Chapter 0003: The Wolf

Hao Ren quickly caught up with her and thought that although this chatty girl was a bit silly, she was quite interesting when she was straightforward. He casually said, "It's fine, I'll take care of the meal. After all, it's just me, whether I make more or less, it's all in one pot."

Lily's expression was already one of great anxiety, and her behavior had become noticeably strange: she placed her large suitcase on the ground with a loud "thud," and then continuously looked up, surveying the surrounding high walls. On either side of this narrow path stood old, dilapidated buildings two to three stories high, which had once symbolized the wealth of the residents during the area's prosperous days. However, time had passed, and the once-glorious buildings had turned into weathered old houses, with only uneven, dark, towering walls blocking both sides of the path, leaving only a narrow strip of night sky visible between the structures.

However, he was absolutely certain that he had just seen a pair of pointed, peculiar ears! He could even clearly recall the appearance of those ears: triangular in shape, perched atop Lily's head, standing upright with great vitality, and covered with beautiful silvery-white fur, there was no mistake! Hao Ren had always been confident in his eyesight and short-term memory.

A girl like a wolf ...? ... Or, in the currently popular way of saying it, beast ear attribute

It was only then that he noticed how close Lily's voice had been. When he turned his head, he found her face just a few inches away from his, her exceptionally bright large eyes staring intently at him. Although beautiful, they were truly startling in the darkness. Hao Ren immediately jumped back more than half a meter and exclaimed, "Let me tell you! I am a serious person!"

Landlord, I apologize for involving you in this, this 'thing' may be coming for me. Suddenly, Lily's voice came from behind Hao Ren, carrying a hint of hoarseness, "You are a good person, better than those I have encountered before, so I will do my best to keep you alive, I promise"

Lily's voice suddenly came from a nearby place, sounding a bit hurried: "Landlord, why don't you go ahead first, I... I will catch up shortly, I still have a few things to take care of"

No! Hao Ren's stubborn temper flared up, and he didn't even bother to discuss what "remember your scent" meant. His expression turned serious as he said, "What if something happens? What if I leave you here in the dark at night? I can't bear it in my heart—why can't you just tell me what the matter is?"

Oh. Lily was walking ahead, carrying a huge box, and she kept talking as she walked, "By the way, landlord, are there any places to eat near you? I haven't eaten anything yet... How about we eat at your place today? I'll pay for the food. Hey landlord, why are you walking behind? You should lead the way, I don't know the route..."

This is his flaw; when he gets nervous, he tends to speak nonsense.

"What did you just say, landlord?" Lily suddenly turned her head to look over, her large eyes sparkling with vitality under the night sky. "What illusions or anything like that?"

But now Lily has nothing on her head, and the scene he just witnessed was indeed quite unusual, so he patted his face and comforted himself by saying, "Why am I so tired today that I'm starting to hallucinate?"

Behind the girl, a bright silver tail emerged from the gap in her clothing, swaying back and forth in the air

If he has a life after today

Hao Renxin said that this girl has really good hearing, as she was able to hear him mumbling so softly just now. However, he did not show it on his face and simply waved his hand casually, saying, "It's nothing, I must have seen it wrong. Let's hurry and go; we need to settle you in for the night."

Not sure if it was just an illusion, Hao Ren noticed a hint of urgency on Lily's face. She looked up at the night sky and sniffed a few times forcefully: "Landlord, you go ahead, I can really keep up with you, I've memorized your scent... Hey, why are you being so fussy? I really have my own things to do!"

Lily's gaze swiftly darted between the high walls, and at the same time, she began to twitch her nose frequently, as if trying to discern some scent from the air, while gently moving her hands and feet. Witnessing this scene, Hao Ren, despite his usual dullness, should have realized that something was amiss. Although he still found the girl before him to be quite peculiar in many aspects, the strange sounds that had echoed in the sky moments ago had already put him on edge, leaving him little room for distraction. Now, seeing Lily's unusual behavior, he naturally understood that she had discovered something: "Liu Lily... what is it?"

"Just call me Lily," the other party said instinctively, then looked at Hao Ren in surprise, "Oh, landlord, why are you still here?"

