Asi Hell

Chapter 13

Old Dong's room was at the very back of the hotel. He swayed away, his penguin-like body waddling along.

Qin Ge frowned, wanting to speak, but Huang Tao gave him a wink, and he led everyone to the room where Huang Tao had slept the night before. This was the largest room, with three beds, and even with fourteen people sitting down, it didn't feel crowded.

"Who among you believes they are dead?" Qin Ge asked with a stern face.

This was an easy question to answer, yet so many people stared at each other, unsure how to respond. After a long pause, Huang Tao shook his head and smiled bitterly, "This is simply ridiculous. We haven't even tasted death yet, and we're already dead. I really don't know if there's something wrong with us or if Takahashi is playing a prank." "If it's a prank, then the price is far too high," said Lei Ming. As usual, he stood alone by the window, maintaining a safe distance from everyone. Clearly, he was deep in thought about this question, and Qin Ge could sense a murderous aura emanating from him once again.

Perhaps finding the person targeted by this murderous aura will uncover the secret in Lei Ming's heart.

"This is an obvious problem. We are all still alive, and no one here is dead. However, the person who created this town wants to give everyone the psychological suggestion that this is a town only the dead can come to. Why did he do this?" Qin Ge said.

“Maybe he wants us all to really become dead,” Tong Hao, who was sitting by the Suhe River, suddenly interjected.

“That doesn’t seem to make sense either. There are many ways to turn someone into a dead person, so why go to the trouble of building such a small town? I think this town must be hiding some secrets that we don’t know about. Only by finding these secrets can we have a chance to return to the outside world,” Qin Ge said.

"What could be the secret of this town?" Huang Tao said with a wry smile. "I once read a novel where some people entered a manor and saw a manor made of clay figurines on the table, with some people fishing and reading inside. When they woke up, they found themselves actually in this doll manor." "We're not entering a doll manor now, but a town of death," Lei Ming said in a low voice.

“Perhaps the principle is the same. Doll Manor and Death Town aren’t real; they’re just concepts imposed on our consciousness.” Huang Tao shook his head, puzzled. “Right now, I just don’t understand. Such a simple truth—don’t the others who come here understand it? Are they really so naive as to think they’re dead?” “Perhaps the people here want to be dead.” Tong Hao spoke, his melancholy gaze still fixed on Su He. “There must be many such people in this world. They’ve encountered misfortune in life, and living has no meaning for them. In that case, living in the outside world is not as good as staying in this Death Town.” “Perhaps the dead you’re talking about also include those who have committed unforgivable sins!” Lei Ming said heavily by the window.

Ashe Hell: 773 Horror Series 12, Part 4, Chapter 52: Vertigo (2)

At that moment, Qin Ge suddenly had a feeling, as if he had discerned the direction of Lei Ming's killing intent—Tong Hao. They were complete strangers; could there really be hatred between complete strangers?

“Alright, we won’t get anywhere here, so let’s just do as Old Dong said: eat and drink well, and get some rest. Even if this town is eerie, we can be sure of one thing: the town’s owner doesn’t want to harm us, at least for now. So, we can wander around the town, talk to the people, and the more we learn, the better for us.” “Does that mean we really have to find a job here after that damned sacrificial ceremony?” Su He asked.

Qin Ge and Huang Tao exchanged a glance, a deep sense of unease creeping into their hearts. Since the town's owner had gone to such lengths to build this place, leaving would undoubtedly be incredibly difficult. If they were to stay, for their safety, they would certainly have to abide by the town's established rules and order. Su He's words might actually come true. Fortunately, Gao Qiao had mentioned before leaving that since they had just arrived in Asi Town and were still guests before the sacrificial ceremony, they didn't need to work; their daily expenses would be covered by the administrative center.

Before leaving, Takahashi specifically instructed that the town was divided into four areas by two intersecting streets. They could freely enter and exit three of these areas, but the courtyard in the southeast corner, which was surrounded by a high wall, was a restricted area of the town.

