Volume One, Chapter 11: It Began to Rain

Luo Bin stood at the doorway, deep in thought.

Ultimately, he connected Gu Yiren’s hint with the note from Xu Kaiguo. There was definitely an illicit connection between the two. What exactly was going to happen tomorrow night? Luo Bin had a gut feeling that Xu Kaiguo knew who he was. Did that mean Gu Yiren knew what he needed?

Exhaling a weary breath, Luo Bin realized he could no longer stay out of this mess. It was noon, the sun was blinding, and his stomach rumbled. Only after sitting down at the table did he realize the steamed egg custard, now cold, didn't taste fishy at all; the egg fragrance was even richer, and the shredded potatoes were crisp and delicious. It tasted like… his mother’s cooking.

After a long moment, Luo Bin wiped away the tears in the corners of his eyes and ate heartily. Time could not be reversed, and his mother could not be brought back to life. But what about this life? Even though Gu Ya’s love was meant for the original Luo Shan, wasn't he Luo Shan now?

He recalled the kindness Gu Ya had shown him over the past two days, especially her words: "Mom won't let you suffer any more harm, and no person or thing will ever take you away from me again!" At the time, he had been focused only on survival, with no room to think of anything else. Now, reflecting on it, he realized that was a mother’s vow to her child—and she meant every word.

A smile tugged at the corners of Luo Bin’s mouth. At the very least, heaven had been kind in one way: it gave him a healthy body and a mother. Were those not his two greatest regrets in his previous life?

"Mom, I won't let anyone or anything hurt you or take you away from me prematurely," Luo Bin silently vowed. "If I break this oath, may heaven strike me down!"

A rhythmic knocking brought him back to reality. He looked up. Outside the door, a girl in her early twenties stood with a food tray in one hand and a wicker basket in the other, struggling to knock. She was beautiful, in the bloom of youth, with skin white as jade and eyes extraordinarily clear.

"Luo Shan, Aunt Gu asked me to bring you some food. This is yours, and these are for the outsiders." Zhang Yunling entered, placing the tray and basket on the table.

"Uh... thank you," Luo Bin said, standing up, feeling both a smile and a sense of awkwardness. She knew him, but he didn't know her, and he didn't know how to greet her.

"No problem! Did you just finish eating? Should I take these bowls and chopsticks back?" she asked, reaching out to clean up.

"No... no, I'll handle it," Luo Bin quickly put the bowls back into the tray he had used that morning. "Young lady, please tell my mother not to send food anymore. I'll be able to go home in two days; it’s too much trouble."

"These are for the outsiders, right? I'll deliver them first so I don't hold you up." Luo Bin picked up the wicker basket and hurried out of the cabin, slowing his pace as he headed toward the Mountain God Temple opposite. Leaving the cabin was a way to escape the awkwardness; walking slowly was a way to wait for her to leave so he wouldn't have to struggle with further conversation.

Zhang Yunling watched his retreating back, a trace of confusion in her beautiful eyes. "Young lady? How strange." She murmured to herself, then picked up the empty food tray and headed back toward the village.

Luo Bin glanced back at the girl, thinking he needed to find a way to learn everyone's names in the village as soon as possible, otherwise, he would be exposed too easily.

He knocked heavily on the door of the Mountain God Temple. "Zhang Li, Zhu Qianqian, I've brought you food."

"Just leave it there," Zhang Li’s voice replied, sounding exhausted.

"It’s from my mother, not the village chief. Open the door, eat it while it’s hot," Luo Bin called out. Zhang Li and Zhu Qianqian were deeply wary of the village chief, but they were much more relaxed toward him. Sure enough, the door creaked open a crack.

Zhang Li poked his head out; his eyes were bloodshot, and his clothes were filthy.

"Are you all right?" Luo Bin asked, puzzled.

"I'm fine... just give it to me." Zhang Li swallowed hard and reached out. Luo Bin handed him the basket and explained, "I won't be sending food for the next two days. I have over a dozen dry cakes left; I'll share some with you later. It should be enough to..."

"Thanks... that's enough..." Zhang Li pulled his head back, shouldered the door shut, and it closed with a dull thud.

*Hm?* Luo Bin’s eyelids twitched. In a flash, the scene before him reversed! Zhang Li’s shoulder pushed the door, it opened, he poked his head out, then retracted it. In the moment Zhang Li spoke, Luo Bin saw the interior of the temple: Gu Yiren was tightly bound to a pillar with hemp rope!

The vision ended. He was looking at the closed door of the temple again.

"Is there anything else?" Zhang Li asked through the crack, eyes filled with vigilance and bloodshot intensity as he stared at Luo Bin.

"Oh, nothing," Luo Bin smiled. "I just didn't react in time. You closed the door right in the middle of a sentence."

"Yiren and Zhu Qianqian are a bit afraid of the people in your village. They feel more comfortable with the door locked. I'm going to eat with them now. Thanks," Zhang Li replied. He didn't turn away, still watching Luo Bin.

Luo Bin turned and walked away. His gait was normal, but his heart was cold. He had been wondering where the danger would come from. After all, Zhang Li and the others knew about the evil spirits roaming at night; they wouldn't court death. But why did Zhang Li tie up Gu Yiren?

Back in the cabin, Luo Bin replayed his memories of the morning. The burly man, Zhang Jun, had been bullying Gu Yiren and Zhu Qianqian—only Gu Yiren had red marks on her face, likely from Zhang Jun’s harassment. Zhang Li had clearly been beaten while trying to protect her. Even when he had looked at Gu Yiren earlier, Zhang Li had instinctively blocked his view. Based on all the details, Zhang Li treated her well; it made no sense to tie her up.

Could it be that something happened after the door closed that he didn't know about? Luo Bin couldn't figure it out. The sky grew heavy, the sun hid behind dark clouds, and a drizzling rain began to fall.

...

"It’s raining... and I only packed thin clothes for Xiaoshan." In the main hall, Gu Ya paced back and forth, her face etched with anxiety.

"It’s fine. Xiaoshan is nearly grown; he can take care of himself," Luo Feng said. "Besides, there is bedding in the cabin. If he’s cold, he’ll wrap himself up."

Gu Ya’s eyes filled with deeper worry. "It’s been so many years, and Xiaoshan has never been away from home for this long. What happened last night scared him to tears. How can your heart be so cold, as if he isn't your son?"

Luo Feng frowned slightly. "You know that's not what I meant."

Just then, a dull sound of a gong echoed through the courtyard. For years, Village Chief Zhong Zhicheng had never missed a day, morning or night, reminding people to go home, light their lamps, and lock their doors and windows. The couple fell silent.

A moment later, the courtyard gate was pushed open, and Zhong Zhicheng hurried in. Luo Feng greeted him with a smile. "Village Chief, will you be staying in Xiaoshan’s room tonight?"

"No, I’ll stay in the main hall. I need to watch how the oil lamp burns!" Zhong Zhicheng said firmly. He wiped the rain from his face and strode into the hall. He walked straight to the oil lamp, filled the rusted lamp bowl to the brim with oil, and struck a match.

The light grew brighter. Twilight consumed the last of the daylight, and the black night was about to descend. Gu Ya and Luo Feng tried their best to hide their unease.

"Are all the doors and windows locked?" Zhong Zhicheng asked.

"The windows are nailed shut. My house has no back door, only the courtyard gate, which you closed when you came in," Luo Feng said, pointing to the gate.

"Good." Zhong Zhicheng sat down on a chair directly facing the oil lamp, his shadow stretching long across the floor.