"So that’s how it is."
Although Fu Qian discovered a small secret about the old lady, he didn’t reveal it, nor did he need her to explain in detail about her missing husband.
In this dark and dangerous place, where even relatives have disappeared, they face an unidentified person.
In such circumstances, blurting out one’s life-saving secrets is not sothing a sane person would do.
In fact, just the content from a mont ago, the old lady had already said quite a lot.
As previously inferred, her perseverance, supported by such a fixation, was already nearing its limit. She needed soone to talk to so she could continue to persevere.
"But I’m sorry, I haven’t seen the person you’re talking about on my way over."
Yet in the next mont, Fu Qian gestured towards the empty space behind him.
"...Have you been over there?"
It was clear that Fu Qian’s answer left the old lady visibly disappointed, especially after seeing the direction he pointed.
That was much further from the town, even more remote than where Ms. Sara lived.
Dusty roads, factories, various large tools, dirt piles scattered everywhere...
Fu Qian certainly didn’t co from that direction, and he knew the old lady didn’t either.
Earlier from sensing, her search route was quite clear.
Though she took risks, she was smart to stay close to residential areas, ensuring there were houses nearby where she could hide at any ti.
But that didn’t an she always maintained this self-control.
From occasional pauses and stares, it was evident that the old lady, after searching nearby many tis without results, was eager to venture into a more dangerous area.
Considering the probability of finding her missing husband over there was almost nonexistent, Fu Qian didn’t mind offering a kind lie and asking her for help.
"Nothing at all."
The next mont, Fu Qian nodded.
"Then I heard so strange sounds nearby, so I ca here. Didn’t you hear them?"
...
"...What sounds?"
The old lady appeared visibly disappointed by Fu Qian’s statent, along with a hint of disbelief.
However, after a mont of silence, she didn’t question further.
As she expressed confusion over Fu Qian’s question, it was clear she was quite natural in her tone and expression.
"Crying, quite peculiar the cry of a child."
Fu Qian sighed lightly, his earlier suspicions confird by the old lady’s reaction that she genuinely hadn’t heard the crying sound he had created.
Even though the Tree Infant wasn’t visible this ti, was it still so focused?
"No..."
While speaking, she unconsciously surveyed the surroundings. From the old lady’s tone, it was evident that Fu Qian’s words added another layer of fear to the night.
"Maybe I’m too tired and hallucinating; mainly this place is really tough to search."
Not dwelling on this point, Fu Qian casually found an excuse, surveying the buildings crouching in the darkness.
"Can you help ? I’m looking for soone, and if possible, it would be best if you could lead there."
And in the next mont, without having helped initially, he unabashedly asked for assistance instead.
Outside for guidance, inside for potions, judging from various indications, the old lady should still be a helpful person.
"Who are you looking for? Most of the people here have long left."
True to expectations, the old lady hesitated but didn’t decline.
"A young man, tall and strong..."
Fu Qian naturally referred to one of the four who had never spoken in the healing dream, casually describing more details of his appearance.
Always think positively; with so few people left, the old lady’s help in identifying soone obviously becos easier.
The reason for choosing him was based on their brief encounter; his attire was more in line with the local style, once remarked as sowhat like a miner’s.
The old lady, although fairly robust, undoubtedly found it less tiring covering a shorter distance.
"The person you ntioned... I can take you to see, but I can’t guarantee it’s him."
At this mont, after a mont of thought, the old lady had already nodded.
...
"So have all the people here moved away?"
The old lady was efficient in her actions. Once deciding to help, she moved straight to the front.
And although she had no intention of lighting a lamp, her stride between the halls was steady.
Clearly, after countless nights of crossing this place, she was extrely familiar with it.
While pondering, Fu Qian kept pace steadily and asked for more information about Akons.
"Mm... Initially, daylight ca, and suddenly half the people were gone, as if they hurried off overnight."
The old lady didn’t mind chatting, though her depiction was sowhat eerie.
"Then, night after night people kept dwindling..."
It didn’t sound good; in such circumstances, a nightti ghost story was unsurprising.
Fu Qian listened and comnted simultaneously.
Even though he hadn’t t "it" yet, from what he had seen and heard, Akons was indeed not simple.
The aged buildings and culture made one curious about its true nature.
"Can you still hear the crying?"
The old lady hadn’t forgotten Fu Qian’s earlier comnt about the oddity, suddenly asking.
Though the slope was gentle all along, the elevation difference between them was apparent as they had already moved a fair distance from where they were.
"Regrettably, still can."
Fu Qian simply shook his head in response, indicating no improvent to this concern.
In fact, it was much more than that. As he spoke, his finger slyly delved under his ribs and retrieved a bubbling blood clot, casually discarding it.
That crying sound was indeed not just to scare; as ti accumulated, a special change had finally manifested.
Similar to the "Heart Strike" Sara had previously demonstrated, the abnormal change in blood flow manifested with no warning like a curse, continuing to gather steadily towards the heart.
Though for Fu Qian, this wasn’t yet a big issue, it would undoubtedly frighten the old lady if she saw it, so he kept it hidden.
The old lady didn’t inquire excessively and soon resud her pace, but—
Sizzle!
A mont later, accompanied by a light sound, the old lady, who had been moving in the dark all the way, unexpectedly lit a lantern without a word.
"It should be just ahead—"
Using the not-so-bright light, she spoke while having already turned to look over.
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