Volume One, Chapter Four: The Outsider

A dozen or so people swayed unsteadily, moving slowly toward the window.

Someone pushed the window forcefully.

Someone else tapped lightly on the glass.

Others waved their hands from side to side.

Without exception, their gazes were fixed on Luo Bin inside, their lips curling into smiles.

Luo Bin was stunned. He grabbed the curtain on the right side and yanked it tightly, sealing the window completely.

He stepped back to the edge of the bed, staring fixedly at the curtain, not daring to relax for a moment.

After a long while of silence, Luo Bin finally exhaled in relief.

Indeed, as long as the oil lamp was lit properly and the doors and windows were securely closed, evil spirits could not enter to harm anyone.

Sitting by the bed, he looked at the note again.

The simple sketch was vivid.

The woman had an oval face, straight eyebrows, a delicate nose, and a distinctive teardrop mole—her features unmistakably clear.

Who was she? And why was he supposed to save her?

Luo Bin was utterly baffled.

A heavy, uneasy feeling pressed on his chest; his mouth was dry, and his throat felt as if embers were sparking inside.

A quick glance around revealed there was no kettle in the room.

In a flurry, he pushed the door open and stepped outside.

The night was bleak and silent; the courtyard was quiet, the main gate firmly shut.

On the table in the main room, a blue enamel teacup lay upside down, and beside it was a long-spouted teapot.

Luo Bin poured himself a cup of water and gulped it down. Instead of quenching his thirst, a strange thought emerged: how comforting it would be to drink some blood.

Startled, Luo Bin shook his head sharply. What nonsense was he thinking?

Instinctively, he glanced at the oil lamp hanging from the beam. The flame burned steadily—just an orange flicker—but for a moment, it felt like a high-wattage bulb, causing a sharp, fiery pain in his eyes.

Compelled by instinct, Luo Bin leaned close to the lamp and blew gently on the flame.

His eyes suddenly widened; he immediately covered his mouth with both hands, letting out a sharp hiss.

The flame flickered twice before stabilizing.

Goosebumps covered his skin. What on earth was he doing?

The thought of wanting to drink blood was absurd—if he blew out this lamp, evil spirits would enter!

His trembling hands released the lamp, and a wave of fear washed over him.

What was wrong with him?

Was it the spirit-summoning ritual that didn’t agree with this body?

Or was it that the original Luo Shan was already dead, his pinky nail taken, transformed into an evil spirit?

Lost in chaotic thoughts, a faint oily, fishy smell rose in his throat.

Startled, Luo Bin muttered, “Lamp oil in the mouth…”

Driven by some strange impulse, he tilted the oil lamp, bringing his lips close to the edge, and took a sip of the lamp oil. The warm oil slid smoothly down his throat, and surprisingly, his throat felt a hint of sweetness.

In an instant, the oppressive heaviness in his chest vanished; the urge to crave blood disappeared, and the flame no longer stung his eyes but returned to a gentle glow.

Luo Bin breathed a huge sigh of relief.

It really was a problem with the spirit-summoning—he hadn’t been given enough lamp oil. Now, after drinking some, he was completely fine!

He set down the oil lamp gently, covered the enamel cup, returned the teapot to its place, and tiptoed back into the room.

Weariness overtook him; he lay down on the bed and immediately fell asleep.

***

The next morning, sunlight streamed in through the edge of the curtain, forming beams of light.

Luo Bin propped himself up and instinctively glanced at the dressing mirror, feeling a familiar trace in this unfamiliar face.

He got out of bed and left the room.

In a corner of the courtyard, Luo Feng was weaving a bamboo dustpan, casting a sidelong glance at Luo Bin.

Gu Ya emerged from the kitchen carrying an aluminum pot, a tray balanced on top.

“Xiao Shan is awake! Your father, set the work aside and come eat breakfast,” Gu Ya called out.

“Mom, be careful,” Luo Bin hurried forward to take the pot and tray.

“I’m fine,” Gu Ya smiled warmly.

