For thirty years, he has roamed the Northeast, his divine might overwhelming all immortals under hea

By the time I got home, it was completely dark.

As soon as my mother entered the door, she didn't even bother to change her shoes properly before heading straight for her old camphor wood chest, which had come with her dowry.

"We've finally been waiting for this day!"

She muttered to herself as she squatted down in front of the box, fumbling for her keychain hanging on her waistband, which jingled loudly.

The lid of the box was lifted, and a musty smell, a mixture of camphor and cotton, wafted out.

My father squatted on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), glanced at it, and didn't say anything.

I know he felt relieved, but it wasn't showing on his face.

My mother carefully rummaged through the inside of the trunk, turning over several neatly folded old clothes, then peeling back another layer of wrapping cloth, and finally bringing out a long, flat, dark red velvet box.

The edges of the box were worn white, and it looked quite old.

She carefully wiped away any non-existent dust from the box with her palm before solemnly opening it.

Inside, lined with soft, yellow satin, lay a pair of bracelets.

The kerosene lamp in the room cast a dim yellow light, but when the bracelets were revealed, they seemed to absorb the light and become lustrous on their own, radiating a warm, oily white, with a few wisps of faint blue mixed in, like the mist that couldn't be dispelled in the mountain stream.

Look.

My mother gently picked one up, squinted at it in the light, and had an almost pious expression on her face that I rarely saw.

"This was passed down to me by your maternal grandmother. She said it was worn by your great-grandmother's generation. It's a genuine piece of old jade, passed down to daughters, not sons. When I married into this family, life was so tough. Your father was sick, and we were almost starving, but I couldn't bear to part with it."

My dad paused in his cigarette-rolling, and gave a low "hmm" in response.

I leaned closer to take a look.

The jade bracelet was so smooth and lustrous that it gave people a sense of peace and security.

My mother handed the bracelet to me.

"Feel it, it's cool and soothing, good for you. We'll put it on Xiulian after she marries into the family. Our family isn't well-off, we can't give her mountains of gold and silver, but our heartfelt wishes are sincere."

I stretched out my finger and carefully touched it, and sure enough, a cool, warm sensation came from my fingertip.

I nodded, and felt relieved.

My mother carefully put the bracelet away and returned it to the box, but didn't rush to close the lid.

She sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), staring at the box in a daze for a while, when suddenly she slapped her thigh.

"Having these old things isn't enough! It's a new society now, we need a new look! We need to get new bedding and clothes!"

She perked up as she spoke, got up and walked around the room, seemingly calculating something, muttering to herself. "We still have quite a bit of cotton that we've ginned ourselves, enough to make two thick quilts. But we need to go to the county to get the quilt covers, mattress covers, and fabric for Xiulian's clothes. We need brighter colors, not just dull grays and bluish blues."

"It's almost December, there's so much to do."

My dad lit the rolled cigarette, took a puff, and the smoke blurred half of his face.

"Go as soon as possible."

"Absolutely! Let's go tomorrow!"

My mother's fiery temper flared up again.

"Thirteen came along too, helping to carry things and seeing what's going on in the county these days. Oh, by the way, do you still have cloth coupons? I remember keeping them under the mat on the kang..."

"Mother, I..."

I scratched my head, feeling a little embarrassed.

"What could I do if I went? I don't know anything about fabrics."

"Silly boy, just go! Go and see for yourself! Besides, don't you want to see the pattern and design of the quilt? It'll be for you two to use in the future!"

My mother gave me a reproachful glare, but her face was full of smiles.

That night, I lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), unable to sleep. I could still hear Old Wang's solemn voice saying, "Let's renew the marriage," and I could see the pair of warm jade bracelets before my eyes, and... Xiulian's blushing face.

My heart felt like it was filled with a hot water bottle, throbbing and swelling.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, my mother woke my father and me up.

After a quick bite of sorghum rice porridge and pickled vegetables, my father and I followed my mother out the door and boarded the old oxcart from the village to the county town.

The journey was bumpy, and the cold wind whistled against my face, but my mother was in high spirits. She chatted enthusiastically with the aunties and older women who were also going to the county, and every other sentence she talked about "my thirteenth son is going to get married." I buried my face in my collar when I heard this.

This is the second time I've been to the county town, as far as I can remember.

The last time was before, when I came with Brother Sanlv, because of Zhu Xiaoxiao's matter. It's only been a few days.

Brother Sanlu...

I wonder how Zhu Xiaoxiao is doing. I guess something happened to Brother Sanlv, the winery business was put on hold, and she should have gone back to the south by now.

