Chapter 19

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Xia Lingze had never left the mountains before; the farthest he had ever been was a market a few kilometers from Guiyi Village, and even there, the surrounding scenery was still encircled by towering peaks. He had never seen any grand or lavish buildings.

So when the sedan chair stopped and Qin Jinwa told him to get down, he obediently lifted the curtain and stepped out of the bridal sedan. The opulent decor of the hotel lobby before his eyes made him exclaim, “Wow!” Excited, he was about to turn to Qin Jinwa to say something, but the paper figurines carrying the sedan seemed to have wheels of fire under their feet, darting away at lightning speed. In the blink of an eye, they had rushed into the hotel lobby, collided with the wall, and vanished.

Xia Lingze was already accustomed to such magical scenes and felt no surprise. At that moment, the only question in his mind was: Why did Sister Qin suddenly let me down? Have we arrived? I don’t see anyone!

The magnificent hotel lobby was empty, including the front desk — clearly an abnormal situation.

However, Xia Lingze was not aware of this; compared to the absence of staff, he was more concerned about why Qin Jinwa had left him behind. After some thought, maybe she was afraid he would get into a fight with the groom?

Sigh, he wasn’t that violent. At most, he would reason with the groom; Sister Qin was overthinking.

Regardless of whether Xia Lingze was right or wrong, even if the situation was as he imagined, a normal person would certainly feel upset, but Xia Lingze’s unconventional mindset didn’t make him feel disrespected at all.

In some ways, it even reflected his trust in Qin Jinwa.

***

The banquet hall.

Guests showed discomfort as an icy chill swept through the room.

The Qin and He families, as hosts, called over the waitstaff to inquire about the situation.

The waiters were puzzled but assumed it was due to a malfunction of the central air conditioning or an accidental adjustment. They didn’t think much of it and apologized, promising to resolve it immediately.

At that moment, a figure nimbly leapt onto the stage, snatched the microphone from the host, and said, “Everyone, please remain calm. I am an officer from the National Supernatural Security and Order Special Affairs Bureau.” He then pulled out an ID badge from his pocket and held it up with one hand, making sure the crowd could see it clearly, so they would believe his identity and not resist his instructions.

“National Security?!” A wave of murmurs spread instantly.

But this “National Security” was different from the usual one, although both shared the same abbreviation. The former dealt with supernatural incidents.

Some people had already sensed something was wrong; for someone from “National Security” to appear suddenly and announce their identity was a very bad omen.

Could it be...?

Recalling the recent government announcement that the supernatural zone could actively draw people in, some faces went pale instantly.

Others hadn’t quite realized the gravity yet.

The young man with a wolf-tail hairstyle, whose name on the ID read Lou Yingqian, paused briefly, then continued: “For reasons unknown, we are currently trapped in a supernatural zone. Each person’s ‘pathway’ is different. I will do my utmost to protect you and help you leave this zone.”

Though he said this, Lou Yingqian knew very well they were most likely doomed.

— Except for him, everyone present was an ordinary person without special training. Regardless of their status or wealth, even worth billions, they were all equal here.

Moreover, this was a super S-level supernatural zone—more dangerous than an S-level, unheard of.

What made it worse was that he hadn’t brought any supernatural tools. Because such tools were precious, their use required reports and approvals, a complicated and demanding process. No one carried them casually, and even if they wanted to, approval wasn’t guaranteed... Honestly, he was the unluckiest chosen one. He came out for a banquet and ended up caught in a spontaneously generated super S-level supernatural zone.

Perhaps it was his name’s fault — Yingqian means “winning money.” Whether buying lottery tickets, playing mahjong, or poker, he had never won, and misfortune plagued both major and minor matters in his life. But maybe there was some law of conservation of luck in the world, because whenever his life was in danger, Lou Yingqian somehow managed to survive through a series of coincidences.

“Supernatural zone!”

“Oh my god, does that mean we’re trapped?”

Panic spread like a tide among the crowd.

Lou Yingqian raised his voice to calm everyone down. Panic wouldn’t help; the more anxious they were, the more problems would arise. Before the threat of death fully descended, they should follow their instincts to sense their own pathways.

What he said was true, and everyone understood it.

Unfortunately, there were too many people. Nearly two hundred guests had been invited to the wedding, and large crowds easily transmitted emotions. Lou Yingqian’s throat was hoarse from shouting, but the crowd wouldn’t quiet down.

Perhaps his slovenly appearance didn’t help; since no one really knew him, they had no reason to trust him.

Lou Yingqian sighed inwardly. He shouldn’t have accepted He Yushuo’s invitation. He and He Yushuo were college classmates but not close. He had come with the mindset to enjoy a good meal and had already given a thousand yuan as a gift. Now, no feast and possibly losing his life; worst of all, when he tried to help, no one listened.

If only the team leader were here.

He recalled the leader’s resolute face and the commanding aura that made people obey without anger. There was a reason he was the leader.

“Brother He, I’m scared.”

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“Don’t be afraid.”

Nearby, he heard the couple speaking. Lou Yingqian looked back to see He Yushuo holding the petite bride protectively. The bride wept quietly, her tears flowing like a weeping willow, evoking pity.

They seemed to be a deeply loving couple that others envied.

Unfortunately, they were probably doomed.

Lou Yingqian’s mood grew heavier.

Hmm...?

Just as he was about to look away, Lou Yingqian noticed something: a faint red glow subtly flowing around the bride’s ring.

Frowning, he strode over to the couple and roughly grabbed the bride’s right hand, holding it up to examine the ring closely.

“Ah! What are you doing!” The bride was startled and snapped angrily.

The groom’s expression changed as he saw Lou’s scrutiny of the ring. He covered the bride’s hand and the ring with his own, displeased: “Lou Yingqian, what are you doing?”

