Category: Her Prey [Infinite]

Chapter 14 Night of Sacrifice (10)

Damn it.

The door was slowly closing. Zhu Ming, flashlight in her left hand, the hard object in her right, lunged forward, agile as a black cat.

She brushed past an unseen, chilling presence, the beam of her flashlight shaking wildly. Just as the door was about to slam shut, she squeezed through the gap, tumbling onto the hard floor outside.

“Ow…”

With both hands occupied, she landed heavily on her elbows and knees, the pain shooting through her. To make matters worse, she bit her tongue.

Her body could handle the impact, but her tongue…

Tears welled up in her eyes. The flashlight beam wasn’t on her, and the stiffness began to return. Thankfully, Yun Zouchuan’s light found her in the next second.

Ignoring the pain, Zhu Ming shone her own flashlight on herself, scrambling to her feet and limping towards the stairs.

Slam!

The housekeeper’s room door slammed shut, then creaked open again. The same chilling wind that had swept through the basement rushed towards her, a clear sign of the housekeeper’s rage.

It had finished its patrol and was free to act!

And this time, the scream of the poster woman accompanied the wind. Even Zhu Ming, with her higher resistance, found the sound grating, and Yun Zouchuan was even more susceptible.

Attacks came from every angle, from the darkness beyond the reach of their flashlights. Zhu Ming nearly fell several times, her progress slowed by the constant harassment.

But she noticed something. The housekeeper was focusing on her, not A-Zou.

Because… she had something it wanted. The hard object!

As Zhu Ming reached the halfway point on the stairs, Yun Zouchuan was already halfway down the hallway. Zhu Ming yelled, and Yun Zouchuan turned to see a beam of light and a small object hurtling towards her.

She caught it easily. “Get inside and don’t open the door until morning!” Zhu Ming yelled.

Without hesitation, shielded by the combined beams of their flashlights, Yun Zouchuan ran into her room.

Exposed to the darkness, Zhu Ming was shoved forward, something sharp stabbing towards her. She rolled out of the way, grabbing the railing and pulling herself up, shining the flashlight on herself.

“Trying to kill me?” she sneered. “You’re not worthy!”

Crack! Her right foot went through a rotten section of the wooden staircase. Zhu Ming yelped, tumbling backward, landing hard on the step below. Her back and legs twisted awkwardly as she landed on the stairs, head pointing downwards.

Zhu Ming: “…”

When it rains, it pours. A rickety wooden staircase was bad enough, but did it have to be falling apart too?!

The housekeeper wouldn’t miss this opportunity. It kicked Zhu Ming’s wrist, sending the flashlight clattering down the stairs.

Plunged into darkness, Zhu Ming’s body began to grow cold and stiff. Reacting quickly, she grabbed the railing, pushing herself up to a sitting position, dodging the housekeeper’s next attack.

Thud! Something sharp pierced the wood beside her, stuck fast.

Zhu Ming knew that if she hadn’t moved, it would have been her heart that was pierced. Now it was a race against time. She had to free her foot before the housekeeper freed its weapon.

But the increasing stiffness slowed her movements, making even simple actions difficult. Her joints felt rusty and sluggish. She couldn’t even twist her foot out of the gap.

While she could still move, she pulled herself up, using the railing for support. Agility and finesse were out of the question. She would have to rip her foot free, even if it meant injuring herself.

Just as she was about to pull, a beam of light shone down on her from above.

The chilling stiffness receded like a tide, and just before she turned to stone, warmth and flexibility returned.

She looked up, startled. The source of the light was hidden behind the flashlight. Blinded by the beam, she could only make out a human silhouette.

Now able to move freely, she yanked her foot free and scrambled down the stairs. As she picked up her flashlight, the light above vanished. She shone her light upwards, but the second-floor hallway was empty.

Room 2004 was in the middle of the second floor. Zhu Ming ran towards the other staircase, the housekeeper close behind. Thankfully, she didn’t encounter any more rotten steps.

Dodging a few more attacks, she reached the top of the stairs, swung herself over the railing, and landed in the hallway.

The door to 2005 was slightly ajar. Yun Zouchuan shone her flashlight. “What took you so long?”

Zhu Ming rushed into 2004, slamming the door behind her. “Lock it!”

A furious pounding echoed from the hallway.

Zhu Ming leaned against the door, catching her breath, and flipped off the unseen housekeeper. “You want my life? Dream on!”

As her breathing returned to normal, she realized something. A-Zou hadn’t asked why she was late… Had it not been her with the flashlight earlier?

Then who was it?

Xiao Xue?

She would ask tomorrow.

Exhausted from the night’s events, Zhu Ming turned off her flashlight and went to bed, ignoring the heat and the lingering smell of sweat. The flashlight was dimming; she needed to conserve battery power.

She was drifting off to sleep when a frantic knocking woke her.

Or rather, it wasn’t the knocking itself that woke her, but a sudden, inexplicable feeling that banished her drowsiness. She was instantly alert.

“Zhu Ming, come out! Someone’s dead! Everyone’s panicking!” Yun Zouchuan yelled from outside.

Zhu Ming rolled over, pulling the covers over her head. “Tell them to die quietly,” she mumbled.

“…”

Meanwhile, a similar scene was playing out at room 1003.

“Teng Ge, come out! Xiao Cheng and the others broke the barrier! The ghosts are going crazy! Everyone’s trying to leave! Hurry!”

The exciting news jolted Teng Ge awake. He had been tossing and turning all night, disturbed by strange sounds.

“Really? So fast?”

“Yes! Come out! We’re waiting for you!”

He started towards the door, then hesitated. Was it a trap? But the knocking ghost had been gone for hours… No, he needed to be sure. He couldn’t be fooled.

Proud of his caution and intelligence, he walked to the window and carefully peeked through the curtains. Several people were standing outside with flashlights, as if waiting for someone.

Seeming to notice him, they turned, their eyes gleaming in the darkness. “Teng Ge, come out! We’re waiting for you! Teng Ge, come out! We’re waiting for you! Teng Ge, come out…”

They repeated the phrase over and over, men and women, high voices and low, a hypnotic chorus.

The words echoed in his mind, his heart pounding. He was drawn to their glowing eyes in the darkness.

Teng Ge, come out! We’re waiting for you!

Yes, he thought excitedly. They were waiting for him. He had to hurry and join them before he was left behind in this terrifying villa!

He turned on his flashlight and opened the door. The hallway was empty.

A cold breeze brushed against his legs, making him shiver.

…

The next day, Zhu Ming was forced to wake up early.

Not too early, but earlier than the previous day. The persistent knocking on her door, combined with the heat, had made her sleep restless.

Yawning, she opened the door, nearly knocking over the person standing outside.

“Trying to send me to an early grave?” she grumbled, still half-asleep. “What is it now?”

Xiao Cheng said urgently, “Someone’s dead!”

Zhu Ming: “Oh.”

Perhaps due to another death, Miss Zhao seemed even more distraught than before. She glared at Zhu Ming, her voice strained. “What did you do last night? We need to determine if you’re a ghost.”

Zhu Ming scratched her ear, wondering if she had heard correctly. “Suspecting me again? Where’s A-Zou? I was with her last night. Ask her.”

Yun Zouchuan raised her hand. “Here. I already told them everything, but they insisted on confirming it with you, to make sure I wasn’t lying.”

Zhu Ming leaned against the doorframe, yawning. “Fine. I went to the housekeeper’s room last night.”

There was no point hiding it. The villa was small. Any activity on the first floor would be noticed. She planned to investigate the storage room later; there was no way to avoid being seen.

