Chapter 558: Nighttime Anomaly

The rain gradually lessened.

As evening approached, the sky grew ever darker, until even the last trace of grayish light was swallowed by night.

The rain sound shifted from patter to a soft patter, finally leaving only a drip, which fell from the roof's cracks, striking the puddles on the ground and sending up faint ripples.

Yet the chill grew stronger.

The damp cold of the night forest seeped into every crack of this rundown wooden house.

That cold was not a biting chill but a damp, bone‑penetrating yin cold that carried moisture.

Three hunters sat around the fire, its light casting on their dark faces.

They cut several pieces of meat from the game, skewered them on branches, and roasted them over the fire, fat dripping and sizzling.

The two women huddled in the corner, their bodies trembling slightly.

The maid named Xiaochun took off her outer garment and draped it over the young lady, herself shivering so much her lips turned pale.

The young lady reached out to push it back, but Xiaochun stubbornly held her hand and shook her head.

There was no fire before them.

The four young nobles huddled together, having somehow produced a piece of oilcloth; they squeezed into a bundle, barely keeping warm, yet they too had no fire.

Zhao Wen glanced now and then toward the two women, then at Li Er, his eyes flickering.

The hunter who led them—the one who had spoken up for Li Er earlier.

He lifted his head and glanced at the two women, squinting for a moment, then looked at his two companions beside him.

"Lao Zheng," he lowered his voice, "do you see it?"

The hunter called Lao Zhou followed his gaze and nodded.

"Those two girls are freezing enough to make you shiver."

The hunter leader fell silent for a moment, then reached out and pulled two sticks of wood burning brightly from the fire before him.

One end of each stick was aflame, the other still smoking, sparks crackling.

He stood up.

The two women's gazes instantly fell on him.

The gazes of the four young nobles also turned toward him.

The hunter leader strode to the two women, bent down, and placed the burning stick on the ground before them.

The firelight reddened the young lady's cool face and also flushed Xiaochun's delighted eyes.

"Th‑thank you, sir!" Xiaochun nodded repeatedly, her voice choked.

The young lady also lifted her head, gazing at this hunter with a face full of brawn and a menacing air, and said softly:

"Thank you, sir!"

The hunter leader grinned, revealing a few yellow teeth, said nothing, and turned away.

Then he walked over to Li Er.

Li Er was leaning against the wall, eyes narrowed, lost in thought.

Feeling someone approach, he opened his eyes to see the hunter bend down and place another burning stick before him.

Li Er stared for a moment.

The hunter met his gaze, grinned, and spoke in a rough voice:

"Kid, you frozen stiff? Take it."

Li Er looked at the stick, then at him, rose, and bowed:

"Thank you, big brother."

The hunter leader waved a hand, turned back, plopped down beside his two companions, and continued turning his roasted meat.

Behind him, the faces of the four young nobles were a sight to behold.

Zhao Wen stared at the burning stick before Li Er, then at the one before the two women, then at the icy empty space beside him, his throat moving.

He couldn't help but speak:

"Sir—"

The hunter leader turned his head, raised an eyebrow.

Zhao Wen forced a smile, clasped his hands, and said: "Sir, we too would like… to borrow some fire; if you're willing to share, we're ready to pay."

The hunter leader stared at him for two seconds, then snorted.

"Buy?" he said, tone full of mockery, "Not for sale."

Zhao Wen's smile froze on his face.

The hunter leader flipped the meat in his hand and said slowly:

"You've read so much—what did you learn, all those rites and music? You still don't know how to start a fire?"

His two companions burst out laughing.

That laughter echoed in the rundown wooden house, especially grating.

Zhao Wen's face flushed crimson.

The man in brocade beside him trembled with anger, jumped to his feet, pointed at the hunter leader as if to speak, but Zhao Wen grabbed him.

"Is it just about starting a fire?" Zhao Wen gritted his teeth, struggling to keep his composure, "We'll do it ourselves!"

He waved his hand, and with the three others began searching the house for wood.

Though the wooden house was dilapidated, the discarded furniture remained.

They picked a relatively intact wooden table, and together tore it into strips and chunks, crackling as they went.

Then they began to start a fire.

The four crouched there, imitating the hunters, striking two stones together with all their might.

They knocked for a long time, yet not a single spark appeared.

They switched to another method, using wood to bore into wood.

Their palms were rubbed raw from drilling, yet only smoke came out, no fire.

The sky grew darker and darker, until it was completely black.

The four of them were drenched in sweat, squatting before a pile of cold wood, exhausted, cold, hungry, and embarrassed, in utter disarray.

"Hahaha!"

The hunt leader laughed uproariously, almost spilling his meat into the fire.

"Isn't it all about reading? Read! Keep reading! See if you can read the fire out!"

His two companions also laughed, slapping their thighs.

Zhao Wen and the four of them flushed red, wishing they could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

But they said nothing.

They only stewed in their hearts, vowing: when the rain stops, when their men arrive, they'll make those coarse savages pay!

The atmosphere gradually fell silent.

The laughter ceased, leaving only the occasional crackle of the fire and the diminishing rain outside.

Night deepened.

Drowsiness enveloped everyone.

The three hunters began taking turns standing watch.

One stared at the doorway, two leaned against the wall dozing.

The four noble youths mimicked them, also splitting shifts: two kept watch, two slept.

Yet their watch was inattentive.

The two women huddled together for warmth, drifting into deep sleep.

The firelight reflected on the girl's face, softening her brows and eyes.

Li Er did not sleep.

He squinted, watching the burning fire before him.

The flames flickered, bright then dim.

He had no idea what he was thinking.

Just then—

Roar!

A thunderous tiger roar came from outside!

The sound was so close, as if right at the doorway!

Everyone jolted awake instantly!

The sleepers jerked awake, the night guard instantly tensed his body, and drowsiness vanished.

Everyone's gaze swiveled toward the doorway barely covered by the tattered Wooden Door.

The door hung on the verge of collapse, as if something could fling it open at any moment.

The hunt leader's expression changed, but his movements were swift.

He lowered his steps, silently feeling his way to the window, peering out through the crack in the hole.

With just one glance, his complexion changed dramatically.

He turned his head, his lips moving, mouthing a single word—

No sound came, yet everyone understood.

"Tiger!"