Chapter 68: Orphan Resentment (Part 28)

Warning: Disturbing content.

---

Shen Qingqiu believed she had mentally prepared herself. But in reality, she hadn’t slept much that night. The reason was simple. She couldn’t stop worrying about Xiao Muyu.

The arrow, lodged deep, was dangerous for Xiao Muyu in an environment without medicine. Infection alone could be fatal.

When she woke up for the fifth time, Shen Qingqiu again reminded herself that she was only doing her job. She had acted concerned for Xiao Muyu before. It was natural to check on her condition instead of resting since she’d taken the arrow for Shen Qingqiu.

Her actions were quicker than her thoughts. Before she realized it, she was standing by Xiao Muyu’s bed, hand reaching out to touch her forehead.

The abnormal warmth against her palm had her brows crinkling tightly.

Xiao Muyu didn’t sleep well that night. The pain from her wound prevented deep sleep. On top of that, Shen Qingqiu kept touching her face or forehead whenever she drifted into a daze. It left her even less inclined to rest.

Xiao Muyu opened her eyes when she felt the cool, soft touch on her forehead again. The first thing she saw was Shen Qingqiu’s frown, so severe it could kill a fly. She felt a faint tickle in her heart at the sight, like a feather brushing lightly across it.

Morning had arrived.

Xiao Muyu coughed. Her throat felt parched after a night without water. She could feel her fever. Her wound was swollen, hot, and dully throbbing with pain.

Xiao Muyu struggled to prop her body upright.

Shen Qingqiu immediately reached out to steady her. She spoke with concern. “You have a fever. How do you feel? Is it unbearable?”

Xiao Muyu looked listless as she murmured, “It’s probably the wound getting inflamed. My body feels a bit weak, but I can manage.”

Shen Qingqiu watched as she sat on the edge of the bed. Squatting down, she grabbed Xiao Muyu’s shoes with her left hand to help her put them on.

Xiao Muyu quickly moved her foot away, saying quietly, “No need, I… I can do it myself.”

Half-squatting, Shen Qingqiu glanced up at her before lowering her gaze again. “You injured your left shoulder. The wound only just scabbed over last night. Bending over or lifting your arm will tear it open. You’re just an ordinary person. You can’t handle an arrow wound.”

Her expression had darkened, and her tone grew heavier. With only her left hand functional, she grabbed Xiao Muyu’s ankle. Resting it on her own thigh, she awkwardly helped her put on the shoes.

Xiao Muyu’s expression turned awkward as Shen Qingiqu held her ankle. She averted her gaze subtly and said softly, “Aren’t you an ordinary person, too? How did you handle someone breaking your arm?”

Shen Qingqiu’s movement paused. After a moment, she looked up and smiled at Xiao Muyu. Her tone reverted to its usual insufferable cheekiness. “Are you telling me you feel sorry for me, Muyu?”

Xiao Muyu huffed, shooting her a dirty look. “Sorry for what? Sorry, you can’t cut people down as hard with one hand?”

She pulled her foot back and stood up with some effort. Shen Qingqiu carefully supported her. “Take it slow.”

Xiao Muyu’s body appeared frail, and her steps were unsteady. Shen Qingqiu exhaled softly, her expression conflicted. “Why did you take that hit for me? In this world, getting injured often means death.”

Xiao Muyu froze for a moment. Shen Qingqiu wasn’t wrong. “Every man for himself, and the Devil take the hindmost,” as the saying went. While they were teammates, their bond wasn’t deep enough for them to risk their lives for each other.

In truth, as her teammate, saving Shen Qingqiu wasn’t unreasonable. However, the best course of action last night would have been to push her out of the arrow’s trajectory.

Given its speed, however, Shen Qingqiu couldn’t have dodged the arrow unscathed. So, Xiao Muyu chose to teleport over and pull her away, taking the arrow in the process. She hadn’t consciously made the decision. In that split second, her body reacted faster than her mind.

Zhang Yangfeng, Yang Rui, and Huang Junfeng were already awake and waiting when the two stepped out of the room. All three had horrible complexion, their fatigue etched between their brows. However, Xiao Muyu’s pallor was the worst by far.

Yang Rui studied Xiao Muyu with visible concern. She asked, “How are you doing, Miss Xiao?”

All color had drained from Xiao Muyu’s face. Her cracked, dry lips only added to her sickly appearance. Despite this, she shook her head dismissively. “I can hold on. Qu Muxi and the others should appear soon. We’re nearing the end of the storyline. Once we sort out the remaining details, we can clear the instance.”

Yang Rui nodded. Guessing the culprits had earned them 20 points. After the game ended yesterday, she gained 5 points for identifying five players’ corresponding dolls. Resolving the corpse incident last night added another 15 points. Her score was now 72.

However, Zhang Yangfeng had only 54 points, while Huang Junfeng had 50. They still needed to find more ways to earn points.

