I had heard before that lakes in high-altitude areas often had lake monsters. The most famous, the Loch Ness Monster, was in a country called Buleidian, an island nation not known for its high elevation. However, this Loch Ness was located in a canyon on the northern plateau of Buleidian.
The two "lake monsters" of the sweltering summer were one in Kanas Lake in the northwest, nestled in the Altai Mountains, and the other, the monster of Changbai Mountain Tianchi, which stood over 2,000 meters above sea level.
Therefore, I deduced that such phenomena might be the work of the demon race. It wasn't necessarily that they were intentionally causing trouble; perhaps they were aquatic demons who preferred to dwell in water. High-altitude lakes, being remote and rarely visited, were more conducive to their cultivation. With advanced human technology, reaching high-altitude lakes was now easy. In ancient times, who would venture to such heights without a compelling reason? Even if someone did and discovered a monster, they would likely face disbelief upon returning, lacking any concrete evidence.
I was engrossed in reading when a knock echoed from outside. So soon?
With a touch of caution, I activated my Qi Sensing technique. Thankfully, it was just an ordinary human. I approached the door and peered through the peephole. It was a hotel waitress, pushing a small cart that was still steaming.
Feeling at ease, I opened the door. The waitress, wearing a mask, offered a slight smile. "Mr. Wu, your lunch order. This seasoned jellyfish requires seasoning and mixing. May I assist you?"
"Yes, please do," I replied, worried about adding too much or too little seasoning, or mixing it poorly.
"Please excuse me, I'll mix it in your room to avoid the aroma affecting other esteemed guests," the waitress added.
Impressive for a high-end hotel, I thought. Perhaps they were concerned about other patrons getting jealous?
I stepped aside, and the waitress pushed the cart in. She closed the door with her foot, and I heard the latch click. I noticed she was wearing a pair of high-heeled leather boots that looked quite luxurious, clearly a high-end brand, and quite expensive. The boots had fur trim around the top, made from an unknown animal's hide.
The waitress retrieved various seasonings from beneath the cart and asked about my preference. I explained I was from the south and preferred it slightly milder than usual, with standard wasabi, which I could tolerate.
After a bit of skillful maneuvering, the waitress used chopsticks to mix the jellyfish, cucumber strips, and other ingredients evenly. Feeling a bit "heated" myself, I had specifically ordered a cold dish, which, paired with a plate of Northeast-style stir-fried meat slices, promised to be quite appetizing.
"Please try it. I can make adjustments if needed," the waitress said, turning the chopsticks to face me and handing them over with both hands.
I took the chopsticks, picked up a strip of jellyfish, and was about to bring it to my lips when I saw a dark void aimed directly at my forehead!
Startled, I dropped the jellyfish!
Upon closer inspection, it was the waitress, holding a handgun and staring at me with cold eyes!
"...What kind of service is this?" I asked.
"Service my ass! Come with me!"
"Who are you to demand I follow you? Do you even know who I am?" I asked calmly. Since she intended to take me away, it implied she didn't plan to kill me right there, meaning the gun was merely an intimidation tactic.
I reactivated my Qi Sensing technique, confirming she was indeed an ordinary human. I also observed the meridians on her hands and arms. The meridian connected to her trigger finger was tense, indicating she was applying significant pressure. Yet, she showed no fear of accidental discharge. This left two possibilities: either the gun was fake or unloaded, or its safety was engaged. The safety mechanism's effectiveness lay in locking the trigger. Therefore, with the safety on, the trigger could not be pulled.
Given the cold, metallic sheen of the gun, it didn't seem fake. Thus, the latter option was more likely.
What, then, did I have to fear?
"You don't need to know who I am!" the waitress retorted, tilting her chin up arrogantly. "Just come with me, or I'll make you sleep here forever!"
"...A rather uninspired line," I remarked, shaking my head. Suddenly, I thrust my knee into the small cart and simultaneously reached out with both hands, gripping the barrel of her gun.
The waitress hadn't expected me to fight back while facing a gun. Her abdomen took the full impact of the cart, causing her to recoil. Naturally, the gun was wrenched from her grasp.
I didn't recognize the model and couldn't find the safety. However, I knew how to detach the magazine. With a press of my right thumb, the magazine sprang out and landed on the carpet. I kicked it into the narrow space beneath the television cabinet.