The small mountain village looked utterly deserted.
There was no one to be seen anywhere.
The doors of every house they passed were tightly shut, and not a sound came from within.
The sky was somewhat dim. By the standards of an ordinary world, it was just about dinner time.
Yet there was no cooking smoke, no sign of people—only a terrifying silence.
"Dad, I'm back!"
The child finally stopped in front of a house and knocked on the door.
Creak.
The door opened, and a middle-aged farmer peered outside.
"Did you bring the things for your uncle over... Where did that thing in your hand come from?"
After leading the child into the house, the middle-aged farmer began asking questions, but stopped halfway through.
He stared at the electric fan in the child's hands and frowned.
"Don't pick up this kind of random junk next time."
Seeing the smile on the child's face, the farmer sighed. Rather than scolding him, he merely reminded him.
"I understand, Dad."
The child studied his father's expression and felt reassured.
Then he happily placed the electric fan he had found on a cabinet.
It looked much better there.
At the dining table.
There were several cornbread buns. The family of three sat around the square table, quietly eating.
"When you get up tomorrow, remember not to move around carelessly. Zhang San's wife ran outside carrying her child at dawn today, and she turned straight into a blood bead."
"And Old Liu Three's child didn't listen. He picked up the blood bead and died too."
"You must, must remember to check the village master's prediction from the night before."
The middle-aged farmer spoke softly, his expression seemingly complicated.
Placed on the cabinet, Gu Yuan seemed to understand something upon hearing this.
Don't run around?