Evening.
The work in the medicinal fields was entering its final stages. Most people had already left one after another, leaving only a few behind to finish the last bit of cleanup.
Lu Yuan found Dunn by the stream.
The boy was crouching alone by the stream, washing his hands. His sleeves were rolled above his elbows, and his arms bore small scratches and mud stains from work. An empty bucket sat beside him; the work in the medicinal fields was done.
Lu Yuan walked over, crouched beside him, and dipped his hands into the stream to wash them as well.
"Was the pest problem mostly dealt with today?" Lu Yuan asked casually.
"That patch in the south still hasn't been treated. We'll wrap it up tomorrow." Dunn's answer was brief and direct. Just like that morning, he answered only what he was asked.
The two exchanged a few idle remarks.
Dunn's tone remained unhurried. He did not deliberately ingratiate himself just because he was speaking to a Night Watcher, nor did he avoid Lu Yuan because they were unfamiliar. It was a calmness somewhat at odds with his age.
Then Lu Yuan reached into his coat.
His fingers touched the icy surface of the Copper Casket, and the clasp lightly sprang beneath his fingertips.
Click.
An eerie aura spread out, extremely faint and limited to a range of two or three meters.
But Dunn reacted almost instantly.
His body suddenly recoiled. As he yanked his hand from the water, he splashed droplets onto the stones and his trouser legs. He
almost sprang to his feet, retreating two steps. His heel slipped on the pebbles by the stream, but he did not fall.
There was a trace of heaviness in his eyes.
Then he turned and ran. Yes, without hesitation