Evil God 26

Shibaliwu Gorge 2

Four hours later, the plane landed at the Shibaliwu Gorge Airport.

The person waiting for Shen Yu was a black haired man in his forties, dressed in the uniform of the scenic area staff. He was tall and slight of build, with a complexion so pale it lacked any trace of color; he appeared somewhat despondent, as if he had not seen sunlight in a considerable amount of time.

As soon as Chen Yu and the others appeared at the exit, he stepped forward to meet them.

“Captain Duan, Mr. Chen. Thank you for the long journey. My name is Wen Li; Mr. An specifically instructed me to come and pick you up.” His voice was unhurried and gentle. “Mr. Quan had originally intended to come and welcome you as well, but an urgent matter delayed his plans. We will be accompanying the two of you throughout your stay over the next few days.”

As he spoke, Wen Li turned slightly and waved toward the person behind him. “This is our driver, Old Mo.”

The driver was also a middle-aged man; he wore a black suit and sunglasses that obscured half his face. He possessed an imposing physique. Standing beside the tall, slender guide made him look like an iron tower.

Captain Duan’s gaze lingered on the driver in sunglasses for half a second, and he couldn’t help but frown. This man looked familiar. But upon reflection, he couldn’t recall where he might have seen him before.

“Shall we go, Captain Duan?” The guide’s gentle voice interrupted Captain Duan’s thoughts.

He focused his attention and saw that the pale-skinned man was already standing by a six-seater van with its door open. Captain Duan’s frown deepened, but he followed the others into the vehicle.

They received a grand reception. In the days leading up to the official re-opening stolen contentof the Shibaliwu Gorge, many people had already arrived in the scenic area’s town. As they drove from the airport to the hotel, Chen Yu looked out the window and saw the roadside filled with vehicles of all kinds.

Backpackers, photography enthusiasts, and influencers livestreaming with selfie sticks crowded every nearby lane; some had even pitched tents in the scenic area’s plaza, planning to spend the night there just so they could rush in the moment it opened.

The six-seater van weaved through the bustling crowd all the way into the scenic area.

Wen Li explained with a smile, “The scenic area will open on time next Monday. It might get a bit noisy then, so Mr. Quan specifically instructed us to take you on a tour while things are quiet these next few days.”

Chen Yu listened with pursed lips. Xiao Huntun lay on his lap. The baby had become restless ever since entering the scenic area. Chen Yu stroked his back intermittently to soothe him. His eyes were fixed on the passing scenery outside the window, but his thoughts had already wandered far away.

“Tonight we’re staying at a water villa in Luozi Valley. I heard the night view there is beautiful, and the chef is very good at cooking fish and snails. Enjoying dinner while admiring the night view should be a great experience.”

The tour guide chattered on throughout the journey. Even without a response, he didn’t feel embarrassed; instead, he appeared even more gentle, composed, and orderly.

After a dull night, the next morning, Chen Yu and his companions finally began their official tour.

The van was replaced by a sightseeing bus provided by the scenic area. Guide Wen Li sat in front of Captain Duan, the other two team members, and Chen Yu, providing commentary at each scenic spot they passed.

“The Shibaliwu Gorge, as the name suggests, is eighteen miles long, with seventeen lakes of varying sizes scattered along the way. These lakes are alpine lakes, a term used in this area because of their clean, clear water and varied colors. There’s also a legend that these lakes are the eyes of gods left behind on earth.”

His voice was unhurried. He spoke effortlessly about the formation, altitude, and water characteristics of the lakes, occasionally interjecting with a local folktale or two, his descriptions vivid and engaging.

“This scenic area was developed by Kunpeng United Investment– a subsidiary of Sixiang Corporation. It took eight years from the initial survey to completion. The design team traveled across six continents and seventy-two offshore islands. They spent a fortune to create the landscape you see today.”

As Wen Li spoke, he pointed toward a distant, fog-shrouded mountain ridge. “Look at that ridgeline over there. Doesn’t it resemble a dragon lying at rest? Locals say it’s the mountain spirit guarding the lake; it has kept watch here for centuries, never once leaving its post.”

Chen Yu followed the direction of his finger. Yet, his gaze was vacant. He wasn’t admiring the beautiful scenery; instead, he seemed lost in memory.

