Chapter 43 Selenium Country 1 Lunch
The blazing sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the VIP sunroom, casting golden dappled patterns on the floor.
You can lie on any recliner and have a damp towel draped over your body to keep you moisturized.
Ever since you returned from Morocco, you've been dehydrated, and sunbathing like this has almost dried you out completely. If you looked in the mirror, you'd see your lips were cracked and your skin was covered in heat spots.
"It's so heartbreaking to see her like this." Xiao Fang moistened your lips with mineral water using a cotton swab.
Xiaoming, Xiaofang, and Xiaola will take turns staying by your side. They need to continue exploring the entire cruise ship, but they can't just leave you here alone.
He gently wiped Xiao Fang's forehead with a damp towel, peeling away the sticky secretions that had just been secreted and dried by the sun. Xiao Ming patted Xiao Fang's hand: "This is a safe house, at least it can suppress her mutation. This morning I was worried that if we had come any later, she would have completely molted into a monster."
The conversation between Xiaoming and Xiaofang is like something coming closer and further away from you through glass. Occasionally, you can feel something cool and refreshing touching your lips, and you smack your lips, sucking in that little bit of wet moisture.
Based on their conversation, you vaguely understood some key words. Last night? Right, it seems you were in a damp leather case the whole time, a bit tight, so you reached out and tried to struggle out. After that, you were kept in such a hot place.
Consciousness is like a thin mist, drifting gently and unable to gather.
You know you haven't woken up, and sometimes you feel good about it, and other times you feel it's not right and you should try to stay awake. This simple thought, "Which one is right?" has already jumped out of the range of brainwaves you can control.
Only flashbacks—the flames of the olive tree, the crashing of the sea, the gleam of the seashell, Xiaoming's eyes.
These fragments are like shards of glass exposed to sunlight; they prick you, give you some reaction, but leave you with a lingering sense of bewilderment.
What are we supposed to do? Where are we going?
It's better to stay.
When you stop struggling, your consciousness becomes extremely light.
Like a string of bubbles, it gradually detaches from the body, more like a feather, because it will not break, but will only be pushed to higher places by the wind.
You looked down and saw the entire cruise ship.
It was a massive ship, its metallic hull gleaming in the sunlight. The flickering light made its outline appear both sharp and blurred, adding a sense of dynamism.
Like a huge sea creature breathing, its chest rising and falling.
It glides slowly across the azure sea, where the blue sky and the sea remain indistinguishable. There is no beginning, no end.
If you look closer, your gaze will zoom in. You'll see that where there should be metal railings, there are subtle, scale-like patterns.
Zoom in again. The ship's hull is now completely visible beyond your field of vision, and you're instantly on the hull. There are no propulsion systems on the hull; it appears to sway from side to side in the shimmering water, propelling the entire giant ship forward.
"It's not a ship..." you hear your own consciousness speaking, and it dawns on you, "This is a living thing, yes, it was always meant to be alive, it is..."
Your consciousness continues to drift, as some force pulls you closer to the heart of the cruise ship.
Passing through the decks, many passengers were scattered along the way. Some were sunbathing by the pool, some were enjoying meals at the open-air restaurant, and some were dancing to the DJ. Although their movements were all different, from above, they looked as synchronized as a high school calisthenics demonstration.
The interior of the cruise ship is right in front of you.
This is an area that is off-limits according to the rules, but in reality, after passing through multiple entrances and numerous staircases, you only enter a closed and complex space.
There are no windows here, only patches of dark red light. A sense of disorientation. That's your assessment of it.
Each floor you see is not a physical floor, but rather a superimposed fragment of time.
You have seen these images before, and you will see them in the future, but there are also completely unfamiliar images that appear and disappear in these spaces.
You see familiar faces: Xiaoming's determined expression, Xiaofang's tears, Xiaola's anxiety, and your own face among them, but it appears unusually blurry, as if covered by something.
Further in, you see a massive door. The door is made of some kind of transparent crystal, and through the cracks, you can see a huge sculpture inside—
"...It is an ouroboros."
There's no way to escape.
"Wake up! We haven't done today's 'disdain' segment yet. Since you seem to be in good spirits right now, let's finish it off as soon as possible." Xiaoming pushed you while calling out to you.
You groggily open your sore eyes, vaguely following the person in front of you as she utters each word, and then fall back into a half-awake, half-asleep state.
