Chapter 15: Moros Manor

Taking a helicopter and looking down at the city at night from a hundred meters in the air was not actually a particularly fresh or special experience.

Because this had originally been the angle from which Lin Jiangye had looked down at the human world countless times when preparing to harvest souls.

Sometimes, he would even slack off and sit on a human airplane, quietly spacing out for a while, letting that enormous humming machine carry him through the sky.

However…

Why did observing A City from this new angle make it look more and more familiar?

Lin Jiangye wore windproof goggles, his gaze passing through the window frame as he locked onto all the landmark buildings towering into the clouds, carefully observing the city’s veins outlined by neon lights, reinforced concrete, and steel.

It felt as if he had been here long ago. It was just that the memory was too faint, and no matter what, he could not recall the specific details.

The workload of a trainee death god was enormous, and the ways to obtain energy were very limited. He had to busily shuttle between different human worlds, personally harvesting souls by the hundreds of millions. In terms of human society, he was like a low-paid grassroots worker.

So, not remembering a world he had only visited once or twice should be normal… right?

No.

Lin Jiangye narrowed his eyes, gradually developing a few doubts.

—When he was fleeing, his power had been extremely weak. So why had he been able to so smoothly and precisely pierce through the void and arrive directly at a stable world with carbon-based life activity?

Why this world, of all worlds? Why, when he tried to recall any related past, did his memories become even fainter?

Thinking of the two identical Old Madam Gus, as well as the eerie way her corpse moved, an ominous premonition spread through Lin Jiangye’s heart.

Perhaps he was standing at the edge of the world’s collapse. Perhaps this was, from the beginning, a trap with ulterior motives… and the target was him. It was designed to capture only him.

The soft earmuffs were gently removed. The humming engine sound trembled and faded away, and a warm hand pressed against his cold cheek. Lin Jiangye instinctively raised his hand and gripped it. He froze for a moment before slowly loosening his strength.

“Still spacing out? We’re here.”

Yu Wangxiao’s smile was gentle. He calmly held Lin Jiangye’s hand properly, as if he had not noticed the aggression Lin Jiangye had unintentionally revealed at all.

The island hidden in the night was like an enormous and silent beast.

The edge of the beach was the only open area. Walking farther inward was like stepping into the dark maw of a fierce beast. The chill of late autumn seeped into the marrow together with the sea breeze, infiltrating everywhere.

The lush, sky-covering forest reflected faint deep-green light and shadow when Yu Wangxiao turned on the flashlight.

Clearly, this endless stretch of green vegetation was all an imported product artificially transplanted and cultivated. It was unlike A City’s native trees, which followed the seasonal climate cycle.

Lin Jiangye took the initiative to interlock his fingers with Yu Wangxiao’s, drawing warmth from the man’s hot palm. The anxiety in his heart inexplicably faded a little, leaving only a fresh curiosity and desire to explore.

Step by step, he walked along the damp stone path, moving steadily and quickly. The friction of gravel gave off faint, fragmented sounds. He truly wanted to know exactly what kind of secrets Yu Wangxiao possessed that he had gone to such great lengths to hide them.

After five minutes of walking, the narrow path covered by green leaves suddenly opened up.

At the center of the island was actually a broad complex of buildings, averaging about three stories high. Its exterior design rose and fell unevenly, imitating the rippling spread of ocean waves. It had quite an artistic air.

The main building looked somewhat strange. Its dark red walls were covered with interlacing vein-like patterns of varying depth. From afar, it looked extremely like a huge malformed heart.

The left and right “ventricles” each had two wooden doors, with the frames and handles wrapped in dark bronze metal covered in complicated patterns. The rust corroded by the sea breeze not only did not ruin the appearance, but instead looked especially harmonious, very much like blood that had continuously flowed and then dried.

—Moros Manor.

The sign hanging at the very top was written in cursive script. Beside the door were signs for several biotechnology and medical equipment companies.

Lin Jiangye curiously leaned closer to read the small print and discovered that this place was even a nature and culture research center certified by A City. It was qualified to conduct a certain degree of treatment, scientific research, and academic exchange activities.

He dug through his memories and sorted them out, confirming that in the original novel, after Yu Lin inherited his little uncle’s estate, there had been a large section describing the industrial coverage of the Yu Group… The island did exist, but it had been in an undeveloped state. There absolutely had not been this so-called Moros Manor.

In theory, this entire imaginative building complex should not have appeared. At the very least, it should not have been something Yu Wangxiao personally created.

Of course, at this point, Lin Jiangye realized that he had already grown used to abnormal elements constantly revealing themselves. He did not react too strongly. He only turned his head, squeezed Yu Wangxiao’s hand, and quietly complained, “Yu Wangxiao, you’re getting a little scary.”

“There’s something even scarier. Want to go in and take a look?” Yu Wangxiao’s lips lifted slightly as he opened the door for him.

Lin Jiangye took a deep breath and stepped into the “heart.” The cold, gloomy chill he had once felt at the Gu residence immediately surged toward him again.

As a reception center, the building’s interior decor was luxurious and elegant, leaning toward a classical Victorian style. The space was tall and broad, and the complex crystal chandelier hanging high above refracted brilliant colors.

A huge retro fireplace was embedded into the painted wall. As the door opened, simulated flames blazed up, automatically beginning to release warm firelight.

But Lin Jiangye still felt very cold.

Because on the creaking wooden floor… it was full of stiffly crawling “Old Madam Gus.”

It was not just the two zombies he had seen at the Gu residence. Far from it. More than ten living-dead bodies were stimulated by the light, struggling and twisting. Driven by some eerie instinct, they kept crawling toward the warmth of the fireplace.

