Mouse Catching

The next day, at dawn.

A flash of morning sun cut through the sky and shed a pale glow.

The shadows of the beasts and ghosts walking in the darkness disappeared, and under the sunrise, the trees were lush and green, the birds cried in high pitch, and the forest was once again vibrant with life.

The air was filled with moist vapor and the faint scent of flowers and plants, and Bai Wushang inhaled greedily, calming some of his slight anticipation.

He was heading to the five rat traps he had placed overnight yesterday, ready to check the harvest one by one.

Soon, Bai Wushang pushed apart a thick grass, tugged on a thick vine rope, and pulled out the number one rat-trap cage that was half-buried in the earth.

"This one… is empty…"

He hefted the cage twice. It was empty with nothing.

Slightly disappointed, Bai Wushang put the cage back after replacing the fresh cheese flower.