It was almost evening when everyone returned to Rock Village.

  The nights here were perilous. Without exchanging formalities or farewells, the villagers hurried back to their homes.

  Stirling was no exception.

  Upon entering Old Larry's house, Stirling immediately went to the pit to check on the bodies. In such a dark and foreboding place, it was believable that a corpse might rise as a zombie overnight.

  Thank God, the two people in the pit stayed calm. This eased Stirling's worry after he hurried back.

  Stirling found the current situation to be a significant challenge. From his visit to the temple, he realized each trip might not end in a return. The possibility of being a target of the monks further increased the risk.

  This strengthened Stirling's resolve to stay away from that cursed place for a long time.

  After a moment of contemplation, Stirling decided. He resolved to search for an escape route from the village the following day. After all, based on his recent experiences, the daytime posed a smaller threat. He had the Quicksand Map. This magical artifact boosted his chances of survival, even when he was alone.

  Reflecting on this, Stirling's anxiety finally eased. He reasoned that once he left this cursed place, the world would be vast and open before him. What could the Monk White do to him then?

  Stirling spoke to the two corpses in the pit. He shook his head, closed the door, and sat at the table in the living room, planning to spend the night there.

  Now, the light outside the window was fading inch by inch. Stirling rushed to retrieve the oil lamp he had got, lit it, and placed it on the table. He then boarded up the window.

  Stirling felt weak. His weakened body, plus the blood he lost to the temple statues, made him unfit to face the phantom hornets tonight.

  After getting ready, Stirling took a piece of dried meat from his pack. He broke it into small pieces and ate a little. He accompanied this with a bowl of cold water drawn from the kitchen. Then, he lay down on a bench beside the table, gripping his sickle in one hand, and soon fell into a deep sleep.

  At the moment, dozens of miles away, inside a temple,

  Priest White and Priest Green stood side by side before a massive statue. They were waiting for something.

  "Senior, there appears to be a new arrival in Rock Village this time," Green remarked.

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  "Hmm, he possesses abundant energy and blood. He must have arrived recently." White responded, narrowing his eyes.

  "Could it be that the Yearning Palace has discovered this location?" Green furrowed his brow a bit.

  "That boy may have powerful energy, but his body is frail. He is neither a samurai nor affiliated with the Yearning Palace. He must have wandered here while fleeing." White shook his head.

  "Still, I have a peculiar feeling." Green continued.

  "It's nothing to worry about. The statue will emit malice in about a month. After we sacrifice the entire village, we will leave." White waved his hand gently, eyes gleaming with anticipation.

  "By the way, the flesh and blood of this malice-infested body were quite delicious." White added, licking his lips with his elongated tongue. He pointed his staff at the ground. A long, thin tentacle shot out from the massive stone statue, darting toward him.

  Priest White, expecting this, did not flinch. He lifted his monk's robe. An odd human face appeared on his bare chest.

  As the tentacle approached, the figure's closed eyes fluttered open. A scarlet tongue darted out from its mouth, drawing the tentacle inward. A look of satisfaction crossed its face.

  The sound of swallowing echoed in the quiet courtyard. Green, nearby, felt a flicker of envy.

  "Congratulations, Senior! After you devour this blood statue, your strength will rise to new levels! Praise the Blood God." Green said with a smile.

  "Praise the Blood God. Green, do not be envious. This preaching was very praiseworthy. I will report it to the upper temple and reward you with a blood-colored statue." White closed his eyes, enjoying the sensation as he spoke with deliberation.

  "Thank you, Senior!" Green bowed and looked at the stone statue in the courtyard. His face lit up with joy.

  The next morning, Stirling jolted awake with a start. He looked around like a groundhog just out of its hole. He felt relieved to see that none of the traps he had set the night before had sprung. Stirling got up from the bench. He stretched a bit as he woke up.

  He was so tired the night before that he couldn't even lie down as the Aether skill taught. Instead, he had fallen into a deep, unguarded sleep.

  Stirling made a gentle exhalation, though his mind was in a tangle. He had arrived in this world a few days before. He still knew little about what lay beyond Rock Village.

  Were monsters the dominant force here, or did humans still hold control?

  Was the world outside Rock Village more favorable, or even more perilous?

  Stirling felt like he was on the edge of opening a Pandora's box. Questions swirled in his mind, creating a sense of uncertainty. It was a complex mix of apprehension and curiosity—an uneasy anticipation of what lay ahead.

  Stirling possessed the bone ring. He should find a safe place to grow under the radar and accumulate his strength. This is the smartest choice.

  With this thought in mind, Stirling stood up and resumed his search of Old Larry's room.

  He had left in haste the previous day, and this time, he might not return at all. He searched the house with care. To his surprise, he found two silver coins hidden in a crack in the wall.

  Stirling examined the coins in his palm, a wave of hope rising.

  He packed the coins along with his things. Then, he opened the door and locked it, avoiding noise. Finally, he left, heading away from the temple.

  It was early dawn, but every household stayed shut tight, sharing a silent fear of the night that had ended.

  Stirling knew the villagers had suffered a lot. They were likely too weak to get up before midday.

  Yet, such concerns did not affect him. Today, he was leaving this dreadful place, and nothing here would concern him any longer.

  Stirling murmured as he pressed forward.