“So, should we just go find Qu Muxi and the others or look for other clues?” Huang Junfeng, his neck wrapped in white bandages, looked drained. Last night’s events had rattled him.

“They’ll come looking for us. For now, let’s check another location. Maybe you guys can earn some more points,” said Xiao Muyu unhurriedly. She glanced at Shen Qingqiu.

Shen Qingqiu didn’t respond. She reached out to steady Xiao Muyu. “Watch your step. Walk slow.”

Only Xiao Muyu and Shen Qingqiu knew there was a back gate. The other three were understandably confused about where they were going until they saw the locked gate.

Yang Rui gaped in surprise. “How is there a back gate here? We didn’t even notice it before!”

“Let’s not waste time. Open the gate and see where it leads.” Unwilling to tarry, Shen Qingqiu immediately pulled out the key.

They got the rusty lock off. The gate slowly swung open with a creak before lightly tapping against the walls on either side.

The group stepped through. Beyond the gate lay a narrow path leading to a quiet grove. It hadn’t rained at the orphanage that morning, yet the air carried post-rain freshness. Despite the bright sky, this grove was thick with shadows.

Huang Junfeng shivered. “What’s up with this place? It’s dark… and scary.”

The moment his words fell, a harsh “caw… caw…” suddenly erupted in the silent grove. Huang Junfeng shrank back while Yang Rui patted her chest.

Shen Qingqiu, too, flinched, her body tensing.

Beside her, Xiao Muyu spoke softly, “It’s a crow.”

“A crow? Don’t tell me…” Zhang Yangfeng had a sudden realization. “Crows feed on carrion. There were so many crows in the cafeteria. They couldn’t have just appeared out of nowhere. Maybe there’s a place nearby with enough… to keep them thriving?”

Zhang Yangfeng took a few steps forward after speaking. Suddenly, the bushes in the grove rustled, followed by the thunderous flapping of wings mixed with the cawing of crows.

A flock of crows surged like a dark cloud toward Xiao Muyu and the others at an alarming speed.

Huang Junfeng and the others crouched down, clutching their heads. Shen Qingqiu quickly placed her left hand on Xiao Muyu’s head. She pressed her against her chest and turned to shield her.

However, the crows didn’t attack them. They merely swept past the group. Their black shapes vanished instantly, leaving only a few stray feathers in their wake.

Shen Qingqiu cautiously scanned the surroundings. A gentle nudge from Xiao Muyu made her let go. She looked down, her eyes softening involuntarily with worry. “Did I touch your wound?”

Xiao Muyu shook her head.

The three crouching down earlier exchanged awkward glances as they stood up. Yang Rui couldn’t resist poking Zhang Yangfeng. “Look at them.”

Zhang Yangfeng blinked, feeling a bit wronged. He had pulled Yang Rui down to crouch with him, hadn’t he? Besides, Xiao Muyu and Shen Qingqiu weren’t even a couple.

After the crows flew off, the five carefully approached the area ahead. What they saw left them frozen in place.

It was a mass grave.

Days of torrential rain had carved deep grooves into the ground. Several white bones jutted out from the muck, and a few skulls had surfaced. Their hollow sockets stared blankly at the trespassers.

Yang Rui’s chest tightened at the sight. She grabbed Zhang Yangfeng’s arm. “They’re all human bones…”

Shen Qingqiu instructed Xiao Muyu to stay put before walking up to investigate. After more than twenty steps, she came across a cluster of graves. Unlike those carelessly discarded corpses, these graves appeared tended to. Someone had even made wooden markers for them.

Big Xiao Mei, Xiao Jiao… the names etched on the markers had already burned themselves into Shen Qingqiu’s memory over the past three days. She could even vividly recall their faces—so real and alive. Yet, knowing the truth now, standing before the graves bearing their names left a sour feeling in her heart.

Shen Qingqiu scanned the area before turning back to the group. “I found them—Qu Muxi and the eight children’s graves.”

Huang Junfeng jogged over while Xiao Muyu took her time approaching.

Sure enough, the graves belonged to Qu Muxi and the children. However, someone had dug up the eight children’s graves.

“What degenerate would dig up their graves? Aren’t Old Sang supposed to be guarding them?” Huang Junfeng said in astonishment.

“Someone didn’t dig them up. Something broke out from inside,” Xiao Muyu deadpanned. Her words sent a chill through everyone.

“Huh?”

Zhang Yangfeng crouched down to inspect the grave site. He explained, “The disturbed soil doesn’t look like someone had dug them up. It’s more like something burrowed their way out. Look at the edges of the openings. There’s dirt piled all around.”

“Dig it up,” Shen Qingqiu ordered curtly, glancing at Huang Junfeng and the others.

Huang Junfeng pointed at himself, aghast. “You want me to dig up graves?”

Shen Qingqiu cast him a sidelong look. With an even tone, she said, “What? Is there a problem?”

