Chapter 131: I... I Don't Feel Well

Deep in the mountain gully, inside a cramped cave, Bai Yan curled into a ball, clutching her small bundle as soft, whimpering sounds escaped her lips.

She had originally intended to pack her things and set off to find her mother that day. She could track people by scent and had no fear of bad actors, for she possessed great strength. Yet, halfway through her journey, she had sensed a strange change within her body.

It felt as though a fire had been ignited deep inside her, and no matter how hard she tried to suppress it, she could not quench the heat. Back when she was a rabbit, she had experienced minor stirrings every spring, but for reasons unknown, this sensation had magnified manifold since she had taken human form.

Fearing she might cause some unforeseen trouble, Bai Yan had considered turning back to find Jiang Chengyu. However, the thought of Jiang Chengyu perhaps cuddling a big white rabbit in the sun stopped her. Instead, she hurried up the mountain and retreated into the safety of a cave.

Unfamiliar with this sensation, she did not know what to do. She could only huddle there and whimper, though she kept her voice muffled, terrified of attracting anyone. As a human for the first time, she had no idea how to alleviate this distress, and she felt a sense of helplessness she had never known before.

Shen Dongliang had been lingering near the foot of the mountain for days, specifically returning to the site where he had met with trouble. The Shen family was wealthy and influential, and as their only son, he had often been the target of kidnappings and other schemes aimed at extorting money from his father.

It was near this mountain that he had once been kicked repeatedly by a gang of thugs, only to be saved by a pile of large rocks that had suddenly tumbled down. When he had gone to investigate, he had found nothing but a skewer of candied hawthorns. And at this very moment, he was holding two such skewers in his hand.

The fog in the mountains was thick. Even though he had been walking this area for some time, he lost his way. After wandering in circles, he spotted a cave ahead and decided to take shelter inside until the mist cleared.

The cave was narrow. Shen Dongliang had only taken a few steps inside when he saw a small figure curled up in the corner, trembling. As she sensed his presence, her shivering seemed to intensify.

"Can... candied hawthorns?" Bai Yan heard the movement and looked up. The first things to catch her eyes were the two skewers. Her attention seemed to shift instantly, her gaze fixed intently on the treats.

The youth in black noticed her staring at the skewers in his hand. He paused, then held them out toward her. Bai Yan wrinkled her nose and sniffed, but she did not take them.

"They aren't poisoned; I just bought them," the youth explained instinctively, sensing her hesitation. If one listened closely, a faint, excited tremor could be detected in his voice.

Bai Yan shook her head and said to the youth, "I am not feeling well. Could you please go to another cave?" Her expression remained calm as she spoke, betraying none of the inner turmoil she felt.

She had feared he might refuse to leave, but to her surprise, the youth complied quickly upon hearing her request. Before departing, however, he set the two skewers down on a clean, flat rock at the cave's entrance.

Once outside, the youth did not wander far. He kept watch by the entrance, worried that if she were truly unwell, she might need help and no one would be there to find her. He remained in the quiet vigil until the fog finally lifted, yet the two skewers remained untouched.

When he finally moved his stiff legs and went back into the cave to check on her, the person was gone without a trace.