Inside the ancestral hall, Lu An'an jumped back a few steps, holding an umbrella, to avoid the rubble and beams that had fallen from the collapsed entrance. At this moment, the fire at the entrance reignited, and the flames climbed wildly up the surrounding wooden beams, completely sealing off the exit.
Lu An'an's gaze shifted between the ruins and the flames, her expression complex.
Now look what's happened; I'm the one who got burned to ashes.
She turned to look at the brightly lit inner room, and after thinking about the scene inside, she couldn't help but shudder.
【Ugh~ Never mind, I'd better not go through the inner hall. They're probably grilling meat there by now. It's like something out of a horror movie.】
I remember looking at the map of the ancestral hall, and it seemed like there was a side door next to it. I need to find it and get out of here quickly; the water in my umbrella feels like it's about to boil, it's so hot!
Lu An'an held an umbrella, bathed in the heavy rain, and moved through the firelight, creating a scene that looked incredibly fantastical.
She wiped her dripping face and gloated to the customer service representative.
[I'm not bragging, but I definitely look awesome right now. What's that saying again? A strong woman never looks back at an explosion. That's perfect for me now. Sigh, it's just a shame no one appreciates my heroic figure.]
[Customer service, could you record this for me? I'll show it to my parents when I get out.]
Customer service: ...Okay.
Lu An'an followed the route to the side gate and saw a small figure lying not far ahead.
She took a few steps closer, and after recognizing the figure, her heart tightened. She murmured softly, "Xiao Shi?"
She hurried forward, squatted down next to Xiao Shi, and held the umbrella over Xiao Shi's head to relieve the heat that had made Xiao Shi's body turn red.
After checking Xiao Shi's body and feeling his pulse, he breathed a sigh of relief and said thankfully, "It's alright, he just fainted from the heat, he wasn't injured."
Then, she gently pinched Xiao Shi's philtrum with her fingertips and softly called out, "Xiao Shi?"
Xiao Shi's consciousness slowly awoke as he was called. When he opened his eyes and saw Lu An'an, a hint of surprise flashed in them.
However, the next second, her lips trembled, her eyes quickly reddened, tears welled up, and she softly called out, "Sister..."
He had just called out when he seemed to remember something. He hurriedly covered his lips with his small hand, his eyes filled with panic and unease, and he secretly glanced at Lu An'an.
Lu An'an smiled and patted Xiao Shi's head to comfort him, "It's okay, sister knows you're not mute."
Xiao Shi was relieved and said dejectedly, "Sister, Grandpa Village Chief is doing well."
Upon hearing this, Lu An'an remained silent for a moment before gently replying, "Yes, I know."
Tears streamed down Xiao Shi's face as she stammered, "Sister, Grandpa Village Chief..."
Halfway through her sentence, Xiao Shi could no longer continue, and could only let the tears flow, crying so hard that she could only hiccup.
Lu An'an picked up Xiao Shi and said as she walked, "Sister will take you out first."
She had just reached the side door with Xiao Shi in her arms when another beam fell down. To protect Xiao Shi, Lu An'an dodged to the side, but because of the cramped space, there was no way to avoid it, and the beam still slammed down on Lu An'an.
"Ugh..." With a muffled groan, Lu An'an frowned slightly, hugged Xiao Shi tightly in her arms, quickened her pace, and hurriedly walked out through the side door.
Finally seeing the light of day again, she relaxed and bent down to put down Xiao Shi in her arms. Only then did she realize that her shoulder had been cut by a broken beam during the collapse.
She touched it gently, letting out a suppressed groan of pain: "Hiss—"
Xiao Shi looked up with his innocent face, his eyes filled with endless worry and concern for Lu An'an, "Sister, you're bleeding!"
Despite the pain, Lu An'an smiled gently and patted Xiao Shi's head, comforting him, "It's okay, it's just a minor injury. I can handle it, Xiao Shi, don't worry."
She casually stopped her bleeding first, her gaze involuntarily wandering around, a hint of confusion lingering between her brows.
Where am I? It seems I've left the area of Yunling Village.
As their thoughts were racing, an old woman quietly entered their field of vision. She was wrapped up tightly from head to toe, with only her deep eyes visible as she looked at them and slowly approached them.
Lu An'an warily shielded Xiao Shi behind her, her cool voice tinged with suspicion: "Who are you?"
After hearing this, the old woman stood still, no longer moving forward, and carefully examined the two people in front of her. Then, a burst of laughter came from behind the layers of veils.
"Honey, I've found a little girl. We can cook a big meal tonight."
Lu An'an opened her eyes wide, pointed at herself, and asked uncertainly, "Huh? You want to eat me?"
[Is the "feast" referring to me? Good heavens, did I run into Hannibal Lecter or cannibals?]
Her eyes, gleaming with eager anticipation, were fixed on the old woman, as she secretly plotted how to take her down. But the next second, a sudden, inexplicable dizziness struck her, catching her completely off guard.
Lu An'an stared in astonishment, regaining her balance, and managed a low, incredulous whisper: "You can..."
Before she could finish speaking, she collapsed, her body giving way. In the last second before losing consciousness, countless thoughts flashed through Lu An'an's mind, and she still couldn't believe what she was thinking.
I never imagined I'd be drugged.
*
Ancestral hall.
Firefighters weaved through flames and ashes, finally extinguishing the ever-growing fire. The crumbling ruins found temporary peace, no longer emitting those chilling cracking sounds.
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