I have a date with the beast

The weather is getting cold.

Jiang Ze moved forward the closing time of the stall by half an hour every night, and delayed the opening time of the stall by half an hour in the morning.

The past week coincided with Double Eleven, also known as Singles’ Day.The night market was overcrowded that night, and Jiang Ze was busy from 06:30 in the afternoon to nearly 11:30 in the evening. The rice noodles prepared in advance were not enough, so he even made a bucket now.

Jiang Ze couldn't figure out why he had to celebrate with great fanfare that day. Logically speaking, shouldn't the disgraceful thing of beating a bachelor be hidden?

When he was in school, Jiang Ze once liked a girl in his class. That girl was from the town next door. She had good grades and was sweet-talking. At that time, six or seven out of ten boys liked her, and Jiang Ze was one of them. one.

However, he dropped out of school at the beginning of the second semester of the second year of high school, so this crush disappeared.

Jiang Ze didn't know where he got the courage, he just wanted to get angry with his father, but he really dropped out of school in a fit of anger.After that, he came to the city alone to work hard. He had no academic qualifications or connections, no fixed place to live, and struggled.

Even so, Jiang Ze gritted his teeth and persisted.

My father was old at the time, and since Jiang Ze graduated from junior high school, he seldom traveled far to watch houses and land for others, and only took idle jobs entrusted by fellow villagers.In the first few years when Jiang Ze left home, he only went back once a year during the Spring Festival, and left in a hurry after staying for a few days.It's just that in recent years, as his father has become more reticent and his physical condition has declined year by year, the number of times he went back has only slightly increased.

On New Year's Eve, he and his father would always spend it alone, huddled in front of a desk no bigger than a square stool, watching the boring Spring Festival Gala, chatting with each other.Jiang Ze wanted to ask his father very much at this time: Where are your most beloved elder brother and second elder brother?Can they fulfill their filial piety, or can they be in vain?

The New Year's Eve dinner is always a plate of dumplings made half a month ago. His father's hands are not dexterous, and the dumplings made don't look good, and Jiang Ze can recognize them at a glance.

In the past year, except for occasionally going to do things with others, my father hardly ever went out, sitting at the door all day long.Compared with people, he would rather communicate with the few acres of poor fields in front of the door with little harvest.In the end, he also ended his long and tiring life in that lush field.

Jiang Ze wrapped his coat tightly, and shook his head to get rid of his father's figure from his mind.When he thought of the person who had passed away, his heart felt bitter.

He didn't understand the old man.

Every night on the way from the night market to home, Jiang Ze could feel the mocking wind nearby. Although he never showed up, the faintly scented fragrance in his breath proved his existence.

Jiang Ze didn't understand why Xiaofeng always followed him, but he acquiesced in Xiaofeng's silent company.He was even afraid in his heart that if he asked rashly, that person would just disappear.It's just that Jiang Ze has perfectly concealed the fear in his heart.

Ever since he knew there were ghosts and gods in this world, Jiang Ze believed in reincarnation.Xiaofeng saved his life, and he knew that Xiaofeng had no malice towards him.Maybe he had a little friendship with Xiaofeng in his previous life, so he will save him in this life.

Maybe Xiaofeng is really an old friend.

The night in the north in mid-November suddenly has the breath of winter. A gust of cold wind blows through, piercing the nostrils like a knife and almost piercing through the forehead.

Xiaofeng is not here today, but it is the first time since this period of time.Jiang Ze thought to himself, a sense of loss inexplicably sprouted in his heart, and he didn't know where this sense of loss came from.

Jiang Ze breathed into the palm of his hand, then rubbed his hands vigorously to keep warm.At this moment, he saw a child in scanty clothes at the end of the alley.

He was startled, and trotted over without much thought.The child curled up around his knees, shivering from cold or fear, and looked pitiful.

Jiang Ze walked quickly to the child, and was about to reach out to pat the child's thin shoulder when he suddenly noticed something unusual.

His outstretched hand froze, and his body subconsciously took a step back.

Immediately, the child raised his head.Jiang Ze's breathing stopped immediately, and his scalp felt numb.

The child looked to be only two or three years old, his face was swollen and rotten from soaking in water for too long, and his eyes were filled with horrible cloudy whites.He stared at Jiang Ze resentfully, two lines of blood and tears flowed from the corners of his eyes, his grinning mouth revealed the bright red tongue and brown teeth inside, not only that, but also tremblingly stretched out his arms full of carrion and maggots crawling among them Probe to Jiang Ze.

Jiang Ze seemed to be pinned and unable to move. He stared wide-eyed, watching the festering, rotten but too thin arm slowly stretching towards him.

