"You must have seen it wrong," Ji Lianyan murmured.
Was it his illusion?
Or was Ji Lianyan so fearless that even ghosts dared not reveal themselves in front of him?
Tang Ning looked at the deep well. At this moment, Ji Lianyan filled the bucket on the pole without joining him to look. Tang Ning stared at the rippling surface of the ancient well, and in his mind, his own face submerged in the well water surfaced.
Vaguely, he saw his own reflection in the water.
The pitch-black well looked like a monstrous mouth, ready to devour him skin and bone at any moment.
Fear flooded over him like a tide. Tang Ning was intensely uneasy for a moment. He kept breathing deeply to calm himself, inhaling air in large gulps. However, the oppressive feeling in his chest only increased, like a big stone weighing on him.
"Why are you still staring at this well?" Ji Lianyan had already lifted the pole with the bucket full of water, swaying slightly. Tang Ning turned to look at Ji Lianyan. Red lanterns hung on the trees around them, and the light fell on the water. At first glance, it seemed like blood droplets rippling in the water, or two heads hanging in the air, swaying.
The face on those heads suddenly turned into Tang Ning crying, then instantly transformed into Ji Lianyan smiling.
Tang Ning couldn't help but take a step back. The swaying heads turned back into an ordinary water bucket. The dim light from the red lanterns illuminated Ji Lianyan's picturesque face. Ji Lianyan looked at Tang Ning with some concern, "Are you okay?"
Tang Ning blinked. Ji Lianyan was still that good-looking Ji Lianyan, and the water bucket remained just a regular water bucket. Perhaps he was too nervous, causing hallucinations.
Tang Ning recalled reading on a forum about players with low courage experiencing a drop in sanity after one or two missions, associating everyday things with terrifying images. The red light around them, especially the red lanterns carried by people like the paper bearers he encountered before, contributed to this loss of sanity.
Tang Ning surveyed the surroundings, looking at the red dots in the darkness. When he first entered the village, every household had red lanterns hanging. Initially, Tang Ning thought it was because of his upcoming marriage to Ji Lianyan, and the villagers had hung red lanterns for atmosphere.
But now, thinking about it, something seemed off.
Why would an entire village hang red lanterns just because one household was getting married?
Not only on the houses but also on the trees, red lanterns hung, emitting an eerie red glow in the pitch-black night.
"Ji Lianyan," Tang Ning asked cautiously, "Why is your village filled with red lanterns?"
"Because our village had a temple fair recently, and every household hangs red lanterns to seek protection from spirits," Ji Lianyan explained to Tang Ning.
"A temple fair?" Tang Ning was unfamiliar with the concept.
"Yes, it's lively. Villagers participate, each family contributes offerings. We perform rituals during the day, and at night, we walk around the village with lanterns," Ji Lianyan explained, resting after taking a step with the water-filled pole.
"Do you also carry lanterns around the village?" Tang Ning doubted Ji Lianyan could keep up with the pace.
"I rest at home and don't participate in these activities," Ji Lianyan replied, resting in place before preparing to continue carrying water. Tang Ning quickly offered, "Let me help you carry."
This would be his protective charm for the next seven days. He had to build enough goodwill, especially after not letting Ji Lianyan get tired.
"You might not be able to handle it," Ji Lianyan refused.
"I've been watching you for a while. Just leave it here, okay?" Tang Ning patted his shoulder, hesitantly picked up the pole. As soon as it rested on his shoulder, a sharp pain shot through. Ignoring the pain, Tang Ning stood up. The water bucket swayed uncontrollably, unlike when it was on Ji Lianyan's shoulder.
Droplets splashed from the wooden bucket, and Tang Ning tried to tame the pole.
"How about this," Ji Lianyan suggested to the stubborn Tang Ning, "Each of us carries a water bucket, what do you think?"
Tang Ning was afraid of accidentally spilling water and hesitated before nodding in agreement.
Ji Lianyan poured water from one bucket into another, lightening the load. He handed the less heavy water bucket to Tang Ning.
As they walked together, Ji Lianyan carefully reminded Tang Ning to watch his step. He escorted Tang Ning to the water-boiling area, where they set down the two buckets to heat.
Tang Ning had never thought boiling hot water would be so troublesome. Without signal in the village, he couldn't check on other players...
In truth, Tang Ning didn't have much sentiment for those players.
He knew that when danger struck, he would likely be abandoned. There was no blame in survival being everyone's priority.
He just didn't want to see others in trouble or leave. He didn't want to be left alone in this mission. He was just too lonely.
Tang Ning covered his chest, taking deep breaths. Only with these deep breaths could he feel a bit of relief.
"Do you feel tightness in your chest, having difficulty breathing?" Ji Lianyan's inquiry suddenly reached Tang Ning's ears.
Tang Ning hesitated and nodded. Since entering this game, he always felt some emotional pressure on his chest, making breathing difficult.