Since her account matched Yun Zouchuan’s, their suspicions eased, and their expressions softened slightly.

However…

Zhu Ming looked at Xiao Xue. “You didn’t see me last night?”

Xiao Xue looked surprised. “I was in my room all night. I never opened the door. How could I have seen you?”

Zhu Ming: “?”

Strange. The flashlight beam hadn’t been A-Zou’s or Xiao Xue’s. It couldn’t have been Xiao Song’s, could it?

She asked the others, but no one admitted to being in the hallway.

Was she seeing new types of ghosts now? Confused, she decided to let it go for now.

“Why are you all so serious?” she asked. “What happened?”

Xiao Xue explained, “This morning, we found Teng Ge dead in the living room. His left eye was… gouged out.”

Zhu Ming: “Huh? What does that have to do with me?”

Xiao Xue continued, “We compared notes about last night. Everyone experienced illusions trying to lure them out of their rooms. A-Zou said she didn’t see Teng Ge’s body when she went to the basement at midnight or to the housekeeper’s room at 2 a.m. We think he was tricked by the illusion and opened his door.”

Zhu Ming was even more baffled. “And you still suspect me?”

Xiao Xue shook her head. “If that were all, we wouldn’t be so worried. It’s because…”

“Because of me,” Old Xu said, looking much older than before, his face wrinkled and pale, his usual energy gone. “My door opened by itself when the housekeeper knocked last night. Luckily, I had a way to protect myself.” He had used up the life-saving reward from his previous instance. The next one would be even more dangerous.

Zhu Ming was finally intrigued. She straightened up. “Why did your door open by itself?”

Old Xu held up a small sign. “Because of this.”

It was an ordinary “Please Make Up Room” sign, the kind found in most hotels.

Chapter 13 Night of Sacrifice (9)

…Only a fool would answer that!

A chill wind swept through the stuffy basement as the ringtone grew increasingly shrill, like a death knell urging them to answer.

Xiao Cheng held the phone, caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. He didn’t dare answer, nor did he dare hang up. He looked at the other two for guidance.

Zhu Ming and Yun Zouchuan both took a step back. Trying to pass the buck? In their dreams!

Creak—

What was that sound?

Zhu Ming stumbled forward, shining her flashlight behind her. “Which one of you pushed me?!”

“Ah!” Yun Zouchuan gasped, swinging her fist backward, but hitting nothing.

They exchanged glances, understanding dawning in their eyes. Something was in the darkness with them!

Not only had they been attacked, but Xiao Cheng and Old Xu had also been targeted. And the attacker was cunning and elusive.

To make matters worse, in the chaos, Xiao Cheng accidentally pressed the “Answer” button. The call connected instantly.

A piercing scream erupted from the phone, hitting Xiao Cheng like a sledgehammer. His head swam, and he froze, nearly dragged away by the unseen entity in the darkness.

Old Xu yanked him back just in time. Xiao Cheng quickly hung up, but the phone immediately began ringing again.

Zhu Ming, sensing a chilling presence behind her, spun around and kicked. She stumbled forward, her expression hardening.

She was certain the enemy had been right behind her, but there was nothing there… No, that wasn’t right!

It wasn’t that there was nothing there, but that she couldn’t touch it. The enemy was like air, everywhere and nowhere, intangible.

There was no point fighting. They would only be sitting ducks. Zhu Ming made a snap decision, abandoning any pretense of camaraderie. Shining her flashlight on herself, she yelled, “Back to our rooms!”

Remembering that the attacks came from their blind spots, from the areas not illuminated by their flashlights, she added, “Keep the light on yourselves!”

Yun Zouchuan followed closely behind.

Old Xu smacked Xiao Cheng on the head. “Run!”

They scrambled up the stairs. Before they reached the second floor, Old Xu yelled at Xiao Cheng, “The phone!”

Xiao Cheng, his face pale, tossed the incessantly ringing phone to Old Xu. “Be careful!”

…

Back in her room, Zhu Ming cautiously swept the beam of her flashlight around, making sure there were no hidden enemies lurking in the darkness before turning it off.

Exhausted and overheated from running, she opened a bottle of water and gulped down half of it.

She placed a chair by the door and sat down, determined to stay awake. She was afraid she would fall back asleep if she lay on the bed.

About an hour later, she heard a faint rumbling sound.

It was coming.

Grabbing her flashlight, she quietly opened the door and slipped out into the hallway.

The darkness was silent. There was no chill wind, no unseen enemy lurking in the shadows.

But…

Afraid of attracting the housekeeper, Zhu Ming hadn’t turned on her flashlight. Now, a chilling coldness seeped into her skin, slowly reaching her bones.

Damn it! Being completely exposed to the darkness at night caused paralysis!

She quickly turned on the flashlight, the beam illuminating her like a beacon. The stiffness vanished instantly.

The housekeeper, pushing its cleaning cart up the stairs, stopped rumbling. “…”

Zhu Ming followed the sound. She could see the cart but not the ghost. She waved her flashlight. The housekeeper seemed to snap out of its trance and continued pushing the cart forward at its usual slow pace.

Zhu Ming understood. Due to some restriction, the housekeeper had to complete its task. It couldn’t attack the participants during its patrol, even if they were bathed in light.

While the housekeeper was invisible, like air, and couldn’t directly attack them, a sharp, murderous intent was directed at Zhu Ming.

Zhu Ming glared back, unfazed. “Do your job properly, or I’ll dock your pay!”

Housekeeper: “…”

Zhu Ming turned and sprinted towards the other staircase.

The housekeeper’s patrol route was 2001 to 2007 to 1003. It then collected the trash. That gave her a window of opportunity to test her theory. Even if the key was on the housekeeper, they could still access the housekeeper’s room while it was out on patrol.

Since the housekeeper was pushing a cart, its movements were restricted. It likely hadn’t locked the door. Of course, Zhu Ming also believed that the unlocked door was a rule of the instance. There had to be a way to complete the mission. The rules restricted both the participants and the ghosts.

Suddenly, someone tugged on her sleeve. Zhu Ming jumped, nearly colliding with the person. She turned and saw A-Zou.

“Why are you out here?” Zhu Ming asked, frowning, as they reached the first floor.

“I woke up when I heard you say ‘dock your pay’,” Yun Zouchuan replied. “You’ve figured something out, and you’re planning to do something risky, aren’t you?”

Zhu Ming chuckled nervously. “Not really. I just don’t trust Old Xu and Xiao Cheng, so I didn’t say anything in front of them. And I haven’t had a chance to talk to you.”

Yun Zouchuan wasn’t angry. “What are we doing?”

Zhu Ming lowered her voice. “We’re going to the housekeeper’s room.”

Without another word, they passed through the living room, where Zhu Ming, in a display of public indecency, kicked over the trash can. They reached the housekeeper’s room, 1001. Zhu Ming pushed the door tentatively. Creak—

That was the sound!

The door opened.

The windowless room was pitch black, the flashlight beams struggling to penetrate the darkness.

Zhu Ming and Yun Zouchuan had worked together many times and were well-coordinated. They angled their flashlights to illuminate each other’s backs, ensuring neither was fully exposed to the darkness while also checking for anything lurking behind them.

The room was small, containing a single bed, a desk, a chair, a trash can, and a poster.

The poster featured a sexy woman in a red swimsuit, her black hair a voluminous cloud. She was beautiful, but her face was deathly pale, her eyes unsettlingly dark. Meeting her gaze in the darkness felt as if she were staring back.

Having established their search areas, they began working.

