?

  My scalp exploded, and in the panic, I remembered that this thing was afraid of fire. I rushed to hide in the corner with Minmin and shouted: "Take out the solid fuel, quickly, this thing is afraid of fire." I thought Minmin had been scared out of her wits, but unexpectedly she remained extremely calm at this moment. After hearing my words, she quickly took out the solid fuel and ignited it, and the entire tomb was suddenly illuminated by the flames.

  Those things feared fire, and their tentacles withdrew by more than half, but the flame of solid fuel was not big, and it would not last for a long time. The big radish quietly shrank into the darkness at the top of the tomb, and no longer launched an attack. The tomb seemed to have returned to its previous tranquility, but at this moment, everyone's mind was tense.

  I looked at the radish and saw that it was no longer moving, so I quickly asked Second Uncle: "Is there a flare? Fire one to burn it."

  Second Uncle panted slightly, shaking his head and saying: "We encountered a pack of wolves on the way here, and lost quite a bit of equipment while running away." I suddenly felt a headache coming on. Damn it, another wolf pack. It seems that this wolf pack not only likes to ambush the Miao brothers, but also has a good taste for human flesh.

  This solid fuel can last about half an hour, and after half an hour, even if we have more bullets, it's useless. Thinking of this, my heart is panicked and confused, constantly forcing myself to think quickly, think quickly.

  I thought for over ten minutes, but I didn't have any clue. At this moment, I subconsciously raised my head to look at the top of the grave and found that Jin Erbao's body suddenly moved a little, as if something was pulling him. Then, a white tentacle stretched out from behind Jin Erbao's body, and in front of all our eyes, it pierced through Jin Erbao's back fiercely.

  Blood splattered down instantly, spattering everyone's faces and shoulders. I found that the expressions on everyone's faces had become very strange, a mixture of heartache and helplessness.

  Then, Jin Baozi's body was slowly pulled up and gradually disappeared from our sight.

  At this time, Old Lei looked at me with his eyes and said, "Is this thing afraid of fire?"

  I stiffly nodded.

  Lao Lei then walked up to the equipment bag and said, "I'll climb up and light it."

  Lao Liu calmed down at this time and said, "You didn't absorb the palm, how did you go up? There's still some time, think of another way. What is this thing after all? Why would it appear here?"

  I then described the information I knew to everyone, at this time, Minmin suddenly said: "Listening to you say that, I remembered a story. It is said that during the Anti-Japanese War, Sichuan and Yunnan were in a fierce battle, the Japanese army was fighting with the Communist Party in a place called Pingyang Slope, it is said that many people died in that battle, after the war ended, the local people dug many mass graves to prevent the spread of diseases such as plague, and buried the bodies in piles. As a result, after the war ended, wasn't there a campaign to open up wasteland? It is said that when they opened up Pingyang Slope, they dug out many white bones, these bones were all burned by fire, but it is said that among them, one place dug out a pile of living corpses."

  "Zombies? All dumplings?"

  Minmin said: "It's a living corpse, but not a zongzi. It is said that the pile of corpses has Japanese people and Chinese people, they are tightly tied together to form a ball-like object, in the middle there seems to be some kind of monster, wrapping all the corpses together, seeing people will pounce on them, and then turn that person into one of the corpses. After making a big noise for a long time, it is said that the bomber was dispatched to solve it with one bomb. I heard from the older generation that this thing is called Shī Xiāo, which is a combination of corpse energy and resentment energy. The shape of Shī Xiāo is varied, but in fact, it is very small, just wrapped in corpses, absorbing more corpses makes its power stronger. Didn't you say there's a burial pit outside? This place is located in Kunlun, the corpses don't rot for thousands of years, which is a good place to breed Shī Xiāo. We might have encountered this thing."

  I didn't expect this Mianmian to know so many strange things, so I said: "Hearing you say that, this big pineapple is probably a corpse evil spirit. Is there any good way?"

  Ming Ming said, "The best way is to use fire. Fire not only burns the corpse, but it's also extremely yang and can counteract the softness of the rattan. Moreover, the thing we're dealing with now has a soft interior and countless hard exteriors, making it difficult to handle."

  I listened to Minmin's tone of speech, like an old fighter, I really don't know how this young girl learned so many strange things in just one year, no wonder Second Uncle would bring a woman down to the arena.

  According to Minmin, the most reliable method is still fire attack, but we are at least 15 or 16 meters away from the top of the tomb. Not to mention how to get the fire up there, even if it gets up there, that thing is very agile and can easily avoid it, unless someone can climb next to it and stuff the fire in.

  But now, firstly we don't have the equipment to climb that high, secondly I'm injured and can barely walk, let alone climb walls. Mianmian and Ershu are also not suitable for this task. The only ones left are Lao Lei and Lao Liu. This matter is extremely perilous, if we're not careful, we'll end up like Jin Erbao.

  I subconsciously looked at the skull in the corner of the wall, and under the dim firelight, I suddenly found that the skull opened its eyes and gave me a strange and eerie smile.

  The saying goes: a smiling corpse is the most ruthless; it's better to see a ghost cry than to see a ghost smile.

  My heart skipped a beat, and I took another look, but the skull still looked blood-soaked, where could I see any smile.

  Just then, Second Uncle said, "I'll go." I was startled and hastily refused, saying, "No way." Immediately, I was swept by Second Uncle's cold gaze, and I didn't dare to be afraid, so I quickly added, "Second Uncle, you're already at this age... Of course, I'm not saying you're old, but this kind of thing is still best left to us young people to do."

