013Rainy Night

Outside, the rain poured down relentlessly, almost blending the heavens and earth into one, occasionally accompanied by flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. Qishan had barely fallen asleep when he was awakened by the clamor of knocking at the door. He opened his eyes, sat up, and adjusted his clothes. As he was about to put on his wooden clogs to answer the door, Shentang beat him to it and opened the door first. 

The visitor wore a bamboo hat and a raincoat, looking anxious—it was the village elder of Qianjia Village. Shentang stepped aside, inviting the person into the house. "It's pouring outside, please come in first and talk," she said. The village elder waved his hand politely, "No, no need." 

Qishan stepped forward, "Elder, you seem anxious. Has something happened?" "Have you two seen Ayan?" Outside, amidst the storm, rainwater drenched the village elder's face, dripping down steadily. He didn't bother to wipe it away with his hand, his voice trembling slightly. "That child... I just turned my back for a moment, and now he's gone!" 

Shentang asked in confusion, "Who is Ayan?" "He's the child who was playing around with the young master earlier."

Upon hearing this, Shentang immediately knew who the village elder was referring to. So, it was that seemingly simple-minded child named "Ayan." Glancing at the situation outside, Shentang shook her head. "We've been indoors all this time, we didn't see him. When did he disappear?" 

The village elder replied, "Just now, at most a quarter of an hour ago." Shentang's expression visibly darkened at his words. A quarter of an hour amounted to fifteen minutes. 

Outside, the rain was so heavy that even raincoats and bamboo hats offered little protection. The fierce wind howled, and the torrential rain poured down. Faintly, one could still hear the cries of wild animals coming from the mountains, sending shivers down the spine. In such weather, the disappearance of a child could mean he was taken by the wolves or other predators lurking near the village. This was the village elder's greatest fear. He said, "If he had just wandered out to play, it would be one thing, but I fear he might have been taken by the beasts descending from the mountains..."

In recent years, with the drought reducing harvests and heavy taxes coupled with constant warfare, life for the villagers had been difficult. Not only did the villagers suffer, but also the wild animals in the mountains, who frequently descended to scavenge for food. While the animals mostly targeted the villagers' domesticated livestock, there was always the fear that they might take a child. Similar tragedies had occurred three times in the past two years.

Qishan took a straw hat hanging on the wall and put it on his head, securing it with a rope. "Elder, don't worry. I'll help search for the child. We'll find him. Let's think optimistically; perhaps the child was taken back by the servants from the manor." 

The village elder sighed. He hoped everything would turn out as Qishan said, just a false alarm, with the child returned safely. However, he knew this possibility was slim. Ayan was not valued and only barely sustained at the manor. Half a month ago, he had spent four or five days in the village before being taken back—thanks to the reminder from one of the village's old women. Given the terrible weather tonight, it was unlikely they would come to retrieve him in the rain.

Shentang said, "I'll help search too." Qishan glanced at her. "You? Forget it. Have you even looked at the weather outside? Don't end up getting lost yourself before we find the child."

The village elder appreciated Qishan's assistance but did not approve of Shentang going out. This young man, still in his early teens, looked no more than five or six years older than Ayan. "These worries are unnecessary. How could I get lost? At least I'm better than having the villagers stumble around in the dark searching for someone." Shentang borrowed a raincoat and bamboo hat from the village elder. Concerned, the elder also handed her a chopping knife for firewood, just in case she encountered any danger from wild beasts.

"Ayan!" The heavy rain turned the ground into mud. Despite Shentang's keen eyesight, she occasionally stepped into puddles, splashing mud on her clothes. After fifteen minutes of searching, she combed through the fields near Qianjia Village but found no trace of Ayan. The other villagers had no better luck. With each passing moment, their confidence dwindled.

Qishan asked the village elder about the whereabouts of the manor. He planned to inquire there—though the likelihood of Ayan being taken back was slim, what if it had happened? Shentang volunteered, "I'll go too." The village elder sighed, "Then it's troubling for both of you to make the trip."

The villagers of Qianjia Village searched towards the direction closer to the deep mountains. Similarly, when the children taken by the wild beasts were lost before, they were found after a night of searching, their entrails, flesh, and bones dragged out in the grass at the foot of the mountain.

"Since spoken magic is so miraculous, why doesn't it have a rain avoidance function?" Despite wearing a raincoat and bamboo hat, Shentang was drenched, the icy-cold clothes clinging uncomfortably to her skin. If the night wind blew through the gaps in the raincoat, it would send shivers down her spine. Qishan said, "Perhaps there is." After all, there were many types of spoken magic. However, "Even if there is, not all spoken magic can be mastered. Instead of hoping for such a spoken magic to exist, it's better to wear more rain gear."

Shentang hurried to keep up with his footsteps, regardless of the splashing water caused by her heavier steps. Since she was already dirty, it didn't matter how much attention she paid. "Are there any lighting objects that won't get wet in the rain? It would be convenient for marching in heavy rain or traveling at night..." Qishan remained silent.

Zhuangzi was not very far from Qianjia Village. The two of them walked along a muddy path, with each step sinking deep, and it took them two hours to find it. It was a courtyard surrounded by low walls, where one could vaguely see the dark tiles and white walls. The courtyard was pitch black, without a glimmer of light, appearing from afar like a coiled-up beastly shadow.

Shen Tang stepped forward and raised her hand to knock on the door. Knock, knock, knock— At this moment, a bolt of lightning leaped in the clouds, illuminating half the sky, followed by the deafening thunder. Worried that no one inside would hear, she changed from knocking with her fingertips to knocking with clenched fists, gradually increasing the force— Bang, bang, bang! Just when she thought there was no one inside, she vaguely heard a man's impatient response: "Who's there, knocking on the door?"

After a moment, the door opened. A middle-aged man stood there, dressed in a slightly short brown robe with a head wrapped in a headscarf, appearing quite displeased at being disturbed in the middle of the night. His gaze scanned Shen Tang and Qishan with an unkind expression. Seeing the two, one tall and one short, both relatively young, his demeanor seemed to relax slightly, showing a hint of kindness.

"May I inquire who you are?" he asked.

Shen Tang replied, "We are travelers seeking shelter in Qianjia Village. We heard from the village head that a child named Ayan, who was playing in the village during the day and did not return, has recently gone missing. The village head is worried that he may have been taken away by a wild beast and is searching everywhere."

Upon hearing Shen Tang's words, the middle-aged man's expression softened considerably. "Oh, Ayan has already been brought back. I appreciate your concern."

"Brought back?" Shen Tang furrowed her brow slightly, her expression returning to its usual calm under the cover of her hat.

At this moment, Qishan made a courteous gesture towards the man, her expression gentle as she spoke, "If the young master of the mansion is safe, then we can rest assured. However, the night is dark and the road narrow, and with the storm raging outside, may we humbly seek shelter in your esteemed mansion to escape the rain?"

The middle-aged man hesitated for a moment upon hearing this request. However, he eventually stepped aside to allow Shen Tang and Qishan to enter, saying, "If you seek shelter from the rain, you are welcome to do so. But it is late, and all the servants in the mansion have retired for the night, so I'm afraid we cannot offer you proper hospitality. I hope you understand."

Qishan nodded graciously, "Of course, just a roof to shelter us from the rain will suffice."

The two followed the middle-aged man into the courtyard. Several trees were planted in the courtyard, their trunks bound with hemp ropes used for hanging clothes. Among the clothes hung on the ropes were seven or eight adult garments, as well as a child's garment, washed to a faded white and patched in places. Shen Tang glanced at them discreetly before withdrawing her gaze.