Kaleidoscope of Death Chapter 5: The Dried-up Well

It was practically impossible trudging along the narrow mountain pass due to the heavy snow.

Lin Qiushi was worried that Ruan Baijies body couldnt endure the harsh weather, so he protected her the entire trip. Nearby, Xiao Ke indifferently remarked that their relationship was very good.

Shes a girl. Lin Qiushi replied. Its only natural that you have to be a bit more considerate towards won, you have to treasure them a bit more.

Snuggled delicately against Lin Qiushis back, Ruan Baijie stared at Xiao Ke with a lovely and pitiful expression.

Xiao Kes face was stoic, and she coldly averted her eyes. It seed as though Xiao Ke only held feelings of animosity and dissatisfaction towards Ruan Baijie.

At long last, the ti to cut the trees down arrived, and everyone hopped into action at once. This ti, they chose two trees that werent as thick or bulky. They planned to chop down the trees in one go, so they could be finished with the task by today. Although the weather was freezing, Lin Qiushis body temperature gradually increased; he felt sowhat hot after hacking at the tree for a while. Lin Qiushi reached out to unbutton his coat, and he paused to rest for a while.

Ruan Baijie leaned against the tree beside him and gazed thoughtfully at Lin Qiushi.

Lin Qiushi shot her a glance. What are you looking at?

Ruan Baijie: That ass is quite perky and plump, ah

Lin Qiushi nearly dropped the axe in his hands. He swiveled his head around and stared incredulously at Ruan Baijie. What did you just say?

Ruan Baijie: I didnt say anything. You mustve heard wrong.

Lin Qiushis eyes were filled with skepticism.

Ruan Baijie: How about you repeat what I just said right now?

Lin Qiushi: This girl has already figured out he was too embarrassed, hasnt she?

The two chatted as they cut the trees. Every once in a while, he and the other n would switch so that one could take a break while the other continued on with the task. They finally chopped down two trees before darkness completely enveloped the skies above.

They werent as stressed now that the trees had been cut down; however, the burden of transporting the logs still haunted everyones hearts.

The two teammates who were crushed to death by the log yesterday had already been buried under thick layers of snow. Even if they couldnt see a shadow of their corpses, their tragic appearances were still vivid in their minds.

Dont carry the logs. Xiong Qi instructed. Tie the rope around them and drag them away.

Whos going to drag them? Zhang Zishuang asked.

Xiong Qi responded, The n will be divided into two groups. Everyone will drag them together.

This thod was truly as fair as it could get. Everyone would be doing the sa thing; therefore, if another person died, it was purely because he was ill-fated. No one else would be to bla.

Lin Qiushi didnt utter a sound. He simply stretched out his arm and took the rope from Xiong Qis hand. Without speaking to his other teammates, he promptly began to drag that cumberso log away. Lugging the heavy wood down this narrow mountain path was far more difficult than lifting it. But, in any case, it was safe; an unfortunate accident like before was unlikely to occur again.

Having learned from their previous mistakes, everyone was extrely cautious on their way back. It was only until they left the mountain and reached the carpenters house did they relax their vigilance and breathe a sigh of relief.

Elder. Xiong Qi politely called out. Weve co to deliver the logs.

The wooden door gradually creaked open before stopping abruptly. A second later, a wrinkled, old face erged from between the cracks. Then, the carpenter slowly pushed the door wide open and motioned for them to bring the wood inside.

Elder. Xiong Qi extended his hand and wiped the white flurries from his face. Weve delivered the wood, and we will soon set off to the temple to pray. What do we need to bring?

The old man took a long, interminable drag on the tobacco pipe in his hand and puffed out, sending out a cloud of dense, white smoke into the air. He ambiguously declared, Just take yourselves along, go with people.

Xiong Qi furrowed his brows after he heard what was said.

You must go at night. The old man inford. Once dusk falls, enter the temple one by one. Once you finish worshipping, you can co back out.

There was a subtle change in Ruan Baijies expression upon hearing his requirents. Lin Qiushi assud she would interject and say sothing, but, in the end, she didnt say a word; she rely chuckled softly, and a slight smile played around her lips.

Do we have to go in one by one? Xing Qi seed to think this request was rather strange. Cant we go in together?

Go in together? The old man sneered nastily. You can try.

Thank you very much. Xiong Qi no longer continued asking questions. He turned around and shouted for everyone to leave the carpenters house.

Lin Qiushi had always felt that this man was rather peculiar. He wondered, The villagers wouldnt deceive us, would they?

There are so who would. Xiong Qi confird. However, vital characters generally do not lie. If the hint they give us about the key is misleading or completely off, then wed have absolutely nothing to work with.

