With a cigarette between his lips, Shiqi leaned comfortably against his backpack. He casually tossed another log into the firepit, listened to the bitter wind outside, and blew a leisurely smoke ring as the heat washed over his face.
For Shiqi, this truly was a rare vacation.
Without anyone annoying him, even these harsh surroundings seemed pleasing to the eye.
As for Qin Ran?
He had even less reason to worry about him.
Every day around noon, Qin Ran returned to let him know he was safe, occasionally bringing back rabbits or other game.
Although he always left after sunset, Shiqi knew exactly what Qin Ran had chosen to do. He would never stop him, only silently wish him well.
"Just what is behind that stone door?"
Shiqi took a drag on his cigarette and could not help wondering.
He knew all too well about that unnerving stone door.
After all, even with Qin Ran's strength, he had not been qualified to so much as look directly at it back then. That scene was something Shiqi would never forget.
But it had also stirred his curiosity.
And when Qin Ran openly said he intended to try pushing that stone door open again, Shiqi's thoughts inevitably wandered toward it.
Until the sound of the door opening interrupted him.
Creeeak.
There was no proper doorframe, only a crude hinge, so naturally the door made a dreadful noise as it opened. It set his teeth on edge and raised goose bumps on his skin.
A gust of cold wind swept in.
Nisir walked inside.
"Does the Sanctuary not believe in knocking?"
Shiqi shivered in the cold wind and asked irritably.
"Does someone who treats another person's territory as his own home for a leisurely vacation know anything about manners?"
Nisir retorted, casually picking