  My second uncle looked at me for a while, and then smiled, patted his clothes, and said: "This trumpet is my sandwich. Since they followed me, it's like handing their lives over to me. I must take responsibility for this. And... you little kid, you underestimate me too much."

  I'm so angry I could curse, my heart keeps shouting, what's going on now, you're still getting involved, but naturally changed his tone and hastily advised: "Second uncle, I was just underestimating anyone, can't underestimate you, you are the pillar of our Wu family, if something happens to you, my parents will kill me."

  My second uncle scolded me, saying: "Where did you learn to be so glib and insincere? Not a single serious word comes out of your mouth." Then his tone softened as he said: "Come over here, I have something to tell you." Old Lei and the others immediately understood and retreated to the corner of the wall to observe the situation. At this time, my second uncle whispered to me: "I didn't come this time for any other reason, just to find some clues about your third uncle. That thing back then, he took it all upon himself, our Wu family owes him too much. But he's a stubborn man, once he makes up his mind, nothing can change it."

  "Since you also have the intention to find him, I'll tell you the information on your third uncle's map. The map has a sentence written on it: 'Beidou shines on the ghost shadow, Zan Sheng'. I don't know what this sentence means, but since your third uncle wrote it down, it must be extremely important. He might be searching for the secret of this sentence right now. A man should be resolute and determined, once he makes up his mind to do something, he should see it through to the end."

  The Big Dipper shines on the ghost shadow? Isn't this the sentence from Old Lady Huo's notes?

  What does this mean?

  In Chinese characters, the Big Dipper represents a wide range of things. The most basic is referring to the seven stars of the Big Dipper, which can be understood as direction and can also be converted into five elements. In the yin-yang easy theory, it has been given multiple meanings. So what does this Big Dipper refer to?

  The Big Dipper shines on the ghostly shadow, is it referring to direction?

  The place we are looking for is under the shining North Star?

  So... what does that ghostly shadow refer to?

  I listened to Second Uncle's words and suddenly came back to my senses. Nai Nai, this is a farewell speech!

  I stared at Second Uncle and hastily grabbed his sleeve, saying pitifully: "Second Uncle, don't be like this, you're scaring people."

  Second Uncle shook his head, patted my hand away and said: "You're already so old, yet you still act like a child. Aren't you afraid of being laughed at? I'm just taking precautions. If something really happens and your Third Uncle's people can't be found, the responsibility will fall on you. However, if they really can't be found, don't force it. Your own survival is what matters most." After finishing speaking, Second Uncle looked at me with a profound gaze again, reached out to rub my head and said: "You're the only root of the Wu family. Even if your Third Uncle and I were to die, you can't have anything happen to you. Otherwise, your Third Uncle and I would be too ashamed to face the earth even after we're dead."

  My second uncle has never been so affectionate to me, this move is like a last will and testament in my eyes. At this moment, I wish he would hit me a few more times and scold me a few more sentences, just don't be so sentimental.

  Second Uncle finished speaking, bent down and pulled out a cold cigarette from his equipment bag, then picked up a rope to tie around his waist. I didn't know what he was going to do, but even if I wanted to stop him, it would be impossible. When Second Uncle made up his mind to do something, neither my parents nor Third Uncle could stop him.

  Then, under the astonished gaze of the others, Second Uncle walked to the front of Jin Er's head, stood silently for a moment, his mouth slightly moving as if saying something, and then stretched out his hand to hang that bloody head on the other end of the rope.

  I suddenly understood, Second Uncle was going to take advantage of Jin Er Bao's head.

  Lao Lei immediately frowned and said, "Second Master, no."

  Second Uncle waved his hand and said, "There's risk involved, but I won't let you take it."

  Lao Liu also frowned and said, "Second Master, I remember your kindness. I'll take care of this matter. You can't risk yourself no matter what. This time I followed you down here just to protect you. Otherwise, why would I come here?" As he spoke, he reached out his hand to untie Second Uncle's rope.

  Under the three of us taking turns attacking, Second Uncle still refused to give in. Then, Minmin poked my waist and whispered, "Dummy, don't you know how to play tricks?"

  I suddenly realized, secretly lamenting how I was always muddled at critical moments. So, I exaggeratedly limped to Second Uncle's side, made a gesture as if ready to speak, but before I could say anything, I started coughing violently and immediately fainted, falling to the ground with my eyes rolled back.

  This time I fell, and Second Uncle was shocked beyond measure. I reckon he won't be taking the field in person again.

  Lao Lei and Lao Liu are indeed loyal to him, but people's hearts can be unpredictable. If something really happens to Er Shu, I'm a cripple with poor health, who knows if I'll be sacrificed at the critical moment? Er Shu must have considered this possibility.

  As expected, Old Six advised another sentence, and Second Uncle untied the rope, holding me against the wall corner. I was feeling complacent in my heart, but Second Uncle whispered a sentence in my ear: "You're pretending quite well." My heart skipped a beat - he knew I was faking it? Why didn't he expose me?

  I narrowed my eyes and looked at Second Uncle, only to see him with a benevolent fatherly expression holding me in his arms, but his gaze was icy cold as he stared at Old Six. Suddenly, I understood that this old venomous snake was turning the tables on us.

  However, after I saw it, Lao Liu was sincere and open-hearted towards Er Shu, why did Er Shu want to do this?

  But at this time, I couldn't get through to him either, and could only continue pretending to be dizzy, letting Second Uncle hold me in his arms like a baby, patting my back with an irregular rhythm that made my hair stand on end and gave me goosebumps layer by layer.

  If it were earlier, I wouldn't have guaranteed that I wouldn't get excited, but now, my heart is already cursing loudly: Old venomous snake, it was all an act, how foolish of me to be moved to tears earlier.