A Shocking Dream

Chapter 146

Suddenly, Kanan's eyes lit up. "Sister Wunian, look over there!" Following her direction, Lin Wunian saw an abandoned hut. The outline of the hut was faintly visible in the last glimmer of sunset light, like a frail old man, standing alone yet stubbornly in the wilderness.

They hurried toward the hut. Pushing open the door, a stale, decaying smell filled the air. The room was dimly lit, and dust danced wildly in the faint light that squeezed in through the crack in the broken door, like a group of spirits that hadn't been disturbed for a long time. Although it was simple, it was at least a place to shelter from the wind and rain.

Lin Wunian began to look around, hoping to find something useful. Kankan built a small fire at the door. The dry firewood ignited with difficulty under the strike of the flint. Sparks danced, gradually forming a small cluster of warm flames that tried to dispel the chill in the room.

"Here is some hay. Although it's not very comfortable, I can sleep on it tonight." Lin Wunian walked out of the inner room holding a pile of hay. The hay fragments fluttered down with his movements.

Kankan smiled bitterly and said, "It's better than being outside."

The two of them sat around the fire, listening to the howling wind outside, which sounded like ghosts and wolves. Lin Wunian was filled with worry: "Tomorrow we have to find a populated area as soon as possible, replenish some supplies, and inquire about the whereabouts of the horses."

Kanan placed her hands close to the fire to warm them, the flames casting a flickering light on her face. "There have been so many twists and turns along the way, and I don't know when this will end," she whispered, a hint of fatigue and confusion in her voice.

Lin Wunian was silent. He picked up a branch from the ground and scratched it casually.

At this moment, the wind grew stronger, making the door of the hut clang, as if something outside was eager to come in. Kanan shuddered and leaned closer to Lin Wunian. Lin Wunian sensed her fear and gently patted her shoulder.

"Let's get some sleep first and get enough rest so that we can cope better tomorrow." Lin Wunian put out most of the fire, leaving only a few sparks to save firewood.

Kanan nodded and lay down on the haystack. Lin Wunian leaned against the wall, closing his eyes and pretending to sleep, but his mind was constantly thinking about the upcoming journey and the possible dangers he might encounter.

After an unknown amount of time, Lin Wunian was startled awake by a slight noise. She instantly became alert, tightening her grip on the hilt of the sword at her waist, her eyes searching the darkness. In the faint glow of the sparks, she spotted a small mouse scurrying around in the corner, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

She turned to look at Kanan and found that she was not sleeping peacefully, her brows furrowed, and she seemed to be mumbling something. Lin Wunian felt a trace of pity in her heart, she knew that the hardships of this journey had put them under tremendous pressure.

Kanan suddenly opened her eyes and looked out the window, her face wide with terror. The night, once silent except for the sound of the wind, was shattered by a strange, distant sound that gradually drew near. It sounded like countless sharp claws scratching at the ground, mingled with low, whimpering sounds, as if demons from hell were roaming.

Lin Wunian was awakened by her movement and looked out the window, following her gaze. He could see nothing in the darkness. "What's wrong?" he whispered, gripping the weapon beside him, his whole body tense.

Kanan's voice trembled slightly: "Listen, what's that sound? It sounds so scary."

Lin Wunian listened intently. The strange sound became clearer and clearer, and her brows furrowed even more tightly. "I don't know, but it's definitely not a good thing. This house is too run-down. If there's danger, it's hard to resist. We need to find a safer place."

The two of them stood up cautiously, not daring to make too much noise. Lin Wunian led the way, followed closely by Kankan, as they tiptoed towards the back door of the house. With each step, the wooden planks beneath their feet creaked slightly, a sound that was particularly jarring in the silence.

Just as they reached the back door, the terrifying sound had already reached the front of the house. Through the crack in the door, they saw a dark shadow swaying, its body huge and its outline blurred, making it difficult to make out its true appearance. Kana was so nervous that she unconsciously grasped the corner of Lin Wunian's clothes. Lin Wunian could feel the cold sweat on her palms.

Just as they were hesitating whether to rush out, the shadowy figure seemed to sense someone inside and suddenly lunged towards the door. "Hurry up!" Lin Wunian shouted, pushing open the back door and pulling Kankan into the darkness behind the house.

They ran wildly through the weeds behind the house, the dark shadows chasing them closely. Lin Wunian observed his surroundings as he ran, and spotted a forest not far away. With a surge of joy, he shouted, "Go into the forest, and use the trees for cover!" Kanan nodded, and with all his might, he rushed toward the woods with her.

As soon as they entered the woods, Lin Wunian quickly pulled Kankan behind a large tree. The two held their breath and clung to each other. A dark shadow then rushed into the woods, wandering among them, as if sniffing out their tracks. Lin Wunian pulled out a dagger from her waist, her eyes firm and calm. She whispered in Kankan's ear, "I'll lead it away. You find a chance to get behind it and use your whip to attack its vital points." Kankan looked at her with some concern, but still gritted her teeth and said, "Be careful."

Lin Wunian took a deep breath, deliberately making a small noise to attract the shadow's attention, then quickly ran to the left. The shadow was immediately attracted and turned to chase. Kankan seized the opportunity, crouching down and quietly circling behind the shadow from the right. The shadow was massive, wolf-like, its eyes gleaming with a faint green light.

As she ran, Lin Wunian frequently turned to block the shadow's attacks with her dagger. A gash opened on her arm, and blood oozed out. But she endured the pain and continued to fight the shadow. Meanwhile, Kankan had circled behind the shadow. She leaped high, her whip in her hand lashing out like a snake from a hole, lashing out fiercely at the shadow's hind legs. The shadow roared in pain, turning and lunging at Kankan. Lin Wunian seized the opportunity to charge forward, thrusting her dagger into the shadow's back with all her might. The shadow struggled a few times before finally collapsing to the ground.

The two stood there panting, looking at the dead shadow, with lingering fear. Lin Wunian tore off a piece of clothing and simply bandaged the wound. Wan Wan asked with concern: "Sister, how are you?" Lin Wunian smiled and said: "It's okay, I can still walk. We can't stay here, we have to leave quickly."

So, Lin Wunian found a torch, lit it, and, not caring about the dark figure lying on the ground, stood up and left. The faint flames illuminated the path they were on. The surrounding trees were dimly lit by the flames, as if hiding countless pairs of prying eyes. Kankan followed closely beside Lin Wunian, still holding the whip tightly in her hand, ready to respond to any emergency.