Dark clouds gathered, as if a large hole had opened in the sky.
The coastline stretched endlessly to the southeast, winding like a coiled dragon. Jagged black reefs jutted out, and the waves crashed against them, unleashing a downpour. Spray flew, and the roar of the surf thundered.
The further southeast they went, the denser the palm and coconut trees became. From afar, a mottled, decaying white billboard was obscured by four coconut trees, their fronds like sharp claws. Through the gaps, the words "XX Seaside Resort" could be faintly seen.
The lettering was yellowed, the edges heavily oxidized and rusted. Claw marks from some unknown animal marred the center of the billboard. The entire scene resembled an abandoned, hidden, and perilous place.
Yet, in that desolate spot, a brand-new yacht was moored beneath the four coconut trees. It appeared someone had excavated a narrow waterway capable of docking it, though their intentions were unclear.
The five of them trudged towards it, enduring the stifling atmospheric pressure. The Shen sisters and their father followed behind, while Zhou Long and Zhang Liang led the way.
"Zhang Liang, what exactly are you bringing us here for?"
Shen Lan Ni's voice was strained, her complexion growing paler by the moment. Her red ponytail had lost its vibrant, sharp flair, and her legs trembled uncontrollably. It wasn't just her; her father and sister were experiencing the same.
The culprit behind this situation was, naturally, trust—trust in their childhood friend, Zhou Long.
Shen Lan Ni's voice was as weak as a dying person's plea. Zhang Liang, walking at the front, suddenly stopped and threw the listening and positioning phone, its battery removed, into the waterway.
"Playing these games with me? Do they think I'm a three-year-old?"
"Young Master Zhang, you won't even tell me what you're doing now?"
Zhou Long hung his head. When he glanced sideways at Shen Lan Ni and Shen Wan Jun, his eyes were filled with apology. However, this expression didn't last long before his inner demon took control.
That's right. If I don't take extreme measures, Shen Lan Ni will definitely be snatched away by that brat surnamed Ren. How can I allow that to happen? Shen Lan Ni and I played house as children. We are meant to be!
His expression shifted rapidly, like the dark clouds slowly closing in overhead.
"What's wrong, Young Master Zhou? We've come this far. Do you still think there's a way back?" Zhang Liang brushed dust off his hands and glanced up at the swirling dark clouds overhead, a hint of fear in his voice as he continued, "To obtain something, one must pay a corresponding price. The more precious the item, the higher the price. Surely, Mr. Zhou doesn't need me to remind him of this?"
As he spoke, he suddenly recalled the missing Jiang Cheng. He remembered that night when Jiang Cheng, despite his injuries, accepted the Mandara gene, which had a high probability of being fatal, without a second thought.
He had succeeded, and it made Zhang Liang realize the correctness of his words once again.
"But this place looks so creepy, I~"
"Are you afraid of a place like this, a grown man?"
Zhang Liang lit a cigarette, trying to relieve the tightness in his chest. To his left, the sea roared. The horizon had begun to turn inky black. Cumulus clouds and sea tides interacted, churning and crashing, evoking the image of gathering storms and emerging dragons.
However, Zhang Liang knew this was an anomaly preceding the landing of a tropical storm.
As they spoke, the wind howled like a dragon, forcing them to stagger. The coconut trees overhead bent like bowing dukes and ministers in court, rustling and tilting northwest. The decaying billboard creaked ominously, and rust flakes rained down like tattered rags.
"Stop dawdling. This dreadful weather is arriving sooner than I anticipated. Let's go inside and take shelter."
As he spoke, the wind seemed to tear at Zhang Liang's mouth, his face rippling like a drum skin. Zhou Long gritted his teeth and glanced back at Shen Lan Ni. He reached out to help her, but she pushed his hand away with her own weak, limp one.
"Lan Ni~ I~"
"Save your nonsense for inside. If we delay, we'll just have to wait here to die."
...
A moment later, led by Zhang Liang, the four entered the abandoned seaside resort.
The resort was quite large, with tall palm trees on either side. In the center appeared to be a swimming pool. Two rows of low-rise buildings had high, pointed roofs, their paint once golden, now faded and mottled, resembling...
"It seems we'll have to shelter here tonight. A night of strong winds and rough seas is perfect for your plans," Zhang Liang said slyly, looking at Zhou Long.
Zhou Long felt a cold gaze directed at him from Shen Lan Ni's direction. He dared not look her in the eye, nor Shen Wan Jun's.
"There's nothing to be ashamed of. We each get what we need. I'll take Shen Yun Shu, and you'll take your future father-in-law and wife."
"Zhang Liang, what do you mean?"
As the effects of the drug gradually intensified, Shen Lan Ni's consciousness began to blur. The decaying scenery around her swirled, making her feel as if she were trapped in a terrifying dream.
Zhang Liang took a long drag from his cigarette and pushed open a rust-covered room door. The musty smell within assaulted them like a ravenous demon. The water stains on the walls, resembling human figures, looked ghostly in the dim light. The swaying tree shadows cast flickering, mottled light and dark patterns. The dense small mold spots looked like the festering skin of a leper. The cobweb-covered lamp on the ceiling was clearly useless, its broken filament trembling as it swayed.
Aside from the filth, the floor was littered with faded soda cans and decaying matter covered in fungi. A line of dark red ants moved inland along the wall. In the center of the room lay a nearly rotted filing cabinet. A flashlight with shattered lenses rolled towards the doorway. In the northwest corner, a pile of unburnt ashes remained.
Everything seemed to warn visitors that something had happened here, which was why it had been abandoned.
After they entered the house, Zhang Liang finished his cigarette.
"Alright, since you want to know, I'm not afraid to tell you."
Zhang Liang cast a meaningful glance at the stained window. Weeds swayed in the wind in the courtyard. The area that was once a swimming pool was filled with water, its surface covered with dead branches and leaves. He could even see a water spider moving rapidly across it.
Like him, it was hunting prey.
"See that small boat outside? According to reliable sources, while this place appears to be a resort on the surface, it's actually a research institute affiliated with Lionheart Tower."
"Lionheart Tower? A research institute?" Shen Wan Jun shielded his daughters with his body, like a grizzled old lion.
"Yes. And, if you're trying to protect your younger daughter, you might just be protecting a failed experiment!"