Chapter 518

Just then, a woman's voice called out from the courtyard, "Dad, Mom, I'm home!" The voice was clear and sweet, carrying a hint of excitement and full of life.

Hearing this, Mr. and Mrs. Xu Aiguo's smiles widened. Mr. Xu quickly stood up and hurried outside. Mrs. Xu followed closely, both of their faces beaming with joy.

In the courtyard stood a graceful young girl, about seventeen or eighteen years old. She wore a white dress, tall and slender, with a delicate face, eyes like autumn water, and lips like cherry blossoms. Her hair was tied in a simple ponytail, making her look both youthful and vibrant. She carried a large travel bag, appearing as if she had just returned from a trip.

"Yuanyuan, you're back! Come in quickly, it's cold outside," Mr. Xu said, his voice full of affection and concern.

"Dad, Mom, I've missed you so much!" Xu Yuanyuan laughed, throwing herself into Mr. Xu's embrace, then affectionately linking arms with Mrs. Xu.

"Alright, alright, stop acting spoiled. Come inside, it really is cold," Mrs. Xu said with a smile.

The family of three happily entered the house.

The house was warm and cozy. Xu Yuanyuan placed her travel bag on the floor and took off her coat, revealing the white dress underneath.

"Yuanyuan, are you hungry? Mom made your favorite braised pork, and sweet and sour ribs," Mrs. Xu said, heading towards the kitchen.

"Really? That's wonderful! I'm starving!" Xu Yuanyuan's eyes lit up at the mention of braised pork and sweet and sour ribs. She loved her mother's cooking the most.

Mr. Xu smiled and shook his head, his eyes full of doting affection.

Soon, Mrs. Xu came out carrying two plates of fragrant dishes: one with rich, red braised pork and the other with tempting, golden sweet and sour ribs. Xu Yuanyuan eagerly picked up her chopsticks and took a piece of braised pork, putting it into her mouth.

"Mmm, it's so delicious! Mom's cooking is always the best!" Xu Yuanyuan squinted with satisfaction, her face full of enjoyment.

Mr. and Mrs. Xu smiled contentedly as they watched their daughter eat with such relish.

The family of three gathered around the dining table, eating the hot, steaming food, filling the house with warmth and happiness.

After dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Xu accompanied Xu Yuanyuan in the living room, chatting and asking her how her trip had been. Xu Yuanyuan vividly recounted the interesting things she had encountered outside, and her parents listened with great delight, often bursting into happy laughter.

As night deepened, Xu Yuanyuan finished her bath and lay in bed, but sleep wouldn't come. Her mind replayed everything that had happened that day: the mysterious man, the strange ring, and the unsettling premonition she felt. All of it left her confused and uneasy. She didn't know what was going on or what she should do. She tossed and turned until late into the night before finally drifting off to sleep.

The next morning, Xu Yuanyuan was awakened by an urgent knocking at the door. She sat up abruptly, looking towards the door in confusion.

"Yuanyuan, are you awake? Open the door quickly, I have something to tell you." It was Mrs. Xu's voice, tinged with anxiety.

Xu Yuanyuan quickly got out of bed and opened the door. Mrs. Xu stood there, her face pale, her eyes filled with worry.

"Mom, what's wrong? What happened?" Xu Yuanyuan's heart sank, and she quickly asked.

"Yuanyuan, your dad... he fainted!" Mrs. Xu's voice trembled, and her eyes were already red-rimmed.

"What?!" Xu Yuanyuan gasped in surprise and rushed with Mrs. Xu to the bedroom. Mr. Xu lay on the bed, his face ashen, breathing rapidly, his forehead covered in cold sweat.

"Dad!" Xu Yuanyuan's heart tightened, and she quickly went forward to grasp his hand. His hand was cold, without a trace of warmth.

"Mom, quickly! Take Dad to the hospital!" Xu Yuanyuan cried out anxiously.

Mrs. Xu had been too frightened to react, but hearing her daughter's words, she snapped out of her daze and quickly took out her phone to dial the emergency number.

