"Likewise," Song Zhuyu shook the other person's hand and put on his best professional smile. "I am Song Zhuyu, and here is my assistant, Chen Ru. Thank you for extending your hospitality to us."
Chen Ru offered a deep bow, "Thank you so much for having us here!"
Of course, the National Civil Security Bureau couldn't possibly disclose that Song Zhuyu was here because he was exiled after killing someone, so they presented him as a researcher dispatched by the government whose mission was to observe the lifestyle in Shenci Island, and that he would be staying for a few months.
"Lao Liang, many thanks for bringing them here! Be careful on your way back!" Ma Boliu shouted at Lao Liang, who acknowledged with a wave of his hand before steering his motorboat back to the ocean.
Turning to them with a warm smile, Ma Boliu then motioned for them to follow. "You two must be tired after the long journey. Come, we'd better get you to your accommodation before it gets dark."
"Oh?" With an expression of pure curiosity, Song Zhuyu asked innocently, "What will happen when night falls? Is there any danger around the island, say… wild animals?"
Since setting foot on the island, Song Zhuyu had not lowered his vigilance, ready for any sudden assault that might come his way. But so far, he hadn't sensed the presence of the demon, and even the levels of dark energy were abnormally thin, just like in the area around the port. If he didn't know better, he might have mistaken this place for paradise.
Nevertheless, this sense of normalcy only served to fuel the unease and restlessness within him, and he couldn't help but probe for more information. Either way, he came here as a researcher so it was only natural for him to scrutinize every aspect of the island.
Ma Boliu blinked in surprise before erupting into laughter, "If you're talking about tiny critters like insects, mice, mosquitos and spiders, then yes. But don't worry, they're not harmful at all. The reason why I'd like us to hurry is because it often rains here at night. The road will become slippery and dangerous by then, especially for those who are unfamiliar with our terrain."
"Ah, I understand," Song Zhuyu laughed along, showcasing his perfect conversational skills. As for Comrade Chen Ru, let's not put any hope in him as he was too busy admiring the picturesque scenery and taking photos with his phone.
Song Zhuyu couldn't deny that the landscape was absolutely breathtaking. Shades of orange and gold danced through the foliage, casting captivating patterns on the stony path as they departed from the shore. The breeze was cool and refreshing, making one feel inevitably relaxed.
Leading the way, Ma Boliu introduced the island, "Our village is built along the hillside, so we will have to climb a bit. This is already far better, considering we didn't even have a road back then. When it rained, the ground turned muddy and triggered a landslide. There had been quite a few accidents back then."
"How awful," Song Zhuyu remarked with a sigh.
"It really was," Ma Boliu nodded in solemn agreement. "But thankfully, our circumstances have improved since. As you may know, we're a small, secluded village comprised mainly of the elderly, women and children. Most of our men have left to seek jobs in the mainland because there's nothing to do around here. We lead a simple and honest life far from the hustle and bustle of the city. I'm not saying that it's bad, but I still hope that our village can become better in the future." Ma Boliu offered a sheepish smile. "That's why the Chief and I were ecstatic to know that you're coming. We heard you're from the government…"
"Yes, I am." Song Zhuyu adopted a professional demeanor as he spouted out bullshit with a convincing face. "I'm here to conduct research on Shenci Island, so it's natural for me to present a few proposals to the government for infrastructural development here."
A wide smile broke across Ma Boliu's face at the reassurance, "Thank you… thank you so much! Our village's livelihood depends on you now, Mr. Song!"
Chen Ru: "..."
Amazing.
If he had no idea who Father Song was, he might really trust his words. Was this a basic skill that a powerful exorcist should have?
"Here we are," Ma Boliu announced.
They stopped before the base of the stone stairs carved into the hillside slope. The surface was rough and uneven, and there was no railing. No wonder Ma Boliu said that it would get dangerous when it rained. The stairs were so steep and high it seemed to pierce into the sky. Even when Song Zhuyu raised his head, he couldn't catch a glimpse of the top.
If one were to slip and roll all the way down, it was estimated that they would suffer from heavy concussion at the very least, and death at most.
Good thing I decided not to bring my wife along, was the first thing that crossed Father Song's mind as he eyed the daunting ascent.
"Let's go," Ma Boliu said as he began to climb, effortlessly tackling three steps at a time.
Following suit, Song Zhuyu ascended with grace, his silver eyes curiously taking in the landscape. That left only Chen Ru gawking at the two of them with a mix of disbelief and trepidation. D–Didn't Mr. Ma mention that they only had to climb for a bit?! Where was the 'little bit' part? He hadn't even started yet, and his knees already felt weak!
"What's wrong?" Song Zhuyu tilted his head sideways when he heard no movement behind him, arching his brow. "Scared?"
That word was akin to a burning whip hitting Chen Ru right where it hurt the most, causing him to jump into a defensive state. "W–Who says that I'm scared? I'm not! I'm not scared at all!"
