Translator: Cinder Translations
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It was certain they would have to go down. Whether the newcomers were enemies or allies, the space inside the building was enough for them to manoeuvre for a while. However, being trapped inside the lighthouse was another matter altogether, since there was only one stone staircase leading up here.
If they controlled the staircase, they would be trapped like caged animals, waiting for slaughter.
Chen Ran's reckless gaze scanned the group, a barely noticeable smile forming on his lips.
"We'll stay," Su Xiaoxiao said directly.
When she said "we," she was referring to herself and her brother, Su An. She was well aware that, given her brother's current physical condition, he couldn't handle any more strain. Besides, no one knew what would happen once they went down.
After Su Xiaoxiao agreed to stay, Liang Long's eyes brightened slightly.
According to the people from Blackstone Town, the reason things had turned out like this was because of a curse, and the way to break the curse was to ensure the flame in the lighthouse kept burning.
Uncertain whether the people from Blackstone Town were lying, everyone still chose to temporarily believe them, so someone needed to stay behind to guard the flame.
This was crucial.
After helping Su Xiaoxiao move Su An to the corner, Chen Ran was the first to leave the room, followed by Jiang Cheng and the Fatty. Liang Long was the last one to get up.
She glanced at the old woman in the basket before running off with some difficulty.
Though the old woman hadn't done anything to her while they were alone, she felt terrified for no reason. She clearly hadn't seen anything or heard anything, but the fear was irrational.
She swallowed instinctively as she walked down the staircase, her thoughts racing, and her pace quickened.
When they reached the spacious first floor, the group holding torches had also arrived, and the two groups exchanged glances through the window.
The leader of the other group was still the blonde man.
However, this time, the group from Blackstone Town had grown significantly, with at least a few dozen people.
Under the light of the torches, they gathered together, with spears and similar weapons tucked into their shoulders and the skin pouches on their backs, their weapons gleaming with cold light.
Liang Long had an ominous premonition.
The blonde man's gaze lingered over the group for a while before he sighed and said, "It seems you've encountered some problems and lost some men."
"Yes," Chen Ran nodded.
The Fatty didn't dare get too close to the window. He could only peek through the gaps at the city lights on the sea, which, though brilliant, were shrouded in a thin mist, giving an unreal impression.
He opened his mouth and timidly asked, "What's with that black fog? Why is the night here so full of black mist?"
Before he could finish, the blonde man turned his gaze towards him and said, "This isn't the place to talk. Please come with us to Blackstone Town."
"We haven't had contact with outsiders for a long time," the blonde man smiled wryly. "The people in the town will be very happy to see you."
Chen Ran narrowed his eyes, watching the blonde man. After a long pause, he nodded, "Fine."
The Fatty was stunned.
How could they agree to such a request?!
They hadn't even figured out the truth about the people in Blackstone Town, yet they were going along with it. Wasn't this a trap?
Liang Long, who shared similar thoughts, now seemed more cautious than the Fatty. Perhaps she still suspected that Chen Ran was testing her, just like he had before.
Both of them put their final hope in Jiang Cheng, but what they didn't expect was...
"Then we'll trouble you," Jiang Cheng nodded at the blonde man.
As they walked toward Blackstone Town, the Fatty's mind was still buzzing. He couldn't understand why the doctor would agree to such a request.
Had he discovered something?
Liang Long hadn't followed. She firmly refused, saying she would wait for their return, calling it "looking for clues."
The Fatty thought the same but couldn't stop worrying about the doctor. He reluctantly agreed.
Walking toward Blackstone Town, the Fatty gained a deeper understanding of the strangeness of this world. The waves by their sides splashed, yet the road beneath their feet was pure black.
The road was about 3 or 4 meters wide and twisted toward the sea city.
What they had seen through the lighthouse window wasn't people from Blackstone Town walking on the sea but on this eerie road.
Walking on it, the Fatty had the strange feeling that he might sink at any moment, though nothing happened. He kept his head down, walking and observing, noticing that this black road seemed to have a connection to the overwhelming black mist.
"Doctor," the Fatty whispered, sneaking up beside him when no one was paying attention. "What are you thinking? How could you agree to come here with them?"
"Something..." He looked around, his throat tightening. "Something feels wrong. I suspect Chen Ran and the people from Blackstone Town have set up a trap for us."
Jiang Cheng squinted, seemingly surveying his surroundings without paying attention to the Fatty, but his voice still reached him. "Don't you think it's strange?" Jiang Cheng asked. "A whole island, and yet there's no food or water?"
The Fatty had thought about this before but couldn't make sense of it.
Normally, with the sea and forests, they should never have reached the point of starving or dying of thirst.
But this world... somehow made it happen.
The Fatty's pupils contracted. "Doctor, you mean coming here is part of the task's basic setup, a necessary step?"
He paused, then continued, "Limiting our food and water supply was to force us to come to Blackstone Town. There's an important clue here!"
Jiang Cheng nodded, his tone turning serious. "We've held out for more than a day. How much longer we can last, I'm not sure. But rather than die holding on, it's better to go while we still have the strength."
"Also..." Jiang Cheng lowered his voice, glancing around to make sure no one was paying attention before continuing, "Do you think they'll let us go easily if we don't come today?"
The Fatty's eyes widened.
"Look at their numbers, and the weapons they carry," Jiang Cheng said. "Do they seem like they're here to invite us as guests?"
Everyone in their group was big and muscular, most dressed in leather clothes, and the quality wasn't what they had seen before. Their muscles, exposed under the leather, were rugged and strong, and their towering figures were intimidating.
The Fatty nervously swallowed.
These people didn't seem like peaceful hosts; they looked like raiders from the mountains, and the battle strength was off the charts.
"We've arrived," the blonde man suddenly stopped. The city in front of them was bathed in flames.
(End of the Chapter)
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Translated 4 Series, 1.65K+ Chapters and 2.01M+ Words.