I Build Shelters in the Eternal Night - Chapter 108

Chapter 108: The Unremarkable Woman Before Them Was a Watcher in the Night!
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Translation by: Weebsread👹
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Chen Fan and the man in green robes walked side by side through the winding gorge. Monkey and the others trailed behind, while several dozen attendants from the Gongyang Clan dismounted, leading their horses and bringing up the rear.
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Zhou Mo cast a casual glance at the Gongyang Clan’s merchant caravan, a ripple of emotion stirring within him. As expected from a Jiangnan clan—even with only their eyes visible beneath their armor, these attendants radiated the detached poise of veterans hardened by countless battles.
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This was a squad of true experts.
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Their cultivation was likely formidable, and that armor was far from lightweight—ordinary men would have collapsed after such a journey.
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As the group emerged from the gorge and reached the Sinkhole, the green-robed man instinctively surveyed his surroundings, inwardly admiring the site. Encircled on all sides by natural barriers, and with the gorge as the only entrance, this place would be easy to defend and difficult to assault. Of course, the flaw was obvious—if the gorge were blocked, escape would be impossible.
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“What’s that…?”
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He paused, noticing several distinctly human-shaped pits on a cliff face, arranged in the form of the character “大”—broad and unmistakable.
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“Oh, that.”
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Following his gaze, Chen Fan replied offhandedly, “The Jiangbei Wasteland has been restless this Rainy Season—a Ghost King broke in a few days ago and caused quite a stir.”
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“That Ghost King was a tough one.”
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“It got smashed against the cliff wall, and those pits are what’s left.”
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“I’ve been busy and haven’t had time to repair them. I hope you don’t mind, Predecessor.”
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The green-robed man’s heart churned like a stormy sea. After a moment, he forced a bitter smile. “Gate Master Chen, please, don’t flatter me—I can hardly bear being called Predecessor. Just call me… Qi Yue.”
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“It’s all the same, all the same,” Chen Fan said with a laugh. “Come, Predecessor Qi, this way.”
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Yesterday, Chen Fan had constructed several stone houses atop the Sinkhole, naming the area the “Reception Pavilion”—a space dedicated to entertaining important guests. There were too many secrets within Cave #1; outsiders could not be allowed inside.
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He was already planning to build a city at the mouth of the gorge, a haven for passing caravans—a city on the wilds of Jiangbei.
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Tumor Monkey, following behind, whispered, “This way, please, everyone.”
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He distinctly remembered the Young Master’s order from yesterday: they were not to repair those human-shaped pits…
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Inside one of the Gongyang Clan’s carriages parked in the Sinkhole, a little girl in a white dress lifted the curtain and peered timidly at Chen Fan, then scampered over to Qi Yue, clutching his sleeve, her eyes shining.
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“So your name is Qi Yue!”
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“You never told me your name before. I’m Gongyang Yue. Our names go really well together!”
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A moment later, a middle-aged man in plain robes, who had been walking beside the carriage, quickened his pace and stepped before Chen Fan. He cupped his fists and spoke in a hoarse voice, “I am Gongyang Yiyue, Grand Elder of the Gongyang Clan. Greetings, Gate Master Chen.”
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“Gongyang Yue is the Clan Head’s only child, cherished beyond measure. If he has caused any offense, I hope Gate Master Chen will forgive him.”
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“No trouble at all.”
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Standing at the entrance of one of the wooden houses in the reception area, Chen Fan surveyed the group, waving them inside with a cheerful gesture—though inwardly, he felt a bit bemused…
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Qi Yue.
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Gongyang Yue.
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Gongyang Yiyue.
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Do the people of Jiangnan truly worship the moon?
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Just then—
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Gongyang Yiyue, about to speak, suddenly seemed to sense something. He turned to look at a woman busy deeper in the cave, his body freezing for an instant, a flicker of shock in his eyes.
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As a Watcher in the Night, he was acutely sensitive to his own kind.
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The unremarkable woman before him—she, too, was a Watcher in the Night!
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And…
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She had already activated her powers two or three times. She looked seventeen or eighteen, and probably could only use it once more, at most.
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Though shaken, Gongyang Yiyue kept his expression composed. This changed everything—the threat level of “Fan Gate” needed to be raised again. A faction with a Watcher in the Night was on a wholly different level than one without.
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More importantly, there were differences among Watchers in the Night.
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At the lowest tier were those who had never activated their power. They could use it more times, but such people rarely had the resolve to sacrifice themselves for their faction—when the cost is your own lifespan, few can make that choice.
