One person: Starting with the Snow Drinking Blade

Nie Lingfeng's gaze deepened. His eyes were like two deep wells; if you looked into them, you couldn't see the bottom.

"While Behemoth is powerful, Nathan Island is no pushover either. King Nathan has ruled this island for so many years, so he must have his trump cards. The various forces on the island are deeply intertwined, and it's not something anyone can just swallow up. Let's wait and see how the situation develops."

He paused, then said:

"Besides, I was originally planning to go somewhere else anyway."

"How about we go somewhere else?"

Wang Zhenqiu was taken aback, and his hand rose from his side, stopping in mid-air.

"Where to?"

"paradise."

When Nie Lingfeng said those two words, his tone was very calm, as if he were saying "Let's go eat."

"paradise?"

Everyone exchanged bewildered glances. Zhang Chulan frowned, Wang Ye's finger stopped at the edge of the stone bench, Zhang Lingyu opened her eyes, and Feng Baobao straightened up from the wall. Lu Linglong stopped practicing, stood there panting, and turned to look this way.

"That's right."

Nie Lingfeng nodded.

"Nathan Island is the most chaotic place, and also the easiest place to gather information. After Behemoth lands, the power structure on the island will inevitably change. The marketplace is King Nathan's territory, and Behemoth won't easily touch it. But Paradise is different. Paradise is a lawless place, and if Behemoth wants to establish his authority, he might very well target Paradise."

His gaze swept over the crowd.

"Instead of waiting passively here, we should take the initiative and go to the park to see what's going on. At least we'll know what they're planning to do next."

"But the amusement park is dangerous..."

Zhang Chulan hesitated. He rubbed his chin a couple of times with his fingers, his brows furrowed, and his lips pursed.

"It is precisely because of the danger that we have what we want."

Nie Lingfeng looked at him.

"Besides, aren't you looking for Ruan Feng? The last time he was seen was near the amusement park. Go there; you might find clues about him."

Zhang Chulan's eyes lit up when he heard this.

"Okay! Let's go to the amusement park then!"

"I'm going too!"

Lu Linglong quickly raised her hand; she had stopped practicing and run over. Her ponytail swayed behind her, her cheeks were flushed, and there were beads of sweat on her forehead. Her eyes sparkled, like two black grapes washed with water.

"Wherever Master goes, I will go!"

"I'm fine with it too."

Wang Ye stood up and dusted off his Taoist robe.

"Since we're just killing time anyway, it'll be interesting to see the most chaotic place on Nathan Island."

"Then I'll go too."

Zhang Lingyu said calmly. He stepped out of the shadows and into the sunlight. His hands were tucked into his sleeves, his face serene and expressionless.

Me too.

Feng Baobao raised her hand. Today she wore her hair in pigtails, divided into two sections and tied above her ears with hair ties, which swayed from side to side as she walked. She held a cucumber in her hand and took a bite with a "crunch".

"Since you're all going, of course I have to go too."

Wang Zhenqiu shrugged.

"Anyway, there's no point in me staying here alone."

"Alright, pack your things and get ready to go."

Nie Lingfeng made a decision.

"Duo'er, please take good care of Xiaoyun."

Chen Duo nodded. She sat on the stone steps at the entrance of the courtyard, with Xiao Yun sitting on her lap. Xiao Yun held a small wildflower she had picked from the roadside; the petals were white and the center was yellow. She was plucking the petals off one by one and counting them in her palm.

"clear."

The group quickly packed their luggage and checked out of their room.

The innkeeper was a plump woman in her fifties who spoke Mandarin with an accent. She glanced at Nie Lingfeng and his group, then at the room behind them, hesitated for a moment, and finally sighed before returning their deposit.

"Be careful in that amusement park area..."

She wiped the counter with a rag and whispered.

"The rules there are different from those in the market. At least in the market, there are people from the king in charge, but in the paradise... nobody cares."

Nie Lingfeng nodded and thanked him.

They then left the hotel and headed towards the amusement park.

The park is located in an abandoned industrial area in the northwest of Nathan Island.

This used to be an industrial park on Nathan Island. Judging from the remaining buildings, there was once a sizable factory here—the factory buildings were made of concrete, very tall, with arched roofs, and the windows were all broken, leaving the window frames looking like rows of empty eye sockets.