"I don't know what the consequences of trespassing will be, but I know for sure that it will be an outcome that none of us want to see," Takahashi said.

“There’s definitely a secret hidden in that courtyard, but we can’t take that risk right now,” Qin Ge said after a moment’s thought. “Since our safety isn’t an issue, everyone can be free this afternoon to learn as much as possible about the town. We’ll meet up tonight to exchange the information we’ve gathered. But we absolutely mustn’t go to the courtyard in the southeast corner. Secrets and dangers are sometimes synonymous.” “The sacrificial ceremony,” Zhang Song, who had been silent until now, suddenly muttered the phrase, then said expressionlessly, “Such ceremonies mostly only happen in some remote ethnic minority tribes nowadays. This town was built entirely according to the format of a modern city. Does it also need the protection of gods?” Zhang Song was an expert in folk culture, and if even he couldn’t understand it, no one else would have the answer. Fortunately, according to Gao Qiao, the sacrificial ceremony would be held in three days, which was crucial for As Town. Therefore, on that day, not only would everyone in the town participate, but the town’s creator might also appear. Qin Ge and the others certainly didn't believe that the great goddess As would return to the human world on that day, but treating it like going to a temple fair to watch a grand show was quite an interesting thing.

If Qin Ge knew at this moment that these fourteen people would also become part of that grand show, he would no longer find it funny, and they wouldn't even want to stay here for another day.

But who can predict what will happen before it happens?

In the afternoon, six young models were the first to leave "Tanguantang," saying they wanted to wander around the town. Although there were six of them, they were still just a group of young girls, and Qin Ge was worried about them, so she asked Zhang Song to go with them. Zhang Song had never been with so many young girls before and hesitated, but the models surrounded him, and one of them was even holding his hand. What choice did he have but to obediently follow them?

Seeing Zhang Song's embarrassed expression, Qin Ge and Dong'er secretly chuckled. Qin Ge said, "Let's go out for a walk later. Our honeymoon trip to such a mysterious town is definitely worthwhile." Dong'er stuck out her tongue and snorted, "I'd rather stay in Haicheng than go anywhere else." Although she said that, she still clung tightly to Qin Ge's arm as they left, unwilling to leave his side. Dong'er was a simple girl. Although this town was so strange, at least everything was alright in front of her, so she easily forgot about her unhappiness. Besides, with Qin Ge by her side, what problem couldn't he solve?

Seeing that most people had left, Huang Tao glanced at the few remaining and considered inviting Lei Ming to go out together, so that at least they could look out for each other. But before he could speak, Lei Ming had already walked out alone. Everyone was used to Lei Ming's eccentricities; it seemed that being alone made him more at ease than being with others. Huang Tao smiled wryly, his gaze falling on Tong Hao and Su He sitting to the side. He knew that he couldn't possibly be so shameless as to join them. Just as he hesitated, Liu Qian, pale-faced and ill, looked over.

“If you all leave, I’ll be scared to leave you behind,” she said.

Liu Qian was the sick young woman. After arriving in the town, she had taken medicine and regained some energy, but she was still weak all over. She had just gone for a walk with Gao Qiao and was sweating profusely. She was determined to stay at the hotel to rest this afternoon.

Huang Tao paused for a moment, then looked at Su He and Tong Hao over there, and sighed, "If I don't stay at the hotel, I'll have to go out with you. I know you won't mind having me, but I'm getting on in years, so I'd better be sensible and not bother you." Tong Hao blushed, hesitating to speak, while Su He smiled generously, "If it were me, I would stay and keep this lady company too. I've heard people say that mature women are the most charming, and I didn't believe it at first, but after seeing this lady, I truly believe it." Huang Tao shook his head and smiled wryly; from her words, he could tell that Su He was actually a rather cheerful girl.

