The Dragons' Diaries: The Six Dragons, #1

By Lin Musen

After losing his job and nearly being kicked out of the house, Shannchyuan finds himself unable to remember what happened to him in the past four hours. When a friend who is in danger calls to ask for help, he doesn't expect to meet an orphan girl who witnesses a bizarre kidnapping. He still doesn't even understand what really happened when his friends experienced strange things one by one. Soon after they get involved in events they have never imagined before, their lives will never be the same as before!

• Language: English
• Publisher: AutoWiny Press
• Release date: Feb 26, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201246075

Book preview

Prologue

The three men led two young men into the room. The eyes of the two youths were covered in jet-black clothes. Arriving inside, the three men removed the blindfolds of the two young men. They ordered the two young men to sit on the chairs there.

The two youths who had no other choice immediately obeyed the wishes of the three cruel-faced people. They knew it would be useless to fight back. As much as possible, they should buy time to wait for better opportunities to come.

One of the two young men looked around him. The room they were in was huge. The shape is a square. Each side is fifteen or sixteen meters long. On each side, there is a door. The young man looked at an open door. He realized they had entered through that door.

The boy looked at his friend. Just like himself, the friend also looked resigned. But unlike himself, who immediately made observations of the room where they were now, his friend just sat looking down. He was busy looking at the floor made of grayish-white tiles.

First of all, we apologize if you both feel that we treated you inhumanely. One of the three ruthless-looking men opened his mouth. Unlike before, this time, the words that escaped his lips sounded very soft.

Hey! You with thick glasses! Our friend is talking. Please don't stare at the floor. The second man, who had a thick beard, rebuked the young man who just looked down since those people opened the cloth covering his eyes.

The bespectacled boy looked up. But he didn't utter a word. Nor does it show an irritated facial expression.

Good, said the bearded man. Please continue.

The man who had started the conversation took a deep breath. He was ready to continue his speech. Unlike his two friends, his face was spotless. No mustache or beard.

May I interrupt for a moment? The youth who had been observing the room raised his right-hand high.

What is it? The third man snapped. While stroking his thick mustache, the man looked so intently into the eyes of the young man who had not lowered his right hand.

May I go to the restroom?

The clean-faced man laughed. He signaled to one of his friends to lead the young man to the toilet.

Turns out the toilet wasn't far at all. One of the three doors that were still closed was the door to the toilet room. The door wasn't locked at all. The man with the bushy beard opened the door with one jolt.

Don't take too long. Just two minutes! He whispered in the young man's ear. His voice was so scary.

Wait a minute!

Before the young man could step into the toilet, the man with the thick mustache shouted loudly as he walked closer to them.

The young man turned around. The man with the mustache was now standing in front of him.

Take off your jacket! The man pointed to the dark blue jacket the young man was wearing.

Under such circumstances, it would be wise to comply with the cruel man's request. The jacket immediately changed hands. The man with the thick mustache moved away from the toilet door. He walked back into the middle of the room, where the bespectacled youth was still sitting with a stiff body.

Let's wait until your friend comes back! The clean-faced man said in a gentle tone. The young man looked at the man. He just realized that the person's appearance differed greatly from the appearance of his two friends.

About two minutes later, the toilet door opened. The desperate youth came out with light steps. The man with the bushy beard followed behind him. Almost no distance.

The man with the mustache returned the jacket to the young man. He then invited the clean-faced man to continue his words.

You'll have to be here for a while. We can't say for sure how long you'll be here. Nor can we tell you why we brought you here.

The point is, you two have to wait here for just a few hours. Don't worry, although we don't know how long you will have to be locked up in this place, but we dare say that in less than twelve hours, you will be released.

The two youths looked at each other. Twelve hours was definitely not a short time.

Behind that door. The clean-faced person pointed at the door opposite the toilet door. There is enough food and drink. You won't go hungry or thirsty.

Do you understand? The man with the thick beard folded his arms in front of his chest.

There's one thing I have to ask! The young man in the blue jacket raised his hand again.

Please ask! The clean-faced man nodded.

Where's our friend?

You mean your chubby friend? The man with the thick mustache took a step forward.

The young man nodded.

Don't worry, he's all right. Maybe he's resting in the next room now. The man pointed to another door, which was the one opposite the door where they had entered.

Come on, now let's go see your friend. The bearded man walked straight to the door. The two youths immediately followed in his footsteps. Behind them, the other two men also inched closer to the door.

The door was wide open!

They all quickly entered through the door. The space behind the door was not as big as the previous room. However, unlike the previous room, which was empty, containing only two chairs, the room was packed with goods. A fat young man was lying on one mattress there.

Ah! You two have arrived! The burly young man turned around. He put down the book he was reading.

