Chapter Eighteen: Seeing the Moon Through Scattered Clouds

The ugliest sins often spring from the deepest desires!

The moment Lin Hai and Lin Fan set foot on the land across the river, a chilling wind swept over them, making them shiver uncontrollably. They stood by the bank, gazing ahead at rows of willows, each with its own strange posture, towering into the night. Their drooping branches swayed in the wind, like wild-haired mothers beckoning lost children home.

Apart from the rustle of leaves brushing against one another, not a sound could be heard in the woods. Bathed in moonlight, the entire grove of willows seemed unspeakably eerie and sinister.

"Uncle, I need to use the bathroom—are you really not coming with me?" Lin Fan swallowed nervously, the icy wind gnawing at his nerves, leaving him restless and uneasy.

"Do you want to hold hands too? Who the hell ever heard of two grown men going to the bathroom together? Go by yourself if you want, but let me warn you—there’s something unclean in these woods, I’m not waiting for you. Take care of yourself." With that, Lin Hai strode resolutely into the forest, never looking back.

"Wait, Uncle—never mind, I can hold it!" Forgetting the numbness in his feet from the chill, Lin Fan hurriedly shouldered his bags and rushed after him.

One after the other, they slipped into the woods, moving quickly and warily among the trees.

Each willow drifted past, their branches brushing by as the wind howled in their ears—at times like the muted wails of restless spirits, at others the heartbroken sobs of vengeful ghosts. The sounds sent Lin Fan’s heart racing with terror and unsettled even Lin Hai’s seasoned composure.

Lin Hai gripped his compass, double-checking its direction as he confirmed the location of the lord of this cursed land, ever vigilant for any signs of the supernatural, his mind unclouded by the oppressive atmosphere.

Lin Fan, on the other hand, was a bundle of nerves, following close behind like a startled rabbit, leaping at every shadow, too afraid to fall even a step behind.

They wandered the forest for nearly an hour, tracking the elusive aura of evil—it always seemed just within reach, yet forever receding before them.

As they circled again and again, Lin Hai was struck by a sense of déjà vu. He abruptly stopped, scrutinizing the willows around him. In that instant, he felt a sudden blow to his back, as if struck by a heavy hammer, and was sent flying.

Midair and ready to react, he glanced back and realized his attacker was not some demon, but Lin Fan, who, distracted by his own fears, hadn’t noticed Lin Hai had stopped and had crashed straight into him. Lin Hai seethed with frustration.

Landing headfirst, Lin Hai ate a mouthful of dirt.

“Damn it!”

“Ow!”

Both Lin Hai and Lin Fan cried out in unison.

“What’s wrong with your eyes? Are they just ornaments? Can’t you see where we are? Is this a shopping mall? You have no sense at all!” Lin Hai snapped as he climbed to his feet.

“Uncle, you stopped so suddenly without warning! How is that my fault?” Lin Fan grumbled, rubbing his chin.

But the collision seemed to jolt an idea loose in Lin Hai’s mind. Quickly picking up the compass, he examined it closely, muttering, “Wait—nephew, have you noticed we’ve been walking a long time but never get anywhere? It’s like we’re going in circles.”

“Haven’t you been watching the compass the whole time?” Lin Fan asked, gathering up their gear and stepping over.

“That’s what baffles me. It should be correct… Wait! Give me your backpack.” Lin Hai fiddled with the compass a moment longer before his eyes lit up.

Lin Fan tossed him the pack. From it, Lin Hai drew a vermilion brush, talisman paper, and a porcelain bowl. He swiftly inscribed a spiritual charm, ignited it, and tossed it into the bowl. “Fill it with water,” he ordered.

Lin Fan uncapped his canteen and filled the bowl to the brim.

Next, Lin Hai broke a twig from the ground and dropped it into the bowl. Clasping his hands and forming two seals, he pressed his right palm over the bowl and intoned, “Locate!”

As soon as he withdrew his hand, the twig spun wildly in the water, showing no sign of slowing.

Lin Fan peered in. “Uncle, what’s happening?”

Lin Hai, a veteran in such matters, could hardly believe he’d fallen into a trap himself. He cursed under his breath, “Spirit maze! Damn it! Something doesn’t want us getting closer. It’s altered the magnetic field of the forest and trapped us in circles.”

Lin Fan blurted out, “So what do we do now? Are we stuck here forever?”

“Spit it out, you jinx! Have some faith—who am I? Little tricks like this can’t stop me! Daring to toy with us—today, I’ll show them what the Lin family is made of!”

As he spoke, Lin Hai rummaged for an iron rod and crouched down to sketch a formation into the earth.

Lin Fan watched, confused. “Uncle, what are you doing? Is this really the time to doodle? Are you cursing them with a magic circle? And what’s with the ugly drawing?”

Flushed with irritation, Lin Hai nearly choked on his own anger but pressed on, his strokes growing faster and more forceful.

At last, the formation was complete. Lin Hai, unable to contain his fury, lashed out, “You idiot! You almost ruined my spell! Can you ever stop making things worse? This is a formation to dispel sorcery and reveal the evil’s location. Now get behind me, blockhead!”

