Chapter Four: The Black Sail Banquet

The night was as dark as ink, covering the edges of Donggang City. The city's dazzling lights were left far behind, like a spilled pool of distant and blurry golden paint. This was Donggang Pier, a corner forgotten by prosperity. The air was filled with the salty tang of sea salt, the faint acrid smell of diesel fuel, and the cold scent of old rust, a unique blend of farewell and departure. Gu Qingshuang stood alone in front of Berth No. 3. She wore a sleek black outdoor sports outfit and sturdy hiking boots. Her long hair was simply tied into a high ponytail, revealing a clean and elegant neckline. The face that once belonged to Lin Weiyu, once delicate and innocent, now appeared sharply defined under the dim yellow explosion-proof lights of the pier, her eyes as calm as the bottom of a lake frozen for millennia. Before her, a massive, all-black vessel was quietly moored. It wasn't an ordinary yacht. The ship's lines were sleek and aggressive, like a deep-sea behemoth lurking in the darkness. The material was matte, reflecting almost no light, perfectly blending into the night. The only identifying mark was a dark gold outline of a sailing ship riding the waves on the side of the hull—the "Black Sail." There was no boisterous music, no scantily clad waiters, and certainly no welcoming red carpet. Only a few crew members in identical black uniforms stood like statues on either side of the gangway, their sharp eyes scanning the surrounding darkness. This ship was like an independent, isolated kingdom, exuding an aura of inviolable majesty and mystery. It was waiting for its guests, or rather, its "sacrifices." A flashy fluorescent green sports car tore through the silence with a deafening roar, skidding to a halt with a sharp brake. The car door opened upwards, and a man as strong as an ox, his muscles almost bursting through his tight T-shirt, jumped out. "Hey! I'm not late, am I?" His voice was loud, carrying a deliberately cheerful tone. It was Gao Meng, the currently popular fitness influencer. He looked around, and when he saw Gu Qingshuang standing alone, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. He then strode over, extending his hand in a familiar manner, "Hello, I'm Gao Meng, just call me Meng Ge! Are you also participating in 'Desperate Island'? You look a little unfamiliar." His palm was large and rough, full of strength. Gu Qingshuang's gaze lingered on him for a second, quickly scanning and analyzing him from head to toe. > [Target Analysis: Gao Meng] > > She didn't shake his hand, only nodded slightly, her voice flat and emotionless: "Lin Weiyu." Gao Meng's hand hung awkwardly in mid-air. He chuckled dryly and withdrew it, scratching his carefully styled short hair. "Lin Weiyu... Oh! I remember now! You..." The expression on his face became somewhat playful, clearly recalling the overwhelming negative publicity online. Gu Qingshuang's coldness made him feel bored, so he turned to the "Black Sail" ship with an exclamation of admiration: "Wow! This ship is so cool! The production team really went all out this time!" Before he finished speaking, another van slowly drove up. The door opened, and the first to get out was a shrewd-looking agent wearing gold-rimmed glasses. He carefully helped out a girl in a white dress with long, flowing hair. The girl looked to be in her early twenties, with a pure face and slightly drooping eyes, naturally possessing a lovable appearance. As soon as she got out of the car, she shivered, as if overwhelmed by the cold sea breeze, and said weakly to the agent, "Brother Chen, I'm a little scared... It's so dark here." "Don't be afraid, Feifei, this is just for the show," the agent comforted her gently, while slipping a hand warmer into her hand and scrutinizing the surrounding environment with a critical eye. Liu Feifei, a rising star who has gained prominence in the past two years through several sweet romance web dramas, has garnered countless fans with her pure and innocent image. She timidly walked towards the dock, and when she saw Gao Meng, her eyes lit up, and she immediately showed a sweet smile: "Is that Brother Meng? I often watch your videos on the fitness app! My name is Liu Feifei, and I'll need your help on the island in the future." Gao Meng's vanity was immediately greatly satisfied. He puffed out his chest, making a loud thumping sound: "No problem! Feifei, don't worry, with me around, no one will dare to bully you!" Liu Feifei nodded gratefully, her gaze inadvertently sweeping over the silent Gu Qingshuang. When she saw that face clearly, her sweet smile froze for a moment, a hint of disdain and wariness quickly flashing in her eyes, but she immediately resumed her pitiful appearance, silently standing in the furthest position from Gu Qingshuang. > [Target Analysis: Liu Feifei] > Next, an old Mercedes-Benz S-Class arrived. A middle-aged man wearing sunglasses and a floral shirt got out of the car. His hair was slicked back and shiny. He was Du Ze, a once-popular actor who is now a faded star, only able to play supporting roles in various web dramas. As soon as he got out of the car, he took off his sunglasses, casually flicked his hair, and said in a condescending tone: "Heh, so mysterious. Back when I was filming Hollywood blockbusters, the scale was much bigger than this." No one responded to him. Gao Meng was quietly showing off his muscles to Liu Feifei, while Gu Qingshuang was like a statue, completely ignoring his presence. Feeling awkward, Du Ze cleared his throat, his gaze lingering on the three women, finally settling on Gu Qingshuang, his eyes filled with undisguised, lecherous scrutiny. Just as the atmosphere on the dock became increasingly strange and awkward, a steady and powerful engine sound approached from a distance. Everyone's attention was drawn to it. A black Rolls-Royce Phantom glided silently to the parking spot in the night, like a ghost. Unlike the cars of the others, this one stopped unhurriedly, with an air of complete control. The rear door was opened by the driver, and a foot wearing a pair of custom-made silver high heels emerged first. The tiny