"Phew." Xiaoming breathed a sigh of relief and whispered to Xiaofang and the others, "She's safe for now. She can still be woken up. After that, we should be able to take her off the ship and act according to the situation."
"Yeah, otherwise, I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving her on the boat like that, even if I put her in a safe house." Xiao Fang poked your cheek and, taking advantage of your illness, made a funny face.
Xiao Ming didn't answer, but just nodded silently and gently placed the damp towel on your forehead.
You have no idea what they talked about after that. Your memory can't store too much complex information; just opening your eyes or closing them is the boundary of your conscious state.
Another day has passed.
Xiao Ming said, "Today is the new arrival day, and also the last arrival day. You have to come with us, okay? Even 'you' probably have something you want to get from this station, right?"
"Then just follow me obediently and don't do anything sneaky."
You open your eyes, your vision is black and white, and mechanically get dressed. Xiaoming ties you into a child safety leash—which he got from the crew at a tip—and you leave the room with him.
It was nearly noon when the cruise ship slowly entered the harbor of the selenium-rich country.
Unlike the previous two stops, this was just a small, unnamed harbor. The azure sea reflected the white stone slabs of the dock, where several fishing boats were leisurely moored, their sails swaying gently in the breeze. The sandy beach in the distance was fine and soft, and occasionally a few seagulls could be seen skimming over the shallows, creating light splashes.
The town is located next to the port, and its brightly colored brick houses, unique to the country, are arranged on the steep streets and alleys, like a palette scattered on the hillside.
Each house has its own unique color—a bright yellow, a soft pink, or even a deep blue. Exquisite flowerpots adorn the windowsills, their vibrant flowers swaying gently in the breeze.
Xiao Fang was worried about you, but seeing your expression, she couldn't help but chuckle softly.
You glanced at her, and somehow it made her sad. She turned away and secretly wiped away her tears with Xiao La.
In short, Xiaoming held the rope in one hand and supported you, whose body was stiff and swaying as you walked, and the four of them followed behind the group going ashore to play, slowly walking off the cruise ship.
There aren't any particularly interesting cultural attractions here, and the guide seemed rather uninterested. The place is too small; tourists can see almost everything from the deck, so there's no need for a vehicle.
Just follow the guide towards the town and listen to his explanation of the local customs and culture. Selenium is famous for its handmade pottery and traditional desserts, and stalls selling handicrafts can be seen everywhere in the town's alleys. The windows of the porcelain shops display exquisite plates painted with sun and moon patterns, while the shelves of the dessert shops are filled with colorful almond cookies and honey shortbread balls coated in powdered sugar.
"Xiaoming, if we don't succeed today, there will be another chance, right?" Xiaofang asked in a low voice, her tone filled with worry. She wasn't a pessimistic person, but at this moment she was extremely anxious. Her gaze kept sweeping towards you. You were leaning on Xiaola's shoulder, your steps unsteady, your eyes unfocused, as if you were in another world.
“It will definitely succeed.” Xiao Ming’s voice was low and calm. “This is such a small place, and we just happened to come to see its parade. Such an exhibition, which is clearly stated in the text, may have risks, but it also gives us an opportunity to prepare in advance. We must seize every possible clue.”
"So, what do we do?" Little La asked.
“Take a look around the town first,” Xiaoming said, his eyes scanning the alleys and stalls. “Everything here might hold the answer. Don’t miss any details.”
The three of them helped you stroll through the town. Many colorful flags hung outside the shops along the streets, depicting symbolic images: the golden rays of the sun, the surging waves, and a snake biting its own body. The image of the snake made Xiaoming frown slightly. She stopped and stared at one of the flags for a moment.
You don't seem to react much to these things.
“This pattern…” Xiaoming whispered, “doesn’t it look a lot like the painting in our room?”
She looked thoughtful, then horrified: "How come I never thought of this at all?"
"Is this place also related to it?" Xiao Fang immediately understood Xiao Ming's meaning, glanced around uneasily, and tightened her grip on your hand. "Is she also...?"
"It might not just be about that." Xiaoming's voice trailed off.
They helped you continue walking, and as you passed a pottery shop, Xiao La's gaze was drawn to a vase in the window. It was a handmade ceramic vase with a burning wave painted on its surface, the style extremely strange, as if telling some ancient story.
