Chapter 46: Chopping a Crooked-Necked Tree

Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Chopping a Crooked-Necked Tree PHEW... When he dreamt of Granny, a sudden coolness swept across his chest, and Hu Ma abruptly awakened. He found himself sprawled out in the hall. There were no lights on, and it was surrounded by darkness. It seemed Little Hongtang had dragged him into the main room. Involuntarily, he reached for his chest and felt the coolness emanating from the pouch filled with pond ash. This refreshing sensation was different from that of an evil spirit; it cleared his drowsy and hot head somewhat. Did Granny come to save me in my dream? He thought of that dream, real yet surreal, and tried his best to stand up. Lighting the oil lamp, he used the dim light to find the hatchet by the wall, the one used for chopping wood. Then, he took a deep breath and, gripping the hatchet, walked out of the house. Little Hongtang curiously followed him, asking, "Brother Huma, what are you going to do?" "Go and heal." Hu Ma gritted his teeth and dragged his body along. He was still very weak. Each step felt like he was about to stagger, his mind threatening to scatter. His body was incredibly heavy, as if something was entangling him. Amid the surrounding shadows, who knew what might be lurking, occasionally tugging at his arms and legs. But he clenched his teeth. The fire from the furnace within him was forced out, and he stubbornly trudged forward, step by step, with his heavy body. From afar, he saw the crooked tree, leaning to one side, its branches bare. As he approached, the tree seemed to come to life, its branches swaying, emitting a strange and terrifying laugh. Hu Ma felt even heavier, as if he were about to be crushed by the oppressive darkness around him. But at the same time, the furnace within Hu Ma burned fiercely. Though it couldn’t dispel the oppressive force, it allowed him to remain upright before the twisted, monstrous tree, step by step, until he reached it. He could vaguely see traces of burnt paper by the tree. A patch of fresh soil suggested something was buried beneath it. However, Hu Ma, his mind clouded, lacked the luxury to ponder these things. He only remembered Granny’s words. He clutched the hatchet tightly, lifted it forcefully, and struck the tree trunk hard. SSS! A large chunk of bark peeled away, revealing a dark hole beneath, seemingly oozing fresh blood. At the same time, Hu Ma’s ears rang with sharp, agonized screams, and his drowsy head suddenly cleared. Only now did his mind race, and Hu Ma instantly understood. Is someone trying to harm me? What kind of Method did they use that made me unwittingly fall into their trap, nearly dying? Is it because they want me dead so they can snatch my place in the Red Lantern Society? Images of Cui Xie’er surfaced in his mind, and a cold fury surged to his head. He raised the hatchet again toward the bleeding, crooked tree. HIYAH... At that moment, Grandma Cui of the Cui Family, who had achieved great glory, was having her daughter-in-law stew an old hen that had been laying eggs. She contentedly enjoyed the tribute with a small cup of wine. Sneering, she said, "The children and grandchildren are still useless, only good at brawling with others. There are ways in this world to make people not dare provoke us. Can’t they think? Before the Hu Family came to the village, how many dared to defy the Cui Family? "Heh, that Old Mrs. Hu sought me out and said my skills were lacking, too insidious, and that doing too much would lead to retribution. I couldn’t outdo her, so I had to stop. "But now it seems the ones who have faced retribution, and the end of their line, are actually her Hu Family, not us." Under the dim oil lamp, Grandma Cui’s white hair was disheveled, her expression smug. "Understood, Mother..." the second son of Cui’s wife said, cautiously serving her. "We’ll certainly treat you well in the future..." AH... But just as she held the freshly warmed wine pot to refill Grandma Cui’s cup, she was taken aback. Grandma Cui’s face suddenly changed, her hair falling loose all at once. She threw the chicken bone she was holding aside, clutching her throat, her body convulsing violently. "Oh no, Mother choked on a chicken bone!" the second son of Cui’s wife cried out, shocked. The Cui Family’s eldest and third sons heard and rushed in, at a loss for what to do. "No... no..." Grandma Cui clutched her throat, her eyes bulging and bloodshot, calling out with difficulty, "Not the bone..." She seemed anxious to say something, to have her second and third sons stop something at once. But before she could speak—back at the crooked old tree—Hu Ma’s eyes were cold. Filled with anger, he had already swung the hatchet again, striking the gnarled tree heavily. The old tree quivered, its branches shaking. Grandma Cui took a sharp gasp, shouting, "OH, MY DEAR MOTHER..." With a jolt, she fell from the bed, knocking over the small table with the large bowl of stewed hen. The broth spilled all over the floor. At the same moment, Hu