Moonlit: This extra chapter is sponsored by jess.
In a village like this, almost every household is somehow related. Though there may be disputes between villagers—after all, living together for years inevitably leads to some clashes—they are absolutely united when dealing with outsiders. Even those with personal agendas tend to keep a low profile at times like this, knowing that otherwise, they’d have no place in the village in the future.
At this moment, everyone unanimously denies involvement in the matter. Lou Jiu was eventually found in the cellar of an abandoned house that hadn’t been lived in for years, with a heavily dust-covered lock on the door.
However, Lu Chenghe and his team were in no rush to interrogate anyone, ensuring that no one present could escape.
Originally, it was assumed that Lou Jiu had gone missing in the mountains, and after being unaccounted for so long, his physical condition might have been critical. The medical team, which had already been stationed in the village for days, even provided nearly free health checks for the villagers during this time. Once Lou Jiu was found, the medical team immediately tended to his injuries.
From what could be observed, apart from prolonged starvation, his most severe issues seemed to be a broken leg and a head wound. The head injury would require an in-depth examination back in the city, and as for his leg, if it had been treated promptly, it wouldn’t have been a major issue. Judging by the state of the injury, it seemed the leg had been broken, and he was left confined without any treatment, making a permanent limp a possibility.
Hearing this from the doctor, Lu Chenghe and the others fell silent, even the usually boisterous Nie Yong had nothing to say.
But Lou Jiu, still smiling, remarked, “If I end up with a limp, so be it. At least I’m alive, right? Honestly, I thought this time in such a remote mountain village, I might really not make it. Who would’ve thought I’d be so hard to kill? Even in that state, you still managed to find me.”
Nie Yong rolled his eyes at him and said, “Just shut up already. That voice of yours is grating.”
Lou Jiu chuckled, lying on the bed and looking at his old friends. It felt truly comforting.
After asking about the cause, it was revealed to be a tragic incident sparked by appearances.
This village is extremely remote and impoverished. Some younger men who go out to work can still find wives, but for those slightly older, finding a spouse is nearly impossible. A household spent all their savings two or three years ago to marry a wife for a man who, by rural standards, was already considered older, over thirty years old. This year, their child just turned two.
San Gen has been the sole heir of his family for three generations. He is not particularly good-looking, and his wife was essentially bought with money. The girl’s family was also struggling, living in a small village in the neighboring town. Conditions there were slightly better than here, but still much poorer compared to the town itself. Under normal circumstances, someone like San Gen wouldn’t have been able to marry someone of her background.
However, the girl’s family suddenly faced a crisis and urgently needed a large sum of money. Someone acted as a matchmaker and arranged the marriage.
For some men, a woman bought with money differs from one sought after through traditional means. San Gen was a typical example of this mindset, so he didn’t cherish the girl. He made her do all the farm work, and even after giving birth, she was forced to get out of bed and work without proper postpartum recovery. When drunk, he would either beat or verbally abuse her, sometimes even hitting the child.
This incident occurred because San Gen drank again with workers returning from outside. The woman, carrying her child, sought help from Lou Jiu in the middle of the night. San Gen kept a strict watch over her, refusing to let her go out to work and support the family. He confined her to the village and even instructed the elderly villagers to keep an eye on her and prevent her from escaping.
The woman had seen Lou Jiu a few times before—a refined, polite man whose smile seemed to radiate warmth, unlike anyone she had ever encountered. She didn’t dare hope for much, only that this seemingly kind and capable man could help her escape. Even if he couldn’t take her, she wished he could take her child away. She didn’t want her child to repeat her life, even if it meant being abandoned as an orphan—it would be better than staying with his biological father. It wasn’t because she thought Lou Jiu would kindly agree to her request, but because he was the only outsider to visit the village in years.
This scene was witnessed by San Gen, who had returned home early. In the village, none of the women, young or old, disliked Lou Jiu. Even men like San Gen couldn’t help but stare at Lou Jiu’s attractive demeanor. So, stumbling upon his wife with such a charming man in the dead of night, San Gen’s alcohol-fueled anger flared instantly. By the time he realized what he had done, Lou Jiu was already lying unconscious on the ground, covered in blood.