Immediately, the scene of the horrific night two months ago, that strange thing that was rotten and rotting, with no intact skin trying to skin him and kill him immediately appeared in front of his eyes.

The instinctive fear of this super-scientific and unknown power made Jiang Ze unable to calm down and make any self-interested effective resistance. He could only stand stiffly in place and let the fear devour him mercilessly.

Just when Jiang Ze felt that his legs were no longer enough to support his body, a hand suddenly pressed his shoulder, pinched it soothingly, and then pulled him behind him, followed by the A deep and hoarse familiar voice: "Don't be afraid."

Jiang Ze breathed a sigh of relief when he heard the sound, and his tense body relaxed accordingly.He walked back and forth quietly and took half a step back, looking carefully at the ghost boy from his shoulder.

Guitong saw that Xiaofeng seemed to be frightened, and immediately buried his face between his legs, his small body trembled even more.

"Take off the coat and burn it." The mocking wind closed his eyes, and he saw the ghost boy's previous karma and reincarnation destiny with just one glance.

"Ah?" Jiang Ze was taken aback.

"Quick." Xiaofeng urged.

Although he didn't understand the purpose of this move, Jiang Ze complied obediently.He took the cigarettes and lighter out of his coat, and threw the clothes on the ground.

Jiang Ze glanced at Xiaofeng again, seeing that he had no intention of stopping him, so he had to squat down, press the lighter, and bring the flame close to his jacket.

The inner liner filled with cotton wool made the clothes burn violently very quickly. Jiang Ze waved away the flying ashes in front of his eyes. Just as he was about to ask, Xiao Feng closed his eyes and silently recited some ancient and mysterious spell with his lips slightly parted, as if from An ancient whisper.

The voice was deep and profound, lingering in the ears, and extremely penetrating, but it was not boring or disgusting, but rather relaxed.

Under Jiang Ze's shocked gaze, the ghost boy who had been huddled in the corner raised his head, and with the rising and rotating broken shadows like strands of flowing gold, his original hideous face gradually faded, replaced by a delicate and innocent face, Then that fair face became more and more blurred together with the dazzling stream of light.

A childish "thank you" echoed in his ears, Jiang Ze stretched out his hand, but in the end he only grasped a wisp of air, and the psychedelic golden light slipped away quietly from between his fingers.

Jiang Ze stared blankly at his hand. After a long time, he looked at Xiaofeng, his eyes full of doubts: "He is... what?"

"Ming Gui, died unexpectedly." Xiaofeng replied lightly.

Jiang Ze paused for a moment, and asked a little bit unbearably, "So young, how did he die?"

The mocking wind lowered his eyes, thought for a moment and replied: "The fate of the lonely star of Tiansha, when he was born, his mother died of dystocia. When he was a child, his father died unexpectedly, and his elder brother drowned. Ten years later, it was salvaged by the same clan.”

"..." Jiang Ze was speechless for a while, his brows were tightly frowned, and his tone was filled with obvious pity, "But why is he here?"

"Today is the October Dynasty. We pay homage to those who died first and give them cold clothes." The mocking wind glanced at Jiang Ze, who was only wearing single clothes, and took his arm and walked towards home without any explanation, adding, " There used to be a dry well here a hundred years ago."

Jiang Ze didn't care about the sudden warmth that flooded his whole body, he was just dumb, sympathetic and angry at the cruel treatment of that child.

"Then why didn't he reincarnate?" Jiang Ze seemed puzzled, as if he felt sad for the child, "Do you want to miss the world?"

Xiaofeng's hand holding Jiang Ze's arm tightened, and the two-way eyes, which were calm and calm, finally had a painful ripple, and he said in a deep voice: "Not everyone can walk through Huangquan Road smoothly, Those who step through the river of Wangchuan. Those who cannot pass will wander the world forever."

Jiang Ze's heart skipped a beat, and then he recovered.He glanced at the slender finger with distinct knuckles on his arm as if unintentionally, carefully raised the hand that had been hanging by his side, and finally dropped it again.

Xiaofeng sent Jiang Ze to the door of his house, and when he turned around to leave, the latter called out to him: "That..."

He turned around, his midnight-like deep eyes were tightly locked on Jiang Ze, there seemed to be an inexplicable emotion flashing through him, but it disappeared in endless indifference in an instant.

"Can you tell me when I met you?" Jiang Ze held his breath and looked at the mocking wind nervously, his voice trembling even without realizing it.

But Xiaofeng didn't seem to want to answer his question, and after a long while, he replied: "Next time."