And all theyd be capable of doing would be awaiting their deaths, it seed.

Lin Qiushi humd.

After they delivered the logs to the carpenter, they went back to their residence. They then started up a fire and began to discuss the following plans as they ward themselves up.

Halfway through the conversation, Ruan Baijie abruptly announced that she wished to go to the toilet. However, she never returned for a long ti.

Lin Qiushi waited for a while, but he was getting rather worried about her. Imdiately after, he stood up and ran in the direction she headed, only to find no one in the lavatory. After circling the entire house, he finally caught sight of Ruan Baijie sitting by herself next to the mouth of the well.

She seed to have been sitting on the edge of the well for a while now. There was a layer of pure white snow covering the top of her head. Lin Qiushi tentatively called out her na, but Ruan Baijie didnt seem to have heard him. She never even turned her head back.

Ruan Baijie? Lin Qiushi strode towards her. What are you doing here? Its freezing outside.

Dont move. Ruan Baijies suddenly spoke.

Lin Qiushi halted mid-step.

Ruan Baijie frostily stressed, Dont get close to . Her voice was exceptionally cold, as if her usual gentleness had completely vanished. Stay far away from .

Lin Qiushi hesitantly questioned, Whats wrong? Due to his keen senses, he was well aware that the sudden change in Ruan Baijies attitude was directly related to that well beside her.

Ruan Baijie simply shook her head and didnt reply.

Lin Qiushi boldly took two steps towards Ruan Baijie. At a closer distance, he was now able to see the mouth of the well clearly. But the situation didnt look too good. Goosebumps imdiately appeared all over Lin Qiushis body at the sight. The inside of the mouth of the well was layered with sothing black. At first, Lin Qiushi thought it was nothing but water, but no sooner, he discovered those things were languidly squirming around. At that very mont, he was so certain of it, he knew he couldnt have mistaken itthe inside of the well was filled with black hair.

Ruan Baijies feet seed to have gotten entangled in these strands of hair. She couldnt move a single muscle.

Dont co any nearer, Lin Qiushi. Ruan Baijie ordered. You will be pulled down together with .

It doesnt matter. Lin Qiushi voice was extrely soft; he was afraid that if he were any louder, he would disturb that black hair. It doesnt matter. Dont be afraid. I will definitely save you.

Ruan Baijie finally turned her head around to stare straight at Lin Qiushi. Her eyes werent as tender or soft as before. As of this mont, those eyes of hers turned into the depths of the abyss, a bottomless lake that was so deep, so profound. She uttered, Why.

Lin Qiushi told her, Wait for for a bit. Just hold on. He rembered sothing and promptly darted towards the house.

Sitting in the living room, Xiong Qi spotted Lin Qiushi urgently running about. Quite puzzled, he wondered what was going on, but Lin Qiushi simply ignored him and made a beeline for the kitchen.

When he arrived at the kitchen, he picked up so firewood, quickly snatched the flint to light a fire, and whirled on his heels to rush back outside.

It was but a few minutes, but those few minutes seed centuries long. Lin Qiushis hands trembled endlessly as he constantly ignited the wood to create a fla. He was afraid, so afraid that he would return to the edge of the well, only to find it completely empty.

Fortunately, when he ca back with the blazing wood in hand, Ruan Baijie was still sitting there.

Im back. Lin Qiushi panted unevenly. In a mont, Ill co over to you and throw the fire into the well. Grab my handdo not let go.

Ruan Baijie: Are you not afraid?

Lin Qiushi stared at her blankly. Afraid of what?

Ruan Baijie: Of course, what other than death? Are you not afraid of dying?

Lin Qiushi grinned. Who isnt afraid of dying? But there is always sothing more dreadful, more fearso and unbearable, than death itself. Although he had always harbored so doubts and apprehension when it ca to this world, he could still sense that Ruan Baijie had saved him countless tis. In fact, without Ruan Baijie, he mightve been one of those mutilated corpses on the first night.

Okay, Im coming over now. Lin Qiushi was scared of delaying any longer. Ruan Baijie was physically weak, and she didnt have the strength to endure. He carefully moved forward step by step, gradually tiptoeing towards Ruan Baijie.

When he was close enough, he imdiately grabbed Ruan Baijies hand, then flung that torch in his hand on the writhing hair.

Ahhh! The broken, mournful shrieks of a woman sounded from inside the well. The hair was lit on fire, and it violently wriggled about. Amidst the flurry, Lin Qiushi unexpectedly spotted a deathly pale face in that well. Although it was rely a split-second, Lin Qiushi still recognized that visage; it was the sa face he had seen in the house once before, the face of the ghost who had disguised herself with Ruan Baijies voice on that first night.

