Chapter 13
Inside the magistrate’s office, Magistrate Wang briefed them on the situation in the village. It wasn’t as dire as Song Ling had imagined. The “jiangshi-like” individuals mentioned by Magistrate Wang numbered only five, and so far, there had been eight deaths and fifteen injuries.
The jiangshi only appeared after nightfall. Although they hadn’t been captured yet, Magistrate Wang had instructed the villagers to bolt their doors and windows at night and avoid going out to minimize the risk of injury or death.
The injured villagers were currently being treated in the guest rooms behind the magistrate’s office. Song Ling requested Magistrate Wang to take her there to examine them.
Magistrate Wang led them to the guest rooms, where Song Ling examined each patient. She observed multiple scratches on their bodies, the wounds a dark purplish-black, consistent with jiangshi attacks. Fortunately, the injuries weren’t too severe, and the glutinous rice they had brought should be sufficient for now.
She instructed Magistrate Wang to have several large wooden tubs prepared for bathing. Once the tubs were filled with water, Song Ling had Brother Wu retrieve the glutinous rice from the carriage and add a portion to each tub. When the water turned milky white, she had the injured villagers soak in the tubs.
For those with less severe injuries, Song Ling instructed the local physician to clean their wounds with glutinous rice water, emphasizing the importance of reporting any unusual symptoms to her immediately.
After tending to the injured, Song Ling and Li Xinjun went to examine the bodies of the deceased, which were being kept at a nearby mortuary. Li Xinjun asked the soldiers to remove the clothing from the bodies, and she and Song Ling carefully examined them.
Most of the bodies had visible bite and scratch marks on their necks. They also noticed that two of the bodies had blackened fingernails. Li Xinjun asked the soldiers to pry open their mouths and found that their canine teeth had elongated, indicating imminent transformation.
“Soldier brother, please inform the families that these bodies cannot be returned for burial. They must be cremated.”
The soldier looked at Li Xinjun with a troubled expression. “Miss Li, that will be difficult. The families are already grieving the loss of their loved ones. If we don’t allow them to bury their dead, they will surely protest vehemently.”
“Brother, no matter how difficult it is, it must be done. To be honest, if these bodies are not cremated, in a few days, they will turn into…”
“Jun’er, don’t speak carelessly!”
Song Ling, hearing Li Xinjun about to reveal the truth, quickly intervened, pulling her aside and silencing her. Li Xinjun looked at Song Ling disapprovingly and whispered in her ear.
“Sister Ling, I think we can’t hide this anymore. Minister Chen told us to keep it a secret because we hadn’t confirmed it yet. But now, jiangshi are harming people. If we don’t tell the truth, it will only lead to more trouble.”
Song Ling understood the logic, but she had given her word to Minister Chen. She felt it was inappropriate to reveal the truth without his consent, fearing it might complicate matters. Besides, Minister Chen would arrive in a few days. They could discuss it with him then and let him decide.
“Jun’er, we promised Minister Chen that we wouldn’t disclose this matter. It’s not urgent. Minister Chen will be here soon. We can discuss a plan with him then.”
“But Sister Ling, we can’t keep these bodies. You know what will happen if we don’t cremate them.”
“We will cremate the bodies, but we won’t say anything else.”
“Well… alright.”
Song Ling approached the soldier. “Brother, these bodies must be cremated. If you’re worried about the families’ reaction, tell them it was my decision and that you were just following orders. I will take full responsibility for the consequences.”
“Doctor Song, this…”
“Just do as I say. Cremate the bodies immediately.”
“Doctor Song, without a valid reason, I cannot obey your orders.” The soldier clasped his fists, his expression resolute.
“Brother, we’re not trying to make things difficult for you, but this is a matter of great importance. Please understand. Didn’t Magistrate Wang just instruct you to follow our orders?”
“Doctor Song, I understand, but this matter… Perhaps we should consult with Magistrate Wang again.”
“You… alright. Let’s go see Magistrate Wang.”
The soldier accompanied Song Ling and Li Xinjun back to the magistrate’s office and reported the matter to Magistrate Wang. Upon hearing their request, Magistrate Wang frowned at Song Ling and Li Xinjun.
“Doctor Song, why are you so insistent on cremating the villagers’ bodies?”
“Magistrate Wang, I promised Minister Chen that I wouldn’t reveal the reason, but I can assure you that everything I do is for the sake of the villagers.”
