The events at Reflection Villa were far beyond what Xiao Shu had anticipated; she seemed not to have fully grasped the fickleness of human nature. First, Xiao Yu had turned into a different person, violent and irritable, prone only to hitting or killing. However, since the appearance of the wildcat protective talisman, his temper had calmed considerably, and he seemed to have regained his former composure. Then came Ah Mang’s sudden betrayal. This young man, whom they had first met in Miao Village, had initially left everyone with an excellent impression. During Hua Jinlan’s massacre of the entire village, he volunteered for the dangerous task of bringing the elderly, the weak, women, and children who had not yet escaped to the cave. When Xiao Yu was entangled by the water weeds and facing imminent death at the gates of Reflection Villa, it was Ah Mang who promptly extended a hand, pulling Xiao Yu from the perilous situation. If they had not witnessed the tragic death of the hunchbacked old woman and the gouging out of Hua Gu’s eyes, no one would have associated such wickedness with this positive and ambitious young man. He always appeared so sunny, so cheerful, as if intent on spreading warmth to everyone.

But demons never show themselves as they truly are; sometimes they even masquerade as angels to gain people's trust. Hua Gu had fallen for the demon’s trickery. Xiao Yu wanted to ask her if she regretted not heeding the advice to bring Ah Mang along, but the words caught in his throat. Such agonizing questions were best left for Hua Gu to wrestle with herself. The most pressing matter now was how to get her back to Miao Village.

“Hua Gu, shall we go home? I’ll carry you,” Xiao Yu crouched behind Ah Li, extending his right hand to gently take the hand Hua Gu had placed on Ah Li’s face, conveying with the warmth of his palm that it was time to return home.

“En,” Hua Gu sobbed twice, nodding with effort, and tried to stand up, steadying herself against the wall. Just as Xiao Yu was about to lift her onto his back, Xiao Shu stepped forward to intervene. She quietly pulled Xiao Yu aside and whispered, “The entrance tunnel is suspended in mid-air; we can’t take her up like this.”

Xiao Yu’s eyes widened, and he roared fiercely, “Then what do we do? Just leave her here?”

At these words, Hua Gu trembled in shock twice, instinctively crouching down again, leaning against the corner of the wall without making a sound, quietly listening to the events unfolding around them. Ah Li was a well-behaved child and had not left Hua Gu’s side for a moment, finding a spot in the corner to snuggle down on the ground beside her.

That shout was quite humiliating. What Xiao Shu said was true, but it shouldn't have been said within earshot of Hua Gu. Now they were in a difficult position, and everyone fell silent. The little wildcat squatted on Xiao Yu’s shoulder and let out a soft meow. Back in the tunnel leading to Reflection Villa, Ah Li had already named it: Little Black.

“No, let’s go through Original Shadow Villa instead. I’ve been there twice and I know the way back to Xiangcheng from there; it’s very convenient, just walk straight through the back garden,” Xiao Yu realized that damned temper was surfacing again. He forcibly composed himself, struggling to control his emotions, and spoke to Xiao Shu with a different tone.

Since returning from the Fountain of Youth, violent outbursts had become synonymous with Xiao Yu’s temper. Perhaps only Little Black on his shoulder knew that something far more urgent than Hua Gu’s blindness was the fact that he only had three days left to live. If he didn't kill ninety-nine people, where his soul would go after three days, even the King of Hell wouldn't know.

Yet, he had no intention of revealing the truth to the public, unwilling to bear the pressure of morality while bidding a final farewell to those dearest to him under everyone’s watchful eyes, nor was he willing to leave his elder sister alone in the world with regret, nor did he wish to leave behind that beautiful tomorrow. If he could be undisturbed, he hoped to spend these three days imagining the happiest moments in the mortal world before making his final decision, for in the end, he was just an ordinary person.