Victor Hart had planned to spend his first few nights in Hong Kong simply observing, blending in, and adjusting to the strange rhythms of the city. Unfortunately, the city had other plans. By the second night, the bustling streets near his hotel had grown eerily quiet. Rumors of people disappearing near the Temple Street Night Market began to circulate, leaving Victor with an uncomfortable itch of curiosity he couldn't ignore.
Sitting by the window in his dimly lit hotel room, Victor swirled a glass of synthetic blood. The crimson liquid was a poor imitation of the real thing, lacking its warmth and vitality, but it kept the hunger at bay. He stared out at the city lights, their incessant flickering reflecting the unease in his mind. Master Zhang's cryptic warning about shadows wouldn't leave him, and the whispers of danger prowling the streets tugged at instincts he thought long buried.
A sudden buzz jolted him from his thoughts. Victor glared at the infernal smartphone Leo had insisted he carry, fumbling with its touchscreen until the message appeared.
Leo: You still near Temple Street? Something weird's happening. Meet me by the noodle stand.
Victor sighed, downed the last of his drink, and grabbed his coat. Whatever this city had in store, he would face it on his terms.
Victor found Leo pacing nervously near the noodle stand where they had first met. The normally excitable researcher was uncharacteristically tense, clutching a bulging backpack. His eyes darted around the market like a man expecting trouble.
"What's the matter, Leo?" Victor asked, his voice light but his gaze sharp.
"It's bad," Leo said in a hushed tone. "There's been… sightings. People are saying the jiangshi are back."
Victor raised an eyebrow. "The hopping zombies?"
"Yeah," Leo said, glancing around as though the creatures might leap out of the shadows. "It's probably just superstition, but…" He hesitated before unzipping his backpack to reveal talismans, incense sticks, and a few small vials of murky liquid. "If it's not, I'd rather be prepared."
Victor let out a low chuckle. "A bit theatrical, don't you think?"
"Theatrical is staying alive in style," Leo shot back, his nerves clearly frayed but his sarcasm intact.
Before Victor could reply, a piercing scream cut through the humid night air. Both men froze for a moment before exchanging a glance. Against his better judgment, Victor gestured for Leo to follow and headed toward the sound.
They found the source in a dimly lit alley—a young man sprawled on the ground, trembling with terror. His face was deathly pale, and his eyes darted wildly as though he expected the shadows to swallow him whole.
"It… it came out of nowhere," he stammered. "Hopping… on two feet."
Victor crouched beside him, his sharp gaze scanning the man for injuries. "Did it harm you?"
The man shook his head violently. "No, but it chased me. It's still here."
Leo fumbled to light an incense stick, the pungent aroma wafting into the air. His hands trembled slightly as he muttered, "Okay, this is officially not normal."
A sound interrupted them—a faint, rhythmic shuffle from deeper in the alley. Victor rose smoothly to his feet, his senses tingling. In the dim glow of a flickering streetlamp, a figure emerged from the shadows.
The jiangshi was a grotesque sight, its stiff limbs moving in disjointed hops. Its face was ghastly pale, with lifeless eyes that seemed to peer through the living. A yellow talisman was affixed to its forehead, fluttering slightly with each jerky movement. The air around it pulsed faintly with supernatural energy.
Victor felt a surge of instinctual wariness and curiosity. The creature was unlike anything he had encountered, yet its presence stirred his predatory nature.
"Stay back," Leo hissed, thrusting a talisman toward the jiangshi. The creature hesitated, its jerky movements faltering for a moment. But then, as if provoked, it began to advance, its steps faster and more erratic.
"It's not going to stop," Victor said, his voice calm but edged with authority. "We need to neutralize it."
"With what?" Leo yelped, clutching his bag of trinkets.
Victor didn't answer. Moving with preternatural speed, he dodged the creature's wild swings and maneuvered behind it. With one sharp motion, he tore the talisman from its forehead. The jiangshi froze, its limbs stiffening as if locked in place, before collapsing to the ground in a heap.
Victor straightened his coat and turned to find Leo staring at him, wide-eyed. "What the hell are you?"
Victor offered a tight-lipped smile. "Resourceful."
Before Leo could press further, a new presence made itself known. Master Zhang strode into the alley, his expression a mixture of relief and concern. His eyes swept over the lifeless jiangshi, and he muttered something under his breath before looking up at Victor and Leo.
"This is no accident," Zhang said grimly. "Someone's meddling with forces they don't understand."
Victor crossed his arms, his sharp gaze fixed on the priest. "Any idea who?"
Zhang shook his head, his brow furrowed. "Not yet. But this is only the beginning. More will come."
The priest began an incantation, scattering a fine powder over the fallen jiangshi. The creature's remains dissolved into ash, leaving no trace of its presence. Victor watched silently, his mind racing. He had come to Hong Kong to escape complications, not to dive headfirst into them. Yet here he was, standing in an alley with a Taoist priest, a frightened researcher, and the ashes of a supernatural foe.
As the three walked back toward the street, the weight of Zhang's words lingered in the air. This wasn't random, and Victor's instincts told him it was only a matter of time before the source of the disturbance revealed itself. Whether it was curiosity or some deeper instinct driving him, Victor knew he couldn't ignore the shadows gathering in this city.
Leo broke the silence, his voice tinged with unease. "So… what do we do now?"
Victor glanced at him, his tone even but firm. "You go home, Leo. This isn't your fight."
"Not my fight?" Leo shot back, his nerves momentarily giving way to indignation. "That thing almost killed someone. What makes you think I can just walk away?"
"Because you're not equipped to handle this," Victor said, his voice cutting through the tension. "This isn't a movie. It's dangerous, and it's going to get worse."
Leo hesitated, the fear and determination warring on his face. Finally, he exhaled sharply. "Then I'll get equipped. You'll need help, and you know it."
Master Zhang interjected, his tone measured. "The young man has a point. If more jiangshi arise, the city will be at risk. You cannot face this alone, Mr. Hart."
Victor's eyes flicked between them, his jaw tightening. He hated complications, but even he couldn't deny the logic. Finally, he gave a reluctant nod. "Fine. But if you're coming along, you'll follow my lead. Understood?"
Leo nodded eagerly, while Zhang simply inclined his head. As they stepped back into the bustling streets, Victor couldn't shake the feeling that his escape to Hong Kong was spiraling into something far more dangerous than he had anticipated. Whatever shadows were rising in the city, they had his full attention now.