Ma brutally delivered the third strike. Grandma Cui’s body suddenly went rigid. She flipped over and spat out a large mouthful of fresh blood. Her face filled with shock, she drew her last breath. The Cui Family members had never witnessed such a thing and were already terrified by the inexplicable events, scared out of their wits and unsure what to do. But now, Hu Ma was getting a clearer idea of what was going on. With each of the three strikes he made, the old tree shook, blood spilled, and strangely, he grasped something from the flowing blood. A bizarre sensation came over him. As he smelled the blood oozing from the twisted tree, images flashed before his eyes: Grandma Cui’s sinister, twisted face as she came up with the plan, and the Cui Family discussing how they would harm him to ensure Cui Xie’er got the position. This realization made him even more furious after the three strikes; instead of diminishing, his murderous intent grew stronger. Clenching his jaw, he swung the hatchet again. AH... At the Cui Family’s home, the Cui Family’s eldest son sensed something was off and urgently went to grab the pouch filled with pond ash. But suddenly, his body stiffened and he fell heavily. The Cui Family members hurriedly turned him over, only to find his eyes rolling in different directions, seemingly beyond control, his mouth twisted to one side, drooling. Terrified and at a loss, the Cui Family’s third son shouted, "Quick, call the Clan Leader!" But at this moment, Hu Ma, his face stern, delivered the fifth blow. As the Cui Family’s third son was about to step over the threshold, he suddenly tripped, his head striking the stone steps, blood gushing out. By the crooked tree, the sixth strike had already landed. At the back of the village, just as the Cui Family’s fourth son was drinking and picking fights, looking for trouble and acting unruly, his body suddenly convulsed. During the scuffle, a sickle cut into his own throat. With another strike, the wife of Cui’s second son suddenly trembled all over. Her hair disheveled, she ran out of the house, screaming, "Don’t blame me! It wasn’t my idea! It was my mother-in-law’s idea, I didn’t harm anyone!" THUD! THUD! THUD! In front of the crooked tree, Hu Ma struck relentlessly. The Cui Family members fell one by one. At the current Old Clan Chief’s home, the second son of Cui was chatting idly with the Clan Leader’s son—Zhou Datong’s father—feeling very gratified to see his own son listening attentively. Yet, suddenly, a woman’s sharp cries were heard from afar in the night, eerily resembling his wife’s voice. He hurriedly stood up. But as he stood, his vision darkened, and he seemed to see a wild-haired monster stretching out two bony hands towards him, wailing, "It’s all your Cui Family’s fault, dragging me into this too!" The second son of Cui had just attempted to say something before dizziness overcame him, and he collapsed in a heap. 「In the hall」 Cui Xie’er was bracing himself to listen to Second Master lecture about the rules. However, Second Master glanced at Cui Xie’er, also feeling uneasy and unable to continue. He suddenly said, "I’m feeling apprehensive; I must go check on Hu Ma, see if he’s getting better..." Cui Xie’er felt awkward for a moment and was about to speak when he heard a thud outside. He quickly ran out, only to find his father already curled up, seemingly near death. Terrified, he hurriedly tried to help, but Second Master was quick, grabbing hold of him. Second Master stared intently at the curled-up second son of Cui, as a chilling, fierce wind swept around them. Second Master seemed to recall a similar scene, his voice changing abruptly as he clutched Cui Xie’er tightly, shaking him hard. "Be honest with me! Don’t cry, tell the truth! Did the Cui Family do something?" "Cui Family, get out, get out quickly!" But before Cui Xie’er could say anything, a group of people rushed in, their faces filled with fear. "Your mother has gone mad! She’s outside, tearing off her clothes and crying!" "Your home..." "Something’s happened at your house too!" Second Master and the Clan Leader’s group exchanged looks, then suddenly bolted out of the courtyard. BANG! BANG! BANG! The eerie sound of the tree being chopped gradually grew distinct, carrying a chilling, life-draining aura. A strange power surged through the night-shrouded Dayang Village. With each strike, a member of the Cui Family inexplicably fell, as if an unseen Evil Ghost had silently seized their soul. And the old fire pit, the foundation of Dayang Village’s survival, remained shrouded in wisps of black smoke, showing no reaction. CRASH... Finally, the crooked old tree couldn’t hold on any longer. It split in the middle and toppled over. That night, Hu Ma struck thirteen times, felling the crooked old tree. The Cui Family lost five lives, and three members went mad. From then on, among the four great families of Zhou, Cui, Zhao, and Li in the village, those with the surname Cui walked with lowered gazes and acted cautiously, their previous arrogance entirely gone.