The chimney still stands, made of red bricks, very tall, with cracks at the top and overgrown with unknown weeds.

Later, it was abandoned for some reason. No one knew why, and no one cared. After its abandonment, it gradually became a gathering place for outlaws and wandering eccentrics. Those who couldn't stay in the market, those who were banished by King Nathan, and those who didn't want to abide by any rules all gathered here.

Over time, this place became a lawless land independent of King Nathan's rule, and was called "Paradise".

Unlike the bustling and lively market, the first impression of the amusement park is one of dilapidation, chaos, and danger.

Abandoned factories and warehouses are everywhere. Some roofs have collapsed halfway, some walls have large holes, and some doors hang crookedly on their frames, creaking in the wind. The walls are covered with various graffiti and markings, some are simple spray-painted signatures, and some are complex murals with unintelligible faces and symbols.

The streets were littered with garbage and debris—broken glass, broken planks, rusted iron sheets, rotten clothes, and moldy cardboard boxes. A strange stench, a mixture of musty and rusty smells, filled the air, and if you sniffed closely, you could also detect the odors of urine and rotting food.

Occasionally, a few figures could be seen moving in the shadows. They didn't walk openly; they walked close to the wall, their faces hidden by the brims of their hats, heads down, their steps quick. When they saw someone approaching, they would stop and wait until that person had passed before continuing. It was as if they were hiding from something.

But they all flashed by in an instant, as if they were avoiding something.

"This place... truly lives up to its name as a 'paradise'."

Zhang Chulan looked around and couldn't help but complain. His voice wasn't loud, but it still echoed in the empty street.

"I felt like a group of people might jump out from any corner at any moment to rob me."

"Your feeling is correct."

Wang Zhenqiu lowered his voice, his eyes scanning every corner of the surroundings warily.

"In a place like Paradise, the law of the jungle prevails. If you show the slightest weakness, you'll be devoured without a trace. People here don't care who you are or what your background is; they only care about your strength. If you're strong, they'll fear you; if you're weak, they'll eat you."

"So what should we do?"

Lu Linglong asked nervously. Her voice was softer than usual, and her hands unconsciously clenched the hem of her clothes.

"It's very simple."

Nie Lingfeng said calmly.

"Let them know that we are not to be trifled with."

The voice just fell.

Several figures suddenly darted out from behind some ruins ahead, blocking their path.

They didn't run from afar; they "darted" out from behind the ruins—as if they had been lying in wait, revealing themselves only when they got close. Their footsteps were heavy, making a crackling sound as they stepped on the rubble. They stood there, blocking the entire path.

The leader was a burly, bald man.

His bald head gleamed in the sunlight, revealing several scars on his scalp. He wore a white vest stained with oil, the collar and cuffs worn through, and large yellow sweat stains under his armpits. His two thick, scarred arms were exposed—some from cuts, some from burns, one stretching from his shoulder to his elbow like a centipede crawling along his arm.

He was carrying a rusty iron pipe. The pipe was about the thickness of a forearm, covered with red rust and dark red stains that looked like dried blood. The end was flattened, as if it had been hit by something.

He grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. The teeth were uneven, some missing halfway, some blackened, and some gone altogether. His smile was ferocious, as if he had spotted prey.

"Oh, a new face."

The bald, burly man sized up Nie Lingfeng and his group, his gaze lingering on each face for a moment before returning to them. A greedy glint shone in his eyes, like a hungry wolf eyeing a flock of sheep.

"From out of town? Do you know the rules here?"

"What are the rules?"

Zhang Chulan stepped forward and asked. His tone was very casual, as if he were asking for directions.

"The rule is—if you want to pass through here, you have to pay a toll!"

The bald, burly man weighed the iron pipe in his hand, flicked his wrist, and the pipe spun in the air before falling back into his hand.

"The men leave their money, and the women... hehe, they have to leave too!"

His henchmen behind him joined in the laughter. The rough laughter echoed through the empty street. Their eyes swept over Chen Duo and Lu Linglong, as if they were appraising merchandise, filled with a lewd glint.

A skinny, monkey-like man licked his lips, revealing a mouthful of uneven teeth. Another man with tattoos on his face cracked his knuckles, as if warming up.