Ji Lianyan bent his fingers, tapping the central point on Tang Ning's chest lightly. With just a gentle tap, Tang Ning gasped in pain, "It hurts."
Confused and somewhat aggrieved, Tang Ning looked at Ji Lianyan, as if questioning why he made him suffer.
"This is the Shanzhong acupoint, where vital energy converges. Tapping here can alleviate chest pain and palpitations," Ji Lianyan explained while accurately tapping several times. Tang Ning was in pain, wanting to shrink back, but Ji Lianyan embraced his waist, whispering, "Don't move."
"It hurts so much," Tang Ning's tears were about to fall, and his lower lip was bitten white.
"It hurts before it gets better; endure it," Ji Lianyan's tone was gentle. His movements weren't forceful, but despite his restraint, Tang Ning's overly delicate body still shivered uncontrollably with each tap, trembling.
Even though it was so painful, Tang Ning obediently endured without moving, even suppressing the whimpering sounds like a docile kitten, making people's hearts soften.
After dozens of taps, Ji Lianyan asked softly, "Is your chest still tight now?"
Having endured the pain for so long, Tang Ning was a bit slow to register the lingering discomfort in his chest. He used to feel breathless and an overall oppressive pain, but now, the most intense pain was on his skin.
Hesitantly, his fingers touched his chest. Something magical happened – Tang Ning actually felt the oppressive air that had been weighing on his chest disappeared.
Tang Ning's eyes still held a hint of forced tears. He looked at Ji Lianyan with a soft and teary voice, "Not tight anymore."
Just a little painful.
However, this kind of skin injury, though uncomfortable, was much more bearable than the stifling pain inside his body.
"In the future, when you feel uncomfortable, tap this point yourself," Ji Lianyan gently advised, "Don't be too anxious; people can't endure it that way."
At this moment, Ji Lianyan was very gentle.
Gently enough that Tang Ning couldn't help but want to get close. He could never refuse a gentle person.
Gurgle, gurgle.
The water had boiled.
Ji Lianyan poured the boiling water into a wooden tub, adding some herbs. Carrying the hot water bucket into the room, Ji Lianyan couldn't help but cough. Wisps of steam wafted from the tub, filling the small house with the fragrance of herbs.
"Come, have a seat," Ji Lianyan arranged the new clothes as a cushion for Tang Ning. Tang Ning suggested, "I can sit on the bed."
After arranging the cushion, Ji Lianyan said extremely softly, "I will definitely provide you with better things in the future."
Tang Ning didn't hear clearly. He looked at Ji Lianyan in confusion. Ji Lianyan pointed to the cushion, and with Tang Ning's reluctant agreement, he sat on the clean shirt.
Tang Ning thought about taking off his shoes, but Ji Lianyan, kneeling on the ground, did it naturally.
He first rolled up Tang Ning's pants, revealing a section of snowy-white calves. Just being gently held caused Tang Ning, whose legs were touched only slightly, to subconsciously want to shrink.
"I'll press on the acupoints on your feet," Ji Lianyan took off Tang Ning's shoes and socks, grabbing Tang Ning's sole. Some people have sensitive soles, but sensitivity to touch, as in Tang Ning's case, was rare.
"No, no need," Tang Ning hurriedly said. His voice trembled, not intimidating at all but rather making people feel itchy.
"Have you been having trouble sleeping recently?" Ji Lianyan asked.
The corners of Tang Ning's eyes were already tinged with a faint pink, like applying rouge. He nodded slightly in response to Ji Lianyan's question.
"After I press on them, you'll sleep well," Ji Lianyan said gently.
"Really?" Tang Ning wanted to refuse, but the words stopped in his throat.
"Yes, I'll press your feet now, and before bedtime, I'll massage your whole body. You'll definitely sleep well," Ji Lianyan assured. "Trust me."
Tang Ning couldn't hear what Ji Lianyan was saying at this point. Sweat covered his forehead, and his eyes looked like pools covered in mist. Each time Ji Lianyan pinched his feet, a ripple would pass through the watery glint in his eyes. The hot air filled the small space, and under the candlelight, two intertwined shadows projected onto the wall—
Bang.
The door, not fully closed, was suddenly pushed open. Ji Ke, holding a set of red wedding attire, stood stunned in the doorway, staring at the scene before him in disbelief.
Tang Ning's delicate face blushed, and his entire body slumped on the bed. His slender hand hung over the bed edge, fingertips tinged with a hint of pale pink, like dewdrops on a flower bud.
But the more eye-catching sight was the bare feet resting in Ji Lianyan's hands, dotted with red spots from the toes to the ankles. Crystal-clear water droplets splashed on the water's surface, creating concentric ripples.
Seeming to sense the disturbance, the half-asleep Tang Ning looked towards him, his hazy and bewildered eyes carrying an unconscious allure.
"Everything is almost ready. We can get married now," Ji Ke's voice was dry.