No way if you didn't hear that we were in the next room! The bespectacled youth's voice seemed to hold back anger.

Sorry! You know, when I'm reading, I tend to forget about my surroundings.

That's no excuse! The bespectacled boy widened his eyes.

You see for yourself that your friend is nothing short of anything. The clean-faced man smiled. Excuse us now. Maybe we'll be back in eight or ten hours.

Without saying another word, the three men left the room. They left by leaving the door of the room open. The three youths could still faintly hear the door closing. The three men had left the large room next door. They really left the three young men in that strange place.

The bespectacled youth immediately stood up. He looked at his two friends.

I already tried it. The fat young man rose from the mat. The door is completely locked. There's no way to open it.

So we're just going to stay here until they come to free us? The young man in the blue jacket said those words while looking around the room where they were.

Here we can rest, said the fat young man. In the other rooms, there's food and drink. There's also a bathroon. We don't lack for anything.

But this is like being in prison, said the bespectacled youth.

So what if we are in prison? The fat boy looked at the young man with the glasses. We won't be here long. Think of it as a vacation.

All this time, what did you do here to pass the time? They caught you six hours earlier than us. The young man in the blue jacket was curious.

There are a lot of books here for me to read. I don't feel bored at all.

How many books have you read?

Three books. This third one was just finished when you came in.

What's in this book? The young man with glasses pointed at the book on the mat. The book that the fat young man had been holding in his hand when they entered the room.

Why don't you read it yourself?

I'm too lazy to read it. I hope you don't mind telling me what it is.

Right! The young man in the blue jacket approached them. Of the three of us, you are the most avid reader. You are also the fastest at reading. So how about now, to kill time, you just tell us what you've read here.

It's too much if I have to tell you the contents of three books. I'll just tell you the contents of this book, okay? The last book I read. The fat young man pointed at the book on the mat.

His two friends nodded.

All right! You two, listen carefully. Now I'll start telling the story.

Chapter 01 : Shannchyuan

Crimson sky quickly darkened that evening, like an arrow shooting out of a bow. The chilly wind was caressing the skin quite tightly. That gale gusts incessantly swept the streets, which were still covered by the busyness of everyday life. Like the previous day, the sky was cloudy, ready to pour out all the drops of water on the face of the earth.

Why don't you open the umbrella?

A cute voice roused Duanmuh Shannchyuan from his reverie. He felt the raindrops had fallen from the sky. He at once opened the umbrella in his hand.

Thank you. Shannchyuan turned to the voice's source. He smiled at the person who had just knocked him out of his daydreaming. Her voice sounded familiar. As soon as his eyes saw the voice's owner, he was astonished. The umbrella handle almost fell from his grasp. The cute voice owner's face was very like someone he had known several years ago. For a split second, Shannchyuan hesitated. He thought they were the same person. But he immediately brushed off the possibility. His old acquaintance couldn't possibly be in this place. Besides, she looked much younger than his acquaintance.

You're welcome, she answered while she was smiling and holding a brightly colored umbrella. She paused for about five seconds. Then suddenly, with a serious face, she said, I notice you looked confused.

Do I look confused? With a confused look, Shannchyuan asked her. Nothing confused him earlier. He just daydreaming instead. Something that he never forgot to do when he was alone. But the question she just asked might confuse him.

Do I look so pathetic?

The young woman showed an expression like a person who was worried that she just had made a big mistake. Slowly she continued, Yes, you look confused. You look like someone who is lost. Are you new here?

This time, the question was obvious enough that Shannchyuan could answer it right away. I've lived here for more than a year. I was just thinking about something. So, it may seem like someone who is lost.

I see. Sorry, I was wrong. She smiled.

Never mind. Thanks again.

The last few days, it has always rained before and shortly after sunset. So every day, we have to carry an umbrella when we go outside. She said while looking up at the inside of her umbrella.

That's right! It's quite strange the weather recently. But fortunately, it usually rains only briefly. So if we don't bring an umbrella, then we can just find a place to take shelter temporarily, Shannchyuan replied.

She nodded her head at Shannchyuan's words. It seems she agreed one hundred percent with him. She then said, the few days I was here, I saw a lot. I mean, I saw there were lots of places on the side of the road that I could use as a shelter when suddenly it rained.

Where do you come from? Asked Shannchyuan. From that person's accent, it was clear that she was not from this city.

I come from Yeuandong, said that person.

Oh! I also happen to be from Yeuandong, said Shannchyuan, where exactly is your hometown in Yeuandong?

Yehjing, said that person. Her face shone. She looked so proud of her hometown.

How could there be such a coincidence? This person looked a lot like her, who was also from there. Are they related?

Ah! I also come from Yehjing, said Shannchyuan enthusiastically.

