Evening fell, and the sky over Dusk Island burned with a brilliant orange-red hue.
In the corner of a restaurant facing the street, Yue Shi leaned his elbows on the table, resting his chin on his interlaced fingers as he lazily gazed out the window.
The scenery was breathtakingly beautiful.
It was as if... the setting sun knew its own infinite beauty, yet forgot that the twilight was already upon it.
The snow leopard was curled up on the empty chair beside him, its tail hanging down and twitching occasionally.
Sitting opposite him was Kraken.
This man, who just moments ago had been trembling in an alley and nearly had an entire arm twisted off, was now sitting upright with a straight back. His hands were placed neatly on his knees, and his face was forced into a strained, fake smile.
Several local specialties were laid out on the table.
There was a plate of charred, golden-brown roasted fish seasoned with unknown spices that smelled quite fragrant.
A bowl of tenderly stewed sea shells sat in a milky-white broth, with a few strands of verdant wild greens floating on top.
A dish of blackish-green pickled seaweed was drizzled with chili oil.
Finally, there was a pot of rice, its long, thin grains steamed to a light, fluffy consistency.
The cooking didn't seem particularly sophisticated, but the ingredients were undeniably fresh.
Yue Shi used a fork to pick up a piece of roasted fish, putting it into his mouth to chew slowly.
“Mhm.”
He nodded slightly, though it was unclear if he was praising the fish or something else.
Kraken watched him expectantly. Seeing that Yue Shi had no intention of speaking further, he finally mustered the courage to open his mouth.
“Um, is there anything else you would like to ask? About the Order Alliance, or perhaps the distribution of power on the sea?”
Yue Shi looked up at Kraken.
The words caught in Kraken's throat, making him choke for a moment. He quickly added, “I just feel that these things are a long story. If you are hungry, perhaps you should finish your meal first.”
As he spoke, he fished a few silver coins from his pocket, carefully placed them on the corner of the table, and waved to a waiter who was peeking in from a distance.
“Two more signature dishes, please.”
The waiter acknowledged the order and scurried off toward the kitchen.
Yue Shi said nothing and continued eating his fish.
Kraken swallowed hard, his gaze lingering on the silver coins for a split second before he quickly looked away.
That was his operational fund.
He had to say something.
This person was too terrifying.
He never wanted to recall what had happened in that alley for the rest of his life.
But thinking about it from another angle, if such a powerful person could be recruited into the alliance...
Kraken's heart skipped a beat.
He didn't know Yue Shi's identity, his stance, or even why he had come to Dusk Island.
But he knew one thing: this man was incredibly strong.
The Order Alliance needed people like this, even if it was only for a temporary cooperation.
He took a deep breath. When he spoke again, his tone had shifted to one of indignation, hoping to stir Yue Shi's sense of justice by describing the malice the cults held toward the islanders.
“You've been to that church already, haven't you?”
Yue Shi did not stop eating.
Kraken continued, “That is the territory of the Star Embryo Sect. On the surface, they disguise themselves as a legitimate religion, performing good deeds, treating the islanders' illnesses, distributing food to the poor, and even adopting orphans. But it's all a front.”
“Young, healthy people often die mysteriously on this island. One day they are working just fine, and the next they are gone. Their families cry for a while, bury them, and that's the end of it.”
“But do you know? Most of those who died had contact with the Star Embryo Sect before their deaths. Some worked at the church, and others received their relief rations.”
Yue Shi put another piece of roasted fish into his mouth, chewing slowly.
Seeing that he wasn't being interrupted, Kraken grew bolder and continued.
“It's not just the Star Embryo Sect. Every religion on this island has problems. These sects usually disguise themselves exceptionally well—they look more like legitimate religions than the actual ones. But if you stay for a few more days, you'll start to see the cracks.”
Yue Shi set down his utensils, picked up the cup beside him, and took a sip of water.
“And?”
“And...” Kraken faltered for a moment, unsure of what to say, but he forced himself to press on.
“Actually, the Star Embryo Sect isn't the most dangerous one. The most dangerous sect on this island is another one—the Sect of Deliverance.”
Yue Shi's eyes shifted slightly.
Kraken spoke even faster. “The Sect of Deliverance is never flashy, but they hold a supreme position in the hearts of the islanders. This is because they possess the method of resurrection.”
“Resurrection?” Yue Shi repeated the word.
Kraken heard the interest in his tone and nodded emphatically. “Yes, resurrection.”
“In a few days, it will be the Sect of Deliverance's annual Resurrection Festival. On that day, islanders can bring their deceased relatives and friends to the sect's church to undergo a resurrection ritual.”
Yue Shi was silent for two seconds.
“Do you think a perfect resurrection exists in this world?” Kraken asked Yue Shi.
Yue Shi rubbed the snow leopard's ear. “I don't know.”
Kraken said, “I don't know either. But the Sect of Deliverance truly can bring the dead back to life.”
Yue Shi looked up at him. “Then aren't there many resurrected people on this island?”
“Yes, quite a few,” Kraken sighed.
“But not everyone is willing to send their dead loved ones to be resurrected. On one hand, those who weren't that close don't feel it's necessary. On the other hand, the Sect of Deliverance has a limited number of slots for resurrection; not everyone can qualify.”
“Furthermore, the other sects won't just let the Sect of Deliverance grow unchecked. They always claim that the resurrected are demons—abominations that desecrate life and death. When they say it enough, the islanders start to have doubts. And...”
“Those who are resurrected really are a bit strange.”
Yue Shi's eyebrow twitched slightly.
Kraken shook his head, not delving deeper into the topic.
It wasn't that he didn't want to say more; he simply hadn't figured out what was going on with those resurrected people himself.
He had only seen a few from a distance, and they always felt off.
Yue Shi didn't press him further. Instead, he changed the subject.
“Compared to the Resurrection Festival, I am more curious about something else.”
Kraken adopted an attentive expression.
Yue Shi's finger lightly tapped the table. “There are so many sects on this island with different beliefs and conflicting doctrines. By all logic, they should have been at each other's throats long ago.”
“And yet, they can coexist peacefully, each occupying their own corner without interfering with one another.”
“Do you know why?”
Kraken gave a bitter smile and shook his head. “I don't know. The Order Alliance has been investigating for a long time, but we haven't found a reason. All we know is that this phenomenon has lasted for at least a decade or more. It's been so long that the islanders have grown accustomed to it.”
“Even the followers of those sects won't attack other sects. At most, they'll mutter a few words behind their backs, but on the surface, they remain polite.”
Yue Shi's gaze passed over Kraken, looking toward the sky outside the window.
Kraken watched him, his heart full of uncertainty.
He couldn't read this man's reactions at all. When resurrection was mentioned earlier, he was clearly interested. But in the blink of an eye, he had returned to looking like he didn't care about anything.
He spoke tentatively. “Would you like to stay on the island for a few more days? The Resurrection Festival is in five days. At that time, you can see the resurrected for yourself. Perhaps...”
Yue Shi withdrew his gaze and glanced at him.
Kraken immediately fell silent.
Yue Shi lowered his head and continued eating the unfinished roasted fish.
Twilight had passed, and the sky was gradually darkening.
Rate on N.U.
