Wipe Your Hand

Everyone around them sucked in a sharp breath.

Yin Xiu kept his eyes closed. He couldn’t see anything, but he could clearly feel the woman’s gaze lingering on him. It was cold and utterly merciless, but not murderous. “Tomorrow night, it’s him.”

“That won’t do.” The mayor’s voice sounded beside him, hurried and agitated. “He isn’t from this town. You can’t choose him.”

The woman didn’t leave. She let out two dark laughs. “He wasn’t allowed yesterday, but he is today.”

The mayor’s voice turned cold in an instant. “That still won’t do. He’s someone I have my eye on.”

“The rules say I can, so I can.” The woman laughed, her voice full of provocation. “I’m choosing him. What can you do about it? Break the rules?”

The mayor fell silent and didn’t answer.

With a mocking laugh, the woman began moving again, slowly walking away from Yin Xiu. As she went, her voice faded away.

“Open your eyes!”

A voice nearby called out a reminder, and the townspeople’s voices broke the silence. Yin Xiu slowly opened his eyes too...