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墨書 Inktalez
The so-called "Cat Scares the Corpse," also known in rural areas as "Corpse Transformation," is a phenomenon that occurs very rarely, perhaps once every few decades or even centuries.
When the deceased husband and the man-eating cat targeted her, the wife felt a deep despair as if disaster was imminent. She could die, but her child could not. So, while holding her child, she quickly grabbed the broom she had used for cleaning and swung it at the wildcat. The wildcat let out a "meow" and dodged. Following that, she attempted to strike her husband, but ultimately could not bring herself to do it. The broom hit the man's chest, and he embraced it, jumping up and down in place before collapsing to the ground, motionless.
The noise attracted the neighbors, who hurried over and were horrified by the scene. An elderly gentleman, who had some understanding of such matters, instructed a few strong young men to move the man back onto the door plank and told the man's wife that she must bury him at noon when the sun is at its peak. As for the man's mother, who had been killed by the wildcat, he insisted that she be cremated that night and buried together with her son at noon the following day.
Chang Tai had heard of similar customs before, but at this moment, he was more interested in the wildcat that had killed.
Rouge looked at him and said, "It's gone; no one knows where that wildcat went."
"Then what does this 'Cat Scares the Corpse' have to do with the earlier grave mound?" Chang Tai asked, sensing an unusual chill.
"Because that lady is 'Cat Scares the Corpse!'" Rouge articulated clearly, pointing once again at the grave mound, but this time indicating the woman's tomb. Chang Tai saw a cat perched atop the grave mound, its two green eyes staring intently at them.
If it were just a cat, Chang Tai would not be afraid; after all, he was a constable with both righteousness and a fierce demeanor. It is said that demons fear wicked people; his blood-stained sword was no less intimidating than an executioner's large blade. However, he realized that it was not merely a cat but a creature with an owl's head and a human body.
The creature opened its cat-like mouth and emitted a sound akin to a mating call while crawling toward them in an odd manner.
Chang Tai remained on guard, positioning Rouge behind him. Rouge glanced back but did not object; instead, he reached into his bag and quietly pulled out a hand-held bell.
The creature swayed its head from side to side, its eyes fixated on the bell in Rouge's hand. It took half a step back before suddenly lunging toward Chang Tai and Rouge.
"Meow~"
The creature called out as it tightly embraced Chang Tai while its owl head circled around his neck in an attempt to bite Rouge.
The monster was incredibly strong, exuding a foul odor reminiscent of a corpse that had just crawled out of the ground, with some maggots crawling around its body. Chang Tai was worried about Rouge's safety but found it difficult to break free at the moment.
"Attack its lower body; aside from its head, the rest is just a rotten corpse," Rouge said, holding Bell up in front of the monster's cat-like eyes and giving it a gentle shake.
Seizing the opportunity, Chang Tai kicked at the monster's right leg. The creature wobbled and lunged forward. Using this momentum, Chang Tai pried the monster's hands apart and dodged to the side. Surprisingly, even as its body fell, the monster attempted to bite Rouge's neck. Unfortunately for it, Rouge only had one Owl to use. She coldly took a half step back, shaking Bell once more.
The monster seemed to sense some pain, opening its mouth and letting out a "meow" sound. The Owl desperately stretched forward as if trying to break free from its body. Rouge's expression changed as she shouted to Chang Tai, "It wants to escape!"
"Escape?" Chang Tai was confused, staring at the thing lying on the ground. A woman's body with a cat's head was indeed bizarre.
"That head isn't hers; it was cut off by the foolish villagers after Cat Scares the Corpse. Look at that neck; the cut is very uneven, clearly made with a blunt kitchen knife. After being buried, this cat followed the scent into the grave and mistakenly thought this startled corpse was its own head, forcing it back on, which is why it became this half-cat, half-human monster."
This was the first time Chang Tai had heard such a story; he stared at the monster, struggling to accept it.
Rouge seemed accustomed to it and pointed at the creature on the ground: "Just cut off her Owl, and it'll be fine!"
Seeing that Rouge wasn't joking, Chang Tai drew his longsword and swiftly struck down.
With a thud, the Owl rolled aside while the woman's body lay still and quiet.
Rouge bent down, grasping the Cat Ears and lifting the Owl up. She glanced at the nearby Tomb Mound and remarked, "The village should be not far from here."
Chang Tai lightly hummed in agreement and pointed at the Female Corpse lying on the ground: "What should we do about this?"
"Leave it, after it gets bright, the villagers will come to handle it."
Rouge finished speaking, carrying the Owl, and left first.
Chang Tai glanced at the headless Female Corpse on the ground, thinking that if the unaware villagers saw it tomorrow morning, who knows what other issues might arise. But this thought quickly passed, and he followed Rouge's footsteps into the village.
