By the time they headed back to the village chief's house from the Waterlogged Ground, the drizzle had gradually stopped. The roads in Huai Shui Village were all uneven tracks of gravel and dirt, and stepping into the puddles sent up moderately sized splashes.
With the darkness on top of that, every so often some unlucky member of the group would cry out that they had hit the jackpot again.
Although their clothes were already soaked, their body heat could still warm them a little. But when the standing water splashed up and clung to their calves, it brought a fresh, bone-deep chill that made them shudder.
When they passed beneath the tree where they had tied up the "cotton swabs," Miao Yue took it upon herself to undo the Soul-Hooking Lock and led a dozen people toward the village chief's house. She had not forgotten that she still needed to exorcise them afterward to remove the assimilating influence the Banyan Tree had left on them.
By the time they returned to the village chief's house, everyone was tired and cold, wishing they could take a hot shower right then and burrow under the covers to warm themselves up and drive the chill from their bodies.
But the work was not finished, so there was no chance of sleep.
Weasel spat out the little girl he had been carrying in his mouth. Qi Gu slid down Weasel's thick fur, stumbling slightly before Lin Hanzhi caught him from behind.
Lin Hanzhi wrapped one arm around his lower back and rested his other hand on his shoulder, his voice slightly hoarse. "Take a hot shower and change first."
Qi Gu did not object this time. He really was having trouble holding out.
With so many people needing showers, there clearly would not