“Hiss!”

At some point, Xiao Huntun had wriggled free from the blanket and climbed up Chen Yu’s arm; he grabbed a lock of his hair with his tiny fingers and yanked. Chen Yu gasped in pain. He glared at the little evil god. “What are you doing?”

The little evil god glared back and hissed at him.

Wen Li was momentarily taken aback, but he soon smiled. “That child is certainly lively. My son was much the same when he was little, mischievous, a total little terror.”

Chen Yu looked up, surprised. “You have a son?”

“Yes, a son.” A look of resignation crossed Wen Li’s eyes. “He was adorable when he was young, but now that he’s grown up and spread his wings… he insisted on leaving home to chase his dreams. He hasn’t even called in months.”

Wen Li shook his head, seemingly filled with emotion. “You know, as parents, we work so hard to raise them, hoping for nothing more than their safety and the occasional visit home. But the kids don’t appreciate it; they think we old folks are too old-fashioned, and they just up and leave.”

Chen Yu nodded, though he only half-understood the sentiment.

“I tell you, you really have to keep a tight grip on a child from the Read on very beginning.” Wen Li couldn’t help but sigh, yet as he spoke, he squinted at Xiao Huntun. He blinked in a way that seemed to have a deeper meaning.

Just then, the little evil god suddenly extended his small hands and reached toward Wen Li. The movement was swift and agile, like a gecko snatching prey; he pulled Wen Li’s head right over.

Startled, Chen Yu hurriedly grabbed him. “I’m so sorry; he’s not usually like this.”

That wasn’t a lie, the little evil god really didn’t usually behave this way. Normally, he was either sleeping, causing trouble, or biting people– mostly targeting Chen Yu himself –and had never shown such intense interest in a stranger before.

Chen Yu looked apologetically at the guide, but Wen Li simply waved a hand dismissively. “It’s fine. Kids are just like that when they see a new face.”

Throughout the entire exchange, the driver drove in silence, as if he were nothing more than the air around them. He kept his sunglasses on; though his eyes were hidden behind the dark lenses, the thick glass couldn’t mask their sharpness.

When the driver glanced at him through the rearview mirror, Chen Yu felt as though he were being dissected. It was as if the man were angry. Chen Yu frowned.

By then, Wen Li had resumed his commentary: “Up ahead is Xiannu (Fairy) Lake. It’s the deepest of the seventeen lakes here, plunging more than sixty meters down. Look at the shape of the lake, doesn’t it resemble a woman lying on her side? Local legend says this is where a fairy descended from the heavens to bathe, hence the name Xiannu Lake. But the version I prefer is this: it is an eye that a deity dropped into the mortal world.”

Wen Li turned around, glanced at the silent driver, and then cast his gaze toward the distant lake. “Legend has it that in ancient times, the fallen bodies of deities were scattered across this land; their limbs transformed into mountains and rivers, their tears into lakes, and their breath into clouds and mist. Though their bodies eventually decayed, their eyes remained, hidden within these alpine lakes, forever gazing upon the mortal world.”

Wen Li’s voice was calm, much like someone telling a bedtime story. Upon hearing this, Chen Yu felt his heart skip a beat. Xiannu Lake was the very lake where he had once fallen in.

“I want to go down there and walk around.”

The sightseeing bus stopped at the Xiannu Lake platform. Chen Yu held the little evil god and braved the chilly morning mist stolen content and wind. He once again stood in the place that had haunted his dreams. After crossing a flight of stone steps and stepping onto the wooden boardwalk, the fog began to thicken.

Chen Yu remembered this place. More than half a year ago, during a company team-building trip, a tour guide had led a group of over a hundred people– waving a small flag –as they marched forward. Back then, Chen Yu had been jostled in the middle of the crowd; he hadn’t even managed to get a clear look at the lake.

“The stretch of road ahead is where the landslide occurred six months ago.” Wen Li spoke up at just the right moment: “A section of the mountainside came loose and slid down, blocking most of the path. The scenic area was closed for over half a year primarily to reinforce the slope in this section.”

Chen Yu looked toward the mountain on the right; it was covered in layers of a protective netting resembling a giant spiderweb.

