The squirrel's neurotic muttering made Yu Sheng instinctively prick up his ears and listen to the activity outside the cabin, but all he heard was some distant, faint wind.
The flames in the fireplace crackled. The wind outside the doors and windows was so faint that it was barely audible, and those soft sounds instead made everything seem especially quiet. A peaceful, tranquil atmosphere filled the cabin's candlelight.
The layout of the room was immediately clear. Right inside the door was a simple square table covered with a blue checkered cloth, with two chairs beside it. Against the opposite wall stood a wooden rack piled with miscellaneous items, along with a wooden wardrobe about as tall as a person. In the corner was a single bed covered with a thick mattress that looked as though it would be quite comfortable.
On the wall to the left of the entrance was a window. Reflected in it were the firelight from the fireplace and candlesticks, as well as the shadow of the squirrel jumping around.
Yu Sheng walked over to the window and cautiously looked outside. The old wooden floor creaked beneath his feet. Beyond the window was nothing but an immense, dense forest at night. It should have been the brief moment just after dusk, when night had only just fallen. A little daylight still lingered in the sky, but the thick canopy blocked what little light remained. Beneath the canopy, everything was shrouded in darkness like night itself.
Perhaps it was only his imagination, but Yu Sheng felt as if countless pairs of icy eyes were hidden in those shadows. Countless predators seemed to be lurking in the night, surrounding the cabin and waiting for an opportunity.
"Stop looking, stop looking. The more you look, the more frightened you'll get.