Zhu Ming, not afraid to make a mess, ripped the sheets and blankets off the bed, tossing them aside. The housekeeper already knew they were here; she wasn’t worried about offending it further.

She felt something hard inside the pillow. Ripping it open, she pulled out a cell phone, sending feathers flying.

She pocketed the phone and continued searching, but she found nothing else on the bed.

Rumble, rumble… The housekeeper was on the first floor.

Yun Zouchuan’s ears perked up. She turned sharply. “I found a notebook.”

Zhu Ming instinctively lowered her voice. “Take it.”

“I’ll check if the storage room is open.”

Yun Zouchuan rushed out of the housekeeper’s room and tried the storage room door. It was locked. The housekeeper had already knocked on the door of 1004 and was now knocking on 1003. Once it finished collecting the trash, it would return to its room. There was no telling what would happen then.

Yun Zouchuan, making a snap decision, ran to the kitchen and began creating a diversion. The food wrappers from their earlier meal were still in the trash can. She tossed them around the room, scattering the trash everywhere, hoping to keep the housekeeper busy.

Inside the housekeeper’s room, even though A-Zou had already searched the desk, Zhu Ming decided to take a look.

A-Zou was thorough when she focused, but sometimes, things were easily overlooked.

Zhu Ming’s gaze fell on the empty trash can. She kicked it over, revealing a crumpled photograph stuck to the bottom. Cunning.

She peeled the photo off and pocketed it, then walked over to the poster of the woman in the red swimsuit, lifting the bottom edge. “There’s always something behind posters.”

The wall behind the poster was bare… She let go.

Suddenly, she heard Yun Zouchuan yell from outside.

Had the housekeeper finished its tasks already?!

“It’s attacking me with a broom!” Yun Zouchuan yelled, running. “Keep searching, Boss! I’m fine!”

The broom seemed to have some kind of power. After being hit, Yun Zouchuan had fallen uncontrollably, rolling on the floor with her flashlight clutched tightly. She didn’t dare run too far. She was afraid that if she went upstairs, the housekeeper would go after Zhu Ming.

She noticed a pattern. The closer she was to the scattered trash, the more frequently she was attacked. But if she ignored the trash, the housekeeper would quickly clean it up and finish its task.

She decided to run and kick the trash out of the housekeeper’s path, buying herself more time.

Inside the housekeeper’s room, Zhu Ming frowned, scanning her surroundings. She had found a phone and a photo. A-Zou had found a notebook. They had found so many things, but she still felt like something was missing.

“Hurry!” Yun Zouchuan yelled, as the amount of trash dwindled.

“I know!” Zhu Ming hurried towards the door, then stopped, turning back. “What are you looking at? I’ll gouge your eyes out!”

She walked back to the poster of the woman in the red swimsuit and poked her fingers into the woman’s eyes. “I knew something was off about you.”

It wasn’t her imagination. The eyes of the woman in the poster moved, her gaze turning malevolent. She opened her mouth, revealing a dark cavity, and let out an ear-piercing scream.

The scream hit Zhu Ming like a wave, sending her stumbling backward until she hit the bed. She steadied herself and returned to the poster, shoving her hand into the woman’s gaping mouth.

“You don’t even have a tongue, and you’re screaming?”

Sexy Swimsuit Woman: “…”

Shock! Why wasn’t this person affected? Suspicion! She should be dizzy and hallucinating by now. Rage! How dare she put her hand in her mouth!!!

Zhu Ming fumbled around inside. The woman might be beautiful, but she wasn’t alive. Instead of the warmth and softness of flesh, there was a cold, slimy texture, and as her mouth opened wider, a foul stench emanated from within.

Found it!

A grim smile spread across Zhu Ming’s face, revealing her teeth.

She knew there had to be something behind the poster.

Clutching the cold, hard object she had found, she pulled her hand out, her fingers coated in a foul-smelling slime. From outside, Yun Zouchuan screamed, “It’s closing the door!”

Chapter 12 Night of Sacrifice (8)

“Old man,” Zhu Ming said, “I’m starting to think you’re more cunning than I initially thought.” She believed Xiao Cheng was genuinely clueless, happily following Old Xu’s lead.

But Old Xu was a shrewd one. He couldn’t have missed all the inconsistencies.

Old Xu stroked his beard, a little embarrassed. “Comrade, don’t think too badly of me. I know the meanings of the offerings, but many deities, besides their main duties, also have the power to exorcise evil. How would we know if it wouldn’t work without trying?”

Zhu Ming’s voice was cold. “You’re not the one taking the risk, so of course you don’t mind trying.”

Old Xu chuckled. “That’s where you’re wrong. Participants who complete the mission receive a reward from the previous instance. Our abilities might be suppressed, but the reward isn’t. If Miss A-Zou were in danger, the three of us wouldn’t stand idly by.”

“Really?” Zhu Ming challenged. “Well, A-Zou and I aren’t doing it. If you want to complete the mission with this ritual, find someone else. Look, there’s a perfect candidate right here. Miss Zhao seems like a good choice.”

Miss Zhao, of course, refused. “My hair is too short,” she mumbled.

Having stirred the pot, Zhu Ming waved the papers in her hand. “Besides, there’s a page missing.”

She tossed the papers to Xiao Cheng, who frantically flipped through them. “There are scraps of paper in the binding. Actually, I misspoke earlier. The ghost did take the key, but it was returned. It must have tampered with the clues in the basement while it had the key.”

“If the basement was a trap set by the ghost from the beginning,” Miss Zhao said, her lips pressed together, “then why would it need to alter the clues?”

“How would I know?” Zhu Ming retorted. “The missing page overlaps with the message on the back of the third page. So I suspect the real clue isn’t about summoning a deity with a ‘good woman,’ but something else entirely.”

“So this whole thing is a distraction from the real way to complete the mission?” Xiao Cheng murmured. “But there are no other clues. We’ve searched the entire villa—”

He stopped abruptly, realizing they hadn’t searched everywhere.

“Is the real solution in the housekeeper’s room or the storage room?” He scratched his head. “Isn’t the housekeeper a ghost? Are we supposed to raid a ghost’s lair? I wouldn’t mind trying, but we haven’t found a second key.”

All the doors had keyholes, but the guest rooms unlocked automatically. They had needed a key for the basement, so they would likely need one for the housekeeper’s room as well.

Speaking of keys, Yun Zouchuan suddenly spoke up. “I know where the key is.”

Zhu Ming raised an eyebrow. “Where?”

“On the housekeeper,” Yun Zouchuan replied. “I heard a strange sound when he was patrolling last night.”

A rattling, a metallic clinking—the sound of keys.

Xiao Cheng: “…That’s both good news and bad news.”

“Alright, let’s stop for now,” Old Xu said wearily. “Since Miss A-Zou and Miss Zhao are unwilling, we can’t force you. This is more dangerous for women anyway. It’s getting late. Let’s not continue this discussion here. If we can’t figure it out, we’ll try again tomorrow.”

Only Xiao Cheng seemed to agree. The others ignored him.

Yun Zouchuan’s lips tightened, her eyes wide. She kicked an incense burner, extinguishing the red candle and scattering the dates across the floor.

She was still furious.

She would try summoning a deity, but this… this was unacceptable.

If she had known, she would never have agreed!

A hand landed gently on her shoulder. Yun Zouchuan heard her boss scolding her, and a wave of grievance and helpless sorrow surged through her.

Seeing her on the verge of tears, Zhu Ming softened. “Hey, hey, don’t cry. It’s not like you actually gave birth to a ghost baby.”