Asi's Hell: 773 Horror Series 12, Part 4, Chapter 53: Vertigo (3)

Liu Qian, who was leaning against the bed, smiled and said, "If you're all willing to stay and keep me company, I'd be more than happy to." Su He stood up. "I also want to go out and see this town, so you can have the rest of the time. I just hope you won't mind us coming back too early tonight." Liu Qian blushed and glared at Su He with a reproachful look, wanting to speak but unsure what to say. Huang Tao pointed at Su He and shook his head, saying, "I didn't realize you were such a clever and mischievous girl." Su He chuckled and, without calling to Tong Hao, went out on her own. Tong Hao naturally followed obediently behind her. As he left, he nodded to Huang Tao and Liu Qian, a slightly ambiguous smile in his eyes.

Huang Tao sighed and said to Liu Qian on the bed, "I thought Tong Hao was a simple young man, but it turns out he's not as simple as we thought." "Young people these days, even if they're simple, how can they not understand some things?" Huang Tao noticed something unusual in Liu Qian's voice and glanced warily towards the door. At that moment, Liu Qian got off the bed and slowly walked towards Huang Tao: "Isn't it a bit much for you to stay with me?" "Of course not, you women always overthink things," Huang Tao said mechanically.

Liu Qian had already reached the door. She slowly closed the door, then lowered her head and let out a long sigh. When she turned around, her face was flushed.

“Now it’s just the two of us in this room. You know, when I woke up on that damn bus the night before last, my only consolation was that I was still by your side. You see, God is still looking out for us. Even in this situation, He didn’t separate us. We’re destined to be together in this life. It’s fate.” Huang Tao frowned, but his brows quickly relaxed. “I know.” “Why are you frowning? Does being with me make you unhappy?” Liu Qian took two steps forward and was now standing in front of Huang Tao. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body tightly against his. “Now it’s just the two of us here. Don’t you know what to do?” “Maybe they’ll be back soon.” Huang Tao’s body was still a little stiff.

“Even if they come back and see, so what? We’re in a dead town now. Everything outside has nothing to do with us. If we can really live here forever, that would be something to be thankful for. If we live here forever, I can be your wife. You know, being your wife is my biggest wish in this life.” Huang Tao’s body softened, and he pulled the woman into his arms tightly, whispering in her ear, “Qingqing, we’ll never be apart again in this life. You’re my wife now.” Tears suddenly welled up in Liu Qian’s eyes. She choked back sobs, her body gently twisting in Huang Tao’s arms, as if she wanted to completely merge herself into the man’s body at this moment.

"Zhenyu, I've waited so long for you to say these words. It's been such a long and agonizing wait. Now, you've finally asked me to be your wife. Zhenyu…" — Zhenyu! Could this be Huang Tao's real name?

Huang Tao and Liu Qian were entangled together, the woman's body writhing like a snake. She breathed heavily, as if she had been separated from the man beside her for a thousand years. She couldn't wait to burn herself out completely, even if it meant being reduced to ashes. Of course, she wanted to take the man in front of her with her; without him, her life would have no meaning.

Huang Tao was clearly still somewhat worried about their current situation, so he couldn't fully commit like Liu Qian. However, Liu Qian's enthusiasm still infected him, and he was somewhat moved. A man's life needs some passionate women to fill it; they can give a man boundless motivation and confidence.

When Huang Tao pinned the woman down, he could already feel the surging and abundant power within him.

"Are you alright?" He hadn't forgotten that Liu Qian was ill.

Liu Qian did not answer, but straightened up and completely submerged him.

Huang Tao immediately felt enveloped in a wave of heat, warm, moist, and scorching, like an evil yet alluring fruit that, once devoured, would plunge him into an inescapable swamp of lust. And who wouldn't want to sink deeper into it? Who wouldn't want to perish, even if never to wake up? Huang Tao breathed a low sigh of relief; the power coursing through his body had filled him. He had to venture deeper into the swamp, he had to sink into it before drifting towards the sacred paradise.

Suddenly, a wave of dizziness brought him to a stop.