“The contents of the pot are so hot. If you spill it, that’d be terrible,” Luo Bin said seriously, placing the pot on the table.

All these little details told Luo Bin that the original owner was useless and unpromising.

Especially judging by his attitude towards Gu Ya, and how she reacted—normally, the original Luo Shan surely would not treat his family kindly.

Gu Ya was the key to helping him integrate into the family faster!

Sure enough, Gu Ya looked much relieved, murmuring, “Xiao Shan has become sensible.”

Then she began to serve the rice.

Luo Feng went inside, about to sit down.

Suddenly, his pupils constricted sharply as he lifted his gaze and fixed it on the oil lamp.

He took a few steps to the lamp and examined the lamp carefully, puzzled.

“Usually, one fill of lamp oil lasts three days, but it burned out overnight?”

Gu Ya looked up, a hint of unease in her expression. “Could it be leaking?”

Luo Bin said nothing, only glanced at the lamp, feigning confusion.

“No leak. It really burned out... strange,” Luo Feng frowned tightly. “Good thing we noticed it, or something bad would have happened tonight. I need to go see the village chief to get more oil; he’ll probably come to check on us.”

“That’s alright, right? Just a check. The lamp oil Xiao Shan drank was secretly saved by us, and I cleaned up everything,” Gu Ya said, slightly relieved but still cautious as she looked at Luo Bin. “Xiao Shan, you must not tell anyone about this. Remember that.”

Luo Bin nodded eagerly, with a look of lingering fear.

“As long as it’s clean, that’s good. Just be honest if he asks. If he wants to come see, let him,” Luo Feng rubbed his brow and sat down at the table again.

***

The family began their meal.

Luo Bin’s mind settled considerably. Fortunately, they hadn’t suspected him drinking the oil.

He buried his head in the porridge; the warmth inside his stomach made him feel much better.

***

“Knock, knock, knock!”

Sudden, loud knocking at the door, mixed with hurried voices: “Eldest brother Luo, outsiders have entered the village! Hurry!”

Luo Feng’s eyebrows shot up. He leapt to his feet and strode swiftly to the gate.

With a bang, he flung the door open. A man stood at the threshold. The two dashed off at full speed.

“Xiao Shan, eat quickly. When you’re done, we’ll go after your father,” Gu Ya urged anxiously, setting down her utensils.

Luo Bin only just registered this, his heart leaping in his chest.

Outsiders entering the village?

Is the villagers’ reaction really this intense?

Is this normal?

“I’m not eating, Mom. If I do, I won’t catch up later,” Luo Bin said, careful not to reveal too much, following Gu Ya’s lead.

Gu Ya hurried outside, Luo Bin close behind.

The village road twisted and turned before finally reaching the narrow cement main road.

Along the roadside, men and women of all ages stood with hostile gazes.

An old-fashioned Santana car idled slowly along the narrow road.

The windows were halfway down. Two people sat in the front, two in the back, all alertly watching the villagers on either side.

Luo Bin’s pupils contracted sharply as he fixed his gaze on the front passenger seat.

There sat a woman in her prime, barely twenty, skin whiter than snow, her hair tied back, an oval face, a high, straight nose, straight brows, and the unmistakable teardrop mole beneath her moist, alluring eyes.

Suddenly, the old Santana sped up, the engine roaring, and the car disappeared swiftly down the road, vanishing from sight in an instant.

On the other side of the village road, the village chief hurriedly stopped before a group of men.

The men were in their thirties or forties, all in their prime, with Luo Feng among them.

“Get to work!” the village chief said, slamming down a coarse burlap sack.

Several men immediately emptied its contents—a coil of barbed wire!

The men quickly divided the barbed wire and laid it along the cement road, even shoveling dirt over it to conceal it.

The village chief scanned the surroundings with a stern voice, leaving no room for doubt.

“Don’t stand by the roadside—it’s too conspicuous. Hide and stay out of sight. If outsiders come in again, we can’t let them escape!”