"Hey, this pattern is weird too," Xiao La said in a low voice.
Xiao Ming took a closer look and found the shape of the waves in the painting vaguely familiar. She stared at the vase for a moment, then turned to the shop owner: "What does this pattern represent?"
The owner was an old woman with a face full of wrinkles. She couldn't speak the local language at all. Perhaps because of her age, when she threw out a string of words in the local language, even the simultaneous translation connected to the smart glasses didn't react.
"Go ask the others?" Xiao Fang said, and ran out to look for people.
Finally, a young man who knew some English came to help with the translation. She listened carefully, and after hearing Xiaoming's question, she looked up with a meaningful smile on her face.
After exchanging a few words with the old woman, she slowly said, "Oh, is that so? That's a local legend. A wave, a flame, they destroyed everything, but also brought a new beginning."
"A new beginning..." Xiao Ming repeated these words in a low voice, lost in thought.
The town was too small; it had only been a few tens of minutes since we landed, and everyone had already lost interest in exploring it. Seeing this, the tour guide immediately pulled us in a different direction and led us back to the only small square in the town center.
The square is furnished with simple wrought iron tables and chairs, and a small fountain in the center of the square, its clear water sparkling in the sunlight. Restaurants and dessert shops around the square have set up outdoor seating, where locals and other tourists chat loudly, creating a lively atmosphere filled with the rich aroma of coffee and the smells of lunch.
The four of them found a safe table and chairs in a corner and sat down. Your eyes were unfocused, your gaze wandering around the square.
"Could there be something fishy about this shop?" Xiao Fang asked warily.
"Most likely." Xiao Ming picked up his coffee cup, his gaze never leaving the direction of the square. "The parade will start from here."
“But we haven’t found any direct clues yet…” Xiao Fang sighed.
Xiao Ming squinted slightly, his gaze falling on the statue beside the fountain. It was a small sculpture depicting the sun, with an ancient inscription on its base.
After settling you in, Xiaoming stood up, walked closer to observe carefully, and discovered that the text mentioned "the awakening of the sea".
"Xiao Fang, Xiao La, come and see this." Xiao Ming called to them as he returned after taking the photos. "This might be related to the theme of the parade."
The two leaned closer, quietly reading the translated text, while you remained seated, your gaze vacantly fixed on the sky. The sunlight was blinding, and your lips moved slightly, as if you wanted to say something, but ultimately nothing came out.
"Ladies, what would you like?" The bronze-skinned young man from the selenium-rich country greeted you with a standard smile, revealing eight teeth.
"I haven't eaten much yet. Speaking of which, it's been really hot this morning. I'd like to order an iced coffee to cool down," Xiao La blurted out.
Xiao Ming glanced at her, but it was too late to stop her: "Watch what you ordered, don't make a mistake."
Xiao La was a little confused, but the waiter only paused for a moment, then nodded and left without saying anything more.
"Is everything alright?" Xiao La stammered, nervously fidgeting with her hands. It wasn't that she was careless; it was just a slip of the tongue.
Xiao Fang patted her shoulder.
A moment later, the waiter brought over a cup of coffee with milk. A few crystal-clear ice cubes floated in the transparent glass, and the surface of the drink was emitting a faint chill.
After searching for ages on such a hot day, a cup of iced coffee to perk her up was obviously very appealing to Xiao La. She instantly forgot her earlier embarrassment and eagerly picked up the cup, wanting to take a sip.
But she found that all eyes were suddenly on her.
Eyes converged from all directions, and Xiao Fang grabbed Xiao La's hand to stop her from drinking.
"It seems like everyone's watching you," Xiao Fang whispered. "They're probably watching the cup in your hand."
Not only that, the previously relaxed conversation in the restaurant suddenly stopped. People's eyes held a hint of anticipation—the slyness of someone who had successfully pulled off a prank—as if they were waiting for something.
Xiao La's hand trembled slightly. She was usually obedient, but this time she couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "It's just iced coffee with milk, what's wrong with that? What could be wrong with that?"
"Put down the cup." Xiao Ming's voice was low and calm, but his eyes remained fixed on the customers watching them. "Don't move, put it down slowly."
Looking into Xiaoming's eyes, the scene of her easily killing that man on their first meeting flashed through her mind. After a moment of fear, she regained her senses. Xiaola breathed heavily, nodded gratefully to Xiaoming, and slammed the cup back onto the table as if it were a hot potato.
