The sky was growing dark.
Lai Si and his group could no longer run.
Especially Lai Si himself.
His feet were numb from walking, and he still had to carry Bai Zhi’er on his shoulders.
Now his neck was aching terribly.
"Big Brother, there’s an abandoned thatched hut up ahead where we can rest for a while." The bandit who had gone ahead to scout the path said upon returning.
Lai Si glanced at the sky.
It was about to be nightfall, the sky a deep blue after the sunset glow faded.
Bai Zhi’er had been whining since earlier.
These uncles are so clumsy, how could they kidnap her and take so long to reach the place?
Lai Si was afraid she’d start to fuss, so he placated her perfunctorily: "Okay, okay, I’ll find you something to eat in a bit."
Thinking they were already some distance from that mountain, Lai Si said, "Let’s rest here for an hour."
Before dawn, they were responsible for delivering Bai Zhi’er to a small village house at the foot of the mountain. Check latest chapters at N0velFire.ɴet
So, they could only stop here for a while.
Lai Si brought Bai Zhi’er into the thatched hut.
In the dim light around, the little one looked around.
Wasn’t this the Yongquan Village she had visited before with Brother Fu Ce?
The desolate and remote village in the deep mountains appeared especially bleak and tranquil.
The bandits also found it somewhat frightening.
"This place looks abandoned for a long time, there wouldn’t be any taboos, right?" A man with a mole on his face said, trembling.
Lai Si gave him a push and scolded: "Children don’t talk nonsense about gods, outside, you’re scared of this and that, why did you even come out!"
Bai Zhi’er corrected: "It’s ’children don’t talk about strange occurrences and spirits’!"
The round-faced bandit beside them, looking quite adorable,
smiled as he said, "The little girl knows so much."
They pushed the door open, and dust blew in their faces.
Bai Zhi’er covered her nose and mouth.
Lai Si took out a flint from his bosom and ignited it.
The room was covered with dust everywhere, a table and two chairs, and there were some miscellaneous items on the ground.
Lai Si pushed the round-faced man: "You and Mole, go tidy up here!"
After saying this, he turned his head and said to the little girl sitting on his shoulder: "You can come down now, right?"
Bai Zhi’er’s bright, watery eyes showed tension.
"Will there... be Old Xu here?"
"Old Xu? Who’s that?" Lai Si was taken aback.
Bai Zhi’er’s childish voice was filled with fear.
"Old Xu! Haven’t you seen him? He’s all dark and very scary!"
The bandits exchanged glances and saw panic in each other’s eyes.
It’s said that children can see things others can’t.
Could it be that Old Xu is one of those things?
At this moment, Bai Zhi’er saw something seemed to move in the corner not far away, and it was dark.
She let out a sharp scream: "Ah! Old Xu has come out!"
The little one’s shout made Lai Si shudder, and the flint in his hand fell to the ground.
In an instant, the room was engulfed in darkness.
The other three kidnappers drew the short sticks from their waistbands and swung wildly in the air.
"Don’t come near! I’m not afraid of you!"
"I hit him! I hit Old Xu!"
"Ouch! Who hit me in the waist!"
Lai Si hurried to pick up the flint from the ground, and the moment he re-ignited it,
he discovered that the three brothers he brought were actually fighting each other.
One of them had taken a hit on the forehead and was already down on the ground.
The few of them looked at each other, all panting heavily.
Lai Si scolded furiously: "What are you panicking for! You’re messing up, put away the sticks!"