A string of dull thuds sounded outside the cave, mixed with faint whimpers.
Shi Lan spat out the wooden stick in her mouth, gritted her teeth, and drew the crossbowstring, loading a bolt.
She didn't get up. She only stared intently at the cave entrance, her crossbow poised to fire. The firelight illuminated her face, lending it a touch of color.
Whoosh—
A black shadow flew into the cave and slammed hard into the rock wall, spraying blood everywhere.
Shi Lan focused her gaze. It was a jackal, nearly a meter long, with a scarlet body and a brown-black tail.
A large section of its abdomen had visibly caved in. It couldn't get back up after hitting the ground; after a couple of struggles, it stopped breathing.
A figure slowly entered the cave, emerging from the darkness. Its features were impossible to make out.
Unease welled in Shi Lan's heart, and she reflexively pulled the trigger. The bolt flew from the crossbow.
The instant it left the bow, Shi Lan lowered the crossbow slightly, shifting her aim toward the newcomer's thigh.
Screee—
A teeth-grinding scrape rang out. A broad hand covered in calluses seized the bolt and stopped it in midair.
Shi Lan drew in a sharp breath. From a distance of less than five meters, catching a crossbow bolt with bare hands was beyond the limits of human ability.
The figure took two more steps, entering the firelight and revealing his features.
"7532?!"
When she recognized the newcomer, Shi Lan froze and blurted out the number.
The man wore a prison uniform and a crew cut. His eyes were narrow, his forehead broad, and a vicious air clung to him. Hearing Shi Lan's words, he grinned, sending a chill through the air.
Shi Lan frowned and slowly edged toward