It Was Raining

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"": "Luo Bin still stood at the doorway, lost in thought for a long time.

In the end, he connected Gu Yiren's hint with Xu Kaiguo's note.

There was definitely some secret relationship between Gu Yiren and Xu Kaiguo.

What would happen tomorrow night?

Luo Bin also had a gut feeling that Xu Kaiguo knew who he was.

Then did Gu Yiren know what he needed?

Letting out a heavy breath, Luo Bin knew he would have a hard time staying out of this.

It was noon. The blazing sun was blinding, and his stomach growled.

Luo Bin sat down at the table. Even completely cold, the steamed egg custard had no unpleasant smell; its eggy aroma was actually richer. The shredded potatoes were crisp and delicious.

It tasted like... Mom's cooking?

After sitting dazed for a while, Luo Bin silently wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and took big mouthfuls of shredded potatoes and egg custard.

Time could not be turned back, and his mother could not come back from the dead.

But what about this life?

Gu Ya's love might have been meant for the original owner of this body, Luo Shan, but wasn't he Luo Shan now?

He recalled how well Gu Ya had treated him over these two short days, especially what she had said.

"Mom won't let you get hurt again. No one and nothing will ever take you away from me!"

At the time, Luo Bin had been concerned only with his own survival, with no room to think about anything else.

Looking back now, that had been a mother's vow to her child! She had not just been saying it!

A faint smile tugged at Luo Bin's lips.

At least Heaven had done something right. It had given him a healthy body and a mother.

Hadn't those been his two greatest regrets in his previous life?

Mom, I won't let anyone or anything hurt you either, or take you away from me before your time.

If I break this vow, may Heaven strike me down! Luo Bin swore silently.

A knock at the door startled Luo Bin out of his thoughts, and he looked up.

Outside stood a young woman in her early twenties, carrying a food carrier in one hand and cradling a winnowing basket in the other. Knocking had clearly been awkward for her.

She was beautiful, in the bloom of youth, with rosy, fair skin and remarkably clear eyes.

"Luo Shan, Auntie Gu asked me to bring some food over. This is yours, and these are for the outsiders." Only then did Zhang Yunling enter and set the food carrier and basket on the table.

"Uh... thanks." Luo Bin stood up, smiling but feeling a little awkward.

She knew him, but he did not know her. He did not even know how to greet her.

"Mm-hmm, no need to thank me. Did you just finish eating? Shall I take these dishes back?" Zhang Yunling reached out to clear the table.

"No... that's okay. I'll do it." Luo Bin hurriedly put the dishes back into the food carrier from that morning.

"Miss, when you get back, tell my mom she doesn't need to bring any more food. I'll be home in two more days. It'll save her the trouble," Luo Bin said earnestly.

"These are for the outsiders, right? I'll take them over now, so I won't keep you." As he spoke, Luo Bin picked up the basket and hurried out of the little wooden cabin. Then he slowed his steps and headed toward the Mountain God Temple opposite.

Leaving the cabin was his way of escaping the awkwardness.

He walked slowly because he wanted to wait until she had left, so he would not have to go back and struggle even more to make conversation.

Zhang Yunling watched Luo Bin's retreating figure, a trace of puzzlement in her beautiful eyes.

"Miss? How strange."

Zhang Yunling murmured to herself, then picked up the empty food carrier and left the cabin, heading toward the village.

Luo Bin casually glanced at the young woman as she walked away.

I need to find a way to learn everyone's names as soon as possible, he thought. Otherwise, it'll be far too easy to give myself away.

Then Luo Bin knocked hard on the Mountain God Temple's door and called out, "Zhang Li, Zhu Qianqian, I brought you food."

"Just leave it there." Zhang Li's voice sounded weary.

"My mom cooked it. It's not from the village chief. Open up and eat it while it's hot," Luo Bin called again.

Zhang Li and Zhu Qianqian were deeply hostile toward the village chief, but they were much less guarded with him.

Sure enough, the Mountain God Temple's door creaked open a crack.

Zhang Li poked his head out. His eyes were bloodshot, and the front of his clothes and his cuffs were filthy.

"What happened to you?" Luo Bin asked in confusion.

"I'm fine... give it here." Zhang Li swallowed and raised a hand.

