NOVEL NEXT Chapter 4: Chapter 4: The Jiangshi Menace
The humid air of Kowloon pressed heavily against Victor Hart as he walked beside Master Zhang and Leo toward their destination. The decrepit warehouse stood like a specter of a bygone era, its rusted metal doors and graffiti-covered walls exuding an eerie atmosphere. Locals gave the trio lingering, uneasy stares as they passed, their whispered conversations in Cantonese too low for Leo to catch but clear enough to Victor's heightened senses.
"This is the place," Zhang announced, stopping outside the looming structure. The faint metallic tang in the air made Victor's instincts flare. It was a scent he had come to associate with danger.
"Do you smell that?" Victor asked, his voice low.
Leo adjusted his glasses, trying not to look as nervous as he felt. "I'm trying not to."
Zhang lit an incense stick, murmuring a prayer under his breath before pushing the creaking doors open. The sound echoed ominously, revealing an interior that was dimly lit and strewn with debris. Broken crates and shards of glass littered the floor, while the faint glow of poorly made talismans flickered sporadically on the walls.
Victor stepped cautiously inside, his sharp gaze scanning every corner. "Whoever's doing this isn't very subtle," he remarked dryly.
Zhang's expression hardened. "These talismans are crude but effective enough to cause chaos. This is deliberate."
As they ventured deeper, the oppressive atmosphere seemed to thicken. Shadows clung unnaturally to the corners, and an almost palpable tension hung in the air. Leo clutched his bag tightly, glancing nervously over his shoulder. "I really hope we're not walking into a trap," he whispered.
Victor smirked. "We probably are."
Before Leo could retort, a chilling screech tore through the warehouse. The trio froze as a figure lurched from the shadows. It was a jiangshi, its stiff limbs jerking in disjointed hops. Yellow talismans glowed faintly on its forehead and arms, and its lifeless eyes locked onto them with unsettling focus.
"Stay back," Zhang ordered, pulling out a bundle of incense sticks. He lit them with a practiced flick, the pungent aroma quickly filling the air.
The jiangshi hissed, its hollow expression somehow managing to convey malice. It lunged forward with unnerving speed, forcing Victor to act. Moving with supernatural agility, he sidestepped the creature's wild swipes and shot a glance over his shoulder.
"You two might want to join in," he called out, dodging another attack.
Zhang's chants began to echo through the warehouse, steady and deliberate. He hurled a talisman that struck the jiangshi square in the chest, temporarily halting its movements. Leo, meanwhile, fumbled with his bag, finally pulling out a small vial of murky liquid.
"What's that supposed to do?" Victor asked, narrowly avoiding another lunge.
"Hopefully slow it down," Leo replied, hurling the vial at the creature. The glass shattered on impact, releasing a thick cloud of acrid smoke. The jiangshi staggered, its jerky movements becoming even more erratic.
"Not bad," Victor admitted, lunging forward to grab the talisman on its forehead. With a sharp tug, he tore it free. The jiangshi collapsed instantly, its body crumpling into a lifeless heap.
Zhang approached cautiously, his gaze fixed on the fallen creature. "This one is stronger than the others. Someone is refining their methods."
Victor crouched beside the jiangshi, examining the intricate symbols etched into the talismans. "This isn't amateur work. Whoever's behind this knows exactly what they're doing."
Before Zhang could respond, another screech rang out—then another. Victor's head snapped up as two more jiangshi emerged from the shadows, their movements faster and more aggressive than the first.
"Oh, come on," Leo groaned, frantically rummaging through his bag for more supplies.
"Focus!" Zhang barked, throwing another talisman. It struck one of the jiangshi, causing it to recoil, but the other advanced relentlessly toward Leo.
Victor intercepted it with a burst of speed, grappling with the creature as it lashed out with unnatural strength. The force of the attack sent him skidding across the floor, but he quickly regained his footing. With a growl, he unleashed a surge of vampiric power, slamming the jiangshi into a stack of crates.
Meanwhile, Zhang's chants grew louder, his voice resonating through the warehouse. The scattered talismans on the walls began to glow, their combined energy immobilizing the remaining jiangshi. The creatures convulsed violently before collapsing to the ground in eerie silence.
The trio stood amid the wreckage, catching their breath. Leo slumped onto a crate, wiping sweat from his brow. "Is it always like this?"
"It's usually worse," Victor replied, brushing dust from his coat.
Zhang knelt beside the fallen jiangshi, his expression grim. "Whoever is behind this is growing bolder. They're testing us. And if we don't act quickly, this will only be the beginning."
Victor stared at the lifeless forms, unease settling over him like a heavy cloak. He had come to Hong Kong to escape complications, yet here he was, neck-deep in a new set of problems. Despite himself, he couldn't deny the strange sense of purpose gnawing at him.
The trio emerged from the warehouse into the humid night. The streets, though no longer silent, carried a lingering tension that Victor could feel in his bones. He scanned the area with sharp eyes, his senses on high alert for any remaining threats.
"So, what now?" Leo asked, breaking the silence. His voice wavered between exhaustion and determination.
Zhang's expression was somber but resolute. "Now, we prepare. Whoever is behind this will not stop. They're building an army, and we've only just begun to uncover their plans."
Victor smirked faintly. "An army of hopping corpses? Creative. I'll give them that."
Leo adjusted his glasses, his nerves giving way to a flicker of resolve. "We're going to need better supplies. And maybe… maybe some help."
"Help?" Victor raised an eyebrow. "What, you want to put out a classified ad for jiangshi hunters?"
"He's not wrong," Zhang interjected. "But we will need allies. Hong Kong is full of those who understand the supernatural. If we're to succeed, we must find them."
Victor sighed, running a hand through his hair. He had hoped his time in Hong Kong would offer a reprieve from the chaos of his past, but fate seemed determined to keep him in the thick of it. Still, there was something invigorating about the challenge.
"Fine," Victor said, his voice firm. "But let's make one thing clear: if we're doing this, we do it my way."
Zhang's lips twitched into a faint smile. "As long as your way doesn't get us all killed, I have no objections."
Leo grinned, the tension easing slightly. "I'll make a list of what we need. And maybe look into finding someone who's dealt with this sort of thing before."
As the trio made their way back to Zhang's temple, the weight of their discovery hung heavily in the air. The jiangshi menace was only the beginning, and the battles ahead would test their limits. Yet, despite the danger, a sense of camaraderie had begun to form. For better or worse, they were in this together.