Yun Zouchuan mumbled, “You know I’m stupid, and you still scold me.”

Zhu Ming sighed, pulling Yun Zouchuan into a hug and patting her back. “Alright, alright, don’t cry. I won’t scold you anymore.”

Yun Zouchuan sniffled, clutching Zhu Ming’s sleeve. “No, you have to promise me something.”

Zhu Ming: “Don’t worry, I’ll help you get revenge…”

Yun Zouchuan: “Give me a raise.”

Zhu Ming: “…In your dreams.”

She pushed Yun Zouchuan away and picked up the objects from the concrete platform. “Since the housekeeper can tamper with the clues, we should take these, just in case it tries something tonight.”

Old Xu stepped forward. “Comrade, wait. Let me keep these. They’re clearly connected to the ghosts. Lao Gao retrieved the key and died mysteriously. Taking these things into our rooms might be dangerous. I have ways to protect myself. I’ll take the risk, as an apology for asking you young ladies to participate in the ritual.”

Zhu Ming eyed him suspiciously. “And you won’t tamper with them? No, I need to examine them first.”

She shone her flashlight on the watch, while Yun Zouchuan examined the phone.

The watch revealed nothing unusual. Yun Zouchuan pressed the power button on the phone. “It’s on.”

Everyone: “???” Wait, shouldn’t the phone be dead, like the watch?

“I get it!” Xiao Cheng exclaimed, suddenly remembering Lao Gao’s complaints after his fight with Xiao Song. “If the watch isn’t waterproof, it would easily break and rust after falling into the water. So they haven’t been here for long.”

They had assumed both items were useless because they looked old and worn, and the note implied they had been there for a while.

Zhu Ming’s brow smoothed. She took the phone, praising Yun Zouchuan. “See? You learn from your mistakes. Almost fell for the trap, but now you’re thinking clearly.”

Yun Zouchuan was confused. “What are you praising me for? To investigate the phone, we have to turn it on, right?”

What did waterproofing and rust have to do with the phone?

Zhu Ming clicked her tongue. “Spoke too soon.” Sometimes, a simple approach was best.

The reason the phone still had power wasn’t important. What mattered was its contents.

They were eager to examine it, but the phone was locked with a four-digit passcode.

Four digits seemed easier than six, but without any clues, it was just as difficult. And they only had three attempts before the phone locked permanently.

Xiao Cheng said, “I’ll look at the papers again. Maybe there’s a clue.”

Miss Zhao said coldly, “Since we’re not performing the ritual tonight, I’m going back to my room.”

She turned and left, her footsteps hurried. Old Xu sighed, watching her go. “Let’s examine it during the day. We don’t want to run into the housekeeper.”

Zhu Ming stared at the phone screen, silent. Her black clothes and hair blended with the shadows of the basement. The screen’s glow illuminated half her face, making her expression unreadable.

Just as Old Xu and Xiao Cheng were about to leave, Zhu Ming suddenly smiled.

“I know the passcode. It’s… 1-0-0-1.”

A click. The phone unlocked.

Yun Zouchuan: “That was easy.”

Xiao Cheng stared at her, incredulous. “Easy?! How did you figure that out?!”

Zhu Ming began scrolling through the phone, searching for useful information. “It wasn’t that hard to guess. The four digits are a clue. And the phone belongs to the housekeeper. The housekeeper’s room has a sign, but it’s also numbered like the guest rooms. That’s suspicious. We had three tries. Why not?”

Xiao Cheng asked weakly, “The phone belongs to the housekeeper?”

Zhu Ming hummed in agreement. “There are two ghosts here: the housekeeper and the water ghost. Get it?”

Xiao Cheng: “Wait, let me think… I remember now! The one stabbed with the skewer and the one drowned in the pool are two different people! Two people died here!”

Zhu Ming: “Yes. The water ghost pretended to be affected by the skewer to make us think there was only one ghost, matching the story on the papers. But it was a clumsy disguise. Maybe ghosts lose some brain cells after death. It doesn’t matter. I just wonder why they didn’t just make up a story about two vengeful ghosts needing to be suppressed. Anyway, two ghosts, two personal belongings. The watch is the water ghost’s. The phone must be the housekeeper’s.”

Xiao Cheng’s eyes widened. “Why are these ghosts going through all this trouble?”

Zhu Ming handed the phone to Xiao Cheng and tossed the watch to Old Xu. “I don’t know, but it can’t be anything good.”

The phone contained little information. All the apps that required internet access were unusable. Only two things stood out: the contacts and the wallpaper.

There was only one contact, saved as “Xiao Yan,” with no phone number or other details.

The wallpaper was a picture of two hands clasped together, one male, one female, both wearing matching watches. The woman’s watch was identical to the rusted one they had found.

While there was no other evidence, it suggested a close relationship between the housekeeper and the water ghost.

But they still couldn’t access the housekeeper’s room or the storage room.

“Um…” Yun Zouchuan cleared her throat. “Since we have a phone, why don’t we try making a call?”

Zhu Ming considered this. “It’s an option, but it’s risky. We don’t know who will answer.”

Their hesitation was interrupted by a sudden, jarring sound. A shrill ringtone echoed through the silent basement, accompanied by the buzzing vibration of the phone.

Zhu Ming, Yun Zouchuan, and Xiao Cheng stared at the caller ID on the screen.

[Xiao Yan (Decline) (Answer)]

Chapter 11 Night of Sacrifice (7)

…

Night arrived early once again, devoid of stars, moon, or candlelight. Only a faint, dim light allowed them to see the shadowy outlines of the forest and mountains beyond the windows.

Drawing the curtains plunged the rooms into near-total darkness.

Zhu Ming sat in a chair, restlessly fanning herself with the three sheets of A4 paper. She leaned back, balancing the chair precariously on its two back legs, rocking back and forth.

After a while, she heard the sound of a door opening next door.

Her hearing wasn’t always poor. She tended to filter out sounds when she wasn’t paying attention, but when she focused, she could hear quite well.

She recognized Yun Zouchuan’s footsteps. She had lived with A-Zou for two years and knew her gait well. That foolish child was going to the basement.

The thought made Zhu Ming’s blood boil. She almost didn’t want to intervene.

Almost. But no matter how foolish, A-Zou was still her responsibility. Zhu Ming shook the papers in her hand, deciding to examine them more closely.

She turned on her flashlight and shone it on the pages.

One page, two pages… the last page…

Crash!

Her makeshift rocking chair tipped over, but Zhu Ming barely noticed. She held the flashlight beam against the third page, revealing faint indentations from the writing on the other side.

Her face hardened as she compared the indentations to the text on the second page. They didn’t match.

She quickly separated the second and third pages, finally finding a small, almost invisible scrap of paper tucked into the crease where they were pinned together.

A page was missing, between the current second and third pages!

A string of curses ran through Zhu Ming’s mind. Suddenly, everything clicked into place. Someone, or something, was deliberately leading them to the basement and the ritual.

But why? What was the purpose of completing the formation? Was there competition between ghosts? No, she needed to look beyond the surface. Ignoring the mysterious, bloodstained instructions, what was the true purpose of this ritual…?

Her gaze fell on the third page in her hand, her fingertip resting on a single word.

Her eyes widened. Grabbing the flashlight, she bolted out the door.

…

“Ready?” Old Xu asked Yun Zouchuan, who stood before the concrete platform. Sensing her nervousness, he added reassuringly, “Don’t worry. We’ll be right beside you. If there’s any danger, we’ll face it together.”

Miss Zhao and Xiao Cheng had arranged the five offerings and lit the red candles. Now it was up to Yun Zouchuan.

