Ch 7

The quiet of the village didn't last long. Shu Yi's instincts had been right. Somewhere deep in the night, a faint knock came at their door, barely audible over the chirping crickets.

Shu Yi sat up immediately, her hand moving to her alchemy pouch. Xiao Fang stirred, rubbing his eyes. "What is it?"

"Shh," Shu Yi whispered, motioning for him to be quiet. She glanced at Chen Wei, who was already wide awake, his eyes glinting with curiosity.

The knock came again, this time a little louder.

"Are you expecting someone?" Shu Yi asked Chen Wei, keeping her voice low.

"Not unless someone decided to pay a midnight visit just for fun," Chen Wei said, his tone light but his posture tense.

Shu Yi motioned for Xiao Fang to stay put and crept toward the door. Slowly, she cracked it open, only to find Lin Mei standing there, her face pale and her expression tense.

"We need to talk," Lin Mei said in a hushed voice.

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A Midnight Warning

Shu Yi opened the door wider, letting Lin Mei slip inside. "What's going on?"

Lin Mei glanced around nervously before speaking. "You need to leave the village. Now."

Xiao Fang blinked. "What? Why?"

"There are… people here who don't take kindly to strangers," Lin Mei explained, her voice shaking slightly. "Especially those who seem… different."

Shu Yi frowned. "What do you mean by 'different'?"

Lin Mei's eyes flicked to Chen Wei. "Him. The villagers have been talking about him ever since you arrived. They think he's connected to…" She hesitated, then whispered, "...the Scholar's Shadow."

"The Scholar's Shadow?" Shu Yi repeated, her brows furrowing. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Lin Mei hesitated, clearly torn between speaking and staying silent. Finally, she took a deep breath. "It's an old story. A legend, really. There was once a scholar who came to this village, claiming he could change its fortune. He brought prosperity for a time, but… things went wrong. Crops failed, people disappeared, and the village suffered greatly. Ever since then, anyone who resembles him is seen as a bad omen."

Chen Wei tilted his head, looking genuinely intrigued. "And you think I look like this scholar?"

"Not just look like," Lin Mei said. "You act like him too. Calm, detached, as though you're observing everything. It's… unsettling."

"Well, that's hardly my fault," Chen Wei said with a chuckle.

Shu Yi glared at him. "This isn't a joke."

"I know," Chen Wei replied, his tone softening. "But running away won't solve anything."

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A Tense Decision

Lin Mei stared at him. "You don't understand. The village elders are already talking about driving you out—or worse. If you stay, you're putting yourself and your companions in danger."

Shu Yi clenched her fists. Leaving the village would mean losing the chance to uncover whatever secrets it held. But staying could lead to a confrontation they weren't prepared for.

"We can't just run," Shu Yi said finally. "Not yet. There's something going on here, and I want to know what it is."

Lin Mei looked at her in disbelief. "You're insane."

"Probably," Shu Yi said with a shrug. "But I've learned that running from every challenge doesn't get you very far."

Xiao Fang nodded, though his hands were trembling. "I'm with Shu Yi. We've faced worse than this."

Chen Wei smiled faintly. "Well, it seems the decision has been made."

Lin Mei sighed heavily. "Fine. But don't say I didn't warn you."

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Unseen Eyes

The group decided to stay alert for the rest of the night. Shu Yi couldn't shake the feeling that Lin Mei wasn't telling them everything. She caught the hunter glancing at Chen Wei with a mix of fear and suspicion, but whenever Shu Yi tried to press her for more information, Lin Mei clammed up.

The next morning, the villagers avoided them entirely. Doors were shut tight, and the streets were eerily quiet. Even the innkeeper refused to meet their eyes.

"This place is giving me the creeps," Xiao Fang whispered.

"It's more than that," Shu Yi said. "They're hiding something."

Chen Wei nodded. "Agreed. And I have a feeling we're about to find out what it is."

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The Gathering Storm

As the sun began to set, a group of villagers gathered outside the inn, carrying torches and crude weapons. Their faces were hard, their eyes filled with anger and fear.

Shu Yi stood by the window, watching them. "Looks like they've made up their minds."

Chen Wei joined her, his expression unreadable. "So it seems."

"What do we do?" Xiao Fang asked, his voice shaking.

"We stand our ground," Shu Yi said firmly.

The door burst open before she could say more. A man stepped inside, his presence commanding. He was older, with sharp features and an air of authority.

"Outsiders," he said, his voice low and cold. "You've brought nothing but trouble to our village. Leave now, or face the consequences."

Shu Yi stepped forward, meeting his gaze. "We're not leaving until we get answers. What's really going on here?"

The man's expression darkened. "You dare question us? Very well. If you want the truth, you'll get it. But you won't like what you find."

As the tension in the room reached its peak, Shu Yi couldn't help but feel that this confrontation was just the beginning of something much larger.

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