Fantasy Novel:

Paradise Hotel  14

【THIRTEEN】Lin Xiaoyang Travels to the Vatican

45

Lin Xiaoyang stepped onto the cobblestone streets of Rome. The sky was overcast, and St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican stood in the distance, its dome towering above the city. Beneath the dome, the sculptures seemed to be silently watching the storm that was about to erupt. He slipped his hand into the inner pocket of his trench coat, his fingertips brushing against Princess Maria’s handwritten letter, and a trace of uneasiness rose in his heart.

Outside the residence of the College of Cardinals, an old bronze lamp swayed gently in the breeze, casting mottled shadows across the ground. Lin Xiaoyang pushed open the door and was immediately enveloped by the strong scent of incense. His eyes searched through the shadows until he finally saw Father John Chen, dressed in a black cassock, sitting before a dark oak desk.

The priest had his back to him and was turning the pages of a parchment manuscript. Candlelight flickered in the depths of his eyes behind his glasses.

“Mr. Lin,” Father Chen said without turning around, already knowing who had arrived. His voice was low and steady. “I have been waiting for you for quite some time.”

Lin Xiaoyang was slightly startled. He immediately took the letter from his inner pocket and respectfully handed it to him. “This was handwritten by Princess Maria. Please read it.”

The priest accepted the envelope and broke the wax seal with his fingertips. The moment the letter was unfolded, the candlelight cast a faint sheen over the ink. His eyes quickly scanned the contents. He remained silent for a long time before finally letting out a long sigh.

“What is meant to come will come sooner or later,” Father John Chen said, closing the letter. A difficult-to-read glimmer flashed in his eyes. “The dark world is about to be plunged into bloodshed and turmoil.”

Lin Xiaoyang folded his hands together, his brows slightly furrowed. “Father, do you mean that the confrontation between Princess Maria and Duke Anderson has become unavoidable?”

“Exactly!” The priest’s voice suddenly became as firm as a rock, his eyes sharp as blades that seemed capable of piercing through history. “This will be a fight to the death. It has nothing to do with good or evil; only victory or defeat matters!”

Lin Xiaoyang gazed into the priest’s deep eyes, his tone carrying a hint of probing. “In other words, in this war... we can only win and cannot afford to lose?”

The priest nodded firmly. “If Princess Maria is defeated, Anderson will unite the entire dark world under his rule, and human society will face an unprecedented catastrophe.”

Lin Xiaoyang slowly clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. “So, Father, you are willing to personally join the battle and help the princess?”

“Destroying demons and eliminating evil is my sacred duty.” Father John Chen stood up, his cloak lifting slightly and radiating an invisible authority. “Even if the princess had not come to me, I could never simply stand by and do nothing. Over the years, Anderson has continued to expand his power and has trained two great guardians under his command—Jack the Ripper and George the Phantom Hand. Their magical abilities and methods of killing are powerful enough to shake the entire dark world.”

Lin Xiaoyang raised an eyebrow. “It sounds as though you know the Anderson faction quite well.”

The priest smiled faintly and pushed up the gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose. “Princess Maria has continually provided me with intelligence, so we have a fairly thorough understanding of the enemy’s movements. Moreover, we have learned that the duke has another trump card hidden at his side—the Grand Mage Rufu.”

Lin Xiaoyang’s heart trembled slightly. “The Grand Mage Rufu? There seems to be some other connection between him and the princess?”

The priest’s smile deepened meaningfully. “You are very perceptive, Mr. Lin. That is correct. This Grand Mage is neither completely good nor completely evil, and his relationship with the princess is quite deep.”

Lin Xiaoyang’s eyes flickered. After pondering for a moment, he asked, “Then where does the princess get her intelligence?”

The priest gently brought his hands together and said quietly, “That is precisely the key. There has already been a spy planted by the princess within Anderson’s faction, which is why we are always able to obtain information about their movements one step ahead.”

“But,” Lin Xiaoyang narrowed his eyes, “wouldn’t Anderson retaliate by planting spies within the princess’s forces?”

“Of course he has tried.” A sharp glint flashed through the priest’s eyes. “But he has never succeeded.”

Lin Xiaoyang looked puzzled. “Why?”

“Because the princess possesses the ability to read minds.” The priest spoke slowly, his tone filled with an unfathomable sense of awe. “She can accurately discern the thoughts of others. No scheme or deception can escape her.”

An image suddenly flashed through Lin Xiaoyang’s mind. “No wonder... Huang Lihua can read minds too.”

The priest smiled. “That is a skill personally taught by the princess. Huang Lihua was originally Anderson’s personal court painter, but later Wilson persuaded him to switch sides, turning him into our informant within the enemy camp.”

