My expression was strange, filled with surprise.
They didn't want money, but my fingernails.
What were these things for? Could they be eaten?
I looked at my fingernails; my nerves had been taut these past few days.
It had been several days since I'd trimmed them, and they had grown a bit.
Yet, the other party seemed very serious, even producing a large pair of scissors:
"Young man, not a single one of your ten fingernails can be missing."
As the old woman's voice fell, the giant rat in her arms also stretched out its head.
It squeaked at me, "Squeak, squeak, squeak," sounding excited.
I felt a little disgusted by the large rat, and this transaction left me completely bewildered.
However, I recalled that this supermarket was already peculiar.
It certainly couldn't be understood with conventional supermarket logic, so I didn't dwell on it too much.
With some awkwardness, I nodded:
"Alright!"
I put down the cloth bag in my hand and picked up the large black scissors.
Then, I began to cut my fingernails onto a sheet of red paper.
The room was very quiet, and a chill permeated the air.
Only the "snap, snap" of me cutting my nails could be heard.
The old woman stood beside me, constantly stretching her head to direct:
"Cut them a little longer, a little longer!"
My face was full of embarrassment; I was already cutting close to the flesh, and any longer would mean cutting off a piece of my skin.
Under the old woman's demanding instructions.
My ten fingernails were quickly finished.
I put down the large scissors and handed over the fingernails on the red paper:
"Auntie, here are the nails you wanted!"
The old woman smiled gleefully:
"Good, good..."
Saying this, she took the red paper with her wrinkled, aged hands.
Seeing the transaction complete, I picked up my cloth bag and prepared to leave.
I was pressed for time and couldn't linger here.
Moreover, this place exuded an indescribable strangeness.
But who would have thought that the moment the old woman received my nail clippings, she unfolded the paper and presented it to the giant rat.
She said joyfully:
"Eat up quickly! Eating these will increase your lifespan and help you grow tall, hehehe..."
The giant rat poked its head out and began to eat my nail clippings with its mouth.
It crunched them continuously in its mouth.
Its furless tail swung back and forth with ease.
The sight made my scalp tingle, and my hair stood on end...
My expression shifted slightly, and I swallowed hard.
I stumbled back several steps and turned to run out of the house.
It was too bizarre.
The moment I stepped outside, the half-open wooden door slammed shut with a bang.
Even so, I felt I could still see.
The image of the giant rat, wagging its furless tail while chewing my nails.
My heart pounded with dread, and I walked forward with unease and tension.
Before long, all that remained behind me were wisps of mist and the glowing red lanterns; the small wooden house was no longer visible.
Checking the time, it was now 8:40 PM.
There was still over an hour until 10 o'clock.
My phone was dead, so I couldn't call for a ride.
Therefore, I had to hurry, otherwise, I might not make it to the Chenghuang Temple on Longgang Mountain before 10 o'clock.
I quickened my pace, running along the pathways of the cemetery.
Soon, I arrived at the fork where I had met the little girl earlier.
When I had passed through before, it took me over ten minutes.
Now, returning, it only took about three to five minutes.
This path was very strange, but I couldn't quite articulate how.
The area was empty, with only tombstones; the little girl was nowhere to be seen.
However, in my heart, I was extremely grateful to the little girl named "Li Lingling."
If she hadn't guided me, I might not have found that Rose Supermarket all night.
I approached her grave and bowed:
"Little sister, thank you.
If I can live to see another day.
I will surely come to offer incense for you!"
After speaking, I was about to leave.
But at this moment, an apple rolled out from the fruit basket placed before her grave.
The red apple rolled directly to my toes, without deviation.
I glanced up in surprise and then looked at the picture of the cute little girl on the tombstone.
I felt I understood her intention.
I bent down and picked up the apple from the ground:
"Little sister, are you asking me to eat an apple?"
There was no audible response, but I felt a faint, cool breeze brush against me.
In the past, such gusts of cool wind would always make me feel uneasy.
But now, not only was I not scared, but my tense emotions were significantly soothed.
"Thank you, little sister. If I live, I will keep my promise."
After speaking, I didn't bother about whether the apple was dirty and took a bite directly.
I hadn't eaten anything all day, and this apple tasted incredibly sweet.
Without lingering further, I turned and ran towards the cemetery exit.
By the time I reached the foot of the mountain.
I looked back again; apart from the gravestones covering the mountain, there was nothing else.
Taking a deep breath, I felt the chill in the air and ran outwards.
The security guard at the gate was still watching television and didn't notice me.
Once I was out of the cemetery, I ran along the road.
All I wanted now was to find a vehicle and reach Longgang Mountain quickly to complete the task assigned by Master Gu.
But the Southern Mountain Cemetery was in the suburbs. After running for twenty minutes, there wasn't a single car, let alone a person.
I anxiously checked the time; it was almost 9:10, and I still couldn't find a car.
If this continued, I definitely wouldn't be able to reach the Chenghuang Temple before 10 o'clock.
Master Gu had explicitly stated that once it passed ten o'clock, the female ghost haunting me would surely appear.
If she came again, I would truly be doomed.
I frantically pressed the power button, hoping my phone's battery would hold out a little longer, allowing me to hail a ride-sharing service at a high price!
But who would have thought that, just as I was in despair.
A very old-looking van, with no tail lights, suddenly stopped in front of me.
I hadn't even noticed it approaching from behind me.
It appeared rather abruptly, just materializing there.
Before I could react, a middle-aged man with a pale face and sweating profusely rolled down the window.
He shouted at me:
"Young man, is this the car you called?"