Xiaobai let out a whimper, then crouched on the rock. As long as humans didn’t attack them, they wouldn’t attack humans, either.
After pulling out roast chicken buns and the like from her space to feed herself and a few other youngsters, Yang Ruxin nibbled on a ginseng root. Only then, with a chunk of radish, did she dash down into the valley.
Xiaohei flapped its wings and flew onto a withered tree in the valley, where it could watch over the entire village.
"Weren’t you the one who escaped from Old Ganzi’s house? Why did you come back?" Just as she ran down the hillside, a boy suddenly sprang out, "Better run, if you go back, you’ll die..."
Yang Ruxin was startled and hastily stopped, her eyes widening as she looked at the man before her, no, more of a boy, really.
The boy quickly retreated two steps, tilted his head and raised his hand to cover one side of his face, appearing somewhat awkward: "I scared sister, didn’t I?" There were uneven scars on that half of his face, as if gnawed by something, quite frightening.
Yang Ruxin shook her head: "Your face was bitten by a beast, right?"
The boy nodded: "When I was very young, I was bit by a leopard. But then it seemed a tiger came along and fought with that leopard, that’s how I wasn’t eaten..."
"Those who survive a catastrophe are destined for good fortune, eh? What’s your name? How old are you?"
"I... my name is Lin Xiwang... But since I was born on a pile of donkey dung, everyone calls me Lin Xiwang... Today, I turned ten..."
The corners of Yang Ruxin’s mouth twitched at the nutrient-rich name. Lin Xiwang’s name... Xiwang, hope? This child’s mother must have been a woman with a story. Of course, maybe she just held hope for her child: "I’ll call you Xiwang. The name Lin Xiwang doesn’t sound very nice."
"Aren’t you the woman who escaped from Old Ganzi’s place..." Lin Xiwang suddenly widened his eyes, "Then you’re from outside the mountain?"
"How do you know I’m not the one who ran from Old Ganzi’s house?" Yang Ruxin smiled, "Do you know her?"
"That woman has small eyes. Last night, I gave her a roasted sweet potato..." Lin Xiwang scratched his head, "You’re taller than her..." He measured with his hand and then sighed, "Although I showed her the way, she probably won’t make it out. She might have been eaten by wild beasts by now..."
"You did a kind thing." Yang Ruxin frowned slightly, "Aren’t you afraid of being ostracized by the villagers? I heard it’s not easy to buy a wife around here..."
Lin Xiwang shook his head: "I’m not afraid." Then he seemed to remember something: "Why are you here? You better leave quickly, if you’re discovered by someone... you won’t be able to leave..."
"My name is Yang Ruxin. I got lost while picking herbs in the mountains." Yang Ruxin sighed, "Now I’m cold, hungry, and thirsty..."
"Then I’ll call you Sister Xin. Come with me, but be silent in a while, be careful. If someone sees you, I can’t protect you ..." Lin Xiwang hesitated for a moment but still waved at Yang Ruxin and then started climbing a nearby slope.
"What will happen if someone sees us?" Yang Ruxin followed Lin Xiwang up the slope while chatting with him. Of course, her eyes and ears were highly focused too. Xiaobai had signaled that Xun Hui had been brought here, so she must be hidden in someone’s house. She needed to get a clear picture of the situation.