I raised stunning young ladies, but they all wanted to possess me.

The adoptive mother's voice was closer, almost right above her head.

"Probably not, they were wrapped in several layers of plastic bags."

"It's also wrapped in a waterproof tarpaulin, so rats can't bite it and wild cats can't drag it away."

"But I think I heard a sound from the very back just now."

She paused for a moment, a pause that seemed to freeze the air.

"Could someone have come in?"

After those words were spoken, the room fell into complete silence.

Even the sound of breathing disappeared, and even the dripping sound in the corner became exceptionally jarring.

Gu Yan gripped the Demon-Suppressing Blade tightly, her knuckles turning white.

The hilt of the knife was burning hot from his grip.

He felt his heartbeat pounding in his ears like a drum.

He was even afraid that his heartbeat would give away his location.

The light stopped in the middle of the steps and didn't shine down any further.

The light from that lamp just missed the corner of the wall; the edge of the light was less than a meter away from them.

A few seconds later, the adoptive father's voice rang out again.

"That kid surnamed Gu is staying here tonight."

"Could it be him, the one Wanqing brought back?"

The foster mother paused for a moment, then lowered her voice.

"Go check Wanqing's room and make sure."

"If it really is him, this will be difficult to handle."

These words were like an ice needle piercing Gu Yan's back.

He froze, cold sweat streaming down his forehead.

Going to Wanqing's room would completely expose the truth.

There was only one pillow on the bed, and the area under the blanket was empty.

The person is gone, the knife is gone, everything is gone.

Although it's impossible to see exactly what's piled up in the basement.

But the sheer concentration of blood and the stench of corpses says it all.

Fu Wanqing's adoptive parents are definitely not good people.

As for Fu Wanqing herself, at least for now, she hasn't exposed him yet.

She was protecting him, or at least protecting him from being discovered.

Gu Yan's mind raced, trying to come up with various solutions.

If they try to force their way through, the stairs are too narrow, and they have no chance of winning against two opponents.

If we hide here, we're doomed when they come down to search.

Fu Wanqing seemed to see through his thoughts and brought her lips close to his ear.

The sound was so soft that only two people could hear it; his breath brushed lightly against his earlobe.

"Don't make a sound, I'll go and get them away."

"I'll explain later, very soon."

She spoke with her lips almost touching his earlobe.

Gu Yan remained silent for a moment, then nodded slightly.

Now we have no choice but to trust her, or rather, we have no other options.

Fu Wanqing released her hand from his mouth and stood up.

She took a deep breath, her expression unreadable in the darkness.

But the step they took was very steady.

Without hesitation, she walked straight up the steps.

"Dad, Mom, what are you doing down there?"

Her voice returned to its usual clear and crisp tone.

His voice was slightly hoarse from just waking up, but his tone was very natural.

In the dark, damp basement, the sound seemed almost unreal.

Gu Yan heard the sound of her bare feet stepping on the cement steps.

"Wanqing, what are you doing here?"

The adoptive mother's voice clearly faltered for a moment.

His tone carried a hint of panic and vigilance.

"What are you doing in the kitchen in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?"

"I'll come down and check. I think I heard some noise down there."

Fu Wanqing spoke casually, as if she were talking about something very ordinary.

"I was afraid a mouse had gotten in, so I came down to check."

"Turns out you were here too. I should have known better than to come down."

She paused and then added, her tone tinged with resentment.

"It was pitch black down there, and I couldn't even see what I stepped on."

"It feels like I stepped on something soft. Could there really be a dead rat?"

The adoptive father coughed twice and tapped his cane heavily on the ground.

"There's nothing much to see, just some junk and scrap."

"The pickled vegetables your mom made before are also placed at the bottom."

"Don't come down alone at night anymore, the stairs are steep and narrow."

"What if you fall? Why are you always so disobedient?"

"Okay, okay, everything's fine now."

Fu Wanqing's voice carried a hint of impatience.

"Then you guys should hurry up and come up too, it's cold and damp down there."

"Don't keep going down there when you're older, your legs aren't good anymore."

"Didn't you say your knees hurt last time? You should come here less often since the basement is so damp."

The foster mother sighed, her voice softening slightly.

"Okay, okay, we'll go up now."

"You go back to your room first, we'll tidy up downstairs and then go up."

"Stop tidying up, what's the point of tidying up in the middle of the night?"

Fu Wanqing urged him on, her tone carrying a hint of coquetry.

"Can't we do it tomorrow? Hurry up, I'm locking the door."

"Okay, okay, it's coming up, it's coming up."

The adoptive father's voice carried a hint of helpless laughter.

The sound of the cane tapping on the steps grew closer.

"This child is even starting to boss his parents around."

"Of course, it's your fault for staying up all night."

Her voice faded into the distance, and her footsteps also gradually disappeared.

The footsteps of her adoptive parents followed behind, disappearing at the end of the corridor.

Then came the sound of the door lock clicking shut.

The lights on the steps went out, and the basement was plunged back into complete darkness and silence.

Even the sound of water dripping from the corner of the wall became exceptionally clear.

I don't know how much time passed, maybe a minute, maybe three minutes.

A cold hand touched Gu Yan's wrist in the darkness and gently grasped it.

It was Fu Wanqing; her hands were very cold.

It was much colder than when I covered his mouth in the basement earlier.

It was as cold as a stone that had just been pulled out of ice water.

She didn't say anything, but simply pulled him toward the steps.

Gu Yan was pulled along for a few steps when she suddenly stopped.

"Don't go yet."

His voice was low, but it was still clear in the basement.

"Turn on the light and take a look. I'll leave after I see it."

Fu Wanqing did not answer; the darkness was so quiet that only the two of them could be heard breathing.

The faint outlines around were still there, piled up on the ground.

Some of the burlap sacks had their corners protruding from the shadows, their shapes bizarre.

Some things don't look like sacks, but you can't tell what they are.

The taste was even stronger than before, so strong it almost solidified in my throat.

Fu Wanqing gripped his hand, her fingers tightening slightly.

It wasn't the kind of force you use when you're angry; it was a different, more complex kind of force.

It was as if she was afraid he would let go, or as if she was begging him not to ask.

Her breathing also changed, becoming somewhat rapid and unsteady.

It's as if there's something they want to say but can't bring themselves to say it.

It's like having a thousand words stuck in your throat, but not a single one can be squeezed out.

Gu Yan felt her fingers trembling slightly.

Her palms were cold, colder than the body temperature of a living person.

But instead of letting go, she gripped even tighter.

It was as if this was his only connection to the darkness.

The two stood facing each other for several seconds.

The air was filled with the stench of blood and corpses, which grew stronger and stronger.

Something was slowly dripping water from the corner.

Tick-tock, tick-tock, each drop feels like a tap on my heart.

One sound after another, exceptionally clear in this deathly silence.