Chapter 223

The island is quite remote, with few islanders and a tiny village. Furthermore, a resettlement had occurred just the year before last, so now, people are only seen during the busy fishing season.

In the center of the village was a shop still bearing the sign of a supply and marketing cooperative. The interior was spacious, but its current utilization was low; only some rice, flour, grain, and cooking oil were displayed near the entrance. The items on the shelves were covered in a layer of dust, many likely expired.

An old woman sat inside, quietly knitting a sweater.

Tan Wenbin walked up the steps and approached the counter.

"Grandma, I need to make a call."

The old woman stopped her work, her long wooden knitting needle gently scraping against her temple.

After a long while, as if coming to her senses, she rose and slowly walked over. She took out the telephone, which was locked in a box under the counter, and placed it on the counter.

"Go ahead."

Tan Wenbin picked up the receiver, but just as he was about to dial, he realized there was no dial tone.

"Grandma, is something wrong with the phone?"

The old woman frowned, followed the phone cord to check, and said, "It shouldn't be broken. The problem must be with the line."

The call couldn't be made.

Tan Wenbin took out a cigarette pack and offered one to the old woman.

The old woman skillfully took the cigarette and put it in her mouth. She familiarly pulled out a matchbox, and with a *click*, lit her own first. Then she held the match out to Tan Wenbin, who quickly lowered his head to light his cigarette. Only then did the old woman flick her wrist, extinguishing the match that was almost burning her fingers.

The old woman and the young man leaned against the counter, smoking.

The old woman said, "The radio said a wave is coming. Aren't you leaving the island yet?"

Tan Wenbin replied, "I quite like it here. The scenery is beautiful and it's quiet, perfect for healing a broken heart."

"Young man, you should be more open-minded. Life is long; there's no need to delay too long over trivial matters of love."

"I know, but I'm still young, aren't I?"

When you're out in the world, you define your own identity. Tan Wenbin naturally possessed a knack for fabricating relationships. When he lived in the dorms, the caretaker treated him like a godson, and no matter how many classes he missed, his teachers always gave him full marks for participation.

Because of this, Tan Wenbin could sense that there was something off about the old woman. He couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was, as he hadn't noticed anything overtly unusual about her. Furthermore, the certificates displayed on the supply and marketing cooperative's wall and the old photos the old woman had shown him all indicated that she had spent most of her life on this island, looking after this cooperative. But when speaking with her, Tan Wenbin could sense a subtle shrewdness and perceptiveness that the old woman inadvertently revealed.

There were two other people on the island who gave Tan Wenbin the same feeling. One was the old man at the lighthouse. He appeared dull and expressionless, but his gaze, when directed at the sea, occasionally revealed a profound depth. The other was a boatman who frequently traveled to and from the island. He was very familiar with the area and was soon to be paid to transport the islanders to Wuxin Island.

These three individuals shared a common characteristic: a quality about them that seemed to transcend their ordinary work and living environments. Although they consistently tried to hide it, when Tan Wenbin interacted with them based on "stereotypes," he felt a sense of incongruity.

"I'm leaving."

Tan Wenbin waved his hand, turned, and walked down the steps. Whether the phone worked or not, the outcome was the same. After all, it was the third day, and without a message confirming his safety, Brother Xiaoyuan would surely know something had happened on the island.

The old woman took the telephone down, placed it back in its wooden box, then sat back down and picked up her knitting needle.

She had barely made two stitches when the wind started to pick up outside, followed immediately by rain.

The old woman walked around the counter, picked up a long pole, hooked it onto the curtain's loop, and pulled it down.

Midway through, thunder rumbled.

The old woman poked her head out and looked into the night.

The curtain was only half-drawn, but she dropped the long pole, walked back behind the counter, squatted down, and lifted a floor tile, revealing a recess beneath.

In the recess was a dark figurine. In front of it was an incense burner, which contained no incense ash, but instead, the lower half of a rat. Inside the burner was a mixture of blood and putrid water, and the rat's tail unconsciously swayed back and forth.

