Ning An's Wild Wish System

Liaodong, Xiaowang Village.

Xiaowang Village belongs to Xinyang County, about two hundred miles away from Zhang Family Village in Nie County. Compared to Zhang Family Village, it’s even more remote and backward.

The villagers are naturally few and pitiful, more than a hundred households scattered alongside the country dirt roads. To save electricity, the few aging street lamps have long been turned off.

To leave Xiaowang Village, besides a pothole-ridden official road, you can only cross the mountain behind the village.

In the evening, at the village entrance’s small shop, mahjong and poker are scattered everywhere. The owner Zhao Jie had just seen off his childhood friends after a game.

The barren land can’t sustain too many people, so his family is the only one with a small shop in the village. Starting from his grandfather, passed down to him, the shop is only twenty-something years short of being a century-old establishment.

He fastened the door bolt, flicked his sleeves, sweeping the miscellaneous items off the table onto the floor. Then he started sorting through the accounts under the dim yellow light, preparing to clear some of the debts villagers owed from years past.

”Boom boom boom!”

Just as he was absorbed in his work, a sudden urgent knocking sounded at the door.

”Who is it?” Zhao Jie asked casually without looking up.

”Buying something.”

The voice at the door was hoarse and concise, but Zhao Jie’s writing hand paused.

There aren’t many people in the village, not that he knows everyone, but almost all. This voice was unfamiliar to him, carrying a hint of the dust of travel.

He discreetly slipped two fruit knives into his sleeves, walked to the door, and through the dim light, saw a dark figure standing outside, unable to make out the features but sensing it was a young person.

Through the iron gate, Zhao Jie cautiously asked, ”What do you want? I’ll pass it to you through the gate.”

The figure hesitated for a moment, as if not having spoken to anyone for a long time, then said, ”Ten bottles of Ice Dew, ten packs of Kangshifu, ten loaves of bread.”

The voice was like a broken drum with protruding teeth. Zhao Jie suppressed his discomfort, quickly gathered the items, and passed them through the gate: ”Take them, fifty.”

Swish!

The bag was instantly snatched away, and the shadow extended another pale hand, handing over some change.

When Zhao Jie inadvertently touched the palm, he shuddered; the hand had no warmth, its texture like cured meat in the dead of winter.

Feeling increasingly uneasy, he took the money, slammed the window shut tightly, not letting a single beam of light escape.

Afterward, rustling noises sounded outside. He pressed against the wall, waiting until the person had gone far before slumping to the ground, panting heavily.

Seeing his spacious yet empty home, Zhao Jie’s heart raced. Grabbed his phone and dialed: ”Hu Zi, want to drink? Brother is inviting you...”

”Bro... Brother Jie, you really think I’m drunk or what? Didn’t we just finish drinking... Ha, ha-ha, but if you really want to drink, I’ll risk it all and join you, but Brother Jie, you have to come over, my wife just kicked up a fuss, I can’t leave...”

”...”

Zhao Jie sat on the ground, conflicted, finally steeled his resolve, grabbed a flashlight and a kitchen knife before heading out.

If that weirdo hasn’t left, the kitchen knife would be perfect for defense. If he’s gone, at worst he’d tell his buddy it’s to show off his cucumber slicing skills...

The countryside night is unlike the city, pitch-black like a curtain. Using the flashlight’s faint light, Zhao Jie locked up and walked towards the village.

Near the village entrance is a desolate wasteland, behind which lies a patch of wild forest, connecting to the back mountain.

Hu Zi’s house is closest to the entrance; relying on memory, he soon reached his door.

Breathing a sigh of relief, he inadvertently swung the flashlight, illuminating two figures near the wild forest.

One of them closely resembles the figure from the shop earlier, eerily turned around: ”Who!”

”Ghost!”

Zhao Jie was wide-eyed, seeing the other’s face; their body exposed areas were all pale, ghostly.

The other was entirely cloaked in black, abruptly turned around, through their mask, white eyeballs stared fiercely.

Recognizing Zhao Jie, they furrowed their brow, their body exuded a sinister, mysterious aura.

An eerie silence ensued!

Time seemed to stretch indefinitely. Zhao Jie stood frozen, dared not move, like a ghost facing Yama’s judgment.

The figure stared at Zhao Jie, wordlessly, until after a while, unspeakingly turned away, and the two shadows melded into the depths of the forest.

”Huff, huff, huff...”

Zhao Jie regained his senses, frantically pounded the door.

”No, brother, you’re really here? Wait! What’s with the kitchen knife? You haven’t wronged us, right...” Hu Zi emerged from inside, his drunken gaze suddenly sober.

No time for pleasantries, Zhao Jie tossed the knife far away, drenched in sweat, entered the house, gulping down tea, fearfully muttered: ”Brother... just saved my own life...”

Pouring tea, Hu Zi warily watched him, knowing it’s odd for someone to bring a kitchen knife to another’s home.

”What’s up with you tonight? Didn’t we just finish drinking? You called again to drink, brother, don’t tell me you mistook the knife for a drink.”

Zhao Jie ignored him, drinking tea, anxiously watching the door.

”Bang, bang, bang!”

”Finally here, really here!”

”What is here?”

Zhao Jie glanced at him, rushed to the door, and eagerly opened it.

Outside stood several uniformed police officers, the leading officer looking at him: ”Did you report the case?”

”Yes, yes, it was me. Come in and talk.”

Leading the officers inside, Zhao Jie’s anxious heart finally settled somewhat.

The lead officer’s gaze was sharp, turned on the law enforcement recorder, sternly said: ”Detail the entire incident.”

”Alright, alright...”

Soon, the whole story was recorded, ensuring all details were accurate, the lead officer frequently challenged him during his recount, only to ensure accuracy.

Once all information was gathered, storing the recorder, the officers prepared to leave.

Thinking of the bizarre figures and the police’s emphasis on them, Zhao Jie felt a budding excitement.

Rubbing his hands, he leaned closer, boldly asking: ”Officer, are they murderers from somewhere?”

”None of your concern! Go home and sleep. Don’t speak out of turn, or you’ll face charges for spreading rumors and causing trouble!”

”Yes, yes...” Zhao Jie offered a sheepish smile, his heart resumed its pounding.

As the officers exited the yard, the lead officer promptly took out a walkie-talkie: ”Group one, group one, you may withdraw. Group two, group two, thank you for tonight; stay vigilant and contact the command center if anything’s amiss.”

With rustling sounds, several scattered red points began to fade.

Simultaneously, the lead officer took out a satellite phone, his expression serious:

”Commander Wang, significant discovery.”