Lin Fan stuck out his tongue and sheepishly ducked behind Lin Hai.

Lin Hai shut his eyes, interlocked his fingers before his chest, and chanted:

“O powers that surge beneath heaven and earth, become my key; open the gate that stands before me! Let the invisible wall be shattered, and let truth and light appear before my eyes—Break the Devil!”

With his final shout, the air above the formation quivered as invisible energy radiated outward. Wind howled, dust swirled, and a dragon of wind erupted from the heart of the formation, tearing into the depths of the forest.

For the first time, Lin Fan witnessed such a spectacle. Excitement surged within him as he imagined himself someday commanding a dozen wind dragons before a crowd, his presence awe-inspiring.

Lin Hai hurriedly scooped up his scattered tools, then delivered a sharp kick to the still-dreaming Lin Fan. “What are you, fresh out of the tomb? Got a hole in your brain? Quit daydreaming and move!”

Startled back to reality, Lin Fan dashed after his uncle, who was already racing after the wind dragon.

The dragon tore through branches and leaves, carving a path through the forest. Lin Hai and Lin Fan sprinted along this newly-forged trail.

Wind roared in their ears, stripping leaves from trees and scattering them across the ground. Beneath the swirling dust, the night sky pressed down with a strange, oppressive weight.

Suddenly, a piercing shriek split the air not far ahead.

Lin Hai pumped his short legs faster, eyes fixed on the path ahead, urging, “Nephew, faster! It’s just ahead, don’t let it escape!”

Spurred by the command, Lin Fan felt a surge of adrenaline. He shot forward like an arrow, leaving Lin Hai behind.

In the dim moonlight, Lin Hai glimpsed a figure dart past him. Realizing what was happening, he shouted, “Idiot! Are you trying to get yourself killed? In such a hurry to be reincarnated? You think I can’t keep up?”

As he ran, Lin Hai formed seals with his hands, muttering an incantation. With a sudden shout—“Teleportation! Flash!”—he vanished in the blink of an eye.

Unwittingly tapping into his potential, Lin Fan burst out of the willow forest in an instant.

Beyond the trees, a vast meadow spread before him. In the center rose a steep hill, atop which stood a solitary, abandoned building, looming like a stern sentinel guarding the land. The hill was ringed by trees, its slopes tangled with thickets and lush grass.

The silent night was illuminated by a pale blue moon set against the black velvet sky. Its silvery light draped the derelict structure in a mysterious veil, making it appear all the more eerie and enigmatic.

Lin Fan trembled, muttering to himself, “A haunted mansion?” He hadn’t expected to run so fast, or to leave Lin Hai so far behind. Shaking his head to steady his nerves, his hammering heart and burning curiosity drove him step by step toward the building.

His gaze locked on the three-story house, encircled by a crumbling moss-covered wall. Two rusted iron gates screeched in the wind. The dilapidated building exuded both allure and terror; the air seemed laced with the scent of blood, a chill pierced his bones, as if ancient cold had broken free, freezing even the air itself.

A shiver ran through him, and reason overcame his curiosity. He stopped, thinking anxiously, “I can’t go any further. Where’s Uncle? Has he gotten lost at this critical moment? No way he’d just abandon me here…would he?”

Lost in thought, Lin Fan suddenly felt a furry paw grip his shoulder. His breath quickened as he raced through possible counterattacks in his mind, but before he could react, a familiar voice sounded behind him.

“Damn it! Why did you stop? Scared now, aren’t you, you fool? All you know is how to charge ahead, never thinking if you’re up to it. Get out of my way!” Lin Hai had appeared silently behind him, shoving Lin Fan aside as he strode toward the building.

Above them, the new moon hung high, oddly enticing.

Lin Hai had barely taken two steps before he paused, gazing at the sky, lost in thought. He muttered, “Ah… If only, when the next full moon rises, the world might be this peaceful.” With that cryptic remark, he hurried on.

“Uncle, a moment without you feels like three years! I’ve never needed you more than now!” Lin Fan’s relief swept away all concern for his uncle’s odd behavior, and he quickly caught up.

“Do you always have to be so disgusting? On the contrary, since meeting you, even farting could break my foot! Stay away from me,” Lin Hai muttered, inching ahead.

“Uncle, slow down! Wait for me!” Lin Fan hurried to keep pace, falling in beside his uncle. “Why were you so slow just now? You have no idea how worried I was! I thought you’d gone off for another bathroom break.”

Lin Hai retorted, “Do you think I’m like you? I’ve only relieved myself once since entering the woods. You, on the other hand, are like a leaky hose, fertilizing the ground wherever you go.”

Lin Fan shot back, “Who are you calling out? At least I’m young and vigorous—I could pee three meters upwind! Not like you, old and faded, can’t even manage half a meter with the wind behind you!”

Lin Hai refused to yield. “Sure, I admire your urgency. But judging by that wet patch on your pants, did you wet yourself back there out of fear?”

“Nonsense, old man! Say that again and I’ll turn on you!” Lin Fan snapped.

“Heh, so I was right, wasn’t I?”

“…”

Bickering all the way, the two of them finally reached the crumbling wall encircling the abandoned building atop the hill.