The bad memories came to an abrupt end, and thunder appeared from time to time amidst the constant rain, which was heart-stopping. I originally thought that the little boy was just playing in the yard, but after a quarter of an hour he still hadn't come back. The worried parents couldn't sit still and wanted to go out and take a look. But in addition to the heavy rain, there was also strong wind, making it extremely difficult to open the door. Out of rational considerations, Yin Guihong advised them to wait a little longer, at least until the rain lightened up, before going out to look for anyone. Since he didn't find anyone, he took two more people out.
The couple were very worried, but they knew that Yin Guihong was right, but they were so anxious that they were pacing back and forth, not even bothering to put away the dishes. In the second half of the night, the rain stopped. The mother was in a hurry to go out, but she stepped in water. The child's father was calm enough and advised her that now was not the time and that she could only wait until the sun rose, the sky was brighter, and the road was clearer before searching. So the woman burst into tears and complained that her husband would not let her go out. If the child had any problems, she would not be able to live as a mother. The old man in the house can't see his grandson. No matter how deaf he is, he should be able to figure it out. The thunder and lightning in the first half of the night made her afraid to breathe, and she was even so afraid that she shut her mouth tightly, and she didn't say a word all night. It was hard to wait until dawn, and there was just a glimmer of light in the east. The couple rushed out of the house without saying a word, faster than the cockcrow in the village.
To put it bluntly, the whole thing has nothing to do with Yin Guihong. However, when the child's mother asked him to go out to play, it seemed that he was deliberately trying to avoid the topic of his uncle. In this way, Yin Guihong could not just clap his hands and leave with peace of mind. Besides, this family was kind enough to take him in and provide him with food and accommodation. It would be too ungrateful for him to turn around and leave. When he stood looking out from a high place, he found a landslide at the bottom of the mountain, blocking the way down the mountain. If we want to clean it up, I'm afraid it will take the two villages on the mountain and the mountain to work together and spend most of the day. The way back was safe, but it was impossible for him to turn back. His goal was to go all the way south.
As a result, he decided to find the missing child for the couple. Although the rain stopped, it was not enough to evaporate in the second half of the night, and the road was still muddy. To be honest, even if the child left any traces, they must have been washed away by the heavy rain. Yin Guihong relied on his dexterity skills to fly over eaves and walls, and settled on the roofs of villagers. His eyesight and speed were naturally superior to that of the couple, and he made a discovery at noon.
In the mud by the river, he saw a small cloth shoe.
He was impressed by these shoes. When he was picking up the knife on the ground last night, he caught a glimpse of the small blue-gray shoes. The shoes are very old and have been patched. This patch was embroidered by his mother into a small swallow, black clothes and white belly. Of course, the white part was so muddy that only the outline of the swallow could be made out as a whole. Yin Guihong touched it with his thumb and felt that the stitches were very dense. He was sure these were the little boy's shoes, but where was his person?
Heavy rains washed away the bridge downstream of the village. If the water was calm enough, he could really use Qinggong to get over it, but now the water was muddy and fast, and he had no choice. The worst possibility had already surfaced in his mind: the child was swept away by the heavy rain and washed into the river, fearing that no bones would be left.
No...wait, he may have thought wrong.
On a rainy day many years ago, wasn't he himself escaping for his life in such a mountain? At that time, the rain started when he was walking on the mountain road, so it must have been the same for this child. After all, it was dark and he couldn't go to the dangerous river on the edge of the village. As for the shoes, is it possible that he lost them a long time ago and the shoes were washed here by the rain?
He looked in the opposite direction and kept wondering in his mind.
"Hey, isn't this...that person?"
There was a voice, and he turned around alertly. Yin Guihong broke into a cold sweat and couldn't help but doubt himself: How could he not notice someone approaching here? It seemed that he was still too relaxed and not alert enough, or that he was distracted by other things. But he knew the person speaking. The man stood on a tall stone further away from the river bank, with his hands behind his back, looking at him as if in a play.
"She Ji?" Yin Guihong frowned, "Why are you here?"
"Why can't I be here?"
"Is it possible that this is your family's territory? Your control is really broad."
A kid jumped out from behind She Ji. He was about ten years old and older than the lost child. He jumped bravely from the high stone and landed firmly. At this height, even ordinary adults would hesitate. He is really bold. This guy is even less likable than the lost child - from his first words.
"Are you doing something good?"
Yin Guihong didn't want to talk to him. He knew that the monsters in the Shadow Pavilion were extremely prejudiced against humans and had been so for hundreds of years. Since there is no Lord Gaoyue to control this place, he naturally has more reason to do whatever he wants. If you tell him the truth, let alone help, it would already be a big honor if you don't laugh at him.