The old woman prostrated herself before the idol, pressed her palms together, bowed her head deeply, and rested her forehead on the ground. Gradually, the old woman's body began to tremble, and the friction and snapping of joints could be heard.

When the old woman lifted her head again, her eyes were filled with purple. She stood up, her previously hunched figure now perfectly straight.

As lightning flashed, the light bulb in the cooperative flickered on and off, and the old woman's figure changed position with each reappearance of light. She first appeared outside the counter, and the next moment, she was at the doorway. She picked up the long pole, her wrinkled fingers tightening, and the pole shattered, revealing a long spear. The spearhead was ancient, but at the base of the shaft, a black skull was embedded.

With the next rumble of thunder, the old woman's figure completely vanished.

Under the eaves of an uninhabited house in the distance, Tan Wenbin's figure emerged, the half-smoked cigarette already pinched between his fingers. Originally, he should have left, but the rain had come too quickly, keeping him there. Then, as if by some strange impulse, he hid himself, concealing his body while looking towards the cooperative. He happened to see the old woman leave the shop, as if she had transformed into a different person.

Brother Xiaoyuan's "Tracing Distant Scrolls" documented the summarized experiences of each 'wave,' and Tan Wenbin himself was a direct participant. Sometimes seemingly unconscious actions were, in fact, driven by instinct.

"Indeed, the more inconspicuous a presence is within the waves, the less one can afford to be careless."

Tan Wenbin did not rush back to the camp; instead, he went to the lighthouse. The lighthouse lamp was on, still rotating and flashing. But it felt somewhat overly mechanical and rigid. Tan Wenbin hid behind the rocks, observing for a long time. He guessed that the old man inside the lighthouse was not there at the moment. Necessary risks still had to be taken to provide more valuable information once Brother Xiaoyuan and his group arrived on the island.

Tan Wenbin left the rocks, crossed the stone bridge connecting the shore to the lighthouse, and arrived at the base of the tower. The tower door was unlocked and opened with a slight push. He then climbed up the ladder.

"Old man, fancy a drink? I'm missing my ex-girlfriend again. We broke up during a thunderstorm."

Reaching the top floor, he saw a woman lying on the light, moving robotically. When Tan Wenbin appeared, the woman slowly turned her head and looked over. Her neck and hands had obvious stitch marks. One eye socket was pale, the other empty. The woman wore shackles, the other end of which was attached to an iron hook on the tower wall, tying her up like a dog. In addition, the woman was soaked from head to toe. Thick liquid had accumulated at her feet, and her entire body was pallid from being submerged, yet it didn't appear bloated or greasy.

In the living quarters at the base of the tower, a photo hung on the wall. The lighthouse was in the background, and it showed the old man and this woman together. The old man treasured this photo, saying it was his daughter. Tan Wenbin had also asked the old man where his daughter was. The old man replied: She got married. Married to the sea. He guessed that on regular days, the old man kept her submerged in the sea.

"You're busy, carry on."

After a brief greeting, Tan Wenbin went back down. The woman did not become agitated or angry and chase him; instead, she withdrew her gaze and continued her robotic movements.

Next was the last stop, and the most important one. If the boatman also had problems, then the journey to Wuxin Island would become incredibly difficult, because most of the information about Wuxin Island had been provided by the boatman.

Tan Wenbin ran to the pier. The boat was still docked there, but before Tan Wenbin could get closer, a chill rose from his shoulders all the way down to his tailbone. This was his two "god-sons" warning him; often, as spirits, their perceptions were more acute. Tan Wenbin implicitly trusted them. Without hesitation, he immediately shifted sideways, hiding himself in a corner of the rocks. Then he wiped the rain from his face and peered through a crevice, observing the boat's direction.

The boatman's purple eyes stood out glaringly in the pitch-black rainy night. He walked slowly along the shore, one hand holding one end of a fishing net, a long section of it trailing behind him. The fishing net contained not fish, but human bodies. With the occasional flash of lightning and rumble of thunder, his vision was momentarily illuminated. Tan Wenbin not only saw the blood continuously seeping from the net but also recognized the identities of the corpses inside, as some people's characteristics were simply too distinct.