Lin Jiangye slowly took a step back, unsure what expression he should make. He instinctively guarded against the corpses’ subtle movements, tilted his head, and quietly asked, “So scary. Are you trying to feed me to them?”

“Hm? You’re too thin. The elderly aren’t used to eating things that hurt their teeth.” Yu Wangxiao laughed and answered, shielding Lin Jiangye behind him. He picked up a dark wooden handmade candlestick from the porch, his voice gentle. “I only brought you here to take a look and put your mind at ease.”

After speaking, he lit the snow-white candle on the candlestick and quietly recited a strange phrase Lin Jiangye could not understand. Immediately afterward, all the struggling bodies began howling in fear. Like mice meeting a cat, they crawled rapidly toward the second floor and hid in the dark, lightless corners.

Everything suddenly returned to calm. The indoor temperature-control system finally began to work, making the air comfortable and dry. The two sat on a soft sofa, and the atmosphere even seemed somewhat warm.

“So, this is your real personal interest? Raising moving zombies on an island?” The corner of Lin Jiangye’s mouth twitched, and he felt a subtle sympathy for Old Madam Gu.

Yu Wangxiao smiled without answering and asked instead, “Don’t you think it’s strange? Identical people, identical ‘corpses,’ and yet there are so many of them.”

“You won’t explain it clearly right now anyway.” Lin Jiangye tilted his head and looked at him thoughtfully. “You have secrets. For now, you don’t want to reveal them all, but you also need me to trust you more. So…

“You brought me here to show me your ability and let me know that they are all under your control. This warns me not to act rashly, and it can also reassure me a little.”

“Tuantuan, you’ve become smarter.” Yu Wangxiao gently placed the candlestick on the coffee table and poured him a cup of hot black tea. “But don’t think of me too badly, alright? We’re friends. If you suspect that I’m not sincere toward you, I’ll be a little hurt.”

Looking at his lowered, disappointed eyes, Lin Jiangye froze. His heart inexplicably tightened, and he hurriedly explained, “I’m not suspecting you. You’re quite good like this. Very impressive. Really.”

Yu Wangxiao gave a soft “Mm” and smiled. Then he took a tablet computer from the drawer of the coffee table, lit up the screen, and gently handed it to Lin Jiangye.

“You have the right to know more. Read the files. Sleep here peacefully for tonight. I’ve prepared your bedroom. Tomorrow morning, I have to leave early for the airport, and Chen Ming will send you to school.”

Lin Jiangye accepted the tablet and nodded. Under Yu Wangxiao’s guidance, he walked around the spacious front hall, passed through a somewhat dim indoor corridor, and arrived at a retro-style suite.

Unlike the gloomy atmosphere of Old Madam Gus crawling everywhere, the suite was warm and brightly lit.

The privacy was quite good. It could only be entered with a card like a hotel room, and it was clearly used to receive guests. The study and bathroom facilities were complete.

“Sleep early. It’s late.” Yu Wangxiao sent him to the suite door, raised his wrist to glance at his watch, then gently rubbed Lin Jiangye’s head. “The tablet is for you. There’s no need to rush and finish reading everything now. Good night. Have a good dream.”

“…Good night. Also, pay attention to protecting your wound. Apply medicine once more before going to the airport tomorrow.”

As Lin Jiangye spoke, he glanced at Yu Wangxiao’s shoulder. His tone was not very polite, almost stiff.

The stiffness was to conceal a certain indescribable appetite.

Yu Wangxiao paused slightly, then lowered his eyes and smiled. “Mm. Since Young Master Lin has spoken, I wouldn’t dare ignore it.”

The door was gently closed, leaving the room in peace.

Lin Jiangye lowered his eyes and looked at the cold tablet in his arms, slowly exhaling and allowing the fatigue he had suppressed for a long time to surge into his heart like a tide.

What a long day.

Frame by frame, he recalled all the big and small events he had experienced that day. He paced around the room and observed it, eventually stopping curiously in front of the dark wardrobe.

Creak—

The tall wooden wardrobe had not been corroded by the sea breeze. It was neatly filled with new clothes, all in his size. There were casual clothes, several wool sweaters suitable for autumn and winter, high-end custom handmade suits, fluffy bathrobes, and two sets of pajamas in different colors.

Lin Jiangye took out a set of pajamas and touched the soft, smooth silk fabric, unable to help feeling a little emotional.

—Yu Wangxiao really was a little terrifying. When it came to matters involving him, he was overly thorough and meticulous, always considering every possible detail.

If not for the fact that the pink light screen only floated above Yu Wangxiao’s head, Lin Jiangye would almost suspect that Yu Wangxiao also wanted to raise his favorability.

This person, even when interfering with and arranging all of Lin Jiangye’s schedule, and even when not providing him with the option to refuse, did not make Lin Jiangye feel disgusted or resistant.

It was like a cup of warm water placed by the bedside in the early morning, humid mist rising inside the glass without burning anyone. But there was definitely medicine added into this cup of water, with unknown effects and unclear toxicity… and without any concealment at all.

After all, to relieve the dry pain in his throat after waking up in the morning, he would have to drink the water eventually.

After finishing his bath, Lin Jiangye casually tossed a coin and placed it on the bedside table, then slowly wrapped himself in the brand-new soft blanket.

Under the warm yellow glow of the bedside lamp, he opened the tablet and lightly swiped through the document interface, his expression calm.

Of course he was going to drink it.

He would even bite the glass cup apart with it, and eat it too.