VESSEL - Extinction Countdown 953: Night’s Haunt

For driving safety, Yi Qing and You Long’er took turns at the wheel, spending a full day to reach the town nearest Touxiang Village.

This was where Ye Shisan stayed with Li Fang and He Dali after leaving his village. Over twenty years later, revisiting, he marveled at the town’s rapid growth.

With dusk falling and Touxiang Village deep in the mountains, a night trek on dark roads was risky. They decided to stay at a budget hotel and head out at dawn.

Guided by Vanilla, Ye Shisan barely managed a map app. Smartphones were a mystery after twenty years cut off from the world.

He found a 666 Chain Hotel listing “2 rooms left” and booked them.

You Long’er caught it: “Ye Shisan, two rooms? What’s that about?”

He blinked, puzzled: “You all in one, me in the other. Problem?”

“They’re twin rooms. Four of us—how’s that work?”

“Huh? Booking’s that fussy?”

Ye Shisan scratched his head, stumped. To him, nicer places were hotels, basic ones were guesthouses, and you could add beds for more people.

Yi Qing, driving, chuckled: “Can’t even book a room right, Ye Shisan. Gotta hand it to you.”

Vanilla piped up: “I don’t care! I’m scared of ghosts—I’m rooming with Uncle Shisan!”

You Long’er snapped: “Dream on, kid! Ye Shisan’s my man—no stealing!”

“Pfft! Your man? Uncle Shisan was cuddling me to sleep way before you showed up, right?”

Vanilla, beside Ye Shisan in the back, flung herself into his arms with a pout. You Long’er, in the front passenger seat, fumed: “Vanilla, you little devil!”

Before she could finish, the Jeep swerved hard. Tires screeched, inertia flung everyone up, then seatbelts and gravity slammed them back.

Yi Qing braked, pulling a tight drift, stopping the Jeep on the emergency line—three feet from a sheer cliff!

A pack of modded cars roared past, engines howling, some honking wildly, speeding like they were chasing a funeral.

Yi Qing checked: “Everyone okay? Those punks treat lives like a game!”

Ye Shisan and Vanilla, belted in the back, were shaken but fine. You Long’er, in the front, was livid, a red welt swelling on her forehead. She’d shielded her face, or it’d be worse.

“Yi Qing, let me drive! Those scum need a lesson!”

Yi Qing blocked her: “Cool it. Angry driving’s a wreck waiting to happen. We’re here to investigate, not start fights.”

You Long’er rubbed her forehead, snarling: “Hmph! If I see those jerks again, they’re done!”

She dropped her spat with Vanilla. The Jeep rolled on to the 666 Chain Hotel.

At the entrance, the same modded cars were lined up.

You Long’er leapt out before the Jeep stopped, kicking each car hard.

The first few were empty. When she hit the last—a Swift—a guy stepped out.

A short, wiry youth, dark-skinned, in a crop top, sporting nose, ear, and navel rings—a Three-Ring Shamate.

“Hey! What’s your deal? Kicking my car?!”

You Long’er glared: “Kicking you!”

“Damn, you wanna die?”

No words wasted, the Three-Ring Shamate yanked a baseball bat from the window, waving it at You Long’er.

He didn’t mean to hit her—her looks stunned him at first. But for a racer, pride trumped life.

You Long’er, fuming, didn’t care if he was Shamate or racer. She threw a punch and kick, dropping him flat.

As Dragon Gate’s heiress, trained in mixed martial arts, her moves were lethal. Ye Shisan couldn’t stop her in time.

Yi Qing parked, saw the scene, and sighed: “You Long’er, rein in that temper.”

You Long’er shrugged: “Pfft! Live once, settle scores—that’s my joy! Swallowing grief? Not me! Let’s see what these punks are made of! Come on!”

She led the group into the hotel lobby.

The receptionist was polite: “Hello, how can I help?”

Ye Shisan flashed his ID: “Hi, we booked two rooms.”

“One moment, let me check.”

As they waited, a group of Shamate-styled men and women emerged from behind a screen, led by a tall guy with a beer belly mismatched to his frame. They shouted, ignoring others:“Master Hao’s skills are insane—that curve pass could rival Schumacher!”“Schumacher? Small fry next to Master Hao! He’d wet himself on these roads!”“Yo, Master Hao, what’re you—”“Hey… those chicks are hot!”

The lackeys noticed their leader staring at Yi Qing and You Long’er, drawing everyone’s eyes.

Yi Qing’s mature charm and You Long’er’s youthful spark were stunning. Add Vanilla’s silver hair, slim waist, and long legs, and the lobby seemed to glow.

The potbellied leader let out a “hmph,” silencing his crew. He approached, all manners: “Ladies, I’m opening a bar in the county tonight. Care to join? My treat.”

Yi Qing and You Long’er, stone-faced, spat: “Scram!”

Two burly Shamates jumped forward: “Know who this is? Pang City’s Master Hao! One stomp, and everyone shakes!”

Master Hao, pleased with the flattery, pressed: “Ladies, you’re gorgeous, and I know beauty! Join me at the bar, all expenses paid, plus a Hermess bag each. Deal?”

His crew chimed in:“Master Hao’s favor is a blessing! Drinks, dancing—tips could hit thousands!”“A Hermess bag? That’s big money! I’d go!”“How many girls beg for Master Hao’s ride? Don’t overplay your hand!”“These chicks scream trouble, acting all high and mighty!”

Yi Qing shook her head, done with them. As a cop, she’d seen plenty of these types.

You Long’er, pissed, sneered: “Hermess? You mean Hermès? I could have as many as I want! Play with yourselves!”

As Dragon Gate’s pampered daughter, Hermess bags were like toothbrushes to her.

Master Hao, irked by his first rejection, seethed at You Long’er’s brazen insult. Malice surged within him as he prepared to spit venomous words, only for a sharper bellow to erupt from the front desk.

Ye Shisan: “What? I booked those rooms online! How’re they gone?”

Vanilla backed him: “Yeah! I saw Uncle Shisan book them, payment and all!”

The receptionist, flustered: “Sorry, the manager gave them away… Try another hotel?”

Ye Shisan frowned with mild irritation: “I booked first, paid up! This is ridiculous!”

Master Hao clocked Ye Shisan, jealousy flaring. Tall, lanky, decent-looking but dressed like a nobody—how’d he have Yi Qing, You Long’er, and a criminally cute kid? Conman or drugger!

He sneered: “I took your rooms! I don’t play fair—what can you do about it?”