The woman’s mother was silenced. The Qian Family successfully sealed her lips. This reminded Jiang Cheng of the beaten poor woman who couldn’t speak. Her throat was ruined by the Qian Family to prevent others from hearing her. It was the same despicable tactic.
The plot had been clarified thus far but there was still one detail that was missing, the ghost’s identity.
However, the Qian family was almost wiped out, and there were not that many survivors, such as Hong Hong’s grandmother. Their lead was cut off.
The woman slowly sat up and said, “I heard my mother once mention that the police had done a written record with all the kidnapped women. The police recorded the precise time of their kidnapping and what they experienced in this village. This record should still be around somewhere.”
Chen Xiaomeng quickly asked, “Do you know where this record is?”
“Not the exact location,” The woman replied uncertainly, “But I believe the town law enforcement office should have a copy of it. After all, Little Ravine Village is under An Ping Town’s jurisdiction.” After getting the information they needed, the two prepared to leave.
“By the way,” Chen Xiaomeng asked, “Have you seen or heard the other villagers mention two other women who came with us?”
“Why?” The woman widened her eyes, “Did two females from your group disappear?”
The woman’s face paled as the possibility dawned on her. “That is bad. The ghost rarely goes after women.” Jiang Cheng and Chen Xiaomeng understood what she didn’t say. Lee Lu and Yu Man had probably already been attacked by the villagers.
“Understood.” Chen Xiaomeng only planned to save them if it was convenient. If she had to risk her life to save them, it was pointless. In fact, leaving them with the villagers might buy them more time. Then, they moved to leave.
“Where are you going?” The woman chased after them. She reminded them, “The village head will gather people to capture you tomorrow. You have to be careful. Leave this place as soon as possible.”
Chen Xiaomeng thought about it. “We’ll head to the back mountain pool to stay low. We’ll see if there’s any clue we can find there.”
The woman considered it, “Okay. You have to be careful. If you’re caught, the villagers will definitely deliver you back to the Qian Family Courtyard.”
Just as Jiang Cheng was about to leave, he turned to tell the woman, “If there’s a chance, you should move away from this village.”
The woman shook her head with a bitter smile, and she said nothing.
The two figures melted into the night.
The woman returned to her seat beside the stove. At that moment, the door covered by the hung blanket opened. A small face poked out, “Mom!”
The woman was startled. When she realised it was her daughter, she calmed down, but she still said sternly, “Shush or you’ll wake your grandma.”
“Oh.” Hong Hong stood at the door and tried to look out the window.
“What are you doing? Why don’t you go back to bed?” The woman asked.
Hong Hong’s eyes dimmed. “Mom.” She paused, “They have left.”
The woman was startled. Then, she nodded. “Yes, they have.”
“Can… they really leave this place?”
The woman looked out the window at the night sky. She sighed, “Who knows?”
“What about us?” Hong Hong suddenly turned around.
The two moved swiftly through the dark. They didn’t choose to travel on the even pebbled path because it would create sounds. They treaded on the muddy road beside it. It was safer. The two cooperated flawlessly. Once they left Hong Hong’s home, they said nothing and headed to the village entrance.
As for Chen Xiaomeng’s statement of going to the back mountain pool, neither of them believed it. The back mountain was in an opposite direction of An Ping Town. Should the woman betray them and expose their destination to the village head, or if she were threatened by the other villagers, they wouldn’t be followed.
Do not trust anyone in the nightmare realm.
Chen Xiaomeng heard that many times.
“Are you sure you can find the way back to the town?” Jiang Cheng hid in the bush not far from the village entrance. He glanced at Chen Xiaomeng beside him, who was staring at the village. Even though they believed that the villagers wouldn’t dare to move around at night, there could always be accidents. They were set up in a good ambush spot. One had to pass by the village entrance to leave or enter the village.
“If you don’t trust me, you can go on your own,” Chen Xiaomeng said coolly. The breeze was chilly at night. The path was also wet. Chen Xiaomeng’s clothes stuck to her skin. Her lips were white from the cold. Jiang Cheng did not fare any better. However, he was self-hypnotising. He convinced himself that he was still back in the room, sitting next to the roaring fire. Soon, Jiang Cheng’s face miraculously gained colour.
They watched for a while. Other than the howl of the wind, nothing happened.
Chen Xiaomeng, who was shivering from the cold, couldn’t stand it anymore. With her back arched, she slowly moved away from the village entrance. Jiang Cheng followed her like a jumping doe. His gait was lighter than hers.
Thankfully, they reached the field in front of the village entrance safely. There was another giant stone about twenty meters ahead. After they passed by the stone, they would have left Little Ravine Village.
Just as Chen Xiaomeng was about to rush forward, Jiang Cheng suddenly charged at her to hug her.
Chen Xiaomeng’s pupils shook. Vengeance flashed in her eyes. She subconsciously wanted to throw the shameless man over her shoulder and then snap his neck.
However, Jiang Cheng said something that froze her.
“Don’t move!” He warned her, “There are mines.”