My Good Life - Chapter 7.2
On her shoulder blade was a dark red mark shaped like a child’s bloody handprint, and on the end of the fingertips were three red lines. I mustered up enough courage and took four sheets of tissue paper, crumpled it and gently wiped the lines.
“I can’t get it off. It looks like a mark, not your blood.” I felt my heartbeat sped up as if I’m watching a horror movie. “Peipei, when you pushed me yesterday, didn’t that man hit you?”
Li Peipei’s pale face suddenly turned blue. “Is that a ghost? Is that why no one else was there when we went back? Am I being possessed? Xiaoxin, put a light here please. Is my shadow still there?”
Without saying a word, I made a quick decision to take her to the witch on the sixth floor.
We knocked for a while, but it seemed like the witch was out. With the witch unavailable, I dragged Li Peipei, who had been increasingly frightened, to the first floor and knocked on Li Weiwei’s door. However, instead of her brother, it’s only his pet Hei Gou who was at the door licking its paws. “Master left yesterday and hasn’t come back since. He’s busy.”
“Where did he go?”
“Why would I tell—”
I grabbed it by the back of its neck and lifted it up. “Do I look like I’m messing with you? Where did he go?”
Hei Gou’s eyes widened and struggled, but I didn’t let go. After a few seconds of shaking it, Hei Gou answered in a small voice, “Vampire Association…”
“Take us there.”
“No, no, no!” Li Peipei broke free from my hand and ran upstairs. “There’s a barrier around the building. It’s safe here. There might be a ghost waiting for me to go out and steal my body. So no, I’m staying here.”
Seeing Li Peipei lost her usual imposing self, I realized how completely frightened she was. I took out my phone and called Li Weiwei, but after making two calls, he didn’t answer. I couldn’t think of anything else to do other than to walk outside with Hei Gou still in my hand. “You, lead the way.”
“But it’s so far! And my paws are very soft, and I don’t want to run! “
“I don’t care!”
In the end, we took a taxi. From the backseat, Hei Gou would point the direction and I would tell the driver. After numerous complaints from the driver, we arrived at Ciqikou. [1]
I never expected that a secret organization such as the Vampire Association would actually set its office in a crowded tourist attraction in the city…
I held Hei Gou in my arms and listened to the direction it gave me. With the number of tourists, we struggled walking through the main street. Hei Gou pointed at a sidewalk and somehow there’s a lot less people here. Chongqing was a city on a mountain slope, and because of that, the terrain was complex. After turning a couple of corners, I didn’t know our location anymore. I thought Hei Gou was playing tricks on me when it wagged its tail. “Here’s the door.”
The door in front of us was very old as well as the structure itself. It seemed like one push would knock it down. Next to the door was a grey wall with a notice posted on it saying “Dangerous house. Do not enter.”
“It’s here? You’re not lying to me?”
I’m confused. This place was in ruins! Don’t vampires abroad live in castles and luxury and have titles like barons and earls? How did they end up like this in China?
“Yes, it’s really here.”
“Li Weiwei who wears a suit and leather shoes every day is working here?”
“Yes.”
The door opened with a creaking sound and a man in a suit and leather shoes stood in front of us with his arms crossed and a brow raised. “What were you saying?”
When Hei Gou saw its master, it immediately jumped from my arms to Li Weiwei’s shoulder. “Master, this b?i?t?c?h? is too brazen! A mere human being dared threatened me!”
I coughed. “Li Weiwei, this is urgent. When Peipei protected me yesterday, she blocked the attack. Now, she has a bloody red handprint on her shoulders. We went to the old witch but she’s not there. You should go back. I’m afraid something will happen…”
Li Weiwei was silent for a moment before giving an order. “Hei Gou, get in and call for two physicians to see my sister.”
“Yes, master.” Hei Gou rushed into the dilapidated house.
I couldn’t help but sneak a peek inside. The house was small but based on what Li Weiwei said, there must be a lot of people inside… It seemed like their condition was more difficult than I thought.
“You.”
“Yeah?”
“From now on, you’re not allowed to leave the building unless necessary.”
“Why?”
“Why?” Li Weiwei’s tone was full of skepticism regarding my intelligence. “Li Peipei may have had the mark left on her, but that’s because she protected you. Who do you think that person is after?” He stared at me with his cold and solemn eyes, which made my heart tremble. “Our world is dangerous. As a human, you should not have been involved, but since you are, you should take your safety more seriously.”
Li Weiwei leaned down and gravely spoke. “Remember, among us, you are the prey.”
Translator’s Notes:
1. Ciqikou is an ancient town in Chongqing. If you want to read more about Ciqikou, there’s more here: CIQIKOU ANCIENT TOWN | ichongqing ?
By the way, is posting links to other sites allowed? here? (;;•?•)
(?;???)?