Volume One: The Eight Coffin Corpse Yard Chapter 55: The Black Tiger Knot

I had never seen my third uncle use such a peculiar rope before. My curiosity got the better of me, so I asked him, “What’s this rope for?”

Xu Ruoxi seemed just as puzzled, and when she heard my question, she looked at my third uncle as well.

My third uncle looped his piece of rope around his waist as he explained, “Don’t underestimate this knot. It’s called a Black Tiger Knot. The rope itself has been soaked in the blood of a rooster that’s never mated, and inside the knot are hairs from a horse over fifty years old.”

I was taken aback. “A fifty-year-old horse? Can horses even live that long?”

My third uncle nodded. “Of course they can. Otherwise, how would I make this Black Tiger Knot? The average lifespan of a horse is thirty to thirty-five years, but some can live up to sixty. A horse over fifty years old is truly ancient.”

“Third uncle, you’ve mentioned before that rooster blood wards off evil, but what about the horse’s mane? What’s the purpose of that?” I pressed.

He replied, “The mane from an old horse is just as effective at warding off evil as rooster blood, but it has another function. Using this Black Tiger Knot, in critical moments, it can guide us. You’ve heard the saying ‘an old horse knows the way,’ haven’t you? That’s the idea. When entering a haunted house like this at night, it’s easy to break some taboo and get caught in a ghostly maze. So with the Black Tiger Knot, it not only protects us, but it can lead us out if we get lost.”

He spoke with such conviction that Xu Ruoxi hurriedly tied the rope around her waist.

Holding the rope in my hand, I asked, “Is this really reliable?”

“Quit talking nonsense. When has anything your third uncle uses ever been unreliable?” He leaned in and whispered, “Remember that Record of Haunted Houses?”

Suddenly, it all made sense—the Black Tiger Knot was something he learned from that book. Clearly, the contents of that record were quite complex. He must have prepared the knot according to its instructions.

I followed his example and tied the Black Tiger Knot around my waist.

My third uncle waved his hand, ready to lead us into the courtyard. Xu Ruoxi hesitated and asked, “Is… a rope really enough? Can I… not go in?”

He shrugged, “Suit yourself.”

Xu Ruoxi was stunned, then delighted. “Really? Then I’ll go back…”

She turned to leave.

I was wondering why my third uncle suddenly changed his mind, when he called out loudly, “Assistant Xu, be careful not to bump into that child.”

Xu Ruoxi paused, looked around, and turned back to ask, “What child? There’s no child here.”

“That child has blood streaming from his head, and his eyes are full of blood. He’s right over there…” My third uncle said, then slapped his forehead. “Ah, sorry, I forgot. I have Yin-Yang eyes, you don’t. You can’t see him, so never mind. Go on, then…”

I couldn’t help but laugh inwardly. Third uncle didn’t have any mystical vision—he was clearly just trying to scare her. Poor Xu Ruoxi had really run into trouble today by crossing paths with him.

But, to my surprise, Xu Ruoxi believed him. She screamed and dashed back, jumping behind us, staring in terror at the direction my third uncle had pointed.

My third uncle said, “This street is heavy with yin energy. After sunset, wandering ghosts and spirits come out to cause trouble. If you want to head back, be careful.”

“No, no, no. I won’t go back. I’ll go in with you,” Xu Ruoxi said, waving her hands frantically. By now, the street was empty, with no pedestrians and no streetlights. Darkness enveloped the old street. With my third uncle’s warning, even a grown man would have second thoughts.

I chuckled to myself, realizing my third uncle’s tricks were truly endless.

Later, I learned that a few years ago, Xu Ruoxi had hit a child with her car. The child had run across the street, so the responsibility wasn’t hers, and the car was fully insured. Still, it left her shaken. She often had nightmares of the child standing before her, covered in blood.

My third uncle’s casual fabrication just happened to coincide with her past. No wonder she believed him so wholeheartedly and was determined to follow us into the building.

Seeing his plan succeed, my third uncle gave me a knowing look and led us into the courtyard.

Night had fallen. Few residents remained on the old street, and almost no lights were visible. The courtyard itself was even darker.

My third uncle took out two flashlights, handed one to me, and turned them on, illuminating the courtyard.

It was small, but everything was neatly arranged. On one side of the courtyard wall grew two small lilac trees. As the night wind passed, their leaves rustled softly.

Pointing at the trees, my third uncle asked Xu Ruoxi, “When Fei Yao was eating leaves, was it from these two trees?”

Xu Ruoxi nodded.

We walked over to the lilac trees. I noticed that one tree’s leaves were torn and ragged.

My third uncle shone his flashlight closely on the tree.

I looked up and said, “There’s nothing special about this tree.”

He shook his head. “Yangzi, come here.”

I hurried over and shone my flashlight on the trunk. Only then did I notice faint scratch marks all over it—fine lines covering the bark, barely visible unless you looked closely.

My third uncle moved to the other lilac tree, whose leaves were intact and trunk smooth.

“These scratches… Third uncle, is something wrong with this tree?” I asked.

Apart from the scratches, there was nothing else unusual. My third uncle wasn’t sure what was wrong with it either.

He decided to leave it for now and signaled Xu Ruoxi to open the door to the house.

Xu Ruoxi, trembling, went over and unlocked the door, then quickly retreated.

My third uncle reached out, pushed it open, and shone his flashlight inside.

It wasn’t as frightening as we had imagined—silent and still.

I told Xu Ruoxi to go in and turn on the light. She replied, “No one’s lived here for a long time. The electricity bill hasn’t been paid, so there’s no power.”

I couldn’t help but complain, “You guys are too stingy. Just because no one lives here doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pay the bill…”

As I spoke, my third uncle had already entered the house, flashlight in hand.

I hurried in after him, only to feel a sudden tightness around my waist. Turning back, I saw Xu Ruoxi nervously clutching the Black Tiger Knot tied around me.

I smiled. Truth be told, I was a bit nervous myself, though I wouldn’t show it in front of her.

So, dragging Xu Ruoxi along, I followed my third uncle into the room.

No sooner had we entered than a gust of cold wind swept through, slamming the door shut with a bang.

Xu Ruoxi screamed.

My third uncle scolded, “What are you yelling for? Yangzi, keep an eye on her.”

I started to regret letting my third uncle trick her into coming—the whole thing was turning into a burden.

We shone our flashlights around and found the house in utter disarray.

(End of chapter)