In that instant, the unfriendly stares vanished, as if nothing had happened. The people resumed their conversations, and the restaurant returned to its previous hustle and bustle.
"Okay, okay," Xiao Fang comforted her.
"Thank you. But why were they looking at me?" Little La's head was buzzing, her face filled with confusion and lingering fear.
"I don't know." Xiaoming's gaze swept over the cup on the table, his tone becoming more cautious. "However, it seems that your cup of coffee is the reason."
She paused, then added, "Take a picture with your phone."
Without thinking, Xiao La took out her phone, pretended to casually point the lens at the coffee milk on the table, and pressed the shutter.
When the photo appeared on the screen, Xiao Fang leaned over to look, and the two of them were immediately stunned.
In the photo, the coffee milk no longer contains ordinary ice cubes, but several slightly reddish, transparent crystals, like solidified drops of blood. Deep within the crystals, faint, serpentine patterns emerge, as if—
Like snake eggs.
Xiao La almost threw the cup away, but the waiter quickly brought over a plate of golden seafood rice and placed it in front of Xiao Ming.
"This wasn't what we ordered," Xiaoming said, frowning.
The waiter smiled slightly: "This is our restaurant's hospitality, it's complimentary, please enjoy your meal."
The seafood paella exudes a rich aroma, and the long-grain rice dyed with saffron and the tender shrimp look extremely tempting.
Xiao Fang couldn't help but swallow hard, and said softly, "It looks pretty normal, do you want to give it a try?"
Not only her, but you also reacted slightly, slowly picking up your spoon to scoop food into your own plate.
Xiao Ming clicked his tongue, slapped your hand away, and picked up a fork, taking a small bite of rice. The moment it entered her mouth, her brows furrowed even more.
"What's wrong?" Xiao Fang quickly shook his head to shake off the craving and asked nervously.
"The rice isn't undercooked, and the saltiness is just right." Xiaoming's voice was low, with a hint of unease in his tone.
"Isn't that perfect?" Little La asked.
“That’s not right.” Xiao Ming put down his fork and glanced at the other customers in the restaurant. “Normal seafood rice doesn’t taste like this.”
At this moment, Xiao Fang noticed again that those people who had been staring at them were slowly turning their heads, their gazes all falling on their table. This time, their gazes held an almost greedy quality, practically indicating that they had made some mistake.
Xiao Ming quickly spat out the rice in his mouth, thought for a moment, rolled up his sleeves, picked up the tray, and rushed into the kitchen.
"What do you want to do?" Xiao Fang quickly grabbed her, his expression changing drastically, his tone half worried and half desperate, as if saying, "You won't die too..."
"What are you thinking?" Xiao Ming shook his head helplessly. "We don't know what the rules of this restaurant are, or why they targeted us right away. Since we've been targeted, the only way is to find the source directly." Xiao Ming sneered, "Let's try to challenge these rules head-on."
She stormed through the quiet restaurant and pushed open the greasy kitchen door.
A strong smell of steam and fishy odor wafted over, and the busy figures of the chefs came into view. Xiao Ming's eyes quickly locked onto the head chef standing in the center—a burly man with a fierce face, who was stirring a pot of steaming seafood rice with a spatula.
"Hey! What kind of food are you trying to fool our customers with?" Xiaoming's cold voice broke the noise in the kitchen. She strode towards the head chef, her anger palpable, "Your food is completely wrong!"
What's wrong?
Xiao Ming brainstormed: "...This is nothing like the tradition of your selenium-rich country!"
The head chef suddenly looked up, his eyes dark and furious. Like a wild beast suddenly enraged, he threw down the spatula in his hand, pointed at Xiaoming, jumped up, and shouted in thick Spanish.
Xiao Ming, however, did not back down at all. He sneered and retorted with a gesture commonly used in the country of Xi – his five fingers together and waving downwards, as if simulating the action of catching fish. At the same time, he retorted verbally, "Don't say such things. I'll just ask you, what is this? Leftovers thrown to the seagulls?"
The head chef was clearly enraged by the gesture; the veins on his face bulged. He began to retaliate in an even more aggressive tone, waving his hands and making a gesture similar to breaking an olive.
Xiao Ming was not to be outdone. He continued to hold his fingers together and wave them rapidly outwards, as if he were scolding the other person or shooing away flies.
