5 AM. Sky dimly bright. Early birds successively hopped onto branches, chirping discussions about where to catch bugs today.
Luo Wei was woken by birdsong from the forest. She struggled to open heavy eyelids, seeing the pale sky, groggily turning over.
Last night's fire hadn't extinguished. Caesar was adding firewood. Vina sat beside him dozing.
Luo Wei pressed her temples. Blurry vision gradually cleared.
She saw Vina's head nodding bit by bit, upper body constantly leaning forward. Probably in a few seconds she'd dive into the fire.
Caesar kept adding firewood. Looking at his sleepwalking movents and expression, expecting him to wake Vina was impossible.
Luo Wei sighed, sitting up to tell them both: "Caesar, Vina—wake everyone. Ti to do the task."
Give them sothing to do. Clear their heads.
Both bodies trembled. Dazed eyes instantly widened, looking at Luo Wei, nodding vigorously: "O-okay, do the task..."
Minutes later, everyone lying on the ground was called up.
Everyone yawned, rubbing bleary eyes, beginning to pack luggage on the ground.
"Everyone split up to call people. Get all villagers here," Luo Wei said. "While morning's cool, let's finish the task quickly and depart. When afternoon's hottest, we'll find shade to rest."
"Yes, Captain!"
Everyone showed enthusiasm about doing tasks.
"Natiavida, Joan—you stay to watch the glutton beast and horses. Also boil hot soup. We'll eat breakfast before departing."
"Okay."
After assigning duties, Luo Wei walked with five classmates toward scattered earthen houses in the village.
Midway, she had everyone take out swords.
"Can't be too trusting. Our team has mostly girls. Holding swords provides deterrence."
"Don't go knock on doors. Beware people inside suddenly opening doors to attack with sticks. Stand outside and shout twice. If no one cos out, I'll think of sothing."
Luo Wei instructed ticulously.
Vina swung her sword twice, making "whoosh whoosh" sounds: "Which peasant dares hit —I'll stab them with one sword!"
Luo Wei flicked her forehead hard. The force was so great a swollen bump imdiately rose on Vina's forehead.
"Ow!" Vina cried out in pain, tears spurting. Feeling her head buzzing, she covered her forehead and began wailing: "Wuu wuu, you hit !"
"Behave yourself. Don't cause trouble for everyone," Luo Wei warned. "This isn't Golus City. Even if you're nobility, you can't escape after hurting people."
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"Wuu wuu, I—I was just saying. I didn't hurt anyone, yet you hit ..." Vina sobbed.
Luo Wei's voice was stern: "Saying isn't allowed either. Don't you know words can hurt people too?"
Especially dismissive language—sounded harsh. She didn't like it.
"Waaah—" Vina cried harder.
"Shut up. Cry more and I'll sew your mouth! Hurry and call people." Luo Wei said coldly.
Vina covered her mouth tightly, hiccupping from crying, grabbing her sword and running off whimpering.
Luo Wei watched her run straight toward a household, silently stopping her footsteps.
She wanted to hear how Vina called people. She'd never done this either. Sowhat couldn't open her mouth.
Vina walked sadly to an earthen house door. Thinking Luo Wei hit her because of these villagers, all grievance transford into anger. She vented on the wooden stump by the door.
"Co out!" She struck the stump with one sword, eyes fiercely looking at the wooden door. "Co out, hear ! Don't co out and I'll split your door in half!"
Faint chaotic sounds ca from inside the earthen house, but the door still didn't open.
Vina raised her chin, snorting coldly: "Bunch of cowards!"
"People inside listen—we've already caught the village monster. Tied at the village entrance. All co out and see what you're actually afraid of."
"Don't co out and I'll release it to scare you to death!"
The earthen house quieted, then whispered voices sounded.
Vina waited impatiently. Just about to kick the door, the wooden door creaked open.
The door-opener was a forty-sothing man. Seeing the cold gleaming sword Vina held, he stumbled in fright, fearfully bowing to beg forgiveness.
"War-warrior, please calm down, calm down. We'll go out right away, right away..."
Vina didn't even glance at him. Sheathing her sword, she commanded: "You go call others out too. Move quickly! We still have to travel after finishing!"
Hearing she said they'd travel, the man's raised heart settled sowhat. He quickly nodded: "Yes yes yes, I'll go imdiately, imdiately!"
Vina glanced at him, carrying her sword, unhappily turning to walk back.
"What kind of people? Didn't even say thanks. I didn't sleep well all night..." she muttered.
The man behind broke into cold sweat. Just now she looked ready to attack. How could he think to give thanks?
Besides, whether the monster was really caught he didn't know. The village chief hired help from town who'd tried exorcising several tis with no effect. Could these young people be better?
But these people held swords—clearly not to be trifled with. The man felt bitter. No choice but to call out able-bodied n from each household. Walking together gave courage.
As for elderly, weak, won, and children at ho—all still hiding in cellars. The man didn't dare let them out.
Luo Wei didn't stop Vina's forceful approach. Mainly this thod really worked.
Other classmates' nice words couldn't bring people out. She got results in two or three moves, also directed that man to call out over ten people.
Though each household only sent one person, those who ca out either hid tools in sleeves or gripped sticks—but their purpose was achieved.
A group of villagers ca to the village entrance, looking around for the monster Luo Wei's group ntioned. Result—only saw a small black beast tied to a wooden stake.
Vina now grew bolder. No longer afraid the wolverine would bite her neck. Hands on hips, she kicked the wolverine's butt.
The wolverine made weird sounds. Villagers hearing felt it familiar. Body hair stood on end.
"Hear that? Is this the sound you heard at night before?"
Villagers looked at each other.
"Sounds a bit similar..."
"No, it's so small. That monster could swallow my sheep in one bite!"
"Also ate all my chickens. Blood splattered everywhere!"
"Not this one. Definitely not. What I heard at night was clearly a person."
Villagers didn't believe. After discussing, they all shook their heads.
"Listen!" Vina walked back and forth before villagers, pointing at the wolverine, raising her chin: "This guy's na is glutton beast. Eats at without spitting bones. It can even eat large deer—can't eat a few sheep and chickens?"
"Whoa!" Villagers made frightened sounds.
Large deer were much bigger than sheep. One adult could weigh hundreds of pounds!
This little guy called "glutton beast"—could really eat such large prey?
Vina wouldn't explain the details because she didn't know them herself. She genuinely believed what she said.
Luo Wei didn't correct her either. Let everyone believe it—quite good. Saved trouble.
Finally, several villagers went ho to bring large bones, throwing them by the wolverine's mouth to test.
The wolverine tied up all night was already starving. One bite crushed the bone to fragnts, scaring villagers back several steps.
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