"none of your business."
"Then whose child did you steal the shoes in your hand? You're really not ashamed." The brat actually kicked his nose in the face.
Yin Guihong didn't want to tangle with them and was going to go back upstream. Unexpectedly, She Ji suddenly said to him:
"If you are looking for a child, when I came here, I noticed the faint scent of human cubs on the forest slope upstream. However, I am a little busy and can't take care of trivial matters."
"..."
Although it was probably his own style to refuse to save anyone, now that he was willing to share this information, Yin Guihong's view of him changed slightly. The premise is that this is correct information.
"It's better to be true." Yin Guihong still said, "Thank you."
"You're welcome, it only takes a little effort!" She Ji raised his hands, looking eager to help others. Yin Guihong knew that he didn't understand him, but he always felt a little suspicious. Unexpectedly, She Ji revealed his true face sooner than expected.
"Our research still lacks a lot of material. But now, it is impossible to do anything blatantly. All forces in the world have noticed the clues, and even many retired masters have returned to the world. We can only investigate everywhere and look for possible solutions. The target to start with. This place is connected to mountains and connects many villages. Maybe... there will always be some suitable testing site."
Yin Guihong was stunned in place, looking at him with a somewhat annoyed look.
"What are you worried about? Are you worried about the safety of your fellow humans?" She Ji also jumped down from a high place and continued, "But don't worry, my mission ends here. Next, I'm going to do my own thing. It’s over. Good luck.”
After that, he led the child away from here and headed deeper into the land. Before leaving, the kid turned around and made an ugly face at him. How could there be such an impolite child? When we first met, he was just like me, neither big nor small, and not likable at all. Yin Guihong frowned and decided to ignore him and focus on finding another child.
The good news is that She Ji didn't lie to him. He came to the woods upstream of the river and soon heard the little boy's faint cry for help. This place is actually not very far from his home, but the height difference is very high. His house is on a hillside. Perhaps after it rained, he was in a hurry to go home, but he lost his footing and fell from a height, landing in this forest.
He found the child. He was covered in mud and dirty, and his face looked like a tabby cat. He sniffled pathetically and started crying when he saw him. He was crying loudly, but it was just a show of force. He was too weak to make a loud sound and shed a lot of tears. Yin Guihong helped him check his injuries. His skin was punctured by branches in many places, but they were not deep. It was probably because these branches buffered his fall that he did not die. He helped the boy up, carried him on his back, and returned to the boy's home step by step. On the way, a few villagers helping to find him saw him and immediately sent someone to notify his parents. More people went to clear the road down the mountain. If the two parties had not started construction at the same time, the road to Nancun would have been closed for longer.
At dusk, the couple thanked him profusely, and the mother was about to kneel down and kowtow, but he stopped him abruptly. They said that Yin Guihong was the son's reborn parent and wanted his son to recognize him as his adoptive father. He declined repeatedly, jokingly saying that he was still young and had never even had a lover. As for the child's condition, after examination, it was found that his right arm was dislocated and his left foot was sprained. He was injured so badly that he was likely to be bedridden for several months before he could move around. Is his injury more serious now, or was Yin Guihong's own injury more serious then? No matter what, the old hunter took care of him for a long time without any complaints, just like his real father.
His father, mother, and other family members also took the trouble to take care of the young man on the sick bed day after day, until his weak body was cured with clam powder. But all of this was blocked by the Zuojinmen and the culprit behind it...
He felt a burning sensation in his chest, and his heart, which had been reduced to ashes, rekindled and burned, ready to spurt out from his throat. Although the worried hearts of the child's parents sank, his heart could not be at peace.
The family kindly invited him to stay for a few more days, but he couldn't refuse. Although he said yes, at night, he packed his bags and quietly left the yard. The road leading to the bottom of the mountain from the south was not cleared, but it was much better than before. Yin Guihong had a way to leave by his own skills. Before leaving, he left a letter to his children's parents, to the effect that he suggested that they and the villagers move away from here. If possible, let the residents of the surrounding villages leave as soon as possible. He did not explain the specific situation, but said that if he stayed here for a long time, he might be killed. He didn't know what She Ji and Chen Yingge were planning. He only knew that the place they were eyeing must be full of danger. He didn't know whether these simple villagers would believe it, and whether they would follow it if they believed it. After all, no one would trust him unconditionally and obey his words just because he saved a child.
There are always good people in the world, and they don't want their good to be eaten away by evil.
