Volume One: The Cemetery of Eight Coffins Chapter 62: The Black Tiger Knot Guides the Way

The situation had become extremely urgent, and both my third uncle and I were at a complete loss. No one expected that Xu Ruoxi, who had been standing quietly to the side, would suddenly say, “I might have an idea.”

My third uncle and I both brightened, turning to look at her.

She pointed at the doors and windows and said, “Aren’t those cats afraid of this net? Why don’t both of you just put the net over your heads and walk straight out?”

Her words were like a bolt from the blue, snapping us out of our panic. Both of us felt a pang of regret—how had we not thought of this? We knew well enough that the ground net had a restraining effect on the cats afflicted by the cat’s resentment. Yet all we’d done was use it to barricade the doors and windows defensively, never considering that we could wear it and break out.

It was just as the saying goes—those in the game are lost, while bystanders see clearly.

Heeding Xu Ruoxi’s advice, my third uncle and I immediately set to work, taking the ground net off the doors and windows and draping it over our heads.

As for Xu Ruoxi, it had already been proven that the cats did not attack her, so she naturally didn’t need the net.

Still, my third uncle and I positioned ourselves in front and behind, sandwiching Xu Ruoxi between us, ready to make a dash for it.

With the net no longer sealing the doors and windows, the cats outside grew excited again, launching a fresh assault. Many of them hurled themselves against the doors and windows, as if desperate.

There was no time to lose. My third uncle made a gesture and reminded us, “Once we get out, make for the main gate—don’t stop for a second. This ground net isn’t omnipotent. The more evil spirits gather, the weaker the net becomes. Guarding the doors and windows, we could have lasted until dawn, but once we charge out, there’s no guarantee. Remember, we’re only safe once we’re outside the main gate.”

I nodded, gripped the doorknob, steadied my breath, and yanked the door open.

Several cats that had been throwing themselves at the door tumbled inside, caught off guard.

They crashed right into me. Because I was covered by the ground net, the cats let out shrill cries and scrambled away.

“Go!” my third uncle shouted.

I didn’t dare hesitate, rushing toward the courtyard gate. Xu Ruoxi followed close behind, with my third uncle bringing up the rear. The main gate was only five or six meters away. We barely dared to breathe, intent on making it in one burst.

The cats clearly dreaded the net—wherever we went, swathes of them retreated. All around us, countless pairs of ghostly cat eyes glowed in the dark, and the air was filled with their chilling wails, making my legs go weak.

But I didn’t dare stop for a moment. With a final sprint, I saw the gate just a couple of meters ahead.

My heart leapt—just a few more steps and we’d be safe.

But none of us expected what happened next. The clear night suddenly thickened with fog, rolling in so fast that within moments, the entire courtyard was shrouded, visibility reduced to nothing.

Though the fog blinded me, I kept charging forward. I’d memorized the direction of the gate. All I had to do was keep going, push open the gate, and we’d be safe.

That was my plan, and I stuck to it. I estimated I’d covered about two meters when I saw the dark outline of the main gate ahead. Gritting my teeth, I crashed toward it.

With a loud bang, I slammed straight into the gate. The impact left me reeling, my face bruised and battered. The rebound sent me tumbling backward, knocking Xu Ruoxi and my third uncle over as well.

Stars danced before my eyes as my third uncle shouted, “Are you an idiot? The gate opens inward, for crying out loud!”

Shame washed over me. In my panic, I’d made such a basic mistake.

Hurriedly, I scrambled to my feet and reached for the gate again, but the fog had completely enveloped us—I couldn’t tell direction anymore.

Looking back, I realized my third uncle and Xu Ruoxi were gone as well.

A chill swept over me. Nearby, I could hear the low growls of cats, drawing closer and closer.

I groped at the net draped over me. Thankfully, it was still in place after the fall, but I noticed many of the knots were coming undone.

I had examined the ground net before. Its knots were complex—some tied seven or eight times by my third uncle, forming thick lumps. I doubted I could ever untie them myself.

But now, the knots were silently unraveling. There was only one explanation: just as my third uncle had said, with so many evil entities outside and the air thick with yin energy, the ground net was struggling to hold out. Once all the knots unraveled, the net would fall apart.

Worse yet, in the thick fog, my third uncle was nowhere to be found.

Cold sweat broke out all over me. I couldn’t help but call out loudly, “Uncle! Uncle!”

Thank heavens, after only a couple of shouts, my third uncle’s voice came from my left: “Stop yelling, I’m here.”

Xu Ruoxi’s voice followed from behind me, tinged with tears: “I’m here too! What’s with the fog? I can’t see you!”

I ignored them and asked urgently, “The net’s about to fall apart! What should we do?”

“Don’t panic. Listen to me. Take off the Black Tiger Knot from your waist, shake it three times, and recite: ‘Clear skies and bright earth, the sun hides and the night travels. The heavenly horse crosses the river, guide my living soul.’” My third uncle’s voice rang out.

His words reminded me—the Black Tiger Knot at our waists wasn’t just for warding off evil. Because it was woven with Old Ma’s tail hair, it could also point the way. But since we’d never used it, it hadn’t crossed our minds.

Heeding his instructions, I quickly untied the Black Tiger Knot from my waist, held it in my hand, shook it three times, and recited, “Clear skies and bright earth, the sun hides and the night travels. The heavenly horse crosses the river, guide my living soul.”

Nothing happened after the first recitation, so I repeated it twice more.

After the third time, the limp Black Tiger Knot suddenly came alive, floating in one direction as if blown by an invisible wind.

Relief surged through me. My third uncle was reciting the incantation too, but I didn’t hear Xu Ruoxi’s voice.

I called out, “Xu Ruoxi, didn’t you hear my uncle? Hurry!”

Xu Ruoxi’s voice was tearful: “Mine...mine won’t come off...don’t leave me behind...”

“Idiot,” I muttered, exasperated, and took two steps toward her voice.

Reaching out, I found her arm, grabbed it, and led her in the direction indicated by the Black Tiger Knot.

The actual distance wasn’t far—the fog had simply blinded us.

After a few steps, suddenly everything brightened. The fog vanished in an instant. Though it was still dark around us, the air was clear.

“Where are we?” I looked around, still uneasy.

(End of chapter)