meat."
The village chief's voice was a little deeper than before.
Jiang Chuyan's body shook slightly.
Strangely enough, when Budacuocuo recounted the events of fifty years ago in a calm and hoarse voice, an extremely vivid picture emerged in Jiang Chuyan's mind.
It was so vivid that it seemed as if he had been there...
He could even imagine how the other villagers of Longzhao Village hid in the dark, staring at the man with slightly green eyes after the masked village witch expressionlessly fed the dragon meat to the man who was regarded as a "burden".
Each of them was like a skeleton clinging to a thin layer of skin, their eyes blazing as they looked at the man, as if burning with will-o'-the-wisp.
But what the villagers feared did not happen.
The Dragon God's flesh and blood is not poisonous.
The man lived well after eating dragon meat.
The next day, when people opened the door of the room where the man was imprisoned, everyone was shocked to find that tender limbs had grown from the broken hands and feet of the man.
Yes, the disabled man's hands and feet grew back.
This is the effect of dragon meat.
At that moment, everyone's eyes lit up with a beast-like light due to extreme hunger.
…
"...So, they ate the dragon just like that."
In the small building, Jiang Chuyan sat beside the fire pit. With an expressionless face, he asked Budacuocuo to complete the unfinished words.
There was no doubt in the young man's tone.
On the way here, Jiang Chuyan had already heard the famous legend of Longzhao Village, but even he did not expect that behind the legend, there was such a mysterious and terrifying past.
Budacuocuo tilted her head and stared at Jiang Chuyan with bulging eyes for a while.
After a moment, the strange-looking man suddenly opened his mouth and smiled.
"Yes, the people of the village ate dragon meat. They survived the famine because of it."
After a pause, he stuck out his bright red tongue, licked his lips, and added.
"Dragon meat... is very delicious."
…
That was meat that the impoverished villagers of Longzhao had never eaten before.
After long-term torture, the soft pieces of meat that they swallowed into their throats were soft and slippery, and did not even need to be cooked. Their extreme hunger made them greedily swallow the sticky raw meat like savages.
The rich flesh melts in your mouth.
Warm and sticky, like the internal organs that had been chewed in advance, being swallowed back into the withered human body mouthful by mouthful.
Everyone came back to life.
Just one sip and your stomach, twitching and rubbing against each other, relaxes instantly, sending a scorching heat surging through your body. Old people's hair grows back, and seriously ill patients, staring blankly, are able to walk the next day, becoming healthy and incredibly strong.
Later, the women in the village began to have swollen bellies.
The bulging belly will only take one or two months to burst out, revealing a pale, strong and sensitive baby.
Just like the first disabled man who ate dragon meat, the villagers also grew slender and strong arms and legs. The extra limbs continued to emerge from their armpits, waists, and backs, growing like thorns.
…
After eating the dragon meat, the villagers thought they would no longer suffer from hunger. However, they soon discovered that after seeing their once beloved lovers and their beloved children, they would still twitch due to extreme hunger.
They couldn't help but wonder how soft and juicy the brain must be hidden under the hard skull.
Stick out your tongue and probe it into the nose and ears of a living person. Soon the tip of your tongue will touch the soft and warm feeling.
If they thrust out the barbs and stir them a little, the human body will twitch in pain beneath them.
Suck, suck...
sticky.
It's wet.
Fishy and sweet.
tasty.
hiss...
Hiss...
*
"All the villagers who ate dragon meat gradually turned into that...that kind of monster. My father called those people...water monkeys."
In the hall, Budacuocuo's voice sounded thin and sharp.
"For fifty years, the water monkeys have wandered here. They're so hungry they'll devour villagers to relieve their endless hunger. This is a curse bestowed upon them by the Dragon God. They're trapped in the famine of their own bodies. And we, the descendants of sinners, have no way to destroy those water monkeys. They're invulnerable to weapons. Even if we hack them into pieces, they'll be back to their original form the next day. They fear nothing except fire. Furthermore, they'll do everything they can to unleash evil and confuse people..."
After hearing Budacuocuo's description of the water monkey, everyone in the small building fell into deathly silence.
It's all too absurd.
In this absurdity, there is an indescribable horror.
Jiang Chuyan grabbed the corner of his clothes tightly.
If he had not personally experienced the terrifying scene of being chased by water monkeys, he would probably think that what Budacuocuo said was nothing more than absurd rural legends.
But now, he was so scared that he was shaking all the time.
He recalled the past events that Budacuocuo had told him over and over again. After a moment, Jiang Chuyan suddenly caught the mistakes in Budacuocuo's words.
