Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Plague of Insects

After all our winding and wandering, we found ourselves once again at the clearing where we had first unearthed the cat's corpse.

Under the central stone figure, I watched as the fireflies gathered in ever greater numbers, swarming like a storm. I steeled myself and called out to Zhao Hong and Ah Si.

"Everyone stick close, backs to the stone man! Form a defensive line!"

It was a desperate tactic, not a solution, but backing against the stone gave us one advantage: we no longer had to worry about the swarm sneaking up from behind. Zhao Hong and I shielded the small-statured Ah Si between our legs, reducing the chance that any one of us would be singled out.

Once our formation was set, we stripped off our jackets and began frantically swinging them, swatting away the large insects that came too near. The gruesome fate of the black dog was still fresh in our minds, filling us with terror for these razor-edged bugs. We swung our clothes with wild vigor, desperate to drive them all away.

The fireflies, so bright in the night, were easy targets despite their numbers. Their flight paths were clear, which was one reason we hadn’t yet been shredded by their attacks. With the terrain working in our favor, we managed to hold our own against the swarm for now.

But I knew our defense was primitive and hopeless. The swarm was endless; as long as dawn didn’t break, as long as the mysterious force controlling them remained, we stood no chance. Once exhaustion set in, death was certain.

Suddenly, as if to confirm my fears, one of those green-and-red fireflies pierced my defenses. Riding the air currents, it slipped past my jacket, streaking through the night like a bloody missile and struck my neck.

A searing pain ripped through my nerves. I cried out and shook my head violently, my hand trembling as I swung my jacket.

The pain was excruciating. I freed my right arm, reached for my neck, and slapped down hard, catching a writhing, solid creature beneath my palm. Revulsion surged within me. Gritting my teeth, I tore the bug from my neck, flinging it away just as another firefly flew toward me.

"Die!" I spat through clenched teeth…

Of course, in a swarm of hundreds—maybe thousands—this was hardly the only one to slip through, but my clothes were sturdy and tightly woven, and with Ah Si protecting my lower half, I managed two or three more minutes without being bitten again.

Yet, gradually, something felt wrong. After things stabilized, I noticed that the swarm on my side was far denser than on Zhao Hong’s. Around his lower body, the bugs were more numerous than overhead. His bald, pig-like head should have been an irresistible target, but not a single insect bothered with it.

The contrast between his relaxed situation and my frantic struggle was stark.

Why was this happening?

At first, I thought it was the stench of rotten cat corpse clinging to me. But then, as I considered, that couldn’t be it. Ah Si and Zhao Hong stood so close to me we were nearly one person—there was no reason for the bugs to target only me. From the patterns in the swarm’s flight, it seemed Zhao Hong's body was enveloped by some invisible barrier; whenever a firefly neared his head, it would veer away instantly.

It was absurd. Was I just unlucky? Did the bugs pick on me because I was the most cursed?

Frustrated, I shouted at the swarm, "Is this how you treat people?!"

My voice was loud and ragged, my sudden outburst causing Zhao Hong to shiver and glance back at me.

That glance, as it happened, saved my life.

In that instant, I understood why the bugs targeted me and not him.

From the corner of my eye, I saw a glowing red dot on one side of Zhao Hong’s head, wisps of smoke curling up—a cigarette butt hanging from his lips, not yet finished.

Zhao Hong, to ease his nerves, always smoked when he was tense. Ever since the banquet of three tables, his nerves had been taut and his cigarettes constant. His head was saturated with the heavy scent of tar.

So the bugs feared smoke! In fact… most insects fear smoke!

Excited, I shouted, "These bugs must be afraid of smoke! Zhao, give me and Ah Si a cigarette!"

Zhao Hong, panting, replied, "I can’t spare a hand! You… take it yourself."

His words were as useless as saying nothing. If he couldn’t spare a hand with the swarm barely bothering him, I, who was using even my feet to fend off bugs, was even more helpless. My strength was ebbing and my jacket swings were losing power.

I couldn’t spare so much as a finger. Helpless, I told Ah Si, "Ah Si! Climb on him and get some cigarettes!"

Instantly, the protected Ah Si became our savior. He laughed and called out, "Alright!"

Like a monkey, Ah Si climbed up my leg to my shoulder, then leapt onto Zhao Hong’s broad back, scrambled to his head, and quickly fished a crumpled pack of cigarettes from Zhao Hong’s inner pocket.

