Upon hearing the boy's shout, Bai Luan instinctively shivered. It was the lingering fear of being pursued and having to flee for her life, a primal terror that gripped her very soul.

"Did you see how many there were?" the old man asked his grandson as he helped Bai Luan to a cushion in front of the deity statue, his voice calm despite the tension.

"About six or seven," the boy replied, his eyes wide with fear and curiosity.

Hearing this, Bai Luan's pupils contracted. She hugged her knees tightly, curling into a ball. Her bright eyes stared blankly at the green bricks on the floor, lost in a maelstrom of thoughts.

She bit her lip hard, tasting blood, as if the pain would anchor her to reality. Raising her head, she addressed the old man and his grandson, "Grandpa, they’re after me. I’ll rest a bit more and then leave. I don’t want to bring trouble to you."

The old man smiled gently, understanding the meaning in her eyes. His gaze softened even more. "Girl, you don't need to be afraid. No one can cause trouble in this Mountain Spirit Temple," he said, his voice filled with pride and respect as he looked at the towering two-meter statue. "We have the protection of the Mountain Spirit."

Bai Luan looked at the old man’s respectful and serious demeanor, then back at the imposing statue. The courage she had mustered from a small sense of conscience was immediately deflated by the old man's words.

"But Grandpa, you haven’t seen those people. You don’t know," Bai Luan said, taking a deep breath. Her nerves tensed again. "They are ruthless and inhumane, stopping at nothing to achieve their goals. If I stay, it will only endanger you."

Her voice was firm, but her heart was full of uncertainty. If they were two adults, she might have been able to convince herself otherwise. But they, like her, were helpless. Three elderly, weak, and defenseless people could do nothing but become easy targets.

“Bang, bang, bang.” Suddenly, there was a loud knock on the door. "Open up!"

"You little bitch, I know you're in there. We've surrounded this place. If you know what's good for you, come out and go back with us. Otherwise..."

He Kun sneered heavily and kicked the door.

"Boom!"

The old door rattled with a dull sound.

"Boom!" A sudden thunderclap exploded in the air as if warning, stern and imposing.

"Plop, plop." Rain began to pour down following the thunder, transforming from a drizzle to a torrential downpour in the blink of an eye, splashing into puddles on the ground. The scent of wet earth mingled with the metallic tang of fear.

"Damn," the man cursed as he was unexpectedly drenched. His eyes turned cold and violent as he pounded on the door. "Open up, damn it!"

Seeing no response from inside, He Kun's eyes narrowed, a flash of cold light passing through them. He stepped back, pulled out a gun from his waistband, and fired three shots at the door latch.

"Bang, bang, bang."

He Kun kicked the door open this time.

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He stormed in with a murderous aura, his eyes locking onto the three startled people huddled together. A cruel smile curled on his lips. "Heh."

His gun was loosely aimed at the boy's forehead. "Old man, tie that woman up or else..."

He left the threat unfinished, but the malice and ruthlessness in his eyes were unmistakable.

Mulin's beard trembled with anger, but he didn't move to harm an innocent girl to save his grandson. Instead, he said solemnly to his grandson, "Boy, kneel down and pray to the Mountain Spirit!"

Mu Bai blinked, seemingly unconcerned about the gun pointing at his head, and obediently knelt on the cushion, bowing respectfully to the statue before him.

"Pfft, hahaha, boss, these two must be idiots," laughed one of the men following He Kun, shaking off the rain and shutting out the storm. "What era do they think this is? A mountain spirit? Really, they’re just country bumpkins."

"Hey, kid," said a scar-faced man, still chuckling. "Don't pray to some spirit. Better pray to me. Maybe if I'm happy, I'll let you go."

"You..." Bai Luan's eyes widened with anger, teeth grinding as she pointed at them but couldn't find the words.

"Oh, already mad?" Scarface taunted, his words colder than ice. "Who’s to blame?"

"It's your fault for running and dragging others into this mess."

He even sighed mockingly.

Even Bai Luan, who had seen their shamelessness before, was momentarily stunned by his brazen attitude. As she prepared to retort, the old man stopped her. "Girl, don't argue with beasts. They can't understand human language."

"If you're scared, join Bai and pray sincerely to the Mountain Spirit," he said, his hands clasped behind his back, secretly gripping an item in his sleeves. "Remember, be sincere. Otherwise, the spirit won't hear you."

