"Ding ding ding... ding ding ding... ding ding ding... ding ding ding..."
A series of bell chimes with a peculiar rhythm echoed through the old house where Mr. Su Bai and the fat guy first appeared. The old man, his hair disheveled, muttered incantations under his breath while shaking the bell in his hand, its sharp rings imbued with an unsettling and eerie mystique.
In the center of the house's living room stood a dark red altar table. Two candles burned atop it, along with several plates of sacrificial offerings.
The sacrificial items seemed sparse, as the village's lockdown had yet to fully lift, though there were signs of it easing. This relief was deeply felt by the old man, whose long-lasting oppressive anxiety was beginning to dissipate bit by bit.
Though the village hadn't reached the point of severe lack of food or clothing, the abundance of grain contrasted starkly with the scarcity of small treats and fruits, thus rendering the offerings somewhat stunted and humble.