This heated "hand gesture exchange" attracted the attention of all the kitchen staff. Everyone stopped what they were doing and watched this argument, a traditional flavor of the selenium-rich country, with great interest.
Just as the insults reached their peak, the head chef suddenly stopped, a strange smile playing on his lips. He slowly raised his hands, making an odd hand gesture, as if cradling an invisible cup. Then, a voice emanated from his fat neck, covered in black thorns, and said, "You win."
A low humming sound came from deep within the kitchen, and the color of the seafood rice suddenly dimmed. Xiao Ming breathed a sigh of relief, pressed his advantage, gave the head chef a cold glance, and turned to leave with a harsh remark: "Is this how you show respect to customers? I hope you remember, not everyone will buy into this."
Xiao Ming returned to his seat under everyone's watchful eyes.
"All done?" Xiao Fang and Xiao La stood up to greet Xiao Ming.
Xiao Ming smiled gently, picked up a wet wipe to clean your face, then sat down and took another bite of the seafood rice: "It's a bit undercooked, not bad, that's right."
"That's it?" Little La was dumbfounded.
"Are you crazy?" Xiao Fang couldn't help but complain.
Seeing that you few had gotten through it safely, the others immediately returned to normal and went back to enjoying their meals.
"Come on, everyone take a bite. Before the waiter brings out the rest, let's quickly share it with those people." Xiaoming gestured to the group who had also come off the cruise ship. "Even if this dish is okay now, I still won't dare to eat it." He then fed them another bite.
You swallowed it with a bland taste.
By the time the waiter returned, everyone had already finished their seafood rice, and he could only leave, scrambling with his arms in annoyance.
Lunch is over.
And just like a clock suddenly wound up, the square suddenly came alive.
The scorching sun beat down on every inch of the town, yet the square was unusually dark in the afternoon.
The townspeople, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, carried baskets filled with various decorations and lit candles. The candles were arranged in an orderly fashion along both sides of the street, their faint light mingling with the sunlight to create an eerie hue.
The smell of sea salt in the air grew stronger, mixed with a hint of fishiness. This was the smell of the cruise ship.
Soon, more residents gathered in the central square from all directions, still holding lit candles. They were enthusiastic, chatting and talking happily among themselves, the unique "da da da" intonation of the Xi language making their conversations almost like a lullaby.
With almost all the residents present, all the decorations except for the candles were finally finished.
These decorations are themed around marine elements: seashells, corals, ship's wheels, and some bizarre sculptures—a woman's face with fish-fin-like ears, one hand tightly clutching something, the other hanging down as if summoning something silent.
As more and more people gathered, Xiaoming stood up to protect you, looking around warily. "These people don't seem...like ordinary residents."
"You mean, what are they playing?" Xiao Fang asked in a low voice, her face full of tension.
"Perhaps," Xiaoming replied, "whether it's acting, or being involved."
Her words were swallowed by a low drumbeat, and the float finally appeared on the street.
The crowd began to stir, the hushed chatter and excited shouts gradually blending into a heart-pounding atmosphere. People in the restaurant also rose, enthusiastically pushing all the guests disembarking from the cruise ship towards the center; the four of you were also squeezed forward.
The first float slowly came into view, its body decorated with gold and blue ribbons, subtly reflecting the sunlight.
Its theme is "Aria of the Deep Sea," and the vehicle is adorned with exquisite corals and seashells, as if drawing life force from the deep ocean. A colossal mermaid statue stands atop the vehicle, seemingly emerging from the seabed. The mermaid's eyes are empty and sorrowful, and her long tail meanders to one side of the float, surrounded by strangely shaped seaweed. The statue's details are exquisite; every scale seems to glow, allowing one to feel the breath of the flowing sea.
But what is most striking is the row of sculptures of drowned people arranged on both sides of the float.
Their faces were contorted, their hands stretched helplessly into the air as if pleading for help, but they could not break free from the seaweed that was wrapped around their bodies.
The music began, the deep sound of ocean waves intertwining with bass drumbeats, gradually seeping into people's hearts. The music carried a sense of oppression, making people involuntarily hold their breath, feeling as if their throats were being choked.
As the drumbeats quickened, several dancers dressed in classical nautical costumes emerged from behind the float. They began a highly rhythmic dance beside the float, each movement perfectly synchronized with the music, as if the entire stage were being engulfed by the power of the ocean. They reached out to interact with the crowd, who cheered in rapture.
