The young noblewoman’s face flushed a deep crimson.
“It’s…
it could be…
so dangerous outside…” she stammered.
Shangguan Wan may have a sweet tongue that could charm anyone, but she had a sharp side, too.
Her words could cut like a knife.
“Hmph.
If it’s so dangerous, why don’t you step outside and try it yourself?
You don’t even have to go far—just bring in a few logs from the pile by the door.”
Stunned by Shangguan Wan’s retort, the girl couldn’t utter a single word.
She was even more terrified now to go outside and gather firewood.
Seeing the tension rise, Wan Xiuer stepped in to play peacemaker.
“Stop arguing, both of you.
Can’t you just meet halfway and be considerate?
We’re all frightened and starving.
I’ll go get the firewood from the door.”
Jiang Pengji had been gone for nearly half an hour—a little over fifteen minutes.
In that short time, the firewood they had brought in earlier had been burned through recklessly, leaving the fire nearly extinguished.
If they didn’t go out and fetch more, the campfire would surely die out soon.
The wooden door bolt was heavy, and Wan Xiuer could only manage to lift it after another noble lady stepped in to help.
She pushed the door open with both hands, then carefully left it ajar.
Stepping from the sweltering room into the freezing night air, Wan Xiuer, dressed only in a spring robe, couldn’t help but shiver violently.
Forcing down the creeping dread, she scanned the area for a moment before frowning and gathering a few of the thicker logs.
As she straightened up, arms full of firewood, she caught sight of several blurry black shadows swaying near the village entrance.
In an instant, a wave of icy terror surged from her feet to her head.
If she hadn’t already faced so much today, the shock alone would have knocked her unconscious.
Her legs froze, refusing to move.
Suppressing the overwhelming fear, she bit her tongue hard, using the sharp pain to snap herself out of the paralysis.
She didn’t dare drop the firewood; what if the noise attracted those ghostly figures?
The other noble ladies watched as Wan Xiuer stumbled back into the room, her face deathly pale and her teeth chattering.
The moment she was inside, she shoved the firewood into the arms of the nearest noble lady and, without waiting for the woman to react, slammed the door shut with both hands.
“Quickly…
quickly…
bring the door bolt…
Outside…
there are ghost shadows outside…”
She practically sobbed the words.
At her cry, the noblewomen who had been drowsy were jolted awake.
They scrambled to their feet, their movements a chaotic tangle of limbs as they dragged the heavy wooden bolt into place, securing the door shut.
“Ghost shadows?
Could it be…
could Liu Lanting’s words have come true?”
The memory of her unsettling parting words sent a surge of terror through them.
Their hearts pounded so violently they felt as if they might leap from their throats.
“Isn’t she known for her uncanny predictions?
Maybe she was right…
Otherwise, how else could those bandits have…
have died like that?”
“But…
should we put out the fire?
Won’t the light attract them?”
“Aren’t ghosts afraid of light?
If we extinguish the fire, what will we do if they break through the door?”
At this moment, even the noblewomen who despised Jiang Pengji prayed for her swift return.
Yet, their worst fears were realized.
The dark silhouettes cast upon the paper windows drew closer and closer.
Even the most timid among them bit down on their own hands, stifling any sound, no matter how overwhelming their terror.
Outside, the group mistaken for ghosts was in even worse shape than the noblewomen inside.
“A village in these deep mountains…
Let’s get Fourth Young Master inside to rest first.
We can ask if there’s a barefoot doctor here…”
Their clothes were tattered, their hair crowns askew.
Their weapons were stained with blood, and many of them bore fresh wounds.
Though the chances of a village this small having a doctor—let alone a competent barefoot one—were slim, they were at the end of their rope.
They had been fleeing assassins through the deep mountains for two days, and the Fourth Young Master, injured and stricken with a fever, was now unconscious.
They had no choice but to try their luck.
However, as they followed the torchlight to the village entrance, the group’s expressions shifted.
“You two, go scout ahead…”
In this entire village, only one house had lights on.
And the glow was unnaturally bright.
The surrounding area was so silent that not a single dog barked or rooster crowed.
A village like this would surely have hunters, and hunting dogs were a necessity.
How could it be this quiet when strangers were approaching?
The young man’s mind raced.
The two guards sent out returned quickly, their report turning his face deathly pale.
“Young Master Feng, I’m afraid this isn’t a normal village.
It’s a bandit stronghold.
Every last one of them, from top to bottom, has been slaughtered.
They must have died within the last two hours.
The killer’s martial prowess is formidable—their methods are terrifyingly swift and efficient…”
The youth addressed as Young Master Feng pressed his lips together.
He glanced at the Fourth Young Master, who was being carried on someone’s back, and hurriedly asked, “Is there anyone in the main house?”
“Yes, and quite a few of them…
Could it be…
that same gang of villains?”
Licking his dry, pale, and slightly chapped lips, the youth made a decisive choice.
“Go knock on the door.
Remember, don’t frighten the people inside.”
The guard didn’t hesitate and obeyed the order.
Then, in the dead of night, a knock sounded at the door.
A group of noblewomen huddled behind the door, pressing their bodies against it, fists clenched.
Their hearts beat in unison, all chanting Jiang Pengji’s name.
No one’s answering?
The guard turned back.
Young Master Feng nodded to him, signaling to keep knocking.
This time, someone finally answered.
The voice was unexpected—a girl’s, though it sounded slightly hoarse.
Of course, Wei Jingxian had been trying to disguise her voice by pinching her throat, but the man outside was experienced and worldly.
He immediately recognized the unnatural tone.
“Who’s out there…
man or ghost?”
Wei Jingxian desperately tried to picture Jiang Pengji tricking the bandits, forcing herself to calm down.
It doesn’t seem like they’re in any danger, she thought.
Young Master Feng’s furrowed brow slowly relaxed.
“Of course we are living men.
Please don’t be afraid, Miss.
We are a merchant caravan that lost our way in these deep mountains.
Our young master was injured while playing and has since caught a chill.
He’s running a high fever that won’t break.
Might you be able to grant us a moment’s assistance?”
A man?
The noble ladies exchanged glances, all shaking their heads at Wei Jingxian.
Absolutely no letting him in!
“My…
my husband is away hunting,” Wei Jingxian replied, her voice strained.
“Only I, his wife, and a few of my close friends who came to visit are here.
The night is deep and the dew is heavy, and it would be improper for a man and woman to meet alone.
My husband will return shortly, and to avoid any misunderstanding, I must ask you, sir, to seek shelter elsewhere.
This humble wife will be eternally grateful.”
Young Master Feng’s brow arched, his thin lips pressed into a line as his eyes flickered with something.
Inside the room, Shangguan Wan watched Wei Jingxian nervously.
“Will that be enough to scare them off?” she whispered.
“The ground outside is littered with the bodies of the bandits Lanting killed,” Wei Jingxian explained.
“They claim to be a merchant caravan, so they must have seen a lot on their travels.
They should be able to spot the strangeness of those corpses…
I said Lanting would return soon.
If they aren’t fools, they won’t dare force their way in, even if they don’t leave immediately…”
As soon as she finished speaking, Shangguan Wan stared at her in astonishment.
The other noble ladies wore expressions that seemed to say, So that’s how it is.
Wei Jingxian blinked.
“…What?”
What’s wrong?
a bewildered Wei Jingxian wondered.
The others thought: They look so much like a married couple…
Haha, but this is a BG [boy-girl] novel ┑( ̄Д ̄)┍