Dressed in a robe, Rouge looked quite different from Chang Tai, who was in casual clothes. This combination inevitably drew attention from others in the village, especially since Rouge was carrying the Owl and headed straight for the Patriarch's house. Chang Tai asked Rouge how he found the Patriarch's home. Without looking up, Rouge simply replied, "By looking at the houses!" At that moment, Chang Tai understood. In such a remote place, only someone of the Patriarch's status could live in the best house in the village. Moreover, the ancestral hall was somewhat different from other places.
After knocking three times at the door, the Patriarch came out wearing a robe. He appeared to be in his early fifties, with completely white hair and beard. He looked somewhat tired. Upon seeing Rouge and Chang Tai, he initially intended to ask a couple of customary questions but paused when his gaze fell on the Owl that Rouge was holding. His lips moved slightly before he stepped outside, glanced around, and said to them, "Come in!"
Chang Tai found the old man's behavior strange, especially his earlier actions that resembled those of gang leaders meeting for a deal. However, Rouge had already entered with the Owl, so Chang Tai could only follow.
The Patriarch closed the door and led them into the room before looking into Rouge's eyes and asking, "Has something happened on the mountain?"
His first question did not inquire about their identities or intentions but directly asked if something had occurred on the mountain. Rouge nodded and placed the Owl on the table; its two cat-like eyes were surprisingly still able to move.
The Patriarch felt a chill run through him and quickly turned his gaze away before asking again, "May I ask where you two are from and where you are going? How did you encounter this evil creature?"
"Constable from the capital, Chang Tai!" Chang Tai replied as he took out a badge. This was an identification badge worn by Constables from the capital. Although the Patriarch had never seen one before, he could tell from its craftsmanship and intricate carvings that it was quite valuable.
"So you are Lord Chang from the capital. Then this young lady is—"
"Rouge!" Just as Chang Tai was about to introduce Rouge to the Patriarch, she herself interjected with just her name and nothing more.
The Patriarch let out a sound of understanding and did not pursue the matter further. Chang Tai knew that there was no need for additional explanations here and only inquired about the female corpse on the mountain and the owl.
The Patriarch sighed deeply, inviting the two to sit down before speaking, "Ever since Wang Chong's wife went out to work in the fields, I've felt uneasy. Just think about it, a perfectly healthy person—if they die, you can't let their body be in pieces, can you? If they become a ghost, they would surely harbor resentment. Seeing you both and looking at the owl that Miss Rouge is holding, I know something must have happened on the mountain. Fortunately, we encountered you two; otherwise, the Wang family could have brought disaster upon our entire Zhuangzi."
"That female corpse is Wang Chong's wife?"
"Indeed! Not just that female corpse; even this cat belongs to the Wang family. It's truly a tragedy!" The Patriarch kept pounding on the table. The cat's eyes rolled around before finally landing ominously on the Patriarch's face. Startled, he quickly lowered his hand and slightly turned his body to avoid the cat's gaze. "This matter is indeed an embarrassment for our Wang family; it's a misfortune for us."
"What exactly happened?"
"Sigh!" The Patriarch struck his hand down and sighed again, "This all stems from Wang Chong's useless father. The Wang family has been village doctors for generations. You may not think much of village doctors in your big city, but here in our remote area, they are almost like deities. In our Zhuangzi, whether it's a serious illness, a man getting injured, or a woman giving birth, it all relies on the Wang family. Wang Chong's father specializes in treating illnesses while his mother is a midwife. Even I, as the Patriarch, have to look up to them because we sometimes need their help.
When Wang Chong was sixteen, he married a girl from the neighboring Zhuangzi named Water Spirit. She was indeed a beauty. Within a year of their marriage, she gave birth to a healthy boy, and by Year Two they had a daughter as well—truly a blessing with both sons and daughters. Wang Chong's father generously passed on all his skills to Wang Chong. Usually, he treated patients in Zhuangzi while Wang Chong was diligent and traveled from village to village to see patients. Plus, this child was ambitious; he often went to big cities to learn more skills, which his father supported.
On the surface, the Wang family seemed prosperous and harmonious. However, what you don't know is that while Wang Chong's father was good at everything else, he had one flaw: he liked to harm young girls and wives. But it was only occasional misbehavior; nothing major ever happened. The people in Zhuangzi turned a blind eye and let it go. But no one expected that this old man would actually lay his hands on his own daughter-in-law."
Chang Tai's expression changed; he clearly did not anticipate that there were such hidden issues behind the female corpse.
Rouge stared at the cat on the table with her cold gaze unchanged, revealing no signs of inner turmoil.
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