Translator: Cinder Translations
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"Click. Click. Click."
The shoes echoed heavily on the old stone steps, making a dull sound.
Chen Ran had voluntarily offered to carry the heavily injured and unconscious Su An, which took the Fatty by surprise. However, he was more than happy to lighten his load, as carrying the tall Su An up to the lighthouse was no easy task.
The sound of Chen Ran's footsteps confirmed this.
Su Xiaoxiao didn't say anything, not even the most basic words of thanks. She merely stayed by Chen Ran's side, like a guard, not leaving his side for a moment.
In nightmares, trust was a rare thing, especially when it came from sudden acts of kindness.
The Fatty leaned in behind Jiang Cheng, his small eyes spinning restlessly, often glancing at the figures of Chen Ran and Su Xiaoxiao ahead of them.
"Doctor," he said, bringing his entire body closer and speaking in a low voice, "this doesn't add up. Liang Long is no fool, after the motorcycle girl went missing, how could she dare to stay alone with that old woman?"
"Is she not afraid, why would she not come out with him?" the Fatty shuddered as he thought of the old woman's strange, twisted face and the words she had spoken.
"She wouldn't dare stay back," Jiang Cheng responded, his gaze wandering behind Chen Ran and Su Xiaoxiao, particularly focusing on the former. He seemed to have figured something out but hadn't confirmed it yet.
The Fatty, confused, asked, "Why? what's going on?"
As usual, he didn't get an answer from the doctor. After spending some time with him, the Fatty had learned the doctor's temperament well.
He was someone who was lenient with himself and strict with others.
He didn't have the habit of answering all questions.
The Fatty even felt that a lot depended on the doctor's mood that day, but if it were the other way around and the doctor didn't get the answer he wanted, the consequences could be quite dire.
But none of this could shake the doctor's position in the Fatty's mind.
After all, it was thanks to the doctor that he had survived until now and, more recently, gained a few pounds—a rather shameful gain—but still, it was the doctor's doing.
"Fatty," Jiang Cheng suddenly said, "Go hide behind me."
The Fatty shuddered, then his face changed. He quickly ducked behind Jiang Cheng, looking around with fear in his eyes, wishing he could curl into a ball and squeeze into the doctor's pocket.
"Doctor, did you sense some danger?" the Fatty asked, his voice trembling. "Ahead of us?"
Immediately—
"Whoosh—" Jiang Cheng exhaled comfortably and said lightly, "Now I'm not worried about ghosts attacking from behind."
The Fatty: "???"
After spending some time with Jiang Cheng, the Fatty felt that his inner self had been greatly trained. This time, he only shuddered for less than a minute before bouncing back into his usual energetic self.
"Doctor," the Fatty, who insisted on walking ahead of Jiang Cheng, turned his head and spoke in a voice that only the two of them could hear, "This Chen Ran is something else."
He paused, then continued, "That Su An weighs at least 200 pounds, and look at him. He's been carrying him for so long, still climbing upwards, and his speed hasn't changed at all."
Jiang Cheng squinted, glancing at the Fatty in surprise, then muttered, "Not only hasn't his speed changed, but his breath hasn't even faltered."
The Fatty swallowed hard, "Doctor, I used to know an expert, and I heard him say there are two types of masters."
"One type is the hard Qigong, focusing on strong and explosive force, able to fight and resist, especially good at taking hits, like Muay Thai."
"The other type focuses on finesse, using strength against strength, with long-lasting breath," he paused, then continued, "I think Chen Ran belongs to the latter type. We'd probably be no match for him if we both went at him together."
Jiang Cheng suddenly stopped, then narrowed his eyes and looked at the Fatty, making the latter feel a chill down his spine.
"Two points," Jiang Cheng slowly raised two fingers and waved them in front of the Fatty's face.
"First, stop reading cheap fiction (TL/N: Ouch!), that stuff is harmful to your brain. Second," Jiang Cheng grunted, "I'm enough to deal with him on my own."
"Doctor, I know you're strong, but... but it's not the same," the Fatty kindly warned. "I think unless it's absolutely necessary, we shouldn't clash with him. If we really get into a fight, we might not come out on top."
"Why would we need a fight?" Jiang Cheng asked, puzzled, as he looked at the Fatty.
The Fatty paused.
"Why not an ambush?" Jiang Cheng retorted. "You distract him, and I'll take the chance to stab his eye, then—" Jiang Cheng raised his right hand, swinging it in a circular motion before bringing it down in a "moon fetch" motion, and then clenched his fist hard.
The Fatty shuddered in sympathy.
Jiang Cheng squinted and sneered, "I'll make his girlfriend cry every night."
The Fatty shut down the conversation with the doctor.
"We've arrived."
Chen Ran, who had been carrying Su An, finally stopped in front of the lighthouse stone room. He turned around and saw that Jiang Cheng and the Fatty had followed.
"Let's all bear witness to what happens next," Chen Ran smiled.
Perhaps due to concern about what was about to unfold, Su Xiaoxiao gestured for Chen Ran to place the unconscious Su An against the wall.
Su An leaned against the wall, his head still hanging low.
"You all go inside," Su Xiaoxiao said without lifting her head, "I'll stay with my brother."
Chen Ran grinned, "That might not be appropriate, Miss Su. Since we're witnessing this, it's best that we all be present," he turned to Jiang Cheng and after a pause, said with a smile, "I believe this is also Brother Hao's intention."
Though his words were polite, even the Fatty could hear the underlying pressure. He looked at the doctor, knowing that the doctor didn't like this kind of tone.
"Chen Ran has a point," Jiang Cheng said naturally, "Miss Su should come with us."
Chen Ran led the way into the stone door, followed by someone helping Su An, and the cold-faced Su Xiaoxiao. The Fatty squeezed in with Jiang Cheng's help, and Jiang Cheng was the last one to enter.
But just as they entered, their expressions changed to varying degrees, especially the Fatty, whose hair stood on end and cold sweat began to bead on his back.
Inside the stone room, no one was there.
Not only was the rock-climber Liang Long missing, but even the psychotic old woman had vanished!
The large stone blocking the square window had been moved aside, and the sea breeze flowed into the room.
Outside the window was a vast, calm blue sea.
The strange occurrence continued. The Fatty's teeth clattered together, making a "click-clack" sound.
A strange aura spread through the stone room, and there was a sense of oppression.
Jiang Cheng stood at the stone door, maintaining a stance that would allow him to leave at any moment.
Only Chen Ran, who had entered first, seemed completely at ease, as if he had returned home. He walked around a rack and moved toward the square window.
There were several baskets behind it, filled with firewood and miscellaneous items.
He placed one hand on a basket lid, gently rubbing it, then turned to look at Jiang Cheng and the others, a disturbing smile forming on his face.
"Now, it's time for everyone to witness what happens next!"
(End of the Chapter)
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Translated 4 Series, 1.65K+ Chapters and 2.01M+ Words.