Chapter 76: Evil Consequence (Part 1 of 2)

The moment Cui Hai looked up with that crooked grin, I recognized it instantly—it was the same face as last night: all his facial features twisted into a grotesque mess, his eyes black as ink, and a sudden growth of white facial hair.

Damn it! He's possessed again!

He leered at me with that freakish smile. I didn't have time to think. I grabbed the bowl on the table and hurled it straight at him, then quickly drew a talisman and tried to slap it onto his face.

But just like last time, Cui Hai's possessed body moved with terrifying agility. In a few frantic leaps, he smashed through the window and bolted.

When I gave chase and saw the torn talisman at the front gate, I understood immediately—it had to be his grandpa who removed it! Dammit! They really are family. Both equally troublesome.

I yelled to his grandfather:

"Go get help now! Your grandson's possessed again! If we wait too long, he's going to die!"

The old man stood there stunned. Who wouldn't be, after watching someone leap over a two-meter-high wall like a wild animal? I kicked open the front gate and ran after Cui Hai. Behind me, his grandfather snapped back to his senses and shouted for help.

Here's one good thing about the countryside: neighbors actually help each other. No matter how big or small the problem is, people come together. Even though Grandpa Cui wasn't a local, he still had good connections, and within minutes, people from three nearby alleys had poured out to join the chase.

I stuck close behind. Cui Hai—no, the weasel spirit—was now as nimble as a cat, darting and leaping, all the while giggling creepily and muttering,

"I'm gonna drive him insane! Let's see what you can do to me! You're next, you bastard! Come on! Chase me!"

His grandfather wept bitterly, but there was nothing he could do. Cui Hai leapt more than three feet in a single bound, clearing five- or six-meter gaps between buildings with ease. At one point, he climbed to a rooftop and stood tall, screaming:

"You killed my children! Tonight, I'm taking your life!"

He pretended to dive head-first, clearly trying to kill himself using Cui Hai's body.

His grandfather collapsed to his knees and cried:

"Please! I beg you! Let my grandson go! I'll be your slave in the next life, just spare him!"

But Cui Hai—no, the spirit—spat viciously:

"Tch! Who the hell wants a useless old man like you as a slave?"

And just as he was about to jump—

Someone from the crowd, quick-thinking and fast-moving, tossed a thick blanket to the ground, and a few others formed a human safety net. The spirit hesitated—it wasn't trying to kill itself, just to kill Cui Hai. If it jumped, it wouldn't die, but the effect would be wasted. It began looking for a better spot.

"Ladder! Bring a ladder!" I shouted.

Two strong men ran around with a ladder while a few younger, more agile villagers climbed onto the rooftops. Working together, they finally managed to tackle Cui Hai onto the thick blanket.

Some of the young guys tried to tie him up, but Cui Hai was possessed with inhuman strength. He flung off several people like they were dolls, crashing through them and trying to escape. Another five or six grown men were knocked aside, and the spirit fled with a malicious sneer, breaking through the encirclement.

"Grab him! Don't let him get away!"

The chase continued and grew even louder, drawing more villagers out. By now, we had dozens chasing and more blocking his path, circling the entire village several times. But the spirit inside Cui Hai never seemed to tire.

I knew this couldn't go on—if we kept pushing, Cui Hai might die from exhaustion, or worse, someone might get hurt.

Just as we were about to lose hope—three old men showed their experience.They lay in wait at the mouth of an alley. The moment Cui Hai passed by, two of them tripped him with a rope, and the third one threw a net over him.

Once he was down, people rushed over and bound him up with layers and layers of rope, like a massive rice dumpling. He was finally subdued—tied securely to a cement utility pole. No matter how powerful he was, he wasn't pulling that thing out of the ground.

Cui Hai, now bound, screamed and cursed at me:

"You little bastard! I didn't mess with you, but you just had to meddle! I swear I'll destroy your family—burn it all to the ground! You got guts, huh?!"

He was howling like a village shrew, spewing all kinds of vile nonsense.