Soon, an ambulance arrived, sirens wailing, and took Mr. Xu to the hospital. Xu Yuanyuan and Mrs. Xu sat in the ambulance, their hearts filled with worry and unease.

At the hospital, Mr. Xu was wheeled into the emergency room. Xu Yuanyuan and Mrs. Xu waited anxiously outside. Time passed moment by moment, each second feeling as long as a year.

Finally, the emergency room door opened, and a doctor walked out. "Doctor, how is my dad?" Xu Yuanyuan immediately stepped forward and asked.

The doctor shook his head, his expression grim. "The patient's condition is not optimistic. It's acute myocardial infarction. Fortunately, he was brought in time, otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable. He needs immediate surgery, but the risks are very high..."

The doctor's words struck Xu Yuanyuan and Mrs. Xu like a bolt from the blue. Their vision blurred, their legs weakened, and they almost collapsed to the floor.

"Doctor, please, you must save my dad!" Xu Yuanyuan clutched the doctor's arm tightly, tears streaming down her face. Mrs. Xu was also sobbing uncontrollably.

The doctor sighed and said, "We will do our best, but the surgery cost is high, and we need the patient's family to sign a consent form."

Xu Yuanyuan and Mrs. Xu nodded repeatedly, agreeing. The operating room light came on, and Mr. Xu was wheeled inside. Xu Yuanyuan and Mrs. Xu sat outside the operating room, filled with agony and prayer. They wished time would pass quickly, yet also wished it would pass slowly, so the surgery could proceed smoothly.

Time ticked by, second by second, the operating room light remained on. Xu Yuanyuan and Mrs. Xu didn't know how long they waited until the light finally went out. The doctor emerged, looking tired, but with a hint of relief in his eyes.

"Doctor, how is my dad?" Xu Yuanyuan immediately asked.

"The surgery was successful. The patient is out of danger," the doctor said with a smile.

Hearing this, Xu Yuanyuan and Mrs. Xu cried tears of joy and embraced each other excitedly. "Thank you, Doctor! Thank you!" they repeated their gratitude.

The doctor waved a hand and said, "It's our duty as doctors. However, the patient's body will need some time to recover, and the family must provide careful care."

Xu Yuanyuan and Mrs. Xu nodded repeatedly, promising to take good care of Mr. Xu.

Mr. Xu was moved to a general ward, and Xu Yuanyuan and Mrs. Xu took turns looking after him. After several days of meticulous care, Mr. Xu's condition gradually improved. Xu Yuanyuan would tell him about things happening outside every day, keeping his spirits high. Mr. Xu looked at his daughter, his heart filled with comfort and emotion. He knew that he owed his survival largely to his daughter's help.

One day, Mr. Xu's condition had improved significantly, so Xu Yuanyuan sent Mrs. Xu home to rest and stayed at the hospital to care for him herself. In the middle of the night, Xu Yuanyuan groggily woke up feeling thirsty and decided to get some water. As soon as she got up, she heard a faint sound from outside the ward. Her heart jumped, and she immediately looked towards the door with caution. Through the crack in the door, she saw a dark figure flash by.

Xu Yuanyuan's heart trembled; her intuition told her this was unusual. She tiptoed to the door and looked out through the peephole. The corridor was empty. Xu Yuanyuan felt even more puzzled. Had she misheard? She was about to turn back to bed when she suddenly heard a faint "click." The sound came from the ward window. Her heart tightened, and she quickly went to the window. She saw that the window had been opened a crack, and a cold breeze was blowing in from outside. Xu Yuanyuan's heart sank; she knew someone had broken in! She quickly closed the window, then picked up her phone, ready to call the police.

Just then, she felt a chilling wind behind her. Xu Yuanyuan's heart pounded. Without time to think, she spun around. A dark figure stood behind her, holding a gleaming dagger pointed at her chest.

