Vietnamese horror ghost stories

"Eat... go... Continue... eating..."

"Hi...hi...hi.... It's... delicious.... isn't it...?"

- - Very delicious, it's really delicious....

"Nom...nom...nom..."

"Boom"

The door of the wooden house burst open, accompanied by the noisy voices and the sound of footsteps running up the wooden stairs echoing loudly, but then those running up suddenly came to a halt, slamming into the back of the person in front.

- - What's going on...? Why did you stop...?

Next came a scream:

- - DEMON..... MAN-EATING DEMON..... RUN..... RUN..... QUICKLY... GO....

Some weaker individuals immediately turned around, fleeing desperately, some even tumbling down the stairs to the rocky ground below. The braver ones continued to investigate, clinging to the doorframe, unwilling to believe their eyes. Sitting in the middle of the main room was the trusted and revered medicine man. But his appearance was not that of the benevolent healer with humane eyes, kindness in his daily demeanor; instead, his body was stained with fresh blood, and on the floor lay a dead woman. Yet, that was not the most horrifying sight. The medicine man held a human heart in his hand, gnashing his teeth, chewing with a sinister delight. His eyes were bloodshot, and after each bite, blood dripped from the corners of his mouth, flowing onto the floor. The heart belonged to the girl lying right under his feet.

"Eat... go... eat.... continue... go..."

"He...he...he... It's... very delicious.... right...."

"Nom... Nom.... Nom"

- - Yes....he...he...he... it's.... very delicious....

[.........]

"Uynh"

A thunderous sound echoed, as if the entire house had just trembled. Opening his eyes, everything around was pitch black. Perhaps it was about to rain heavily outside, occasional flashes of lightning illuminating the darkness, seeping through the aged window cracks. All that just happened was just a dream. No, it wasn't necessarily a dream, because it was events that had occurred in the past. A bitter, painful past that seemed only to find relief in death. A seemingly real dream, extending over 30 years.

"Crash"

Gently opening the door to the room, the landlord, hearing some noise outside, apologized sincerely under the dim kerosene lamp:

- - Oh my, Mr. Luong, was it because of the noise I made that disturbed your sleep?

Mr. Luong replied:

- - It's not because of you, the thunder earlier was too loud.

The landlord said:

- - Right, Mr. It was thundering loudly just now. I went to check the drainage ditch, fearing it might be blocked, and with the sudden heavy rain, the water couldn't drain and flooded inside. Oh, and the window of your room is a bit old, so I took the opportunity while you were still awake to secure it with a wooden stick. I didn't want it to be blown open by the wind, causing inconvenience.

Mr. Luong responded:

- - Thank you for your consideration.

Entering the room, the landlord added more oil to the lamp and then secured the door. While doing so, he initiated a conversation:

- - So, Mr. Luong, you'll be staying here only for tonight, right? It's been three years since you last came here, hasn't it?

Mr. Luong nodded:

- - You still remember, don't you? Five years ago, the Nguyen family's tomb was damaged, and a red thread appeared. At that time, the Nguyen family invited me initially just to perform a ritual for the recently deceased father. They wanted to move the body to a piece of land to build a family tomb. But when I went there to see, it was not feasible. The tomb was connected directly to the village's vital energy. If we dug a pit there and buried him, without caution, not only would the Nguyen family suffer but the entire village would face consequences. So, I advised against burying him there and suggested waiting for three years before performing restoration and rebuilding the family tomb... Now that the work is done, tomorrow afternoon, I have some business to attend to at Thien An Pagoda, and then I'll leave here.

The innkeeper had finished securing the door, wiped his hands, smiled, and said:

- - Certainly, sir. Mr. Luong, your reputation is known far and wide. If the Nguyen family has your help like this, their fortunes will surely flourish. They are not only wealthy but also generous. It's a blessing for the family to leave a legacy for future generations. By the way, if you don't mind, please join us for lunch at my house tomorrow. We appreciate your kindness, especially after so many years of hesitation. My place might seem strange to you since I live here, but that's my wife's house. She's over 40 now, and after giving birth to our only son, I brought her back here so my mother could take care of her. Our house is also near Thien An Pagoda. You just go about your business, and around the time it's finished, I'll be waiting for you at the pagoda... Does that work for you, sir?

Observing the hospitable and grateful demeanor of the innkeeper, coupled with the sincere invitation, Mr. Luong smiled and nodded in agreement.

That night, it rained heavily, but luckily by morning, the sky had cleared. The overnight rain brought a refreshing coolness to the atmosphere. The landlord's hospitality was further demonstrated when, early in the morning, he prepared tea and brought a few sticky rice cakes with mung bean filling to Mr. Luong's room.

Mr. Luong spoke hesitantly:

- Like this, sir, you make me feel embarrassed. I don't deserve such generosity.

