Cataclysm Chapter 102: The Mortality Meter 08

Chapter 102: The Mortality Meter 08

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

 

Zheng Xiaoyu pursed her lips in front of the mirror, smoothing her lipstick for an even application. She then walked out of the bathroom and said to Cheng Xi, who was lying on the bed, “Aren’t you coming with me?”

Cheng Xi shook her head wearily. “I didn’t sleep all night. I’m too tired. I want to take a nap. You go have fun.”

Zheng Xiaoyu looked concerned. “Aren’t you okay staying in the room by yourself?”

Cheng Xi replied, “I’m fine. I have the talisman Master Chen and the others gave me. As long as I have the talisman, I’ll be fine.” She pointed to the talisman beside the bed, next to a folded triangular flag.

Zheng Xiaoyu smiled. “There’s a triangular flag next to the bedside table. Don’t mix it up with the talisman.” Cheng Xi waved her hand and laughed, saying she wouldn’t make that mistake.

“Right. Well, rest well.” After giving her instructions, Zheng Xiaoyu grabbed her handbag and slung it over her shoulder. “I’m leaving.”

“Bye.”

Zheng Xiaoyu turned around naturally, her handbag making a graceful arc through the air. The sharp corner of the bag knocked the talisman off the bedside table, sending it to the floor. As the door opened and closed with a soft sound, the room fell silent again. Suddenly, the talisman on the floor seemed to be tugged by something and was swiftly pulled under the bed. Cheng Xi yawned, completely unaware.

With her eyes closed, Cheng Xi reached for the bedside table, her hand finding the folded triangular flag. She grasped it tightly as if it were a lifeline, feeling it would allow her to sleep peacefully. The light outside the window was too bright, and despite the curtains being drawn, it still disturbed her sleep. Cheng Xi’s temper was short, aggravated by her poor sleep.

Even the faintest light made it impossible for her to sleep. She absentmindedly grabbed the silk scarf hanging nearby and draped it over her face, covering her eyes to block out the light, and her nose to surround herself with the heat from her own breath. The atmosphere it created made her feel like she was slipping into a deep sleep, tricking her brain into falling asleep quickly.

Before long, Cheng Xi truly fell asleep, and the room became eerily quiet. The ticking of the clock was unusually loud, the second hand moving in circles, while the ceramic doll beneath the hour hand silently observed everything that happened on the bed. Only it noticed the silk scarf slowly tightening on its own, until it suddenly wrapped around the face of the sleeping person with tremendous force, even pressing her head into the mattress.

Cheng Xi uttered meaningless syllables, her legs kicking wildly, her hands desperately clawing at the silk scarf on her face, as she struggled with all her might. The triangular flag in her hand fell onto the blanket, almost mocking her foolishness and her futile attempts.

Zheng Xiaoyu got off the bus at the stop, feeling uneasy. She couldn’t explain why, but she had a sense of foreboding, as if something important was about to happen. She thought to herself that it definitely wouldn’t be good, and began to search for the talisman in her pocket, wanting to hold it in her hand to feel safe. Just as she wrapped her fingers around the talisman, a powerful shove from behind nearly made her stumble onto the road. Fortunately, her clothes were caught, giving her some cushioning. She grabbed a nearby streetlamp to steady herself. The next moment, a car roared past her.

Cold sweat beaded on Zheng Xiaoyu’s forehead. If her clothes hadn’t gotten caught, she would have fallen straight into the road and been run over by the truck, her head crushed to pieces. She looked down at the talisman in her palm, only then realizing her bag had been stolen. In a fit of rage, she yelled, “Catch the thief! Catch the thief! Catch—”

She suddenly froze, looking at the talisman in her palm before glancing at the road. An indescribable fear washed over her. If she hadn’t felt something earlier and searched for the talisman, holding it in her hand, would both the talisman and her bag have been stolen, leaving her defenseless? Without the talisman, would she have been hit by a car and killed?

