Outside the ancient well.
Twinwood Village.
It was noon, the sun blazing brightly in a clear sky.
However...
All of a sudden.
Without any warning, the sky had been clear just a second ago, yet dark clouds like thick ink suddenly gathered overhead the next.
In an instant, heaven and earth darkened as though night had fallen!
"Huh?"
Beneath the old tree at the village entrance.
The old men all raised their heads, their hollow gazes fixed on the sky.
The next second.
Expressions of terror appeared on their faces.
Lightning tore across the heavens.
"Boom!"
A clap of thunder exploded!
"Aah—!"
Shrill screams erupted from the old men's mouths. Those were not sounds an aged human could possibly make; they were more like frightened wildcats hidden in their throats.
They sprang to their feet.
Screaming miserably, they charged into the village.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
Thunderclaps crashed one after another overhead. Terrifying flashes of electricity flickered madly through the clouds, and the entire earth trembled with the storm.
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
Doors flew open one after another.
The villagers Jiang Qiao and the other man had never seen all emerged from their homes.
Every one of them looked up at the sky.
Every face was filled with fear and unease.
As if a great calamity was about to descend.
"How is that possible?"
Inside the inn.
The hunchbacked owner abruptly rose to his feet and stared incredulously out the window. "How can there be thunder during the day?"
"Oh no!"
"Something's going to happen!"
He rushed out of the inn.
He immediately collided with the stream of people in the village.
All the villagers now moved like puppets on strings, surging toward the ancient well. Some held incense, some held paper money, and some carried bowls filled with rice and