diamonds embedded in the heels reflected a subtle yet arrogant light in the dim lighting. Following closely behind, Su Manqi slowly stepped out of the car, flanked by two assistants. She wore a well-tailored red dress and a black coat. Her makeup was flawless, and her bright red lips were particularly striking in the night. The moment she appeared, the entire atmosphere of the dock seemed to be drained by her presence alone. Gao Meng stopped boasting, Liu Feifei instinctively took half a step back, and even the arrogant Du Ze put away his cynical expression. She was a born queen, destined to stand in the spotlight, receiving the admiration and worship of all. Her gaze swept lightly over the people present, as if surveying her territory. It lingered briefly on Gao Meng and Liu Feifei, with a hint of almost imperceptible disdain, before finally settling on the figure standing in the shadows, almost blending into the darkness. When she saw that face clearly, her usually calm phoenix eyes contracted sharply for the first time. Shock, disbelief, absurdity... a myriad of emotions flashed across her face, finally solidifying into an extreme coldness and contempt. "Lin Weiyu?" Su Manqi's voice wasn't loud, but it was like an ice-cold steel needle, precisely piercing the oppressive silence. She walked towards Gu Qingshuang step by step in her high heels, each step feeling like it was treading on everyone's hearts. She stopped in front of Gu Qingshuang, looking down at her condescendingly, a cruel sneer playing on her lips: "I wondered who had the audacity to try and snatch this spot. So it's you." She leaned closer, and in a voice only the two of them could hear, she contemptuously spat out a few words: "What? Not dying fast enough, so you came here specifically for me to finish you off?" This was the victor's boast, and the ultimate humiliation for the loser. She was certain that Lin Weiyu, at this moment, should be like a defeated dog with its tail stepped on, either collapsing into tears or feebly retaliating. However, none of what she expected happened. Gu Qingshuang didn't even look up at her. Her gaze remained fixed on the huge black yacht in front of her, as if Su Manqi, along with her venomous words, were nothing more than meaningless air. After a full three seconds, just as Su Manqi's patience was about to run out, Gu Qingshuang slowly shifted her gaze from the yacht to Su Manqi's face, which was filled with astonishment and anger. There was no fear, no resentment, not even anger. Those were... such calm eyes. Calm like a black hole in the depths of the universe, capable of swallowing all light and emotion. In her eyes, there was a hint of faint, pure... impatience. Like a professor solving a complex higher mathematics problem being interrupted by a kindergarten child asking "what is one plus one?" "Are you finished?" Gu Qingshuang spoke, her voice cold and clear, like the snow that remains year-round on the mountaintop, "If you're finished, move aside." "You..." All of Su Manqi's arrogance was completely shattered by this light, dismissive remark. She felt as if her full-force punch had landed on empty air, and the suffocating frustration and humiliation of having nowhere to strike back was more unbearable than any fierce resistance. She wanted to say something more, but the silent crew member in black suddenly spoke, his voice devoid of emotion: "Time's up. All guests, please board the ship." He made a "please" gesture, interrupting the silent confrontation. Gu Qingshuang didn't spare Su Manqi another glance, and stepped forward, being the first to board the gangway. Her back was straight, her steps steady, without the slightest hesitation or lingering. Su Manqi stood rooted to the spot, clenching her fists tightly, her fingernails digging deep into her palms. She watched that resolute figure, and a strange, uncontrollable sense of fear, for the first time, quietly spread from the depths of her heart. _Something's wrong. This Lin Weiyu is completely different from before._ The others also boarded the ship, each with their own thoughts. Gao Meng and Du Ze tried to talk to Su Manqi, but were frozen by her icy gaze. Liu Feifei kept her head down, concealing the schadenfreude in her eyes. The interior of the yacht was completely different from its cold exterior, luxuriously opulent. Gleaming teak floors, leather sofas, and a bar stocked with top-shelf champagne and caviar. However, the magnificent hall was empty, filled only with oppressive silence. The eight guests—including several other artists who arrived later, equally preoccupied—were seated on the sofas, and then no one paid any attention to them. The crew members disappeared like ghosts, and the mysterious organizer still hadn't appeared. Time ticked by, and the atmosphere in the hall became increasingly heavy. Each person was like an isolated island, scrutinizing everyone around them with wary eyes. They were gladiators about to enter the arena, and those around them could be their allies, but more likely, the first enemies to stab them in the back. Suddenly, a low, heart-pounding rumble came from the bottom of the ship. The entire yacht trembled slightly, then began to steadily and firmly sail away from the dock. Everyone instinctively rushed to the portholes. The dim lights of Donggang Pier were rapidly receding, and the entire city's brilliance was being completely swallowed by the boundless, inky darkness. The "Black Sail" ship cut through the dark waves like a sharp blade, plunging resolutely into the unknown depths of the sea. No one knew where they were headed. Nor did anyone know whether what awaited them was the foundation of a throne or an abyss of eternal damnation. Just then, a tall figure slowly emerged from the shadows at the end of the hall. He had been there all along, seemingly merged with the darkness, only choosing to reveal himself at this moment. He clapped his hands, the crisp sound particularly jarring in the deathly silent ship's cabin. "Welcome, everyone," the man said, his voice gentle and pleasant, yet tinged with a playful smile, "to 'Desperate Island'." "Now, let's talk about... the rules of the game."