She held the three incense sticks, hesitant.

Was that clinging sense of malice truly coming from the ghost? It felt… different. Unsettling.

She had faced danger before with Zhu Ming, but this feeling… it was rare. It wasn’t pure killing intent, but something more akin to being coveted, like a piece of meat being eyed by a predator.

“Hurry up,” Miss Zhao urged. “We’ll miss the time if we wait any longer.”

“Alright.” There was no point overthinking it.

Yun Zouchuan often struggled to understand the complex, hidden intentions and emotions of others. Zhu Ming had taught her to ignore them. The enemy’s motives were irrelevant. If she couldn’t understand them, she shouldn’t try. She should leave such things to others and focus on dealing with the enemy swiftly and decisively.

Since everyone agreed this was the right course of action, and her boss hadn’t explicitly objected, she would do it.

Sensing her unease, Xiao Cheng tried to reassure her. “Everyone’s staying up tonight, waiting for us to break the barrier. Think about it, we could be out of here before the housekeeper knocks. And no one else will die. Isn’t that great?”

Yun Zouchuan smiled, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Just as she was about to speak, a sarcastic voice echoed from the basement doorway.

“Really? I don’t believe it.”

It was Zhu Ming again!

Miss Zhao frowned and turned towards the entrance, only to stumble back in fright. The woman’s face, illuminated from below by the flashlight she held under her chin, was pale and ghostly. Was she insane? Didn’t she know that scaring people could be fatal?!

Zhu Ming chuckled darkly and strode into the basement. “What are you looking at?! What if I don’t shine the light on myself and get ambushed by a ghost?! And you! Get out of there! Do you even know what this formation is for? Your mother would come down from the mountain and smack you silly!”

Yun Zouchuan put down the incense sticks, a wave of relief washing over her. Zhu Ming’s arrival meant she had discovered something.

But she still grumbled, “My mother doesn’t want to come down from the mountain.”

Old Xu sighed. He didn’t know what to do with this disrespectful young woman. He nudged Xiao Cheng, who said, “The key was so difficult to obtain. In my experience, that means the clues are valuable and related to completing the instance.”

Zhu Ming scoffed. “Sorry, I don’t have any experience. I can’t rely on experience to judge things. I only know that what’s written on this paper has nothing to do with that figurine.”

Xiao Cheng: “…”

Zhu Ming shone her flashlight on the large totem on the wall. “Xiao Cheng said it himself. We’ve all encountered this deity before, which is why we’re in this instance. I don’t know what your encounters were like, but I know this thing is used for fertility rituals. A fertility deity that also exorcises ghosts? Quite the multi-tasker.”

Yun Zouchuan nodded vigorously. “Boss is right!”

Zhu Ming circled the formation, stopping in front of the concrete platform: the bloodstained phone, the rusted watch, and the submerged figurine.

Old Xu scratched his chin. “Young lady, please don’t do anything rash. Even if you don’t participate, we should at least have a backup plan!”

Xiao Cheng sighed, realizing the mission wouldn’t be completed tonight. “Miss Zhu, even if you want to stop us, you should at least give us a reason. It wasn’t easy for us to come out here in the middle of the night.”

“A reason?” Zhu Ming rolled her eyes. “I don’t believe not a single one of you noticed the problem. Tell me, how did Lao Gao die?”

“He went into the pool to get the key and was killed by the water ghost,” Xiao Cheng replied.

“Let’s ignore how the ghost got into his room for now,” Zhu Ming said. “I’ll just ask this: if the basement holds the key to suppressing the ghost, why didn’t she take the key after killing him?”

Xiao Cheng paused. “Maybe she can only kill, not take objects?”

“Really? I don’t believe it.”

Xiao Cheng: “…”

Zhu Ming chuckled coldly. “Has anyone noticed that something is missing from Lao Gao’s room?”

Xiao Cheng shook his head innocently, claiming ignorance.

“The trash,” Zhu Ming said. “All the trash in his room is gone. That means the housekeeper was in his room. The housekeeper is also a ghost. If it can take the trash, why not the key?”

Xiao Cheng: “…Yeah, why?” He was now just echoing her questions.

“Because their goal is to make us complete the ritual!” Zhu Ming declared.

Xiao Cheng: “Huh?!”

Miss Zhao argued, “Maybe the housekeeper and the water ghost are the same entity, with some kind of limitation. Perhaps the key has the aura of the deity, so the ghost can’t touch it.”

“Really? Do you believe that?”

Zhu Ming turned her attention to the three sheets of paper, flipping to the last page. She traced the words with her fingertip, her smile widening, her eyes growing colder. “A-Zou, do you know the meaning of the mountain lily?”

The mountain lily wasn’t as well-known as roses or lotuses. No one could recall its symbolic meaning, especially Yun Zouchuan, who had only been away from the mountain for two years.

Yun Zouchuan shook her head.

“I don’t know the meaning of the mountain lily either,” Zhu Ming said, “but I know the significance of the other four items.” She looked at Old Xu, her voice sharp. “Old man, you’re so knowledgeable, you even know about Maoshan soul-sealing formations. Surely you know this?”

Old Xu coughed. “I do. Pomegranate symbolizes fertility and many children, red dates symbolize early childbirth, willow branches attract ghosts, and water lilies are associated with yin… But the deity itself embodies these attributes, so it’s normal to offer them.”

“Those are the meanings of the offerings. What’s the role of the ‘good woman’?” Zhu Ming tapped the paper. “It can’t be the same, can it? Is it really a deity that descends upon the good woman?”

As she spoke, an answer began to form in their minds.

This was the Night of Sacrifice. The sacrifice was a good woman, but the result wasn’t a blessing, but a… ghost child.

Yun Zouchuan’s flashlight clattered to the floor. Her face paled, then flushed with anger.

Zhu Ming picked up the flashlight and handed it back to her. She knew this was the one thing A-Zou couldn’t tolerate.

Chapter 10 Night of Sacrifice (6)

They quickly realized the clues covered a large area of the floor. One flashlight wasn’t enough, so Old Xu, Xiao Xue, and Miss Zhao turned on theirs, illuminating the area from different angles.

A complex magic circle, drawn in some dark red substance, covered the floor. Incense burners with red candles stood at each of the five points of the circle, the concrete platform at its center.

“What is this creepy thing?” Teng Ge muttered, staring at the red lines. They looked like blood. While he was Awakened, his spiritual sensitivity was low. He rarely saw ghosts and had little experience with the occult. With Zhu Ming gone, he was back to his usual bluster.

“It looks like a variation of a soul-sealing formation from Maoshan magic,” Old Xu said, “but I’m not sure.”

“There’s something inside the platform!” Teng Ge pointed, being closest to it.

Shining their flashlights, they saw that the center of the platform was hollowed out and filled with water. Something was submerged within, and two small objects lay on either side of the water-filled basin.

A fist-sized figurine, human head and snake body, rested at the bottom of the basin, completely submerged. The flashlight beams refracted through the water, making the crudely carved face appear even more sinister.

A sense of awe and unease kept them from touching it.

On the platform, beside the basin, lay a cell phone and a watch. The phone, an older model, was stained with dried blood. The watch, clearly a woman’s, was slightly rusted, its hands frozen.

Old Xu frowned. “The figurine is at the center of the formation, in the dominant position. The instance is called Night of Sacrifice. I suspect we’re supposed to make an offering to the deity.”

Miss Zhao, silent until now, finally spoke. “Remember the area covered by the barrier? This basement is right at its center. I believe the key to breaking the barrier and completing the mission is here.”

