The fat man stood there with his mouth hanging open and his lips trembling, utterly terrified. He couldn't get a word out. He didn't understand why Grandpa Ghost hadn't killed him, but had instead snatched away the signpost.
A moment later, a shrill sound rang out. The fat man immediately turned around. It was a gong, coming from inside the village!
The gong rang again and again, and even the ground trembled with each strike. Cracks gradually appeared in the surrounding scenery. At last, it shattered like a mirror before the fat man's horrified eyes. The next second, a face appeared in front of him.
"You're awake!"
When the fat man saw the doctor's face, his first reaction wasn't relief. He immediately scrambled backward, stopping only when he took in his surroundings.
He was still in the same thatched hut. Shao Tong was keeping watch by the door, while the doctor and Li Bai were both at his side. He was lying on the bed, with a damp cloth over his forehead.
The fat man tried to speak, but his throat was terribly dry. All that came out was "Ah... ah..." Li Bai thoughtfully fetched a waterskin and helped him drink.
Seeing that the fat man was all right, Jiang Cheng let out a long breath, the worry between his brows gradually easing. "What happened to you? We couldn't wake you, no matter how much we called."
As they talked, the fat man gradually learned what had happened. The doctor and Shao Tong had been safe during the first half of the night, but when it was time to change shifts, they suddenly realized they couldn't wake him. Li Bai, who had been sleeping in the same bed, had been fine. Everyone knew something was wrong.
Once he'd recovered a