Noah tugged at her arm, speaking with disdain. “Isn’t it normal for crows to appear in the countryside? Stop falling for tricks!”

“Miss, you’ve studied abroad for years, receiving the best education. Do you still believe such absurd talk?”

“In my view, he should be buried, and Mother Teresa can exorcise the so-called evil from him. Then we’ll see if he dares spout nonsense again!”

Noah raised his hand, and at once someone shoved me toward a nearby pit.

I glanced down—the hole was as deep as a man’s height—and instantly realized Noah never intended exorcism. He meant to kill me!

My frown deepened, and I warned Vivian once more.

“You broke my soul-calling incense and destroyed my vestments. Those spirits are already stirring!”

“If you won’t let me in, then when midnight strikes, the Lawson Family will be buried alongside you for your ignorance!”

Noah rolled his eyes. “Ridiculous! Monsters don’t exist in this world.”

“Even if they did, the Lawson Family has Mother Teresa. I hired her to protect us. Nothing will happen!”

“You little fool, you’d better worry about yourself first!”

He shoved me into the pit, and soil was thrown over me immediately.

Unwilling to wait for death, I clawed at the earthen wall, trying to climb up.

But Noah had men guarding the edge. Each time I surfaced, a shovel cracked against my head.

Blood streamed down my forehead, dizziness threatening to overwhelm me.

Yet Vivian and her bodyguards only roared with laughter at my wretched state. “Miss, look—he’s just like a dog!”

“Why not keep him alive? Throw him in your amphitheater to fight wild beasts for entertainment. Wouldn’t that be amusing?”

Vivian kicked the man between the legs.

“Idiot! My imported beasts are priceless. Ten of him couldn’t match one of them.”

“And he reeks of disease. You want me to lock him with my precious creatures? Do you want them dead?”

“Yes, yes, of course! How could I forget? This fool deserves to die! Let’s bury him!”

The soil quickly rose against my chest.

I struggled to breathe, yet forced out words one by one.

“Vivian… you’ll pay for this folly!”

“With a descendant like you, the Lawson Family is bound for ruin!”

Vivian spat thick phlegm into my face. “Bastard! Still stubborn on the brink of death!”

“Looks like I’ve been far too merciful with you!”

Beside her, Noah’s eyes shifted slyly, and he offered a cruel idea.

“Miss, why not bring Black Tiger over?”

“He’s been training to hunt live prey recently.”

The moment he finished, they wheeled out a cage holding a Tibetan mastiff as massive as a tiger.

Catching the scent of blood from my head, it grew frantic, snarling and growling nonstop.

Vivian, delighted by its reaction, lifted her hand to signal its release.

But before she could, a powerful voice cut through the night.

“What are you doing!”

I looked up and saw the village chief appear at the Lawson Family gates.

His eyes fell on me—half-buried, my bloodied head exposed—and his whole body trembled with fury.

“You’re insane! How could you treat Lucas Lawson like this? He’s the village guardian! Dig him out at once!”

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!”