Zheng Xiaoyu trembled, clutching the talisman tightly. She crossed the road and boarded a bus back to the hotel. She should have stayed in the room like Cheng Xi, not gone out, assuming the talisman would protect her. Master Chen had warned her about the evil spirits trying to take the talismans from them and deliberately plotting their deaths.

Fortunately, she had the habit of keeping her phone in her pocket for easy access, and she had placed her room key and ID in her phone case, a small stroke of luck amidst the misfortune.

When she returned to the hotel and stepped through the entrance, she noticed Cheng Xi’s silk scarf being silently tugged. Zheng Xiaoyu turned to look at the blazing sun, and for a moment, it felt as though an evil spirit was opening its mouth to strike and sever her head. She took a step back, uneasy and disoriented.

She hurried into the elevator, watching the numbers change, the doors opening and closing. As she arrived at the door to her room, she stood there in a daze for a moment. Then, with a sigh and a shake of her head, she used the electronic card to open the door. She immediately saw Cheng Xi struggling, her head wrapped tightly in the silk scarf. Cheng Xi was already starting to feel dizzy and weak. If Zheng Xiaoyu had returned a moment later, she would have found her suffocated to death.

Panic gripped Zheng Xiaoyu, and she rushed to remove the scarf from Cheng Xi’s face. The talisman in her palm brushed against the tightly wound scarf, and it instantly snapped apart. Cheng Xi gasped for air, gripping Zheng Xiaoyu’s hand with such force that her veins popped out, her face contorted with fear and tears streaming down.

Zheng Xiaoyu asked, “Where’s your talisman?”

Cheng Xi looked toward a corner of the bed. Zheng Xiaoyu followed her gaze and saw the triangular flag that had been on the bedside table now quietly lying at the foot of the bed. Suddenly, everything clicked. “You grabbed the wrong one.”

Zheng Xiaoyu quickly got off the bed and searched for the talisman, finally finding it under the bed. She handed it to Cheng Xi, her voice full of urgency as she repeated, “Hold onto it. Keep it with you. Don’t just leave it lying around. That monster is watching us from the shadows, trying every method to kill us.” She told Cheng Xi what had happened outside and added, “So it will do whatever it takes to steal our talismans.”

Cheng Xi nodded. “I understand.”

Zheng Xiaoyu hugged Cheng Xi in silence, offering comfort. In the corner of the room, a dark shadow seemed to fade away, growing increasingly transparent, unwilling to leave.

Later that night, Chen Yang and his group descended from the mountaintop and relaxed at a hot spring halfway down the mountain. Looking around at the group, Chen Yang noticed that Kou Xuanling and Lu Xiuzhi weren’t there, so he asked, “Has anyone seen them?”

Everyone shook their heads. “We didn’t see them while climbing.”

Big Fatty said, “Maybe they found a spot to have some fun.”

Kui Xuan and the doll were curious. “Did they go fight?”

Big Fatty was immediately scolded with disapproving looks from the adults, including Ma Shanfeng, who usually doted on him. “Fatty, you should remember there are two innocent children here.”

Big Fatty: “…Two-thousand-year-old children and a genderless doll!”

Chen Yang remarked, “They’re probably off doing something fun. Forget about them, let’s head to the hot spring. By the way, Big Fatty, can you soak in the hot spring?”

Since they were among friends, Big Fatty, who had been holding back all day, finally spoke. “I can. I used to sneak into hot spring hotels all the time, especially in winter. It’s really comfortable.”

“I wasn’t asking if you could, I meant if the hot spring hotel would let you in.”

Big Fatty had trudged to the front of the group, struggling to hold his stomach with all four limbs, rolling around and throwing a tantrum. “I don’t care, I want to soak in the hot spring! If I don’t get to soak in the hot spring, I’ll run away from home! I won’t eat or sleep!”

Zhang Qiudao had stepped over Big Fatty and walked in with long strides. “Not eating is great, you could lose weight,” he said.

Chen Yang had murmured thoughtfully, “You could lose weight.”