The dizziness came so suddenly, as if a mass of darkness had crashed down on him. In the darkness, a disheveled woman held a cleaver high, repeatedly striking a man lying unconscious on the ground. Blood splattered, the brightest color in the darkness, quickly spreading and turning the entire scene crimson. The woman's eyes turned bloodshot, and strands of her long, disheveled hair clung to her cheeks with congealed blood. Her face was contorted, her former beauty twisted and deformed.

Blood splattered onto him, and the woman's knife, gleaming, came crashing down towards his face. The wind from the blade sent shivers through his body, and the aura of death instantly enveloped him.

In that instant, he seemed to see again the rotting corpse lying in Liu Qian's room inside the small building. It wasn't him, but the decaying, deformed face vaguely resembled his own. And the knife wound on his chest—were these all coincidences, or did someone in Asi Town know his secret with Liu Qian?

Huang Tao's body stiffened, and the woman beneath him could no longer arouse any desire in him.

No matter how powerful desire may be, how can it withstand the shadow of death?

Liu Qian clearly sensed Huang Tao's sudden change. She gazed at him with a mixture of resentment and confusion: "What's wrong with you? Isn't this the moment you've been waiting for?" Huang Tao felt a chill run down his spine, but his palms and soles were drenched in sweat. He closed his eyes; the dizzying visions vanished, leaving behind a woman's naked body lying before him. Undoubtedly, she was a beautiful woman; from her, one could perceive elegance and sensuality coexisting with beauty. Any normal man would be tempted by her and willingly succumb to her charms. But once you possess her, that memory becomes a tormenting blade, etching excruciating wounds into your heart every moment. Huang Tao had once been such a man; he could give up everything for her.

What has happened is now history, and as time goes by, many things will change.

Ashe Hell: 773 Horror Series 12, Part 4, Chapter 54: Vertigo (4)

So what did Huang Tao want now? The woman lay before him, her skin as smooth and white as before, its soft texture sending shivers down his spine at the slightest touch. This was the body he had once so desperately desired, and now it finally belonged entirely to him; no obstacle could prevent them from living together forever. Yet why, when he faced her alone, did he still feel a lingering fear?

His first encounter with her was in a small southern town. They stayed in a hotel for three days straight, never leaving. His pent-up passion needed to be unleashed; he felt like a giant of boundless energy from a primitive era, ready to release all his power on the pure land of a woman. The initial tenderness quickly vanished, and he gradually became brutal and frenzied. Like a cruel butcher, he couldn't quell the rising flames within him without crushing the woman. That night, at the eleventh-floor window, he had her lean against the windowsill. He turned off the lights, opened the window, letting the starlight and the lights of countless homes fill his view, and then, he slowly entered her from behind. A cold wind blew in, chilling both their naked bodies. The glittering stars and lights seemed so far away, as if separated by an entire century. Just then, he suddenly felt a wave of panic.

Their bodies were still entwined, and the wind rushing from afar gave him a feeling of flying. He opened his arms, carrying the woman, and flew towards a completely unfamiliar land. Only birds can fly; he was not a bird, so his flight was essentially wingless, and he felt a fear of falling at any moment.

His body was still moving slowly and rhythmically, but the woman could already feel its stiffness.

The woman turned around and pressed her lips to his ear: "I know what you're thinking. You want to stay inside me forever. You want to fly with me." He stammered, not even knowing what he was saying.

The woman said, "Don't you want to? I'm yours now. I know you've liked me for a long time, ever since we met. Your eyes have always conveyed your desire. Only a real man, when he sees a woman he likes, will reveal that possessive desire in his eyes. Actually, you've been in my heart for a long time, but I couldn't let you have me all at once; otherwise, you wouldn't cherish me. But now, everything is different. We're finally together. What more could you want?" He didn't know what he wasn't satisfied with, and he couldn't tell the woman the panic in his heart at this moment. He was still inside the woman's body, a body that had appeared countless times in his dreams. Everything in his dreams had now become reality. What could be more joyful than a dream coming true?