One was bald; even though the island temperature was low, he liked to walk around shirtless and rubbed oil on himself to show off his muscles. Another was covered in tattoos, claiming they were a family legacy. After leaving home, he tried to wash them off himself but failed to clean them completely, leaving them a messy blur. Both had eccentric personalities. Two days ago, they were the first to team up to launch sneak attacks and plunder from others. Xin Jiyue had almost died at their hands; Tan Wenbin had saved her.

Now, both these fellows were dead, and along with the group they had organized, all of them were packed into the fishing net.

The boatman faced the sea, emitting a cry from his throat that even the sounds of thunder, rain, and waves couldn't completely mask. Soon, some strangely shaped waves appeared near the shore. They rolled in but didn't break on the land; instead, they stopped at the water's edge. The boatman opened the fishing net, grabbed a corpse from within, and threw it into the sea. As soon as the body hit the surface, it was immediately dragged down. He threw them one by one, like a feeder tending to his animals.

Tan Wenbin noticed that before throwing each corpse, the boatman would remove something from it. These were likely the vessels these people used to contain their karma.

Tan Wenbin quietly retreated. He was now considering whether to return to his camp. He had no karma on him, which meant he was unlikely to become a target for hunting. Therefore, rejoining that group would easily make him collateral damage. But after all, he had gathered that group himself. Although he had been forced into leadership, it didn't seem right to ignore them knowing they were in danger.

"No, I still need to go back and check, to see if the 'natives' are clearing out unstable elements or truly engaging in indiscriminate slaughter."

The former would be understandable: those who broke the rules and plundered others' karma were clearly black sheep who needed to be removed, which would allow the system to continue functioning. If it was the latter, the nature of the situation would change, which Tan Wenbin found most incomprehensible. Because this group of people who came to the island to deliver their 'goods' were clearly organized and developed, surely consuming considerable effort. Even if the 'natives' wanted karma, couldn't they just collect a share by guarding the place? Why would they wipe everyone out and engage in such a self-defeating act? If you kill everyone this time, won't you have to recruit new people next time? What's the point?

Tan Wenbin made his way back to his camp. The bonfire was still burning, and the outer sentry posts were still active; they even proactively greeted him.

"Brother Bin, you're back."

Tan Wenbin nodded at him and sat back down by the bonfire. His camp was currently safe and hadn't been attacked. He didn't know if it was because everyone here was a "rule-abiding deliverer" or if they were too weak and scattered, so they were being saved for last.

"Brother Bin, here, drink this to warm up." Xin Jiyue handed him a small pot filled with steaming fish soup.

When they first met on the island, Xin Jiyue had developed a vague liking for Tan Wenbin. She enjoyed fishing and chatting with him. After Tan Wenbin saved her, her liking had become stronger and clearer. The reason this camp had gathered so many people was partly because she actively helped recruit members. In her view, Tan Wenbin would likely enjoy the feeling of being a leader.

Tan Wenbin wasn't in the mood for soup. He pushed it aside and said, "Go call everyone, every single person."

"Okay, Brother Bin."

Soon, everyone gathered, including those on lookout.

Tan Wenbin got straight to the point: "Listen. This island is very dangerous right now, and many people have already died. I value my life; I'm not gambling anymore. I'm out. I advise you to discard the karma-holding vessels you have, hide, and then find a way to leave this island. No matter what, life is the most important thing. Alright, that's all I have to say. I'm leaving. Take care, everyone!"

Tan Wenbin stood up, waved his hand, and left without looking back. Under normal circumstances, it wouldn't be impossible for him to gather a group and establish a stronghold here. At least he could meet Brother Xiaoyuan and his group when they landed and provide some convenience. Now, however, he dared not risk his life here. He believed Brother Xiaoyuan would never allow him to do such a foolish thing either.

