170: Night Watch (Part 3)
“Forget it, forget it…” Han Yi shook his head, changing the subject again: “Didn’t you just say you really needed to use the latrine, and couldn’t hold it? Why aren’t you going?”
After spending a long time with Wang Quanzhi, Han Yi was truly afraid he would catch this kidney deficiency ailment.
“Tch… that’s no fun. I’m going now…”
Wang Quanzhi saw that Han Yi’s expression was serious and not feigned, and the excitement on his face immediately faded.
“It’s so dark, should I go inside and call someone to go with you?”
Han Yi spoke again.
“I need someone to go with me to the latrine?” Wang Quanzhi waved his hand, walking away disgruntled, “Forget it, if someone stands next to me, I can’t pee.”
Upon hearing this, Han Yi stopped speaking and began to close his eyes and rest.
Of course, he wasn’t truly resting; he still focused most of his attention on listening to the surrounding movements.
---------------------
In the depths of winter, in the open courtyard, the moon was in the middle of the sky, when a layer of black cloud suddenly squeezed in, and the moonlight flickered through, making the sky alternately bright and dark.
“Why hasn’t Wang Quanzhi returned from the latrine yet? Didn’t he say he’d be quick? Could it be he fell into the pit?”
Han Yi frowned; half a day had already passed. Forget going to the latrine, even brewing tea, he could have drunk several pots by now.
Could this kid actually have gone to knock on a widow’s door?
A ridiculous thought popped into his head, but on second thought, given Wang Quanzhi’s lecherous personality, it was indeed possible.
Moonlight bright, heart in fright.
Suddenly, inexplicably, and out of nowhere, a sense of tension arose in Han Yi’s heart.
Clang!
He suddenly stood up, slowly drew his Xuan Tie Sword, his combat power instantly surging from ‘92~99’ to ‘95~134’, and he looked around.
“There’s nothing unusual…”
Han Yi looked around sharply; the main gate was tightly shut, the doors of the rooms where Huang An and his group were were locked, the small traps set in front of Sanren Bai and Qian Xue’s doors were all as usual, and even the smell from the stables was still unbearable.
The moonlight flickered, illuminating his furrowed brow, making him appear even more bewildered.
“Could it really be my imagination?”
Han Yi did not lower his guard, still holding the Xuan Tie Sword, lost in thought.
“No! Something’s wrong!”
He suddenly thought of something and rushed into the room furthest from him, the one where Bai Sanren and Qian Xue were.
His urgency had a reason: he didn’t know when, but the snoring that had been rising and falling in the courtyard had all disappeared, and it was incredibly quiet; even the sharp wind had stilled.
“Sanren Bai?”
He saw Bai Sanren, who had originally given in to Han Yi and agreed to stand guard inside, for some unknown reason, had fallen to the ground inside the door.
He lay face up, his expression peaceful, dressed in white clothes.
This scene made Han Yi think of an ominous possibility.
“No way, Sanren Bai, didn’t you say you were going to teach me the essence of the Bai Family Swordplay? How could you collapse in such a small place…”
Han Yi suppressed his grief, trembling as he reached his finger to Bai Sanren’s nostril.
“Hmm… what is it, Han Yi…”
Before Han Yi could check Bai Sanren’s breath, Bai Sanren himself slowly opened his eyes and asked groggily.
“Damn it! I told you, old man, you can’t stay up late, but you just had to show off!”
Han Yi let out a long sigh of relief, scolding Bai Sanren a few times, then hurried to the inner room to check on Qian Xue.
“No, how did I fall asleep… I wasn’t even very sleepy…”
Behind him, only the bewildered, murmuring Bai Sanren remained.
“Qian Xue, wake up!”
On the bed, Qian Xue was sleeping soundly. Of course, when traveling, she always rested fully clothed.
“Qian Xue?”
Han Yi gently patted her cheek, waking her up.
“What is it, Yi Gege…”
Qian Xue’s eyes were hazy and drowsy.
“Something’s happened, hurry and get ready, don’t sleep anymore!”
Han Yi warned, then turned around.
“What?”
Qian Xue jolted, her sleepiness completely gone.
“Let’s go!”
Moments later, Han Yi, carrying the still confused Bai Sanren and Qian Xue, rushed out of the room like the wind.
In front of the room where Huang An and the others were staying, looking at the pitch-black interior, devoid of any human presence, Han Yi took a deep breath. After a moment of thought, he pushed the door, intending to enter.
“You two wait for me here for a bit, I’ll go in and check the situation!”
Han Yi said calmly, rushing back to the room, only to find that Bai Sanren and Qian Xue were fine. Could all of this really be his imagination? Regardless, he had to check!
“Let’s go in together! It’s better to have someone watching each other’s back!”
Bai Sanren also recovered from his daze and stopped Han Yi.
Although they hadn’t encountered any danger yet, his unexplained drowsiness and collapse on the ground were enough to indicate that something was amiss. He couldn’t let Han Yi go in alone.
“Alright…”
Han Yi was silent for a few breaths, then nodded in agreement. He understood Bai Sanren’s intentions, and a warmth spread through his heart.
Besides, in such a dangerous and unknown environment, it was hard to say where danger might strike. If they all stayed together, he could assist in rescue if danger truly arose.
Pfft.
Bai Sanren struck a flint, and some tiny sparks flew out, igniting the tinder he held.
A faint yellow-red flame ignited, and once it stabilized, he carefully used it to light two other tinders, handing them to Han Yi and Qian Xue.
Creak!
The sound of the door hinge turning was exceptionally harsh in the dead of night. The three stood in a wedge formation, Han Yi at the front like an arrowhead, leading the way.
Upon entering the room, the sudden change in light made it impossible to discern any furnishings inside. Gradually, as their eyes adjusted to the darkness, the three points of light flickered, sending out a few sparks, and the room’s contours slowly became visible.
The room’s doors and windows were tightly shut, the curtains drawn, creating a deathly silence. Fortunately, only Huang An had lived in this room before, so there was no unpleasant smell.
And on the kang by the wall, a black human silhouette lay sprawled out.
Han Yi cautiously approached, only to see that this black figure was none other than Huang An, the leader of the Huang Family caravan.
His eyes were wide open, as if in an argument, glaring angrily, which startled Han Yi and the other two greatly. Qian Xue’s right hand was already on her sword hilt.
Furthermore, Huang An’s mouth was wide open, and his face was completely devoid of color. If Han Yi hadn’t seen the slight rise and fall of his chest, he would have thought he was dead!
“Huang An? Wake up!”
Han Yi shook Huang An forcefully, but found his body stiff and cold, like a dead pig, completely unresponsive.
A faint wisp of black qi lingered around his brows, almost merging with the thick darkness. If Han Yi’s eyesight hadn’t been astonishing, he wouldn’t have noticed it.