“This is just so… wrong.” Huang Junfeng knew Shen Qingqiu must have her reasons. Still, he couldn’t resist arguing against it.

Shen Qingqiu snorted softly. She glanced at her injured right hand. “If my hand weren’t out of commission, forget the graves—I’d have no problem prying open a skull.”

Huang Junfeng didn’t doubt for a second she meant every word. He got to work immediately. He and Zhang Yangfeng found some tools and spent a while digging up Big Xiao Mei and the others’ graves.

The bodies had been carefully buried. Each was in a simple, small coffin, barely over a meter long. They had removed the lids, revealing the skeletal remains, which had already decayed.

The group looked at the rotted remains with white bones peeking out, yet couldn’t connect them to the bouncing children they had seen before.

Yang Rui felt fear but more so sorrow. After a long pause, she ground out, “If it weren’t for those beasts, they’d still be alive—eating, learning, and playing together. They’d still be caring for their dolls.”

“Those beasts got off too easy. Disgusting scum,” Huang Junfeng spat, his face twisted in anger and contempt.

“So… the things that crawled out of the coffins were their dolls?” Yang Rui asked in a hazy tone.

“Yes.”

“Ahhhhhh!” Suddenly, Huang Junfeng let out a blood-curdling scream. His eyes bulged wide. He was pointing past the others. Incoherent words spilled out of his lips.

Shen Qingqiu and Xiao Muyu spun around in unison. Behind them stood Qu Muxi and the eight children, staring at them without expressions.

Their faces were deathly pale, with dark rings around their eyes.

“You figured it all out?” Qu Muxi’s tone was devoid of warmth.

Shen Qingqiu held her dagger in her left hand. Her face grave, she kept her eyes locked on them.

Xiao Muyu didn’t look at Qu Muxi but at Big Xiao Mei. Her voice softened as she said, “Yes, we know everything. Those corpses from the kitchen came after us last night.”

There was a brief shift in Big Xiao Mei’s expression, yet she remained silent.

Xiao Muyu ignored Qu Muxi and continued speaking to Big Xiao Mei. “We dealt with them. Locked those revolting things in the bathroom. Since they died there, they should stay dead there.”

Qu Muxi was the one to respond. “You saw the scene in there, didn’t you? And their corpses? Don’t you think what we did was cruel?”

Xiao Muyu swept her gaze over the children, her eyes commiserating. She shook her head. “They got what they deserved. But we’re truly sorry. You never should have had to face or do the things you did. You were all just children. Adults were supposed to protect you as you grow up, but they failed you. You finally found a home after being abandoned, yet they didn’t protect you. Worse, even the ones who did protect you met such a terrible fate.”

Big Xiao Mei’s expression cracked. Her dark eyes brimmed with tears. They were the tears of a ghost born from unbearable suffering. Yet, just as quickly, she wiped them away with steely resolve.

This time, it wasn’t Qu Muxi who spoke. Big Xiao Mei gritted her teeth and hissed, “Since they wouldn’t give us justice, we took it with our own hands. We were so obedient, so good. Whatever they asked, we did it. But they still wouldn’t leave us alone. When he was upset, he’d hit us and yell at us. We didn’t complain. After all, he was the one who gave us a place to sleep and food to eat.”

“But he was so awful, awful! He always bullied Xiao Jiao. He kept deceiving her just because she doesn’t understand anything. It wasn’t just him. Those people, too. They were disgusting. They deserved to die, every last one of them!”

Rage had consumed Big Xiao Mei. Her malevolence swirled through the air. The winds howled chaotically through the forest, creating a terrifying scene.

Shock and fear had petrified the others while Shen Qingqiu watched out for any threat. Xiao Muyu alone talked with Big Xiao Mei. “I know. That’s why you wished for her to become smarter, right?”

This statement strangely seemed to soothe Big Xiao Mei. The wind gradually subsided. Her wrathful expression melted into grief. She turned to look at the blank-faced Xiao Jiao.

“A fool is still a person. She feels fear and pain. But she doesn’t know how to run or cry out.”

“You’re a good kid, Big Xiao Mei.”

“Am I still a good child after tearing apart those eight scumbags!?” she snapped, cutting Xiao Muyu off mid-sentence. In an instant, she floated right in front of Xiao Muyu’s face.

Shen Qingqiu moved, but Xiao Muyu’s hand stopped her.

Big Xiao Mei’s long hair whipped about in the wind. Her eyes, entirely black, were mere inches from Xiao Muyu’s face. Beside her, Yang Rui’s knees trembled.

“You are,” confirmed Xiao Muyu.

“Liar!” Big Xiao Mei screamed in fury. She appeared itching to rend the woman in front of her to shreds.

But Xiao Muyu’s next words stopped her cold.

“Because I’ve done the same. When no one helps you, you handle it yourself!”