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There were families who sent a Watcher in the Night to destroy a foe, only for the Watcher to flee midway.
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At the higher tier were those like him, and this woman.
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They had already activated their power, proving their willingness to sacrifice for their faction. If danger struck, they would not hesitate to do so again. Such Watchers, who had already made that choice once, were a true deterrent to outsiders.
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Inside the wooden house—
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Chen Fan sat on a wooden chair, personally pouring tea for Qi Yue and the others, his smile tinged with helplessness. “Fan Gate has been trapped by the Rainy Season these days. It only ended yesterday, so we’re still recovering and haven’t resumed trade with the outside. There isn’t much I can offer for hospitality.”
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“I hope you’ll understand.”
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“We just plan to rest for a day, and head to Jiangbei City tomorrow.”
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“You must have passed through Jiangbei City on your way here, yes? How is the city faring?”
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“Almost unscathed.”
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Qi Yue sat upright, his usual lazy “Old Devil of Jiangbei” demeanor nowhere to be seen. He replied solemnly, “There are few in mourning. The city wall suffered some damage, but nothing too serious.”
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He had spent half his life wandering the world with only his sword.
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He had never feared authority.
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Nor the mighty.
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Even before the Clan Head of the Gongyang Clan, he’d never behaved this humbly—no matter how grand others were, if he gained nothing, why bow and scrape? But before Chen Fan, he found he couldn’t help but lower his gaze.
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Mainly, he’d tried to put on airs before Chen Fan a month ago. Now that the tables had turned, he felt as if sitting on pins and needles—he just wanted to leave as soon as possible.
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“That’s a relief,” Chen Fan exhaled. He still had chickens in Jiangbei City waiting to be slaughtered—he couldn’t let them die so easily. He asked again, “Predecessor Qi, is there anything else you need to take care of here?”
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Before Qi Yue could reply, Chen Fan shook his head and laughed. “I recall Nameless Mountain isn’t at the northernmost end of the Jiangbei Wasteland. Why is it so lively today? There are more guests at the gorge entrance, and they’re carrying a banner with an alchemy furnace… Which faction is that?”
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“That must be Medicine King Valley,” Qi Yue answered reflexively, surprised they had come as well.
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“Shall we go out and welcome them together?”
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“Excellent.”
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At the entrance to Nameless Mountain’s gorge, the group from Medicine King Valley had halted, making no move to enter. The Fan Gate banner at the mouth of the gorge made it clear whose territory this was.
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To enter uninvited would be tantamount to declaring war.
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But the problem was…
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“Where is everyone?”
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A man with delicate features leaped down from a carriage, scratching his head in confusion. “Isn’t there even a gatekeeper or a messenger?”
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“This is the faction that killed a Ghost King—could they really be this shabby?”
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Just then—
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Hoofbeats echoed from within the gorge. Soon, a young man astride a Skeleton Horse rode up, leading a group, and called out, “I am Chen Fan, Gate Master of Fan Gate. I’ve just heard that honored guests from Medicine King Valley have arrived—please forgive me for not greeting you sooner.”
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The Gate Master himself had come to welcome them.
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An elder behind the young man straightened, giving him a discreet nudge.
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The young man reacted instantly.
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He cupped his fists and spoke respectfully, “I am Qi Feng, direct disciple of Medicine King Valley. My father is the Valley Master.”
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Though Chen Fan appeared to be about his age, his status was far higher—on par with his own father—so he addressed him as a junior.
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“Please, this way,” Chen Fan said with a smile. “Let us speak inside. There’s no need for further ceremony.”
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Inside the Sinkhole.
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Chen Fan welcomed the Medicine King Valley group, gesturing for them to enter. “Come, this way please.”
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Qi Feng’s mouth twitched—he was glad his father had insisted on sending him off with a batch of gifts.
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Nearby, Wang Kui had already stacked the boxes from Medicine King Valley and the Gongyang Clan, each marked with their respective plaques.
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A glance inside the Gongyang Clan’s boxes revealed about five thousand Ghoststones.
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But inside Medicine King Valley’s—
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There were ten thousand Ghoststones, five unopened White Grade treasures, a single unopened Green Grade treasure, fifty bottles of pills, and two Heaven-and-Earth Treasures.
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Their gifts utterly outshone those of the Gongyang Clan.
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“Please, have some tea.”
