"Cough, cough..."
The sudden cough interrupted everyone's train of thought. They turned toward the sound, which had come from a room not far away. It sounded muffled and belonged to an old man.
The woman stood up anxiously at the sound, her pretty face filled with worry. "It's Grandpa. His health isn't good."
"I know a little about medicine. I'd be happy to help if you need it."
Hoping to earn the woman's trust and learn more about Wugong Village's secrets, Li Bai eagerly offered his services and even took out some herbs.
The woman looked tempted by the herbs, but then she glanced toward the door. The sky in the distance had grown completely dark—or rather, it was shrouded in mist. The ghostly fog seemed to have engulfed the entire village. The sky hung unusually low, pressing down on them.
"Night is almost here. Tomorrow will be fine. Get some rest tonight."
The woman had just stepped outside when she stopped and turned around. "Look at me, forgetting the most important thing! Whatever you do, don't go outside tonight. The fog around the village has been very thick lately. It can even blur the line between day and night."
She paused, her expression turning grave. "Remember, the daylight you see may not be real. You must hear the gong. Only the sound of the gong means it's dawn."
"Cough..."
"Cough, cough..."
The coughing grew more urgent. After saying this, the woman shut the door and hurried away. Jiang Cheng and the others huddled inside. The room was far too small, with hardly any decent furniture—just a broken table and two rickety wooden chairs. Against the wall was a raised earthen bed, so cramped that even three people would struggle to sleep on it.
Tang Qisheng found some firewood behind