Forgotten canvas - Do Not Respond at Night

"It looks like we'll have to stay here for the night."

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Xuanming lifted his head toward the horizon.

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The once-clear sky was slowly turning yellow, like paper being aged by time.

The light grew dull and sluggish, as if even daylight was losing its strength.

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"I don't think we can figure everything out in such a short time," he said calmly.

"And there's no way we'll find a solution right away."

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His voice remained steady.

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"Remember what Yan Sha warned us about."

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"That advice… might actually save our lives."

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After a moment of silence, Mu Jiu offered a possibility.

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"Maybe we could ask the tribe to let us stay overnight."

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Xuanming rejected it almost instantly.

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"Highly unlikely."

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He frowned slightly, as if sensing something extremely subtle.

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"I can feel a very strong rejection from their tribe toward 'intruders.'"

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"Even… fear."

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"Fear?" Mu Jiu glanced at him. "Of what?"

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Xuanming shook his head.

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"I don't know."

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"But it's not fear of strength."

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"It feels more like avoiding something that brings disaster."

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He paused.

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"Either way, we follow Yan Sha's rules."

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Mu Jiu nodded and didn't press further, turning instead to order the team to set up camp.

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No one mentioned going out at night.

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As if even saying it aloud might invite something unwanted.

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Inside the Mountain Gate

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Yan Sha stood on higher ground, watching the figures setting up camp below.

Her voice was so low it nearly disappeared into the wind.

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"They have no idea how mad the night can be here."

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The elder slowly stepped beside her, his gaze deep and unreadable.

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"Do you think they'll survive the night?"

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Yan Sha stayed silent for a long time.

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"…May the Mountain God protect them."

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The elder let out a quiet sigh.

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"Most intruders turn out to be those horrible things in disguise."

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"But I don't think they are," Yan Sha said softly.

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"Yan Sha."

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The elder's tone sharpened.

"Don't rely too much on your so-called 'feelings.'"

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"That's dangerous."

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With that, he turned and walked away.

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Yan Sha took one last look at the distant camp before following him.

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The mountain gate slowly closed behind her.

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Night fell completely.

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The peach forest that bloomed so brightly during the day felt unfamiliar in the dark.

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The wind was unnaturally strong.

The grass bent low, sprang back up, then bent again—

as if it were testing something, over and over.

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The blue-green lake turned pitch black at night, swallowing all reflections, its depth impossible to see.

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Little Draft curled up inside her tent.

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She held the pencil tightly, her fingers stiff with tension.

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Xuanming's words echoed again and again in her mind—

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"Maybe it's not meant to be used like this."

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She lowered her head and looked at the pencil, still nothing more than an outline.

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"…What are you, really?"

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She closed her eyes and tried to calm herself.

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Not listening to the wind.

Not thinking about the lake.

Not paying attention to the strange, distant sounds.

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She focused only on the pencil in her hands.

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Slowly.

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Very slowly.

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That familiar paper-like feeling returned.

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And then—

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The pencil gently lifted from her palm.

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Little Draft's eyes flew open, her breath catching.

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Before she could even feel surprised—

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"Wow."

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A voice came from nearby, kept low but clearly excited.

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"Not bad at all."

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"Looks like you've figured out something."

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She almost screamed.

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"Y-you—what are you doing here?!"

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Xuanming was crouching at the edge of the tent, watching the floating pencil with clear interest.

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Before she could recover—

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Another voice drifted in lazily.

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"Actually, I'm here too~"

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Little Draft snapped her head around.

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It was Mu Jiu.

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But—

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Almost at the exact same moment—

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The same voice came from outside the tent.

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"Actually, I'm here too~"

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Same tone.

Same pause.

Same voice.

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The air froze.

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Xuanming reacted on pure instinct.

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He immediately moved in front of Little Draft, one hand covering her mouth, the other signaling her to stay silent.

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Mu Jiu had already stood up, eyes locked on the source of the sound, his entire body tense.

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Then—

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Nothing happened.

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As if that third voice had never existed.

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The night returned to a dead, suffocating silence.

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All three of them knew—

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It wasn't an illusion.

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Yan Sha's warning came back to them at the same time.

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If you hear sounds at night, don't respond.

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"AAAAH—!!!"

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A sharp, agonized scream exploded from outside.

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Mu Jiu rushed out almost instantly.

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Little Draft tried to follow, but Xuanming grabbed her arm.

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He looked at her, his expression more serious than she had ever seen.

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He didn't speak.

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He only made one clear gesture—

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Stay in the tent.

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Don't come out until morning.

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Then he turned and disappeared into the darkness.

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Little Draft was left alone.

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She curled up in the corner, her fingertips ice-cold.

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Unable to resist, she pulled open a small gap.

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Outside, flashes of abilities lit up the dark—

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Fire.

Energy waves.

Low commands mixed with suppressed shouts.

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But no matter how they attacked—

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There seemed to be nothing there.

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As if they were fighting empty air.

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She quickly pulled the tent shut again.

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Clutching the pencil, she repeated to herself—

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Don't go out.

Don't make a sound.

Wait for dawn.

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Screams echoed through the night, one after another, then vanished.

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Until—

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The first ray of sunlight crossed the mountain ridge.

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The moment the sun showed itself, all sounds stopped.

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The world became quiet again.

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As if nothing had ever happened.

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"L-Little Draft…?"

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She called out softly.

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No answer.

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"Xuanming…?"

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The wind moved through the grass.

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"Mu Jiu…?"

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Only the sound of water gently lapping against the shore replied.

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Her heart slowly sank.

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She unzipped the tent.

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Morning light spilled across the camp.

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The ground was clean.

No signs of battle.

No blood.

No remains.

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The tents were still there.

The supplies were untouched.

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But—

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The camp was empty.

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As if everything that happened last night had never existed.

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Little Draft stood there, frozen.

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The pencil in her hand trembled slightly.

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As if reminding her—

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You're still here.

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And they—

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Might not be.

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