The innkeeper quickly waved his hand:

- Oh, don't say that, sir. This is just a small gesture, a sincere offering from me to you. After using it, please prepare to go to the temple early. May I ask what time you will be done with your duties?

Mr. Luong replied:

- I won't stay there for long. First, I'll visit the abbot and then attend to a few small matters. I should be done around 10 in the morning.

The innkeeper nodded and said:

- I will wait for you at the entrance of the path leading to the temple. Hot tea, warm cakes – they will be ready for you when you finish.

After finishing his morning almsgiving, Mr. Luong packed his belongings and walked to Thien An temple. In a time when people struggled to have enough to eat, talking about a monk's ascetic life and caring for temples and pagodas seemed like a luxury. After enduring prolonged wars, many temples and pagodas were devastated by the French. Thien An Temple was no exception. Despite post-war efforts to restore it, the visible signs of decay and neglect were still present.

However, this wasn't the reason why Mr. Luong returned to the temple. Instead, it was the fact that the abbot, Thich Van Duc, was taking care of abandoned children, orphans left without parents due to various reasons. Entering the temple, Mr. Luong saw a person sweeping fallen leaves after the previous night's rain – the abbot. He respectfully bowed and said:

- Reverend, it has been a while. I hope you are in good health.

Hearing someone approaching, the abbot stopped and looked towards Mr. Luong, offering a warm smile. He extended his hand to his chest and bowed in return:

- So, it is the benefactor. It has been three years since I last saw the benefactor at the temple. Please come inside, and let me prepare tea for the benefactor.

Mr. Luong entered the temple's shelter, noticing some children around 5-6 years old peering from behind a pillar. Pouring tea into two old but clean cups, the abbot observed the children and smiled:

- It has been three years, and these little ones have grown. On the benefactor's first visit, they were so small. If the benefactor had not recognized the face of their benefactor... Ah, the karma.

Mr. Luong responded:

- Reverend, there is no need to say that. All of this is due to fate. I feel fortunate to come here and see you and the children in good health.

The abbot looked at Mr. Luong, momentarily saddened, and continued:

- Has the benefactor encountered many difficulties and challenges in the past three years?

Mr. Luong asked in return:

- Why do you ask that?

The abbot replied:

- In just three years, I can see changes – wrinkles on the forehead, around the eyes. It seems like life has been challenging.

Mr. Luong laughed:

- Ha ha ha, it appears so. But don't worry, my work has always been like this. Well, no more small talk. I came here today to give you this.

With that, Mr. Luong opened his bag, took out a small black fabric pouch, and placed it on the table, saying:

- - I hope you accept this amount to cover your living expenses.

The abbot opened the pouch, and quickly put it down, waving his hand in refusal:

- - Too much money, I appreciate your kind heart. Three years ago, thanks to you, the children overcame hunger, and the temple flourished under your benevolence. Before we can repay such kindness, the temple cannot accept further contributions.

Mr. Luong smiled:

- - I told the venerable monk earlier, helping others shouldn't be about expecting repayment. Please rest assured, this money is all clean, not stolen or deceitfully acquired. The children need to eat, and the temple has its own needs. Everyone here needs this money more than I do. Reverend, you may not be aware, but three years ago, fate brought me to Thien An Temple just in time. And now, returning here after three years is like a divine arrangement. There is a connection among us – you, the venerable monk, and the children – bound by fate. Please consider and accept this for the sake of the children.

Inside the temple, the children were no longer unfamiliar. Each of them stepped forward, looking at Mr. Luong with sparkling, innocent eyes. Despite their ragged clothes and patched garments, their smiles were bright and pure. The abbot had mentioned that Mr. Luong had aged in the past three years, but he overlooked the fact that the abbot himself had grown thinner, with noticeable lines on his face. Yet, the warmth and kindness in the abbot's eyes remained, expressing the struggles of their lives.

The abbot shed tears as he looked at the children. He clasped his hands in front of his chest and bowed:

- - A di da phat, I thank the merits of the benefactor. A di da phat.

Mr. Luong also clasped his hands and bowed in return. The task he mentioned to the innkeeper was to donate the entire sum he received for helping the Nguyễn family, in gratitude for their merits, to save the temple.

Before leaving, Mr. Luong added to the abbot:

- - I won't return here again. My work here is done. I also made an agreement with the Nguyễn family. If they prosper within the next year, they should allocate a small portion for the temple's merits. This is my last contribution to the children and the temple. Farewell, venerable monk, I'm leaving.

Mr. Luong left Thien An Temple, the children clinging to the abbot's robes, asking:

- - Who is that old man, teacher?

The abbot, with folded hands, bowed to Mr. Luong and softly replied:

- - He is a Chinese man who spent most of his life traveling across our country. He has been a benefactor to all of us, and his name is Mr. Luong... People commonly refer to him as the Taoist monk.