The End Times Beyond the Gate
Gu Qingshan stood on the boat, his gaze fixed on the turbulent waters.
The water gradually darkened.
The River of Forgetfulness?
Gu Qingshan turned the thought over in his mind.
No. This doesn't feel like the River of Forgetfulness.
The River of Forgetfulness felt like death carrying the seed of new life: everything forgotten, then a fresh beginning.
This river, however, radiated endless despair and chill.
The little boat drifted along, bobbing on the waves.
The waters around him gradually widened, stretching beyond sight.
"What's that?" Gu Qingshan murmured.
Not far ahead, in the middle of the river, stood a small island.
Calling it an island was generous; it was only a few meters across.
A stone statue stood on it.
The statue looked somewhat like a reptilian beast, but it had three heads.
One was like a tiger's, another resembled an eagle's, and the third looked a little like a human—but wasn't.
"Come."
A voice sounded in Gu Qingshan's mind.
"Come to the island. I'll pass my inheritance on to you. Then I can die with no regrets."
Gu Qingshan looked at the statue.
It occupied the entire island. There was no room for anyone else to set foot there.
"I can't get up there," Gu Qingshan said.
"You can steer the boat over. Just don't jump—the boat will disappear," the statue said.
Gu Qingshan glanced down at the boat beneath his feet.
Sure enough, the little boat began drifting toward the statue, following his thoughts.
"Like this?" Gu Qingshan asked.
"Yes, exactly," the statue replied.
Gu Qingshan steered the boat through the waves, passing dozens of meters away from the statue's island.
The statue's three heads kept watching him, turning to follow the boat as it moved.
"Why are you leaving?" the