Chapter 556: Don't Go Out When It Gets Dark

"It has been many years since the clan has seen an outsider, and especially a talented young man as handsome and refined as you!"

Looking at Shen Yu, the old man was more satisfied the more he looked; if nothing else, this unique temperament was definitely not something that could be cultivated by someone from the wilderness.

"It is no wonder that Su Er and the others, who have eyes higher than the top of their heads, would take a fancy to you; you truly have extraordinary qualities!"

"You can choose one of the two of them; of course, if there are other young women willing to give you their handkerchiefs, you can also choose one from among them!"

"Grandpa, wouldn't that be inappropriate?"

With beauty right before his eyes, and the kind that required no responsibility—especially since these young women each had their own merits—it was truly full of temptation.

Shen Yu admitted he was almost moved; if it weren't for the hurdle in his own heart, he would have agreed to it no matter what.

"What is inappropriate about it? You're a young man, stop dawdling like a woman."

"How about this, I'll make the decision: I'll have them wait in a room, and whichever one you take a fancy to, you can just carry her away!"

"Wait a moment, Grandpa, this, this..."

"It's just to leave behind some seed, you don't have to be responsible for anything, what are you afraid of? Scholars are so troublesome, acting all righteous every day, not straightforward at all!"

"Grandpa, that's not what you said just now; why do you change your face as soon as you say you will?"

Looking at the handkerchief in his hand, Shen Yu was even a little shaken. To have such beauties throwing themselves into his arms—he wanted to refuse, but the temptation was too great.

"Forget it, if you aren't willing, then forget it!" Seeing Shen Yu fall into hesitation, the old man lost interest and waved his hand at him.

"Such things cannot be forced. I also know that you scholars like to cultivate feelings under the flowers and the moon."

"As the saying goes, a twisted melon is not sweet; it's just a pity for Su Er and the others, finally finding someone they are moved by, only for him to not look favorably upon them..."

Facing the old man's sour expression, Shen Yu just gave a sheepish smile.

I had almost convinced myself, and now you tell me to forget it—what can I do? I am also very helpless!

Also, Grandpa, do you have a misunderstanding about scholars? With beauty right before their eyes, how many can actually hold themselves back?

All that talk of love at first sight, followed by flirting under the flowers and the moon—bah, it's clearly all just lust at first sight.

If the person were ugly, see if they would go flirt under the flowers and the moon; they would have run off without a trace long ago. If they ran into two sharp-tongued ones, they might even curse them for being a toad lusting after a swan's flesh.

"Come, I have a spare room there; you can stay here for these few days!"

Seeing that Shen Yu had not made a decision, the old man did not force him, taking him back to his own home and giving him one of the rooms.

"We will build you a house in a few days, and from now on, you can put down roots here!"

"You are a person of principle; such a person is not a bad person!" Nodding at Shen Yu, the old man was more satisfied the more he looked at him.

"We have many good girls here; if you take a fancy to any of them, just tell me directly, and Grandpa will play matchmaker for you!"

"Then thank you, Grandpa!" So you were testing me before; if I had been impatient and agreed just now, would you have turned hostile immediately?

"By the way, young man, what is your name? Are you a Xiucai?"

"My name is Shen Yu, courtesy name Hengzhi, a Metropolitan Graduate from the eighth year of Jinglong."

"A Metropolitan Graduate, indeed, you have learning!" Leading Shen Yu inside, the old man appeared quite enthusiastic. He had thought he was a Cultivated Talent, but he didn't expect a Metropolitan Graduate—what a gain!

If such a person doesn't leave behind some seed, wouldn't that be a pity!

This is a little white rabbit that has entered a wolf's den; can he still run away? Who knows, there is plenty of time in the future. Men, after all, I don't believe there are any who aren't lustful.

"Grandpa, have you always lived here? Have you never been out?"

While tidying up the room, Shen Yu asked casually, while his ears were quietly pricked up.

"That's right, we have put down roots here for many years, generation after generation in this place; I am very familiar with every blade of grass and every tree here!"

"This place is isolated from the world; the clan records only mention that occasionally someone would accidentally stumble in, but I have never heard of anyone being able to get out."

"Is that so!" Nodding, Shen Yu then asked as if unintentionally, "Then, Grandpa, do you know if there is anything abnormal about this place?"

"Abnormal places?" The old man looked at him, as if he wanted to say something, but didn't know how to start.

Seeing the old man's hesitant expression, Shen Yu felt anxious for him and immediately comforted him, "Grandpa, if you have something to say, just say it."

"Since you have come here and will live here from now on, there is one thing I must warn you about; you must keep it in mind!"

"Grandpa, just say it, I will definitely keep it in my heart!"

"Good!" Taking a deep breath, the smile that was originally on the old man's face disappeared, replaced by a look of gravity and sorrow.

"Your name is Shen Yu, so I'll call you Little Shen. Little Shen, living here, you just need to remember one thing!"

"At night, you must go to sleep early; do not go out, and do not be curious about what is happening outside."

"Close the doors and windows tightly; no matter what you hear or see, you must never walk out!"

"Grandpa, why is that?"

"Sigh!" The old man let out a deep sigh and then said, "To tell you the truth, strange things have been happening here since who knows when."

"Every night, we fall into a deep sleep, and we are guaranteed to sleep until dawn without even having a dream!"

"But the next day, the clan will discover that someone has gone missing for no reason, and from then on, they can never be found; even if they are found, it is inevitably a corpse."

"Some people inexplicably have many wounds on their bodies, and some young virgins are even defiled and humiliated at night, or even covered in wounds!"

"That strange?" Frowning slightly, this was just too eerie.

"Has no one ever tried to investigate the cause?"

"How could they not? Ever since these things started happening, our clan has selected several experts to keep watch at night."

"However, when the next day came, those who kept watch were also sleeping on the ground, and they were all covered in wounds, and several had even gone missing."

"Afterward, the clan selected another group of people, but the result was exactly the same. After several times like this, nothing was discovered, and quite a few people died."

"Gradually, we gave up; fortunately, everything is fine during the day!"

Seeming to recall something he didn't want to mention, the old man's face showed a bit more sorrow, but it was quickly hidden away.

Afterward, he looked at Shen Yu with concern and said, "Therefore, at night, lock the doors and windows tightly and go to sleep early; you will sleep until dawn and remember nothing of the night."

"If you are safe and sound during the day, then you are truly safe and sound!"

"Grandpa, is it like this every single night?"

"Yes, it is like this every night. During the day, we can do whatever we want, and there is no danger at all."

"But when night falls, even if you lock yourself in your house, or even if you find a very hidden place to hide, it is of no use."

"Whatever is meant to happen, there is no way to avoid it!"

"Is that so?" Looking at the old man before him, Shen Yu wanted to see something in his expression. But from beginning to end, he only saw sincerity in his eyes.

This old man was not lying, and when mentioning the night, he was clearly afraid; it was a fear that came from the depths of his heart.

"Little Shen, since you are here, settle in. Don't be afraid, the people here are very hospitable. Besides, you will be one of us soon enough; you'll be fine once you get used to it!"

"They are indeed very hospitable; I had two young women offer to share my bed as soon as I arrived. This kind of enthusiasm is more than anyone can handle!"

With beauty right before him, he still managed to restrain himself; his willpower was truly nothing to sneeze at. At this moment, with the light shining upon him, Shen Yu felt he had become much more imposing.