Just as Young Master Liu was about to praise Village Head Tian’s kick for its speed, precision, and sheer force—a true testament to the old Red Army training—he heard Village Head Tian suddenly cry out for help, his body jerking violently toward the female ghost. Young Master Liu looked again and felt his heart seize with dread.

What now? That kick from Village Head Tian had been too powerful; his foot was now wedged deep in the female ghost’s skull, and he couldn't pull it out.

The bone had scraped his foot raw, leaving it bloody. This was a calculated move; the female ghost had employed a ploy of self-injury!

The last remaining eyeball on the female ghost’s face was squeezed out, and she shrieked, clawing wildly. Her fingernails were like razor tips, slicing skin and shredding flesh.

Village Head Tian’s lower body was brutally mauled, though thankfully, she missed the vital area; yet, he seemed to be inhaling more than exhaling. Young Master Liu abandoned concern for the dead child and rushed over, throwing his arms around Village Head Tian’s waist to pull backward.

Village Head Tian was simultaneously straining to yank his foot free, but he was struggling for breath, and his effort was nearly meaningless. The dead child on Village Head Tian’s back was compressed between the two men, its mouth open in a silent scream, its little pink hands waving uselessly in the air.

The thing felt slimy, like a lump of spoiled meat; it had recognizable features, but its movements were sickening in an indescribable way. The dead child had now scrambled onto Young Master Liu’s chest, cold against his neck, its hand already reaching for his face.

At that exact moment, the jade pendant on his chest erupted in brilliant white light, and the lifelike Pixiu let out a roar that seemed to shake the mountains and seas. Following that sharp cry, the dead child clattered to the ground in pieces, moving sluggishly.

This was salvation itself! Thrilled, Young Master Liu let go, clutching the jade pendant and shouting, "Pixiu, save us!" Just then, Village Head Tian let out a piercing scream.

Young Master Liu spun around—disaster! The female ghost had already dragged Village Head Tian backward, upside down.

At that instant, a figure materialized at the doorway—it was Old Granny Fan! Old Granny Fan leaped into the air, executing a Kuixing Tīdǒu (A celestial kick), her small foot landing squarely on the female ghost’s face, sending her staggering back.

Village Head Tian rolled away helplessly. The female ghost hesitated for only a moment before abandoning Village Head Tian and lunging toward Old Granny Fan.

Seeing the ghost’s hands plunge low, Old Granny Fan sharply raised her peach wood sword, blocking the attack from below. But the female ghost swiftly twisted her hands, maneuvering them under the sword guard to become grasping claws aimed straight for the throat.

Old Granny Fan quickly clamped her hands together, firmly gripping the female ghost’s wrists. They held in a deadlock for a few seconds; the ghost’s strength was immense, her fingers slowly closing on Old Granny Fan’s throat.

In desperation, Old Granny Fan leaned back, soaring into the air, kicking out with both feet simultaneously against the female ghost’s chest. It felt like kicking a thick stone wall; she was thrown backward, tumbling to the ground.

Though somewhat disheveled, she had escaped immediate danger and sprang back up with a backward roll. When she looked up again, the female ghost had vanished.

Squinting, she could only see its swiftly leaping figure in the distance, moving far too fast for any adult to pursue. Old Granny Fan secretly gasped at how close they came, leaning heavily on her peach wood sword as she took several deep breaths.

"Young man, are you alright?" "I'm fine, won't die," Young Master Liu wiped his mouth, climbing up from the ground. "It’s Village Head Tian who’s badly hurt, and he got hit too." "Oh?" Old Granny Fan walked over to Village Head Tian, her face turning grim as she saw the wound.

"He’s been poisoned by corpse venom." "What? Corpse venom!" "Yes." Old Granny Fan nodded.

"Luckily, I brought some aged glutinous rice. It’s perfect for this." She pulled a handful of gleaming white rice from her pocket and placed it on Village Head Tian’s wound.

"Whoosh!" At that moment, the glutinous rice burst into flames! The fire didn't burn flesh; instead, a warm current emanated from the wound where it burned, slowly rising.

In less than a few seconds, the once-white rice turned into blackened, charred remnants, a pile of ash! A bizarre phenomenon occurred: around Village Head Tian’s wound, a large, dark scar had appeared, colored like an allergic reaction.

However, even someone utterly ignorant of medicine would never mistake this scar for a simple allergy. "This is bad.

This isn't a Jiangshi; it might be a Hanba!" Old Granny Fan slapped her thigh. "This...

this is really a Hanba? No wonder the village has been suffering from drought lately," Young Master Liu remarked.

"That's very possible," Old Granny Fan confirmed with a nod. Young Master Liu worried, "If it really is a 'Hanba' as you say, that’s not something ordinary people like us can handle.

A 'Hanba' can kill a dragon, let alone us mortals." Old Granny Fan smiled slightly. "I can't be certain; I'm only speculating based on what I read in the book.

But judging by the severity and scope of the drought in Xiushui Village, if there is a 'Hanba,' it’s likely only in its nascent stage. If we find it and burn it, we should be fine." Hearing her explanation, Young Master Liu seemed to discover something interesting.

He said, "Great! I don't have anything pressing to do right now, so let’s go look.

I just don't know where this 'Hanba' might be, or how we should search for it?" Old Granny Fan explained, "The book says places where Jiangshi are buried have a few common characteristics: they are usually areas that never see sunlight, where nothing grows. Moreover, most have a layer of lime, and any place meeting these conditions should be where a corpse is buried—also known as a 'Corpse Nurturing Ground.'" Scientifically, the 'Corpse Nurturing Ground' has its explanation too.

Areas where Jiangshi are found typically have extremely unbalanced soil pH, unsuitable for organic matter, thus preventing the growth of insects, ants, and bacteria; even after a century, the flesh and hair of a buried corpse will not decay. Young Master Liu asked, "Grandma.

If what you say is true, as long as we find a place with a lime layer, no sunlight, and barren of growth, that must be it, right?" Old Granny Fan nodded. "That should be it.

I don't have any actual experience; for now, we can only imitate the form and copy the pattern." Old Granny Fan said Village Head Tian’s injury wouldn't heal quickly and required careful consideration; she needed to return and study the matter more deeply. "Alright, the book I gave you, read it carefully, learn to ponder.

The master leads you to the gate; cultivation is up to the individual. Whether you learn the skills depends on yourself," Old Granny Fan said, affectionately stroking Young Master Liu’s head.

"Yes, Grandma, I understand." "Good boy, my grandson. Then I’ll be heading back now," Old Granny Fan smiled.

"Goodbye, Grandma." "Wait..." Old Granny Fan paused her steps. "Is there something else?" Old Granny Fan didn't turn around.

"Child, I have few relatives left in this world. My only grandson is a disappointment, leaving me, this old bone, behind.

You, however, are the one I cherish most—my little piece of warm cotton, the apple of my eye. Remember this: no matter what happens in the future, I will always protect you.

Even if the sky falls, I will hold it up for you. My skills may be limited, but what I can guarantee is that even if I breathe my last breath, I will not let anyone harm a single hair on your head." "Grandma..." "Sigh!

Can you call me Grandma one more time?" Old Granny Fan’s voice trembled. "Grandma!" "Good child, good child..." Old Granny Fan wept, tears streaming down her face.

Young Master Liu waved goodbye, watching Old Granny Fan’s stooped figure. He blinked, unsure why she had said such things to him.

He was even more unaware that his "goodbye" now represented not a momentary parting, but eternity.