Lin Xiaoyang fell into thought for a moment before quietly asking, “But why would the princess be so certain that I will play a decisive role at the crucial moment?”

The priest’s expression suddenly darkened, and his voice became mysterious. “Because your identity is special.”

“My identity?” Lin Xiaoyang’s heart tightened.

“What Anderson fears most is your previous incarnation—the commander of the guards, David Feely.” The priest slowly revealed the astonishing truth. “In centuries past, Anderson was defeated by David several times. Now that you have awakened, you have become the variable that could change the course of this battle.”

Lin Xiaoyang drew a sharp breath, his heart surging like a tide. “Father, you seem to know everything about my past...”

“Fortunately, I am your ally,” the priest said with a faint laugh. “Otherwise, you would probably already have fallen into a hopeless predicament.”

Lin Xiaoyang pressed his lips together and remained silent.

The priest slowly walked toward the desk and extended one hand. His fingertips trembled slightly, and an invisible force began to surge outward. The quill pen on the desk suddenly rose into the air and swiftly wrote three Chinese characters on the letter paper: “精氣神.” It then gently fell back onto the desk.

Lin Xiaoyang’s eyes widened in astonishment. “This... is this telekinesis?”

The priest withdrew his hand and nodded with a smile. “Your body contains powerful internal energy. Once you learn how to use it, this ability will be nothing more than basic training for you.”

Lin Xiaoyang was still only half convinced. The priest gently patted him on the shoulder. “You will have time to practice on the way back. I will guide you along the way. But now, there is no time to waste. I need to pack my things, bring my magical instruments, and travel with you to Lake Lucerne.”

With that, the priest turned around. His cloak swept through the candlelight like a streak of black light beneath the night sky before disappearing into the depths of the room.

46

The train roared as the European countryside outside the window raced backward through the twilight. The warm yellow carriage lights illuminated the faces of Father John Chen and Lin Xiaoyang. The soft seats swayed gently, while the aroma of coffee drifted over from a passenger in the neighboring seat. Together with the rhythmic sound of the wheels rolling over the tracks, it created a quiet atmosphere for the journey.

Father John Chen took out a brown ceramic cup and gently placed it upside down on the small table in front of him. Something was hidden beneath the cup. He tapped the rim lightly with his fingers, producing a faint tapping sound, then looked deeply at Lin Xiaoyang.

“Xiaoyang, close your eyes and take a deep breath.” His voice was low and steady, as though guiding him toward a mysterious door that was slowly opening. “Slow your heartbeat, regulate your breathing, then open your eyes and focus on this ceramic cup. Concentrate your mind, sense what is inside it, and tell me what you see.”

Lin Xiaoyang swallowed, his brow slightly furrowed. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes for several seconds. When he opened them again, his gaze locked firmly onto the ceramic cup.

Time seemed to stretch out. The conversations inside the carriage and the faint vibrations of the luggage racks gradually became blurred. His gaze seemed to penetrate the thickness of the ceramic cup, and the world beneath it gradually emerged.

“I...” His pupils contracted slightly, his voice filled with surprise and excitement. “I see it! There’s a ring set with a gemstone, and a cross-shaped brooch!”

Father John Chen nodded, a satisfied smile appearing at the corners of his mouth. “Very good. Now look carefully. Tell me the color of the gemstone and the material of the brooch.”

Lin Xiaoyang held his breath and concentrated. His gaze seemed to penetrate even deeper. He murmured, “The gemstone is green. It should be an emerald... The brooch is silvery white, like it’s made of silver.”

“Very good.” Father John Chen smiled gently and patted him on the shoulder. “For you, it really is that easy.”

Lin Xiaoyang’s heartbeat slowly returned to normal. Despite his excitement, he still had some doubts. He looked up at Father John Chen and asked with a frown, “But even if I have this ability, can I really deal with Anderson and his people? Being able to see through things—how can that help me win?”

Father John Chen looked deeply at him, a profound and intriguing light flickering in his eyes. He said quietly, “Do not underestimate yourself. Clairvoyance is only your first key. The door it opens leads to far more than this.”

The train swayed slightly. Father John Chen put away the ceramic cup and the objects beneath it, then leaned back against his seat and closed his eyes, as if the journey were nothing more than a brief rest.

Lin Xiaoyang gazed at the darkness rushing past outside the window, his mind churning with countless thoughts. He shook his head with a bitter smile, then pulled a martial-arts comic titled Tai Chi from his backpack, trying to pass the time by immersing himself in the heroic world of the story. Yet the image from moments ago refused to leave his mind—the secret hidden beneath the ceramic cup and Father John Chen’s words, like some kind of prophecy, had planted a seed deep within his heart.

