Seeing Mo Ran rush away Wanning turns to the man. The cultivator in brown. Wanning can see he is shaking. He's scared? A cultivator this scared? Wanning looks down to see his legs bleeding. Wanning lights a talisman, bringing in light over his leg. The man is bleeding heavily. Getting on his knees Wanning takes a closer look. Deep claw marks. He needs a doctor but Wanning can only do so much.
Wanning starts fixing the man's leg with what he has on hand. The man can only cry. "T-that... t-that wasn't a ghost. What was that thing?" He asks still shaking but now holding himself. Wanning raises an eyebrow at him.
"A ghost." Wanning answers.
"Ghosts don't look like that!" He shouts. Wanning tightens the bandage around his leg, getting him to cry out.
"Manners." Wanning warns, moving to his other leg. "Where are your two friends?" Wanning asks.
"T-the tall one got him. I... I lost the other. We ran in separate directions."
"They are okay." A voice comes from behind a bush. Acting fast Wanning turns with Tianwen ready. "Please. I mean no harm." A woman says showing herself, both hands in the air. She's young, having just reached young adulthood. But what's she doing here? Not trusting her Wanning frowns. "Please. I have the other two." She says. Wanning continue to stare. The two stare. In the distance they hear a shriek. She lets out a huff. "Alright, then you can watch me." She says turning back around. As she moves to drag both heavy men towards their friend, Wanning catches sight of her pouch. Multiple hanging from around her hips.
The woman huffs as she drags one of the two men closer. Their clothes torn but Wanning catches sight of bandages wrapped around them. Some blotted with blood already. Treating someone in the dark and in the woods is not easy. Trusting the woman now Wanning lets Tianwen go, moving to help the woman. Easily grabbing the other man. Setting him besides his friend against the tree.
"Who are you?" Wanning asks watching as the woman quickly gets to work
"I'm Zedong Xun. You talked to my father when you got here." she answers but her attention is on the man leg.
"Why are you here?" Wanning asks.
"I wanted to help you, so I followed you but seeing you both eating dinner I decided to check on these three cultivators. I got here too late. Especially when they separated." she says. The man passing out from the pain.
"Why? It's dangerous?" Wanning asks, most would not jump into danger.
"I thought so too but... they are not dangerous... to women." she answers finishing up with the man leg.
"How do you know?" Wanning narrows his eyes.
Zedong Xun secures the bandage, then turns to Wanning. "I came here when it started, a friend came out to train, he's a soldier. They attacked him but not me."
"Why would they not attack women? Are you sure?" Wanning asks.
"I'm sure... I know them." Zedong Xun tells Wanning, expression sad. Wanning motions for her to continue. "It was five or so years ago maybe six. After the farm house burnt down us kids would play in that area. One day I was alone so I went exploring and noticed someone in the shed. I went to check it out and found... the family there. They were living inside."
"Your father didn't know?" Wanning assumes, he was desperate if he knew he would have told them. Zedong Xun nods.
"I never told him. If I did he would have kicked them out. They couldn't afford anything. I had to go around asking for scraps, clothes, shoes, blankets and even cutlery. No one really questioned why I wanted them."
"Do you know when they disappeared?"
"They were murdered." Zedong Xun says instead of answer the question, Wanning blinks, eyes wide open.
"You... saw?" Wanning questions, wanting to know but knows it must not be easy. She must not want to relive it.
"Yes. I... knew the twins. They were the same age as me at the time. I got close to them, they became my friends. I was going to help them become soldiers. Both wanted to become one so they can provide for their mother and baby brother. They wanted to get away, and I was happy to help, I knew their father was a beggar on the streets but when he got home to them he'd beat them. I got close to their mom. She was a kind woman, sweet and wanted to help but couldn't with a new born. They were kind people, and I wanted to help..." her voice cracks. Taking a deep breath before continuing, "I did help them but I don't think I should have. The man scared me. I had come by one day and he was shouting and hurting them. I told them so, they understood. One day I caught him shouting at them, thinking they stole the things I'd given them. They tried to tell him it was donated to them but I was to scared of him so they didn't force me to help tell the truth, so they can prove it. Then the string snapped. Yin Yating got fed up, she pushed back. He killed her in his anger and the baby. The twin were shocked. They fought but he was taller. He killed them all. Scared I ran. I didn't know what to do. When I went back everyone was gone. The only evidence left was blood. I didn't know what to do. What should I have done?" she breaks down cry.
Wanning hands twitch. He's never been good at comforting people in distress. He can do something, so he rubs her back in what he hopes is a soothing motion. "You shouldn't think about what if." Wanning says, god knows he's thought that too. Thinking about it doesn't make it feel better though. It makes it worse.
"I know. But..."
"You can only make sure it never happens again." Wanning tells her. She looks at his face, she must see what she wants because Zedong Xun gives a nod. She wipes her tears.
"That's why I'm training to become a doctor, but dad... wouldn't let me train. So I've trained in secret." She smiles mischievously. Wanning gives her a smile back.
"Your father mention the ghost disappearing and reappearing." Wanning points out.
"It started when their murderer came back. I saw him passing by. He was the first victim. At first we thought it was an animal attack. Claw like marks, puncture wounds like teeth. He look bad. Then some hunters were victims. They went into the woods trying to hunt or catch whatever killed the man. Then more and more. After so many injuries and death dad put a stop to it. We thought we were fine but then the ghost started coming into the town. There were some women who would go out and come back safely so we thought it was over."
"It was the men they are after." Wanning continues.
"Yes. No one seems to see that. After days of woman going out and nothing happens it's assumed they are gone."
"I understand. Can you watch them for me?" Wanning asks motioning to the three men. Zedong Xun nods.
"Please don't hurt them, they've been through enough." She pleads. Wanning nods.
"I will end this peacefully." Wanning promises with a nods. He sends a message to Mo Ran, following the haitang flower to his location. He uses quickstep to get to him faster.
He spots Mo Ran in the distance taking a breath. The taller of the four charging at him but Mo Ran doesn't seem to notice, distracted by trying to get air into his lungs. Fear encompasses Wanning. Yin Yating is reaching for vital areas, wanting immediate death rather than the baby or the twins who seem childish, playing almost. "Mo Weiyu!" Wanning shouts jumping in front of him, arms out protecting him, placing his body in between them.
Wanning takes a breath, head angle up, trying to get his throat away from her sharp fingers. But they seem to grow as Wanning can feel it touching his neck.
Yin Yating lowers her arm slowly. "Let's go back home." Wanning says softly, hand raising towards her. She continues to stare. Hair down and in her face but Wanning can feel it. Maybe they are still confused. If they attack all men but not woman they must see all men as their murderer and women as someone safe. "It's me Zedong Xun. I brought some more things for you all." Wanning says, giving her a smile. "Yin Yating." He calls her. At her name being called she reaches a hand out, laying it in Wanning.
Wanning smiles. Leading her towards the shed. The twins following close along with the baby.
"I'll protect you." Wanning tells her. He feels her hand tighten around his.