The dim, yellow light illuminated the small room.
However, the Anke family did not sit under the light, but instead hid in the shadows under the table and bed, trembling.
Anke, the head of the household, stared intently at the door, the machete clutched tightly in his hand offering him no solace.
Even the sound of the wind rattling the window would make him tremble all over.
Not to mention the roars and screams that could be heard from outside the house from time to time.
Tonight's Pale Night feels exceptionally long.
Anke's face was ashen.
He had thought that the nightmare from forty years ago had been buried forever with the Old Yate, but he never expected it to come back forty years later.
"Dad, I'm scared."
The little girl, held in his arms, whispered.
This is his youngest daughter, only six years old this year, and she is the joy of the whole family.
Even someone as Sheng Xing as her couldn't laugh in this suffocating atmosphere.
"It's okay, Dad will protect you. The sun will rise soon, it will rise soon."
Anke stroked her golden curls, muttering to himself nervously.
Will the sun really come out?
His wife, Marianne, asked with a look of despair.
She also experienced that night forty years ago, and her memory of it was even more vivid Anke's.
Because she lost all her loved ones in that fire.
"Don't say such discouraging things!"
Anke was about to assert his authority as the head of the family when he suddenly shut his mouth in terror.
Because he heard footsteps.
The footsteps were heavy and powerful, accompanied by the scraping sound of dragging a heavy object.
It seemed so clear in the quiet night.
"Don't come this way, don't come this way!"
Anke gestured for everyone to be quiet, while he prayed silently in his heart.
He prayed to the Pale Blood, to the Lord of Pain, and to all the gods he had ever heard of.
Unfortunately, just like forty years ago, the miracle did not happen.
The footsteps were approaching their house, getting closer and closer.
"I'll hold it off for a bit. You take the children and run to the Church of the Lord of Pain. Remember, go to the Church of the Lord of Pain, not the Bloodhealing Church. Those blood priests are no longer trustworthy."
Anke suddenly said to his wife, Marianne.
"Where can I run to with them?"
Marianne said, holding her eldest daughter.
"That's it. I should have died with my family forty years ago. Now, let's spend our final moments together as a family."
Despite the impending crisis, the woman remained unusually calm.
"Don't say such discouraging things. It's no big deal if we die, but what about Mafa and Annu? They haven't even grown up yet, and they've already met a handsome young man, someone they love like you and me."
Anke scolded his wife, but his eyes were filled with deep love.
"My dear, I understand. I will take them to the Church of the Lord of Pain. Then I will come back to be with you."
Marianne looked at him and said gently.
"Alright. Then get ready."
Anke pushed his youngest daughter toward his wife, then crawled out from under the table and walked a short distance from the door.
The footsteps grew closer and closer, finally stopping at their doorstep.
At this moment, Anke's body stopped trembling.
He wasn't actually a coward; on that night forty years ago, he had personally killed a Pale Beast, which was how he escaped.
"Come on, you beast."
He spoke softly, his muscles, though relaxed, remained taut.
"Tap tap tap."
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
"It's a person!"
Anke's tense nerves suddenly relaxed.
Because those wild animals obviously don't knock on doors.
But then, his nerves tensed up again.
When everyone is struggling to make ends meet, who's going to knock on someone else's door?
Who is it?
"Anke asked loudly."
"Hello, is this a tavern?"
A young man's voice came from outside; his accent was somewhat strange.
"Ah?"
Anke was taken aback by the question.
Their place is indeed a small pub, and they also offer some simple food.
Although the business is small, it does fairly well because its wines are inexpensive and of good quality.
But who would come to drink at a time like this?
"Sorry, we are closed today."
Anke tentatively suggested.
If the other person is really there to drink, they will leave on their own after hearing this.
If the other party has other ideas, then they will reveal their weaknesses.
"Then let me ask, do you have ' Pepper Uncle ' liquor?"
The person outside the door paused and asked.
Hearing the man's words, Anke fell silent.
They do have a drink called " Pepper Uncle," and it's their tavern's signature drink.
"Some."
After thinking it over, Anke decided to tell the truth.
That would be wonderful.
The man outside seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
"Boss, could you be lenient? Our Restaurant sent me to buy a batch of ' Pepper Uncle,' and if I fail to complete the task, I'll be in big trouble."
The man pleaded.
Which Restaurant?
Anke asked.
" Bloodstained Restaurant."
The man outside replied.
"I don't recall there being such a Restaurant in Yate."
Anke said suspiciously.
As someone in the same industry, he knew all the Restaurant in Yate, not to mention the unusual name, Bloodstained Restaurant.
"Oh, I'm from out of town."
The man outside replied.
"So you're from out of town."
Anke suddenly realized, "No wonder his accent sounded a bit strange."
He didn't discriminate against outsiders; in fact, he had moved here from another place with his parents, and there were many other outsiders like his family Yate had moved here.
Almost everyone who moved here had the same purpose: to seek medical treatment.
"Where are you from?"
He asked, somewhat curiously.
" Metropolis."
The man replied.
Never heard of it.
Anke thought for a moment and then said.
"Haha, it's normal that you haven't heard of it. Although the name sounds impressive, it's actually just a small place."
The man smiled and said.
The hearty laughter relaxed Anke a bit, but in this critical moment, he still couldn't let his guard down.
How did your Restaurant find out about ' Pepper Uncle ' liquor?
He then asked.
Their wine is good, but it's only famous in the surrounding streets.
It's really a bit of an exaggeration for Restaurant in a city he's never even heard of to send someone all this way to make purchases.
"I don't know, I'm just a worker."
The man outside the door seemed somewhat helpless.
"Did you encounter anything on your way here?"
He continued to ask.
"What kind of thing?"
The man countered with a question.
"For example, attacks from wild animals with white skin."
Anke hesitated for a moment, but still spoke up.
"You mean this?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a pale head crashed through the heavy wooden door, its lifeless eyes meeting his gaze.