Upon entering the supply and marketing cooperative, a strong smell of cotton, soap, and ink hit you.

The fabric counter was the most crowded, with people packed tightly together.

The saleswoman was a young girl with two braids and spoke in a crisp, clear voice.

My mother squeezed to the front, staring intently at the rolls of fabric on the shelf, as if she couldn't take it all in.

There's thick "Dacron", smooth "polyester twill", and even more cotton fabrics in various patterns.

Red, pink, green checkered, small floral... it's dazzling.

"Comrade, let me take a look at that piece of red cotton cloth with a magpie perched on a plum blossom pattern!"

My mother pointed to a roll of cloth high up.

The sales clerk deftly took it down and spread it out on the counter with a "whoosh".

The cloth was a bright red, with subtle patterns of magpies and plum blossoms that weren't too flashy, giving it a cheerful and festive feel.

"This fabric would make a great quilt cover! It's festive and elegant!"

An older woman nearby came over to take a look and praised it.

"Really? I like it too!"

My mother smiled and carefully felt the thickness of the cloth with her hands.

"And get me that piece of cotton fabric with pink peach blossoms and delicate leaves, to make a blouse for Xiulian; it'll look nice on the little girl. And that blue khaki, to make new clothes for Thirteen and his father..."

She pointed out each item one by one, the abacus beads clicking away in her mind.

They counted out cloth coupons and crumpled banknotes, and in return received a large bundle of cloth tied with kraft paper rope.

My father silently took it and carried it on his shoulder.

After leaving the supply and marketing cooperative, my mother took us to look at the yarn and weighed out several pounds of bright red yarn.

"Xiulian is skillful with her hands; let her knit you a sweater herself!"

The supply and marketing cooperative was bustling with activity. My mother held up a freshly torn pink peach blossom cloth against my body, muttering, "This color suits my complexion."

Suddenly, the cotton curtain at the door was flung open with a "whoosh," letting in a blast of icy cold air, followed by three people barging in.

My heart skipped a beat when I took a look. It's almost the twelfth lunar month, the season when your breath turns to frost, and these three gentlemen are all wearing short-sleeved shirts, revealing two thin, dark arms with bulging veins and some barely visible scribbles.

They all had a fierce look on their faces, and their eyes swept over people like a razor.

The leader had a long, thin face. As soon as he entered, his eyes, sharp as hooks, went straight for the cashier.

The saleswoman had just put a roll of cloth coupons into the drawer and hadn't even closed it when the scabbard-faced man suddenly darted over, a dark, short-barreled homemade gun in his hand. The barrel slammed into the wooden counter with a "thud," making the glass panel tremble.

"Don't move! Bring out the money box!"

Behind him, one of his accomplices blocked the doorway, his triangular eyes glaring menacingly at the terrified people in the room; the other quickly went around to the counter and reached for the locked drawer.

The saleswoman with braided pigtails turned pale instantly, her legs went weak, and she almost slipped to the ground.

My father, carrying the bundle of cloth, instinctively took a small half-step forward to shield my mother behind him.

The pink peach-patterned cloth in my mother's hand fell to the ground with a "thud." She gripped my father's arm tightly, her fingers turning white from the pressure. Her lips trembled as she looked at the dark muzzle of the gun, then at me anxiously, her eyes filled with panic.

My heart was in my throat, and blood was rushing to my head.

How dare they rob someone in broad daylight?

Just as I was wondering whether to quietly move to the side or what, I suddenly heard a "buzz" in my ear, and a long-lost voice rang out.

"Hey kid, what are you looking at? Got scared?"

It's Huang Dalang!

My heart felt as if I had poured a bowl of cool well water into it on a sweltering summer day, or as if I had suddenly struck a match in the dark, feeling both bright and warm!

Ever since that last all-out battle with that evil fetus, this old immortal has been silent, saying that he has lost his vital energy and needs to lie low and recuperate.

Unexpectedly, he woke up at this critical moment!

"Brother Dalang? You've finally recovered."

I was chanting this in my mind.

"Stop talking nonsense!"

Huang Dalang's voice carried a hint of impatience, yet also a sense of eagerness.

"See those bastards? They smell weird, there's a sinister aura about them. Just some ordinary robbery? It's probably not that simple. Go, intimidate them!"

When Huang Dalang said that, the warmth I had built up from preparing for the happy occasion instantly turned into courage.

I glanced at my parents' worried faces, shook my head slightly at them, and signaled them not to panic.

Then, I took a deep breath and stepped out of the crowd.

