Chapter 12: Never Hurt Him

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“I just ran to the door,” Shen Si said, her face still pale with lingering fear. “Suddenly, several pieces of wood fell from the ceiling, knocking me down. Then someone pressed down on me, covering my mouth with their hand.”

Liang Dan glanced toward where he had been moments ago. “It was pitch dark, and suddenly some fleshy thing fell onto my head. I shook it off.”

Yang Liuqing asked, “Is this the thing you’re talking about?”

Liang Dan turned back. Yang Liuqing was holding two thick incense sticks, with a red spider pinched between them.

Liang Dan wasn’t sure. “Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. What kind of creature is that?”

“A poisonous spider,” Yang Liuqing said, tossing it to the floor and crushing it underfoot. “Its bite is deadly.”

Liang Dan asked, “And you? What did you encounter after the lights went out just now?”

“Some kids grabbed my legs,” Yang Liuqing looked up, “trying to tackle me. Better to train a few more years before taking them on.”

Shen Si rubbed her shoulders gently. “Now I finally understand why the villagers don’t come out at night—because they’re afraid of these children.”

Liang Dan pondered. “Could these kids be what they call river gods? If it’s only to this extent, it doesn’t seem enough to terrify people so much.”

Shen Si’s eyes widened. “So many children who seem eager to kill—aren’t they scary enough?”

“They are,” Liang Dan admitted. “But don’t you think the villagers themselves are even scarier? I don’t believe it’s just those kids alone that have made the villagers so wary they won’t step outside at night.”

Yang Liuqing said, “This is only our first night here. On the first night, a new scene appeared—the temple. Perhaps every night from now on will bring new scenes.”

“Also, just because the villagers didn’t come out the first night doesn’t mean they won’t appear on subsequent nights.”

“No matter what, we still have too little information. All this discussion is just speculation.”

Shen Si folded her arms. “So what do you suggest we do?”

Yang Liuqing sat down. “Sleep first, and see what happens tomorrow.”

“Sleep?” Shen Si said anxiously. “What if those kids come back? If they sneak up on us while we’re asleep, we’re as good as dead!”

Yang Liuqing pointed at the ceiling. “You’ve already used up the ceiling’s trap to crush you. If you’re really worried, you can seal up those two empty sculptures behind us.”

After saying this, Yang Liuqing lay down on the floor and closed her eyes quietly.

Shen Si and Liang Dan went around to the back of the two large sculptures. Liang Dan dug with his hand and opened one of them—it was hollow inside.

Liang Dan and Shen Si exchanged a glance, understanding that the other sculpture was the same.

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The sculptures were about a head shorter than Liang Dan, roughly 1.6 meters tall and about 50 centimeters wide, completely hollow inside, just an outer shell.

“That’s strange,” Liang Dan said. “It’s the first time I’ve seen hollow sculptures. Does it have some special meaning?”

“I don’t know,” Shen Si said. “I’ll bring some wood and fill them up so no one can hide inside anymore.”

Yang Liuqing, lying on the ground, murmured, “There are nails in those wooden boards over there.”

Shen Si and Liang Dan rushed over, pulled the nails from the boards. Yang Liuqing stood and approached, breaking the boards in two, using one piece as a hammer and the other as a patch to nail the switches of the two sculptures shut.

After nailing them, the three moved outside the temple and nailed shut the two sculptures out front as well.

Liang Dan and Shen Si then moved a table to firmly block the temple door. Only then did the two of them finally feel secure and lay down to sleep deeply.

*

Liang Dan was awakened by hunger.

She had only eaten one meal the entire previous day and was ravenous.

When she opened her eyes, she saw Yang Liuqing sitting beside her, munching a steamed bun heartily, while Shen Si sat on the ground holding her stomach.

Yang Liuqing casually handed Liang Dan a bun. “Eat, don’t starve yourself.”

Liang Dan took it. “Thanks.”

She broke the bun in half, giving some to Shen Si, and looked around.

Outside, the sky was already bright, but they were still inside the temple. Liang Dan had thought the temple might only appear at night and vanish by day.

But now it seemed that once a scene appeared, it wouldn’t be withdrawn.

Shen Si shoved the bun back into Liang Dan’s hand, stood up and said, “Wait for me.”

With that, Shen Si strode out of the temple. Liang Dan stayed put, guessing what Shen Si intended.

Sure enough, before long, Shen Si returned carrying a large bundle of corncobs, which she tossed onto the temple floor.

Liang Dan went to help, and together they lit a wooden block with a burning candle to roast the corn.

The corn was a bit tough, and being fire-roasted made it harder to chew, but at least it filled their stomachs.

After they finished eating, the three of them sat outside the temple, watching the village entrance not far off—still deserted.

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Liang Dan said, “I have a small suggestion.”

Yang Liuqing said coldly, “Not very feasible.”

Shen Si objected, “How do you know it’s not feasible before Liang Dan even says it?”

Liang Dan said, “We stay inside this temple and don’t go out, until the seven days are over.”

“Uh,” Shen Si lowered her head. “That’s indeed not very feasible.”

Liang Dan asked, “Why?”

Shen Si said, “It’s only been the first day, and so many strange things have already happened. Even if we want to stay quietly for the next six days, many things will surely come looking for us.”

Yang Liuqing sneered, “Not too stupid yet.”

“You’re so smart,” Shen Si glanced at her, “so what do you think we should do?”

Yang Liuqing stood. “Instead of waiting for the story to come to us, better to take the initiative. So far, we’ve found two important NPCs. We can start with them.”

After saying this, Yang Liuqing strode toward the village entrance. Liang Dan and Shen Si exchanged a glance, stood up, and followed her.

It was morning, about the same time as when they had arrived yesterday. They reached the villagers’ residential area; every door was tightly shut, and not a single person was in sight.

Yang Liuqing casually picked up some bricks, handing one each to Liang Dan and Shen Si, then knocked on a door.

Liang Dan recognized it—it was the home of that little boy. Yang Liuqing had probably stepped here yesterday while drawing off their pursuers.

A middle-aged man opened the door, expressionless, looking at them. “What do you want?”

Yang Liuqing raised the brick and struck the man’s head. He collapsed instantly.

Yang Liuqing went inside. Liang Dan flipped the man’s jacket over his head, and Shen Si, walking last, closed the door.

The living room was unchanged from before. Yang Liuqing pushed open the bedroom door—the little boy lay quietly in bed.

Liang Dan whispered, “He’s just a child. Please don’t hurt him.”