Run for it!! The mont Ruan Baijie broke free from the hair, Lin Qiushi took ahold of her hand and hauled her to her feet. While dragging her behind, he started running away from the well.

Ruan Baijie didnt resist. With Lin Qiushi taking the lead and acting fast, the two individuals charged into the house, then frantically huffed for air.

Whats the matter? The people in the house were beyond startled.

Theres sothing inside the well Lin Qiushi wheezed out between his rugged gasps for breath. Everyone, stay far away from that well. Baijie was nearly dragged down just now. After he finished advising them, he turned to look at Baijie and asked her whether she was hard.

Its nothing. Ruan Baijie replied. Im alright.

Lin Qiushi cast a glance at her feet, and he actually saw a ring of crimson blood winding around Ruan Baijies ankles; the blood slowly trickled down to the floors. He countered, You call this nothing? Hurry up and sit down. Ill bandage it for you.

Ruan Baijie seed to have just realized she was injured. She cocked her head to one side, then finally complied with Lin Qiushis orders. She obediently sat down on a chair.

Lin Qiushi found so dicine and gauze in the room. Half-kneeling before Ruan Baijie, he lightly set her foot on his knee, then gingerly began treating her wound. His movents were so attentive and gentle, he seed quite worried about accidentally hurting Ruan Baijie.

Are you always this careful and gentle with girls? Ruan Baijie suddenly asked.

As if this has anything to do with girls. Lin Qiushi casually replied without hesitation. Even if you are a man, would that give any reason to be rough with you?

Ruan Baijie: I see

Lin Qiushi continued blabbering on without consideration. Are you truly not male? Youre so tall, and your chest is so flat. However, Ruan Baijie was undoubtedly too beautiful. Needless to say, Lin Qiushi didnt believe such a stunning man could exist in the world.

Yeah. Ruan Baijie lanted. My chest still isnt as big as yours, apparently.

Lin Qiushi:

Ruan Baijie: And my ass also isnt as plump and fine as yours.

Lin Qiushi: Just why are you like this, your words are too much.

Ruan Baijie giggled mischievously.

Lin Qiushi helped Ruan Baijie treat her wound, and then explained to Xiong Qi and the others about the ordeal they went through. The others reactions were fairly mild, but Xiong Qis and Xiao Kes faces were very ugly. Theyd obviously recalled the old mans words regarding the final step to creating the coffinto fill the well.

What exactly did a coffin have to do with a well? Was this perhaps a custom unique to this village or was it a trap that the carpenter had laid out for them?

Ruan Baijie seed to know what Xiong Qi was brooding over, and she smiled. You dont have to think so much about it. What you should do, how you should go about doing it, why you should do it, such things in life have already been determined.

Xiong Qi exhaled slightly. We plan to visit the temple tonight to pay our respects. Would you like to join us?

? Ruan Baijie paused. My foots injured, and I cant walk on the road. Qiushi, carry on your back.

Lin Qiushi nodded his head.

Beside him, Xiao Ke opened her mouth. How could an injury like that affect your ability to walk by yourself on the road?

Ruan Baijie wasnt the least bit angered by her words. She rely directed a sweet smile in her direction and purred, Dear sister, you must bear with my excessiveness. I was quite pampered and spoiled at ho since childhood. Naturally, I ca to be a bit more delicate than most.

Xiao Ke hissed, Youre testing Lin Qiushis temper, continuing to take advantage of his good will. Not a single person in this world within this door knows who you are, so for what reason should they indulge you?

Oh, and here I suspected that you and Xiong Qi knew each other. As if she couldnt care any less for the business of others, Ruan Baijie nonchalantly revealed such a sentence.

But who wouldve imagined that Xiao Ke and Xiong Qis expressions would change so fast at this one sentence. Their eyes imdiately held more vigilance.

Lin Qiushi instantly detected a change in the atmosphere.

What are you suggesting by saying this? Xiao Ke demanded.

Im not suggesting anything. Ruan Baijie coolly answered. I simply think you two have such a wonderful relationship, nothing more it couldnt be that you two truly know each other, right?

How could that possibly be? Xiao Ke looked terribly uncomfortable.

Ruan Baijie sniggered. But, contrary to expectations, she didnt continue with this topic.

Of course, Xiao Ke also didnt continue to hound Ruan Baijie. She no longer tried to stop Ruan Baijie from making Lin Qiushi carry her on his back to the temple. With a pallid complexion, she turned on her heels and stomped away.