She noticed that the others didn't seem to be affected by this; Gu Xiang Kai and Zhu Xi Ning both appeared normal, and while Wen Xiang Yuan ate a bit more than usual, she was still fine.
Even Zhao Ke'er, who went back for seconds, wasn't nearly as ravenous as she was.
Nan Yue lowered her gaze and slowly ate her food.
When exactly had she triggered a death rule?
In the afternoon, the group huddled together and decided that since the villagers were no longer cooperating, they would have to resort to stealthier means.
Shang Xi and Zhu Xi Ning went to steal water from the irrigation channels of each household, while Nan Yue took Wen Xiang Yuan to chat with the villagers to distract them, allowing Gu Xiang Kai to steal the straw raincoats.
Wen Xiang Yuan had the highest affinity of everyone; even though the villagers were currently unfriendly toward them, they didn't give her a hard time.
Gu Xiang Kai actually managed to steal two straw raincoats and hid them away in their room.
While interacting with the villagers, Nan Yue noticed something that she wasn't sure was just her imagination: the villagers' eyes seemed to be turning black.
It was hard to describe, but they looked a bit like a cat's eyes when tracking prey, with the pupils turning completely black. Combined with their oversized eyes, it was quite terrifying.
However, the villagers didn't seem to notice the change in themselves and instead appeared somewhat agitated.
Nan Yue didn't know why they were so restless, only that everyone seemed to be gripped by some kind of worry or fear.
At dinner, Suo Qisi came to find them, bringing Luo Liu along.
Luo Liu's fever had just broken, and he still looked a bit listless. No one knew why the village chief had brought him over.
Suo Qisi said something to him, and although Luo Liu was still a bit confused, he translated haltingly.
"Suo Da says that tomorrow is the sacrificial rite. As villagers, they need to go lie in the stone coffins in the ancestral hall and wait for the sacrifice to be completed."
"So we won't be able to find them tomorrow. Food has already been prepared on the stone table where we ate on the first day. Once the sacrifice is over, the curse will end, and we can go back."
Everyone found this strange, and Dong Sheng asked him, "They're all going to sleep in stone coffins? Then who's going to perform the sacrifice?"
Luo Liu actually knew the answer to this. "Ga Da. The sacrifice will be presided over by Ga Da alone."
It was a very bizarre sacrifice. Nan Yue had experienced missions with sacrificial elements before and had learned about such customs in mission worlds; usually, the entire village participated.
She had never heard of the whole village hiding away to sleep while the spirit medium presided alone.
Luo Liu let out an "ah." "Suo Da also said that if we are afraid of more accidents happening, we can go with them into the stone coffins to wait for the sacrifice to end. The ancestral hall has the protection of the Ant God, so there will be no danger."
Everyone fell silent. Right now, it was possible that the very Ant God they worshipped was the one doing the killing.
However, Xie Roufen had indeed spent two days in the ancestral hall without anything happening to her. Logically, after falling into the ant pit, there was no way she should have survived until now.
Hearing this, Xie Roufen also spoke up. "I spent the last two days safely in the ancestral hall, so I'm going with the villagers. Everything will be over once the sacrifice ends."
Li Jiao stood beside her and nodded, agreeing with her view.
She looked at Zhu Xi Ning. "What about you guys? Come with us. It's too dangerous outside, and who knows what will happen during the sacrifice."
Nan Yue took a step forward, blocking Li Jiao's view of Zhu Xi Ning.
"No need. If something happens in the ancestral hall, there won't even be a place to run."
Nan Yue's words made several people who were originally swayed hesitate again. Suo Qisi, however, didn't want to say more; he waved them off and left in a hurry.
Luo Liu stood there blankly, watching Suo Qisi walk away. Wen Xiang Yuan nudged his shoulder and asked.
"Was the sacrifice always like this before?"
Luo Liu scratched his head, looking bewildered. "I don't know. I only know the basics; I've never participated in one."
He hesitated slightly. "We originally came to observe the sacrifice process, but now that so many people have died..."
Wen Xiang Yuan subtly fished for more information. "Then what will you do?"
Luo Liu frowned. "Suo Da and the other villagers told me to go to the ancestral hall too, saying it's safe there. But if you guys aren't going..."
Luo Liu was still loyal; since everyone had come here because of him, he felt bad leaving the others outside.
"How about we all go to the ancestral hall together?"
"No."
Nan Yue refused flatly. Huo Fuyu also smiled and said, "I'm not going either. I have claustrophobia."
Nan Yue nearly rolled her eyes. You were in the first group that entered the ancestral hall, weren't you?
However, Luo Liu had just recovered from a major illness and wasn't thinking clearly; he didn't dwell on it and was just conflicted about where to go.
"Well, maybe I should follow them to the stone coffins."
Dong Sheng and Liu Kai Xu rubbed their hands together. "We can't really help with anything out here anyway..."
Although there was danger everywhere, after several days of interaction, the villagers really didn't seem to know what was happening in the village, and Xie Roufen's group had indeed been safe in the ancestral hall for days.
No matter how they looked at it, it seemed safer than being outside where so many people had died.
Since Dong Sheng and Liu Kai Xu had said so, He Jiang naturally wanted to go in as well.
It didn't matter to him where he was, but he had to be with others, or his awakened ability wouldn't work.
"Then Mr. Huo..."
Huo Fuyu smiled and waved his hand, indicating that He Jiang shouldn't overthink it.
Only then did He Jiang feel at ease.
"Then I... I'll stay outside too."
Luo Liu looked at Wen Xiang Yuan and made up his mind; sometimes a young man's affection could outweigh his sense of safety.
But Wen Xiang Yuan refused him.
"You should stay with the villagers. After all, you are a person of Antswamp Village. Since you've returned, you should respect the village's customs."
In the end, Luo Liu relented.
Gu Xiang Kai looked at Wen Xiang Yuan with some surprise. Wen Xiang Yuan explained in a low voice.
"Even though he is an... NPC, I always feel like he is a person of flesh and blood too. If life can continue for them after we leave, I don't want him to lose his life because of me."
Gu Xiang Kai had originally wanted to suggest that Wen Xiang Yuan see a psychiatrist again after they returned to see if she had been too influenced by the mission world.
But seeing her exceptionally serious expression, he ultimately kept his words to himself.
As dusk fell, villagers could already be seen heading toward the ancestral hall in groups.
They walked with hurried steps, taking their entire families with them, leaving their colorful masks at their doorsteps.
Nan Yue took this time to go to Ga Ya's house by herself, where she once again ran into Huo Fuyu.
Her fingers hanging by her side twitched slightly. Huo Fuyu smiled at her. "Going together?"
Nan Yue nodded and stepped forward, preparing to knock on Ga Ya's door.
"I have another suggestion."
Huo Fuyu blinked. "A suggestion to reduce the risk."
Nan Yue followed Huo Fuyu to the stone houses, where they found He Jiang whispering with Dong Sheng and Liu Kai Xu.
She looked at He Jiang's hand resting on Liu Kai Xu's shoulder, and her gaze turned cold.
He Jiang also noticed them. He hurried over and gave Huo Fuyu a friendly smile.
"Mr. Huo."
"I've been wanting to thank you. Thanks to your help in the last mission, and then your willingness to be on good terms with me..."
Huo Fuyu waved his hand. "It was nothing. Everyone should help each other in missions."
Rate on N.U.