Outside the window, the snow-covered mountains shimmered with a cold, piercing radiance, as if foretelling that a storm was approaching.

46-1

As dusk descended, the train stopped at a small station, and several passengers boarded the carriage. A stylish young couple sat in the seats diagonally across from Xiaoyang. The young man had a scarf wrapped around his face. After staring at him for a few seconds, Xiaoyang could clearly see two marks on his cheeks that looked like wounds. When he looked more carefully, he was startled and cursed inwardly, “What kind of monster is this guy? He actually has a pair of gills on his cheeks? That’s creepy...”

Lin Xiaoyang shifted his gaze to the young woman. Beneath her strikingly beautiful eyes, the area covered by a black scarf concealed two pairs of sharp canine teeth, making the lower half of her face extremely grotesque.

Lin Xiaoyang thought to himself, “This woman is wearing a human-skin mask. She must be a vampire. Clearly, neither of these two is up to any good...”

Father John Chen, who appeared to be asleep, quietly reached out and grasped the pulse point on Lin Xiaoyang’s wrist. Xiaoyang clearly heard Father Chen’s telepathic voice through his pulse: “You have already discovered that this couple is not up to any good. Don’t alert them yet. We’ll follow them when they get off the train later.”

Lin Xiaoyang replied telepathically, “Yes, Father.”

Lin Xiaoyang pretended that nothing was wrong and continued flipping through his martial-arts comic, but then he heard the young man whispering into the woman’s ear.

Keith said, “Lorna, did you notice? That priest and the young man sitting diagonally in front of us.”

Lorna said, “I noticed them, Keith. The priest has a masculine aura of murderous energy surrounding him. He seems to be a very capable expert. However, I’m more concerned about the young man sitting beside the priest, the one who was looking at us just now.”

Keith asked, “What did you notice about that young man, Lorna?”

Lorna said, “The magnetic field around that young man actually radiates far-infrared rays with a penetrating power like gamma rays, and I cannot detect a single weakness in him.”

Keith said, “Your cultivation is higher than mine. All I can instinctively sense is that the young man has an extremely strong electromagnetic field.”

Lorna said, “If they have already discovered our identities, they probably won’t let us off easily. We must be more careful with our actions tonight. I don’t want to provoke these two mysterious experts whose origins are unknown.”

Keith said, “In all these years of working together on missions, I’ve never seen you this nervous. Even if they really are hostile experts, the two of us working together may not necessarily be at a disadvantage.”

Lorna warned him, “Don’t be too confident. There are countless powerful experts in this world. There’s no need for us to confront them head-on. It’s always better to be more cautious when operating outside.”

Listening to the couple’s conversation, Lin Xiaoyang immediately conveyed the gist of what they had said to Father John Chen through telepathy.

Father John Chen said, “This couple has become suspicious of us. Let’s relax, close our eyes, and rest for a while to lower their guard.”

“All right, Father.”

Lin Xiaoyang put down the comic and closed his eyes to rest. Soon, he heard the couple whispering again.

Lorna said, “When the train arrives at Milan Station later, we’ll get off through the front and rear doors separately, then meet at the fountain outside Milan Cathedral.”

Keith asked, “Do you really need to be this cautious? This isn’t like your usual style of doing things.”

Lorna said with greater emphasis, “Listen to me. It’ll be safer that way.”

Lin Xiaoyang immediately transmitted their conversation to Father John Chen again.

Father John Chen replied telepathically, “Then we’ll take advantage of their complacency and go directly to the cathedral in Milan to wait for them.”

Lin Xiaoyang replied, “All right, Father.”

47

The train slowly pulled into Milan Station, the metal wheels grinding against the rails with a sharp, piercing screech that sounded especially harsh in the quiet of the late night. The lights on the platform were dim and yellowish, illuminating the scattered passengers, some hurrying on their way while others dragged their luggage along with exhausted expressions.

Inside the train, the man and woman indeed stood up one after the other, just as expected. The man headed toward the rear door, while the woman chose the front door. Her movements were graceful. She wore a long dark-red trench coat, and her steps were so light that they were almost soundless.

“Let’s go,” Father Chen said quietly. He then stood up and patted Lin Xiaoyang on the shoulder.

Lin Xiaoyang nodded, adjusted his trench coat, and followed Father Chen. The two of them walked toward the front door as if nothing unusual were happening, maintaining an appropriate distance between them. Neither hurried nor lingered, they looked like nothing more than two ordinary travelers.