“Look at this!” Xiao Song exclaimed, picking something up from the floor. “I just stepped on a pen. And there are three sheets of paper pinned together here.”

The flashlight beams converged on his find.

The pen was ordinary. The papers were dirty. Unfolding them, they saw some hastily scribbled words:

“I shouldn’t have come to this abandoned villa with my friends. Something happened. She fell into the pond and drowned! She’s become a vengeful ghost and wants us all to stay here with her. I managed to escape, but I came back. I can’t abandon my friends. I can’t bear to see her become an evil spirit. I have to help her move on!”

The first page ended. Turning to the next, they saw several dark red bloodstains.

“It’s too late. She discovered my intentions. The formation is only half-finished. I couldn’t help her move on, but at least I’ve sealed this place so she can’t leave. Thank the gods for their mercy… I’m writing this down today. If anyone finds this, please complete the formation. Otherwise, we’ll all be trapped here. I’ve placed her personal belongings here. The steps to complete the formation are on the next page. I’ll write down everything.”

They huddled together, the flashlight beams illuminating the paper, their faces pale in the surrounding darkness.

Xiao Song licked his lips nervously and turned to the last page. It was filled with instructions for completing the formation.

“Place pomegranate, mountain lily, red dates, willow leaves, and water lilies in the incense burners at the five points of the formation. Light the red candles. At midnight, drip the blood of a […wo…man] onto the three burning candles. Light the incense and offer it to the figurine. Place […] in the center of the formation and wait for the deity to descend. You can then use the power of the figurine to suppress the vengeful ghost. Once the ghost is suppressed, the barrier will break. P.S. The longer the hair of the good […wo…man], the better the effect.”

Several words were obscured by bloodstains. They could just make out the character for “woman.” Combined with the postscript, they guessed the missing words were “good woman.”

The three pages contained little text but crucial information. After reading them, they flipped the pages over, thinking there was nothing else, but on the back of the last page, written in blood, was a single sentence: Several good women have arrived, possessed by the deity, to exorcise evil and break the formation!

A chill ran down Teng Ge’s spine. It felt as if someone was watching them. But… it didn’t seem to concern him. The message mentioned “good women.”

And the longer the hair, the better. The girl with the longest hair here was the one with the braid.

The unseen gaze lingered on Yun Zouchuan. She lowered her eyes slightly. There it was again, that malevolent, clinging gaze, closer and more intense than before.

No one else seemed to notice, too focused on the instructions.

Coincidentally, Xiao Cheng, having spent the previous day exploring the garden, said, “I remember the five items we need. Three of them are in the garden: pomegranate, mountain lily, and willow leaves.”

Xiao Xue added, “There’s a large urn with water lilies on the roof terrace.”

Teng Ge, desperate to leave, asked urgently, “What about the red dates and candles?”

Xiao Cheng reassured him, “Don’t worry, they must be here somewhere. We’ll find them. If they gave us a mission, there must be a way to complete it.”

They began discussing excitedly, seemingly accepting the instructions as the correct solution. No one asked if the “good women,” especially the one with the longest hair, were willing to participate.

Xiao Song was particularly enthusiastic. “Great! Once we complete the formation, we can seal the ghost and break the barrier!”

Those were words everyone wanted to hear. The dark, oppressive basement was suddenly filled with hope.

Old Xu coughed. “Let’s gather the items while it’s still light. The sooner we finish, the sooner we can leave.”

They searched the basement again, but found nothing else.

“Let’s go outside and look,” Old Xu said, mainly to conserve battery power.

Teng Ge turned to leave, eager to escape the creepy basement. He took a few steps, then stopped, hesitant. A dark figure stood by the doorway, backlit and silent.

He didn’t know when it had appeared… The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.

Xiao Cheng saw it too and shone his flashlight. “Who’s there?!… Zhu Ming? What are you doing here?”

The figure raised a hand to shield its eyes. “Didn’t I say I’d be here? And I wasn’t standing behind you. Geez, you’re so jumpy.”

Relieved, Teng Ge edged around her.

As Xiao Song passed, Zhu Ming snatched the three sheets of paper.

“Hey! What are you doing?!” he exclaimed.

“Nothing. I’m just curious about what’s written here. Can’t I take a look? You’ve all read it anyway,” she said, unapologetic.

Remembering how she had handled Teng Ge, Xiao Song glared but didn’t try to take the papers back.

While the others searched, Zhu Ming sprawled on the sofa, her head at one end, her feet at the other, occupying the entire thing. She fanned herself with the papers, her posture arrogant, a stark contrast to the others busily gathering materials. She looked like a slave owner overseeing her workers.

No one dared to comment. After the incident in the kitchen, they were all wary of her.

Yun Zouchuan sat on the other side of the room, her pale eyes following everyone who passed. No one approached her. She seemed unapproachable.

Zhu Ming idly played with Yun Zouchuan’s braid, her mind elsewhere. Something felt wrong. Everyone was too cheerful, the excitement of completing the mission overshadowing the fear of Lao Gao’s death. She felt detached from their enthusiasm, a nagging sense of unease.

Their efforts paid off. They soon gathered all the necessary items, though finding the red dates and candles took some time. The dates were hidden in a kitchen cupboard, the candles in the housekeeper’s room.

Everything was ready. It was still a few hours before midnight.

“Miss A-Zou,” Old Xu said gently, “why don’t you try it tonight? Don’t worry, we’ll protect you. If anything happens, I’ll save you.”

“But…”

“I’ve been to the Dark Realm three times. I have ways to protect myself. You can trust me.”

Yun Zouchuan frowned. “I was going to say… we don’t have anything to light the candles and incense with.”

Everyone: “…”

They had been so focused on finding the items listed on the paper that they had forgotten about the most crucial element: fire!

Zhu Ming stifled a laugh. While A-Zou could be slow on the uptake and lacked social graces, her intuition was sharp, and she always focused on the important details.

They hadn’t found any matches or lighters. Starting a fire was a problem.

Miss Zhao, sitting upright on the sofa, closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them, she walked purposefully towards the kitchen.

“There’s no electricity, but the gas stove should still work.” She turned a knob, and with a click, a flame ignited.

Zhu Ming leaned towards Yun Zouchuan, whispering, “She’s actually quite smart. Just has bad taste in men.”

The final obstacle overcome, everything was in place.

“I’m a light sleeper,” Old Xu said. “I remember the housekeeper knocking around 2 a.m. The ritual needs to be performed at midnight. We should be safe going out then. Everyone remember to bring your flashlights, just in case.”

“Wait,” Miss Zhao said suddenly. “I don’t think we need so many people. It’ll just be chaotic.”

Her point was valid. Old Xu considered this. “Miss Zhao, the three of us, being experienced, will go and protect whoever performs the ritual. If anything goes wrong, we can rescue them. The others can stay inside and act as backup. Not all the women need to participate in the ritual.”

True, not everyone needed to go, but who should they choose?

All eyes turned to Yun Zouchuan. She had the longest hair.

Before anyone could speak, Yun Zouchuan nodded calmly. “Alright. I’ll do it.”

Zhu Ming’s playful expression vanished. “A-Zou, do you know what you’re saying?”

Of course she did. A flicker of anxiety crossed Yun Zouchuan’s face. “I have a bad feeling about this place. I want to leave as soon as possible. Maybe it’s the heat.”

She enjoyed summer scenery, but not the temperature. She had a low tolerance for heat, but years of living in harsh conditions had taught her to endure.

“Boss, you know I’m not very clever. I can’t think of any other ideas. If this is the right way, I’ll try it. If there’s a problem, I’ll figure out how to escape.”

