Chapter 5: The Dried-up Well

Chapter 5: The Dried-up Well

It was practically impossible trudging along the narrow mountain pass due to the heavy snow.

Lin Qiushi was worried that Ruan Baijies body couldnt endure the harsh weather, so he protected her the entire trip. Nearby, Xiao Ke indifferently remarked that their relationship was very good.

Shes a girl. Lin Qiushi replied. Its only natural that you have to be a bit more considerate towards women, you have to treasure them a bit more.

Snuggled delicately against Lin Qiushis back, Ruan Baijie stared at Xiao Ke with a lovely and pitiful expression.

Xiao Kes face was stoic, and she coldly averted her eyes. It seemed as though Xiao Ke only held feelings of animosity and dissatisfaction towards Ruan Baijie.

At long last, the time to cut the trees down arrived, and everyone hopped into action at once. This time, they chose two trees that werent as thick or bulky. They planned to chop down the trees in one go, so they could be finished with the task by today. Although the weather was freezing, Lin Qiushis body temperature gradually increased; he felt somewhat hot after hacking at the tree for a while. Lin Qiushi reached out to unbutton his coat, and he paused to rest for a while.

Ruan Baijie leaned against the tree beside him and gazed thoughtfully at Lin Qiushi.

Lin Qiushi shot her a glance. What are you looking at?

Ruan Baijie: That ass is quite perky and plump, ah

Lin Qiushi nearly dropped the axe in his hands. He swiveled his head around and stared incredulously at Ruan Baijie. What did you just say?

Ruan Baijie: I didnt say anything. You mustve heard wrong.

Lin Qiushis eyes were filled with skepticism.

Ruan Baijie: How about you repeat what I just said right now?

Lin Qiushi: This girl has already figured out he was too embarrassed, hasnt she?

The two chatted as they cut the trees. Every once in a while, he and the other men would switch so that one could take a break while the other continued on with the task. They finally chopped down two trees before darkness completely enveloped the skies above.

They werent as stressed now that the trees had been cut down; however, the burden of transporting the logs still haunted everyones hearts.

The two teammates who were crushed to death by the log yesterday had already been buried under thick layers of snow. Even if they couldnt see a shadow of their corpses, their tragic appearances were still vivid in their minds.

Dont carry the logs. Xiong Qi instructed. Tie the rope around them and drag them away.

Whos going to drag them? Zhang Zishuang asked.

Xiong Qi responded, The men will be divided into two groups. Everyone will drag them together.

This method was truly as fair as it could get. Everyone would be doing the same thing; therefore, if another person died, it was purely because he was ill-fated. No one else would be to blame.

Lin Qiushi didnt utter a sound. He simply stretched out his arm and took the rope from Xiong Qis hand. Without speaking to his other teammates, he promptly began to drag that cumbersome log away. Lugging the heavy wood down this narrow mountain path was far more difficult than lifting it. But, in any case, it was safe; an unfortunate accident like before was unlikely to occur again.

Having learned from their previous mistakes, everyone was extremely cautious on their way back. It was only until they left the mountain and reached the carpenters house did they relax their vigilance and breathe a sigh of relief.

Elder. Xiong Qi politely called out. Weve come to deliver the logs.

The wooden door gradually creaked open before stopping abruptly. A second later, a wrinkled, old face emerged from between the cracks. Then, the carpenter slowly pushed the door wide open and motioned for them to bring the wood inside.

Elder. Xiong Qi extended his hand and wiped the white flurries from his face. Weve delivered the wood, and we will soon set off to the temple to pray. What do we need to bring?

The old man took a long, interminable drag on the tobacco pipe in his hand and puffed out, sending out a cloud of dense, white smoke into the air. He ambiguously declared, Just take yourselves along, go with people.

Xiong Qi furrowed his brows after he heard what was said.

You must go at night. The old man informed. Once dusk falls, enter the temple one by one. Once you finish worshipping, you can come back out.

There was a subtle change in Ruan Baijies expression upon hearing his requirements. Lin Qiushi assumed she would interject and say something, but, in the end, she didnt say a word; she merely chuckled softly, and a slight smile played around her lips.

Do we have to go in one by one? Xing Qi seemed to think this request was rather strange. Cant we go in together?

Go in together? The old man sneered nastily. You can try.

Thank you very much. Xiong Qi no longer continued asking questions. He turned around and shouted for everyone to leave the carpenters house.