Murmuring a prayer inside his heart, Chen Ru began to climb one step after another with his gaze trained on the stairs before him. He dared not even look around for fear that he would lose his footing and plummet to his death.
Dangerous… this island was extremely dangerous!
When they reached the top, Song Zhuyu still appeared at ease, with only a few errant strands of hair escaping his bun to curl over his exquisite face. Other than that, his face did not color, and he didn't even break out into sweats! Chen Ru, on the contrary, was panting heavily while clutching onto his trembling knees, the back of his shirt soaked in sweats. Not only that, he also suffered a few mosquito bites!
Song Zhuyu took one glance at him and clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction.
Chen Ru: "...QAQ"
"Welcome to our humble village," Ma Boliu introduced with a hint of pride.
Nestled along the hillside were the wooden houses with their weathered structures and tiled roofs, clustered around the winding stone stairs. Wisps of smoke drifted from the chimneys, carrying the comforting aroma of food and delicious cooking. Joyful laughter filled the air as children chased after each other along the streets, infusing the atmosphere with warmth and vitality.
"Woah…" Chen Ru's exhaustion instantly evaporated as he marveled at the rustic scenery before him. "It's so beautiful…"
"Yes," Song Zhuyu agreed, his gaze complicated. "Beautiful, indeed."
"Papa!"
A young girl wearing a dull yellow dress, around six years old, spotted Ma Boliu and dashed towards him, squealing in delight as he scooped her up. "You're finally home! Dinner is almost ready!"
"Alright," Ma Boliu gazed at his daughter with soft indulgence. "Tell your Mom that I will be a little late. I need to show the guests around first."
At the mention of guests, only then did she glance over her father's shoulder, her eyes widening when they met Song Zhuyu's. "Oh!" Ducking her head, she left only the eyes visible, blinking rapidly. "H–He's so pretty…"
Song Zhuyu chuckled at her remark. "Thank you, little lady. But I'm afraid I can't agree with that. If anyone is pretty around here, it can only be you."
The little girl whipped her head around to face her father, gasping loudly. Excitement bubbled in her voice as she lowered her voice into a whisper, "Papa, he looks just like the prince in my storybooks!"
Helpless, Ma Boliu gently set her down and patted her head. "Yes, yes, go back first. Papa needs to give Mr. Prince a short tour."
"Okay~" the girl skipped off, leaving behind a trail of giggles.
Watching until her daughter vanished from sight, Ma Boliu then shifted his attention to Song Zhuyu with an apologetic smile, "That's my youngest daughter just now, Yanyan. I hope she doesn't offend you."
"How could it be?" Song Zhuyu responded with a warm smile. "She's adorable. I saw quite a few children around earlier. How many people are there on this island?"
Ma Boliu beckoned for them to follow as they ascended the stairs, albeit not as steep this time. "We have roughly twenty-seven families and seventy people, with most of them bearing the surname Ma. The Chief hasn't been feeling well recently, so I will bring you to the house you'll be staying in first, if you don't mind?"
"Of course," Song Zhuyu offered a courteous smile. "We can meet the Chief at any time. There's no pressure at all."
As they traversed the village, curious eyes peered out from windows and doors, tracking their every move. It was apparent that they seldom received visitors and weren't accustomed to outsiders. Yet Song Zhuyu sensed no hostility or rejection— only genuine curiosity and interest.
The first impression he had of the villagers was that they were simple-minded and honest.
Everything seemed remarkably ordinary. But how could it be possible?
The three of them continued to walk for a few minutes until they reached a wooden house decorated with colorful flower boxes. "Here is the guest house. I have prepared firewood and water for the bath inside. If it's not enough, please let me know. Oh my house is just down the street, the one with the blue door," he pointed out. "Electricity will only be available from 9 PM to 2 AM. I apologize for any inconvenience it may cause."
"No, it's no problem at all." Song Zhuyu reassured him with a friendly smile. "The house is very beautiful. I'm sure I will be having the time of my life living here."
"That's great to hear!" Ma Boliu grinned. "Then you both should rest up, and I will show you around tomorrow. But oh, there's one thing you need to be careful of."
Song Zhuyu gestured for him to continue.
"As I mentioned earlier, it tends to rain at night, so please refrain from climbing the hill, especially after 1 AM. If you're not careful, you will get into an accident. And also…" he trailed off with a hesitant look. It seemed like he wanted to say more, but ultimately he shook his head. "No, nothing. I will tell you about it tomorrow. Please have a good rest tonight."
He offered a bow, and both Song Zhuyu and Chen Ru reciprocated with the same respectful gesture.
Staring at his receding figure, Song Zhuyu narrowed his eyes and rubbed his chin, murmuring under his breath. "Strange…"
Chen Ru, who heard it, asked in surprise, "Huh? Is there something wrong, Father Song?"