Before anyone could react, Good Fortune Born sprinted over and picked up the watermelon.
The Commandant said expressionlessly, "Now that we have the watermelon, return to the village."
He gave Good Fortune Born a long, deep look, then led the group out.
Book-Listener's gaze fell on Good Fortune Born, inspecting his sleeves, shoe tops, lower robe, trouser legs, and other places.
Sunshine Boy looked toward where Good Fortune Born had been standing earlier. He deliberately veered over, swept his gaze downward, and saw a stalk of mugwort resting atop a tender yellow watermelon blossom. He bent down to pick it up. Sensing no Eerie presence from it, he tucked it away.
A dried dark-red drop clung to the watermelon blossom, weighing down its tender yellow petals.
Sunshine Boy followed at the back of the group, glancing from time to time at the green-striped watermelon in Good Fortune Born's hands.
The auditory hallucination returned to his ears. He could always hear what seemed like a tiny person trapped inside the watermelon, constantly pounding on its rind with muffled thuds.
The eighteen people left the watermelon field and arrived at the village entrance.
Wang Laoshi grinned from ear to ear, exposing a mouthful of crooked yellow teeth as he repeatedly said, "Well done! Well done! As expected of the esteemed Night Guards. You handle matters far more cleanly than ordinary people."
As he spoke, he walked up to Good Fortune Born and extended both hands. "Good Fortune Born, right? I'll certainly report this to the mistress. The mistress will surely reward you."
"Please thank the mistress for me. May she bear a big, fat baby," Good Fortune Born said, carefully handing the watermelon to Wang Laoshi.
"One more person is gone." The Commandant glanced at Good Fortune Born.
The other Night Guards