CHAPTER 60: MUSHROOM VILLAGE 10

The old man stopped in his tracks but didn’t turn around. Instead, a hoarse and aged voice rasped from his throat, "Put it on my tab. I always do... cough, cough, cough..."

He started coughing violently again.

Listening to the coughing, Wan Qian took several steps forward and snatched the cigarette from the old man’s hand in one swift motion.

The old man was caught off guard—he was confused for a moment before realizing she had snatched his cigarette.

"Grandpa, you’re already coughing this badly. Stop smoking!" Wan Qian held the cigarette tightly, looking at the old man with disapproval, earnestly trying to persuade him.

"Cough, cough... Give it back." The old man gripped his cane. Whether it was out of anger or something else, his hunched back straightened slightly. A sinister, almost venomous expression flickered across his face, and his tone grew sharp, nearly commanding.

Wan Qian didn’t seem to notice. "Look at you. You’ve been smoking for years, and your health is already suffering. You cough every time you talk! Smoking is terrible for your body. Do you know how many people get lung cancer from it? Especially at your age—you should quit!"

Wan Qian sincerely meant well for the old man. Hearing him cough so badly made it clear that his condition was serious, yet he still insisted on smoking. It was as if he didn’t care about his own health at all.

"You’re not getting any younger; you can’t keep being so headstrong!" After saying that, Wan Qian turned around and placed the cigarette back on the counter.

The old man stood at the entrance of the general shop, glaring at her furiously. He stared at her back for a long moment, but in the end, he didn’t say anything—just turned and left.

Not long after the old man left, Hao Shijun arrived. Seeing Wan Qian, he looked relieved.

"Turns out you’re here at the general shop. I’ve been looking for you."

Wan Qian was a bit surprised. "Looking for me? For what?"

Hao Shijun explained, "The villagers are gathering for dinner tonight. It’s almost time to eat, and I just realized that you and Fang Minglan are not here."

"What? Dinner already?" Wan Qian perked up at the mention of food. She touched her empty stomach. She had been busy all afternoon, working hard, and now she was really hungry.

"I’ll grab something real quick. Wait for me." She turned and went inside to get her thermos.

Watching Wan Qian disappear into the pitch-black small shop, Hao Shijun furrowed his brows. A sense of inexplicable danger prevented him from following her inside; instead, he stood at the door, observing carefully.

Then, something caught his eye—a pile of bones near the doorway, stripped completely clean.

With years of experience as a criminal investigator, he immediately recognized that these weren’t the bones of common livestock. They looked more like human bones.

Suddenly, Hao Shijun’s eyes narrowed. Bending down, he picked up a piece of paper from among the bones—a paper that contained a set of rules.

[Notice:

1.Electricity is expensive. Keep the general shop lit with natural light. No matter the weather, do not turn on the lights.

2.A black cat lives in the general shop. Do not feed it. If you see it eating, do not interrupt, and do not question what it is eating.

3.Do not make eye contact with the black cat for more than ten seconds. Do not touch it. Do not let it jump on you. The black cat should remain inside the general shop. If you see it outside, pretend you don’t see it. (The text here is crossed out, with a new line added below.) If you see it outside, bring it back inside.

4.No credit allowed. All transactions must be settled immediately.

5. The general shop’s telephone is broken. If it rings, please ignore it.]

The rules on the paper all seemed related to the general shop, though their exact purpose was unclear. Hao Shijun folded the paper and stuffed it into his pocket.

Just then, Wan Qian walked out, carrying the thermos.

"Let’s go," she said.

Hao Shijun glanced once more at the darkness behind Wan Qian. Inside the general shop, only the vague silhouette of a counter could be seen. Just as he was about to look away and leave with Wan Qian, something caught the corner of his eye—a strange silhouette.

Long and narrow. Arms unnaturally long, hanging downward. Its body slumped limply against the shelves, covered in dark fur, with a tail trailing behind it. Like a human-sized, elongated cat.

Startled, Hao Shijun quickly turned his head to take a closer look. It turned out that it was nothing more than a plush overcoat hanging next to the counter. Letting out a slow breath, he led Wan Qian away toward the dinner gathering.

The entire village was eating together in a large courtyard, with more than ten tables set up. Plates of steaming vegetables and meats filled the air with a mouthwatering aroma.

Before stepping inside, Hao Shijun hesitated for a moment, then warned Wan Qian, "Be careful what you eat."

Wan Qian figured he was reminding her to mind her manners. She patted her chest and promised, "Got it! Don’t worry about me."

Seeing Wan Qian appear, the suited man standing at the entrance let out a cold snort, his sinister gaze sweeping over her.

"You showed up after all. Thought you weren’t coming," he said.

Wan Qian waved her hands dismissively. "How could I miss such a warm welcome from you all?"

The suited man’s gaze grew even more malevolent, but he said nothing. Instead, he led Wan Qian to a table to sit down.

Wan Qian noticed that Hao Shijun and the others who had come with her were all seated at a different table—she was the only one at this one.

Feeling a bit puzzled, Wan Qian asked the suited man, "Why am I sitting here alone? Aren’t I supposed to sit with the others?"

With a tight-lipped, humorless smile, the suited man replied, "That table was full, so you had to sit here."

Hao Shijun, seated at the other table, glanced toward Wan Qian, concern flickering in his eyes. Being singled out like this was definitely not a good sign.

He couldn’t understand why, but the suited man seemed to be particularly targeting Wan Qian.