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At the tea table, Chen Fan had never smiled so sincerely as he poured tea for his guests, his gaze occasionally drifting to the Shadow Array interface installed at the gorge entrance, checking for new arrivals.
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Only now did he realize—the perks of fame were real.
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He could collect congratulatory gifts!
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He knew these factions had come because the Celestial Phenomenon had revealed he’d slain a Ghost King—they’d come to pay respects and curry favor. Even if they couldn’t form a close alliance with this rising power, they dared not offend him.
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But—
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He was more than happy to accept.
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He’d already collected fifteen thousand Ghoststones—the equivalent of several of Weiwei’s Latrine Pits—all for free. How could he not be pleased?
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Qi Yue, though still a bit uncomfortable, was far better than before, and could at least force himself to chat with Chen Fan.
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As for Gongyang Yiyue—
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He grew more and more uneasy, his gaze repeatedly drifting to the piles of gifts outside the window. They had never planned to visit Fan Gate at all—the decision had been made on a whim after arriving in Jiangnan Water City.
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So, they hadn’t prepared any proper gifts—the five thousand Ghoststones were all they had on hand.
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It would have been a respectable offering.
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But compared to Medicine King Valley, it now looked paltry. Qi Yue might not care, but as the true representative of the Gongyang Clan, it was his face on the line.
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“By the way—”
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After some pleasant conversation, Chen Fan suddenly frowned and turned to “Qi Feng.” “Are all members of Medicine King Valley Alchemists?”
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“Not all, but we do have more Alchemists than most factions—and they’re generally stronger.”
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“You Jiangnan people are well-informed—have you ever heard of a kind of beast, not a Ghostbeast, but much larger and more intelligent than ordinary animals?”
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“Gate Master, do you mean… Spirit Beasts?” Qi Feng asked tentatively.
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“Spirit Beasts…” Chen Fan repeated, then nodded. “Yes, Spirit Beasts. Do you know if the holy water from the altar can heal wounds on Spirit Beasts?”
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“It can.”
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Qi Feng cleared his throat, finally in his element, and answered seriously, “Of course. Altar holy water isn’t great for complicated things like detoxification, but it’s especially effective for external injuries.”
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“No side effects, and the healing is swift.”
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“But it’s costly, so most factions combine ‘altar’ and ‘pills’ for treatment, whether for Spirit Beasts or people. That way it doesn’t consume too many Ghoststones, and recovery is still quick.”
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“Gate Master… have you tamed a Spirit Beast?”
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He wasn’t surprised.
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Few in Jiangbei had even heard of Spirit Beasts, mostly because Spirit Beasts preferred good environments, and Jiangbei was all wasteland with no real cities—Spirit Beasts feared being wiped out by Ghostbeast tides. In Jiangnan, Spirit Beasts were much more common.
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Medicine King Valley itself kept a Spirit Beast—
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A gold-eating toad that guarded their gates.
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“Exactly.”
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Chen Fan nodded, not bothering to hide it. “It was wounded in the battle with the Ghost King the other night. I had it soak in altar water for a day and night, but the wound hasn’t improved at all. Could you… take a look?”
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“It would be my honor.”
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Chen Fan led Qi Feng to the entrance of Cave #1. Weiwei lay beneath the cliff, altar water flowing steadily down a copper pipe embedded in the rock, drenching her body.
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At that moment, Weiwei gazed at him with longing. Beside her sat a new porcelain jar. A gaping, bloody hole marred her head—though it no longer bled, flesh and bone were laid bare. Holy water rained down, but the wound showed no sign of healing.
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The moment she saw Qi Feng, Weiwei instinctively rose and retreated, growling in a show of bravado.
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“It’s all right, Weiwei.”
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Chen Fan gently patted her head. “This is the doctor I found for you—let him take a look.”
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Weiwei whimpered, then obediently lay down again.
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“Hoo…”
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Qi Feng took a deep breath and stepped forward to examine the wound, his frown deepening as he studied it…
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“Stop frowning and tell me the truth,” Chen Fan sighed. In both his lives, nothing unsettled him more than a doctor’s frown—it always meant trouble.
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“It’s very strange,”
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Qi Feng was silent for a long time before answering, his voice hoarse. “I don’t recognize this kind of Spirit Beast, and I don’t understand the wound. By rights, with this much holy water, such a wound should have long since healed.”
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“My knowledge is limited. I may have to consult my father and let him examine it himself.”
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“I have a way to let my father see through my eyes from afar—but it might reveal the surrounding structures…”
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He hesitated, unsure how much he could risk.