She looked at Zhu Ming. “Do you have any other ideas?”

Zhu Ming paused. “It doesn’t feel right. I don’t have any concrete ideas yet.” A flicker of insight had crossed her mind, but she hadn’t grasped it. “I just feel like everything is going too smoothly, almost too perfectly.”

With the mission nearing completion, Miss Zhao’s expression darkened as Yun Zouchuan considered backing out. “Miss Zhu, we’ve tolerated your eccentricities, but isn’t it a bit much to keep obstructing us from completing the mission?”

Zhu Ming’s response was sharp. “If you’re so eager, why don’t you do it? It would be even safer, since you’re so experienced.”

Miss Zhao looked away, her face stiff. “My hair is too short.”

Xiao Song jumped to her defense. “She’s already agreed. Stop causing trouble. Are you really a ghost in disguise? We’re about to complete the mission. If you’re so capable, figure out how to do it yourself.”

Zhu Ming looked at him coldly. “Short hair, shortsighted.”

The men in the room bristled. That was a bit much!

Without a clear plan, and with Yun Zouchuan willing to participate, Zhu Ming couldn’t stop them. A quick and easy mission completion would be ideal, but something still felt off. What was it…?

Frustrated, she slapped the papers against the coffee table and stood up, scanning the group.

She had questions, and she wasn’t going to let them rest easy. Let them share her unease. “Lao Gao didn’t necessarily die because he went into the pool,” she said.

She turned and left, leaving them to ponder her cryptic words.

“What does she mean?” Xiao Cheng asked, bewildered.

Xiao Xue stood up thoughtfully and walked towards the common bathroom, Xiao Cheng following curiously.

There was nothing unusual there, except for the mop sink. It had been emptied yesterday, but the drain was clogged again, and the sink was filled with water.

The others, eager to avoid further complications, dismissed Zhu Ming’s words. They were about to complete the mission. Who cared how Lao Gao died? Maybe he had opened his door for the knocking ghost!

Chapter 9 Night of Sacrifice (5)

Everyone’s attention immediately shifted from the contaminated water to the alleged party.

The door to Lao Gao’s room, no longer restrained by its owner, swung open freely. At some point, Zhu Ming had opened the window, and a breeze swept through the room as she began her explanation, painting a vivid picture for the others.

“Guests arrived, and the hotel prepared plenty of food and drinks. They had a party in the living room, which is why there’s so little left in the refrigerator. They accidentally spilled a can of cola, which is sticky, staining the carpet. Late at night, the guests returned to their rooms, leaving a mess behind. The mess was cleaned up… though somehow, the trash ended up in the pool. Perhaps because it can’t leave this place, it couldn’t be taken away.”

Zhu Ming rubbed her fingers together. “The trash can was empty this morning, but there were more wrappers and an orange peel in the pool. The trash we made last night was cleaned up.”

Old Xu pondered this. “Sounds like backstory. Any other discoveries?”

“The rest…” Zhu Ming mused, a subtle smile playing on her lips.

Xiao Xue picked up the thread, her own smile gentle. “If last night’s trash was cleaned up, it means there are other actors here, not just ghosts. There’s a housekeeper’s room on the first floor. Perhaps the housekeeper did it.”

Yun Zouchuan’s brow furrowed. “I remember now. The sound I heard last night, along with the knocking, sounded like a cleaning cart. If it was the housekeeper, that would make sense.”

“So the housekeeper is also the cleaner. A real multi-tasker,” Xiao Cheng muttered.

Her attempt to spook them foiled, Zhu Ming pouted and stood up. “Carry on. I’m going to eat. I’ll join you when you open the basement.”

Teng Ge snorted, watching her leave, a flicker of annoyance in his eyes.

…

Zhu Ming hadn’t gone far when the others followed, likely driven by hunger and the fear of missing out on food.

The refrigerator and fruit bowl had been restocked. Or rather, not completely. Zhu Ming had drunk one beer yesterday, leaving six. There were still only six bottles. She had been the only one in the mood for alcohol on the first day.

She touched a bottle, frowning. It was room temperature.

Nevertheless, she grabbed all six bottles, cradling them in her arms.

“Wait,” Teng Ge called out, stopping her. “Why are you taking all the beer? The food in the refrigerator is for everyone!”

He stepped closer, his height and muscular build intimidating. “There are three senior Awakened here. You’d better let them choose first. Lao Gao is dead. Everyone is in a bad mood and needs a drink. Understand?”

The participant’s death had placed immense pressure on the group, especially on Teng Ge. Especially…

Zhu Ming looked at him, surprised. “You want a drink, and you want to share it with everyone?”

Teng Ge scowled impatiently. “Cut the crap!” This woman didn’t seem like a threat. Ghosts were mysterious, appearing in the dead of night or lurking in the water. After a day of observation, he didn’t think Zhu Ming was anything special, so he wasn’t afraid of her.

“Fine.” Zhu Ming turned to Yun Zouchuan, handing her three bottles. “There. I shared. Happy?”

Teng Ge clenched his fist. “Don’t make me use force. I don’t like hitting women, but you’ll be the one embarrassed if I have to take it from you.”

The amusement vanished from Zhu Ming’s face. Her eyes narrowed, her voice turning cold. “I’ve been sleeping well these past two days, so I’m in a good mood. You’d better appreciate my current gentleness.”

Teng Ge scoffed. “Are you threatening me?”

He reached for the beer in her arms. He didn’t intend to hit her, but he wasn’t going to be polite either.

Zhu Ming rolled her eyes. She raised her hand, the mouth of the bottle connecting with Teng Ge’s elbow. A jolt of pain shot through his arm, making it go numb.

Teng Ge stared at her in disbelief. She was tall, but not as tall or as strong as him. Was it an accident?

“A-Zou, take these to our room. Don’t give them to anyone, or I’ll dock your pay.” Zhu Ming handed the remaining bottles to Yun Zouchuan, who nodded and quickly left.

Teng Ge glared at Zhu Ming and lunged after Yun Zouchuan. He had taken only one step when Zhu Ming grabbed his wrist.

It was burning hot.

That was his first thought.

His second was disbelief.

Her hand was slender and elegant, pale and smooth, without a single callus. It wasn’t a strong hand, but a beautiful woman’s hand. In his experience, such hands were weak, incapable of resisting his strength.

Yet this hand held his wrist in an iron grip, stopping him in his tracks.

Impossible! He had an ability that enhanced his strength and muscles. Even suppressed, his muscles were still powerful.

In the next second, his knees buckled, and he slammed to the floor. He thought his kneecaps had shattered.

Zhu Ming placed his other hand on top of his head and leaned down, her voice low. “You seem particularly irritable today. Let me guess why. Oh, right, Lao Gao is dead.”

The man on the floor trembled, the pain finally registering. But that wasn’t the worst of it. The woman’s voice, filled with mockery, echoed in his ear.

“You probably feel a little guilty. After all, you were the one who kicked him into the pool. But you’re more afraid that he’ll come back as a vengeful ghost, that the senior Awakened will blame you, that everyone will remember and ostracize you. But you don’t want to admit it’s your fault. You can’t blame yourself, you can’t blame the seniors, and you can’t even mention it, because you’re afraid that if you bring it up, people will notice something they hadn’t noticed before. So you take out your frustration on someone unrelated. What a brilliant idea.”

She chuckled, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Teng Ge’s face burned. He looked up and saw everyone staring at him, kneeling on the floor, pinned down by Zhu Ming. No one intervened.