"wrong--"
he suddenly shouted.
"If the water monkeys are really that powerful, how did you survive?"
The pale-faced young man stared at Budacuocuo.
"Invulnerable, immortal, and incredibly strong... If the water monkey wanted to eat all of you, it should be easy to do, right?"
Hearing the question, Budacuocuo rubbed his hands uncomfortably.
"There weren't so many water monkeys around the village before, and they weren't so fierce, and..."
"And what?"
He Yuan asked impatiently.
"And we have the blessing of the Dragon God."
"…"
He Yuan frowned.
"Dragon God bless you? What the hell?"
Budacuocuo lowered his eyes and the corners of his mouth twitched.
"Fifty years ago, so many people in the village turned into water monkeys. Those of us who remained knew we had made a grave mistake, so my great-grandfather immediately began to confess his sins to the Dragon God... He used many methods to beg for His forgiveness."
"Later, he succeeded. After a grand sacrifice, the Dragon God got what he wanted."
"As long as the lamps are lit, the water monkeys won't dare invade the village...Originally, that's how it should have been. However, more than a decade ago, a major accident occurred during our ritual."
"What accident?"
Jiang Chuyan frowned and found himself breaking out in a cold sweat unconsciously.
Budacuocuo lowered her eyes.
"During the sacrifice, someone stole the most important offering. Since then, the Dragon God's blessing on our village has become weaker and weaker, and the water monkeys have become more numerous... and more powerful..."
When he said this, a trace of miserable smile appeared on the corner of Budacuocuo's mouth.
"If possible, no one wants to stay here any longer. The government has sent many people to ask us to leave, but the water monkeys are guarding there and they won't let us go. Anyone targeted by the water monkeys will be kept here forever. That's why I said before that you can't leave."
As soon as Budacuocuo finished speaking, Jiang Chuyan interrupted her abruptly.
"impossible!"
Jiang Chuyan shouted in a hoarse voice.
Even he himself doesn't understand why he gets so emotional every time he talks about this topic.
"I don't want to stay in this damn place."
As he shouted, the other three people nodded repeatedly as if they had just woken up from a dream.
"Yeah, are you kidding? I have an internship in my senior year."
"Who wants to stay in this remote place with no water, no electricity, and no wifi? I would rather die than stay here."
"I don't care. You're the village chief of Longzhao. You have to come up with a solution. You can't just hold us here...
…
Gradually, the noise in the small building became more and more impatient and sharp.
Unconsciously, it seemed as if everyone was on the verge of losing mental control.
Only Budacuocuo remained in deathly silence.
"Okay, shut up!"
Finally, it was He Yuan's loud shout that made everyone quiet down.
He Yuan's cold gaze fixed on Budacuocuo.
"Tell me, what exactly should we do to get out of here? I know you have a way."
Budacuocuo nodded slowly.
"There is a way... Of course there is a way, but..."
"Just what?"
Jiang Chuyan asked hurriedly.
Budacuocuo let out a long sigh.
"But you will definitely be afraid. Because we need to offer a bride to the Dragon God."
"bride?"
"Yes, the reason the sacrifice failed more than a decade ago was because the bride was forcibly taken away... This time we have to find a way to replace the bride. As long as the Dragon God is happy, you won't have to be afraid of the water monkey anymore."
After a light cough, Budacuocuo's voice gradually became lighter.
But no one knew whether he was pretending or he really felt a little relieved.
"Don't be afraid, though. Becoming the Dragon God's bride isn't a bad thing. Once you marry the Dragon God, you no longer belong to this world. No demons or monsters in this world will dare to touch you. This is truly a great blessing..."
"What a joke—"
Upon hearing this, He Yuan's face changed, and he obviously thought of something very bad.
Budacuocuo glanced at the tall, livid-faced boy, her voice stagnant, her Adam's apple bobbing. "Becoming the Dragon God's bride won't be dangerous."
Budacuocuo explained nervously.
"Things are different now. No one dares to do anything to the 'bride'."
Budacuocuo's gaze fell on Jiang Chuyan.
"Besides, he's Mal, a person favored by the Dragon God. You know, the Dragon God is always the most gentle to those he likes... He Yuan, you actually know this, don't you?"
Suddenly, Budacuocuo suddenly turned the topic to He Yuan.
Jiang Chuyan's eyebrows twitched, and his whole body tensed up uncontrollably.
"What's the meaning?"
He asked.
Budacuocuo grinned and smiled.
"Didn't I say that before? He Yuan is a Xikani. Xikani in our community means someone possessed by the Dragon God."