I was still young at that time, not fully understanding what Kuzhu said, but I knew I was a "freak" different from others, with an extra piece of bone growing behind my head.

Grandpa was almost kneeling down to Kuzhu, begging him to find a solution to help me get through this ordeal no matter what.

Kuzhu squinted for a moment, pondering, and then said there was a way, but he didn't know if the Yang family would agree. Then he leaned close to Grandpa's ear and muttered a few words. I couldn't hear clearly, but Grandpa's expression changed noticeably.

"Is this the only way?" Grandpa asked tremblingly.

Kuzhu nodded, "The Yin Bone Child is a superior spiritual body. Actually, it's not necessarily a bad thing. It's Yang Cheng's destiny!"

Grandpa sighed heavily, thanked Kuzhu, and then took me out of the ancestral hall.

Kuzhu said from behind, "Remember, tonight, I'll be waiting for you at the old locust tree at the village entrance!"

Grandpa sent me back home, then hurriedly left again, I didn't know where he went.

I hadn't slept all night yesterday and was extremely tired. I fell asleep soundly as soon as I lay on the bed.

As soon as I closed my eyes, my mind was like a speeding train, filled with nightmares one after another.

In the dream, I stood in the center of the ancestral hall, lit by candles, with a chilling atmosphere. I wanted to leave the ancestral hall, but it seemed to have turned into a maze, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get out.

Then I heard a woman calling my name, "Yang Cheng! Yang Cheng!"

I turned around, and a woman in a red cheongsam stood behind me, with a sinister smile on her face.

I was very scared, so I ran as fast as I could, but I still couldn't get out of the ancestral hall.

The woman in the red cheongsam followed me unhurriedly, her high heels hitting the ground, making crisp sounds.

I couldn't run anymore and turned to ask the woman what she wanted.

The woman came up to me, smiled as she looked me over, then suddenly reached out her hand. To my astonishment, her fingers had no flesh, only white bones. Her face also suddenly became terrifying, with her eye corners splitting open and dripping with bright red blood, her face quickly decaying, with wriggling white maggots visible under the flesh.

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

I screamed and turned to run, but the woman grabbed my neck from behind.

Then, the white bone fingers, like sharp knives, plunged into the back of my head, grabbing the Yin Bone in my skull...

"Ah!" I flailed my arms in panic, waking up from the nightmare. I rolled off the bed due to the force, feeling dizzy.

Hearing the noise, my parents rushed into the bedroom from outside.

Seeing my parents' familiar faces, I couldn't help but burst into tears.

Mom hugged me, comforting me repeatedly, "It's okay! It's okay!"

After a while, I finally calmed down and stopped crying.

At this time, Grandpa rushed back home, dusty and exhausted. He carried a bag in his hand, containing two new sets of clothes.

Without saying a word, Grandpa asked me to change into the new clothes.

As a child, I didn't know much, so seeing new clothes naturally made me smile. For kids like us who grew up in the mountains, it was only on special occasions like New Year's that we could wear new clothes.

The clothes were bright red, very festive, just like the red ceremonial robes worn during weddings. After changing into the new clothes, I was very happy. I ran to the mirror and was stunned. Wasn't I dressed like a bridegroom in the red outfit?

Every year, there were weddings in the village, and I had attended many of them, often seeing grooms wearing such red ceremonial robes. What was going on with Grandpa? Why did he buy me a groom's outfit?

Although our mountain village was backward, the earliest age for boys to get married was seventeen or eighteen. I was only thirteen years old, still a kid, not even fully grown yet. Would Grandpa really make me get married?

Seeing my puzzled expression, Grandpa stuffed some tobacco into his pipe, weary, and waved his hand, signaling me not to ask too much, "Cheng'er, don't ask so many questions. Grandpa will definitely save you!"

Finishing dinner with a heart full of doubt, Grandpa asked me to go to bed and not to run around, nor to take off the red ceremonial clothes.

Until midnight, Grandpa pulled me up from my drowsiness and took me out.

I saw my parents dressed formally at the door, their faces forced into stiff smiles.

There was a brazier at the door, symbolizing good luck and auspiciousness when stepping over it. These were all customs for a groom leaving home.

My heart was pounding hard, and I nervously asked Grandpa, "Grandpa, where are you... taking me?"

Grandpa said, "Taking you to find a bride!"

I panicked, "Grandpa, I'm only thirteen years old, isn't it too early to get married now? Besides, I haven't even seen the bride yet. What if I don't like her?"

Grandpa didn't say anything more but held my hand tightly and led me to the village entrance.

Under the old locust tree at the village entrance stood a figure. The person was smoking leisurely, and the sparks illuminated his face, who turned out to be Kuzhu.

I remembered what Kuzhu said when I left the ancestral hall in the morning. It suddenly dawned on me that tonight's "wedding" was arranged by Kuzhu.

Grandpa handed me over to Kuzhu, then solemnly instructed me, "Kuzhu is saving your life. He will take you to find a bride tonight. Remember, if you want to live, you must obey Kuzhu's orders, no disobedience, understand?"

Grandpa rarely spoke to me so seriously, and I vaguely realized that tonight's "wedding" might involve my life, so I dared not be naughty and nodded solemnly, "Grandpa, rest assured, whatever Kuzhu asks me to do, I will do!"

Grandpa patted my shoulder, then bowed to Kuzhu, "Great deity, I entrust Cheng'er to you. Whether Cheng'er can survive this ordeal depends on you!"

Kuzhu flicked away the cigarette butt, leisurely saying, "It's not up to me, it's up to destiny! Let's go, it's getting late, let's hope everything goes smoothly tonight!"