Chapter 60: The Prophet’s Forewarning
Hearing the sign-in location was at a wild pheasant’s nest, Ning Xiyue grew a little excited. Just the place itself was worth a look.
She glanced behind—Aunt Yangliu had already left. Now she was alone, free to act.
She crouched down, pushing aside the grass to her left and right. “Where is it?”
Standing up again, she scanned in the direction where she’d heard the system’s check-in sound. Not far to her left, a tuft of grass hid a small chicken feather. The corners of her lips curved.
“Found it.”
Walking over, she searched the area. About fifty meters ahead, behind a stone, at the base of a dense clump of cogon grass, she discovered the nest. Inside, aside from broken eggshells, were ten pheasant eggs, still faintly warm to the touch. One even had a crack in it.
Ning Xiyue clicked her tongue. “What a pity. If I’d come earlier, I might have run into the pheasant and caught the lot.”
“Check-in.”
[Check-in successful. Reward: one chance at a prophetic vision. Limited to this location. Would the host like to use it?]
“Hm?”
There was a restriction? Did the check-in site and reward have some deep connection? Ning Xiyue was puzzled.
“Use it.”
“Ding, activating now.”
As the system spoke, her pupils turned golden, and a scene appeared before her eyes.
Two figures emerged—Ning Xiaoxiao and her second brother, Ning Qingyuan.
Ning Xiaoxiao stood in front of him, speaking with tears in her eyes:
“Second Cousin, that roast pheasant leg you gave me last time was so delicious. That was the first time I ate meat all year. So fragrant. I don’t know when I’ll get to have it again… ah… after being sent down here so long, even my family…”
As usual, she left her words half-finished, hinting at more, wiping her eyes but not saying further—just crying.
Ning Qingyuan grew flustered. “Hey, don’t cry. If you’re in trouble, just tell me. I’ll think of a way. If you liked the chicken leg, I’ll catch you another. Come, I know a spot. There’s a pheasant’s nest nearby. Some chicks should have hatched by now—we’ll see if we can grab one to roast.”
The vision shifted. The two now stood by the very stone in front of the nest Ning Xiyue had just found.
Ning Qingyuan pointed happily behind the rock. “See? Right there. Last time I caught one in that grass. There were even a few eggs about to hatch. Let’s go check.”
“Really? Then we’ll get to eat meat again?” Ning Xiaoxiao’s greedy expression surfaced as she followed him toward the nest.
“Stay back a bit, Xiaoxiao,” he warned. “There’s a cliff just ahead. Be careful.”
She waved it off. “It’s fine. I won’t stand right on the edge. I’ll just watch from the nest.”
“…Alright.”
The scene shifted again. Now both were holding two pheasant chicks, smiling in delight. Suddenly, the grass rustled and a large pheasant appeared. Excited, Ning Xiaoxiao rushed toward it.
“Second Cousin, a big one—!”
“Xiaoxiao, don’t! That’s the cliffside!”
But she didn’t hear. Her eyes locked only on the bird. As the pheasant flapped away, her foot slipped—nearly off the cliff.
“Ah—Second Cousin, save me!”
In a flash, Ning Qingyuan caught her hand and hauled her up. But in her panic, she flailed—accidentally pushing him off the cliff.
“Ahhh—”
“Second Cousin! Second Cousin! sob sob…”
Ning Xiyue gasped, heart clenching, her hatred for Ning Xiaoxiao burning.
Worse yet—after crying for a while, Ning Xiaoxiao’s eyes hardened. She turned and ran toward the Daliu Brigade, never even checking the bottom of the cliff, never seeking help.
This is something a person would do?
Ning Xiyue’s eyes blazed with fury.
The vision shifted once more. At the cliff’s base, Ning Qingyuan lay bleeding, clutching his chest, clinging to life, waiting for her to come save him. Time dragged on—his eyes went from hopeful, to disappointed, to utterly despairing.
Weakly, he whispered:
“Yueyue… Second Brother can’t… go back… to see you…”
“Ding, prophetic vision complete.”
The scene froze on his final words and closing eyes.
“Second Brother!” Ning Xiyue’s knees buckled. She fell toward the cliff’s edge, tears streaming, replaying that final image over and over.
“Eh? Yueyue? Why are you here?”
Startled, she looked up—there he was, straw hat on, hurrying up the path, alive and well.
She wiped her tear-blurred eyes, hardly daring to believe. “Second Brother?”
Ning Qingyuan rushed over, panicked to find her crying. He fumbled for a handkerchief, wiping at her tears and snot.
“Why are you crying, Yueyue? Don’t cry, don’t cry. You’ll look like a little tabby cat—ugly. Don’t cry. Your Second Brother’s here.”
Carefully, she poked his cheek with her finger—warm, solid. Not an illusion.
“Waaah, Second Brother, I missed you!” She threw her arms around him, sobbing into his chest.
He patted her shoulder gently. “What’s wrong? Who bullied my little crybaby? Tell me, and I’ll get justice for you.”
Taking the chance, she glared up fiercely. “It was Ning Xiaoxiao. From now on, you’re not allowed to talk to her, not allowed to help her. I’ve cut ties with her. She’s evil. After we leave this cliff, I’ll tell you everything. If you ever side with her again, you’re not my brother!”
“Alright. I swear to the Chairman—never again will I speak to her, help her, or even acknowledge her if I see her.”
He raised his hand seriously, then smiled dotingly at his fiery little sister.
“And you—no more sneaking here for eggs or pheasants, you hear? Never again.”
“Eh? How’d you know I came here in secret to catch pheasants?”
He scratched his head sheepishly. Just yesterday, he’d seen a pheasant fly this way. This was his first time checking—and his sister had caught him red-handed.
Ning Xiyue snorted. “Isn’t this a pheasant’s nest? Isn’t this a pile of eggs? Isn’t it working time right now? And isn’t that your sickle lying beside you?”
Her words stripped the stage bare. Ning Qingyuan chuckled awkwardly. “Heh… Yueyue, at least let me keep some dignity.”
“Dignity can’t save your life!” She planted her fists on her hips, glaring. “Anyway—you’re not allowed back here.”
Then she snatched up his sickle and destroyed the nest, clearing every stalk of grass around it until the place was barren.
Ning Qingyuan could only shake his head, smiling helplessly. Together, they gathered the grass, pocketed the ten speckled eggs, and went off to request leave.
Meanwhile, returning home, the mother pheasant stood bewildered before her stripped-bare nest.
Where’s my home…?
