Jiang Zheng and Yan Xiaoqian just came out of the village chief's house. Yan Xiaoqian let out a long sigh, her mood no longer as heavy, as they had finally obtained the clues they were looking for, although they weren't sure if they would be useful for clearing the dungeon.
"Brother Zheng, it's getting late. Should we go find everyone to gather now?"
Jiang Zheng nodded in agreement, "Mm, Jing Minghe did say we must gather at the village entrance before sunset."
As Jiang Zheng finished speaking, his peripheral vision caught sight of a figure. Yan Xiaoqian had already seen the person and couldn't help but let out a cold snort.
"Jiang Zheng, did you find any clues?"
Jiang Zheng turned to look at Zhang Yu, raising an eyebrow and asking, "What? Willing to cooperate now?"
"Of course," Zhang Yu smiled and said, "I've also found important clues, which I can exchange with you."
Yan Xiaoqian quietly tugged at Jiang Zheng's sleeve, wanting to say something but not quite daring to.
Jiang Zheng ignored Yan Xiaoqian's hint but did not forget Jing Minghe's whispered words to him earlier. He replied to Zhang Yu, "It's possible, but repeating ourselves is a waste of time. Why don't you come with us to meet everyone, and then we can discuss it together? I believe if you treat everyone with sincerity, they will be willing to let you join despite past grievances."
Zhang Yu frowned and hesitated before saying, "Alright, let's go find them together then."
Seeing that the sun was about to set, Yan Xiaoqian walked nervously on Jiang Zheng's other side. Soon, she noticed something: Zhang Yu seemed to be deliberately slowing them down.
It was because she always found herself walking ahead of Jiang Zheng and the others without realizing it. If she walked a little faster, she would create a distance between them.
Yan Xiaoqian wanted to remind Jiang Zheng, but Zhang Yu kept chatting with him, making it impossible for her to interject.
Just as Yan Xiaoqian was trying hard to figure out how to hint to Jiang Zheng, she heard Jiang Zheng say, "Strange, is this village that big? We've been walking for so long, we should be close to the village entrance by now, why aren't we there yet?"
Thank goodness.
Yan Xiaoqian clasped her hands together, grateful that Jiang Zheng had finally noticed the anomaly.
After speaking, Jiang Zheng cast a suspicious glance at Zhang Yu but said nothing, only stating, "Let's hurry, we need to gather with the others as soon as possible."
Jiang Zheng quickened his pace, changing from chatting with Zhang Yu to pulling Yan Xiaoqian and just walking.
Zhang Yu, following behind them, looked up at the sky. The sky gradually darkened, and a smile slowly curved up Zhang Yu's lips, stretching all the way to his ears. An unusual dark aura emanated from his eyes.
The two people in a hurry to get somewhere were completely oblivious.
·
Jing Minghe stroked the wolf's head as he asked Chi Hao, "What time is it now?"
Chi Hao cupped Jing Minghe's hand, which was petting the wolf, in his palm and replied, "In about ten minutes, the sun will set completely."
"Why hasn't anyone returned yet?" Jing Minghe worried. "It's impossible for all of them to have run into trouble, right? Are they that unreliable?"
"There's still time, no need to rush."
Jing Minghe nodded and "looked" towards Guan Wei, who had been thrown aside by Chi Hao. The person who had been struggling moments ago had suddenly quieted down. The word on his forehead began to flicker and blur.
Chi Hao noticed Jing Minghe's gaze and asked, "What is it?"
Jing Minghe shook his head, saying, "Nothing," but he couldn't help but recall the content of the mural, "At the turn of day and night, man becomes ghost, ghost becomes man," and what the notebook said, "They are constantly exchanging." What was the connection between all of this?
"Brother Hao," Jing Minghe reached out and patted Chi Hao, saying in a low voice, "Pay attention to Guan Wei's condition."
Chi Hao retorted with displeasure, "Do I need you to remind me?"
Jing Minghe quickly apologized, "My apologies, dear brother."
"What did you just call me?"
"Idol!"
Ke Wuwen's voice came unexpectedly, his high-pitched volume successfully drowning out Chi Hao's question to Jing Minghe.
Ke Wuwen rushed to Jing Minghe like lightning, only to be startled by Chi Hao's gaze and stop, reluctantly stepping aside.
Youmi looked at Ke Wuwen, then her gaze swept to Guan Wei, who was tied up and lying on the ground. She looked over in surprise and couldn't help but ask, "Minghe, why is Mr. Guan tied up?"
Jing Minghe grunted and explained, "Guan Wei has an abnormality, but I haven't fully figured it out yet. Sister Youmi, you all should stay away from him."
Jing Minghe's words made Youmi stop her intended move to show concern, and she turned towards Jing Minghe instead.
"Minghe, how are your eyes? Can you still not see?"
"Mm," Jing Minghe looked towards Youmi as she spoke. "But don't worry, I'm very adaptable."
Youmi nodded and said, "I hope you get better soon, it's inconvenient like this."
"Idol," Ke Wuwen cautiously ignored someone's piercing gaze and slowly moved closer to Jing Minghe, "Haven't the others arrived yet? I thought Youmi and I were late, how can there be people slower than us."
Jing Minghe sighed softly, "Five minutes. If they don't come by then, we'll leave first."
Youmi looked anxiously in the direction of the village, hoping everyone would return in time. She wished for more teammates to survive and continue on together.
After all, it was much better to have familiar teammates than to constantly meet new ones.
Time inched forward. The five minutes were almost up. Jing Minghe was ready to tell those who had already arrived to leave first when he heard Ke Wuwen shout, "They're here! They're here! They're back! It's Brother Tong and Sister Lin Ling!"
Now, only Jiang Zheng and Yan Xiaoqian were left.
Tong Zheng pulled Lin Ling and ran to everyone, apologizing, "Sorry, we stayed a bit too long at the villagers' house."
"Let's go," Chi Hao said to Jing Minghe, his tone unyielding, "There's no time."
Only then did Tong Zheng realize that he and Lin Ling were not the last to return, but he saw Guan Wei, whom he hadn't seen in two days.
Before Tong Zheng could ask, he heard Jing Minghe say, "We'll go back to the thatched hut first. I believe Jiang Zheng and Yan Xiaoqian will know what to do after missing the gathering."
Since Jing Minghe said so, the others had no reason to object.
"Then let's hurry," Tong Zheng was the first to walk towards the small path.
Lin Ling immediately followed suit.
Youmi took one last look in the direction of the village and turned to follow.
Jing Minghe called out to Ke Wuwen, "Wuwen, you guide me. Brother Hao, please take care of Guan Wei."
Chi Hao looked at Ke Wuwen and coldly commanded, "Support him."
"Yes! Brother Chi, please rest assured, I will take good care of my idol!" Ke Wuwen stood at attention and carefully walked to Jing Minghe's side, supporting him, "Idol, this way, be careful of your footing."