But since I was five years old, I moved to another place. So my accent is not the same as that of the Yehjing. It was only five years ago that I moved back to Yehjing. From what I hear, your accent is also not exactly the same as the Yehjing, the person continued what she said after being interrupted by Shannchyuan.

You are right! Shannchyuan said. Even though I was born and raised in Yehjing, both of my parents are not native of Yehjing, so my accent is a mixture of the Yehjing accent and my parents' accent.

I see! It's so nice to meet fellow Yehjing in this city. Suddenly, she reached into the pocket of her jacket. May I ask you a question?

Before Shannchyuan could answer the question, she took out a piece of paper and handed it to him. Do you know this address?

Shannchyuan instantly grabbed the paper. After watching it for a while, he then replied, It's two blocks from here. Just go straight. There'll be a gigantic sign with the name of the place on it so it won't be mistaken.

It seemed the brief explanation was satisfactory to her. Thank you. She put the paper back into her jacket pocket.

Shannchyuan continued his words, But I don't know if the place is still open or closed. It's already dusk. Maybe it's better for you to go there tomorrow morning.

Hearing Shannchyuan's answer, she looked like she was considering something. But then she said, That's right. It's almost night. Most likely, the place was closed. But I would try it, anyway. If it's closed, then I would try again tomorrow.

After saying so, she excused herself and immediately left, for the place had shown by Shannchyuan.

Shannchyuan looked at the back of the person who was rushing in the direction he had shown. Her brightly colored umbrella swayed from side to side. Looked harmonious and in line with her light but fast footsteps. In an instant, that person's figure shrank and slowly disappeared from Shannchyuan's sight. Even the way she moved was similar to someone from his past.

Today is an exhausting day, Shannchyuan muttered to himself. He sighed.

It had been almost three months since Shannchyuan had lost his job. Previously, he had worked part-time at a bookstore. He didn't want to work full time because he didn't want to be tied down in that place. Three months ago, the bookstore had to close because the owner sold the site to someone else. The person who had bought the store wanted to turn it into a cafe. The old owner then had moved to another city. Previously, he had lived alone. His relatives, who had lived in another city, invited him to live with them.

The bookstore was a used bookstore. When the old owner had sold all the existing books to another used bookstore, the other bookstore would gladly accept Shannchyuan and other clerks, whose total number was only six people. But the other bookstore was in another city, so Shannchyuan couldn't work there. Shannchyuan felt comfortable living in this city and wanted to stay here for a few more years. The new cafe that had replaced the used bookstore could not accept Shannchyuan because they thought Shannchyuan was too old to work there. Not suitable for the cafe's target market, namely the younger generation and adolescents. Indeed, they had expressed their refusal in a very polite way. Even a little too much. Every word that had come out of their mouths was neatly and carefully arranged. But still, Shannchyuan had annoyed to hear that.

Last year Shannchyuan had arrived in this city. An enormous city. This city has a square shape, each side about 160 kilometers long. With a population density of up to 25000 people per square kilometer, the permanent resident in this city reaches over six hundred million. It was even more during the day because many commuters lived in the surrounding smaller cities, towns, and villages. They commuted every day to work in this city. There was so much to explore in this city. Shannchyuan had moved to this city to explore all corners of the city, which had a very long history. That's the most important reason on his mind when he settled down in this city. Therefore, since coming here, Shannchyuan had always chosen to work part-time only, so he had more free time to travel around the city.

After a moment's pause, then Shannchyuan also left that place. He went home because it was getting dark. The place he called home would soon not be his home. The landlord increased the rental price of the house. Shannchyuan couldn't afford the new price this time. The house was not big, but the location was very strategic, so it was only natural for the landlord to increase the rental price. He was the new landlord. The old landlord had passed away last month and had left the property for his family. This new landlord was the nephew of the old landlord. When he was still alive, the old landlord had promised not to raise rental rates for his homes shortly. Of course, after he died, the heir had the right to decide what to do with the house. The new owners might decide to sell the house or keep it leased to them as before. Two weeks ago, the new landlord had said he had no plans to sell the house soon but asked for an increase in the rent if the tenants still wanted to live there.

The old landlord properties had been scattered all over the city. The house Shannchyuan lived in was one of them. He felt comfortable inside the house he rented a year ago. He did not live alone. Apart from him, four other people also lived there. They were Yihshyong, Jenqyih, Iren, and Shinnshiow. There was one more person, Chioujen. But six months ago, Chioujen had moved to another city. The company he worked for opened a new branch in another city. They had sent Chioujen there. All of them lived under one roof. According to their calculations, living together in the house was much cheaper.

In his old age, the old landlord had other priorities for the rest of his life. He didn't intend to make a profit when he was renting out his property. Having someone who could take care of the