"Who are you?!" Xu Yuanyuan cried out in alarm, quickly backing away. The shadowy figure said nothing, merely staring at her coldly, pushing the dagger forward. Xu Yuanyuan's heart sank; she knew she was in danger! She retreated desperately, trying to evade the dagger. But the figure was too fast, and the dagger was already lunging towards her chest.

In this critical moment, the ring on Xu Yuanyuan's neck suddenly emitted a dazzling red light. The red light flashed, and the shadowy figure's body trembled violently, then transformed into a puff of black smoke and vanished into the air.

Xu Yuanyuan stared, still terrified, at everything that had just happened, her mind filled with shock and confusion. She didn't know what had just occurred, nor why the ring had suddenly glowed red. She only knew that she had just narrowly escaped death!

Xu Yuanyuan's heart was still pounding. She gasped for air, trying to calm herself. She glanced at the dagger on the floor, filled with fear. She knew that if it weren't for that ring, she would probably be dead. She picked up the dagger and examined it carefully. The blade was engraved with a strange pattern, like a snarling demon. Xu Yuanyuan's heart trembled; she felt this dagger was full of evil. She quickly threw the dagger to the ground as if it were a hot potato. She looked at the ring again, full of questions. She didn't know what this ring was, nor why it had saved her. She only knew that this ring was definitely not simple! She decided that when morning came, she would ask her parents if they knew anything about its origin.

Xu Yuanyuan didn't sleep all night, only drifting off vaguely at dawn.

The next morning, Xu Yuanyuan was awakened by Mrs. Xu's voice. "Yuanyuan, are you awake? Get up quickly, it's time for breakfast." Mrs. Xu's voice held a hint of worry.

Xu Yuanyuan quickly sat up and rubbed her eyes. She glanced out the window; it was already broad daylight. She looked at the ring on her bedside table, her mind still full of questions. She decided that today, she would definitely get to the bottom of this ring's secret.

After washing up, Xu Yuanyuan went to the living room. Mr. and Mrs. Xu were already seated at the dining table, eating breakfast. "Good morning, Dad, Mom," Xu Yuanyuan said with a smile.

"Good morning, Yuanyuan. Come and eat breakfast quickly. Mom made your favorite steamed egg custard," Mrs. Xu said, smiling.

Xu Yuanyuan sat at the dining table, picked up a spoon, and took a bite of the steamed egg custard. The custard was sweet and delicious, but Xu Yuanyuan's mind was still filled with doubt. She hesitated for a moment, then opened her mouth to ask, "Dad, Mom, I have a question I want to ask you."

Mr. and Mrs. Xu exchanged glances. Mr. Xu smiled and said, "Yuanyuan, just ask whatever you want, we'll definitely tell you."

Xu Yuanyuan mustered her courage and asked, "Dad, Mom, do you remember this ring I'm wearing around my neck?"

At her words, Mr. and Mrs. Xu's smiles froze instantly. A strange look flashed in their eyes, then quickly returned to normal. "Yuanyuan, why are you asking about this ring?" Mrs. Xu asked with a smile, though it seemed a bit forced.

Xu Yuanyuan's heart sank. She knew there must be a secret about this ring. She was determined to find out. "Mom, is there anything special about this ring? Why did your expressions change as soon as I asked about it?" Xu Yuanyuan pressed.

Mrs. Xu was silent for a moment, then looked at Mr. Xu, seemingly seeking his opinion. Mr. Xu sighed and said, "Yuanyuan, since you've asked, we'll tell you." Mr. Xu paused, then continued, "This ring was given to me by your maternal grandmother on her deathbed. She told me to give it to you when you turn eighteen."

"Grandmother?" Xu Yuanyuan was startled. She had never heard her parents mention her grandmother.

Mr. Xu nodded and said, "Your grandmother was a very mysterious person. She never told us anything about herself."

"Then, is there anything special about this ring?" Xu Yuanyuan pressed again.

Mr. Xu shook his head. "Your grandmother only said that this ring could protect you and keep you safe."

