The next morning, when the sun began to rise from the red morning horizon, the three Hunters were waiting for their two disciples, Guozhao Zhiqiang and Yang Bao at the crossroads. They soon saw six horses coming towards them. When the six people were close enough, they realized that it was their friends, Fang Yaoting, Lim Peizhi, Huang Yueliang, Huang Hongse, and their two disciples.
"When did you guys get here?" Guo Baiyu asked, surprised.
"Last night," Fang Yaoting replied.
"Why are you guys here?" Guo Baiyu asked, still confused.
"Zhiqiang visited last night," Lim Peizhi explained, "and said that the three of you were going hunting with the two of them. I want to know how dangerous this hunting trip is that it required the three of you and your two disciples."
"It's for their experience," Guo Baiyu replied, keeping the full truth vague.
Ping'an looked at Fang Yaoting. "Should you be home with Dachin?" she asked gently.
Fang Yaoting smiled at Ping'an. "I would love that, but he wants me to take care of you." He smiled warmly at Ping'an, then his expression turned serious. "Now, tell us what's going on."
Huang Hongse looked at the group of people, impatient. "Let's hurry up before Longtong changes his mind and decides to follow us."
"If Longtong is here, then I agree with Hongse," Zhao Renshu teased. "Baiyu, there is no time to talk about the story now."
Guo Baiyu sighed and said, "Ride out; I'll tell you along the way."
The three Guozhao Hunters, their two disciples, and their friends and two disciples rode northward, heading towards Tam Village.
Two days later, the group arrived at the outskirts of Tam Village. They stood on a hill and studied the village's movements for a while, but there seemed to be no signs of life. All they heard was the mournful sound of crows and the chilling whisper of the wind.
"Down there should be Tam Village," Guo Baiyu said, looking at the desolate landscape.
Zhao Renshu frowned. "The last time I came here, this village was full of life." He looked back at the group of people. "Let's go down." He led the way, his face grim.
When the three Guozhao Hunters, two disciples and their friends approached the village gate, they were met with a gruesome scene. There were corpses everywhere, rotting under the sun, and when they rode past, the air was filled with the sickening smell of carrion. The group only heard the buzzing sound of flies, a grotesque symphony of death.
"This village is full of resentful spirits," Huang Yueliang looked around, her voice somber.
Zhao Renshu looked back at his friends and said, "Be careful, everyone."
"Ah Bao," Guo Baiyu asked, "what should we do with so many evil spirits?"
"We are going to do a purification ceremony," Yang Bao replied, his voice firm.
"If they refuse to move on?" Zhao Renshu asked, a challenge in his tone.
"We reason with them," Yang Bao said.
"What should I do if my reasoning fails?" Zhao Renshu chuckled, skeptical.
"We destroy," Yang Bao stated simply, his young face serious.
Lim Peizhi looked around, searching for the school that Tam Lin had mentioned. "Does Tam Lin..." he began to ask.
Out of the blue, a strong gust of wind suddenly pulled Lim Peizhi off his horse. A black mist, swirling with malevolent energy, wrapped around Lim Peizhi's waist and slid his body across the street with terrifying speed, heading straight for the wall of a house.
At this speed, Lim Peizhi's head would surely hit the wall. Zhao Renshu, reacting swiftly, sent out a talisman at the black mist; they heard many eerie screams as it dissipated. The group immediately got off their horses and ran to Lim Peizhi.
Lim Peizhi stood, dusting himself off, as the sounds of falling ceilings, banging doors, and frenzied footsteps around them. The cacophony surrounded the three Guozhao Hunters, their two disciples, and friends.
"Peizhi, are you alright?" Huang Yueliang asked, her voice laced with concern.
"They are angry..." Huang Hongse muttered, a hint of trepidation in her tone.
"Very angry," Zhao Renshu added, his voice grim. He conjured a talisman, its edges shimmering with internal energy, and slammed it to the ground. The eerie sounds of falling ceilings, banging doors, and running footsteps that had surrounded them suddenly ceased.
Lim Peizhi brushed the clinging dirt from his pants, shaking his head. "Yeah, I'm alright," he chuckled, the sound humorless. "This is precisely why I prefer the battlefield; at least there, I can see who I'm fighting," he grumbled, longing for tangible foes.
