Chapter 4 — Linh Tieu Bride

12Deep in the forest there is a lake. The water is deep black, like an ink mirror. I took off my shoes and walked into the water little by little. Vaguely, I heard a young man's clear laughter. "Ha ha ha..." Blink. The fog began to clear, the water surface became clear, the sound of chirping birds echoed from the forest... I was surprised to see the boy suddenly appear by the lake. He didn't seem to notice my existence. Still smiling, looking at the fish in the water, in a gentle voice: "Hello, little fish." I quickly realized this was an illusion. The person in front of me is just a replay of a memory from another year. I want to get a little closer. The surrounding scenery quickly darkened, and in the blink of an eye returned to normal. The lake water swirled violently, quickly dyed red, and pale white limbs appeared. I fell to the ground in fear. Dry leaves rolled up in the wind, condensing behind me into a black shadow. That black shadow hugged me. Using a familiar hoarse voice that I had heard, he said: "Don't die in the cold water." "Die in the land where my bones are buried... my wife." 13 "The land where my bones are buried." That made my body stop. According to the clues the team found before. The caretaker of this forest was originally a 16-year-old boy, his real name is unknown, he only knows the word Lang. Legend has it that he stopped poachers from killing wild lynx. They were angry and drowned in the lake, then dismembered the body. The left eye and lower half of the body were thrown into the water. The upper half is buried under a giant tree blocking the sky. Since then, the mountain has been foggy all year round, strange things continue, and everyone who goes in dies inside. The villagers at the foot of the mountain, out of fear, chose to make sacrifices to appease resentment, each year choosing a young bride to throw into the abyss. Fateful death when entering "Forest of Painted Fortune". Still has not disappeared. 14 "Are you... the forest keeper?" I asked that question without turning around. The black shadow pondered for a moment. Answer: "Forgot." "I've been here for so long... I was so... lonely, until you appeared..." "For the first time, I got what I wanted." He buried his face in my neck, gently rubbing the brush, the leaves falling down. "Die next to me, I will let vines grow around you." "In spring, I bloom the most beautiful flowers around you; in summer, I use leaves to shade the sun; in autumn, I pick the biggest and sweetest medlar fruit; in winter, I wrap you tightly, with you. you look at the snow..." Hear him whisper. My mood seemed to change with the four seasons, filled with an unprecedented warmth. "It really doesn't seem that bad." I smiled softly. Even though he's a monster. But we are all equally lonely. If you die, you can sleep under a tree to protect yourself from the wind and rain. Actually, it's not bad. "Then take me away now." I said. "Lang" did not answer. As the wind blew, Tieu Hoai's call echoed somewhere. His form of shredded leaves gradually spread out, disappearing in an instant. 15 Four people quickly came to find him. "Jian Dung, if you don't cause trouble, you will die?" Tieu Hoai was upset: "Intentionally ran out to this foul lake, causing us to have to look for you before we could finish eating. Is it because everyone is angry that you are happy?" "Pity To Lac still saved half a box of meat for you!" Tan Da Phong also frowned: "Calm down, young master." I don't pay attention to them. I tried my best to stand up, wanting to use my last strength to leave. But I overestimated my strength. After standing for two seconds, his eyes darkened and he fell down again. Unexpectedly, the first person to run to help me was Thich Nghien. "Jian Dung." Thich Nghien hugged me. His eyebrows frowned tightly, finally realizing something was wrong. He asked: "Why are your lips so black?" 16 Hearing that, Tan Da Phong also came over to look. Laughing and said: "The acting is really good, did you secretly pick strawberries and rub them on your lips?" Thich Nghien used his thumb to rub my lips. Detected that no color was removed

Go. Tan Da Phong immediately couldn't laugh anymore. "His face doesn't look right, To Lac, come here."