“That ring isn’t right!” Lou snapped back, “I suspect—”

Before he could finish, He Yushuo interrupted with a dark expression, “Mind your manners. Men and women have boundaries.”

Lou almost laughed in frustration but understood the groom’s possessiveness, especially for a newlywed couple. He was about to patiently explain when He Yushuo forcefully pried his hand away and led Qin Yijue away.

The host looked helplessly between the departing couple and the sullen Lou Yingqian, eventually choosing to side with Lou.

Money was important, but life was more so! If it meant getting fired, so be it — better to save the life first.

“Um... brother, what do we do now?”

Lou Yingqian didn’t answer. His gaze followed He Yushuo and saw him disappear into the crowd with the bride.

Something felt off.

Lou squinted, a thought beginning to form.

At that moment, the host grew anxious from the lack of response, approached Lou, and tried to grab his attention: “Brother, just tell me once, I won’t say twice—”

Just as the host blocked his view, Lou’s unease and suspicion peaked. He hurried around him to look back toward where He Yushuo had been — his suspicion was confirmed: they were gone.

...Not here, nor there.

This was bad.

Lou recalled the flash of red light on the bride’s ring and the groom’s strange behavior... anyone who didn’t suspect He Yushuo was foolish.

***

Elsewhere.

Taking advantage of the distraction, He Yushuo hurriedly led Qin Yijue out of the banquet hall. She struggled in her high heels and pleaded, “Brother He, slow down.”

“We need to get somewhere safe. Just hold on,” He Yushuo said absentmindedly, not slowing his pace at all.

“But that man said we’re in a supernatural zone... isn’t it safer where there are more people?” Qin Yijue’s voice faded as her expression shifted.

She sensed something.

Looking at the handsome profile and tense jawline of the man ahead of her, Qin Yijue tugged hard on her hand but couldn’t pull free.

“Brother He, let’s go back,” her instinct screamed in alarm. Suddenly, the man before her felt terrifying.

“Yijue, didn’t you say you loved me? That you’d die for me?” He Yushuo said calmly without turning back.

She had said that and acted on it—to compete with Qin Jinwa for him. Her parents had been horrified by her suicide attempt, begging Qin Jinwa and He Yushuo to break up, sparking Qin Jinwa’s first runaway from home.

“Brother He, what’s wrong?” Qin Yijue asked anxiously.

He said nothing, dragging her into the elevator, pressing the button for the top floor. Then he turned and climbed the stairwell.

Normally, the rooftop door was locked, but for some unknown reason, it was open today. He pushed it open and pulled Qin Yijue, whose eyes were red from fear, onto the rooftop.

The first thing they saw were two huge water tanks made of metal, coated in rust-preventive paint with a deep gray hue. The rusty wire mesh meant to keep people from entering had long since corroded, turning a dark red like dried blood.

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“Brother He, what are you doing!” Qin Yijue’s voice was trembling with terror.

He Yushuo still didn’t answer, dragging her toward the edge of the rooftop.

...

So dark.

That was Qin Yijue’s first reaction.

The hotel was in the bustling part of the city. Even at night, it was brightly lit, sometimes as bright as day at midnight.

Yet all she saw was pitch black, nothing visible. Perhaps a psychological effect, even the moonlight seemed pale and eerie. The hotel was the only visible object in this dark space.

Suddenly, a sharp pain flared from the finger wearing the ring.

Qin Yijue was truly frightened, sobbing incoherently, “Brother He, I’m sorry... my hand hurts so much!”

He gently wiped her tears away. “It won’t hurt for long, Jinwa.”

Her sobs caught briefly as she forced out, “Brother He, I’m not the sister. The sister is already dead.”

“Stop talking nonsense,” He Yushuo said, lifting her bodily and seating her against the concrete wall.

“We’ll see her again soon.”

His gaze was so tender it could drown a person, yet Qin Yijue felt a bone-chilling cold.

She realized what he intended to do and screamed hoarsely, “No! You can’t do this!”

He took her right hand and kissed the ring lightly.

— He Yushuo was one of the first unlucky ones drawn into the supernatural zone.

His luck was somewhat better: he was the sole survivor of the S-level supernatural zone and had acquired a supernatural tool.

The tool was this very ring, which upon obtaining it, revealed its use in He’s mind: it could resurrect the soul of a loved one.

Provided there was a compatible fresh body.

Qin Yijue and Qin Jinwa were twin sisters; no one could be more suitable.

This explained why He Yushuo had readily agreed to set the wedding date on Qin Jinwa’s death anniversary.

The ring had just instructed him to bring Qin Yijue to the rooftop and push her off.

He hesitated briefly—after all, falling from dozens of floors would be fatal—but his reason had been consumed by the ring, as if bewitched by a demon. He could already see the image of Qin Jinwa resurrected. Smiling, he hugged Qin Yijue’s legs and lifted her up.

Qin Yijue, unable to move, saw the world upside down, and in extreme terror, she suddenly fell downward.

She tried to scream, but the rushing wind choked her voice.

...She regretted it.

Closing her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks, she awaited death, which seemed endless.

Endlessly long—snap?

Her clothes were caught by something, and the fall abruptly stopped.

Qin Yijue opened her eyes to hear a young man’s clear voice behind her: “Whoa, wearing a wedding dress, getting married today too? Then why jump off the roof to kill yourself on your wedding day? Did you fight with the groom? I told you, marrying without love leads nowhere good. Little sister, if it’s too much, how about we just don’t get married? Why go to such lengths?”

Turning her head, Qin Yijue met a pair of peach-blossom eyes filled with affection, effortlessly holding onto her dress.

“Eh?”

The boy stared at her face in surprise.

How did she look so much like his sister?