The caravan took up residence next to the house where the witcher had stayed, and although the witcher claimed he would not help, it was undoubtedly safer than anywhere else.

The hired men piled their goods in an empty house and herded the horses into the long-abandoned stables, far from where they lived.

The witchers warned them not to make a sound when night came.

But animals don't obey.

More than thirty people crowded into the hall of the lords of the former town.

The dusty tables and chairs were split with axes to be used as firewood, and the bonfires lit reflected the anxious faces.

Malov wrung out his soaked clothes in silence and listened to Tudo tell his companions how he was brave enough to fight alongside him and kill evil spirits.

The caravan's master, Minovich, did not stop Tudo, a scout with a knack for exaggerating and descriptively describing the oppressive atmosphere in the hall.

By comparison, Malov is a far cry from the crowd.

He sat alone in the corner, ate a large piece of cured meat, a quarter of a loaf of bread, and washed the unpalatable food down with a quart of ale.

Even in the process of eating, he still had one free hand, clutching the heavy bronze cross.

It was already completely dark, but it was still afternoon.

The storm blurs the line between day and night.

Tudo sat down across from Malov, and he smiled and said, "Malov, don't be so sad, the witcher also said that as long as we don't make a sound, we will be fine." ”

"I hope so. ”

Malouf stroked the cross in his hand, and he didn't know how many times he repeated it, and its copper surface was almost pulped.

"I just don't think it's a smart move to have so many people huddled together. ”

"I gather everyone's strength together so that I don't get broken by each of them!"

Hearing that someone was questioning his decision, Minovic, who had been paying attention to it, sat down.

Malov sneered: "But at the same time, it also means that we can easily be caught in one go, and as long as one person makes a move, everyone will be implicated." ”

The pot-bellied merchant looked around and lowered his voice, "Mr. Maroff, I have seen many vicious ghosts, but they kill at most one person at a time, and ghosts are much easier to get along with than robbers in this world. ”

Malov lowered his head, took out a jar of unknown powder, and applied it to the cross.

He didn't raise his head and said, "If you've ever seen a truly terrifying evil spirit, you'll definitely retract this assessment." ”

Minovic snorted.

He stood in the doorway and glanced out.

The wind and rain did not stop for a moment.

The water even flooded the entire courtyard, and the sky was so dark that it was impossible to tell the time.

He pondered for a moment, stood in the center of the crowd, and said loudly, "It's going to be dark soon, and everyone must heed the warning of the witcher - from now on, whoever makes the slightest noise, I will guarantee that this person will never be able to speak again!"

"It's early, sir. ”

Someone questioned.

Keng——

Minovich drew his saber and cursed angrily, "Bobbit, you chattering toad, stupid and brainless bastard, if you don't shut your mouth now, I guarantee you'll be reunited with your chattering mother in hell right away." ”

The fat man's fierce performance succeeded in intimidating the caravan members.

He said coldly: "Now, go to sleep immediately, I want you to be as quiet as a dead man, if you can't do it, I will turn you into a dead man!"

People lay down one after another, and soon it fell silent.

Minovic looked around, pleased with his performance, and he glanced defiantly at Malov and saw that the exorcist was closing his eyes and his lips were buzzing, as if in prayer.

He found a relatively dry spot, laid down a tablecloth, and slept with his clothes.

The sweltering heat causes many people to lose sleep, and even though the daytime experience has made everyone tired, the bad environment is still difficult to overcome.

Especially since they all remembered that the witcher had said that it was better for them to sleep more deeply at night.

If it was normal, they wouldn't need to be reminded that they could do it completely, but the more they think about it now, the more difficult it is to fall asleep.

As the minutes ticked by, the sound of rain outside the window gradually stopped, and the temperature in the hall gradually climbed.

Sticky sweat seeped through Tudo's shirt.

He subconsciously wanted to reach out and scratch, but he didn't even dare to make a move, so he quietly rolled over - fortunately, no one noticed him.

His thoughts were flying, and his mental and ** were both exhausted, tormenting him so much that he wanted to fall asleep, but also worried that he would be killed by evil spirits in his sleep.

"Tudo, are you asleep?"

In a trance, someone whispered in his ear.

"It's dawn, it's time to speak. ”

Seeing that he did not respond, the voice repeated again.

Tudo opened his eyes, and it was still pitch black.

Oh my god it's dawning

He just wanted to speak, but a layer of cold sweat suddenly oozed from his back.

Because he realized that the voice just now was not owned by any one of the caravanserais.

Hoarse, dry, without the slightest emotion.

It's more like a dead man talking!

He didn't even dare to move, his eyes rolling, trying to find the source of the sound with his peripheral vision.

Everyone slept deeply, and no one leaned into their ears to speak.

It's an illusion

No, it must be an evil spirit tempting me to make a noise!

Fear swept over the world, and Tudo prayed silently in his heart, his facial expression distorted by the sudden horror.

The cries continued, but the source was nowhere to be found.

Finally, he heard the voice get closer.

The cold breath blew on the side of his face, and he could even imagine a shriveled, skinny evil spirit hovering over him, watching him.

He tried his best to pretend to be sleeping deadly, but the cold sweat that kept dripping down his forehead had already betrayed him.

"Tudo, it's dawn, it's time to speak......"

The voice repeated.

"Tudo... It's time to talk, it's time for us to go. ”

Gradually, the sound faded away.

Tudo breathed a sigh of relief, and his heart, which was about to jump into his throat, gradually fell back into his chest.

He quietly opened a slit in his eyes and scanned the surroundings with his peripheral vision—it was indeed gone.

As soon as he breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, a miserable white face suddenly appeared in front of him, and between the wet hair, there were droplets of water.

Its mouth opened and closed in a mechanical sound, and a black tongue trickled the viscous liquid down his cheek.

It was a cold, rotten liquid.

"It's dawn, it's time to speak. ”

As if sensing that Tudo was looking at it, the corners of its mouth slowly tugged at a smug smile.

"You're awake, can you talk to me?"