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墨書 Inktalez
Living Funeral
The pain surged through my body like an electric current. I felt a sharp knife slowly slicing through the skin on my back.
I could sense that the cut was about ten centimeters long, though I couldn't be sure of the exact measurement. Blood began to trickle down my back. Damn it, it hurt so much! Sweat beads formed on my forehead.
At that moment, the ghosts under the Old Witch's command held me tightly, and I couldn't break free. Despite the pain, all I could do was endure it. This feeling was unbearable, excruciating—damn it all.
The Old Witch hummed a tune behind me. Unconsciously, my gaze became dazed, and I saw red scraps of paper floating down from the air. It was as if someone was dancing in front of me, wearing a transparent garment, her graceful figure partially concealed by a layer of sheer fabric.
I found myself entranced, not by my own will but drawn in by the sound of her dance.
With someone humming behind me, the pain seemed to lessen, yet I felt my soul beginning to leave my body.
But just then, the Old Witch behind me intensified her grip, and the pain surged back instantly, pulling my soul back into my body.
I had no idea what the Old Witch was doing behind me. When I opened my mouth to ask, she remained silent. The dancing woman continued her mesmerizing performance, her figure enchanting and beautiful.
The pain was truly intense; logically, I should have fainted by now. Yet here I was, inexplicably captivated by the dancing woman, unable to succumb to unconsciousness and forced to endure the agony.
This Old Witch was truly twisted; she wanted me to experience this suffering while remaining awake.
Before long, I felt a hand plunge into my skin. A piercing scream escaped my lips; it felt as if my throat would shatter from the effort, yet the pain showed no sign of diminishing.
I was done for—absolutely done for.
A sudden sense of foreboding washed over me; I felt certain that this time I would meet my end.
Fear gripped my heart, but it was futile. The Old Witch's hand quickly withdrew from my body, and at that moment, I sensed that she had taken something from within me.
It was likely one of my organs, but I couldn't see anything due to being held so tightly.
Damn it all; this was truly tragic. In the end, I wouldn't even know how I died. After the Old Witch's hand pulled out, I felt my strength rapidly draining away and my vital signs beginning to fade.
The minions of the Old Witch released their grip, and I collapsed to the ground, my blood already staining the earth beneath me.
Breathing became difficult, and the dancing woman vanished. The Old Witch approached me and asked, "How do you feel? Is it painful?"
I thought to myself, "Damn it, isn't that obvious? I'm hurt like this; how could it not be painful?"
But my understanding was completely off. The Old Witch took my hand and held it in front of my eyes. When I looked down, my complexion changed, for the skin on my hand was aging at a visible rate.
In no time, one hand transformed into that of an elderly man in his seventies or eighties, and the aging process showed no signs of stopping; it continued relentlessly.
Seeing this scene made me panic. I asked the Old Witch, "What have you done to me?"
She sneered and said, "Aged. Just wait to die. No, no, you're not aged yet." Then she laughed, her laughter chillingly cold.
"What does it feel like to watch yourself grow old and die? Aged, you never imagined your fate would turn out like this, did you?"
Lying in a pool of blood, I used what little strength I had left to touch my cheek. After feeling it, I realized it was all wrinkles; I was indeed aging rapidly.
But why was I aging so quickly? Was it really true that I had come back to life through some coffin material? Was my current aging due to some force within me disappearing? Had the Old Witch taken away whatever kept me youthful?
Was it that which she just took?
My mind began racing with various hypotheses, but I knew my time was running short.
I started to believe Zhang Xun and the others; perhaps I truly had lived in 198. But now it was too late for belief. I sighed suddenly, unsure of what to think—should I think of my parents?
But Zhang Xun told me my parents were illusions. So who should I think of? Perhaps only the Red-Clothed Ghost remained!
At this moment, lying in a pool of blood and unable to move, I could only wait for death. Besides, at this age, even if I survived, what would be the point?
Damn it, I've become an old fool.
Just then, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching, each step echoing on the pavement. With my ear pressed to the ground, I could hear it clearly, though my consciousness was fading more and more.
“One step, two steps, three steps…” I found myself counting involuntarily.
Finally, the footsteps stopped right in front of me. He slowly crouched down beside me and said, “I’m here. Sorry to keep you waiting.”
The voice sounded somewhat familiar, but I couldn’t recall who it belonged to. Perhaps it was because I was in such a state of half-life that I lacked the energy to think.
At that moment, I wanted to live, but in such a condition, I didn’t know what it meant to survive.
So I asked, “Who are you?”
After my words fell, I waited for his response. I couldn’t see his face and could only ask.
Honestly, I didn’t expect him to tell me anything. After all, these people were elusive; who knew which words were true and which were false? I asked merely for some comfort in my heart. Nothing more.
Time seemed to freeze for a few seconds; even a single second felt crucial to me now.
I slowly closed my eyes as he placed a hand on my back. I felt as if my wounds were healing.
Then I heard him say, “I am Changsheng. I’m late; it’s my fault.”
Changsheng? A wave of emotions surged within me. I wanted to ask more but realized I had no strength left. Changsheng had actually appeared.
I had no words; all I felt was an overwhelming desire to sleep.
Changsheng said to me, “Aged, you won’t die. What belongs to you, I will help you get back.”
Soon after, my consciousness grew even more hazy. In a daze, I saw Changsheng walking towards the Old Witch. The Old Witch let out a panicked sound. What did Changsheng intend to do? Wasn’t he supposed to be dead?
Previously, the Old Witch hadn’t believed that Changsheng would appear; now that he had shown up, she was terrified. What kind of person was Changsheng?
I lay on the ground, my vision blurred. I saw Jiang Changsheng tearing apart red paper, and as the pieces fell, the people around the Old Witch slowly transformed into a swirl of black smoke, dissipating quickly, not even leaving behind a single scream.
At that moment, the Old Witch became panicked and began to retreat. Jiang Changsheng slowly approached her, but the Old Witch didn’t dare to run. She kept asking him what he intended to do.
Yet, Jiang Changsheng remained silent.
The Old Witch said, "You still haven't settled the score for my coffin."
Jiang Changsheng sighed and replied, "So many years have passed, yet you haven't made any progress. Some people you can provoke, but there are others you should avoid at all costs."
As he spoke, the air seemed to freeze.
Jiang Changsheng suddenly intensified his tone and said, "He is someone you should stay far away from, yet you chose to attack him. Your days are numbered."
The Old Witch was stunned into silence for a few seconds; I could see it in her eyes. Soon after, she said, "Can I give you back your things? Please don’t kill me." After her plea, Jiang Changsheng replied, "Ah, it's too late for that."
The Old Witch took a step back while Jiang Changsheng moved forward. It was then that a faint red light flickered around him.
Jiang Changsheng stepped into the circle formed by the red paper.
At that moment, the Old Witch suddenly stopped in her tracks and let out a chilling laugh. "Jiang Changsheng, I haven’t lived these years in vain. Do you think I’m still the same as before?" With each word, her laughter grew colder.
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