Licheng Afterglow Island was a very secluded place. Anyone who traveled by boat or coastline would think they hit a dead end when they reached there because it was built like that.

The sea water hit the stone wall, and the force of the waves pushed away some rocks on the beach. This gave the impression that there was no more land beyond. But if one was to cross the end of the mountain, one found an unexpectedly peaceful bay.

The water by the bay was far clear and still while the sea on the other side of the mountain was very tumultuous. The bay did not face the sea, instead it was more like a lake that appeared by the sea. There was no sign of waves. The sea surface was of a clear blue color which reflected the entire blue sky.

At the end of the lake by the bay was an island covered with lush greenery and brightly colored rocks. The exotic vines and dense forest covered most of the area.

Mo Fan was shocked. Licheng Afterglow Island was amazing. It was a paradise on earth and the residents were indeed lucky to be able to live in such a place.

Licheng City was located by the sea. Hence, the tsunami from the south and the typhoon from the east during summer took their turn to strike the city. As a result, fishing, animal husbandry, agriculture, and farming were all affected. People’s livelihood was destroyed.

But this island was a paradise in the middle of a turbulent sea but unaffected by the brutal cold sea breeze. The breeze blew gently from the middle of the forest without a hint of saltiness. The breeze was refreshing with a tinge of fragrance from the flowers by the sea.

A fishing boat drifted to Licheng Afterglow Island, like a leaf floating quietly on the lake surface. A young man in black and brown straw cape sat in the boat. He was very tan. He looked dazed.

The rain poured on the other side of the world. Lightning danced like demon’s claws. The fisherman had been only looking for a place to escape. He had never expected to stumble upon a place like this.

The fisherman took off his straw cape and got out of the boat. The sea water was so calm that he was certain that his boat would not drift away even without tethering it. But he tethered it with a rope anyway.

He turned around and saw a group of young women and two elderly ladies walking out of the grove. They stared warily at him.

“Ladies, may I know where I am now? I’m a bit lost.” The fisherman smiled awkwardly.

“You’re at Licheng Afterglow Island.”

“Huh?! I-I didn’t mean to barge in… I…” The fisherman panicked as though this was the last place he wanted to be in. He untied his boat hurriedly and got on it.

“We’re not man-eating monsters, you know. Why do you look so frightened?” asked one of the young women walking up to him.

“Kid, don’t leave in such a hurry. You look tired. Take a rest in our town. Please don’t worry. Don’t believe the rumors. A few years ago, I accidentally stumbled onto this island. Look at me now, I am still alive and well,” said an old man smoking a pipe. “That lass next to you is my daughter. So are the rest of them.”

“I heard about a man who stumbled onto this island and spent the night here. He was forced to marry the ladies on the island,” said the young fisherman. “I am a married man. It was very stormy outside. My wife must be worried sick. I have to go back. She is waiting for me.”

The young lady from Licheng Afterglow Island removed her head scarf and conical hat. She stared at the tanned fisherman seductively. “Am I not looking as good as your wife?” she asked.

“You look very beautiful. But I must go home. She’s very worried about me.”

“There’s no strong wind and turbulent waves all year round. There’s plenty of food over here. People at Licheng Afterglow Island don’t have to worry about their basic needs. Besides, the ladies are beautiful and graceful,” said the old man.

“Even if you dislike her, you have many other choices. They practice a free love culture here. If you go back, you have to continue living in poverty with your unattractive wife. You have to work very hard just to earn a living. Your life out there is no match compared to what you could have on this island. You stumbled onto this island by mistake, it means you have a destiny with us. Many people attempted to come here but always failed. But you discovered it.”

The young fisherman glanced at the pretty woman standing near him and then looked at the old man who was smoking his pipe in leisure. The young fisherman hesitated. He did not hop out of his boat.

“Please, I must go back. If I stay here, my wife will be worried sick. I can’t disappoint her. I promised to take care of her.” The young fisherman rowed his boat and returned to the turbulent sea.

The people of the Licheng Afterglow Island watched him leave. The fisherman’s boat drifted away until it disappeared.

One of the elder women raised her hand with a snort.

Bam!

A blood red snake-like bolt appeared out of the cloud and struck the fisherman’s boat. The boat was torn apart. And the young fisherman died. There was a smudge of red on the holy, blue lake.

The old man sighed. “We gave him a very nice offer and he still turned it down, It’s not our fault.”

The elderly woman who had struck the boat with her magic was dressed all in dark-green. She looked menacing and cold. Her eyes only showed a murderous intent.

…

“What is this?! Is this some kind of seaside theater?” Mo Fan was puzzled when saw a reflection in the sea below him.

The conversations were silent. But Mo Fan could figure out their speech through their lip movements.

“It’s like a mirage, but it happened sometime in the past. The sea water over here is extremely calm, and it has learnt to preserve certain events.” Apas stared at the bizarre spectacle reflected in the sea.

“The probability of such a thing happening is extremely low, close to impossible! I wonder how many corpses are buried under the sea of this ‘paradise’.” Mo Fan heaved a long, sad sigh.

There were not many cities around the area. There were no more fishermen who dared to go to the sea to fish. The image that they had seen was from the past. The tranquil water reflected it. It was disturbing.

Those who drifted to this island either lived here or drowned.

The women from the island would never allow any outsider to leave the Licheng Afterglow Island and risk exposing their location. Only the women were allowed to venture out. The men who chose to stay flocked to the ladies like birds of the same feather.

Unfortunately, not many people knew the truth.