Many people raised their hands to film the scene, but no one noticed that everyone whose hand was held by the dancer turned pale.
Xiaoming and her friends were no exception, especially Xiaoming, whose gaze was unconsciously fixed on the mermaid statue, the seashells she had obtained earlier were burning hot in her pocket.
The second float, following closely behind, was decorated in a more mysterious and somber style. Its theme was "Lost Souls," and the entire float was wrapped in soft white gauze, a design that made it appear as if it were floating in the air.
On the roof of the vehicle was a colossal human sculpture, its form indistinct, its limbs bound by an invisible force, as if struggling to break free from some kind of constraint. Countless white ghostly figures swirled around the sculpture, their forms appearing and disappearing like souls trapped in some predicament, sometimes solid, sometimes blurred, unable to break free.
At the center of the statue, a serpentine ring is clutched tightly, its surface shimmering with an eerie silver light, like some ancient symbol, radiating an irresistible attraction in the darkness. As the light flickers, several strange bass melodies begin to play, accompanied by rapid drumbeats, seemingly summoning some inexplicable power.
As the float drew closer, the surrounding crowd reacted with even greater fervor. Dancers burst into rapid movements beside the float, a dance completely different from the rhythm of "Deep Sea Aria," with sudden and intense movements that seemed to express the pain and sorrow of breaking free from constraints.
The dancer's face was covered with white foundation at some point, her eyes were empty and unfocused, and every movement seemed to be a struggle to find a way out.
As the music grew louder, the ghostly figures began to dance more violently, white strips of cloth entangled around the dancers, becoming one with them, while their forms became even more distorted.
Like a soul drowning in endless darkness, it struggles more and more fiercely.
Xiao Ming felt a chill run down his spine and gripped the item in his hand tightly.
As the floats drew nearer, the crowd in the square grew increasingly frenzied. The residents' eyes became as vacant as those of the performers, and their movements began to slow and synchronize.
"They're going crazy!" Xiao Fang shouted. "Xiao La, come here! Where are you going?"
Realizing she had also been affected, Xiao La quickly pushed aside the short but reddish-brown town residents and returned to her small group.
"Xiao Fang, Xiao La!" Xiao Ming shouted, "Be careful! Let's hold hands tightly so we don't get separated."
Their hands were clasped together, while your hands and the tether around your waist were firmly held by Xiaoming, barely preventing the residents from pushing you apart.
Xiao La lowered her head and looked at the people beside her. They didn't seem to notice their presence. Instead, they were staring intently at the float, their lips moving slightly as they muttered some strange words.
Just then, your body suddenly moved.
Your previously dazed expression instantly cleared, and your gaze became fixed on the center of the "Lost Souls" float, where the serpentine ring shimmered with silver light, beckoning you.
It's calling you.
You unconsciously walk toward the float, your strength growing stronger.
"Xiaoming! She's going over there!" Xiaofang shouted anxiously, trying to grab your hand, but you shook it off and walked with even more determination.
"I know!" Xiaoming shouted back, pulling hard on the traction rope, but your strength was unusually great, and this force was almost unable to stop you from moving forward.
“I…” you murmured softly, your eyes vacant, almost out of control: “It’s calling me…it’s telling me to go there.”
“We’ll be with you!” Xiaoming hugged you. “You know, we’re going there too. You know that.”
You gave a sly smile, and sure enough, you stopped insisting on rushing forward.
The atmosphere among the crowd grew increasingly strange.
People walked around the float, their muttered incantations gradually coalescing into an unknown melody. The decorations on the float seemed to change as well—the previously still sculptures suddenly came to life, the mermaid's eyes shifted slightly, and her tail shimmered eerily in the sunlight. The white, ghostly figures floating around the float became more active, even beginning to leave the float and drift towards the crowd.
A child stood in the crowd. The moment the ghost touched him, he trembled, then lowered his head and began to hum that eerie melody, his movements so mechanical as to be unsettling.
His mother seemed oblivious to anything amiss, gently holding his hand as she continued to gaze at the floats.
“These spirit shadows…” Xiao Fang’s voice trembled, “are they… controlling people?”
"Don't let her get near them!" Xiaoming gritted his teeth and pulled you tightly. "Quick! Follow the float, but don't let her get touched by those things!"
