Li Fang took a deep breath and asked with difficulty, “What did you say?”
Zuo Zhu twisted and fidgeted. “If it is really too difficult, then forget it. Li Fang, my heart has only ever belonged to you. You will not mind my momentary lapse, will you?”
Li Fang did not want to think too deeply about whether he had been cheated on during his disappearance. After all, he and Zuo Zhu had no real relationship, and women like her were naturally restless. He had seen such people before.
Still, with her asking like that, how could he answer?
“It does not matter. The situation is already unusual. I trust you.” He gritted his teeth and grabbed her hand. “We need to leave immediately. Do not let anyone see us.”
Zuo Zhu pressed her lips together and turned to look, just in time to see Lin Tianming approaching.
All her efforts to delay Li Fang had paid off. Lin Tianming had finally circled around to this spot.
Earlier, when Huo Fu had floated her through the sky, she had noticed Lin Tianming’s path. A nearby intersection was exactly where he would appear, which was why she had delayed Li Fang.
Zuo Zhu wrenched her hand free from Li Fang and ran toward Lin Tianming, calling out as she ran, “Lin Tianming, look who I found!”
She ran quickly, reaching behind him before Li Fang could react, and their eyes met.
“Li Fang? You did not disappear?!” Lin Tianming was shocked.
Li Fang did not answer him and instead glared angrily at Zuo Zhu. “Zuo Zhu, what do you mean by this?”
Pain and guilt filled her eyes. She looked away. “I am sorry, Li Fang. Forgive my selfishness. I just hope we can leave this cursed place together. During your absence, I have become attached to Huo Fu and cannot part from him.”
Li Fang’s face burned with anger. He could have taken her away, but now this problem appeared at the critical moment. “Zuo Zhu, are you sure about this? If you truly want to leave with that man, do not blame me if I leave you behind and go alone.”
Lin Tianming was utterly confused. “What are you two talking about? Li Fang, how did you disappear and suddenly reappear?”
Zuo Zhu quickly explained behind him. “I ran into him while buying something. He said he discovered a few days ago that this village is full of ghosts. He escaped to the mountains but could not leave me behind, so he came back to take me with him. He asked me not to tell anyone because too many people would alert the ghosts in the village.”
Lin Tianming’s face changed instantly. He was not stupid and could immediately see the holes in this story.
“Li Fang, you say you escaped successfully but returned?”
Li Fang gritted his teeth. He least wanted to meet Lin Tianming. With Zuo Zhu, he could use her feelings for him to bluff, but Lin Tianming would not believe such a story so easily.
But in this situation, he had no choice but to insist. “Yes, I did not disappear. I only escaped to the mountains.”
Lin Tianming’s gaze darkened further. “Li Fang, a few days ago we tried to leave the village and no one succeeded. Do you know why? We all hit ghost walls and could not escape. Are you really saying you accidentally left alone?”
“Moreover, Zuo Zhu says you returned for her. That might fool her, but not me. You may return for anything, but never for a woman you do not care about.”
He and Li Fang came from the same circle of wealthy second-generation families. Lin Tianming had heard Li Fang mock Zuo Zhu. There was no way he would return for her.
Li Fang’s expression shifted. “If you do not believe me, forget it.”
Seeing his lie exposed, he realized his plan had failed and turned to leave.
“Li Fang, wait!” Lin Tianming tried to chase him, but Zuo Zhu grabbed his arm.
At that moment, Li Fang vanished.
Lin Tianming chased a few steps but saw nothing and had no choice but to stop.
“If you chased him, you might have fallen into his trap,” Zuo Zhu said.
Lin Tianming pressed his lips, glancing at her with mixed feelings. “You have always liked Li Fang. Why did you not leave with him?”
Zuo Zhu stomped in frustration. “Annoying! He is Huo Fu now. Do not say things that will make him jealous or angry.”
Lin Tianming stared at her. “Can you act normal?”
Zuo Zhu instantly dropped her anger and laughed. “Otherwise, if I left with him, my bones would not have survived.”
Lin Tianming observed her for a long moment. “I feel you are different from before.”
“Before?” Zuo Zhu was calm, even amused. “How well did you know me before? You only heard about me from Li Fang. Yes, I liked him. He was handsome and rich, who would not? But you saw how he treated me. He paid little attention to me.”
“Today he said all that to me, and I could only laugh. If he did not have any intention to manipulate me, I would not believe it. Perhaps he faced some difficulties and used me as a decoy.”
Zuo Zhu did not fear Lin Tianming thinking she had changed. They were temporary travel companions. Everyone who knew the original girl only knew her as shallow and vain.
Hearing her, Lin Tianming reflected. He had only ever known her through Li Fang and perhaps had judged her unfairly.
“Do not think too highly of me either,” Zuo Zhu added with a coquettish wink. “Do not tell Huo Fu about what I just said. My heart only belongs to him. I do not know Li Fang, Wang Fang, or Liu Fang.”
She turned and walked back, swaying her waist, fully embracing her role as the flirtatious character.
Lin Tianming hesitated but eventually followed. After some time, he asked, “Zuo Zhu, you have spent the most time with Huo Fu. Are you sure he is really okay?”
He could not shake his doubts. In a village where everyone is dead, how has Huo Fu lived here safely for so many years?
Zuo Zhu looked at him in surprise. “How can you ask such a question?”
Lin Tianming felt guilty. Huo Fu had saved him many times. It was wrong to doubt him.
Still, the thought lingered. If Huo Fu’s identity was not what it seemed or he had other intentions, everyone could be in danger.
“I am sorry. I cannot feel at ease until I am sure.”
“Fine. If you want to know, then look at me. I am always energetic. How could he possibly have any problem? Trust your Huo Fu is a strong man and do not worry.”
Lin Tianming looked at her in silence.
Huo Fu, hovering above the village listening to everything, thought silently.