“Rumble—”
Black thunder rolled through the slate-gray clouds, and the Longxiang trembled like a fallen leaf in the wind, pitching violently in the raging waves.
Water mixed with shards of ice splashed across the deck, whipped by the gale, striking the soldiers’ armor with crisp “crackling” sounds.
Li Juntang braced himself against the mast, his embroidered robe soaked through by seawater, yet he still stood tall and unyielding.
He stared ahead at the gradually emerging outline of an island. The frown that had been etched on his face relaxed abruptly, and a fiery light ignited in his eyes.
“Your Highness! It’s Penglai Island! We’ve arrived!” The steward Qian Jin’s voice trembled with excitement.
Even this usually composed and calculating old man could not hide his joy.
After a journey filled with three attacks by sea monsters and two bouts of getting lost, their team had finally discovered the legendary Immortal Island from the brink of despair.
Elite soldiers surged onto the deck, their eyes fixed on the land bathed in a warm glow, letting out long-suppressed cheers.
Some even reached out through the wind, trying to touch the sunlight streaming through the clouds, as if trying to clutch this hard-won hope in their hands.
When the Longxiang finally drew near the shore, Li Juntang was the first to set foot on the beach.
The soft white sand felt warm under his boots, a striking contrast to the bone-chilling cold experienced aboard the ship. He inhaled deeply—the air was rich with the fragrance of plants and the moist scent of sea breeze, refreshing and invigorating.
“What a beautiful place.” A soldier could not help but sigh.
Before them, Penglai Island looked exactly as the ancient texts described: “Spring all year round, jade flowers always in bloom.”
A stretch of exotic flowers and strange plants extended from the beach inland. Pink petals fluttered like butterflies, purple vines twisted around towering ancient trees, and branches hung with crystal-clear fruits that gleamed enticingly in the sunlight.
Distant mountains were shrouded in mist, and the gentle sound of streams could be heard from between the peaks. Occasionally, colorful birds flitted by, leaving behind a string of clear, melodious calls.
Li Juntang strolled through the flowerbeds, his fingertips nearly brushing a bright red blossom that looked almost ready to drip with dew.
The petals were layered like the finest silk, and the stamen glistened with crystalline droplets—harmless and beautiful, or so it seemed.
“Your Highness! Stop!”
Qian Jin suddenly rushed forward, grabbing Li Juntang’s wrist with a serious expression.
“These flowers and plants are not normal. Everyone, fall back! Do not touch anything!”
Li Juntang froze for a moment, puzzled. “Uncle Qian, why are you so tense? These flowers seem fine… they even radiate spiritual energy.”
The other soldiers also stopped, wearing expressions of confusion.
To them, this sea of flowers looked like a symbol of paradise. How could it possibly be dangerous?
Qian Jin said nothing. He bent down, picked up a fist-sized stone from the sand, and hurled it toward the red flower.
“Clack!”
The moment the stone touched the petals, a shocking scene unfolded.
The seemingly delicate red flower suddenly “snapped” open. Its petals curled back to reveal a gaping maw lined with sharp, glinting teeth, which swallowed the stone whole.
A crisp “crack” sounded as the stone was crushed into powder, falling from the calyx.
Everyone recoiled in terror, faces drained of color.
Even more horrifying, the surrounding flowers and plants began reacting.
Pink petals revealed tiny venomous spines. Purple vines twisted through the air like snakes. Even seemingly docile ferns snapped shut, trapping a butterfly that had landed on them; when the leaves opened, the butterfly was gone, replaced by a few drops of dark red liquid.
“Th…this is a man-eating flower! And there’s a whole patch of them!” A soldier said in disbelief.
Cold sweat broke out on Li Juntang’s back, and his earlier excitement vanished.
He stared at the seemingly beautiful but secretly deadly flower patch, a wave of fear surging through him.
If Qian Jin had not intervened in time, a single touch could have turned him into a “snack” for these bizarre plants.
“Uncle Qian, thank you.” Li Juntang took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm, then turned sharply to the soldiers:
“Listen carefully! From now on, everyone must stay close to the group. Do not touch anything on this island, not a leaf, not a fruit! Anyone who disobeys will face military punishment!”
The soldiers nodded, their faces showing no trace of negligence.
They gripped their weapons tightly, watching the surrounding flora with cautious breaths.
Qian Jin moved closer to Li Juntang and lowered his voice:
“Your Highness, Penglai Island may appear to be a paradise, but it is full of hidden dangers. I’ve read in ancient texts that some Immortal Islands disguise deadly poisons and traps beneath their beauty. Every step we take from here must be extremely careful.”
Li Juntang nodded, his gaze sweeping over the misty mountains ahead.
He knew the journey to find the Immortal Pill was only just beginning. The man-eating flowers before them were merely Penglai Island’s first “show of force.” - Marinien
Comments