The starlight was dazzling, and the surroundings felt especially desolate. Accompanied by waves of cold wind, it gave off an eerie feeling.
On the top of Phoenix Mountain, a young man looked expectantly at the sky. Ignoring the goosebumps rising on his skin, he had a camera set up beside him.
The young man was named Ye Xiaofan, an eighteen-year-old high school senior. He had overheard Liu Siyan, the class goddess, mention a Scorpio meteor shower tonight. Unfortunately, it couldn't be seen from the city, which left him quite disappointed.
So, our classmate Ye Xiaofan secretly borrowed a classmate's camera, rode his bicycle, and made his way twelve kilometers out of the city to Phoenix Mountain, hoping to capture images of the meteor shower.
Just thinking about the goddess's surprise when she saw the meteor shower footage the next day made Ye Xiaofan's face break into a... oh no, a pure smile.
Liking beautiful women is the most normal thing for a man. However, Liu Siyan was a rich heiress, naturally surrounded by rich young men and heirs. Alas, he was just from an ordinary family, having to borrow even a camera.
Yet, Ye Xiaofan didn't give up pursuing the goddess in his heart because of his identity. Just keep working hard, and harder, the goddess isn't made of iron; one day, she will surely be moved. Then they would hold hands, exchange kisses, whisper sweet nothings, and finally, be married.
Just as Xiaofan was daydreaming, the time was already 1:30 AM. That damned meteor shower finally came. At first, one or two streaked across the sky, gradually becoming more numerous and brighter. It mesmerized Ye Xiaofan; if, at this moment, Liu Siyan were with him, how wonderful that would be.
After filming was complete, Ye Xiaofan happily removed the memory card and, holding the camera, headed down the mountain.
"Bang."
Just as Ye Xiaofan reached halfway down the mountain, he was startled by a loud sound coming from below.
It's not any holiday, who's setting off fireworks down there?
"Bang... Bang, Bang"
More loud noises came, and Ye Xiaofan realized these weren't fireworks or firecrackers, but what were they?
The trees at the mountainside blocked the view of the stars and moon, and with only his phone's flashlight, he couldn't see very far.
Rumor had it that Phoenix Mountain was haunted, and coupled with the sounds from earlier and the shadowy thickets, it all seemed especially eerie.
Calm, composed, stay normal — there can't possibly be such things in this world.
'Rustle...'
"Who's there? Who is it?" Suddenly, a rustling sound came from the nearby bushes. Ye Xiaofan shrieked and pointed his phone at it, repeatedly chanting in his heart: Amitabha, Amitabha, Prajna Paramita, Prajna Paramita...
But alas, the frightening scene still unfolded. A white figure slowly emerged from the bushes, appearing unsteady, and the sight of long hair covering its face sent a wave of fear through him.
Sadako? No, Sadako is Japanese, she can't possibly be in China. But then, what on earth is this thing in front of him?
Run — the first thought in Ye Xiaofan's mind was to run. With trembling legs, he frantically dashed up the mountain.
'Thud.'
After two steps, a strange noise came from behind. While running, Ye Xiaofan glanced back and unexpectedly saw that the white figure had collapsed in the bushes.
What the heck is going on?
"Hey, don't scare me! I've preserved my Pure Yang Body for eighteen years; you can't harm me!" Fighting an internal battle between reason, fear, and curiosity, Ye Xiaofan stepped closer to the white figure.
"Hey... hey..."
Calling out twice without any response, Ye Xiaofan had to crouch slightly and gently tap the object with trembling fingers.
It was warm and breathing.
"Hey, are you alright?" Confirming the white object was human, Ye Xiaofan's fear turned into concern.
He quickly helped the woman up. In the faint light of the phone, Ye Xiaofan was stunned by the woman's exceptional beauty. Her delicate face could topple cities; a hint of aloofness exuded between her brows; her body carried a refreshing fragrance; and her cherry-red lips perfectly complemented her petite nose.
However, her snowy white skin had blood seeping from it non-stop. A closer look revealed that the upper right front of the woman's shoulder was already stained with blood.
What's happening? Injured? And judging from the look of it, a gunshot wound? Was it related to the sounds earlier?
No time to ponder, Ye Xiaofan quickly laid the woman down and hurried to another side of the bushes. Soon, he returned holding a handful of unidentified grass, chomping them in his mouth as he walked.
Ye Xiaofan's grandfather was a renowned physician in the village, adept in all kinds of injuries, fractures, fever, you name it, without needing medicine or shots, just some home remedies. Ye Xiaofan attended elementary school in the village, later moving to the city with his parents but visited home every year on holidays, where he was made to collect herbs with his grandfather.
He had thought that in this age of advanced technology, his grandfather's remedies would become obsolete, but unexpectedly they were being put to use in this critical moment.
The woman had suffered a gunshot wound, a through-and-through injury. Although the bullet didn't lodge inside, the bleeding wouldn't stop, and she had a head injury from impact. Her pulse and heartbeat were gradually weakening.
Of course, taking her to the hospital would be the quickest way. However, there was no fast way to get her there right now. If her bleeding wasn't stopped soon, she would surely be in life-threatening danger.
Carefully helping the woman up again, he knew he'd have to unbutton her shirt to apply medicine.
Sorry, I don't mean to offend. But even if I did intend to offend, there's no choice. You're unconscious and unaware right now, anyway.
Ye Xiaofan silently recited in his heart as he unbuttoned the bloodstained white shirt.
'Gulp' Looking at that^... Ye Xiaofan embarrassingly felt his nose twitch and suddenly a gush of blood spurted out.
Oops, I need to stop my own bleeding first. Damn it, there's no one here, and she can't see, why am I pretending to be a gentleman? 'Gulp,' Ye Xiaofan swallowed his saliva. Suddenly realizing his priority, he quickly slapped himself twice. Now wasn't the time for that; saving her was more important.
Thus, Ye Xiaofan used his wolfish paw — oh, no, one hand — to gently apply the chewed-up herbs onto the woman's wound.