"Why does the soul only attack Senior Lim?" Guozhao Zhiqiang asked, observant. He looked at Fang Yaoting, who also arrived with them. "Third Master is not a hunter, so he should also be vulnerable to their sudden attacks."
Fang Yaoting raised up his left hand and pointed at his red string, which symbolized his connection to Guo Baiyu. "I still have your First Master's red string," he explained, implying its protective power.
Ping'an reached inside her robe and handed a red string to Guo Baiyu. Guo Baiyu tied the red string to Lim Peizhi's hand, offering him similar protection.
"These spirits are really full of resentment," Lim Peizhi commented, feeling their malicious intent.
"If all my villagers were slaughtered before my eyes, I would also be full of hatred," Huang Hongse said grimly, understanding their anger.
"I'm just about to ask the three of you," Lim Peizhi said, turning to Guo Baiyu, Zhao Renshu, and Ping'an, "did Tam Lin tell you where the school is?"
As he spoke, the broken windows and shattered door frames of the surrounding houses began to creak open and slam shut with frantic speed. The sounds of collapsing ceilings, incessant door banging, and frenzied footsteps erupted once more, engulfing them in a renewed cacophony.
Zhao Renshu smiled, a knowing glint in his eye. "They don't like us mentioning the word Tam."
When the word "Tam" was uttered once more, a chilling chorus of hatred-filled screams erupted, echoing from all around them, swallowing the renewed cacophony in a wave of raw fury.
"We are not welcome," Yang Bao looked around their surroundings, his young face solemn.
"Let's find the children quickly. I do not wish to stay here for tonight," Zhao Renshu urged, feeling the oppressive atmosphere.
"She ran out of time before she could tell us," Ping'an said, recalling Tam Lin's fading form.
Huang Yueliang calmly sat cross-legged in the middle of the road. She took out her guzheng. She closed her eyes, put her hand on the guzheng string, and began to play. The melody was soft and sweet, a stark contrast to the surrounding desolation.
"Shimu, what is this?" Yang Bao whispered to Ping'an.
"She is communicating with the spirits, asking them for help," Ping'an explained.
"Is there such a thing?" Yang Bao asked, surprised. "I thought I could only use spells to call spirits."
"There are many ways to summon spirit," Guo Baiyu said, educating his disciple. "The Huang family's method is to communicate with the spirit through their music. They gently invite any spirits who are willing to communicate with them."
Yang Bao was stunned. He looked at Guozhao Zhiqiang and said, "Senior brother, this is fascinating."
Just as the guzheng played softly for a while, they heard three loud bangs on the left. Huang Yueliang put her guzheng away and got up. "We follow the banging sound," Huang Yueliang announced. "Tam Lin's mother is willing to take us to the school."
The group followed for about ten minutes and arrived at the school. In front of the school, the body of a young naked woman's hands was tied up, and her naked body hung from the door frame, brutally displayed. The loud, painful cry of Tam Lin's mother emanating around them.
"It's her, Tam Lin," Ping'an whispered softly, recognizing Tam Lin.
Tam Lin, even in death, was a young and beautiful woman. But before she died, she had suffered cruel torture. Her whole body was covered with scars. It seemed that she had been whipped and beaten relentlessly. The group saw a puddle of dried blood on the floor under her feet. The only place where there was no wound on her body was her bruised face, a horrifying testament to her suffering. Her body had begun to rot.
"Absurd!" Yang Bao said madly, his face contorted in anger at the injustice. He ran to the school and drew his sword. He cut off the rope that was hanging Tam Lin from the door.
Yang Bao grabbed Tam Lin's naked body and gently placed her on the steps leading to the school. He took out his coat and covered Tam Lin's naked body, preserving her dignity. He severed the rope that restrained her hands and carefully rested her hands beside her side.
He said, "Miss Tam, please rest in peace. We will help your students according to your request. Go without worry."
"Miss Tam said that she locked the children in a hidden room in the backyard, which can only be opened and closed from the outside," Guo Baiyu stated, remembering the crucial detail. "Let's spread out and help locate the hidden room."
The three Guozhao Hunters, their two disciples, and their friends swiftly fanned out, spreading across the school grounds to cover more area and begin their search.