Under Old Madam Fan's persistent questioning, Liu Dashao finally recounted the jade pendant story in its entirety. After hearing it, Old Madam Fan exclaimed repeatedly and sighed deeply. However, despite being a village medium - even if she were an elite among mediums - she could never match the expertise of a proper Taoist priest. After inspecting the jade pendant for quite some time, she found nothing unusual except that while the jade quality was poor, the carvings of the Pixiu on it appeared remarkably lively and auspicious.

"Dashao, do you know what a Pixiu is?" Old Madam Fan returned the pendant to him.

"My father said it's a mythical beast from legends," Liu Dashao replied.

"Right." Nodding, Old Madam Fan continued, "Blessing brings misfortune, and misfortune carries blessing. Your Yin-Yang eye has been sealed for so long that it's now fully awakened. From now on, don't panic when seeing the supernatural - just get used to it. Also, never let this pendant leave your side! Pixiu are loyal guardians by nature. I believe even major troubles can be averted with its protection."

"I understand, grandma," Liu Dashao said.

"Good, help me up and we'll head home!"

Half an hour later, Old Madam Fan and Liu Dashao both woke up. Elder Liu, seeing his son returned safely, was overjoyed and tearfully wanted to kneel before the old woman in gratitude - only for her to stop him with a hand. Other parents rushed over anxiously asking about their children's conditions. With a smile Old Madam Fan assured them not to worry since they'd naturally revive by the next day. Given that descending into the Underworld was indeed physically exhausting, both Liu Dashao and Old Madam Fan grew drowsy after brief exchanges. They quickly dismissed everyone else before retiring separately.

That night, Liu Dashao had a dream in which he stood alone inside Wuxian Lingguan Temple while the deity statue glared at him menacingly. As he sprinted toward temple's exit, the door slammed shut the moment he reached it. A malicious laughter echoed through the hall - when he turned around, the deity statue had transformed into an old demon who sneered:

"Think you're so clever? Show me your power by saving those six men!" The demon pointed to a corner where six figures in white stood kneeling before coffins. Their lowered heads prevented Liu from seeing their faces until the demon insisted he examine the last one. As he lifted that person's head, it suddenly detached - revealing his father's face! Panicked, Liu collapsed but the demon snarled:

"Not one of them will live! Nor will your entire village!"

Elderly folks often say dreams are inverse reflections of reality. For example, finding a wallet in your dream might mean impending losses. Similarly, dreaming about misfortunes could actually presage good fortune. Though Liu Dashao understood the old adage that dreams reflect daily thoughts, he still didn't take this vision seriously - until next morning when Tian Guoqiang, Dog Dan and Xiaoma finally woke up! He celebrated his efforts by attending Xiaoma's mother's lavish feast where Tian Guoqiang devoured meat hungrily after two days without food. After the meal Old Madam Fan departed while villagers sent her off with thanks.

At village entrance watching distant hills, Old Madam Fan's cheerful expression faded into a tight grimace.

"What's wrong grandma?" Liu Dashao noticed and worried she might have been offended by the villagers' reception.

"Ah! All predestined fates!" She clasped his head affectionately as wrinkles crinkled across her face. "Since my passing, I've never had grandchildren to love... Would you call me grandma for old lady's happiness?"

"Of course! From now on Liu Dashao is your grandson!" he exclaimed.

Her toothless grin suddenly brightened with renewed clarity in aged eyes.

"Remember this. While returning to town I must complete some final affairs without burdens. In the coming days, take good care of yourself and family. If village troubles arise, don't panic - wait patiently for grandma's guidance."

Liu Dashao didn't grasp her cryptic words but nodded earnestly before she left by tractor, waving until they parted ways.

As proverbial saying goes about old habits die hard, the four ruffians' rowdiness soon resumed. However, Showater Village temporarily regained its peace - though this serenity felt eerily tense like pre-storm anxiety.

Fatefully, just as Old Madam Fan departed, construction crews arrived en masse. These engineers came because dam between villages had collapsed half under flood damage - a disaster akin to thunderbolt strike. Since villagers depended on river for survival, the mayor finally dispatched this team despite small size. Though only personnel with decent equipment and local laborers, it seemed manageable.

Among workers young Zhang Dali stood out as town's technical specialist assigned here mainly for geometric calculations. He was short and skinny but energetic with neat haircut and fair skin that made him look like a proper "white face". Being jokester who easily bonded with people, he impressed villagers most - especially showing interest in young widow Alan.

Alan had arrived from famine-stricken village at ten after plague killed her family. She was taken in by elderly mason living east-side house. This old bachelor, over fifty without marriage despite his kindness and ability to earn extra rations through construction work for officials, raised Alan like daughter in partitioned room within home.

Grateful for protection, Alan called him "Father" while he found joy companionship after decades of solitude. But as Alan matured into beautiful woman with curves that made suitors swarm their door, the mason's paternal affection transformed into obsession. One night during bath time when he spied through wall listening to water sounds, he couldn't resist bursting in and defiling her.

Shamed but constrained by traditional values and gratitude for shelter, Alan didn't fight back - only weeping eyes. This emboldened him further as he publicly declared her his adopted wife while dismantling partitions to live together openly. Villagers cursed this lecherous bachelor until disease finally claimed him not long after.

Left alone, Alan became de facto widow though never officially married. Young village bachelors now schemed for her attention - some even breaking curfew knocking on doors at night. Yet she found unexpected affection in Zhang Dali's frequent chores like fetching water and weeding gardens...

Meanwhile, Party Secretary Li Yang watched jealousy growing as this mason's daughter warmed to outsider. This corrupt official had climbed village hierarchy through nepotism but was infamous for eating dead bodies during famine - now forty-something bachelor craving women's touch. Daily he watched Alan pass by with hungry eyes, and after old mason died began nightly visits to her house while assigning easy tasks during daytime.

One night Li Yang spotted someone sneaking toward Alan's residence through alleyway. Following them discreetly, he recognized Zhang Dali entering the house. When later Alan opened door for "Li Brother" - her face already flushed from earlier tryst - the Party Secretary barged in with animalistic greed...

The following days revealed Alan's tragic position between two men until finally Zhang discovered Li's betrayal and attacked him violently while she wept helplessly...