"Protect me? Keep me safe?" Xu Yuanyuan was full of questions. She always felt that this ring was more than just that simple.

Seeing Xu Yuanyuan still puzzled, Mr. and Mrs. Xu didn't say anything more. They knew some things couldn't be fully understood just by explaining them. Xu Yuanyuan didn't press further either. She knew that if her parents didn't want to say more, they must have their reasons. She decided to search for the ring's secret herself.

After breakfast, Xu Yuanyuan returned to her room, took out the ring, and examined it carefully. The ring's material was very peculiar, like a metal yet also like a jade stone, cool and comfortable to the touch. The surface of the ring was engraved with strange runes, like ancient script or mysterious symbols. Xu Yuanyuan tried to wear the ring on her finger, but it wouldn't fit. She then tried to wear it around her neck, and it slipped on easily. Xu Yuanyuan's heart stirred. Could this ring only be worn around the neck?

She examined the ring more closely and suddenly noticed a line of tiny characters engraved on its inner surface. Xu Yuanyuan quickly took the ring off to examine it carefully. The characters were so small that they were almost imperceptible without close inspection. Xu Yuanyuan painstakingly deciphered them and finally made out the inscription. It read: "On the night of the full moon, at midnight, blood initiates ownership."

Xu Yuanyuan's heart jumped. "Blood initiates ownership?" What did that mean? She had never heard of such a thing. She thought for a moment and decided to wait until the night of the full moon to try it. She put the ring back on her neck, filled with anticipation.

Over the next few days, Xu Yuanyuan closely watched the moon's phases. Finally, the night of the full moon arrived. Xu Yuanyuan deliberately waited until midnight before returning to her room. She took out the ring, filled with nervousness and expectation. Following the inscription on the ring, she bit her finger, squeezed out a drop of blood, and let it fall onto the ring.

As soon as the blood touched the ring, it emitted a dazzling red light. The red light grew brighter and brighter, eventually illuminating the entire room. Xu Yuanyuan's heart raced, and she quickly closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she found herself in an unfamiliar place. It was pitch black; she couldn't see her hand in front of her face. Xu Yuanyuan's heart trembled, and she quickly called out, "Is anyone there?!"

No one answered her. Xu Yuanyuan's heart sank; she knew she might have arrived in a dangerous place. She tried to calm down and attempted to walk forward. After a few steps, she suddenly felt something beneath her foot. Xu Yuanyuan's heart jumped, and she quickly looked down. She saw a cold object under her foot, like a corpse. Xu Yuanyuan's heart trembled, and she quickly retreated. She walked a few more steps and again felt something beneath her foot. This time, she felt it was a round object, like a skull. Xu Yuanyuan's heart trembled, and she screamed in fright. She quickly turned to run, but found she couldn't move at all, as if something was holding her captive. Xu Yuanyuan's heart sank; she knew she was in trouble!

Just then, a chilling wind blew through, and Xu Yuanyuan felt her body tremble before she lost consciousness.

When Xu Yuanyuan woke up again, she found herself lying in bed. She quickly sat up and looked around. Everything in the room was exactly as it had been before she went to sleep, as if nothing had happened. Xu Yuanyuan was filled with confusion. Had she just been dreaming? She glanced at the ring on her neck; it was still there, unchanged. Xu Yuanyuan's heart stirred. Could that not have been a dream?

She got out of bed, went to the window, and looked outside. It was pitch black, and the moon hung high in the sky, casting a bright, clear glow. Xu Yuanyuan's heart sank. She knew it wasn't a dream! She remembered everything that had just happened in that 'dream,' and she was filled with fear. She didn't know where she had just gone, nor why she had appeared there. She only knew that the place was very dangerous, and she had almost died there. Xu Yuanyuan was full of questions. She didn't understand what that ring was, nor why it had taken her to that place. She decided that she must uncover the ring's secret.

Xu Yuanyuan remained awake all night, only falling into a fitful sleep at dawn.