As the words fell, silence descended upon everyone.
Jiang Younian’s eyes betrayed his surprise. He hadn’t expected that Xie Nanzhou would actually protect him—and him alone. But why?
The words just spoken had landed with the weight of a heavy blow, striking straight at Jiang Younian’s heart. It was pounding now, all because of Xie Nanzhou.
Once the statement was made, reactions varied: some felt envy, others jealousy, and some lamented.
"Hmph, Brother Xiaoxie, are you going to ignore me?" Xiaoyou asked, hands on her hips, approaching Xie Nanzhou with a mournful expression.
Xie Nanzhou cast a sidelong glance at the little girl and pushed her away with a single finger. "You have the ability to protect yourself. I don’t need to worry about you."
Jiang Younian looked stunned. *Could it be... am I not even as capable as a child?* He patted his chest, promising, "I have the ability to protect myself, too. I won't hold you back."
Xie Nanzhou merely glanced at the spot where Jiang Younian had just patted his chest and nodded. "Mm, I believe you."
Jiang Younian felt that look was anything but convincing.
"Little Xie, I’ll just follow along behind you. I won’t hold you back." Uncle Zhang, the only elderly person in the group, climbed up the slope with Xiaoyou’s help and spoke to Xie Nanzhou with a gentle smile.
"Uncle Zhang, I will do my best within my capabilities," Xie Nanzhou replied, patting the old man’s hand to reassure him.
Having received this promise, Uncle Zhang was satisfied. Seeing that coercion wouldn't work, the stragglers at the back reluctantly caught up with the main group.
"Xie Nanzhou, why are you protecting me?"
Jiang Younian had never been fiercely defended by anyone, so he didn’t believe such a person existed. Yet, Xie Nanzhou was doing exactly that.
"Does one need a reason to treat someone well?" Xie Nanzhou countered, tossing the question back.
"Of course one does."
Jiang Younian had never believed in altruism without an agenda; at least, he had never encountered such a person. Upon hearing this, Xie Nanzhou stopped walking, a look in his eyes that Jiang Younian couldn't decipher.
"Do you ask for rewards when you are kind to others?"
"No, I don't."
Jiang Younian answered without a second’s hesitation. Because of his fragile health, he had done many good deeds throughout his life, but he had never sought anything in return—in fact, he usually avoided such rewards.
"So, if I treat you well without asking for anything in return, what’s the problem?"
Hearing it put that way, Jiang Younian decided there really didn't seem to be a problem. Seeing Jiang Younian bewildered by his logic, a faint, unintentional smile tugged at the corner of Xie Nanzhou’s mouth. "Since you’ve followed me, I will protect you."
*Followed him? What is that supposed to mean?*
"Watch your phrasing," Jiang Younian said, feeling deeply uneasy.
They had been walking for most of the day, and everyone was exhausted. The sky was darkening; night would fall in less than half an hour.
"We finally made it up!"
"I'm so tired!"
"I'm worn out!"
When they finally crested the mountain, they realized there was an entirely new landscape at the top. In the distance, faint lights flickered—Mocun Village must be just ahead.
"Great, we’re almost there." Uncle Zhang leaned on his knees, smiling with relief. Being old, the climb had taken a toll.
Jiang Younian stared at the forest ahead. For some reason, it looked familiar.
"Let’s go." Xiaoyou urged everyone forward, as night was about to fall.
"Oh! There’s a lake here! Everyone come and wash up; we’re covered in mud!"
A lake? Alarm bells rang in Jiang Younian’s heart. He turned to look—from this angle, it was exactly like the scene in his dreams. Under the cover of night, the path ended exactly at that lake. His scalp tingled as a piece of the puzzle clicked into place.
*No!*
Chen Dan had already skipped happily toward the water.
"Stop!" Jiang Younian shouted, startling Chen Dan. She stopped in confusion, still some distance from the lake. Since she was a newcomer, she saw no reason to listen to him. Displeased, she snapped, "What are you doing?! You scared me!"
"I’ve seen this lake before. It’s very dangerous."
At those words, the group quieted down.
"Where have you seen it?" Brother Tai’s booming voice echoed, sounding to Jiang Younian like a drum beating against his chest.
"In a dream."
The air stilled for a moment before Chen Dan scoffed, clearly indifferent. She turned and headed straight for the water without hesitation.
Jiang Younian tried to explain, desperate, "I’m telling the truth! It’s really dangerous!"
As Chen Dan reached the water’s edge, Xie Nanzhou held Jiang Younian back. "I believe you." Xie Nanzhou pulled him back a few steps. "You can't save someone who is determined to die."
Despite those words, Jiang Younian’s heart felt heavy. Kong Que, Brother Tai, and Zhao Ming were more cautious, hovering at a distance and watching Chen Dan.
Chen Dan washed her hands and face, then stood up, triumphantly showing her clean, withered hands to Jiang Younian. "See? What danger—AH!!!"
"Help... save... save me! Save..."
Before the words were out, Chen Dan’s terrified scream pierced the hazy night. The group didn't know what was happening, but as they moved to help, they saw something black—like a massive nest of hair—writhing and crawling over Chen Dan’s entire body at lightning speed. Before they could react, it dragged her into the lake.
It all happened in a heartbeat. Chen Dan had vanished. Jiang Younian felt a wave of terror—a fear of the mysterious, unstoppable forces of this world. He had only seen things like this in movies; witnessing it in person was far more harrowing.
Kong Que and the others were paralyzed with fear, stumbling and screaming as they scrambled toward Xie Nanzhou.
"Wh-what... what was that?" Kong Que’s legs gave out, and she collapsed, unable to move.
"Hair," Jiang Younian and Xie Nanzhou said in unison.
"H-hair?" Zhao Ming clung to Brother Tai, terrified.
*Xie Nanzhou, how did he know?* Jiang Younian looked at him in surprise. Sensing his confusion, Xie Nanzhou leaned in close to explain. "I entered the dream, too, but I woke up before you did."
The lake had been silent since Chen Dan was dragged under. Everyone stood trembling. There wasn't even time to mourn a lost life; the unknown danger remained.
It was completely dark now. They had long passed the time specified by the conductor, and they didn't know what would happen next. They stood close together, looking at the lake at the end of the path. It was unnervingly calm, the moonlight reflecting off the surface like jagged, cold blades.
Suddenly, torches flickered on the mountain road ahead, drawing closer. Xie Nanzhou instinctively stepped in front of Jiang Younian.
"Someone’s coming."
Hearing this, Xiaoyou shielded Uncle Zhang behind her. Kong Que grabbed Brother Tai’s waist, and Zhao Ming clung to Kong Que’s sleeve.
Sure enough, a few figures emerged from behind the torchlight. There was an old man with white hair and a tall young man. Not knowing who they were, the group remained on guard.
The old man scanned them and introduced himself. "I am the village chief of Mocun. Who are you?"
The group let out a sigh of relief. Help had arrived.
Xie Nanzhou stepped forward politely. "Sir, our train encountered a mudslide at the foot of the mountain. We are passengers seeking help."
"Follow me." The village chief spoke without emotion, as if he had said these words a thousand times and couldn't be bothered to express any feeling at all.