“Without a valid reason, as the magistrate of this village, I cannot grant your request. The villagers have already suffered a great tragedy. If we don’t even allow their families to bury their dead, it would be unconscionable.”
“Magistrate Wang, don’t you trust Minister Chen’s judgment?” Li Xinjun argued.
“Miss Li, it’s not that I don’t trust Minister Chen. It’s just that without a reasonable explanation for the villagers, this could lead to unrest. How about we wait for Minister Chen’s arrival and address this matter then?”
“But, sir…”
Li Xinjun was about to protest further, but Song Ling stopped her. She knew that arguing wouldn’t change anything. It was better to compromise for now.
“Magistrate Wang, let’s wait for Minister Chen’s arrival and decide then. However, I urge you to strengthen security at the mortuary. You might find it strange, but you’ll understand everything once Minister Chen arrives.”
“Alright, I promise to have the mortuary guarded day and night.”
“Thank you, Magistrate Wang.”
Song Ling and Li Xinjun left Magistrate Wang’s study and returned to the west wing, where they were staying. Song Ling closed the door behind them, and they sat down at the table to discuss the situation.
“Sister Ling, are you just going to let them leave those bodies unattended? We’re already dealing with five jiangshi out there. If those bodies also turn, I don’t know if we can handle it.”
“We have no choice for now, Jun’er. Even if we told Magistrate Wang the truth, he might not believe us, and it might disrupt Minister Chen’s plans. Besides, Minister Chen should arrive by the day after tomorrow, at the latest. If we keep a close eye on the mortuary these next few days, I think we can prevent any problems.”
“I really don’t understand these political games. I just don’t want to see any more lives lost.”
“Neither do I. I hope we’re not too late. By the way, we need to be on guard tonight. The jiangshi might appear after dark.”
“Do you have any plans?”
“I’m thinking of setting some kind of trap, but I haven’t figured out the specifics yet.”
Silence fell over them as they pondered the best course of action. Suddenly, Li Xinjun snapped her fingers.
“Sister Ling! What if we do this and that… What do you think?”
“That might work! That’s a great idea, Jun’er! Let’s go ask Magistrate Wang for permission.”
Li Xinjun and Song Ling went to see Magistrate Wang again, this time to discuss their plan to capture the jiangshi. Magistrate Wang, finding their plan feasible, agreed to cooperate.
Li Xinjun’s plan was simple and straightforward. They would set traps using ropes in areas where the jiangshi frequently appeared, using bloody chickens as bait.
The jiangshi, attracted by the strong scent of blood, would enter the roped-off areas. Soldiers hiding nearby would then pull the ropes tight, trapping the jiangshi. They would then transport the captured jiangshi to the prison, providing a temporary solution.
They led the soldiers to the designated areas and evacuated the villagers, instructing them to temporarily relocate. They then set up numerous ropes in a wide open space.
Next, they took the prepared chickens, slit their throats, and tied them to posts in the center of the roped-off areas, concentrating the blood in one central spot. Once everything was ready, they hid in nearby houses, waiting for the jiangshi to appear.
Li Xinjun, Song Ling, and Brother Wu were in the same house. They peeked through a crack in the window, observing the situation outside. No one could predict the outcome, but they all hoped to capture all the jiangshi tonight, complete their mission quickly, and return home safely.
As dusk settled, Brother Wu signaled the soldiers hiding in the other houses to be on alert. The soldiers gripped the ropes, their senses heightened, waiting for the jiangshi to emerge.
Tension filled the air. Li Xinjun instinctively grabbed Song Ling’s hand, who squeezed it reassuringly. They both knew that the night’s mission was fraught with danger and silently prayed for a safe outcome.
Fifteen minutes passed. Brother Wu and the soldiers beside him were sweating, but there was still no sign of the jiangshi. They dared not relax their grip on the ropes, knowing that the jiangshi could appear at any moment. As they waited, fatigue began to set in. Suddenly, a bell rang, startling them awake.
They had set up tripwires with bells attached in the area. Anything or anyone passing through would trigger the bells.
The ringing bell meant that something had entered their trap. Hearts pounding, they waited to see what it was. All eyes turned towards the source of the sound. Li Xinjun’s heart raced, and beads of sweat formed on her forehead. Brother Wu was drenched in sweat.
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