In the still of the night, the sky looms like a giant black beast, swallowing the earth whole, while the residents of the secluded Huai’an Street are already asleep.
"Is it this house?"
"Someone rented that... haunted house?!"
"Without a doubt. I’ve been observing this house for a long time. There’s only a father and daughter living in the haunted house, and they only go out once every few days. They can rent such a large mansion without working, clearly possessing secrets, not to mention a substantial amount of money. Finish this heist, and we’ll enjoy the rest of the year living carefree!"
"To hell with the haunted house, without money, the brothers can’t even eat. Let’s do this job, soon it will be hard to get a chance."
The leader, a man with an inverted triangle face, licked his lips and decided quickly; soon it will be the Deer Dinner, and the city’s security will be tightened, making it difficult to take action.
If anyone dares act at this critical moment and things go awry, no one will be able to protect them. Stirring trouble when scholars from various counties gather in Donglai is no different than slapping the face of the Governor of Donglai.
The three are not natives of Donglai County City, but strivers from outside. They hail from the same small village and, once witnessing the city’s prosperity, were unwilling to leave. However, their skills are limited, barely making ends meet in the southern Market of Donglai County, living from hand to mouth.
Once they tasted success through burglary, they couldn’t stop, becoming obsessed with gaining without labor.
Lately, they have focused on Li Lu, planning a nighttime strike, only to unexpectedly find the haunted house at the end of Huai’an Square rented.
The mansion at the end of Huai’an Square used to be the ancestral home of a Cheng family, struggling to survive, but once a scholar emerged, the whole family was wiped out right before Cheng Juren was to enter Beijing.
Since then, the residents of Huai’an Square occasionally heard cries coming from the mansion at night, rumored to be the Cheng family, resentful in death and unwilling to leave, their spirits haunting the mansion.
The residents of Huai’an Square consider the innermost mansion ominous, with surrounding homes nearly empty, rarely does anyone venture deep into it, especially at night.
The trio has watched for days; the father in the pair hardly leaves the house, tinkering inside all day, as does the daughter. They’ve set their minds on tonight!
"Let’s go, there’s no moon tonight, seems like even heaven is helping us. Less bloodshed, the better, while they’re asleep, we’ll just grab the valuables."
The leader whispered; the trio once trained in Martial Arts Hall, their skills emboldening them, prepared to kill if discovered by the father and daughter, and dispose of them.
This pair keeps to themselves, living in a haunted house. In the vast Donglai County City, no one will mind losing these two, especially as they’re outsiders without ties here.
Thinking of this, the trio moved to the wall, one squatted while the other two quickly climbed over, reaching out to pull the last man up, then hopped into the courtyard.
In the depth of night, a startling silence prevailed, as the trio tip-toed toward the Inner Courtyard, passing the old well in the front courtyard their bodies suddenly froze.
"What was that sound?"
A gust rose unexpectedly in the Inner Courtyard, stirring the leaves of the locust tree outside, exchanging glances, they proceeded cautiously, searching to find the source of the strange breeze at the old locust tree in the Inner Courtyard.
"What’s going on... Could it be the ghost of ’Cheng Juren’?"
A gulp echoed, someone swallowed hard.
"To hell with ghosts, martial artists have abundant Yang energy; besides, we’ve killed before, if there’s fear, it’s the ghost fearing us!"
The leader chuckled coldly, rallying the other two’s spirits, braving the eerie wind toward the locust tree.
One step.
Three steps.
Five steps.
"Well, there’s nothing strange?!"
Nearing the tree, confusion painted their faces, because the location seemed utterly normal, the wind appeared to arise from nowhere, only blowing under this locust tree.
"I’ve heard ’Cheng Juren’ was hanged; could it be right there, under this tree?"
Someone murmured, hearts skipped as the trio quickly glanced up at the tree, relaxing upon finding it barren of bodies.
"Gulp!"
Suddenly, among the three someone gulped loudly, his voice trembling like a sieve, "There’s somebody... a shadow under the tree!"
"What?!"
The other two’s faces changed drastically, standing right beneath the locust tree, yet failing to notice any shadows?
Quickly turning their heads, following the direction pointed, goosebumps covered their skin; the shadow seemed completely merged with the night, with the tree.
Previously unaware, it was only at close proximity they shocking realized, right beside them sat a figure cross-legged.
"The wind... it’s coming from him!"
As words fell, the shadow remained seated quietly, but the hair wild and untamed, suddenly a fierce wind enveloped the courtyard, instantly encroaching upon the three.
"Is he a man or a ghost?!"
Faces pale as death, the trio’s reality abruptly transformed.
Beneath their feet, green bricks shattered, yellow sand rolled filling the sky, far across the horizon, emerged countless iron cavalry, weapons forest-like; lowering their gaze, suddenly blood flowed like rivers, bones forming mountains.
"Battle!"
A roar shook the battlefield; their hearts jolted as if struck by lightning, pounding to burst but then abruptly halted!
"Huff, huff—!"
Mouths gaped wide, breath heavy, with blood seeping from their seven orifices, bodies convulsed then weakened, collapsing backward simultaneously.
"What... are you looking at?"