**Rules of Werewolf Village:**

Rule One: Each night, one villager becomes a werewolf.

Rule Two: Each night, the werewolf attacks one villager.

Rule Three: Each night, villagers may not leave their homes.

What concerned Bai Youwei most was Rule One — each night, one villager becomes a werewolf.

That meant between her and Hans, only one of them would become a werewolf tonight.

Hans currently had wolfsbane, while she had been bitten by the imprisoned werewolf. Whoever became a werewolf first would hold the advantage — and the other would be left as nothing but a weak, defenseless villager.

Bai Youwei unwound the cloth bandaged around her wrist. The bloodstain was still there, but the wound had healed. That tearing, burning pain still lingered in her memory — a single recollection was enough to make her heart seize.

She could only hope tonight went smoothly. Otherwise, she had endured that bite for nothing.

Bai Youwei walked slowly through the village, carefully noting the position and angle of every empty house. She needed to find the best vantage point — somewhere that would ensure she was bathed in moonlight the moment the moon rose.

The silver nails on the doors were an obstacle, though. She would need to avoid them carefully.

It occurred to her that if she really did become a werewolf, her aversion to silver objects might well be doubled.

Bai Youwei found one empty house and turned the door handle, only to find it locked from inside. She moved around to the side — the window was open.

Through the window she could see that Hans was sitting on the stone bed, a potted plant in his arms, his body facing the glass pane, his head bowed. Bai Youwei couldn’t make out his expression, but the plant was clearly visible.

Lush green leaves, with a few pale blue flower buds nestled among them — like small wild flowers from a mountain path, unremarkable and unnamed.

That must be the wolfsbane. Ordinary-looking weeds by day, blooming at nightfall to lure werewolves out.

Bai Youwei considered for a moment, then found another empty house nearby, stepped inside, and stood at the doorway, watching the house across from her.

Time passed minute by minute. The house across the way showed no movement at all.

She tilted her head back to watch the sky. The setting sun was half-concealed behind clouds, slowly sinking, staining the horizon as though the edge of the world had caught fire.

A dusk like this, framing a fairy-tale little village — it ought to have been a beautiful sight.

But Bai Youwei had absolutely no inclination to appreciate it. She was impatient for night to arrive. She wanted to stand in the moonlight and claim the true power of a werewolf.

At last, night fell.

When the blood-red full moon rose, Bai Youwei immediately felt something different in her body. Every vein felt like a river surging and crashing — slamming against her from within!

She could barely hold herself back. Her head snapped up and she let out a howl.

The tendons in her hands swelled and ruptured outward — thick, dense wolf fur sprouted all over — her frame began to expand and grow!

The sight was genuinely terrifying, and yet Bai Youwei felt a secret thrill in her heart.

Because she had transformed into a werewolf. Which meant Hans was destined to remain human tonight — a helpless human, completely at her mercy!

Her jaw split apart, her mouth elongating, fangs bared. Her entire body surged with strength. Something deep in her chest ached to burst out — to tear apart everything before her, to rend and shred it! Bloodlust flooded her mind, and reason dwindled to nothing!

The plush rabbit at her side seemed frightened by the sight of her, standing frozen in the corner, staring without moving.

Bai Youwei pushed through the door. In the moonlight, her transformation was complete.

At the same moment, a directive surfaced in her mind:

**【A werewolf may select any single house and attack the villager inside. You have only one chance.】**

Hans’ house was right before her eyes. Without hesitation, Bai Youwei walked toward it.

The rabbit followed behind her, stopping and starting, trailing her with nervous uncertainty.

Under the canopy of the blood moon, every cottage and house was draped in a red haze — only the nails on the door planks flickered with an irritating silver-white glow.

Bai Youwei remembered the open window and changed course.

There were nails around the window frame as well, but it was far easier than forcing her way through a nailed door. She peered in through the window and spotted Hans. He was still sitting on the bed, clutching that pot of wolfsbane, utterly motionless.

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