The road from the hotel to the lakeside wasn't difficult to navigate. Following the shaded path, the group arrived at the lakeside. It was dusk, and the lake water was clear and transparent. By the lake, there was a small pier with several small boats tied next to it, and a wooden cabin nearby. Next to it was a flat open space with barbecue grills and other tools, which seemed to be the camping area.

However, the place was currently empty, and even the small cabin of the office was tightly shut.

Well, that's quite normal, as nowadays people are generally afraid to approach the forest.

Duanmu Huai came to the small cabin, glanced around, then placed his hand on the wooden cabin and closed his eyes.

Then, time began to reverse, retrospection.

Pause, play.

When Duanmu Huai opened his eyes again, the scene before him was the same dusk, the same lake.

Then, he saw a man with a camera walk down from the path.

"Oh, it's really beautiful."

It was obvious, the man with the DSLR camera was also mesmerized by the lake, as he quickly raised his camera and snapped several photos of the lake. Then he changed positions, taking pictures while walking — indicating he indeed seemed like a professional photographer.

Speaking of which, part of my identity involves photography too?

But Duanmu Huai usually just takes pictures with his phone, or perhaps he merely uses his phone to disguise his scanning.

"Eh?"

After snapping a few more photos, the man with the DSLR seemed to have noticed something, widening his eyes in surprise as he stared across the lake.

"Hmm? Over there looks like...…"

Then, the man seemed to have discovered something, as he walked toward the opposite side of the lake, disappearing into the forest.

And he never appeared again.

For now, it seems he should be in the forest.

Duanmu Huai didn't want to waste too much time playing a game of chase, so he ended the retrospection and signaled to Medea and Alice Phil.

"Medea, summon a few Dragon Tooth Soldiers to search the forest, report any findings immediately."

"Okay, Master."

Medea nodded, then Duanmu Huai watched her reach into her bag, take out a few teeth, and fling them toward the ground. Quickly, the teeth landed and transformed into skeletal creatures on all fours. Medea softly issued a command, and they silently burrowed into the forest, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

"Alice."

After seeing Medea release the Dragon Tooth Soldiers, Duanmu Huai turned to Alice Phil.

"Can you set up a barrier centered on the hotel?"

"Hmm...…"

Alice Phil pondered for a moment, then exchanged a glance with Medea.

"This hotel is not on the path of a spirit vein, so we can't set up a defensive barrier; at most, we can arrange an alarm barrier to report any intrusions, but it might not be accurate."

Medea also spoke.

"In theory, a magician's workshop would set up an illusion magic barrier to prevent ordinary people from entering, but this is a hotel area...…."

Duanmu Huai also understood Medea's point, magician workshops typically are exclusive — once you're in, you can't get out, which is quite normal for reclusive magicians. But this clearly couldn't be done in a hotel because there are guests and staff moving in and out, leading to troublesome scenarios.

"But recently, nobody dares to approach the forest, so just do it."

However, Duanmu Huai didn't care, for now, it seemed most people didn't dare venture into the forest. If anyone insisted on a death wish... well, that had nothing to do with him, right?

Upon hearing Duanmu Huai's decision, both nodded.

"In that case, we can establish a mist barrier centered around the lake. Within the barrier's range, mist will form, potentially deterring others from exploring further."

After all, with forests and mist, ordinary people would avoid it. Who would venture into a forest on a foggy day unless they were seeking death?

"Do it then."

Indeed, having someone skilled in magic is convenient. Previously, Duanmu Huai had fought solo, relying on fists and exhausting himself to death. Now, with Alice Phil and Medea assisting him, he felt much more at ease.

For Alice Phil and Medea, these two powerful magicians, creating an alarm barrier wasn't difficult. The only catch was the hotel wasn't built on a spirit vein, so they couldn't enhance the barrier using it, which was a slight pity. But for them, it was only a bit more challenging, and since the barrier was not meant to last decades but just for a few days, both injected some magic power, and then Medea and Alice Phil discreetly set up the barrier while nobody noticed.

When Manager Bai Mu returned with Shajuye and Meijia from their round in the camping area, a faint mist had already enveloped the surroundings.

"Is it fogging up?"

Seeing the mist, Meijia appeared uneasy, but Manager Bai Mu remained unconcerned.

"It's common for fog to develop here, missy. We should return to the hotel first; otherwise, it could become dangerous if the mist thickens."

