“Rumble—”
Black thunder churned within the leaden clouds. The Longxiang rocked violently in the raging waves, like a lone leaf in the wind.
Water pooled on the deck, mixed with shards of ice, and was whipped into the air by fierce gusts, striking the soldiers’ armor with sharp crackling sounds.
Li Wenxing gripped the mast. His brocade robe was long since soaked through, yet he still stood tall, back straight.
Ahead, the silhouette of an island gradually emerged. His furrowed brow suddenly eased, and a blazing light burst in his eyes.
“Your Highness! It’s Penglai Island—we’ve arrived!” said his steward Qian Jin, his voice trembling with excitement.
This usually shrewd and composed old retainer could not contain his joy.
Their voyage had faced three sea monster attacks and twice lost its way, yet at last, on the brink of despair, they had found the legendary Immortal Island.
Elite soldiers crowded the deck, staring at the land bathed in glowing light, and broke into long-suppressed cheers.
Some even reached out toward the rays spilling through gaps in the clouds, as if to seize this hard-won hope in their hands.
When the Longxiang finally drew near the shore, Li Wenxing was the first to step onto the beach.
The fine white sand carried a gentle warmth through his boots, a stark contrast to the bone-piercing chill endured at sea. He inhaled deeply—the air was filled with the fragrance of plants and the damp freshness of the sea breeze, clear and invigorating.
“What a beautiful place,” one soldier sighed in awe.
Before them, Penglai Island perfectly matched the ancient texts: “Spring all year round, jade blossoms forever blooming.”
Exotic flowers and grasses stretched from the beach inland. Pink petals fluttered like butterflies taking flight, while purple vines coiled around towering ancient trees, whose branches bore crystalline fruits glistening temptingly under the sun.
The distant mountains were shrouded in mist, streams murmured faintly between the slopes, and colorful birds flashed past, leaving behind bright, melodious calls.
Li Wenxing wandered into the flowerbeds, his fingertips nearly brushing a brilliant red blossom heavy with dew.
Its petals were layered like the finest silk, its stamen glittering with clear droplets—harmless, beautiful, full of spirit.
“Your Highness! Don’t!”
Qian Jin suddenly rushed forward, seizing Li Wenxing’s wrist with a grave expression.
“The flowers and plants on this island are not right. Everyone, step back! No one is to touch anything!”
Li Wenxing paused, puzzled.
“Uncle Qian, why so tense? These flowers don’t look dangerous. If anything, they seem full of spiritual energy.”
The other soldiers also halted, their faces full of doubt.
To them, this sea of flowers looked like the very image of paradise. How could it be dangerous?
Without answering, Qian Jin stooped to pick up a fist-sized stone from the sand, then hurled it at the red blossom.
“Clack!”
The moment the stone brushed the petals, a shocking scene unfolded.
The seemingly fragile red flower suddenly snapped open with a swish. Its petals curled back, revealing a gaping maw bristling with sharp teeth. With a crunch, it swallowed the stone whole.
“Crack!”
The stone was ground to powder between its fangs, falling from the calyx in a fine dust.
The men staggered back in horror, faces drained of color.
Worse still, the disturbance spread to the surrounding growth.
Pink petals revealed tiny poisoned spines. Purple vines writhed through the air like venomous snakes. Even a few harmless-looking ferns snapped shut, trapping a butterfly that had perched on them. When the leaves opened again, the butterfly was gone—only a few drops of dark red liquid remained.
“T-this… this is a man-eating flower! And a whole field of them!” a soldier gasped.
Cold sweat drenched Li Wenxing’s back, his earlier excitement swept away.
He stared at the deceptively beautiful but deadly flowerbed, a chill of dread rising in his chest.
If Qian Jin hadn’t stopped him in time, his single touch would have made him a “snack” for these monstrous plants.
“Uncle Qian, I owe you.” Li Wenxing drew a deep breath, forcing himself calm. He turned sharply to his men:
“You heard me! From now on, everyone stays with 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 expressions solemn.
They tightened their grip on their weapons, eyes wary, even their breathing subdued.
Qian Jin stepped close to Li Wenxing, lowering his voice:
“Your Highness, Penglai Island may look like a paradise, but it is riddled with hidden dangers. I’ve read in the old texts—some Immortal Islands mask themselves with beauty, but in truth they are filled with deadly poisons and traps. From here on, every step must be taken with utmost caution.”
Li Wenxing nodded, his gaze sweeping over the mist-cloaked mountains ahead.
He knew—the path to the Immortal Pill was only just beginning.
And this field of man-eating flowers was nothing more than Penglai Island’s first show of force. - Marinien
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