Vivian shrugged.
“Who are you?”
“Old man, I suggest you mind your own business! Otherwise, I’ll bury you along with him!”
The village chief ignored her and picked up a shovel, trying to dig me out of the dirt.
As he worked, he spoke.
“Lucas, don’t blame them. These young ones have been away too long and don’t understand the village rules.”
“Once you’ve safely sent Mrs. Lawson off, I’ll personally bring them to your house to apologize.”
I glanced at the thickening black mist rising over the Lawson Family mansion and said evenly,
“Let’s send Mrs. Lawson first.”
The chief quickened his digging, but Vivian’s rage flared.
She stepped forward and shoved him down. “Old man! Are your ears stuffed with donkey hair? Can’t you hear me?”
“He’s a fraud! He came to my great-grandmother’s funeral just to freeload. If you speak for him again, I’ll punish you too!”
The chief’s face turned crimson.
“When someone in Lawson Residence dies, the guardian must call the name and carry the coffin. That is the rule!”
“You’re young, so I’ll overlook your rudeness. But if I delay and your great-grandmother turns into a zombie that harms your family, we’ll see how you feel then!”
Before Vivian could respond, Noah burst into laughter beside her.
“Old man, your imagination is wild. Turning into a zombie? Do you think you’re in some horror film?”
The nun he invited shook her head.
“Country fools! A funeral is simply a time for the living to mourn. You invent monstrous tales just to earn more money. God will not forgive such lies!”
Vivian sneered. “You defend this idiot so fiercely. Has your wife been with him before, perhaps?”
“You’re shameless—protecting an adulterer even after being branded one. Since you care for this fool so much, I’ll grant your wish!”
Vivian flung open the cage of the Tibetan mastiff. The next instant, the beast, smelling blood, lunged at me.
At the critical moment, the chief stepped in front of me.
Its fangs tore through his arm, but through clenched teeth, he still said,
“Lucas, go! Enter the Lawson mansion and call the name, carry the coffin for the old lady…”
I shook my head. “It’s already too late.”
Before anyone could react, the gates of the Lawson residence burst open. A housekeeper ran out, pale with terror.
“Something’s wrong! The old lady… she sat up in her icy coffin!”