The three of them struggled to protect and control you, slowly moving forward with the float procession.
The procession then entered a narrow alley. The number of candles had noticeably increased, and the stench in the air had grown stronger. Something, perhaps, was approaching.
Suddenly, a small cart rolled out from the end of the alley, its contents scattered on the ground—a cart full of fish bones and broken seashells. The owner of the cart hurriedly chased after it, but her expression was extremely flustered, as if she was desperately trying to cover something up.
“Those fish bones…” Little La said in a low voice, her eyes filled with unease, “They look like they fell off the float.”
The owner of the cart bent down to gather the scattered fish bones, her movements eerily swift. Her actions had a mechanical rhythm, and she seemed to be muttering to herself. Xiao Ming stopped, listening intently to her whispers, and vaguely recognized a few familiar words—"sea," "return," "redemption."
As the float entered the alley, a subtle shift occurred in the atmosphere among the crowd. Those who had been softly chanting became unprecedentedly enthusiastic, shouting and some even kneeling, bowing before the float. The white, ghostly figures grew increasingly active, hovering above the crowd as if searching for a new target.
A middle-aged man suddenly stood up, grabbed a candle, and lunged at the float, shouting, "Take me back! Take me back to the bottom of the sea!" His actions attracted the attention of those around him, but no one stopped him.
Instead, the crowd began to applaud him, their faces beaming with almost manic smiles.
The moment the man's candle approached the float, those white, ghostly figures swiftly enveloped his body. His movements froze for a second, then he let out a piercing scream, collapsing to the ground as if all his strength had been drained.
This event seemed to act as a trigger, releasing the spirits, which then began to drift like jellyfish, randomly searching for someone to attack.
"Pick me! Pick me!" Some people reached out and begged, but their wish was not fulfilled. Others just stood there blankly, and they became the lucky ones.
Xiao Fang covered her mouth and took a step back in horror: "These things are randomly selecting people and then devouring them!"
"I saw it!" Xiaoming replied.
"Don't stop!" Xiaoming said urgently, "We have to find where she's going, we can't let her get trapped here!"
As the float continued its journey, your movements became increasingly frantic. You seemed genuinely impatient, and thankfully, Xiao Fang and Xiao La did their best to stop you, with Xiao Ming holding you from behind, the four of you forming a human ball.
However, the approaching shadows made it increasingly difficult for them.
"Where is this car going?" Xiao Fang asked breathlessly, her voice tinged with anger due to anxiety.
Xiao Ming glanced back at the "Lost Souls" float, his gaze settling on the central statue. The hand holding the serpentine ring trembled slightly, as if pointing in some direction.
"It's pointing...outside the town!" Xiao Ming whispered. "Let's head that way!"
Once you were away from the crowd, you felt much better and walked ahead of the float, while the white figure couldn't keep up for the time being.
The floats drove out of the alley, and instead of being seen, they seemed to be chasing after you, entering a wider street. The candles gradually thinned out, but the traces of wax dripping over the years stretched to the end of the street. In the distance, a low sea cliff rose, the waves crashing against the rock face with a deep roar.
Your eyes lit up, and you forcefully broke free from Xiaoming and the others' restraints, running towards the sea cliff.
Fortunately, there was a leash. Xiaoming gritted his teeth, steadied his steps, and followed closely behind, pulling Xiaofang and Xiaola along with him.
"We can't let her go alone!" Xiaoming's voice was filled with absolute determination. "Hurry up and catch up!"
At the end of the sea cliff, the entrance to a dark cave gradually comes into view.
You stood stiffly at the entrance to the cave, your gaze unfocused, seemingly having completely lost control of yourself. Xiao Ming and the others finally caught up, and seeing the scene before them, an indescribable chill ran through each of them.
"This is its destination," Xiaoming said softly, gripping the leash tightly.
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Author's Note: Hehe, this is Tiger's apologetic laugh for not updating on time qaq. Speaking of which, Dead by Daylight is really fun! Tiger has been playing it day and night, especially the skill that can blow up the killer—it's so satisfying! It's just a bit easy to blow yourself up too... Good evening!!! (I've been wanting to reply to the comments, but I've been so late with the update that I'm a little embarrassed to read them... If I can finish the cruise ship chapter on time tomorrow, I'll reply. Thank you for your comments, moms!!! Love you!!!)
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