The porridge in the pot boiled, and each villager at the table received a large bowl.

Only Master Qingning's bowl had an extra spoonful of pickled beads.

Everyone found a place to sit on their own and ate hungrily. Their gazes crossed, seemingly conveying some message.

"Nannan, why aren't you eating?" Aunt Yu's voice broke the silence.

I suddenly felt the bowl in my hand scalding hot and stammered, "I don't feel well in my stomach, a bit nauseous."

"Just have some porridge," Aunt Yu put down her bowl, reached for mine, and scooped a spoonful to feed me. "New daughter-in-law, if you don't eat enough, you won't be able to handle it."

"There's a worm!"

Suddenly, Master Qingning next to me shouted in alarm, jumped up, and spilled the porridge all over the floor.

Everyone's attention was immediately drawn to her.

Aunt Yu frowned in distress, quickly loosened her grip on the spoon, and got up to check. But after taking two steps, she fell to the ground and vomited a mouthful of blood.

She seemed confused, touched the bloodstains on her mouth, and then suddenly looked up.

Her bloodstained fingers pointed fiercely at me, and she cursed with garbled words, but more blood foam overflowed.

"Run!" Master Qingning grabbed my wrist and rushed outside.

The villagers stood up one after another, rushing towards us.

A man sitting on the outer edge blocked the doorway with a grimace of undisguised greed.

"Clearly see through the facade, nothing is inconsistent. Urgent as if following orders, retreat!"

Master Qingning flicked a yellow talisman from his fingertips, hitting the man's forehead directly.

Immediately, the villager covered his face as if burned, frantically tearing at the talisman, leaving bloody scratches on his face.

We took the opportunity to run desperately, with the village chief's curses and the villagers' intermittent moans behind us.

The chaotic sounds of pursuit behind us gradually faded away as we reached the foot of the mountain.