After my grandfather left, the remaining Zhang brothers gathered in the room where Zhang's fifth brother's body lay, discussing how to arrange the funeral. Along with the four brothers were their wives, and the whole room was noisy with quarrels—no one wanted to pay extra for the funeral.
In the midst of the heated argument, a strange laugh suddenly came from the spot where Zhang's fifth brother lay.
At first, no one paid attention, thinking it might be a wild cat outside.
But when Zhang's second brother's wife glanced unintentionally toward the bed where the corpse lay, she let out a hysterical scream, stumbling backward several steps before falling hard onto the floor.
"What's wrong with you?" Zhang's second brother asked, shocked.
She pointed tremblingly at the bed, whispering, "F-Fifth brother... he's alive!"
Everyone looked toward where she was pointing and immediately saw a chilling scene.
There, sitting cross-legged on the corpse bed, was Zhang's fifth brother himself. During the earlier heated argument, no one had noticed when he had sat up.
Now, Zhang's fifth brother sat motionless on the bed, his face dark greenish-black, lips purple, and his eyes slightly milky, staring fixedly at his older brothers and sisters-in-law sitting in the main room. His mouth twitched into a sinister smile, followed by an eerie, night-owl-like laugh.
The entire room erupted into terrified screams as everyone scrambled toward the door, some nearly wetting themselves in fright.
Only then did they remember my grandfather and Liu Pozi, who had been at Zhang's house earlier that day.
Setting aside any prior grudges from the daytime conflict, Zhang's eldest brother ran straight to my house.
"Uncle... you need to come quickly, fifth brother is alive..." he said with a sob, trembling all over.
Grandfather found this hard to believe. "He was hanging from the beam for so long. When I took him down, the body was stiff. How could he be alive?"
"I don't know either, uncle. Luckily, Liu Pozi is at your place now. Please come see for yourself," Zhang's eldest brother begged.
Grandfather looked at Liu Pozi politely. "You were right, sister. Something's happened again."
Liu Pozi's face darkened. "Let's go check it out."
Zhang's eldest brother thanked them repeatedly and led them toward Zhang's dilapidated house.
At the courtyard gate, several of Zhang's brothers and their wives were gathered. The women were crouching in the corner, crying uncontrollably, clearly terrified by what had just happened.
When they reached the door, Zhang's eldest brother said fearfully, "Uncle, you and Liu Pozi go in and see. Fifth brother is sitting on the bed..."
As soon as he finished speaking, the eerie night-owl laughter echoed again from inside. Even brave grandfather felt goosebumps rise.
"That laugh…" grandfather said, looking at Zhang's eldest brother.
"It's fifth brother laughing... I don't dare go in now. You guys go in. It's terrifying..." Zhang's eldest brother said, backing away nervously.
"He's your own brother. How could he hurt you? You're such a coward," grandfather grumbled.
"Uncle, please spare me. I really can't..." Zhang's eldest brother pleaded, waving his hands.
With no other choice, grandfather followed Liu Pozi into the house.
Once inside, they saw Zhang's fifth brother sitting cross-legged on the bed, unmoving, with a strange smile on his lips and his slightly milky eyes staring fixedly at them.
Grandfather, who had doubted Zhang's eldest brother's claim, now could no longer deny it—he saw it with his own eyes.
He grew anxious and said to Liu Pozi, "If I had known, I would have brought a knife."
Liu Pozi narrowed her eyes, looking at Zhang's dark greenish face, then said solemnly, "Bringing a knife won't help. Zhang's fifth brother isn't truly alive—he's possessed by the Yellow Immortal."
The Yellow Immortal is a respectful title for a spirit-possessed yellow weasel, ranked second among the five famous exorcist immortals: Yellow, Fox, White, Willow, and Grey, commonly called Huang Er Ye (Yellow Second Lord).
As they spoke, Zhang's fifth brother suddenly let out another eerie laugh and swayed slightly.
Liu Pozi stepped forward politely, "I am Liu, an exorcist disciple from San Shi Pu. Huang Er Ye, since you killed Zhang's fifth brother, there's no need to continue causing trouble, is there?"
To their surprise, Zhang's fifth brother's voice emerged in a strange tone, as if forced from deep in his throat:
"Liu Pozi, I know you have some skills, but I advise you not to meddle. The Zhang family has greatly disrespected our ancestor. Killing Zhang's fifth brother wasn't enough—I intend to make the entire Zhang household miserable. If you interfere, beware you won't get away unscathed."
Before Liu Pozi could reply, grandfather suddenly strode up and slapped Zhang's fifth brother hard, making his body sway.
"You yellow punk, how dare you rebel—get lost!" grandfather shouted angrily.
The sudden move startled Liu Pozi. She knew Huang Er Ye was inside Zhang's fifth brother's body, yet grandfather dared to strike him—his courage was remarkable.
Zhang's fifth brother glared at grandfather with milky eyes and snarled, "Old Wu, our ancestors have some history. Just because I don't want to attack you doesn't mean I fear you. Leave now."
Grandfather narrowed his eyes, ready to strike again, but Liu Pozi quickly pulled him back.
"Brother Wu, step aside. Leave this to me."
Liu Pozi was genuinely worried grandfather might anger Huang Er Ye beyond forgiveness. Though the spirit was within me, it had little connection to grandfather. If angered, the yellow weasel might kill him.
Grandfather scowled but reluctantly stepped back.
Liu Pozi respectfully said, "Huang Er Ye, I know the Zhang family offended you. If you stop tormenting them and set a condition, we will try our best to fulfill it."
Zhang's fifth brother grinned weirdly and said, "Bring me some chickens to taste first."
Grandfather immediately snapped, "Eat chickens? You eat shit!"