Under Inoshita Rino's lead, the group soon entered the unusually quiet village.
"This is wrong! At this time, people should be having dinner or relaxing outside. When we came in, some of the houses still had smoke coming from their chimneys. But why can't we see a single person? Could it be..." Shangguan Mo thought, his face growing grim as he moved in a crouch. The small Li followed closely behind him, her lips pressed tightly together, her round eyes filled with nervousness.
The group soon arrived at the first house by the village entrance. It was a mud house with a greasy, soot-blackened chimney that was still emitting faint wisps of smoke. But their instructor was not happy to see it. Because it was too quiet! There were no signs of life, not a single sound, not even the common crowing of roosters or barking of dogs. It was as if every living thing in this village was already dead.
The sky was getting dark, and the dim light only increased their tension. As an experienced retired ninja, he had long since realized something was wrong. What should have been a vibrant place was now filled with a deathly silence. He scanned the area, his ears perked, but he wasn't a sensory ninja and couldn't detect anything amiss. Gritting his teeth, he turned and whispered, "Everyone, follow me. Be careful and don't get separated!"
"Mhm..." The students all nodded, their faces pale with fear. A few of the more timid girls even had tears in their eyes.
Shangguan Mo followed closely behind him. Just a few steps later, a boy at the back of the group let out a sharp cry, which was abruptly cut off. All the students looked back in terror, but they saw nothing in the darkness.
"Who made that sound?" the students felt a slight breeze brush past them. The next moment, Inoshita Rino's figure appeared at the back of the group. "I-I think... it was Kawashita-kun's voice," a male student stammered.
"Kawashita! Why did you shout? What did you see?" Inoshita Rino's sharp gaze swept over the students, but he didn't see the mischievous boy he remembered. His frown deepened. Suddenly, his eyes widened, his body tensing like a startled beast. "One person is missing! Where is Kawashita? Did anyone see him?"
The area fell silent. Not a single student dared to make a sound, their faces filled with terror, their chests heaving with suppressed, heavy breaths.
A shadow fell over Shangguan Mo's heart. Li, who was trembling and pale with fear, instinctively pressed closer to him, her hands gripping his arm tightly. He sighed and patted her head gently. "Don't be afraid. Stay close to me." The girl gritted her teeth, trying to suppress her fear. She couldn't speak, only managing a trembling nod.
The entire group was plunged into a state of immense panic. Besides their instructor, no one dared to move. After what felt like an eternity, the faint sound of footsteps echoed through the dark village. The sound was like the first light of dawn, yet also like a demon's hand reaching out from the abyss, bringing a glimmer of hope amidst the terror.
The Earth Beetle on Shangguan Mo's head suddenly grew restless, indicating that something dangerous was approaching.
"Why have you stopped walking? If you don't cooperate, this game will become boring. And once I get bored, your deaths will soon follow..." A ghostly voice seemed to come from all directions, devoid of any emotion.
Gulp... The sound of swallowing echoed one after another, piercingly loud in the silent night. These students had never experienced anything like this. They felt as if their hearts were about to stop.
"Stop playing tricks! Show yourself!" Inoshita Rino roared, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings. But this time, there was no reply. He gritted his teeth. "Everyone, follow me! It's too exposed out here. Let's go into that house!"
Shangguan Mo held his tongue. He felt that while a house might seem safer, against a ninja's attack, a mud house could be destroyed with a single jutsu. A collapse would only cause them more trouble. "Maybe Rino-sensei has his own ideas..." he could only think.
The group squeezed into the nearby house. Dust covered the dilapidated corners, and wooden farming tools were placed in a corner, some still with fresh dirt on them. Shangguan Mo looked at his relieved classmates and seemed to understand something. Their instructor had brought them into the house not for safety, but to prevent them from being scared to death by the mysterious figure outside. But was it really safe here? Looking at the darkness outside the window, he didn't have much confidence.
Li, still shaken, patted her chest. After a classmate's scream and sudden disappearance, and with an unknown, terrifying presence wanting to kill them, she had been scared out of her wits. In this enclosed space, surrounded by her classmates and teacher, she finally felt a little less afraid.
"Don't be scared. The guy outside is just a person. He's not going to eat you," Shangguan Mo said, seeing she was still nervous.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm just too timid..." Li apologized, her face flushing with shame. Seeing his calm expression, her own mood gradually settled.
The house wasn't small, but with so many people, it was a bit crowded. Ignoring the students' whispering, Inoshita Rino stood with a kunai in hand, his gaze fixed on the two windows. He stood in a ready stance, his body tense, his eyes glued to the darkness outside. The students, seeing his grim demeanor, also took out their kunai and stood on guard.
Suddenly, a girl let out a piercing scream, drawing everyone's attention. Shangguan Mo turned in an instant and saw her, one hand covering her mouth in terror, the other pointing at a window, her whole body trembling.
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