Everyone exchanged glances, unsure what kind of sudden madness had seized "Brother Bin." Give up now? How could that be? Tan Wenbin knew he couldn't disband the group. Human greed, especially for power, was hard to overcome; even if he left, they would quickly elect a new leader. But what Tan Wenbin hadn't expected was that two people actually followed him out. One was Xin Jiyue, the other was named Wu Qinhai.

"Brother Bin, I'll listen to you." Xin Jiyue chased after him, grabbing Tan Wenbin's arm with one hand, and with the other, she pulled open her top, saying, "Look, I threw away my camisole. There's nothing inside!"

Both her words and actions carried clear implications, but Tan Wenbin absolutely couldn't avoid suspicion at this moment, so he leaned in and carefully looked, confirming it was indeed empty.

Wu Qinhai said, "Brother Bin, you saved my life, so whatever you say goes. I also threw away my tea bag, along with Jiyue's camisole, and all the karma within. We left it for them; they're already electing a new leader now."

Tan Wenbin reached out and patted Wu Qinhai. Then he called his two "god-sons" to sniff around. After his "god-sons" responded that they no longer detected a karma source, Tan Wenbin finally believed they had discarded their 'goods.'

Xin Jiyue asked, "Brother Bin, after we leave the island, where are you planning to go? I don't have a home anyway, so I'll just go with you."

Tan Wenbin said, "Let's not talk about that yet. Come, hide here."

This spot was neither too far nor too close to the camp, making it an excellent observation point. Although Xin Jiyue and Wu Qinhai didn't understand why they were doing this, they still followed instructions, hiding themselves along with him. The rain continued to fall. Unlike the camp with its tents and bonfires, being drenched in a ditch in the wilderness was truly unpleasant.

After hiding for a while, Wu Qinhai was about to ask a question, but Tan Wenbin covered his mouth.

"Shhh..."

The tingling sensation from his shoulders to his tailbone returned.

"Who are you?"

"Who are you all?"

"Ah!"

"Ah!"

Screams erupted continuously. Tan Wenbin saw the old woman from the cooperative and the lighthouse old man. The two old people approached the camp from two different directions. Although the rain was washing over them, the sticky sensation of blood on their bodies still remained, indicating they had killed people elsewhere before coming here.

The people in the camp were not helpless ordinary individuals. Seeing the two appear and immediately start killing, they immediately began to perform rituals to summon gods. However, whether they summoned or not, it made no difference. Each thrust of the old woman's spear pierced a person's chest; each swing of the lighthouse old man's chain shattered a person's head. This was no battle at all, but a one-sided massacre. Soon, throughout the entire camp, no one was left standing except for the two of them.

The two old people began collecting the karma-holding vessels from the corpses. This might have been more tiring for them than killing.

Wu Qinhai and Xin Jiyue both widened their eyes, daring not to make a sound.

Tan Wenbin frowned deeply. It was indeed a great slaughter; all those holding karma vessels were their targets. Were they destroying their own future by doing this? Or was it just a coincidence that with this batch, enough karma had been collected?

At this moment, the two old people raised their heads, their purple eyes fixed on the sky, and sounds emanated from their throats. Under the thunderstorm, a group of enormous, grotesque birds appeared. They descended and began frantically devouring the corpses on the ground. After a corpse was consumed, even the clothes were carried away by the large birds. As for the bloodstains, as long as the rain didn't stop tonight, everything would be washed clean.

The old woman from the cooperative and the lighthouse old man lowered their heads and began to stare at each other. They seemed to be speaking, but Tan Wenbin was too far away, and with the sounds of rain, thunder, and bird calls, he couldn't hear what they were saying at all. If only Brother Xiaoyuan were here, with his hearing, he would surely be able to clearly hear their conversation.

"Not enough karma has been collected yet."

"This is the Adult's command. We must quickly clear the area, erase all karma from here, and sweep this island clean."

"You are closer to the Adult. Do you know why the Adult wants us to do this?"

"The Adult said: 'A troublesome entity is about to land on the island.'"