Du Shuo had pulled him into the hot spring hall, coldly ignoring Big Fatty, who was rolling on the ground like a ball. Ma Shanfeng and his wife had thought he didn’t need to lose weight and had comforted him, “Stop fooling around, you still need to eat three meals a day, be good,” before leading Kui Xuan inside. The little one had bounced over to tease Big Fatty before jumping onto Kui Xuan’s shoulders. The two of them had become good friends without anyone noticing when it had happened.

On the pebble path leading to the hot spring hall, a large, unidentified object had lain there, black and round, desolate and lonely. Big Fatty had twisted his neck, shocked and stunned as if struck by a bolt of lightning. Had they really stopped loving the cute little chubby?

In the end, Big Fatty had gotten his wish and soaked in the hot spring, since the Shiyan Mountain hot spring had a pet-friendly section and a pool where humans and pets could soak together. Shiyan Mountain, with its unique geographical location, had hundreds of hot spring pools and was famous in J Province and nationwide. Built into the mountain, the hot spring resort had been designed using the natural strange rocks, giving it an atmospheric and charming feel.

The group had booked a large hot spring pool and a small adjacent one. Aunt Ma and Ji Jiang had taken Kui Xuan to the small pool, while Chen Yang and the others had soaked in the large pool. Originally, the large pool had been booked for Kou Xuanling and Lu Xiuzhi, but since they hadn’t shown up, it had felt too big.

Du Shuo and Chen Yang had been chatting in a corner while soaking, their affectionate atmosphere uninviting to anyone trying to intrude. Zhang Qiudao and Ma Shanfeng had talked about a Taoist exchange meeting, mentioning ‘roadblocks.’ “The Mortality Meter had calculated that Aunt Ma’s birth chart was linked to disaster, while the rest of us had birth charts tied to misfortune, fire, and illness. It seemed like there was no way out. We just don’t know when it will strike.”

Ma Shanfeng, while Aunt Ma wasn’t looking, had taken a sip of clear liquor and sighed in pleasure. “As long as that evil spirit shows up and uses those fake birth charts to harm us, if we break the curse, the evil spirit will vanish, and we’ll be in the clear.”

Zhang Qiudao had responded with a simple “Mn.”

Big Fatty, standing on the edge of the hot spring pool like a dignified general, had looked into the distance. His chubby face had been serious and determined. Suddenly, he shouted loudly, “Fat Cat Fish Thunder, launch!” Then, he dashed forward, leaped, spun, and plunged into the hot spring with a splash, spraying water all over Zhang Qiudao and Ma Shanfeng.

Chen Yang and Du Shuo, being further away, had only been interrupted in their conversation. Big Fatty hadn’t dared to play the Fat Cat Fish Thunder game near the emperor, or he would have ended up as a jet-propelled fish zooming into the sky.

Zhang Qiudao, calmly sipping his drink, had decided not to return Big Fatty’s wig for a week and definitely wouldn’t remind him that his wig had fallen off. Ma Shanfeng, wiping the water from his face, had stealthily taken another sip while Aunt Ma wasn’t paying attention. Big Fatty, sprawled out with limbs spread, had looked like a furry black blanket floating on the water. The disturbing part was that Kui Xuan and the little one had been drawn to Big Fatty’s game, both climbing onto the shore to pretend they were launching fish thunder.

What had started as a charming and atmospheric hot spring bath had turned into a playground for kids and the fat cat’s fish thunder, and Chen Yang had considered locking them all in a small room.

Meanwhile, in the hot spring hall’s kitchen, chaos had reigned. Since Shiyan Mountain was a tourist destination, everyone who visited had to soak in the hot springs, so dining services had naturally developed as well. The hot spring hall had monopolized the dining services, and there were several kitchens, with the one closest to Chen Yang’s group running smoothly.

