Chapter 318 Book 6 Yuan Family in Trouble
The oppressive stillness of Shallow Gourd clung to Li An like a shroud, a stark contrast to the usual boisterous clamor of a mountain village. She moved like a wraith, her scarred face hidden beneath the wide brim of a tattered straw hat, her beggar's rags a perfect disguise. The air, usually thick with the scent of woodsmoke and cooking, was unnervingly thin. Only the elderly, the women, and the children moved about, their faces etched with a peculiar blend of apprehension and resignation.
Li An, with her acute senses, though without the spirit energy, was still honed by years of living on the fringes of society and mastering the art of observation, gravitated towards the hushed murmur of voices emanating from a cluster of women gathered around a communal well. She settled on an overturned bucket, pretending to rest, her ears straining to catch their whispers.
