Transmigrated into a Waste Who Married the Villain.

Chapter 31: So Soft ✨

Luo JinXiao discreetly extended her spiritual energy, sensing that the girl was very much human, devoid of any other influences, and appeared perfectly normal. In a sudden move, the girl, seemingly desperate, lunged forward and clung tightly to Luo JinXiao's legs. Almost knocked over, Luo JinXiao steadied herself and looked down in surprise.

Tears filled the girl’s eyes, and her disheveled hair fell over her shoulders. She opened her mouth repeatedly, producing only unintelligible sounds, as if trying to say something urgent.

"Watch out, she might hurt you. Xiu’er, come back!" the innkeeper shouted, rushing forward to pull the girl away. But the girl clung fiercely to Luo JinXiao’s legs. The tug-of-war left Luo JinXiao struggling to stay upright, so she raised a hand to stop the innkeeper.

"Wait, let’s talk this over. Is she really your daughter?" Luo JinXiao asked, holding a protective arm in front of the girl to block the innkeeper.

Panting heavily, the innkeeper straightened up, supporting his waist. "You don’t understand, miss. This girl was born deaf and mute, couldn’t be married off, so she stayed to help me with the inn. She used to be fine, but a year ago, she went out alone and disappeared for days. We searched for her day and night. When she finally returned, she was changed, always trying to run away, heading straight for the mountain whenever she could."

"The mountain?" Luo JinXiao queried.

"Yes, the one behind the town. One night, I secretly followed her. It was pitch-black, and she was sitting alone on the mountaintop, talking to a tree. It scared me to death," the innkeeper recounted in a low, ominous voice. "I tried to approach her, but I tripped and fell. When I looked up again, she was gone. I rushed back to town, and there she was, sitting at the inn’s entrance, straight as a board!"

The innkeeper’s story sent a chill down Luo JinXiao’s spine. She couldn’t help but glance at Qu WeiYin, who was also frowning, deep in thought.

"In any case, you seem like good people. Don’t get involved. Rest tonight and move on quickly," the innkeeper advised, taking advantage of Luo JinXiao's distraction to pull the girl back, dragging her into the inn by her collar.

Luo JinXiao wanted to intervene, but Qu WeiYin held her back.

"Little Martial Aunt, the girl seemed normal to me, not touched by anything evil," Luo JinXiao whispered, shaking her head.

"I know, but as outsiders, intervening in family matters could cause trouble," Qu WeiYin replied calmly, though her eyes hinted at deeper emotions.

They sat downstairs briefly before returning to their rooms. Exhausted, Luo JinXiao quickly fell asleep on the soft bedding.

She awoke sometime later to a howling wind, sitting up abruptly. Peering out the window, she saw it was midnight. The sky was pitch-black, stifling and oppressive.

The darkness seemed unnaturally thick, so she got up and moved to the window. Outside was deserted, with the wind dragging scraps and leaves along the ground, making eerie rustling sounds. The silence was absolute—no children’s cries, no dogs barking, no cicadas singing. It was as if everything was dead.

Gently closing the window, Luo JinXiao stepped into the hallway, softly knocking on Luo Ning's door. After a long pause without response, worry crept in, and she prepared to enter but felt a hand on her shoulder, turning to find Qu WeiYin.

"Shh, don't wake them," Qu WeiYin whispered, covering Luo JinXiao's mouth with a soft hand.

The faint scent of flowers wafted over them as Luo JinXiao looked into Qu WeiYin's eyes and nodded.