“It takes about fifteen minutes to walk from here to Longyan (Dragon Eye) Lake up ahead.” As Wen Li spoke, more fog billowed up from the lake’s surface and enveloped the two of them in a vast whiteness. Chen Yu walked along the boardwalk. He found his pace slowing.

This was the place. That day, he had been walking right here when the wooden planks beneath his feet suddenly began to shake, and a thunderous commotion erupted from behind him. Screams came from all directions; before he could even process what was happening, the wooden plank beneath his feet suddenly tilted.

“Mr. Chen?” Wen Li’s voice brought him back to reality.

Chen Yu found himself standing at a bend in the boardwalk. His left hand gripped the railing and his right arm cradled the little evil god. The baby was watching him quietly.

“I’m fine.” Chen Yu let go of the railing upon realizing he was drenched in a cold sweat.

“Mr. Chen, do you believe in those legends?” Wen Li suddenly asked.

“What?”

“The legends about these alpine lakes.”

Chen Yu turned to look at Wen Li and shook his head.

“There are so many legends circulating in this world, about the fall of the Goddess of the Chaotic Ocean, about the eye in the Shibaliwu Gorge… Sometimes, after hearing so many of them, it’s hard not to feel that perhaps they aren’t entirely false.”

Wen Li’s gaze drifted past the railing toward the churning sea of fog on the lake’s surface. “For instance, what do you think the Twilight Ruins are?”

The question came out of nowhere; Chen Yu’s steps faltered and he looked at the man warily.

Wen Li smiled. “I was sent by Mr. Quan.”

Given that Quan Shigu collected enough sealed artifacts to fill an entire hall for exhibition, it wasn’t surprising that someone in his circle would know about the Twilight Ruins. Yet, something about it felt off to Chen Yu. A man like Wen Li didn’t seem like a servant to the wealthy.

Chen Yu tightened his grip on the little evil god and signaled for the other man to continue.

Wen Li, seemingly oblivious to Chen Yu’s vigilance, continued in a measured tone: “It is said that the shattered limbs of deities, scattered across the Twilight Ruins, gave rise to a chaotic storm that swept through everything. A realm devoid of order or rules, a place of absolute chaos. Yet, at the very heart of this chaotic storm lies a pocket of calm and tranquility. The only place of order forged amidst the chaos. That is the reality in which humanity lives.”

As he spoke, Wen Li raised his hand and pointed toward the expanse of blue water in the distance: “As someone who has survived a plane crash, you should understand better than anyone that the boundary between the Twilight Ruins and our world isn’t as clear-cut as it appears. This Shibaliwu Gorge is the very interface where reality and the Twilight Ruins meet. The fog drifts in from the Twilight Ruins, and these lakes are vistas that do not belong to the mortal realm.”

The more Chen Yu listened, the more his skin crawled; every cell in his body went on high alert. “So?”

Wen Li turned to him with a smile: “So, if one were to successfully awaken the slumbering Chaos God and unleash that [stolen content]disorder upon the real world, the Shibaliwu Gorge would be the perfect breeding ground. That is precisely why the Shibaliwu Gorge was originally designated as a 5s scenic area.”

At these words, Chen Yu’s body tensed. His eyes darted around as he observed the surroundings; at some point, Captain Duan and the man in sunglasses had been swallowed by the thick fog. On the boardwalk where he stood, there was nothing but the two of them.

Chen Yu’s voice turned shrill: “You aren’t a tour guide, nor are you some worldly-wise local; you are–”

Before he could finish, the boardwalk beneath his feet began to shake. Boulders fell down from the mountain peak, the lake water churned like boiling broth, and the very earth began to tremble.

Chen Yu grabbed the railing tightly. His eyes were glued on Wen Li’s movements. Wen Li, however, gazed at him with a look of pity. At the same moment, that familiar, irresistible sensation of weightlessness came from beneath his feet once more.

With a loud splash, icy water engulfed him. Chen Yu tried to swim upward, but the little evil god beside him suddenly let out a piercing wail.

The next instant, freezing water rushed into his nose and mouth, and all sounds dissolved into an underwater drone. After half a year, the Xiannu Lake of the Shibaliwu Gorge had once again swallowed Chen Yu whole.