Chapter 106: The Talisman

The genius site address: (mao86), updated fastest! No ads!

Big Bucktooth was usually one of the more talkative members of the team, but at this moment, he remained silent, his pace gradually slowing until he fell to the rear of the group. This made it extremely difficult to keep watch on him. Each of the five carried rifles, and if Big Bucktooth turned hostile and opened fire from behind, a single lapse in vigilance could turn all five into a sieve in an instant.

"Let's take a break," my father said.

As they halted, my father pretended to pat his pocket and said, "Out of cigarettes, Bucktooth, lend me one." Calling him Bucktooth wouldn’t offend him. In fact, during introductions, Big Bucktooth had insisted everyone call him that. He was an optimistic soul, always saying that once the mission was done, they’d scatter, and who knew when they’d meet again. But by remembering this name, whenever they saw someone called Bucktooth, they’d think of him.

Big Bucktooth said nothing. He silently stepped forward and handed my father a cigarette. My father’s eyes, however, were fixed on Big Bucktooth’s shadow on the ground.

At that moment, he noticed something odd. Though Big Bucktooth’s body made the motion of passing the cigarette, his shadow lingered momentarily before mimicking the same arm movement. It seemed as if the shadow was deliberately imitating its owner’s actions.

From this alone, my father knew something was wrong with Big Bucktooth. As he took the cigarette, he grabbed Big Bucktooth’s wrist. At the same time, Sichuan Guy and Chen Dongfang, prepared for this, rushed over and disarmed Big Bucktooth. Angrily, Big Bucktooth shouted, “What are you doing?”

But the voice was no longer Big Bucktooth’s. Though similar, it was higher-pitched. To an ordinary ear, it might go unnoticed, but to these specially trained soldiers, it was unmistakable.

“Who are you?” my father demanded.

Suddenly, the furious expression twisted into a sinister grin, his face contorted. He looked at my father and hissed, “You’re all going to die. Soon, it’ll be your turn.”

This time, the voice no longer tried to imitate Big Bucktooth’s—it was a voice none of them had ever heard.

Blood trickled from the corner of Big Bucktooth’s mouth. My father immediately released his wrist and pressed his hand over the bloodied lips. But Big Bucktooth clutched his hand tightly. When he finally let go, the twisted grin froze on his face.

His body went limp, his pupils dilated and vacant. He was clearly dead. Sichuan Guy pinched Big Bucktooth’s face to pry open his mouth, revealing blood continuously oozing out. Big Bucktooth had bitten his own tongue off, half of which hung out, stained with blood.

Sichuan Guy checked his breathing again, shaking his head, “He’s gone. This kid’s gone.”

Big Bucktooth was dead. The remaining four sat stunned. In their understanding, death was not frightening; dying at the hands of the enemy was heroic. But now, Big Bucktooth was dead without struggle or resistance, without ever using the formidable skills he possessed.

And who killed him? None of the four elite soldiers knew. How could they explain it? That a shadow controlled Big Bucktooth, forcing him to bite his own tongue and commit suicide? If they said that, they would probably all face a military tribunal.

“I knew it. This time, our enemy might not even be human,” Sichuan Guy said.

Tang Renjie immediately asked, “What do you mean?”

“I mean our enemy isn’t human. Those experts we’re supposed to save aren’t ordinary experts either. The officer who sent me here is my uncle. He told me, but even he doesn’t really know. This mission is top secret. My uncle doesn’t know the full extent either. On the way here, he scolded me the whole way, saying I’m too eager to be the top soldier. ‘A tree that stands out gets the wind that breaks it.’ This time, we’re probably all doomed,” Sichuan Guy explained.

“Sichuan Guy, don’t talk nonsense,” my father scolded him.

“Haven’t you noticed? The one who killed Big Bucktooth wasn’t human. It was a ghost, that shadow. Next, it’ll be one of us. But luckily, I came prepared. Here, everyone take one.” Sichuan Guy suddenly laughed, a bit strangely.

He stood and handed each of them a talisman made from folded yellow paper. Though it seemed almost laughable at a time like this, soldiers’ real protection was their guns. Yet the atmosphere lightened noticeably, even my father smiled and asked Sichuan Guy, “You always carry these with you?”

“My uncle gave them to me. They were blessed by a local high monk. I didn’t believe in them when I left, so I just grabbed a few,” Sichuan Guy said with some regret.

My father stood and put on the talisman. “We’ll take turns carrying Big Bucktooth’s body. He was our comrade; we can’t leave his body to rest here.”

In a moment when even the living could barely protect themselves, carrying a corpse may seem childish to many. But on the battlefield, no one knows who will die next or where. When you die, I’ll carry your body. This is the promise and trust between comrades. So they hoisted Big Bucktooth’s body and pressed onward.

As they stood, they noticed the shadow that had disappeared earlier reappear within their squad after Big Bucktooth died. It was like a venomous snake lurking in the darkness, ready to strike any one of them at any moment.

Everyone feared this shadow and tried to avoid it, but there was nowhere to hide. My father was the first to carry Big Bucktooth’s body. He touched the talisman on his chest and led the group.

They agreed that if the shadow possessed anyone, the others would kill that person immediately. They would rather die by a comrade’s hand than the shadow’s.

As they walked, Tang Renjie suddenly shouted. The other three were terrified, fearing the shadow had taken over Tang Renjie. They turned and pointed their rifles at him.

“No, no!” Tang Renjie raised his hands quickly.

“You idiot, don’t shout like that!” Sichuan Guy cursed, sweating profusely.

My father also glared at Tang Renjie. In such a situation, shouting could cause disaster. They had nearly pulled their triggers just moments ago.

Tang Renjie unzipped his jacket, and a wisp of smoke rose from his chest.

Then he pulled off the talisman, his face pale. “The talisman caught fire.”

“Did you set it yourself?” my father asked.

Tang Renjie nodded.

“Got it. That ghost tried to harm you just now, but the talisman protected you. This thing is like a life-saving charm—it only works once. Captain, this talisman really works!” Sichuan Guy exclaimed excitedly.

My father had thought these talismans were just a psychological comfort, and Sichuan Guy had thought so too. But now, with the talisman self-igniting, it proved its power. In these circumstances, having this talisman gave more peace of mind than strength alone.

Tang Renjie walked over to Sichuan Guy. “Brother, can I have another?”

“No more. I have plenty back at the camp, but I didn’t bring them, thinking they wouldn’t be needed,” Sichuan Guy said.

“What do I do then?” Tang Renjie’s face turned pale again.

It seemed the shadow’s next target was him. Without a talisman, what would he do next time the shadow tried to possess him?

At this moment, my father pulled his own talisman off and handed it to Tang Renjie.

Tang Renjie was stunned. “What about you?”

“I’ll be fine,” my father said.

In Chen Dongfang’s words, this talisman was like a life-saving charm. My father’s captaincy was temporary; he had no obligation to give Tang Renjie one. Many others might not have given one, because handing over this extra layer of protection is like sending your comrade to the other side. Whose life isn’t precious?

But Tang Renjie took it. To put it plainly, at that moment, Tang Renjie owed my father his life.

For mobile users, please visit (mao86) for a better reading experience.