Bai Luan was on the verge of tears.

Grandpa, at a time like this, can we think of a more practical solution?

Hearing Mu Bai's persistent bowing, Bai Luan glanced sideways, seeing the boy's wholehearted devotion and respect.

He truly, sincerely believed in this so-called Mountain Spirit.

With a bitter smile, Bai Luan knelt beside him, bowing deeply to the tall, cold statue.

Once, twice.

She didn't know if it was because there were no better options, or if Mu Bai's unwavering faith influenced her. Or maybe it was her desperate resolve to go down fighting. Initially, her mind was full of random thoughts, but gradually it cleared, leaving one plea echoing in her head.

"Mountain Spirit, please show yourself and save me from these evildoers. Bai Luan will devote herself to you for life, unwavering and true."

On the altar, the statue's cold and indifferent eyes suddenly moved.

A gust of wind blew, lifting the temple’s long curtains. Wisps of blue smoke mingled with the enticing smell of food spread throughout the hall. The atmosphere thickened with a sense of ancient power awakening.

Meanwhile, twenty kilometers away, on the road to Fengling Mountain, three police cars sped by. Inside, a fifteen-year-old girl frowned tightly, urging the officers again, "Police officers, can you go faster?"

The policewoman next to her, seeing her anxious expression, knew she was worried about the kidnapped girl. She held the girl’s hand and gently reassured her, "Lingyan, we’re already going as fast as we can. Any faster and it would be dangerous."

"I know you’re worried about Miss Bai, but we responded quickly and have plenty of officers. We will save her."

Jiang Lingyan forced a weak smile, muttering a low "Hmm" while internally screaming.

How could I not be worried? Bai Luan's death probability has reached 90%. If we don't hurry, you’ll only be able to collect her body!

"Alert: Target's death probability has increased by 5%, now at 95%. At 100%, they will die."

"Please take immediate action, or the mission will fail, resulting in a Level 2 penalty and the removal of the 'Trust Halo'."

"Damn."

Jiang Lingyan cursed under her breath.

……

By now, He Kun's face was beyond just looking bad. He glanced at the two kneeling and praying, then at the old man standing calmly. He gritted his teeth.

"Mountain Spirit?" he asked, his tone ambiguous, eyes glinting darkly. He raised his gun, aiming it at the statue's head.

Before anyone could react, he pulled the trigger.

Since they trusted this Mountain Spirit so much, he would destroy their faith first.

Then he’d crush their resistance.

Finally… send them on their way, eternally accompanying the spirit.

A sinister and dark smile twisted He Kun's lips.

"No!" Mulin's pupils contracted. Without thinking, he moved to shield the statue, trying to block the bullet.

But how could he, an old man with one foot in the grave, match the speed of a bullet? Even if he could, he couldn't reach it in time.

Bai Luan and Mu Bai, awakened by the gunshot, instinctively looked up, eyes wide in shock and disbelief.

What did they see?!

The bullet, which should have shattered the statue's head, was stopped mid-air, three inches from its forehead, as if hitting an invisible barrier.

Next, a slender white hand casually plucked the bullet from the air. Accompanied by a crisp "Mountain Spirit!" from the boy, a clear and distant bell rang out from the statue, rippling through the hall like a stone striking water.

Simultaneously, a faint, refreshing scent of water and wood permeated the air.

A girl, dressed in black with wide sleeves, her expression cold and stern, squatted on the altar. Her delicate hands held a roasted chicken leg from the offering plate in one hand and the bullet in the other.

Taking a bite of the fragrant chicken leg, her wide sleeves slid down, revealing smooth, snow-white skin that gleamed like pearls in the dim hall.

"Little Mu." The girl swallowed the chicken leg, picked up a bun, and glanced at the boy with shining eyes. She then addressed the old man, "This kid looks a bit like you."

"He's my grandson," Mulin said, wiping away tears. He pulled the boy to his feet. "I'm getting old, and my legs aren't what they used to be. This child will be the next spirit guardian of the Mu clan."

"Mm." The girl stuffed the last of the offering into her mouth, gave Mu Bai a glance, and let out a noncommittal hum. She then raised the still-warm bullet, rubbing her belly while looking at the stunned intruders. Seeing the thick aura of blood and death around them, she swallowed unconsciously.

Ah, food!

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