Chapter Eleven: The Narrow Path

Li Le ate her meal slowly, each bite helping her gather and organize her thoughts.

First, money. She didn’t know the prices in this world, but she was certain that the more money she had, the better. For now, the only way to earn some was to venture back into the Dead Fog and gather more mushrooms to sell. She had figured out that these mushrooms only grew during the Extinction Period, making them rare and valuable. Normally, anyone entering the Dead Fog risked death; visibility was low, and the rewards hardly justified the danger. But for a Child of the Dead Fog, it was nothing more than a convenient backyard.

Who could say when the Extinction Period would end? She had to seize the moment and take advantage while she could.

Lowering her head, Li Le scooped another spoonful of rice, blew on it, and brought it to her lips, her brows faintly knitted in thought.

Besides, she was intrigued by the witch potion that resisted the Dead Fog. Resist the Dead Fog? Could such a potion harm her? How was it made... Was it possible for her to craft it herself?

She stopped eating when she was about sixty percent full, setting the spoon down with remarkable restraint and arranging her utensils neatly. Sitting upright in her chair, her pale, lovely face grew taut—a clear sign she was deep in thought.

Li Le’s posture was perfectly ladylike, but no one could guess what wild ideas were racing through her mind.

“I’ll go find Lie first, get some more information. Maybe I’ll find clues about how to leave the city…” she mused. “And pick up a few things, see what prices are like here…”

Once her plan was set, Li Le acted swiftly. She moved to her bundle where she kept her money, considered for a moment, then carefully took out five copper coins and one silver coin.

As for those glittering gold coins? Without Brother Bai accompanying her, she would never take them out of the room. That would be like a toddler carrying gold through the marketplace.

She never did anything so foolish.

Her gaze swept the table and landed on the untouched plate of purple radishes. Her eyes flashed.

She found a clean-looking oil paper bag, wrapped up the dish, and deftly tied it with a few thin hemp strings. It looked quite presentable.

“…Good thing the food is semi-dry, otherwise it would be much harder to deal with…”

Li Le weighed the package in her hand, muttering quietly to herself.

She glanced at the door, deciding she didn’t need to lock it—no one would dare steal from Brother Bai in District Thirteen. Still, to be safe, she stuffed her money pouch deep into her bedding, smoothing it out until nothing showed, then nodded in satisfaction.

Oil-paper package in hand, she stepped out and ambled along the road toward Lie’s small wooden cabin.

Soon, she arrived nearby.

Li Le touched her delicate cheek with her free hand, flashing a shy, beautiful smile. A hint of rosy blush colored her face, making her look gentle and full of life.

“Knock—knock knock—”

She knocked once, paused, then twice more, and called out, “Uncle Liu, it’s Bai Le. I’m here to see Lie.”

Inside, a clatter erupted: a chair toppled, a table was bumped, something fell, and amidst it all, two familiar cries of pain.

What happened in there?

Li Le listened to the lively chaos, unable to keep a wry smile from her lips.

Soon enough, the wooden door creaked open.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t Uncle Liu who answered, but Lie himself—clinging to the door, poking out only his head, looking utterly dejected.

He shrank behind the door, mumbling, “Sister, what do you need me for?”

Oh—

Got a beating from Uncle Liu?

Seeing the bruised shadows under Lie’s eyes, Li Le understood at once. Her eyes and brows danced with suppressed amusement.

Watching the boy hiding behind the door, a mischievous impulse bubbled up inside her.

Li Le coughed twice, then asked, “Where’s Uncle Liu? He’s not home?”

Confused, Lie glanced at her and replied, still clinging to the door, “Just like Big Brother has to patrol in turns, Father needs to go on rounds too. He won’t be back until dusk…”

Oh—

The adults aren’t home—

A sly gleam flickered in Li Le’s eyes.

She curved her lips into a gentle smile and said, “Lie, won’t you let me in for a visit? I even brought you some food that Brother Bai made!”

She raised the oil-paper package, her eyes sparkling with a fox-like charm.

Lie’s gaze brightened as he stared at the package, his longing, hesitation, and inner conflict painfully obvious.

He looked so pitiful with those expressions.

Li Le, appearing as heartless as stone, pretended not to notice his struggle, smiling sweetly as she coaxed, “Lie, let’s go in and eat together. Brother Bai’s cooking is delicious! I saved some just for you…”

“If you don’t like it, I’ll just take it back—”

At that, Lie hurriedly protested, “Who says I don’t like it? Sister, please don’t go. You can come in…”

Li Le’s smile deepened.

Lie, still conflicted, added, “But, Sister, you can’t make fun of me…”

Li Le nearly burst into laughter, but she managed to soothe him with a gentle voice, “How could I? We’re good friends! Very, very reliable friends! I would never make fun of you!”

Lie paused, avoiding her radiant, smiling eyes. “Alright, I’ll trust you this once…”

He lowered his hand and stepped back, making room for Li Le to open the door.

With sharp eyes, Li Le noticed that as Lie retreated, his movements were awkward, his facial muscles twitched in pain—he was obviously hurting.

Li Le chuckled inwardly as she stepped into the cabin. Her gaze swept over the rumpled bedding, the fallen wooden stool, the stone cup rolling on the floor, the table knocked askew…

Oh—

That explained the commotion she’d heard.

She guessed Lie had been resting in bed when she knocked. Hearing the door, he scrambled up, kicked over the stool, bumped the table, spilled the cup, and even took a tumble.

Li Le: “…”

She felt a little sympathy, a little urge to laugh—what a situation.