After stepping off the train, the woman paused slightly, as if she had sensed something. She turned her head a little, her gaze sweeping over the priest and Lin Xiaoyang, then subtly quickened her pace and disappeared into the crowd on the platform.

The platform was filled with the mixed smell of rust and machine oil, mingled with the cool air of the night.

Lin Xiaoyang frowned and lowered his voice. “Father, when I got close to that female vampire just now, I smelled something strange…”

“Hmm?” A faint flicker passed through Father Chen’s eyes. “What kind of smell?”

“The smell of a rotting corpse.” Lin Xiaoyang swallowed, discomfort showing between his brows. “That pungent, nauseating stench, like… like a corpse that had been sealed away for a long time, mixed with some kind of damp, musty odor.”

Father Chen stopped and turned to look at him, a trace of approval appearing in his eyes. “Then that’s it, Xiaoyang. It means your supernatural abilities have already begun to take effect.”

“An ordinary person would probably only smell her perfume, right?” Lin Xiaoyang sniffed, still unable to shake the odor from his mind.

“Exactly. That stench of decay cannot be completely concealed by perfume. Your senses have already surpassed the limits of ordinary people. You can smell the corruption in her very nature.”

Ahead, the streetlights flickered on and off, casting long shadows across the cobblestone road that swayed like ghosts.

“They deliberately split up and took different routes to throw us off,” Father Chen said with a faint smile, slipping both hands into the pockets of his trench coat. His tone was calm. “There’s no need for us to hurry. We’ll stroll slowly toward the cathedral and give them enough time to set up their defenses.”

Lin Xiaoyang glanced at the priest and hesitated before speaking. “Father, there’s one more strange thing… Just now, I could actually understand the Latin that the two of them were speaking. I understood every single sentence perfectly.”

“Oh?” Father Chen raised an eyebrow and looked at him from the side. “But you’ve never studied Latin, have you?”

“Never.” Lin Xiaoyang smiled bitterly. “But I not only understood what they were saying, I could even translate their words precisely in my mind… It’s an indescribably strange feeling.”

“That’s simple enough.” Father Chen spoke calmly, his eyes appearing even deeper in the darkness. “It means that you studied Latin in your previous life. Now, the memories of your previous life are gradually awakening.”

Lin Xiaoyang froze. His throat moved as if he wanted to argue, yet he found that he could not deny it. He lowered his head and scratched the back of his neck awkwardly before changing the subject. “By the way, wasn’t I reading a comic on the train just now? I suddenly felt that… this comic gave me quite a bit of inspiration.”

“Oh?” Father Chen’s interest was aroused, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly. “What kind of comic?”

“A martial-arts comic.” Lin Xiaoyang raised the comic in his hand. On the cover, a martial artist in a long robe stood with his sword drawn, radiating murderous intent. “There are some martial-arts techniques and cultivation methods in it… Although it’s only a comic, some of the concepts seem strangely similar to what we’re experiencing.”

Father Chen gave a soft laugh, as if something had come to mind, and his tone carried a hint of nostalgia. “I used to secretly read a few Eastern martial-arts novels when I was studying at the seminary. But martial-arts comics… those didn’t exist back then.”

Under the night sky, the deep tolling of the cathedral bells suddenly rang out, echoing across Milan’s night sky like some kind of ancient summons.

49

Night had fallen. The fountain in front of Milan Cathedral shimmered with silvery-white reflections beneath the lights. The crowd in the square gradually dispersed, leaving only a few lonely pigeons pacing across the stone pavement. Lorna hurried toward the fountain, her figure blending into the darkness. Her long dress swayed gently in the night breeze, and a trace of anxiety was hidden in her eyes. From another direction, Keith emerged from the shadows. He cautiously looked around, and only after confirming that no one had followed him did he approach her.

“Lorna,” Keith whispered, “the priest and that young man didn’t follow us, did they?”

Lorna was breathing slightly heavily, as though she had just shaken off something ominous. She lightly patted her chest and breathed a sigh of relief. “No, they took another route. I thought we had been spotted. My heart was practically pounding out of my chest.”

Keith curled the corner of his mouth into a teasing smile. “See? You’re always scaring yourself.”

“In any case, we still need to be careful.” Lorna crossed her arms and tilted her head slightly, the guarded look still lingering in her eyes.

However, in the shadows around the corner, Father Chen and Lin Xiaoyang were silently watching the scene. The night wind swept across the priest’s robe, creating a heavy sense of oppression. His gaze was like that of a hawk, firmly locking onto the two ghostly figures.

“The prey has appeared,” Father Chen said quietly, his voice carrying a cold decisiveness. “Xiaoyang, can you handle them?”