Ruan Baijie didnt resist. With Lin Qiushi taking the lead and acting fast, the two individuals charged into the house, then frantically huffed for air.

Whats the matter? The people in the house were beyond startled.

Theres something inside the well Lin Qiushi wheezed out between his rugged gasps for breath. Everyone, stay far away from that well. Baijie was nearly dragged down just now. After he finished advising them, he turned to look at Baijie and asked her whether she was harmed.

Its nothing. Ruan Baijie replied. Im alright.

Lin Qiushi cast a glance at her feet, and he actually saw a ring of crimson blood winding around Ruan Baijies ankles; the blood slowly trickled down to the floors. He countered, You call this nothing? Hurry up and sit down. Ill bandage it for you.

Ruan Baijie seemed to have just realized she was injured. She cocked her head to one side, then finally complied with Lin Qiushis orders. She obediently sat down on a chair.

Lin Qiushi found some medicine and gauze in the room. Half-kneeling before Ruan Baijie, he lightly set her foot on his knee, then gingerly began treating her wound. His movements were so attentive and gentle, he seemed quite worried about accidentally hurting Ruan Baijie.

Are you always this careful and gentle with girls? Ruan Baijie suddenly asked.

As if this has anything to do with girls. Lin Qiushi casually replied without hesitation. Even if you are a man, would that give me any reason to be rough with you?

Ruan Baijie: I see

Lin Qiushi continued blabbering on without consideration. Are you truly not male? Youre so tall, and your chest is so flat. However, Ruan Baijie was undoubtedly too beautiful. Needless to say, Lin Qiushi didnt believe such a stunning man could exist in the world.

Yeah. Ruan Baijie lamented. My chest still isnt as big as yours, apparently.

Lin Qiushi:

Ruan Baijie: And my ass also isnt as plump and fine as yours.

Lin Qiushi: Just why are you like this, your words are too much.

Ruan Baijie giggled mischievously.

Lin Qiushi helped Ruan Baijie treat her wound, and then explained to Xiong Qi and the others about the ordeal they went through. The others reactions were fairly mild, but Xiong Qis and Xiao Kes faces were very ugly. Theyd obviously recalled the old mans words regarding the final step to creating the coffinto fill the well.

What exactly did a coffin have to do with a well? Was this perhaps a custom unique to this village or was it a trap that the carpenter had laid out for them?

Ruan Baijie seemed to know what Xiong Qi was brooding over, and she smiled. You dont have to think so much about it. What you should do, how you should go about doing it, why you should do it, such things in life have already been determined.

Xiong Qi exhaled slightly. We plan to visit the temple tonight to pay our respects. Would you like to join us?

Me? Ruan Baijie paused. My foots injured, and I cant walk on the road. Qiushi, carry me on your back.

Lin Qiushi nodded his head.

Beside him, Xiao Ke opened her mouth. How could an injury like that affect your ability to walk by yourself on the road?

Ruan Baijie wasnt the least bit angered by her words. She merely directed a sweet smile in her direction and purred, Dear sister, you must bear with my excessiveness. I was quite pampered and spoiled at home since childhood. Naturally, I came to be a bit more delicate than most.

Xiao Ke hissed, Youre testing Lin Qiushis temper, continuing to take advantage of his good will. Not a single person in this world within this door knows who you are, so for what reason should they indulge you?

Oh, and here I suspected that you and Xiong Qi knew each other. As if she couldnt care any less for the business of others, Ruan Baijie nonchalantly revealed such a sentence.

But who wouldve imagined that Xiao Ke and Xiong Qis expressions would change so fast at this one sentence. Their eyes immediately held more vigilance.

Lin Qiushi instantly detected a change in the atmosphere.

What are you suggesting by saying this? Xiao Ke demanded.

Im not suggesting anything. Ruan Baijie coolly answered. I simply think you two have such a wonderful relationship, nothing more it couldnt be that you two truly know each other, right?

How could that possibly be? Xiao Ke looked terribly uncomfortable.

Ruan Baijie sniggered. But, contrary to expectations, she didnt continue with this topic.

Of course, Xiao Ke also didnt continue to hound Ruan Baijie. She no longer tried to stop Ruan Baijie from making Lin Qiushi carry her on his back to the temple. With a pallid complexion, she turned on her heels and stomped away.