Chapter 3: Three Little Cautious Creatures.

Xu Yiran stood at a blind corner, her expression unreadable. Her eyes twitched slightly as she watched the boy slip into the old, neglected woodshed. It had been left untouched for a long time.

About two minutes later, he emerged with a conflicted look on his face, deep in thought. Xu Yiran had no idea what conclusion he had reached, but his shoulders relaxed slightly. He then made his way toward the main house, stopping at a distance to observe his surroundings awkwardly. His clumsy, thief-like manner almost made Xu Yiran laugh.

She noticed his gaze linger on the dried persimmons hanging in the corner. His lips pressed into a thin line, but in the end, he lowered his head reluctantly and walked out of the yard with cautious steps.

Xu Yiran had a vague guess about what was going on, so she quietly followed the boy from a safe distance. Years of rigorous training had sharpened her senses beyond the ordinary. She could already detect three other human presences, along with some lurking wild animals. Two of the figures were nearby, while the third was farther away.

The two close by were likely with the boy.

Xu Yuqiong, unaware of being watched all the time, felt relieved that they had found shelter from the harsh winter. He quickened his pace.

Xu Zehao, clutching his younger sister tightly, exhaled shakily upon seeing his twin return unharmed. But as he held the feverish girl in his arms, a look of helplessness crept onto his face.

Xu Yuqiong rushed over, startled to see his brother on the verge of tears. His earlier joy faded into worry. “What happened?” he asked, confused.

Xu Zehao’s eyes were red as he pressed his cheek against his sister’s burning forehead. His voice was muffled. “Yiyi’s fever has gotten worse. She was crying for water.”

Seeing his brother’s distress, Xu Yuqiong’s own eyes quickly reddened. He stifled a sob and spoke softly, “Let’s go there. I checked their woodshed—it looks abandoned, untouched for a long time. We can hide there for now. Once we observe the people in the house, if they seem kind, we’ll ask for help. If not, we can try someone else. We’ve already found a village—surely it can’t be full of bad people, right?”

Hiding in the shadows, Xu Yiran clicked her tongue in amusement. She had to admit the boy had a decent plan. But looking at the little girl in his arms—her flushed face burning with fever under the cold wind—she didn’t think they had much time.

And that woodshed… She frowned slightly. Having been left untouched for years, who knew what kind of snakes or poisonous insects lurked inside?

Lowering her gaze, she suddenly locked eyes with a wolf, its icy green pupils brimming with murderous intent. Xu Yiran turned back to the three disheveled children, their helpless figures irritating her.

Why did they have to barge into her yard in the middle of the night, disturbing her sleep? She wasn’t a kind person, but she also couldn’t just stand by and watch them die.

Glancing at the wolf once more, she turned on her heels and walked toward the woodshed, leaving the confused pack leader behind. The beast seemed stunned, as if wondering: Did that foolish human just look at me with disdain?

Xu Yiran didn’t bother with the wolf’s thoughts. Returning to the woodshed, she slipped into the shadows, her lips curling into an evil smile. If these clever little ghosts were bold enough to sneak in, she’d teach them a lesson before deciding whether to help.

Meanwhile, the Xu brothers had no idea what awaited them. Carrying their unconscious sister, they carefully approached the abandoned woodshed. As they pushed open the rotting wooden door, moonlight streamed inside, illuminating the dark interior. A heavy, musty stench hit them immediately.

Xu Zehao pursed his lips, about to spread his jacket on the floor for Yiyi when something caught his eye.

He stiffened. His gaze lifted—and met a pair of cold, amber eyes staring at him from the darkness.

A chill shot through his body, rooting him to the spot.

Xu Yuqiong, noticing his twin frozen mid-motion, whispered, “Ah Ze?” When he received no response, he followed his brother’s line of sight—only to freeze in place as well.

There was someone else in the shed.

“Y-you… you!?” Xu Yuqiong stammered, his voice trembling.