Forbidden Land – CH 111

Chen Rong and her grandfather took a shortcut and returned to the house as quickly as possible.

The uncle was standing nearby. Seeing them, he hurried over and whispered, “Dad, the chopsticks moved. They didn’t stand up; they were spinning. The little hún won’t go back.”

Grandpa frowned. “Spinning clockwise or counterclockwise?”

The uncle said, “I didn’t notice.”

Grandpa said, “Keep your voice down. Let’s go inside and take a look.”

Grandpa led them inside and looked at the table. In the bowl of water, the chopsticks were leaning against the rim, moving very, very slowly, a tiny bit at a time, then a tiny bit more.

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Grandpa’s face tightened. “Oh no,” he said, “it isn’t your friend. It’s some evil spirit from the mountain trying to get in. Your friend is healthy; the evil spirit can’t get in.”

Chen Rong cried out in alarm, “Grandpa, what do we do?!”

Grandpa looked around the house, his face darkening with anger. He grabbed a broom and started waving it wildly around the room, yelling, “Get out of here! What are you doing here with living people?! If you don’t leave, I’ll kill you, you little devil!” After a few more curses, the chopsticks in the water bowl suddenly stopped, wobbled back and forth, and then fell still.

Grandpa quickly called Chen Rong over, saying, “Quick, let’s go look again.”

Chen Rong was frantic. She quickly grabbed the bamboo pole used to hang Zhang Chao’s clothes and followed Grandpa out again. This time, they headed in a different direction along the mountain path.

They shouted loudly as before. Looking at the time, with just over an hour left, it would probably get light soon, and Chen Rong grew even more anxious.

Just then, Grandpa suddenly stopped and gestured for silence. Chen Rong also stopped shouting.

Grandpa looked up at his bamboo pole. There was no wind, but the small black flag on the pole swayed a few times.

Grandpa called out again, “Zhang Chao, come with Chen Rong; we are going home. Be good, follow us, and don’t get lost while playing.”

Grandpa called Chen Rong over, and the two turned and slowly walked back the way they came. When they were almost back in the house, his uncle ran out and said, “Dad, the chopsticks moved again.”

Grandpa nodded and said, “I know.” He hurried into the house and looked at the bowl. This time, the chopsticks were slowly sliding clockwise, and gradually, they detached from the rim of the bowl and tilted upwards.

Grandpa, seeing this, quickly said to Chen Rong, “Tell him to go back home right away.”

Chen Rong immediately called out into the house, “Zhang Chao, go back home, go back home…”

She kept calling, and after a while, suddenly, the chopsticks stood upright. Grandpa, seeing this, smiled and said, “Alright, alright, he’s back.”

At this moment, Zhang Chao’s eyes, which had been open, suddenly closed, as if he had fallen asleep. After a few seconds, the chopsticks fell down again, this time wobbling a few times against the rim of the bowl, and then remained still.

Grandpa quickly went to Zhang Chao’s side, calling, “Zhang Chao, Zhang Chao, wake up!”

Chen Rong was also beside him, anxiously calling his name.

After a while, Zhang Chao slowly opened his eyes, looked wearily at Chen Rong, then at her grandfather and uncle, and said, “Is this Grandpa? Grandpa’s back… Chen Rong, why am I so sleepy? Hey, why are your eyes red?”

Chen Rong looked and was overjoyed; he had finally returned to normal.

Grandpa nodded and said to Chen Rong, “Let him rest well. I’ll give him something to drink later.”

Chen Rong said gently, “Zhang Chao, if you’re tired, close your eyes and take a nap.”

Zhang Chao wanted to speak, but feeling an overwhelming drowsiness, he could only nod and close his eyes again.

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Grandpa took out a talisman from the room, dipped a brush in red powder, drew something on it, muttered a few words, took out a lighter, lit it, held it in his hand, and when it was almost burned out, threw the talisman and ashes into the water. He took the bowl and said, “This is something to calm the nerves. Let your friend drink it and get a good night’s sleep.”

Chen Rong took the bowl and, together with her uncle, helped Zhang Chao up, woke him up, and made him drink it.

Zhang Chao felt dizzy and lightheaded. Chen Rong told him to drink it, and without thinking, he finished it in one gulp.

Finally, everything was settled. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, carried Zhang Chao back to bed, and covered him with a blanket to sleep. Her uncle also went home, and her grandfather, exhausted from the night, naturally went to his room to sleep as well.

Chen Rong stayed by Zhang Chao’s bedside, watching him with concern. Finally, knowing he was safe and sound, she closed her tired eyes.