Judging by the color of the soil and the state of the surrounding weeds, the grave had been dug open some time ago.

The nearby burial mounds had also been checked — no trace of Li Shi among them.

Considering that Li Qianggui and Li Shi had died one after the other, and that Li Shi had no family or connections in the village, it was unlikely anyone would have set up a separate grave for her. Most probably, the two had been buried together.

To confirm this theory, Shen Mo and Du Lai continued excavating the half-dug grave.

The soil was loose and the remains had been buried very shallow — before long, they unearthed Li Qianggui’s bones.

The corpse had long since rotted down to dry bones. There was no coffin; the remains had merely been wrapped in a straw mat. There were clear marks of hacking on the neck — without question, it was Li Qianggui.

Shen Mo and Du Lai kept digging, hoping to uncover Li Shi’s remains.

Though Li Shi had died after Li Qianggui, ancient custom absolutely forbade a wife from being placed above her husband in a joint burial.

If Li Shi was not to Li Qianggui’s right side, she could only be deeper underground.

Gusts of cold, dark wind swept through. The temperature dropped quickly. The sky was about to go black.

And they had found nothing.

*Tap—*

A single raindrop landed on Bai Youwei’s cheek — wet and cold.

She reached up to touch it, then tilted her head back to look at the sky.

Dense black clouds sealed the heavens without a single gap. More raindrops fell, a soft pattering at first, then a rushing downpour.

The rain was growing heavier.

“Stop digging — let’s get out of here now…” Fu Miaoxue had long since run out of patience, stomping her feet restlessly in place. She was both frightened and anxious, dreading whatever Du Lai and Shen Mo might pull up from the ground.

Bai Youwei said nothing, staring silently into the deepening pit, then swept her gaze across the eerily gloomy surrounding woods. At last she spoke: “Let’s go. Li Shi’s remains aren’t here.”

The two men had also lost much hope, and climbed out one after the other.

Du Lai caught his breath and said, “Scabby Li’s bones are here, but Li Shi’s are not. Doesn’t that mean the Bone-Hauling Woman has been hauling her own bones all along — not her husband’s? If we can give her a proper burial, maybe she’ll stop.”

The Bone-Hauling Woman would not rest — there had to be a reason.

Either she had a grudge left unsettled,

or a wish left unfulfilled.

“Worth trying.” Shen Mo gave a slight nod. “If she really has been hauling her own bones, this approach is worth attempting.”

Fu Miaoxue said, “But we don’t even know her name or identity! Even if we build her a new grave, the tombstone could only be inscribed with ‘Li Shi’ — just those two characters!”

“Then perhaps… the key to clearing this game is finding Li Shi’s true identity?” Bai Youwei furrowed her brow in thought, murmuring, “Let’s see tonight — let’s see whose remains she’s actually hauling.”

They descended the hill and returned to the village.

By then, the sky had gone completely dark.

In the pitch blackness, the only light came from two white paper lanterns hanging outside the village elder’s courtyard gate, casting a hazy, feeble glow. Those frail little flames flickered and swayed as if they might be doused by the rain at any moment.

The village lay in a dead silence, broken only by the sound of rain and wind.

They took shelter in the Li family house.

Every household had sealed its doors and windows tight; only the abandoned Li house was open to them. Ignoring the leaking roof, the memorial tablet on the table, the spirit money scattered across the floor, and the heavy, damp smell of mildew hanging in the air — the place was barely enough for them to stay in.

Amid the howling wind and bitter rain, they heard last night’s hoarse, grating singing voice — like an ancient, worn-out gramophone — begin creaking and wailing its way toward them:

*”In an instant…*

*In an instant, cold air assails me, dark clouds spreading on all sides.*

*This humble one can only struggle on, daring not to pause.*

*In the wild and desolate outskirts, there is nowhere to take shelter.*

*Wave after wave, oh,*

*Wave after wave of bitter wind and miserable rain, soaking through my garments.*

*Ah—*

*Oh—*

*……”*

Shen Mo knitted his brows slightly, took Bai Youwei’s hand, and lowered his voice to ask, “Did you hear that?”

Bai Youwei was briefly confused, assuming he meant the singing — but Shen Mo continued: “Next door… it sounds like something is moving.”

—