Everyone expected that Shen Lao Yao would meet a tragic end, but no one anticipated that karma would strike so swiftly.

The next morning, while I was still in bed, I heard the tragic news from the Shen family: the shrewish woman had died.

After returning home yesterday, Shen Lao Da became increasingly uneasy about the situation. Shen Lao Yao's act of stealing from the ancestral hall was a great disrespect to their ancestors, completely humiliating the Shen family. Moreover, the fact that the earrings were buried in the incense burner had been inadvertently revealed by Fatty. Shen Lao Da felt that the loss of the earrings was solely their Shen family's responsibility, and he didn't want to stir up any more trouble.

So, after a sleepless night of distress, Shen Lao Da went alone to Shen Lao Yao's house. He intended to persuade his foolish younger brother to return the earrings. After all, this matter involved potential loss of life and was no laughing matter.

But when Shen Lao Da pushed open the door to Shen Lao Yao's house, he was immediately stunned by the scene before him.

In the courtyard of Shen Lao Yao's house, more than a dozen chickens, all dead, lay sprawled out. Each chicken had its neck bitten off, and blood splattered everywhere, filling the air with a strong smell of blood.

Hurriedly, Shen Lao Da rushed into the house. Upon entering, he saw a body hanging in the center of the room.

The shrewish woman had hung herself in the middle of the room, using a rope tied to the ceiling beam. Her death was as eerie and horrifying as Zheng Jun's, with bulging eyes, purple lips, and a long tongue hanging out. And in her palms, she tightly clasped the pair of earrings.

Shen Lao Da was terrified at the sight. He searched the entire house and finally found Shen Lao Yao cowering in a corner of the woodshed. Shen Lao Yao hadn't died, but his mind was no longer right. His expression was vacant, his eyes dull, and he was completely naked, clutching a wood-chopping knife tightly in his hand. When he saw Shen Lao Da, he lunged at him with the knife. Shen Lao Da couldn't stop him. Shen Lao Yao had gone mad. He grabbed the knife and rushed out of the courtyard. Many villagers went to "apprehend" Shen Lao Yao to prevent him from harming innocent people.

Outside, there was a commotion. I quickly got out of bed and ran outside to see what was happening.

I saw a man running naked ahead, holding a sharp wood-chopping knife in his hand—it was Shen Lao Yao.

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

Behind him were more than a dozen villagers, some carrying hoes, some holding sticks, chasing after Shen Lao Yao, shouting and screaming like hunters.

Shen Lao Yao's eyes were bloodshot, and he looked insane, swinging the wood-chopping knife frantically. There was no trace of humanity on his face; he looked like a wild beast gone mad.

"Stop him! Stop him! Don't let him harm the children!"

Shen Lao Da rushed to the front, wielding a long bamboo pole, and fiercely struck Shen Lao Yao's ankles.

Shen Lao Yao tripped and fell to the ground, and the knife flew out of his hand.

Two villagers pounced on him, trying to restrain him, but Shen Lao Yao was incredibly strong. He broke free from their grasp and continued to run forward.

I followed the crowd, chasing after him.

Shen Lao Yao ran to the village entrance. At that moment, a tractor came rumbling in from the entrance.

Shen Lao Yao turned his head and charged towards the tractor.

To everyone's astonishment, Shen Lao Yao slammed into the tractor, making a loud thud.

The tractor came to a halt, and Shen Lao Yao, covered in blood, fell to the ground, sliding against the tractor.

The people ran over, only to see Shen Lao Yao's brain splattered everywhere, blood gushing from his head. He was convulsing uncontrollably, with his eyes staring wide open, a look of horror frozen on his face.

The tractor driver was petrified, repeating, "It's not my fault! He ran into me! You all saw it; he ran into me! It's not my fault!"

Shen Lao Yao stopped moving, his eyes wide open, a look of horror on his face, as if he couldn't accept his fate.

Everyone watched this scene, feeling chills running down their spines.

Shen Lao Yao and his wife may have died due to their greed, but the true culprit is the owner of the pair of earrings, Yin Hongyi.

The sun hung fiery red in the sky, but I felt a chill running down my spine. It seemed that this matter was not going to end so easily.

The villagers didn't have much sympathy for the deaths of Shen Lao Yao and his wife, after all, they had brought it upon themselves.

Shen Lao Da didn't even bother to set up a mourning hall; he simply had two coffins made and hastily buried them without any funeral ceremony.

Yue Lao Ye found Ku Lamei, who was drinking at my house.

Yue Lao Ye said, "Ku Daxian, it seems this matter is not over yet. Can you find a way to resolve it? Name your price, I just hope there won't be any more deaths! You see, although our corner is remote, we've had peaceful years for so long, making it a pure land. How did such a thing happen?"

Ku Lamei swayed his wine glass and said solemnly, "Yue Lao Ye, you go prepare something. We'll hold a soul-calling ceremony tonight!"

At night, the villagers followed Ku Lamei to the ancestral hall.

The night was clear, and the crescent moon quietly illuminated the hillside.

There was a hint of tension in the air. This quiet little mountain village was destined for an eventful night.

Following Ku Lamei's instructions, the ancestral hall was prepared...

The villagers held torches, illuminating the surroundings of the ancestral hall brightly, as if it were daytime.

Inside and outside, the ancestral hall was packed with people, creating a festive atmosphere like that of the New Year.

Ku Lamei walked over, and the crowd voluntarily made way for him.

"Ku Daxian, do you have any other instructions?" Yue Lao Ye asked.

Ku Lamei calculated for a moment with his right hand, then said loudly, "Those born in the year of the Tiger, Dragon, and Rooster, stay. Everyone else, go back!"

The villagers looked at each other, unsure of what Ku Lamei meant.

Yue Lao Ye waved his hand and said, "Everyone, follow Ku Daxian's arrangement and go back!"

Many villagers left, leaving only a few people at the entrance of the ancestral hall. It suddenly felt much emptier. I happened to be born in the year of the Rooster, so I stayed.

Ku Lamei said, "Those born in the year of the Dragon, step forward!"

Several people born in the year of the Dragon stepped forward, and Ku Lamei instructed the crowd to perform a ritual accordingly...