[Chapter 1 — "The Crow Caws Again"]
Rain pattering softly on the tiled roof. Wind howling faintly outside the clinic. A single crow caws in the distance — caw... caw...
lee wanxia
(holding a herbal compress, frowning)
…That crow again. Every night, same time.
(glances at the doorway)
And the wind feels colder today.
xian
(nervous)
Shifu, do you think the ghost stories are true? The villagers say we’re trapped in time...
lee wanxia
(chuckles, half-hearted)
Ghost stories don’t treat fevers. Stop shaking.
(turns toward the window, whispering to himself)
That crow...why do I feel like I’ve heard that crow in my sleep?...
Thunder rolls. The clinic door creaks open slowly — creak. Footsteps drag across the wooden floor, wet and heavy....
lee wanxia
(startled)
Who—?!
(rushes forward)
Oh god You’re drenched in blood! Sit down before you collapse!
Drip Drip! Blood hits the floor..The man doesn’t speak. Just stares....
lee wanxia
(staring into his eyes)
Your pulse is slow... ice-cold skin...
(voice lowers)
This... isn’t normal.
unknown
(soft, deep voice)
...And yet, you haven’t run
lee wanxia
(taken aback)
Should I?
unknown
(slight smirk)
You should have...Most do...
Crack of lightning outside...For a brief second, his face is lit—pale, sharp, ancient eyes
lee wanxia
(whispers)
You’re...not seems...normal
lee wanxia
......
You're...Not from here, are you?
unknown
(coldly)
And you... don’t remember what you’ve lost
(leans in, voice velvet-dark)
But you will...
The door creaks again as wind blows it wide open...Candles flicker violently..
xian
(panicking)
Shifu!! The rain... it’s falling upward!
lee wanxia
(to the man)
.....
Who are you??
unknown
(quietly)
...Jiangshi
lee wanxia
(chuckle)
What... are you??
"jiangshi" english translation is "reanimated corpse"
jiangshi
(soft chuckle)
Let’s just say—
(tilts head, eyes glint)
—I’m the reason time forgets this place
The crow caws again Louder... Sharper. Like a scream stuck in the loop
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