She paused in her steps.

From inside the cave came a low, restrained, breathy sound—one that made the air around her seem suddenly heavier and hotter.

It wasn’t a wild animal.

It was human.

And not just that… it was the kind of sound that made anyone’s imagination drift in an instant.

Jiang Ling’s ears turned slightly red. She froze at the entrance of the cave, unsure whether to move forward or quietly retreat.

Just as she hesitated, the sound inside shifted again—followed by a faint, suppressed groan, as if someone was forcing themselves to endure something.

Her grip tightened unconsciously on the bamboo basket.

She definitely shouldn’t be here.

But before she could step back, a deeper voice—hoarse, low, and strained—cut through from within the cave.

“…Get out.”

It was sharp. Cold. Warning.

The voice carried a weight that didn’t sound like an ordinary villager’s.

Jiang Ling’s heart skipped a beat.

She instinctively stepped back half a pace, finally realizing she might have stumbled into something she absolutely should not have seen—or heard.

Behind her, the mountain wind rustled through the trees, but the cave remained dark and still, as if hiding a secret that didn’t want daylight.

And whatever was inside… clearly knew she was there now.