Lou Jiu was an honored guest in the village. The village chief had repeatedly emphasized the importance of treating him well, as the villagers’ future prosperity and their children’s opportunities depended on him. In a moment of panic, San Gen intended to dump Lou Jiu’s body in the wilderness. However, after dragging him out of the house, he realized Lou Jiu was still alive. Instead of seeking medical help, his first thought was to cover up the incident, dragging Lou Jiu to an abandoned house’s cellar and locking him there.
The next morning, when the villagers noticed Lou Jiu was missing, they assumed he had gone into the mountains early and grown concerned only when he hadn’t returned by nightfall. They truly believed something had happened to him and began organizing a rescue operation.
Fearing exposure, San Gen had no choice but to confess, leading to the commotion Wang Cai later described. Some villagers believed Lou Jiu should be sent to the hospital since he was still alive; ignoring him would mean committing murder. Others opposed the idea, pointing out the recent contract they had signed. If Lou Jiu left and refused to cooperate with them anymore, it would ruin the village’s chance for development. If Lou Jiu didn’t survive, the contract remained enforceable, and even if the partnership fell through, they would still be entitled to some compensation.
The loudest protests came from San Gen’s mother, who valued her son as the family’s only heir in three generations. She refused to let Lou Jiu leave if it meant her son might be reported and held accountable. The heated arguments almost turned physical. Ultimately, prioritizing collective interests, they decided to double down rather than risk it all.
Most critically, they were uncertain about the extent of Lou Jiu’s influence beyond the village. If he held a grudge and retaliated against the entire village, everyone would be implicated. So, they devised a plan together, faking Lou Jiu’s disappearance deep in the mountains.
For people living deep in the mountains, taking precautions against large wild animals is a must. Although such vigilance has lessened over generations, some elders still know of a certain type of herb that, when burned, can mask odors and the scent of blood. The village chief organized a thorough sweep of the entire village before heading down to report the incident to the authorities.
What no one expected was that Lou Jiu’s identity seemed rather special, even alerting the police station in the nearby town. The village chief was already a bit flustered by this but had no choice but to face the situation head-on. When Lou Jiu’s friends arrived—on helicopters, no less—it caused quite a stir among the villagers. Many became anxious, retreating to their homes and instructing their children to remain silent and not to speak out.
Fortunately, the village’s remote location worked in their favor, as the local dialect was difficult for outsiders to understand. Lou Jiu’s friends appeared focused on heading deeper into the mountains, seemingly paying little attention to the village. Only later did the villagers relax, until the sudden discovery of the truth brought an overwhelming police presence.
At first, when gathered together, the villagers put on a bold front, refusing to admit anything. However, the specialized police were experienced in dealing with such difficult groups. While they were defiant when united, questioning them one-on-one quickly broke through their defenses. Many of them could barely read, let alone withstand even a few rounds of questioning. Soon, the entire truth was revealed.
After learning the full story, Nie Yong and Shen Tao were left speechless—Lou Jiu himself felt much the same. He had come to this remote area to find natural ingredients and was not completely unprepared. But his preparations were meant for potential encounters with wild animals in the mountains. During his initial visits for surveying the terrain, he had brought along his team, but as he got to know the villagers better, their growing familiarity reduced his wariness. Who could have predicted such a melodramatic twist of events?
Nie Yong then asked, “What about that woman? We’re all here now. Why didn’t she come to us for help? She had no problem asking for help before, but when something serious happens, she stays silent. People like that—you shouldn’t have even opened the door for her.”
“Perhaps she was scared, or maybe she was threatened using her child—that’s why she didn’t step forward. She’s a pitiable soul.”
Who could predict something like this in advance? After going through such a disastrous ordeal and narrowly escaping death, Lou Jiu was utterly exhausted. Were it not for sheer willpower keeping him going, he might have passed out long ago. After briefly recounting the events to his childhood friends, he finally allowed himself to relax completely, his consciousness beginning to blur.
