VIP Volume Chapter 35 Crimson Eyes

At this moment, Ye Xiaoxuan gazed at the approaching wall of fire in the distance, his heart filled with an indescribable sensation—a strange intimacy, as if he had wandered far from home for many years and suddenly encountered an old friend. How could a mere wave rising from the lake evoke such a peculiar feeling within him?

Ye Xiaoxuan could not unravel these mysteries, nor did he have the time to ponder them, for the steamship was drawing dangerously close to the great whirlpool. Soon, it would be swept into that bottomless abyss, just as the carnivorous knives and sea eagles had been before!

As if possessed, Ye Xiaoxuan flung open the door to the cockpit and rushed out. The ship rocked violently, like a leaf caught in a storm; even gripping the railings, one struggled to stand upright, let alone venture onto the unprotected deck.

“What’s that boy up to?” The chief engineer, seeing Ye Xiaoxuan stumble outside, shouted loudly to a sailor, “Stop him, quick!”

The captain cursed, “Who cares at this point? We're all doomed anyway! If he wants to die first, let him!”

Ye Xiaoxuan had no idea what he was meant to do, or why he had come to the deck. He felt as though someone in the lake was calling to him, like a magnet drawing him irresistibly forward.

The sky in the distance was pitch black, but before him, the world was ablaze with crimson light. The towering water curtain grew higher and higher, now at least ten stories tall, yet it neither collapsed nor spilled, only continued to climb.

The sight was breathtaking, yet perilous. Even if the ship avoided the whirlpool, once that wall of water crashed down, the fishing boat would be smashed to pieces.

Standing on the deck, Ye Xiaoxuan let the rain soak him through, staring at the fiery red water curtain before him. An urge surged within him—to pull it down.

“Hey, brat, come back!” someone shouted from behind. Ye Xiaoxuan ignored the call, edging closer to the bow, as if truly intent on pulling down the water curtain.

Wen Xiaoyu had just tried to climb out from below deck, but Hua Lingluo pulled her back, scolding, “Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

Wen Xiaoyu replied shakily, “Sister, do we even have a chance to survive?”

Hua Lingluo frowned deeply. “If we stay on the ship, there’s still a slim hope. If you try to save that boy, you’ll die at once! Sister, have you fallen for that troublemaker? He’s a master at deceiving girls!”

Thinking of how she’d been trussed up like a dumpling by this rascal, lying helpless on the cliff and taken advantage of, Hua Lingluo felt a lingering fear—both embarrassed and angry.

Wen Xiaoyu blushed, pushing her away. “Sister, don’t talk nonsense! And stop holding me back. He’s saved us so many times; it’s my turn to save him! Even if I die, it’s better than cowering in the hold!” With that, she leaped from below deck. Hua Lingluo tried to grab her but missed, shouting in frustration, powerless to stop her.

If only the water curtain could be pulled down, it would block the whirlpool ahead, and everyone on the ship could escape unharmed. This thought filled Ye Xiaoxuan’s mind, compelling him step by step toward the bow.

Wen Xiaoyu rushed over, grabbing Ye Xiaoxuan’s arm and shouting, “Don’t do anything foolish!”

Ye Xiaoxuan glanced at her, resolutely shook off her hand without a word, and continued forward.

Wen Xiaoyu was stunned. In that instant when Ye Xiaoxuan turned, she clearly saw his eyes—brilliant red pupils! Their color was even more vivid than the fiery lake water.

With those red eyes, Ye Xiaoxuan seemed transformed. His once ordinary face radiated a demonic charm; Wen Xiaoyu was entranced, feeling as if those eyes pierced her soul, leaving a trace of smoke branded upon her heart—a mark that would never fade.

While she was lost in that moment, Ye Xiaoxuan reached the bow, stepped onto the railing, and leaped forward.

In midair, Ye Xiaoxuan stretched out his hands, and an astonishing scene unfolded—the water curtain actually responded, slowly tilting forward!

But at that very moment, a cry sounded behind him: “No!” Wen Xiaoyu’s anguished voice. Ye Xiaoxuan immediately sensed danger, a thought flashing through his mind: This is the end!

As Ye Xiaoxuan plunged into the lake, Wen Xiaoyu felt as if a knife had stabbed her heart. Without hesitation, she ran and jumped after him, grabbing him tightly and sobbing, “If you die, I’ll die with you!”

Ye Xiaoxuan wanted to curse, “What’s the matter with you? Only an idiot would want to die! Just when I was about to succeed, you’ve got both my arms pinned!”

Without suspense, the two fell into the lake, instantly swept into the whirlpool. The massive water curtain, for reasons unknown, tilted and crashed onto the lake, creating towering waves that lifted the steamship nearly ten meters before it fell back, half-submerged.

Ye Xiaoxuan’s arms were tightly held by Wen Xiaoyu, leaving him completely immobilized. The force that had allowed him to move the water curtain seemed to vanish the moment she touched him, and he could only sink helplessly, swallowing water and awaiting death.

Even if his arms were free, it would have been useless; he couldn’t swim. Flailing would do no good—before such an immense whirlpool, even the best swimmer was but an ant.

As the pair spiraled toward the whirlpool’s center, Ye Xiaoxuan took in several gulps of water and felt Wen Xiaoyu’s hold slacken—she could not last, the whirlpool’s pull was too strong, she might be flung away at any moment!

In the water, letting go meant instant separation. Ye Xiaoxuan could not afford to hesitate; in a desperate moment, he gripped Wen Xiaoyu’s delicate hand tightly. Water rushed into every opening, his mouth unable to close, his mind ringing, and consciousness faded away.

He had no idea how much time passed before a voice sounded by his ear: “Troublemaker!”—urgent and fearful. Ye Xiaoxuan opened his eyes, jolting upright, startling Wen Xiaoyu beside him.

“I’m alive?” Ye Xiaoxuan could scarcely believe it. Once again, he had escaped death by the hand of Lake Daxian—perhaps he was kin to the lake god in a past life!

Wen Xiaoyu clutched Ye Xiaoxuan’s hand and told him, “Of course you’re alive! We both survived, swept here by the lake water. The water broke through, but we remained! Troublemaker, where are we?”

You ask me, who should I ask? Perhaps from drinking too much water, Ye Xiaoxuan’s head felt foggy. He sat for a while, vision clearing, and looked around. To his amazement, they seemed to be in a wide cave.

Mist shrouded the surroundings; the ceiling was invisible, and beneath their feet lay a road of slippery, soft moss. How could Lake Daxian have such a place? He had never heard of mountains beneath the lake.