He wasn't dissatisfied, but panicked. More importantly, he had no idea what the source of his panic was.

The woman continued, “Don’t worry, I know what I need to do. From this moment on, nothing in the world can separate us.” Later, back in bed, she took a delicate white porcelain bottle from her bag. The bottle was only the size of a little fingernail, with walls as thin as a cicada’s wing and a slender neck. She held it in her hand, her eyes revealing a firmness and confidence he had never seen before.

"Do you know what's in this bottle? I won't tell you, and you'll never know." He stared at the porcelain bottle with suspicion, and a sense of panic began to creep into his heart again.

“This contains ricin, an extremely toxic natural protein. One gram can kill tens of thousands of people. It’s 385 times more toxic than organophosphate nerve agents and 6,000 times more toxic than cyanide. It’s listed as one of the most dangerous bioterrorist pathogens in the world. Some countries use it as a chemical weapon, and terrorists use it to threaten governments and create panic. Although there are substances more toxic than it, its extraction is the simplest. With a little training, ordinary people can extract this toxin from castor beans.” His eyes widened, almost unable to believe what he was hearing. The woman wasn’t dressed yet, her naked body appearing exquisitely beautiful in the dim light, and the small porcelain bottle in her hand was as delicate as a work of art. Who would have thought that such a woman held deadly poison? Moreover, her tone was as calm as if she were talking about something insignificant.

He knew about ricin.

In the infamous "Markov poison umbrella" attack in London in 1978, Bulgarian writer Markov, who had defected to Britain, was poisoned by Bulgarian agents using a specially made Soviet-made umbrella containing ricin. Furthermore, the United States, Europe, and most developed countries still retain the right to use certain quantities of ricin; for example, the U.S. Chemical Warfare Service lists ricin as a lethal weapon. Since the 9/11 attacks, Western countries like the U.S. and Britain have become increasingly concerned about the use of ricin in terrorist attacks due to its high toxicity and its ability to exist in a gaseous, aerosol form. In 2001, the U.S. discovered numerous ampoules, syringes, and pills in a building abandoned by Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda organization, concluding it was a ricin manufacturing laboratory. That same year, Russian special forces in Chechnya repeatedly captured and killed terrorists carrying manuals on the preparation and use of ricin, confirming they possessed a laboratory for developing ricin. In January 2003, British police seized ricin, its production materials, and equipment in a residence, discovering that terrorists planned to use ricin to carry out attacks in London.

Such a dangerous thing is something that ordinary people could never obtain. Where did she find it?

“As I said, ricin is extremely poisonous, but the extraction process is very simple. Even if it were simple, I couldn't possibly extract it myself. I just stumbled upon a website online that offered information on at least thirty deadly poisons. After carefully reviewing the descriptions of each poison, I chose ricin.” The woman continued in that calm, gentle tone, “Now you know what I’m going to do.” He stared intently at the woman, his gaze seemingly trying to penetrate her skin and reach the depths of her heart.

A month later, he received a call from her in his office. She said on the phone, "I bought some good tea today, pre-rain tea from Yunwu, over two hundred yuan per tael. It's expensive, but it's truly excellent tea; just smelling the leaves, the fragrance permeates your very being. I was thinking of buying some more expensive tea, but for a family like ours, expensive tea would cause trouble." She paused slightly, then said in a very cheerful tone, "Soon, we'll be together, and no one will be an obstacle for us anymore." When he hung up, he felt a wave of dizziness, the same dizziness he later felt in the official hall of Asi Town. Behind this dizziness, death must be lurking. Last time, it was the woman's husband who died; this time, who will die?

As Hell: 773 Horror Series 12, Part 4, Chapter 55: The Face (1)

The history of Asi Town must be quite short, because the black asphalt on the streets hasn't completely faded, the walls of both single-story and multi-story buildings are still bright, and the yellow soil in the flowerbeds along the roadside and in the town center square is still soft. The town's architectural style doesn't deliberately imitate anything; it's simple and unadorned, completely like the unoriginal, monotonous style of typical small towns. Moreover, its buildings are mostly long and narrow single-story houses, with only a few two-story buildings. From a distance, the protruding flat roofs of these buildings stand out against the uniform black-tiled, sloping eaves, resembling Japanese pillboxes from the War of Resistance against Japan.

