As someone who has long suffered from insomnia, it's rare for me to sleep through the night, yet my body felt even heavier.

When I opened my phone, the screen showed 10 a.m., August 31, 2020.

An hour ago, there was an anonymous text message with a photo attached—the home of Hu Ke.

I wondered who the sender was, called the number, but no one answered, so I gave up.

After washing up, I pretended to wander around and found Hu Ke's home using the photo as a guide.

As I passed the door, a woman rushed over and hugged me tightly, calling out "brother" continuously.

I stood there, bewildered.

Villagers helped pull her away, and one of them smiled at me and said, "Twenty-one years ago, Hu Ke's brother left to work and never came back. Over time, she started calling every man she saw 'brother.'"

I remembered this person; when Li Wen went crazy, it was he who explained it to me.

The man scratched his head and introduced himself.

His name was Qin Yong, the deputy village head.

Several burly men carried Hu Ke away as she continued to call out "brother."

Seeing the tears on her face, I remembered Qianqian.

My sister also liked to hug me and call me "brother" in her clear voice, but...I haven't seen her in a long time.

"Is there really no news about her brother?" I asked.

Qin Yong nodded, "Yes, he hasn't come back for many years."

"Could something have happened to him?"

As I voiced the most reasonable guess, the men who had been chatting suddenly fell silent, their eyes fixed on me like hunting snakes.

A chill rose from my heart.

Qin Yong smiled, "Who can say for sure? Maybe he started having a good life and forgot his roots."

After speaking, he pushed me aside, saying not to agitate Hu Ke.

I glanced at Hu Ke's home.

In that moment of hesitation, the feeling of becoming prey returned.

The men gripped their farm tools tightly, as if ready to slice my throat with their sickles the next second.

Left with no choice, I had to leave.

On the field path, while pondering the villagers' strange behavior, I received a call from Zhao Han.

Just as I was about to answer, Li Wen's words sprang to mind.

I looked around cautiously, still seeing villagers waving at me with smiles.

I hung up and switched to WeChat.

Me: It's inconvenient to talk on the phone now.

Zhao Han: Okay.

Zhao Han: I couldn't find the origin of the legend you asked about, but I found a case in the archives.

Zhao Han: On August 25, a bloodied teenager ran out to the highway outside Haokou Village. The teenager had multiple knife wounds, and a passing vehicle stopped after hearing his cries for help. The teenager's family members arrived and claimed he had a mental illness, but the driver still called the police.

Zhao Han: The teenager was named Hu Jun. According to his parents, the village was performing a ritual, and no one was watching him; he ran out in the confusion.

Me: Thank you.

Zhao Han: Is Uncle Fang's death really related to Haokou Village?

Me: I don't know either. Please continue to investigate.

Zhao Han: Okay, be careful yourself.