Chapter 6: Falling Into the Pit

Zhang Wuxun and the other slowed their pace, cautiously drawing nearer. Through the tangled underbrush, they saw a figure digging at something with an entrenching tool. Judging by the build, it was indeed Lao Yang, who was shirtless, swinging the shovel tirelessly.

He had propped a mountaineering flashlight on a tree branch to serve as a makeshift streetlamp. Lao Yang’s demeanor was a stark contrast to his carefree daytime self; a homemade pistol hung at his waist. The cool night breeze sent a chill through Wu Xiaoxie, making him shiver uncontrollably.

He couldn’t fathom how his childhood friend, someone he’d grown up with as close as brothers, had developed such hidden depths of cunning and scheming. What was worse, Lao Yang had even included him in his calculations, which left Wu Xiaoxie feeling deeply betrayed.

Taking a deep breath, Wu Xiaoxie glanced sideways at Zhang Wuxun and gestured, asking silently, “Should we keep watching?” Zhang Wuxun nodded. Their vantage point was good, and Lao Yang remained oblivious to their presence as he focused on digging.

Zhang Wuxun had his own reasons for watching; Lao Yang's change had raised Wu Xiaoxie’s guard, and with him there, if things went south, it wouldn’t devastate Xiaotian too much.

After half an hour, the shovel struck something with a sharp clang. Lao Yang paused, bent down, and pulled from the pit a stick-like object, covered in dirt. The darkness and the soil obscured its details, and Wu Xiaoxie squinted, straining to see what it was.

At the moment the stick appeared, Zhang Wuxun felt his consciousness waver, as if something was trying to break free deep within his mind. Lao Yang wiped the object clean with his sleeve, tucked it carefully into his chest, then hurried to fill the pit with soil.

Sensing they couldn’t linger, Wu Xiaoxie turned to urge Zhang Wuxun to leave, only to find his companion’s eyes vacant and expression blank—a cold fear gripped his heart.

Lao Yang finished burying the pit, took down the flashlight, and began walking back. Seeing him retreat, Wu Xiaoxie tried to rouse Zhang Wuxun by tapping his face and whispering, “Mu Yu! Mu Yu, wake up! Lao Yang’s gone back. If he finds we’re not in the hut, we’re doomed.”

But Zhang Wuxun gave no response. Instead, he closed his eyes, breathing slowed, and his body went limp, about to collapse backward.

“?!” Wu Xiaoxie caught him just in time, disbelief flooding him. “Damn it! You can fall asleep at a time like this?”

Something was terribly wrong.

Mu Yu was never so unguarded. Who could sleep in such a situation? Wu Xiaoxie’s instincts told him Zhang Wuxun’s state was linked to that stick Lao Yang had dug up.

Checking his watch, it was just past 4 a.m., still a while before dawn. They couldn’t just wait outside until daylight, but returning to the hut meant facing the unstable Lao Yang.

In torment, Wu Xiaoxie finally gritted his teeth, hoisted Zhang Wuxun onto his back, and set off retracing their steps.

To hell with it—if Lao Yang had gone through such trouble to lure him here, it meant he couldn’t handle something alone. A confrontation would only hurt everyone. He’d think of some excuse later. Besides, Lao Yang was busy digging pits late at night; if pressed, he’d surely panic.

Reassured by this reasoning, Wu Xiaoxie quickened his pace. Suddenly, the ground beneath softened, and before he could react, he and Zhang Wuxun tumbled into a pit.

Wu Xiaoxie: “...” Well, there’s a ready-made excuse.

Supporting Zhang Wuxun against the pit wall, he shone the flashlight around. The trap was shallow, chest-deep, with their heads still above ground—likely dug by local hunters to catch small animals.

Placing the flashlight on the edge, Wu Xiaoxie tested his footing, confirming he could jump out. Bending low, he helped Zhang Wuxun assume a position with arms over the edge, then climbed out first and hauled him up.

Exhausted, Wu Xiaoxie collapsed beside the pit, panting heavily, cursing his weak body once again.

After resting, he tied the flashlight around his neck, hoisted Zhang Wuxun, and resumed their journey.

Near the hut, they ran into Lao Yang, flashlight in hand, searching for them.

Feigning ignorance, Wu Xiaoxie hurriedly called out, “Hey! Come help me! I’m about to drop dead here.”

Lao Yang came over, switched Zhang Wuxun onto his back, and asked suspiciously, “Where... where were you two at this hour? I stepped out for a moment, and you were gone.”

Wu Xiaoxie, seeing Lao Yang had already made an excuse for them, put on a mock annoyed face and half-jokingly said, “I woke up needing to pee and suddenly saw a pair of green eyes staring right at me outside the window. I screamed, waking Mu Yu. The ghost thing ran off, so we chased after it and accidentally fell into a hunter’s pit. Mu Yu hit his head on a rock and passed out. Took me ages to get us out.”

Lao Yang glanced at the blade of grass stuck in Wu Xiaoxie’s hair and, seeing their dusty, disheveled state, buried his doubts.

Back in the hut, Wu Xiaoxie sent Lao Yang upstairs to rest, then lit a fire and sat by Zhang Wuxun, clutching a dagger tightly.

The next morning, Zhang Wuxun seemed to have truly slept and got up naturally to wash. Wu Xiaoxie tried signaling to him while Lao Yang wasn’t looking, but Zhang Wuxun looked utterly confused, which only infuriated Wu Xiaoxie.

Not wanting to speak openly in front of Lao Yang, Wu Xiaoxie sulked quietly in a corner.

Zhang Wuxun, unaware of the tension, was puzzled by Wu Xiaoxie’s mood, his memory frozen at the moment they switched shifts and went to sleep.

After breakfast, while packing up, Zhang Wuxun noticed his dagger missing and looked at Wu Xiaoxie. Wu Xiaoxie gave a cold snort and tossed it to him with a sour expression.

Zhang Wuxun: “...” Completely baffled.

So, what had happened to innocent Xiaotian while he was unaware? That look on his face—a mixture of betrayal and grievance—what was that about?

Lao Yang took pleasure in the friction between Wu Xiaoxie and Zhang Wuxun, subtly trying to drive a wedge between them, but Wu Xiaoxie ignored him.

The three set off back the way they came, with Lao Yang leading the way.

Zhang Wuxun lagged behind, pondering the sequence of events, suddenly realizing he might have overlooked something.