The flames swelled, erupting from pale blue into a searing white blaze.
The shadows in the corner were instantly driven away, revealing a trembling figure hidden within.
It was a Palu.
Several trails of tears, not yet dry, streaked her hairless face, gleaming crystal-bright in the firelight.
The two long, furry fox ears atop her head drooped in fear. Together with her petite frame, they made her seem even more fragile.
Yang Honglei silently stepped half a pace forward.
The Palu shrank back again.
The corner she had been hiding in was already cramped.
As she moved, she slammed into the wooden rack beside her, sending rows of clay jars displayed on it wobbling.
One of them lost its balance and fell from the shelf, shattering on the floor with a crack.
The fox-eared Palu instinctively reached out to pick it up.
But halfway there, she immediately jerked her hand back as if shocked.
When she looked up at Yang Honglei again, her eyes were already red, as though tears might fall at any moment.
"Don't, don't kill me..."
Yang Honglei frowned.
With no intention of speaking to the Palu, he swept his gaze toward Anna beside him.
"Sense again. Aside from her, is there anyone else in the cellar?"
The female Player with short reddish-brown hair gave a slight nod, calmed herself, closed her eyes, and carefully focused.
After a while, she turned her head and raised a hand to point in the direction directly opposite the fox-eared Palu.
"There are signs of fairly strong life activity over there."
"I'll take a look!" Yuri, the white-skinned man, said coldly. The armor on his forearms immediately burst into a glow no weaker than the blue flames.
"W-wait..." Terror filled the fox-eared Palu's face as she cried out in panic.
But