Chapter 122: The Human Face in the Hair

I do not know how long I wandered through that strange dream, but I felt as though I had seen countless scenes and faces. Among them, three individuals left the deepest impression on me.

When I awoke, Qin Yu was sitting beside me, looking at me with a peculiar expression. I hurriedly asked, "Sister Yu, what’s wrong?"

Qin Yu let out an "oh" and said, "You were talking in your sleep just now. Did you dream of something?"

I rubbed my forehead vigorously, shook my head, and replied, "Nothing much, just some random nonsense." Then I asked her, "What did I say?"

"Yellow Springs, Emperor!"

After saying these words, Qin Yu stood up. She went upstairs and brought down a quilt for me, saying, "It’s getting late. Ruoshuang is already asleep upstairs; why don’t you just make do here for the night?"

I checked the time; it was nearly ten o'clock. I asked, "How is Bai Ruoshuang now?"

Qin Yu replied, "Physically, she is fine, but it may have left a deep psychological shadow. The girl vomits whenever anyone mentions food!"

I chuckled. "Perhaps this isn't a bad thing. If she had kept eating like that, she would have eventually developed some health issues. Now that she’s been through the ordeal with the Corpse Matriarch, even when she recovers from this trauma, she’ll know to show some restraint."

Afterward, I went upstairs with Qin Yu to check on Bai Ruoshuang. She was sleeping in bed, her face still pale, her brows lightly knitted even in slumber.

Seeing her like this, an indescribable feeling stirred in my heart. I gently tapped her forehead with my finger, then turned to Qin Yu and said, "Sister Yu, I’ll leave Ruoshuang in your care. I’m heading back to school."

"You aren't staying?" Qin Yu asked.

"No," I smiled. "After all, as a man, it’s not very convenient."

With that, I glanced at Bai Ruoshuang one last time and walked out of the Sanhua Mystical Pavilion. Just as I reached the entrance, I spotted a gaunt man wearing a black mask, peering around the perimeter of the pavilion.

My heart skipped a beat. I immediately called out, "Who are you?"

Upon seeing me, a flicker of panic crossed his eyes. He retreated a few steps and turned to flee.

I was taken aback. If he hadn't run, I might not have suspected him, but his behavior was the classic sign of a guilty conscience. I instinctively yelled, "Stop!" and gave chase.

The man was clearly frantic. Perhaps due to his frail build, he ran as if a gust of wind could blow him away. He seemed to be clutching something to his chest. As I pursued him, he tripped over a stone and tumbled to the ground.

Only then did I notice he was holding a metal chocolate box. He treated it like his most precious treasure; as it hit the ground, he lunged to scoop it back into his arms, as if terrified it might break.

I walked over to him, watching his panic-stricken face, and felt even more suspicious. I reached out firmly and said, "What do you have in that box? Let me see."

He shook his head and scrambled backward. As he prepared to stand and run again, I grabbed his shoulder.

Perhaps because of the Corpse Matriarch incident, my nerves were frayed, and I was on high alert. Given that I was in a critical period—where news of my Nine Yin fate would surely attract all sorts of demons and monsters—I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep if I didn't get to the bottom of this.

The man tried to struggle free, but he was far too weak to break my hold. I didn't stand on ceremony; I snatched the chocolate box from his hands and prepared to open it.

The moment I pried the lid open, the man spun around, ripped off his mask, and bit down hard on my arm.

I gasped in pain, and my hand shook, causing the box to drop to the ground.

I had expected something dangerous to be inside, but as I saw the pebbles scattered across the ground, my expression froze.

The pebbles were all about the size of a pinky nail, in a variety of colors. What surprised me most was that each one was exquisitely shaped and unique.

Star-shaped, heart-shaped, circular, crystal-like—each one appeared natural, yet they looked as if they had been polished by precision machinery.

As the stones spilled out, the man let out a cry of anguish, as if his most beloved possession had been shattered. He scrambled on the ground, frantically gathering the stones and putting them back into the box.

Watching this, I felt a sudden pang of guilt. Perhaps I had misunderstood him. Just as I leaned down to help him pick them up, he turned his head and glared at me with an incredibly vicious look. "Get away! Don't touch them!"

I was startled. Honestly, I had never seen such a ferocious gaze. I felt baffled—it was just a box of pebbles; why act as if I had killed his entire family?

I stepped aside and watched him silently. He picked up each stone with extreme care, wiping it with his sleeve until it was spotless before smiling and carefully placing it back into the rusted chocolate box.

Only then did I properly inspect him. I couldn't tell his age; his face was gaunt and travel-worn. His hair was long and matted. He wore a faded black T-shirt, jeans riddled with holes, and sneakers that were nearly worn through.

It took him nearly twenty minutes to collect all the pebbles. I stayed, curious and expressionless, watching the whole process.

My interest in him grew. I was curious about where he had found such a collection of pebbles and why he was so obsessed with them.

While I was lost in thought, Qin Yu suddenly appeared beside me. The moment the man saw her, a flash of excitement crossed his face, quickly followed by deep embarrassment and inferiority.

Seeing his reaction, I understood the situation immediately. Qin Yu, however, was quite graceful. She walked toward him and said, "So it’s you. Why did you suddenly come here?"

I was shocked; I hadn't realized Qin Yu knew him.

The man became even more flustered. He seemed to make a difficult decision, then carefully handed the box of pebbles to Qin Yu. He said nervously, "Y-you said last time that you liked these. I... I went to find them for you."

After saying this, as if he had completed a monumental task, he turned and ran in the opposite direction. Both Qin Yu and I tried to call out to him, but he didn't seem to hear us, continuing to run without stopping.

Just as he was about to disappear into the vast darkness, I don't know why, but my vision suddenly sharpened. I caught a glimpse of something in his matted hair—a human face, baring its teeth and glaring in our direction.