The corners of Lin Xiaoyang’s mouth lifted slightly, revealing an eager smile. “I guess I can learn as I go.” He flexed his fingers, a faint current of energy moving through his palm.

“Then let’s go.” Father Chen strode out of the shadows, his robe sweeping in the wind with the imposing authority of a religious inquisitor.

Lorna and Keith were about to turn and leave when they suddenly felt a powerful pressure bearing down on them. They turned around sharply and saw Father Chen and Lin Xiaoyang approaching step by step, like grim reapers emerging from the darkness.

“You two demons from the spirit world,” Father Chen said with a cold smile, his voice low and commanding. “You’re in such a hurry. Are you rushing off to harm innocent people?”

“You… you…!” Lorna suddenly stepped backward. Her face turned deathly pale, her lips trembling as she became momentarily speechless.

Keith immediately reacted. Suppressing his uneasiness, he stepped in front of Lorna and confronted the priest calmly. “Father, we live in two different worlds, and normally, we should not interfere with one another. We have no intention of making enemies of you.”

“You’re right,” Father Chen said, his gaze sharp. “The living and the dead should not interfere with one another. But you have chosen to harm innocent people. This is no longer a matter of noninterference. As a member of the clergy, how could I simply stand by and do nothing?”

Lorna forced herself to remain calm and slowly raised both hands in a gesture of appeasement. “Father, we’re only following orders. We have no choice… Why do you insist on pursuing us like this?”

“Whose orders? That old snake Anderson’s?” Father Chen demanded sharply, his eyes as cold as blades. “Sooner or later, I’ll settle the score with him. But for now, you have only two choices—either surrender, and I will break the dark magic binding you and hand you over to Princess Maria, or fight, and we’ll see who survives!”

Lorna trembled inwardly as a terrifying whisper echoed through her mind. Her eyes widened in fear. “You… you’re Chen John, the ‘Ghost’s Nightmare’?!”

Father Chen sneered. “At least you’re knowledgeable—but unfortunately, it’s too late.”

Keith realized that the situation was bad. He suddenly turned to Lorna and whispered, “Lorna, it seems they have no intention of letting us go.”

“That’s right.” Father Chen’s voice was cold, his gaze seeming to pierce straight through their souls. “As long as demons remain in this world, there will never be peace.”

Keith clenched his teeth, slowly tightening his fists. “Then there’s no need to waste any more time. If we cannot coexist, then let’s settle this with a decisive battle!”

“Wait!” Lorna suddenly grabbed Keith’s wrist and pulled him one step backward. A trace of struggle and hesitation flashed through her eyes. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, and spoke in a soft voice. “Father, we’re not your opponents, and we don’t want to make unnecessary sacrifices. Perhaps we can negotiate?”

“Negotiate?” Father Chen raised an eyebrow. “What kind of cards do you have up your sleeve?”

Lorna spoke firmly. “Actually, I’ve long since stopped wanting to remain under Anderson’s control.”

“Lorna! Are you crazy?!” Keith stared at her in disbelief, glaring angrily. “Betraying the leader is a capital offense!”

Lorna turned around and looked deeply into his eyes, her gaze filled with sorrow and helplessness. “Keith, wake up. Anderson doesn’t consider us human beings at all. He only uses us to accomplish his goals and then throws us away. Has he ever cared whether we live or die?”

Keith’s expression shifted unpredictably. His fists tightened and then loosened. In the end, he could only curse under his breath.

“Damn…”

“You two, discuss it among yourselves,” Father Chen said, standing to the side with his arms crossed, his eyes as sharp as an eagle’s. “I have plenty of time.”

“Father, we should give them a chance,” Lin Xiaoyang said softly.

Lorna smiled slightly at him, her tone gentle. “Thank you, young man.” She looked up at Father Chen and spoke sincerely. “Father, we are willing to return to Bat City and serve as your inside agents.”

“No need to trouble yourselves,” Father Chen said with a cold smile. “If you are truly sincere, then come with us to the Sky Castle and meet Princess Maria.”

Lorna hesitated for a moment before finally nodding. “All right. I want to see the princess.”

“Lorna…” Keith looked at her with a complicated expression.

“Come with me,” Lorna pleaded. “If we stay here, we will only become expendable pawns and die for nothing.”

Keith stared at her for a long while. Finally, he let out a low sigh, relaxed his tightly clenched fists, and slowly nodded. “All right. You win.”

“Then,” Father Chen said, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly, “let’s go.”

The four of them left the fountain square together, the moonlight illuminating their backs and casting long shadows behind them.