Chapter 8 (1/2)

Chapter 8

As Tang Shan walked past the third intersection, he crossed paths with Jake who was patrolling the area.

”Tang Shan, where are you going this late?” Jake greeted him as he approached. It was extremely unusual that he wasn't making fun of him and instead, actually quickened his footsteps to catch up to him.

Tang Shan intended to reply, but as the wheels in his mind began to turn, he sighed. ”Yuanyu asked you to come, right?”

Jake gave a sheepish laugh and did not deny that statement.

”Can he just stop worrying about me?” Tang Shan was slightly frustrated by Li Yuanyu's efforts.

”Don't flare up at me; tell him yourself.” Jake blocked his ears, unwilling to hear Tang Shan's complaints. Instead, he spoke up for Li Yuanyu. ”It's not like you don't know how complicated the roads are in this city. A foreigner like you is bound to get lost, and it's not unusual that you might not even be able to find your way back at all!”

Tang Shan, who had gotten a bird's eye view of the city, was definitely aware that Jake wasn't merely trying to scare him. Though he was planning on just strolling along the exterior of the city, he still allowed Jake to come along for his own safety.

The main reason why he had Jake follow him was because having a conversational partner was much better than sulking alone, though there was not much they had in common in the first place.

”So what did you fight over this time?” Jake asked.

”Nothing, really. I just had something I need to sort out.”

Jake didn't pursue this any further and the conversation ended.

They didn't see eye to eye in the first place, though it wasn't to the point that they were enemies. However, they still weren't comfortable enough to have a pleasant conversation.

After strolling for around thirty minutes, Tang Shan still didn't look as if he had any plans of stopping any time soon. Jake couldn't help but ask, ”Hey, how long are you planning to walk for?”

”Till the end of time.”

Jake spat out a curse.

Tang Shan chuckled at that. ”I'm joking. I actually want to get to the villa.”

”But that's at the other end of the town!” Jake cried out in misery.

”You don't have to follow me, I won't tell on you to Li Yuanyu.”

”No! This is my duty! What are you planning to do in the villa? Don't tell me you just want to reminisce there.”

”Can't I?”

Tang Shan's response stunned Jake for a moment, and all he could do was glare at him wordlessly.

On the way to the villa, the two of them remained speechless.

The thing that broke the silence was an explosion a few streets away from them.

”Boom!” Red sparks flew and a large portion of the district was instantly covered by dense, black smoke. The gla.s.s in the surrounding residences and shops all shattered from the impact. The sounds of confusion gradually increased in volume, and they could clearly hear people shouting and screaming.

Jake's walkie-talkie bleeped, notifying him that the culprit responsible for the explosion was nearby and requested that he a.s.sist in the capture.

”What the h.e.l.l!” Jake suddenly pointed at Tang Shan. ”You! Get back to the house. I need to do my job, and I don't have the time to take care of you!”

”But judging by the distance now, the villa is closer-”

”Then go to the villa! Don't bother me with trivial issues! Leave! Run!” Jake pressed and then rushed towards the site of the crime without looking back.

It really wasn't a situation where Tang Shan could follow the policeman to satisfy his curiosity, and he stared at the direction where Jake disappeared. Not too long later, there was another explosion, and he clapped his hands to his ears. His ears ringing, he finally began das.h.i.+ng in the direction of the villa.

After escaping to the villa, Tang Shan made use of his memories and found the key that was hidden in the bonsai outside. He entered the house and went to the second floor, concerned but confined to the safety of the house. He looked out from a window, taking note of what was happening within the town.

Soon, a female officer came knocking, and Tang Shan quickly went downstairs and answered the door.

”Mr Tang Shan.”

”How's the situation out there?”

”We have it under control, so please don't worry. Mr Li sent me here to inform you that you are to stay in the villa tonight. Mr Tang Shan, I need to emphasize this once more – please don't leave the house tonight!”

Her stern warnings made it seem as if something big was happening.

”It's getting late now. You should get some rest. I still have to meet with the others, so I'll take my leave.”

The female officer finished her report and left after bidding him farewell.

Tang Shan returned to the second floor and continued monitoring the situation outside. It was much too far, however, and he couldn't see much. There wasn't a television that could give him live coverage of the incident either, and he was in no mood to sleep yet.

Or at least, that's what he thought. In the end, Tang Shan was exhausted and finally fell asleep by the window wrapped in a blanket.

”Hahahaha, haha, hahahahahaha-”

There seemed to be the constant sound of children's laughter in his dreams.

Tang Shan woke up, the sound of laughter still resounding in his ears. No, those giggles really did exist. He climbed up and gazed out of the window, to the sight of a few children dancing excitedly as they headed towards the other end of the town.

He turned to look at the wall clock behind him, only to find that it was two in the morning. Why were there children hanging around outside at this time? Furthermore, there had been a huge commotion not long ago; it was far too dangerous!

Worried, Tang Shan left the villa and chased after the children.

”Hey! You guys! Wait!”

He shouted at the top of his lungs, and the children suddenly turned around, their laughter halting.

Tang Shan was unnerved by their stares. As he was still a distance away from them and couldn't see the expressions on their face, the atmosphere was terrifying and bizarre at the same time.