Luo Bin handed Zhang Li the basket, then explained, "There won't be any food deliveries for the next two days. I still have a dozen or so dry flatbreads at my place. I'll share some with you later. They should be enough to get by..."

"Thanks... that's enough..." But Zhang Li withdrew his head and pushed forward with his shoulder, shutting the Mountain God Temple's door with a dull thud.

Huh?

Luo Bin's eyelid twitched.

With a thought, the scene before his eyes ran backward!

Zhang Li's shoulder pressed against the door. The door opened, and he poked his head out before pulling it back in.

"Th... thank you..."

As Zhang Li spoke-

Luo Bin saw inside the temple!

Gu Yiren was tightly bound to a pillar with hemp rope!

The rewind ended, leaving the tightly shut door of the Mountain God Temple in his view.

"Did you need something else?" Through the gap in the door, Zhang Li stared at Luo Bin warily, his eyes thick with bloodshot veins.

"Oh, nothing." Luo Bin smiled. "I just didn't react in time. I was halfway through talking when you suddenly closed the door."

"Yiren and Zhu Qianqian are both a little scared of your villagers. They feel more comfortable with the door closed. I'll eat with them. Thanks," Zhang Li replied. He still did not turn away, keeping his eyes on Luo Bin.

Only then did Luo Bin turn and walk toward the other side of the road.

His pace was normal, but inwardly, he felt a chill.

Earlier, he had still been wondering where the danger would come from.

After all, Zhang Li and the others already knew that evil spirits roamed at night. As long as they did not court death, they would not die.

But why had Zhang Li tied Gu Yiren up?

Was that right?

Back in the little wooden cabin, Luo Bin rewound his memories of that morning.

At the time, that fat man Zhang Jun must have bullied Gu Yiren and Zhu Qianqian. Only Gu Yiren had red marks on her face. Had Zhang Jun done something to her?

Zhang Li had clearly been beaten because he had tried to protect Gu Yiren.

When Luo Bin had looked at Gu Yiren, Zhang Li had even stepped in front of him in a seemingly casual way.

Judging from all those details, Zhang Li treated Gu Yiren well. He should not have tied her up...

Could something he didn't know about have happened while the Mountain God Temple's door was shut?

Luo Bin could not make sense of it.

The sky gradually darkened. The sun disappeared behind black clouds, and a fine, steady rain began to fall.

"It's raining... All the clothes I packed for Shan were thin ones." In the main room, Gu Ya paced back and forth, unease clouding her face.

"It's fine. Shan is almost an adult. He can take care of himself," Luo Feng said. "Besides, there's bedding in the cabin. If he's cold, he'll wrap himself up."

"All these years, Shan has never been away from home on his own for this long. What happened last night scared him to tears, too. How can you be so hardhearted? You act as though he isn't your son," Gu Ya said quietly, the worry in her eyes deepening.

"You know that's not what I mean," Luo Feng said with a slight frown.

Just then, the dull sound of a gong drifted into the courtyard.

For the past several years, Village Chief Zhong Zhicheng had struck the gong every morning and evening, rain or shine, reminding everyone to go home, light their lamps, shut their doors and windows, and rest.

The couple fell silent.

A moment later, the courtyard gate was pushed open, and Zhong Zhicheng hurried inside. Luo Feng

went to greet him with a smile.

"Village Chief, why don't you stay in Shan's room tonight?" Luo Feng said.

"No need. I'll stay in the main room. I want to watch how the oil lamp burns down!" Zhong Zhicheng spoke firmly, wiped the rainwater from his face, and strode toward the main room.

Zhong Zhicheng went straight beneath the oil lamp. Once again, he filled the rust-speckled lamp with oil, then struck a match.

The lamplight gradually brightened. Meanwhile, dusk steadily swallowed the daylight. Night was about to fall.

Gu Ya and Luo Feng did their best not to let anything unusual show on their faces.

"Are all the doors and windows shut?" Zhong Zhicheng asked.

"The windows are all nailed shut. We don't have a back door, so there's only the courtyard gate. It was already closed when you came in." Luo Feng pointed toward the gate.

"Mm." Zhong Zhicheng sat in the chair directly beneath the oil lamp, his shadow gradually lengthening.