As Qin Ge and Dong'er walked along, they truly had a strange feeling. If they hadn't already known about the many eerie things about this place, they would have definitely mistaken it for just an ordinary remote town in China.

Aside from the architecture, the people in the town were no different from those outside. They wore the most ordinary clothes and greeted each other with smiles when they met on the street. Elderly people strolled leisurely in the sunshine, while groups of young people occasionally laughed and walked away. The shop assistants in the roadside shops were polite, and the bartenders wore smart uniforms, bowing and greeting customers as they entered, clearly showing that they had received specialized training.

There weren't many people on the streets in the afternoon. Qin Ge and Dong'er walked for half a day, and it seemed that no one showed any curiosity towards them. Only the leisurely old people would glance at them from afar and then turn their heads away, as if Qin Ge and Dong'er had lived in this town for many years.

Qin Ge and Dong'er entered a store. The store wasn't large, but it had a wide variety of goods, and it was a self-service supermarket. They browsed around and found that not only were all kinds of daily necessities available, but also many of the latest trendy items. The Sprite on the shelves was now the blue-bottled mint version, and new drinks like Pulse and Scream were also prominently displayed. Even electronic products like digital cameras and MP3 players were available, and at cheap prices. Qin Ge and Dong'er couldn't help but marvel, but they didn't show it on their faces.

When Dong'er was buying a drink, she handed over a ten-yuan note. The young salesman smiled and shook his head: "This is currency from the mortal world; it cannot be used here."

Dong'er froze, her body turning cold again. Qin Ge quickly said, "I've only ever heard of currencies from different countries, but I've never heard of currencies being divided into the living world and the dead world."

The young man remained calm and said, "When you were alive, didn't you see the paper money people burned at their graves during the Qingming Festival every year?"

—While you are alive!

Qin Ge felt a chill run down his spine. He stared blankly at the young man in front of him, unable to tell whether he was telling the truth or lying. "When you were alive, does that mean he's already dead?"

Qin Ge wanted to say something, but Dong'er had already pulled him away.

It's more accurate to say they ran away than left.

Walking down the street again, they saw the same buildings and pedestrians as before, but that eerie atmosphere had enveloped them completely, making them feel almost suffocated. The warm sunlight shone on the street, and Dong'er clung tightly to Qin Ge, as if even the sunlight held something suffocating within her.

They continued forward, though they hadn't gone very far, but Dong'er whispered, "We're tired, let's find a place to rest."

Qin Ge glanced at a bar nearby, but before he could speak, Dong'er whispered, "I'm not going there. I will never go to any of the houses here again."

Qin Ge sighed, knowing the fear in Dong'er's heart. He said, "If that Gao Qiao really wanted to deceive us, he could have easily colluded with the others here to create a false impression, making us believe that what he said was true." He pressed his face close to Dong'er's. "Feel it, we both have body temperature, and in the sunlight, we both have shadows." He squeezed Dong'er's hand hard, making her feel pain. "We still retain all the sensations we had when we were alive. How could we be dead? This must be the work of someone who secretly orchestrated everything. We are all educated people. As long as we believe in ourselves and are not misled by the people and events in this town, then they can't do anything to us."

Dong'er nodded repeatedly. Over time, she had developed a dependence on Qin Ge for everything, so she believed him when he said so. But this time, a lingering fear still gripped her. She looked around, and the fear seemed to emanate from the surrounding houses, clinging to her. She glanced one last time at the deep worry in Qin Ge's eyes and suddenly realized that this time, perhaps Qin Ge wasn't as resolute as he claimed.