Flames had flickered brightly in the high-temperature environment, with hot oil splattering as chefs hurried back and forth. A new chef had taken frozen pig legs from the freezer and placed them on the countertop. He had then grabbed a blowtorch and attached a gas canister. This section of the kitchen had been near the oil fume control duct, which had accumulated a thick layer of grease. The new chef had aimed the blowtorch at the frozen pig leg, and the open flame had ignited, burning the grease on the duct.

The new chef had continuously flipped the pig legs, trying to heat them evenly. The flames had repeatedly flared up, burning the grease, which had melted and dripped. The sound of dripping had been unusually clear at one moment, but the busy chefs had been oblivious. The head chef, who had been sent out to discuss ingredient issues, hadn’t noticed the new chef’s unsafe actions.

Du Shuo, who had been allowed to drink due to the special circumstances, had been sipping his sake with his eyes closed. Suddenly, he opened his eyes and looked at the bright moon in the sky.

The moon had been round like a white jade plate, not the harsh pale white that drained one’s energy, but the perfect shade, one that could evoke longing feelings, making people fall into its beauty. Petals from the October cherry had drifted in the air, as if embellishing the moon, adding a dreamy misty atmosphere.

Chen Yang had turned and leaned on the edge of the hot spring pool. He had noticed Du Shuo, who had been expressionless, and had softly asked, “What’s wrong?”

Du Shuo said, “It’s nothing,” as he kissed Chen Yang’s cheek to soothe him. His right hand rested on the edge of the hot spring, and his thumb, wearing a half jade ring, lightly tapped three times. The ring clicked softly against the stone edge, creating a faint and crisp sound. Like sound waves dispersing silently, it spread out like ripples on the calm surface of a lake before fading into stillness.

At that moment, the lonely spirits in the mountains received the Emperor of the Underworld’s command and fought to seize the opportunity to carry out his orders. The oldest wild ghost in the mountain slipped into the Stone Mountain Hot Spring’s kitchen, bringing with it a chill wind. It saw the head chef outside the kitchen and rushed over, possessing him. In an instant, the chef’s eyes rolled back, his face turned pale, and those speaking with him did not notice the change.

The head chef stiffly walked into the kitchen, suddenly coming to his senses and realizing where he was. Before he could process the odd feeling, he noticed the new chef’s improper actions. He immediately shouted at him to turn off the flame thrower.

The new chef, startled, trembled and accidentally sprayed the flame onto the grease trap. In an instant, the grease reacted with the flame, causing an explosion. The head chef quickly grabbed the fire extinguisher and calmly directed others to help put out the fire and evacuate the area. The fire was soon under control, preventing major property damage or any injuries.

It was a fortunate misfortune—if the head chef hadn’t been present, no one would have noticed the new chef’s improper handling. When the explosion occurred, everyone would have panicked, screamed, and rushed to escape. With the cramped kitchen and so many guests outside, a stampede could easily have occurred. In that case, putting out the fire would have been the least of their worries—there might have been fatalities in the chaos.

Fortunately, the crisis was averted.

In the hot spring, Chen Yang nudged Du Shuo. “Did you hear anything?”

“Your voice?”

“No.”

“Then no.”

“Really?” Chen Yang was slightly confused. He thought he heard an explosion, but it was a bit far away. Still, the atmosphere in the hot spring remained calm, so it was likely nothing.

Du Shuo chuckled lightly, pulling Chen Yang closer and said, “Turn around. Let me scrub your back.”

At his words, Chen Yang turned around happily. Du Shuo grabbed a towel and briefly glanced at the shadow perched on the cherry blossom tree. His expression remained neutral as he quickly averted his gaze. He didn’t even sneer at the shadow for being overly ambitious. The shadow, however, was reluctant to give up.

If everything had gone according to plan, the explosion would have occurred. People would have died in the fire, in accidents, in disasters, or in the stampede. Others would have succumbed to illness from the death of loved ones. No one would have escaped its scheme.

Unfortunately, it failed.

The shadow slowly became transparent and disappeared. All the series of planned accidents that had been intended to cause death came to an abrupt halt, leaving no trace behind.

 

 

 

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