"Gentlemen, it's freezing cold, why are you dressed so lightly? You must be quite hot!"

I spoke softly, but the supply and marketing cooperative was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, so my words, with their local accent, were particularly clear.

As I spoke, I slowly moved toward the counter, my eyes fixed on the homemade cannon in the hand of the man with the spiky face.

The man with the scabbard-like face clearly hadn't expected anyone to dare to respond, especially with that lukewarm "concern." He suddenly turned his gun on me, his triangular eyes flashing with malice.

"Get out of my way! Are you looking for death?"

My accomplice, who was prying open the drawer in the counter, stopped and looked at me warily.

The person blocking the door took two steps closer to me.

I stopped and didn't move forward.

I felt a cool current slowly creeping up my spine, and my limbs gradually warmed up. I knew that Huang Dalang's energy was starting to take hold.

My face remained expressionless; I even mimicked Huang Dalang's usual tone, tugging at the corners of my mouth.

"Whether you're courting death or not depends on the King of Hell's account book. But gentlemen, this place isn't very clean. Don't you feel a chill down your spine and a draft on the back of your neck?"

I spoke slowly and deliberately, with a slightly mystifying, drawn-out tone.

With the subtle release of spiritual pressure from Huang Dalang, the temperature inside the supply and marketing cooperative seemed to drop by two degrees.

The dim yellow light on the roof flickered twice for no apparent reason.

Knife-faced man's expression changed; he probably really sensed something was wrong, but he remained defiant.

"Stop fucking playing tricks! I..."

Before he could finish speaking, I suddenly pointed to the empty shelves behind him, my eyes wide, and screamed in an extremely horrified tone.

"Oh my god! That red cloth... why is it floating up by itself?!"

That shout was sharp and piercing, completely embodying the wildness that Huang Dalang exuded when he was possessed.

The room was full of people, even the three bandits, who instinctively turned their heads to look in the direction I was pointing.

There was a pile of newly arrived red quilt covers, neatly folded and completely still.

But in that short time it took to turn my head!

I felt my body lighten, as if I wasn't in control, and I suddenly lurched forward at a speed that startled even myself.

In the blink of an eye, he was on the side of the knife-faced man, his left hand forming a claw with five fingers, bringing a gust of bloody wind, and fiercely grabbing at the wrist holding the gun!

"Let go!"

"Bang!"

A gunshot rang out, making everyone's ears ring.

The bullet missed, grazing the ceiling and sending a cloud of dust falling.

The man with the knife-like face screamed in agony as several bloody claw marks appeared on his wrists, deep enough to expose the bone. The homemade gun slipped from his hand and fell to the ground with a clatter.

Almost simultaneously, my right foot seemed to be springy, and I kicked backward hard, landing squarely on the stomach of the thug who was rushing towards me to block the door.

The guy yelled "Ouch!" and curled up, clutching his stomach.

Seeing that things were not going well, the thief in the counter swung a handful of loose change he had just grabbed from the drawer and threw it at me, trying to escape by climbing over the other side of the counter.

"Trying to leave?"

I let out a low, inhuman laugh.

I didn't make any big movements; I just opened my mouth and blew a breath at the bandit's back.

A yellow wind, almost invisible to the naked eye and carrying a fishy, ​​foul smell, swept past.

The thief had just reached the counter when he suddenly slipped, as if he had stepped on an icy slide, and fell face-first into the mud with a "thud," scattering the banknotes in his hand all over the ground.

All of this happened in the blink of an eye.

When everyone came to their senses, the three arrogant bandits were in different states: one was clutching his wrist and screaming in pain, another was kneeling on the ground like a shrimp and dry heaving, and the third was lying there groaning and unable to get up.

There was a moment of deathly silence in the supply and marketing cooperative, then it erupted into chaos with a loud "boom".

Some screamed, some backed away, and some brave men tried to step forward to help.

My parents only realized what was happening then. My mother cried out and tried to rush over, but my father held her back tightly. My father looked at me, his eyes filled with surprise and lingering fear. His lips moved, but he didn't say anything.

I stood still and slowly retracted my stance.

The heat that had been controlling my body receded like a tide, and a wave of exhaustion washed over me, but I managed to stay upright.

Huang Dalang's voice rang in my ears, tinged with a mixture of pride and exhaustion.

"Alright, kid, you've intimidated them. The evil aura on those bastards has dissipated. The rest can be handed over to the authorities... I need to go back and get some rest..."

As soon as Huang Dalang finished speaking, several burly men rushed in, followed by police officers.

I turned to look at my mother.

"Mother, is the cloth dirty?"