Zheng Zha swiftly swam to Zhan Lan’s side, enveloping her in his arms and pulling her back toward the shore. The moment their feet touched the sand, he ripped open the collar of her clothes, and her chest, white as jade, sprang free. He took a deep, sharp breath, pressing his hand onto the cool, soft mound, murmuring breath into Zhan Lan’s mouth as he held her chest.
Moments later, Zhan Lan began to cough violently, expelling seawater from her lungs in great spasms. After what felt like an age, she finally stopped, gasping for air. Zheng Zha quickly stripped off his own outer garment and draped it over her, only then allowing a measure of relief to wash over him.
“What happened? Why were you suddenly swimming out there—no, not swimming, you’re still in your nightclothes. What on earth occurred? Why were you drowning?” Zheng Zha asked, sitting up on the beach, bewildered.
Zhan Lan coughed a few more times, then spoke in a raspy voice. “I don’t know what happened. I was sleeping soundly, and then suddenly I stood up. It felt as if my body had a will of its own; I walked downstairs, out of the hotel, and just kept moving toward the beach. I was absolutely terrified. All I could do was keep calling your name in my head… I wonder if enhancing my mental fortitude actually granted me some form of telepathy. I felt your presence, and then… I knew nothing else.” Zheng Zha offered a wry smile and began to think seriously. After a long pause, he spoke with bitterness. “I can think of two possibilities. First, the curse from the Ju-On situation isn't over, and a spirit might have possessed you. That's unlikely, though, because the curse should have been completely purged once we returned to the ‘Main God’ space. The second possibility is… someone among us wants you dead. It’s because your enhanced mental state picked up on something being wrong with that person, and the method they used to kill you was…”
“Hypnosis!” Zheng Zha and Zhan Lan spoke the word simultaneously. Zheng Zha sighed. “If that’s the case, it explains why you suddenly appeared in the hotel during the Ju-On mission, even though the protective talisman didn't burn. What moved you wasn't a Ju-On spirit, but human intervention… If we combine that with the timing of your mental enhancement and look for the person with the most drastic change in demeanor before and after… besides Chu Xuan, the only one I can think of is Zhang Jie.”
Zhan Lan also sighed heavily. “Yes, the person I was thinking of is Zhang Jie. Ever since I enhanced my mental fortitude, standing near him always gives me a vague sense of pressure, as if he possesses formidable mental strength. But if he has such power, why didn't he tell us? I also remember when we first met him—this man gave us a feeling of immense capability and strength. Yet, subsequently, he gradually hid himself in the shadow of your brilliance. Why? I’ve thought it over and over, and I can only arrive at one answer.”
“He wants to occupy the safest position possible… Rather than exposing his power and taking on responsibility, it’s better to remain hidden beneath the aura of the strong. He doesn't want to be the one to stick his neck out; he wants to preserve his strength and grow ever more powerful… Once people realize he is holding back, killing anyone who threatens that lie becomes his only logical option,” Zheng Zha said after a moment of silence. “Do you have any proof?” Zhan Lan gave a bitter laugh. “No, I have no proof whatsoever. This is all just my deduction… In fact, after breaking up with you, I went back to my room and haven't left since. Unless Zhang Jie managed to hypnotize me during the day yesterday, I wouldn’t believe he possessed long-range hypnotic abilities. That sounds completely unbelievable… Zheng Zha, does what I’m saying sound like I’m trying to sow discord?” Zheng Zha recalled the scene when he first met Zhang Jie: the lit cigarette, the tacit understanding of facing life and death together, the tables laden with delicious food, and Zhang Jie’s hearty laughter… Could all of that have been a lie? “Until there is concrete evidence, I absolutely will not suspect anyone carelessly. But I will announce that you were attacked. Whether it was him or not, this will make him hesitate to strike you again anytime soon. For the next few days, you stay with me and Li’er… If it truly is him, I will personally kill him!” That noon, when everyone gathered, Zheng Zha mentioned Zhan Lan’s assault. Everyone reacted with visible shock. Of course, Zheng Zha omitted their private deductions, only vaguely mentioning that the Ju-On spirits might be responsible. While speaking, he watched Zhang Jie’s reaction intently. The man behaved exactly as usual, constantly asking Zhan Lan for details of the attack and loudly offering comfort.
(It couldn't be you, could it? Someone so forthright and sincere… Could it really be as she suggested—hiding his power just to survive, then eliminating anyone who knows his secret? For you, is surviving more important than anything else?) Because of Zhan Lan's attack, the group reluctantly cut short their recreational trip and reverted to the setup they used during the previous Ju-On horror film: everyone stayed in the same suite, and members were assigned shifts to stand guard. While allocating personnel, Zheng Zha was subtly calculating; he paired himself with Zhang Jie for one shift, while pairing Zhan Lan with Zhao Yingkong for another.
The following few days passed without any further incidents. When the group finally returned to the ‘Main God’ space on the fifth day, the anticipated Ju-On attack never materialized. While a wave of relief washed over Zheng Zha, a shadow also settled in his heart. Was Zhang Jie truly a man who would stop at nothing, even sacrificing his companions, merely to stay alive? Because of Xia Weiyi’s disappointing travel plans, the following nine days were spent entirely without relaxation—only training. Ling Dian instructed everyone in the use of firearms, while Zhao Yingkong taught close-quarters combat techniques. Zhang Jie, however, remained utterly unremarkable. Apart from his boisterous laughter, he seemed like a novice, just like Qi Tengyi, constantly learning the combat skills taught by the other two. He even approached Zheng Zha to ask for pointers on unlocking the second layer of the Gene Lock.
Time continued to slip away. Zheng Zha pushed aside the doubt nagging at him and focused intently on training his vampire skills and the second stage of his Gene Lock. Nine days passed… And as the pillar of light descended from the ‘Main God,’ the majestic and deep voice echoed once more.
“Enter the light pillar within thirty seconds. Target lock transferred. The Mummy begins transmission…” (Gold controls the power of life! Black commands the terror of death! As the two teams clash in the tomb of the pyramid, life and death fiercely battle here! The victor shall possess the golden power and the black terror… Look forward to the fourth installment: The Mummy: The Treasure of the Pharaoh!)—(Recommendation: Legend of the Reincarnator, Book ID: 112273) Click to view image link: cmfu/smenhu.cn?Bl_id=112273 Legend of the Reincarnator Jump to