At first, he could still explain his own nervousness and being 'infected' by Lily's strange behavior, but as time passed, the metallic scent of blood in the air had become so thick that it was almost sweet and nauseating upon opening his mouth. The chilling wind from all directions had turned his breath into frost, and he could no longer trust science and reject superstition; he knew he was encountering something abnormal. In that moment, he suddenly recalled how Lily had urged him to leave in a hurry, remembered how this girl had already shown signs of vigilance when 'everything around was normal,' and thought of how she had remained calm and prepared for any situation. He suddenly understood that this girl, whom he had privately referred to as a 'foolish girl,' was fully aware of what was happening!

"You didn't hear what I just said, did you?" Hao Ren cautiously leaned closer to Lily. Although his tone was relaxed, he had already clenched his fists. He could not discern any abnormalities around him, yet he indeed felt that the atmosphere here had become strange. A faint smell of blood and a chill that was inconsistent with the season were emanating from the dark corners all around—honestly, he felt a bit of tremor in his calves. However, he indeed felt that the atmosphere here had become strange. A faint smell of blood and a chill that was inconsistent with the season were emanating from the dark corners all around—honestly, he felt a bit of tremor in his calves.

It has been mentioned before that Hao Ren is truly a good person—at least he is someone with a normal sense of responsibility. Lily was brought to this place by him, so he feels a sense of duty to ensure her safe return home. Although she is a girl of considerable strength, this does not affect his concern: if something were to happen to her, he would be plagued by a guilty conscience.

He certainly did not believe that it was really a bat, but thought it was just a large bird flying in from somewhere to forage in the residential area: not far from this place is wasteland, and it is not unusual for wild birds to fly into the residential area occasionally. However, he was concerned that Lily might have a negative impression of this place, so he casually reassured her: "Don't worry, it might just be a wild bird that flew in; this place is quite close to the wasteland."

"What on earth is wrong with this world line? How did I end up in this situation..." Hao Ren cautiously looked around, enduring the acrid smell of blood and the pervasive cold, feeling as if his thoughts were slowing down. "Is this really the real world? Where is the promised close encounter with science and a happy life?"

Moreover, he could not understand what significant matter this girl, who had just arrived from out of town, could possibly have to address at this critical moment

This time, he raised his head even faster than before, and thus he truly and vividly saw a shadow resembling a bat, as large as an eagle, streaking across the night sky

Hao Ren did not understand why he could still make sarcastic remarks, but he knew that his life had become much more entertaining

As soon as he finished speaking, the same "flapping" sound that had just echoed with the *picture* book suddenly came from above again

wolf ears

Hao Ren considers himself quite brave, but one cannot ignore the strange situation before him

At times like this, there's no need to play the good guy... Hao Ren's teeth chattered, but he still turned his head to complain. However, after seeing Lily's appearance, he could no longer say a word.

A girl, almost a stranger, stood beside him. Her silver hair cascaded down to her waist, and her beauty was striking, yet she possessed a pair of golden eyes that were entirely unhuman, exuding an unusual aura. Those pale golden pupils glimmered faintly under the night sky, radiating a brilliance that was completely different from the reflection of normal eyes. A pair of silvery, wolf-like ears perked up on her head, occasionally twitching in the cold wind, and they adeptly turned towards every faint sound in the surroundings. Those pale golden pupils glimmered faintly under the night sky, radiating a brilliance that was completely different from the reflection of normal eyes. A pair of silvery, wolf-like ears perked up on her head, occasionally twitching in the cold wind, and they adeptly turned towards every faint sound in the surroundings.

Hao Ren was momentarily stunned, and it was only after Lily walked a certain distance away that he rubbed his eyes vigorously. When he focused again, the girl in front of him was still that ordinary short-haired girl

Hao Ren was taken aback by the words, feeling utterly confused, and casually said: "How can this be? I need to guide you; this place has winding paths, and those who live here can easily get lost... Hey, why are you getting so close?"

Until now, Hao Ren still did not know what was going on. He had heard many urban legends and modern versions of ghost stories, including vengeful spirits in alleys and soul-collecting ghosts at crossroads, but he had always regarded them as mere pastimes during meals. However, what was this now