After Swapping Identities With My Archenemy - Chapter 59

Chapter 59: Voices Outside the Window

The rolling mountains were like a cage, encircling the observation deck. This peculiar geography gave everyone a subtle, unsettling feeling. The long corridor resembled a dragon trapped in the mountains, struggling for survival in the crevices.

Below the deck lay a stretch of deep water, a mountain stream winding through the landscape, its source unknown. The group stood on a flat clearing above, observing through binoculars before finally looking away.

The sun was high, yet the river below had not completely frozen. The water’s surface shimmered with ripples under the bleak sunlight. Theoretically, at this time of year, mountain temperatures were well below freezing, and any lake should have a thick layer of ice.

Yet here, there was none. Mist drifted off the river surface beneath the trees, swirling in the air before quietly dissipating. Even without Er Shu’s explanation, they knew there was something wrong with the water below.

The weasel was still tied up back at the guesthouse, hidden by Jiang Huaiyi in a place where it was unlikely to be discovered. After surveying the area, they planned to head back. Er Shu informed them that they would officially enter the mountains tomorrow; they needed to pack all their survival gear, as conditions inside would be far harsher than in the village.

Jiang Huaiyi had never been to the north, but she had heard stories of its winters. News of people freezing to death in the snow wasn’t uncommon. She could only pray for no snow tomorrow and that the weather would remain clear, as the guide predicted.

At the same time, she felt a growing curiosity about “Dragon Hunting.” What exactly were they looking for? In her world, dragons were creatures of myth. By her Uncle’s generation, practically no one had seen one. Only the very elderly could describe the legends passed down by their fathers—details so specific they suggested the sightings might have been real.

Armed with the silk paper’s directions, she felt she truly had a chance to see this legendary creature. Curiously, Zheng Ji was nowhere to be seen on the trek back.

Preparations and the Ascent

Back at the guesthouse, Jiang Huaiyi retrieved the weasel from the toilet tank, where it had been wrapped in a plastic bag with only its head out to breathe. It looked at her with eyes full of terror. To some, this might look like animal cruelty, but considering the weasel’s past malicious intent, Jiang Huaiyi felt she was being quite merciful especially since others in the group wanted to turn it into a pair of gloves.

The next morning, before dawn, the group was ready. They ate a quick breakfast of local dry cakes—bland but delicious when heated and paired with dipping sauces and began the real ascent.

The cold was absolute. Jiang Huaiyi’s mind could process nothing but the mechanical sensation of freezing. Even with full gear, the chill seeped in. She wondered if they would survive the night in the wild.

By dusk, after a grueling climb, they finally reached the observation deck they had seen the day before. Behind the magnificent structure was a small patch of flat land with a few simple buildings. These were heated by traditional brick beds (kang). Coal had been hauled up by hand before the winter started.

The price for a night’s stay was 210 yuan per person outrageously expensive. Shen Wensi paid a bundle of cash without blinking, which made Jiang Huaiyi’s heart ache for the money, though she kept a stoic face.

The Night on the Kang

The room was simple: a heated kang, a sofa, and a table. After checking the windows and doors, they pulled out the lampstand. Under the warm yellow light, the lampstand faced them. Perhaps because there were more than two people, its hallucinogenic effect seemed neutralized.

However, the ruby eyes of the lampstand still seemed to track everyone in the room.

“It’s like a dragonfly’s eye,” Chu Lianxue remarked. “A 360-degree view with no blind spots.”

Jiang Huaiyi’s nerves, which had just started to settle, spiked again.

“Don’t say that,” Mu Ze chided. “Look, our ‘Sect Master’ is breaking out in a cold sweat.”

Jiang Huaiyi wiped her forehead, thinking back to the night she had clung to Shen Wensi in fear. “Let’s not rush out yet,” she suggested. “We’ll observe first. Wait a couple of days for the other crowds to leave; it’ll be easier to move.”

According to Er Shu, dragons were most likely to appear on clear days when the river surface was partially frozen. With the signal cut off in the deep mountains, they decided to turn in early to build up their strength.

They slept together on the large communal kang. It was a new experience for Jiang Huaiyi. Despite the physical exhaustion, her mind remained hyper-alert.

As she lay there in the eerie blue light of the room, listening to the wind outside, Song Rong sleeping in the middle suddenly spoke.

“Did you guys hear that?”

Jiang Huaiyi rolled over, keeping her ears uncovered. Aside from Xiao Die’s breathing and the wind, she heard nothing.

“Hear what?” Mu Ze whispered.

“Is someone eating?” Song Rong asked. “I think there’s a sound coming from my window.”

Xiao Die’s tail flicked against Jiang Huaiyi’s face. “I don’t hear anything,” she murmured.

Just as the words left her mouth, a clear, crisp sound filled the room.

Crunch. Crunch.

It sounded like someone chewing on cartilage, but without the sound of swallowing. It was tireless and rhythmic.

The group went dead silent. The chewing sound grew more distinct, appearing to come directly from the window. Everyone turned their heads toward the glass.

There, silhouetted against the moonlight, a dark, human-shaped shadow appeared on the windowpane.

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