Chapter 46: A Reluctant Departure, A Shocking Return

Today marked the day of farewell.

Cai left the mountain without notifying anyone.

All she had done was wait for dawn to break. Then, she left an apologetic letter in Wang’s room and quietly departed from the place where she had spent the past few days.

Cai couldn’t say for certain if Wang would bother to read the letter after waking.

Last night, Cai had gone for a walk alone after dinner.

Upon returning to her room, she found Wang already asleep.

Wang faced the wall, presenting only her back.

Soon after, Cai also lay down on the bed.

Though no one had asked her to, she instinctively did so.

During the time before sleep, neither of them spoke to the other. Not until a certain moment did one of them begin to snore.

If words couldn’t be spoken at night, they would be even harder to articulate in daylight.

As Cai drew back the curtains and got out of bed, she felt she couldn’t simply leave without a trace.

Thus, using the materials available in the room, she crafted a letter, carefully inscribing words that might otherwise have gone unsaid.

Just as she was about to exit the room, she felt someone’s gaze on her back.

When Cai instinctively turned, she saw Wang still lying in bed, showing no sign of waking.

Cai believed she had imagined it. After taking several deep breaths to compose herself, she gently closed the door and tiptoed away, gradually disappearing.

****

As she descended from the mountain peak to the halfway point, Cai considered greeting the demon folk she knew.

Ultimately, however, she lacked the courage to face them, just as she lacked the courage to remain by that person’s side.

Cai concluded that she was a coward, believing that someone like her was unworthy of a joyful life and must, in the end, return to where she came from.

Since no farewells were needed, her pace naturally quickened along the way.

In a blink, only a few steps separated her from the entrance to the mountain path.

“Are you truly leaving? This isn’t a joke, is it?”

Many things often happen by such coincidence.

The Big Sister who had first met Cai and offered help when she ascended the mountain now leaped from a height to the ground, just as she had done before.

“I truly don’t understand your human mind,” Little Eagle said. “To abandon such a picturesque new home with clear waters and lush mountains—isn’t it good to live here?”

Cai hadn’t publicly announced her departure, yet Little Eagle, whom she called ‘Big Sister,’ was now, at this opportune moment, blocking the entrance.

Cai had every reason to suspect that Wang had informed Big Sister of her departure.

Perhaps this was for the best.

If Wang was willing to openly share secrets with Big Sister, it would indirectly confirm the strength of their bond.

Though there was no stronger evidence, Cai undoubtedly felt a measure of relief compared to moments before.

She thought:

‘Even if that person no longer had her by her side, as long as Big Sister remained, she would surely never feel lonely!’

After calming her restless heart, Cai faced Little Eagle, allowing a faint smile to grace her lips.

“Big Sister, please take good care of that person from now on!”

“You don’t need to tell me that. My Lord and I will naturally be fine.”

“Then I’ll let…”

“You think!”

Little Eagle retorted, her voice suddenly raised.

“Do you think you can sever ties with us in the future? Pretend you were never here?”

“I never had such a thought. I will always cherish the memories of these past days. It’s just that, at that time, I might not necessarily be by your side.”

“Hmph, speaking to yourself… but it matters not. I didn’t come here to impede you, nor do I have many words of persuasion that must be uttered at this precise moment.”

“Has Big Sister started to dislike me?”

“No, I’m not stopping you because I have faith: I am certain you will return before long!”

To Cai, this seemed somewhat incredible. Yet, Little Eagle spoke with such conviction, as if she could foresee the future.

“I hope Big Sister is right.”

Seeing that Little Eagle had no intention of blocking her path, Cai walked past her, leaving behind her somewhat uncertain words.

Following the route opposite to her ascent, the young woman walked straight towards the place of her birth.

With her current perception, she was unable to detect the figure trailing behind her…

In a very short time, the familiar village once again came into view.

It was quite normal not to see a single villager outside the village.

After all, villagers were absolutely unwilling to step outside unless it was absolutely necessary.

Only one detail struck her as peculiar!

At the village entrance, there should have been an iron gate blocking the way.

However, today, Cai found no such gate. It felt as if the entire village had suddenly shed all its defenses, allowing anyone to walk straight in.

“I’m back.”

As if passing through her own front door, Cai greeted the village itself, then walked in with a sense of caution.

She couldn’t maintain her usual composure, for the atmosphere emanating from the village filled her with an inexplicable sense of foreboding.

‘Had someone visited the village?’

This question, like a shadow, quietly enveloped the young woman’s heart.

For anyone to deign to visit this old, backward village was, in itself, an utterly incredible notion.

Not to mention:

The person Cai imagined entering the village had also, to some extent, affected her emotions.

At this very moment, Cai was searching for familiar neighbors while also being careful not to encounter ‘someone’.

The village itself wasn’t large; it wouldn’t be difficult to find acquaintances if one truly sought them.

Soon, in an inconspicuous spot, Cai discovered a woman she had seen before.

“Good morning!”

Cai had been up since early morning, and referring to the present moment, having not even had time for breakfast, as ‘morning’ was perfectly appropriate.

Immediately upon hearing the call, the woman’s shoulders violently trembled in a visibly stark movement.

As Cai wondered if she was truly that frightening, the doors of houses on both sides of the street swung open, as if by prior arrangement.

Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!

Following the succession of opening doors, one or more villagers emerged from each household, striding out with brisk steps.

These villagers, regardless of gender, age, or youth, all had a clear purpose. They were all converging towards a single, common objective.

Cai hadn’t fully grasped what was happening before she was instantly surrounded by thousands of people.

All escape routes around her were tightly encircled by these people, so much so that not even a stray cat could have squeezed through.

‘What’s happening?’

Before Cai could even speak, a sharp pain erupted on her forehead!

She reached up to touch her forehead. As she lowered her arm, she noticed her palm felt sticky.

When she opened her hand to look, she found her palm coated in fresh blood.

The conspicuous bloodstain, clearly not belonging to anyone else, was, of course, her own!