Watching Ah Si’s antics, I couldn't help but marvel, "He’s truly a monkey—put some fur on him and he’d be perfect for a play…"

In moments, Ah Si deftly lit three cigarettes, shoved one into my mouth, and slid back down my leg.

I didn’t care that the cigarette bore his spit—I took a deep drag and exhaled forcefully at the swirling swarm, swinging my jacket in tandem.

A wave of smoke rolled out!

Just as I expected, the fireflies retreated, many turning tail with a buzz. The swarm’s attack diminished by a third, filling me with joy.

I couldn’t help but shout, "Brine curdles tofu! Blow smoke—we’re saved!"

Seeing the results, Zhao Hong and Ah Si grinned and mimicked my actions, fanning thick clouds of smoke outward.

In less than half a minute, we pushed the bugs back five or six meters. As the smoke spread, the fireflies lost their cohesion, swirling around us like a cyclone but hesitant to approach, let alone bite.

At last, we had a moment to breathe.

The three of us slumped against the stone behind us, smoking and resting. When the smoke thinned, we’d take another drag, fan it about, and earn another couple minutes of reprieve.

Watching the flickering lights of the fireflies, I felt a prickling itch on my neck. Following the sensation, I reached up and found a hard "attachment."

"What’s this?" I wondered, tugging gently at the lump. It was firmly stuck. I twisted and pulled, taking quite some time to finally "pluck" it from my neck.

Under my phone’s glow, I examined what lay in my palm. It was… the dark red head of a firefly, about the size of a thumbnail.

The bug that bit me earlier—when I tore it off, only the body came away. Its head had stayed latched onto my neck until now, and even after removing it, a patch of my skin came with it.

Was this thing part turtle? Once it bit, it wouldn’t let go!

Furious, I crushed the bug’s head to powder and flung it away.

Ah Si watched my action, puzzled. "Second Brother, what did you throw just now? Smells awful."

"Ball!" I replied.

"Ball?" Zhao Hong and Ah Si were baffled.

"No," I waved my hand, "Not a ball—a head!"

As I said this, I was suddenly startled! Why was I drooling? Why… were my words slurred?

Alarmed, I quickly put my hand in my mouth and tugged at my tongue.

I felt nothing.

I pressed my neck, including the wound left by the firefly. Still, there was no sensation.

"Poison!" I mumbled, drool dripping.

Ah Si and Zhao Hong looked at me, confused.

Helpless, I reached out and typed on my phone: "The bugs are poisonous, nerve paralysis."

Ah Si and Zhao Hong leaned in to examine my wound. Zhao Hong’s voice trembled, "It’s swollen! The area is full of blood streaks!"

We all fell silent. This silence was steeped in despair.

Wang Hou and Xian Hongye were still missing. Judging by our situation, they likely encountered something similar in the tomb of the ghost soldiers, and our guess was… their chances were grim.

These vicious fireflies could numb a tongue with a single bite. If bitten several times, it would only take minutes to lose all feeling and be at the mercy of the swarm.

Our situation was dire. Though the smoke had bought us respite, cigarettes were finite. The bugs weren’t leaving; when we ran out, we’d be doomed.

Staring at the fireflies swirling like stars, I realized we needed to move somewhere safer. The only place we knew was Zhao Hong’s pickup.

Though its windshield was broken, we could cover it with the canvas from the back. Most importantly, there was plenty of gasoline—far more potent than cigarettes. With it, we could defend ourselves, attack, and retreat as needed.

I quickly typed up my plan on my phone and showed it to Zhao Hong and Ah Si.

The glowing screen invigorated them. We sprang to our feet, ready to gather wood from the thicket to light torches, driving the swarm away as we retreated toward the pickup.

But just as we stood, a sudden sharp cat’s cry erupted from the brush!

Instantly, all the fireflies halted their flight, crawling onto the clearing near the stone figure, forming a circle around us.

The scene fell eerily silent.

As the chilling cat’s howl drew closer, we realized… the true master was arriving!

Sure enough, moments later, another flash of red light burst from the woods. A shadow, surrounded by bloody glow, emerged from the forest, facing us.

That shadow possessed ghostly blue eyes, and in its mouth—it carried Xian Hongye’s phone.