Chapter 120: The Grand Gala

With that, my master nodded, smiled, and took the keys. He walked straight past the man, but stopped when he reached the woman. He leaned in and whispered, "Be a bit more careful in the future. You have a good husband; don’t go looking for trouble yourself."

After saying this, my master walked toward elevator number one with a smile. Li Muyang and I followed closely behind him. Although we didn't say a word, I felt incredibly relieved.

The elevator went straight to the top floor of the Haoting Hotel. As the three of us stepped out, the place was already bustling with guests. A long red carpet stretched toward the luxurious banquet hall. My master walked ahead with his hands behind his back, a faint smile always on his face. Once we entered the hall, it was shockingly large. Tables covered in red cloths were set up on both sides, leaving a central aisle wide enough to accommodate hundreds of people. Many guests from prominent families were gathered in groups, chatting over champagne, while others wandered around handing out business cards. We stood there for a moment until a waiter carrying champagne walked by. My master smilingly took a glass, and, driven by curiosity, Li Muyang and I followed suit. The taste wasn't bad—it had a hint of citrus. The waiter then moved on. Since we didn't recognize a single soul and couldn't spot Zhong Ming anywhere, we felt bored and found a table to sit down.

A while later, we had finished our drinks, and the so-called gala had yet to begin. However, I eventually spotted Zhong Ming standing beside a group of people, laughing and chatting while holding a glass of champagne. I kept my eyes on him, and as if he felt something, he inexplicably turned his head. When he saw me sitting at the table, a broader smile spread across his face. He clinked glasses with the people he was with and walked straight toward us. I smiled back. Zhong Ming set down his glass, pulled up a chair, sat beside us, and said, "I'm sorry, guys. Something came up at home, and I only just arrived. When did you get here?"

My master crossed his legs, surveyed the noisy crowd, and asked, "We just got here ourselves. Why hasn't it started yet?"

Zhong Ming checked his watch and said, sounding puzzled, "I'm not sure. It should be soon, I suppose."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the sound of a microphone echoed from the front of the banquet hall. The entire room fell silent. We looked toward the stage to see a man in a tuxedo standing there. "Ahem, honored guests, good evening. I am Zhou Jiguo, the organizer of this gala. I invited you all here for two reasons: first, for the leaders of the business world to get to know and learn from one another; second, to allow everyone a moment of relaxation. I won’t ramble on any further. Please, enjoy the drinks and have a wonderful evening."

With that, Zhou Jiguo stepped off the podium with a smile, and a burst of applause erupted. Soon, soothing music began to play. The guests took their seats, and the waiters became busy, first serving dinner. Once the meal was finished, the staff efficiently cleared away the tables and chairs as if it had all been planned in advance. Then, the music shifted, and those who had eaten and drunk their fill began to walk to the center of the dance floor to dance with their partners. I watched this from the sidelines and chuckled, saying to my master, "Master, these rich people really know how to enjoy themselves."

My master smiled as well and remarked, "Otherwise, why would they work so hard to make money, right?"

We both shook our heads with a laugh. The music was lyrical, and the people on the floor were having a great time. I leaned back in my chair, chewing on a toothpick and watching the scene, feeling utterly bored. I couldn't understand where they found the enthusiasm. I yawned, while Li Muyang, who looked rather excited, suddenly tugged at my sleeve. I looked at him in confusion, and he grinned, saying, "Lin Xuan, want to dance?"

I was stunned. "Dance? Dance with whom? No way, count me out."

Li Muyang, finding no takers, continued to entertain himself. The rest of us sat together, and I lost track of where Zhong Ming had gone. I took out my phone to scroll through my social media feed, but it was nothing but advertisements. Phones these days were hardly interesting; they were nothing like the games on my old Nokia, like "Snow Bros" or "Battle City."

Time ticked by, and it was soon nine o'clock. I was losing my patience and was about to ask my master to leave when the lights in the banquet hall suddenly went pitch black. Even the music stopped. The crowd let out sounds of surprise. I thought it was a power outage, but then a wave of heat surged through my right arm, and the black-and-white fish tattoo began to glow with a faint golden light. My master seemed to sense it too; he stood up abruptly, and I followed suit, looking at him by the light of the golden glow.

My master furrowed his brows and whispered, "Something is happening."

I frowned as well. The crowd around us still thought this was part of the show; some were still laughing, while others were confused, asking if the power had gone out.

Li Muyang, still sitting in his chair, was unmoved. Seeing us stand up, he asked blankly, "What is it? What’s happening?"

My master didn't answer. I turned slightly to Li Muyang and said, "Stop eating! Are you trying to choke yourself? Be careful; something isn't right here."

Hearing this, Li Muyang stood up, looking around warily. The three of us stood shoulder to shoulder. My master kept his eyes on the surroundings. Suddenly, a scream pierced through the confused murmurs of the crowd. Everyone was startled, and even those who had been chatting stopped laughing, panic beginning to set in amidst the darkness. I heard someone ask anxiously, "What’s wrong? What happened? Why aren't the lights coming back on?"

No sooner had the person finished speaking than I heard another scream—this time from the same person. Then, a woman shrieked as if she had touched something, crying out, "Ah! Blood! It’s warm!"

"Where? Where? How can there be blood?" a man asked urgently.

The woman replied, "It's on my face, and there's a metallic, fishy smell. What is happening? Why won't the lights turn on? Husband, I'm scared! Where are you?!"

Cries of terror erupted one after another, and the screams of agony within the banquet hall grew more frequent. My master’s brow tightened, but he didn't move, as it was impossible to see one's own hand in front of one's face. To move blindly would be to invite disaster. As I listened to the ear-piercing screams and shrieks, my heart began to race, and a thick, pungent smell of blood began to fill the air. I turned to look at my master, but I was frozen in shock—he was gone. He had been standing right next to me, yet I hadn't seen him move. How could he have disappeared? Refusing to believe it, I looked toward Li Muyang, my heart pounding with disbelief, only to find that he, too, was gone!

My head buzzed. I stared into the pitch-black void. Though I wasn't particularly afraid, the sudden disappearance of my master and Li Muyang made my heart tremble. Suddenly, an image materialized before me. My head began to spin, and I shook it, trying to clear the fog. When I looked up, I realized I was standing in a small grove of trees. It was a familiar place—the woods outside our village, Lin Family Village. Several people were standing near me, and I recognized them all: Pangdun, Tiezhu, Gouwa, and Sanbao, along with two others I didn't know. I looked at them in confusion, only to hear Pangdun say, "Hey, Mr. Liar, are you scared out of your wits? What are you staring at? Didn't you say you could see ghosts?"

I was stunned. Tiezhu, standing nearby, chimed in, "Pangdun, it's the middle of the night; who wouldn't be scared? Stop bullying Lin Xuan. We’re all from the same village; can’t we just play nicely?"

Pangdun laughed dismissively. "Pfft, I just don't like hanging out with liars. I enjoy picking on him."

At that moment, I stared blankly at my surroundings. It was night in the woods. I saw Tiezhu and the others holding flashlights, heading off to who knows where, while I stood there empty-handed. And then, I made a shocking discovery: I had returned to my younger self.