”You guys-” Tang Shan started.

One of the children began to chuckle once more, and like a chain reaction, all the children began to laugh along. They ignored him and advanced forward cheerily.

”Hey!” Tang Shan wanted to stop them, but they picked up speed and he had to jog a little to catch up to them. In the end, even he forgot why he wanted them to halt and only mindlessly trailed after them.

The children slowed their footsteps as they approached the square, their presumed target. In front of them were even more children in a circle, all of whom were prancing and grinning cheekily.

Tang Shan got closer and realised that n.o.body was paying him the slightest attention. He bent down to examine the child who was closest to him, and couldn't help but feel that this face was unexplainably familiar. He racked his brain for any answers – where had he seen that face before?

Ah!

He remembered now.  A quick look around at the faces of the children, and he was so stunned that he stumbled onto his behind. He could not believe his own eyes.

These “children” were the ceramic dolls that every family in the town possessed!

”Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha-”

The dolls gathered in the middle of the square while they filled the area with their hearty laughter.

It sent chills down his spine.

Then abruptly the laughter stopped. A person walked to the middle of the square wearing a black cloak and a hat, seeming to merge with the darkness of the night. It was impossible to tell who it was.

Next, the female officer who had greeted him earlier that night appeared. She was holding onto a thick rope, the other end of which was tied around a man's neck. His eyes were covered by a black cloth, and his body was bounded so tightly that it seemed impossible to move. The female officer led him forward and stopped in front of the cloaked man.

Another person brought a chair over from the opposite side – Jake. He tried to get the man to sit, but he disobeyed and desperately tried to resist. The female officer punched him until he was dizzy and forced him into the seat. Meanwhile, Jake took the opportunity to tie him down to the chair.

The man moaned pitifully.

Tang Shan recognised the man who had been captured as one of Marie's suitors who often stalked her while she went out to buy groceries. Occasionally, he'd buy her some flowers, and even though he was a stalker, he'd never gone overboard before. In general, he was still a good man.

”Verdict.”

The man in the black cloak finally spoke. His words were lost in the raging wind, and Tang Shan couldn't hear him properly for a moment.

”You are guilty.”

The wind whisked away the dark clouds, and moonlight streamed down, centering on the criminal. Tang Shan saw white smoke emitting from the man.

”Marie! Marie! Give Marie back to me!”

Ahh!

Tang Shan had to cover his mouth to prevent any sounds from escaping. The man's body actually began to combust with bluish flames. It was horrifyingly beautiful.

”You are guilty.”

The judge, in his resolute voice, declared him guilty with no hesitation. All of the witnesses watched on coldly as the man burnt to ashes.

Tang Shan suddenly understood, after observing this event. This man liked Marie enough to wreck the town and had to pay the price – but what had happened to Marie?

He could more or less guess who the judge was. No one else fit the role better.

Li Yuanyu.

But why?

”Who’s there?!”

The judge suddenly discovered him – Li Yuanyu found him – and all eyes landed on him, even the ceramic dolls.  They grabbed onto him and pulled him out from the crowd and into the middle of the square.

”Tang Shan!” Jake and the female officer simultaneously gasped, looking guilty.

He shouldn't be here.

Tang Shan didn't look at them and trained his gaze on Li Yuanyu.

They were so close, and he was absolutely sure that the judge was Li Yuanyu.

Li Yuanyu did not look stunned at being discovered, and instead answered with a firm look.

”Tang Shan.”

”What happened to Marie?”

”Tang Shan, come here.”

Tang Shan stood close to the chair, rooted in the spot as he glared at Li Yuanyu.

”What did you do to Marie?”

In his agitation, Tang Shan exposed himself under the moonlight. Instantly, he could feel the heat enveloping him. He could see white smoke coming from all over his body. He, too, was going to be burnt to ashes. The fear of death encompa.s.sed his body, and he was paralysed.

”Tang Shan!”

He was suddenly covered in darkness as Li Yuanyu used his cloak to s.h.i.+eld him, dragging him away from the moonlight. Tang Shan's emotional and physical state was unable to withstand much more and he soon fainted.

That was just the start of his nightmare.

It was a living h.e.l.l.

n.o.body would tell him what had happened to Marie, but he could guess the answer. It definitely wasn't the first time that a trial like this was held. There was too much happening in this town that couldn't be comprehended with common sense.

Ceramic dolls that came to life, people who spontaneously combusted, a town with no way of leaving, the rain that seemed to change depending on Li Yuanyu’s mood, and the rareness of sun... None of this could be explained with science.

He couldn't stay in this G.o.dforsaken place any longer. It was terrifying!

”I want to go home.”

This wasn't where he belonged. He wanted to return home.

”I’m begging you. Let me go.”

It was scary here. Li Yuanyu was scary.

Tang Shan cried silently, the state of his body and mind quickly deteriorating.

But Li Yuanyu still loved him, and no matter how many tantrums Tang Shan threw, he'd still stay by his side and take care of him.

But that wasn't what he wanted at all. He didn't want to deal with Li Yuanyu's love for him; all he felt was fear.

Li Yuanyu could tolerate Tang Shan's indifference, fear and anger, but he couldn't watch him get weaker day by day.