So who gets to decide? Andrew should be able to decide in this valley.
At this moment, he was talking to Elm, "Elm, although it's already dark, we still need to be careful. Don't make your bird calls too distinctive. It's best to call after other birds have called."
Elm looked down at the silent valley below. "Yes, I know, Lord Andrew."
In the valley below.
Everyone had worked very hard during the day, and many people in the workers' shed had already gone to sleep, but there were still some people who were still awake, talking quietly by the fire.
"Sister Dingxiang, the birdsong outside is terrifying!" Alice covered her ears, but the horrifying sounds still reached her. Even after many days, she still loathed the birdsong in the valley at night.
Now, because many women and children have come to the valley, men and women sleep separately.
"Hehe, Alice, what's there to be afraid of? It's just birdsong."
Dingxiang smiled and looked at Alice, who was covering her ears.
"Coo coo coo." Suddenly, a different bird call rang out.
Dingxiang stopped smiling, a look of surprise on her face, and then she involuntarily exclaimed "Ah!"
"Sister Dingxiang, you said it wasn't scary, but you're scared yourself!" The firelight wasn't bright enough for Alice to see Dingxiang's expression, but she could tell from her voice that Sister Dingxiang was probably scared too.
"Alice, don't speak," Dingxiang said urgently.
"Coo coo coo." The bird's call rang out again.
This time, Dingxiang heard it clearly. She pinched herself to calm herself down quickly.
What to do? She couldn't be mistaken for someone from her village who was making that bird call, but she couldn't imitate it; she could only listen.
Who is it?
Could it be Sugi and the others?
It shouldn't be a cedar tree; we don't even know if the cedar tree is still there.
Why is he still here?
So the bird that made the bird call was probably Elm. Only Elm had been here, so he probably didn't die. He might have come looking for me.
But how could she contact him? Shouting would definitely not work, and she didn't know how to make that bird call. It was too dark outside, and he wouldn't be able to see her anyway.
Dingxiang was extremely anxious and determined to find a way to let Yumu know that she was in the valley.
Dingxiang looked at the fire and wondered if she should set it on fire so she could escape in the chaos.
No, no, if we set fire to them, many of them won't be able to escape and will burn to death here.
Huh?
Oh, right.
Can you see the firelight from the elm wood? It should be possible. This shed only has one roof, and light comes through on all four sides. When the birds are calling, they block out the firelight, and when they are not calling, they let the firelight out.
Yes, this is a very good idea, so let's do it this way. I just hope Elm can understand it.
"Coo coo coo".
Dingxiang quickly used her body and clothes to shield herself from the firelight and gestured for Alice to do the same.
Although Alice was somewhat puzzled, she still followed Lilac's example and blocked the firelight.
When the birdsong ended, they revealed the firelight again.
"Coo coo coo." The firelight was blocked by them again.
The elm trees on the distant mountain also noticed something amiss. "Lord Andrew, look at that shed over there. The firelight seems rather unusual."
"Hmm, something's not right. Call out a few more times to confirm. There might be someone over there who recognizes that voice." This time, the guards aren't just a small group like last time; there are about a hundred of them. It will be very difficult to come out silently. Andrew thought that the other side might be responding to Elm in this way.
"Coo coo coo".
The elm tree emitted its distinctive bird call once more, and the firelight below dimmed in response.
Elm was somewhat excited. He thought carefully about whether there was anyone else in Yew Territory who knew the bird's call.
There probably aren't any left.
No, Dingxiang also knows, but she can't speak. No wonder she used the firelight to hint to him.
Elmwood said excitedly to Andrew beside him:
"Lord Andrew, the valley should belong to my wife, Lilac."