Just before losing consciousness entirely, he overheard Shen Tao mentioning the name Shang Fan nearby. Lou Jiu knew Shang Fan hadn’t come—he was certain of it. Although in that dark cellar he had fantasized countless times about Shang Fan bursting through the door and taking him away, he would have been willing to wait as long as it took if only Shang Fan had truly come. But fantasies are just that—fantasies. Reality remains reality.
Zuo Ning was cradled in Lu Chenghe’s arms, having endured a long and exhausting day that stretched from early morning until late at night. Though their efforts were worthwhile since Lou Jiu was found and rescued, Lu Chenghe’s warm embrace made Zuo Ning drowsy and ready to doze off.
Lu Chenghe simply sat there, holding the little one and listening to Nie Yong scold the now-unconscious Lou Jiu and criticize Shang Fan, whose delayed flight still hadn’t brought him to the scene. As for the entangled emotions of others, Lu Chenghe chose not to participate or pass judgment. He believed in the saying that only those experiencing the situation truly know its warmth or bitterness; no matter how unworthy it seemed to outsiders, they could never fully understand the involved parties’ feelings.
He suddenly recalled Lou Jiu’s not-quite-a-blessing from that day at the hot spring lodge: to encounter someone who could make you lose all reason. Looking at the thoroughly disheveled Lou Jiu, Lu Chenghe silently shook his head. Glancing down, he noticed the little one fast asleep in his arms, limp as a puddle. Smiling wryly, he adjusted the pup’s nearly ninety-degree bent head with one hand while holding him with the other. That sleeping posture was undeniably absurd.
Suddenly, a sensation of weightlessness startled Zuo Ning awake. Jerking upright, he blinked groggily and gazed at Lu Chenghe in confusion. But before long, his eyelids drooped again, and he leaned against Lu Chenghe’s shoulder, falling back asleep with ease.
Lu Chenghe patted his head. Before long, the little one fell into a deep sleep again.
Nie Yong clicked his tongue a few times and teased, “People say nowadays pets are treated like children. I thought you’d be the exception, but nope—you’ve fallen right into the clutches of these little furry tyrants. Look at you, spoiling Little Pudding without limits.”
Lu Chenghe shot him a sidelong glance, then followed behind as Lou Jiu was lifted onto the stretcher heading toward the helicopter outside. The rest would naturally be handled by others. With Lou Jiu found, there was no need for them to stay any longer in such a desolate village, which—with its eerie mountain manor—was unsettling enough. No wonder Little Pudding refused to sleep in a bed, stubbornly clinging to him all the time.
Suddenly recalling something, Lu Chenghe turned to Shen Tao, who was trailing behind him, and said, “Bring that little yellow dog along. We owe finding Lou Jiu to it.”
Though puzzled, Shen Tao complied. It was undeniable—Lu Chenghe, as a dog owner, had indeed changed. In the past, he’d hardly pay attention to a scrappy mutt like that. But attributing their success to it? Could it be that Lu Chenghe had learned canine language from Little Pudding and now could communicate with dog-kind?
Half-asleep, Zuo Ning could hear the sound of Lu Chenghe carrying him away. He had initially thought they might spend the night in that coffin-like bed. Although he’d sleep anywhere as long as Lu Chenghe was with him, he still found the place unnerving. Those old-style beds in such ancient manor houses—they might’ve borne countless former occupants over time.
Once certain they’d be heading home tonight, Zuo Ning completely gave in to his exhaustion, falling deeply asleep. He was truly worn out and had no idea what time it was anymore. Judging by the time they’d arrive home, it seemed dawn would be near. Despite the fatigue, Zuo Ning felt a sense of accomplishment—rescuing Lou Jiu so quickly was, after all, thanks to his efforts.
Before drifting into sweet dreams, Zuo Ning thought that once he woke up, he’d definitely demand a reward from Lu Chenghe!
Waking up after a dreamless night, Zuo Ning stretched comfortably under the covers. Without opening his eyes, he reached out beside him, but there was no one there. Only then did he open his eyes and sit up, looking around to see if Lu Chenghe was in the room.
However, this room was clearly not their home—it looked more like a hotel suite. The texture of the blanket covering him felt different. When Zuo Ning glanced down at himself, he realized he was smooth, soft, and starkly pale. He had turned back into a human.