In the town's central square stood a circular flowerbed, bordered by a pebble path. Around the path, pavilions and covered walkways dotted the open spaces, all now lush with flowers and plants. Qin Ge and Dong'er finally sat down on a stone bench under the covered walkway. Dong'er seemed truly exhausted, leaning against Qin Ge as soon as she sat down. Qin Ge held her tightly, noticing her body trembling slightly.

Dong'er didn't speak, and Qin Ge couldn't think of a way to comfort her. The two of them sat there embracing each other, not knowing how long they sat there. They only felt the wind on their bodies gradually getting cooler, and when they looked up again, the sun was already setting in the west.

Qin Ge whispered in Dong'er's ear, "Let's go back."

Dong'er didn't speak, but her eyes fell on a little boy not far away. The little boy had a buzz cut and looked about seven or eight years old. He was holding an ice cream in his hand and was slowly walking towards them.

As Hell: 773 Horror Series 12, Part 4, Chapter 56: The Face (2)

Qin Ge tensed up; he realized the little boy was heading straight for them. He felt ashamed that he was so nervous for such a small boy, but in this eerie town of Asi, what wouldn't happen?

The little boy stopped in front of them. He had eaten more than half of his ice cream, and there was still some sticky white liquid on his lips. The little boy was as innocent as other children his age in the outside world. He giggled and handed a newspaper to Qin Ge.

Qin Ge frowned, his body tensing even more, and Dong'er beside him began to breathe rapidly.

Before them lay only an ordinary newspaper, but at this moment, the newspaper seemed like a legendary ghost, filling both of them with boundless fear.

In front of the small black building in the valley, there was a newspaper on the bodies of those who had fallen to their deaths.

Newspapers are full of reports about this person's recent death.

Now, whose death will be reported in the newspaper the little boy hands you?

Even from a distance, they could clearly see Qin Ge and Dong'er arm in arm. Later, they went into a shop, and when they came out, Qin Ge had almost completely embraced Dong'er. Su He and Tong Hao watched for a while, then exchanged glances, their eyes showing a hint of a smile.

"Where are we going now?" Su He asked, lowering his eyes.

There was a distance between her and Tong Hao, but it was merely symbolic; anyone could easily erase it by extending an arm. Su He could feel the power emanating from the young man beside her, a power that seemed poised to envelop her at any moment. She wasn't worried; in fact, she felt a sense of anticipation. But that power lingered around her, like a gust of wind or a wisp of fog—you could sense it, but you couldn't touch it.

“Wherever you want to go, I’ll go with you,” Tong Hao said, staring intently at her.

Su He didn't actually like men who lacked assertiveness. Perhaps Tong Hao wasn't indecisive, just too young, and he was facing a woman who had captured his heart. Su He believed he had fallen for her at first sight. From the moment she woke up on the bus in the valley, she could constantly feel a gaze upon her. At first, she felt awkward and flustered, unsure how to face the man behind that gaze. This man was so young and so shy; facing him, you wouldn't think of being hurt. On the contrary, you would subconsciously feel pity for him. His expression was so forlorn, his brows concealing sorrow. Everyone could see that something had definitely happened in his life, something that was undoubtedly related to a woman. In that small black building, when he secretly looked at her, Su He's gaze would casually meet his. The panic he showed at that moment suddenly piqued Su He's curiosity—what kind of story could there be in such a young man?

Su He might not be much older than Tong Hao, but looking at him, she felt like she was looking at a child who hadn't grown up yet. Being liked was actually a very happy thing, especially by a man younger than herself, which made Su He find it even more interesting.

Everyone is on a journey, though such a journey is truly unbelievable. But if you add a love story to this journey, wouldn't it be even more memorable many years later?

Su He stopped walking. Tong Hao, not noticing, took two steps before stopping and turning back, a look of confusion on his face. Sunlight fell on Su He's face, making her seem to radiate a dazzling light. Tong Hao was stunned, but a dark feeling crept into his heart; the pain of loss instantly overwhelmed him. His sorrow began to spread across his face, amplified by the sunlight with a chilling intensity.