As Manager Bai Mu said so, Duanmu Huai and the others naturally didn't refuse, so they turned and left the lakeside, returning to the hotel once more.

When the group returned to the hotel, it was already nightfall, and outside was pitch dark. Only the streetlights on either side of the road illuminated the deserted street. Even though the hotel was brightly lit, aside from Duanmu Huai and the others, there were only a few staff members there. Including Manager Bai Mu, a receptionist, two waiters, and a chef — in fact, after that guest disappearance, Manager Bai Mu used hotel maintenance as an excuse to temporarily close.

After all, losing one was bad enough, if they didn't close down, who knows how many more would go missing if others stayed.

Although there were only a few resident employees, the service was still not bad, and the dinner tasted quite good. It's just that everyone was very tired — which is also normal, after all, they took a yacht out to sea early this morning, arrived on this island almost at noon, and then without having the chance to rest at the hotel, they were immediately dragged by Duanmu Huai to the crime scene, then after the investigation, they had a meeting, after the meeting went to the lake, and only after returning from the lake to have dinner did they finally get to rest properly.

So after dinner, everyone returned to their rooms to rest.

Soon, the night passed.

"Mmm...…"

When Duanmu Huai opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Alice Phil's sleeping face beside him, while on the other side, Medea was also holding onto Duanmu Huai's arm, deeply asleep.

Tsk tsk tsk, as expected from a hotel, truly professional, the soundproofing is great.

As Duanmu Huai felt the soft, delicate sensation between his fingers, he couldn't help but marvel. After all, he had indeed been holding back for quite a while in this world, having not indulged. Fortunately, with Alice Phil and Medea coming, he finally got to vent some frustration.

I must say, these two are top-notch, one mature and gentle, the other youthful and passionate, and Duanmu Huai quite likes both. Especially Alice Phil, perhaps because she has been taking care of Ilya for so long, she has acquired a certain mature charm. Well, how should I put it...…

To borrow a line from a certain character — Alice Phil could be someone who could become my mother!

Hmm? It seems that's not the right way to use that line?

Oh well, the meaning is close enough.

Duanmu Huai did know that some Japanese people would play a kind of baby game, dressing themselves in baby clothes, wearing diapers, and sucking on pacifiers, curling up in a woman's arms like a baby to act cute.

Like, "Mommy, I'm hungry, milk" type of thing...…

Of course, Duanmu Huai wouldn't play that, just imagine his 2.8-meter-tall frame, dressed in baby clothes, wrapped with a diaper, sucking on a pacifier...…

Damn, that's more indescribable than an Evil God.

Besides, Duanmu Huai had no interest in such bizarre things.

In any case, time to get up.

Duanmu Huai tidied himself up, then got up and changed clothes, quietly leaving the room. Shajuye and Meijia shared a room, but Duanmu Huai was worried she'd find him missing when she woke up, and that would be bad. Although Alice Phil's identity in this world was Duanmu Huai's fiancée, and it wouldn't be strange if the two did something, Medea was different. Moreover, this Medea looked about the same age as Shajuye, if Shajuye found out...… hmm, not good.

Even though Duanmu Huai's reaction was quick, when he reached his room's door, he found Shajuye standing there, looking at him disapprovingly.

"Brother, where did you go?"

"I… went for a stroll."

"A stroll?"

Hearing Duanmu Huai's reply, Shajuye slightly frowned.

"It's raining outside, you went for a stroll?"

"The air is nice."

Duanmu Huai coughed awkwardly.

"Speaking of which, were you looking for me? Why not call me?"

"Don't you know?"

Hearing Duanmu Huai's question, Shajuye widened her eyes and stared at him.

"There's no signal on the phone! That's why I came to find you, brother."

"No signal on the phone?"

Duanmu Huai took out his phone and glanced at it, finding it was indeed so, his phone displayed out of range, no signal...…

"How can there be no signal?"

Duanmu Huai remembered yesterday when Manager Bai Mu introduced, saying that to solve the signal problem, they had built base stations and communication towers here, sparing no expense...…

Yet now it's broken after just a day?

"I don't know either, Meijia went to find Manager Bai Mu...…"

Hearing what Shajuye said, Duanmu Huai also furrowed his brow.

He had only been here for a day, and the communications just mysteriously broke off?

This isn't a good sign...…

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