Upon hearing about the feast, Sophie and the kids quickly washed off the mud and swam to shore. Ignoring their soaked clothes, the children eagerly crowded around Laki, asking where the meal was.
As a girl, Sophie tried to act more reserved—but her sparkling eyes and the faint trail of drool at the corner of her mouth betrayed her. While in the water, she hadn't noticed her hunger, but the mention of food made her stomach growl loudly. The sound was soon echoed by the others around Laki.
After regrouping with Dr. Libor, the whole party headed toward the village.
Though Sophie wasn't from this world, seeing Libor's neat attire while she stood there in dripping, skin-tight clothes made her blush. After greeting the others, she ducked behind some bushes by the lake, pulled a fresh outfit from her Phoenix Bag, and changed. *Much better—at least now I'm not at risk of flashing anyone!*
When she stepped out, Libor's eyes lit up again. If the playful Sophie in the water had been a wild spirit straying into the human world, the Sophie before him now was an angel descended from the heavens—graceful, poised, yet still carrying that untamed spark.
Inside the large communal hall of Palmire Village, tables were laden with all kinds of fish dishes, replacing the usual handicrafts. The room buzzed with lively chatter, but despite the feast laid out before them, no one touched the food. They were waiting—for Sophie.
Her arrival was met with cheers. At the village elder's signal, Sophie took the first symbolic bite, and the feast began!
Every villager wanted her to try their dish. Under their relentless hospitality, Sophie moved from table to table, sampling everything—even just one bite per plate left her stuffed.
*Ugh, I never knew Kareena's little tummy could bulge like this!* It wasn't obvious, but compared to before, there was definitely a slight roundness now.
Palmire hadn't seen such excitement in a long time. The last big celebration was when Bashara's son, Jili, got promoted to squad leader. Though Jili wasn't here tonight, the presence of "Fairy Sophie" and Dr. Libor kept spirits high.
If not for Libor's announcement that he'd conduct health checkups after dinner, the villagers might have partied until midnight. Sophie breathed a sigh of relief—she couldn't eat another bite.
The mess would be cleaned up tomorrow. As dusk settled, the villagers lined up while Libor sat behind a wooden table, taking their pulses.
Sophie found the whole thing odd. *Is this some kind of rural medical service?* But there were no instruments, no notepads—just a quick wrist check, then a syringe drawing what looked like *800cc of blood* per person. And he *didn't even change needles* between villagers!
*If one person has AIDS, the whole village is doomed!* Sophie mentally scolded Libor's negligence.
The villagers urged her to get checked too, and Libor's eyes gleamed as he watched her. But Sophie refused outright. *No way! I'm not sick, and I'm not risking some medieval bloodborne plague!* His gaze was downright predatory—like a wolf eyeing a lamb.
*What's his problem? I'm not food!* She glared at him, irritation flaring for no clear reason.
By the end, Libor had a whole crate of fresh blood. As the villagers dispersed, he stretched lazily, looking pleased.
"You seem happy," Sophie remarked.
"Of course! The villagers are healthy. As a doctor, that's always good news," he replied smoothly.
Ignoring him, Sophie headed to Bashara's house with Charles and Xiao Bai.
Behind her, Libor smirked. *Sophie… do you suspect something? It doesn't matter. You can't escape me. I can already imagine how delicious your blood will be.*
When Sophie reached Bashara's, she froze. *How is he already here?* Libor was chatting with the old woman, the crate of blood at his feet.
"Hey, beautiful," he greeted with a sly grin.
"How did you—?" Sophie demanded.
"I live here," he said casually.
Bashara nodded. "Libor is Jili's friend. He visits every month to check on the villagers. Since Jili's away, he stays in his room—keeps me company!"
Too full to move, Sophie declined Libor's invitation for a walk and collapsed onto her bed. *Someone bring me digestive pills!* Lying down only made her stomach feel heavier.
The night grew still, even the insects quieting to occasional murmurs. Charles' soft snores drifted from the next room. *Kids have it easy—eat, sleep, repeat.* She groaned, clutching her belly. *Your kindness is killing me, villagers!*
Half-asleep but desperate, Sophie stumbled to the outhouse. After *four trips*, she could barely stand. *I've never felt this weak since coming here. Maybe I let my guard down too much tonight.*
*Fine. I'll go find that annoying doctor.* Surely even someone as sketchy as Libor could handle a little diarrhea.
Creeping out, she realized—*I never asked which room is his.* Waking Bashara seemed rude, so she resigned herself to checking each door.
*Wait… is it really okay to barge into a man's room this late?*
At the last unopened door, she hesitated—then it creaked open on its own.
Inside, a scene both horrifying and mesmerizing unfolded...
**Will she survive?**