"Wh- I just said I'm going alone, what's the point of that if everyone was coming with me?" said Hao Xuan, bewildered. Were these guys messing with him?
"Captain, you ARE going alone. We are just going to protect you while you go. Think nothing of it, imagine we aren't here," Lt. Kuo said with an obvious 'no-shit-sherlock' face, like it was totally normal.
"What the hell is wrong with you guys? We don't have time to waste like this. You will stay here while I go get the formation plate, that's an order!" Hao Xuan finally put his foot down. Time was of the essence and these guys were just fooling around.
"Then let me send someone. He grew up around here and knows this town even better than me. Otherwise, we will all go with you."
*Sigh*
"Fine, do what you want," he said finally giving up.
"Qin Feng!"
"Yes Sir!" and a young man of about 23 years of age stepped out. He had a strong muscular build and looked like a proper warrior. He had short black hair and a dark complexion.
"You heard the conversation. I believe you also know the location of the post so get going. Come straight back and don't wander off," Kuo said with a serious face.
"Yes Sir!" Qin Feng saluted and started running towards the town and soon out of their site.
30 minutes passed but he was still not out, Hao Xuan started to get worried.
"How long should it normally take for a trip back and forth?" he asked Kuo.
"About 25-30 minutes, let give it some more time," Kuo replied looking at his watch.
10 more mins pass by. Everyone is waiting, looking at the town's entrance but there is no sound whatsoever.
Kuo looked at his watch again and looked at Hao Xuan, "Sir, I don't think he is coming back. Let's make a detour and go to one of the other forwarding posts in the nearest towns, it will take us a couple more days but we can't risk sending anyone else in."
Hao Xuan looked at the town once again, it was still deadly still. Not a single thing could be seen moving inside, only the sound of the wind blowing was audible.
"Alright, get ready to move out."
After getting his confirmation Kuo turned around and nodded at the soldiers who packed up whatever was left and formed a line to move back towards the road in a proper formation.
*Ding*
"Hmm?" Hao Xuan turned around, there was a sound of a small bell from a far away that was carried to him with the wind.
"Captain?" Kuo asked when he saw Hao Xuan wasn't following him.
"Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?"
*Ding*
"THAT!" That sound of a bell being rung!" Hao Xuan said looking towards the town.
"Bell? Are you sure you aren't hearing things captain?"
"No, I heard it, twice now, did no one else?"
The soldiers turned around and looked at Hao Xuan with weird looks. Did their new captain lose his mind already?
*Ding*
"There! Again!" he said looking at the soldiers, hoping to see someone step out but only saw heads shaking.
"Um, I think I heard it. But it was very faint. Like from very far away. If you hadn't pointed it out I would have probably missed it," Aria stepped with her hand raised.
"See? I am not making it up," Hao Xuan said looking back at Kuo.
Kuo sighed and looked at Aria and thought inwardly, "Captain, she is probably just saying that to give you face, so you don't feel embarrassed."
Just as he was about to explain it to Hao Xuan, the sound of footsteps came from behind them. They all turned around and saw Qin Feng running back at full speed.
"I'm sorry Captain, Lieutenant, I passed by my childhood friend's house and thought I heard something inside so stopped to check," he spoke breathing heavily.
"It's fine. So? Was anyone inside?" Hao Xuan said as he waved his hand.
"No Captain, I thought I heard a bell ringing from inside but there was no one there," he replied shaking his head.
"So you heard it too!" Hao Xuan said almost jumping with joy. He really wasn't going crazy. There was no way Qin Feng would know of their conversation so he couldn't be just saying that to give him face.
"How many did you hear?" Kuo asked with a huge frown. What the hell was going on, and why could only these three hear it?
"Three, the bell rang three times," he replied lifting three fingers.
"Told you. Exact same. But couldn't you guys hear it?" Hao Xuan asked looking around at Kuo and the other soldiers.
"And who is the kid? Where did you find him?" he said looking at Qin Feng and then at the little girl hiding behind his leg.
"Kid? What Kid?" Kuo said looking at him with a confused face.
"What do you mean? Her, the little girl hiding behind his leg," he said pointing towards Qin Feng.
When he saw Hao Xuan point towards him, an extremely cold feeling overtook him. He slowly turned his head and looked around and saw a little girl holding onto his leg, also looking up at him.
"L-Little Ru? But how?"
"You know her?" Hao Xuan asked looking at Qin Feng.
"AARGHHH" Qin Feng suddenly let out a horrendous scream and jumped several meters back, leaving the girl standing there all alone.
"What the fuck are you doing? Why are you scared of a little girl?" Kuo asked angrily. This was extremely shameful behavior from a member of the Red Legion. Who gets scared of a little child?
"I-Impossible, you can't be here!" Qin Feng screamed looking at the girl.
"What? Why not?" Hao Xuan asked looking at him with a weird expression.
"She can't be here!"
"Are you going to explain why or will you continue to scream like a retard?"
"Because I was there, at her funeral, 14 years ago! She fell and drowned in a well!"
"Wha-" Hao Xuan hadn't even finished the word when he turned his head and saw a four-meter-long hunched figure with nails as long as his legs, draped completely in darkness and instead of a face there was only a 'round mouth' with teeth as big as fingers standing there instead of the girl.
"What the fuc-"