Panic seized him. Had they already turned against him? No!

“You’re lying!”

He swung his free arm at Zhu Ming. She caught it easily, pinning both his arms behind his back.

“Want to make a bet? I bet you’ll be the next to die.”

She released him and kicked him to the ground. Looking down at him, a cruel smile on her lips, she said, “If you’re wondering why, there’s only one answer: you’re too stupid.”

The large man lay on the floor, half-covering his face with his hand, too ashamed to look up, afraid she would humiliate him further.

The others watched, their expressions varied. It was Xiao Song who spoke first. “Teng Ge is right. Why should you take all the beer? Even if we don’t want it, you can’t just hoard it all for yourself!”

Zhu Ming looked at him intently. “I’ll bring out a bottle right now. You drink it in front of everyone. How about that?”

Xiao Song instinctively stepped back, hiding behind Miss Zhao. “I’m a good man. I don’t smoke or drink. Don’t look at me like that. Who are you trying to scare?”

A smile spread across Zhu Ming’s face. She scanned the group: Miss Zhao, lost in thought; Xiao Song, lurking behind her; Teng Ge, sprawled on the floor in shame; Old Xu, standing in the corner, seemingly detached; Xiao Cheng, hesitant to speak; and Xiao Xue, quiet but perceptive.

Zhu Ming dragged a chair across the tiled floor, the metal legs screeching against the ceramic. She sat down, her gaze sweeping over them.

“Since everyone is staring at me, I’ll be frank. My intuition tells me the alcohol has a special significance, a purpose. As for the rest of you… I’m sorry, but I think something is wrong with one of you. I don’t trust you.”

…

A line had been drawn. Not only did Zhu Ming not trust them, but they, in turn, were suspicious of her.

But that was fine. Maintaining a superficial peace was enough. At least this declaration would keep people like Teng Ge in check.

After eating, they gathered in front of the mysterious basement door. The key, bought with Lao Gao’s life, was finally going to be used.

Zhu Ming caught Yun Zouchuan’s eye and gave her a subtle signal. Yun Zouchuan nodded and followed the others.

Zhu Ming, however, decided to retrace her steps, re-examining the villa, following the same route as yesterday.

At the basement door—

The lock clicked open, and the door swung inward smoothly, releasing a cloud of dust.

The group hesitated at the threshold. It was pitch black inside.

With the power out, there were no lights, only a sliver of natural light from the open doorway, quickly swallowed by the oppressive darkness. They could see nothing beyond the entrance.

Old Xu spoke. “Xiao Cheng, Miss Zhao, and I will get the flashlights. We’ll share them when we need to move as a group.”

No one objected.

Old Xu turned on his flashlight first. The beam cut through the darkness, revealing the secrets of the basement.

A giant totem painted on the wall dominated the space. Everyone immediately thought of the same thing—the invitation.

The totem was identical to the one on the back of the invitation: a human head, a snake body, simple yet unsettling.

Xiao Cheng hurried inside, then stopped, swallowed hard, and backed away slightly, closer to the others. For some reason, the darkness of the basement seemed to absorb the light from the flashlights. A chill settled over him, making his hands and feet cold.

But he was still excited. “This is it! The key is here! There’s a pattern to these instances. They’re usually related to supernatural encounters we’ve had before. The totem on the invitation was a clue.”

“Does that mean we can complete the mission now?” Xiao Song asked eagerly.

“Not necessarily. Let’s see what else is down here,” Old Xu said cautiously.

Searching for clues in this oppressive darkness wasn’t easy. Those without flashlights huddled close to those who did, afraid of being snatched by something lurking in the shadows.

“Shit! There’s something here!” Teng Ge yelled, clutching his foot. He had kicked something in the dark.

A flashlight beam illuminated a small, square concrete platform with a brass incense burner in front of it.

Chapter 8 Night of Sacrifice (4)

While showering, Zhu Ming had thoroughly inspected her room. Normally, she would have done this immediately after waking, but she had been too focused on finding food.

The room was small and sparsely furnished: fourteen bottles of water, two packs of biscuits, a flashlight, a cleaning schedule, toiletries, a small table and chairs, a few hangers, and a set of clothes identical to the ones she was wearing.

The bathroom contained standard hotel toiletries. The only item of note was a large temporary tattoo on the sink, suitable for applying to a shoulder or leg.

Darkness quickly enveloped the villa. Zhu Ming opened a bottle of water and took a sip.

The heat was oppressive, and the water provided only minimal relief from the thirst.

…

Night deepened.

There were no insects chirping, no frogs croaking, not even the hum of appliances.

The darkness was absolute, the air thick and stagnant, making it feel as if she were trapped inside a giant coffin.

Yun Zouchuan lay awake, staring into the darkness.

At some point in the night, a strange sound reached her ears, a sound she had heard before, just before dawn on the first day.

A rattling, a rumbling, a rhythmic tapping…

The sound stopped, followed by two knocks, then resumed, slowly, erratically, drawing closer.

Yun Zouchuan tiptoed to the door, pressing her ear against it, listening intently. As the sound approached, a picture formed in her mind.

Someone, or something, was pushing a cart. The tapping was their footsteps, the rumbling the wheels of the cart, the rattling the sound of metal clanging together…

Closer, closer… Yun Zouchuan could hear the rhythmic progression from 2001, past 2002, 2003, and 2004, until finally… it stopped outside her door, 2005.

Her pale eyes widened, like a cat’s, fixed on the door.

A familiar, sickening sense of being watched, thick and palpable, pressed against her through the wood. Something was looking at her through the peephole—cold, slimy, malevolent.

Yun Zouchuan remained motionless. The feeling was all too familiar, like the faint, persistent sensation of being observed she had felt during the day, only now it was much stronger.

Knock, knock.

It should be moving on to 2006, she thought.

Knock, knock.

She froze, hearing a third knock.

Knock, knock, knock, knock!

The knocking continued, faster, more insistent, more jarring.

Outside, an eye pressed against the peephole, gazing greedily at the vibrant, forest-like prey within.

…

Room 2001.

It was hot.

Lao Gao sat in a chair, wiping sweat from his brow.

The knocking ghost had moved on. He finally relaxed. The ghosts here didn’t seem so difficult to deal with after all.

He had even escaped that terrifying water ghost!

He was exhausted but couldn’t sleep. The heat was stifling, and a foul odor permeated the room, making him feel nauseous.

The pool water had reeked of decay, and now the smell lingered in his room, growing stronger, like a rotting corpse lying beside him. His clothes, dry now, were wrinkled and damp. He felt grimy, wanting to claw at his skin.

He didn’t dare open the window. He imagined eyes watching him from the gaps in the curtains, from the darkness under the bed, from the reflection in the TV screen.

Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore. He felt his breath growing short, his heart racing. He had never felt so miserable, so wretched.

He grabbed his flashlight, intending to wash his face and neck. He was afraid he would pass out from heatstroke.

In the silent darkness of the bathroom, only the trickle of water could be heard. He placed the flashlight on the sink, the beam illuminating him as he splashed water on his face… Ah, much better.

A smile touched his lips, then froze.

Just now, as he had bent down to wash his face, he had caught a glimpse of his reflection… something wasn’t right.

He looked up sharply at the mirror. The man staring back at him was pale, his expression strange, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned, his eyes dark.

Was it an illusion? A trick of the light and shadows?

The reflection, which should have mirrored his movements, tilted its head slightly, unnaturally.

Lao Gao yelled, splashing more water on his face, and grabbed the flashlight, shining it on the mirror. The reflection, unafraid of the light, began to change rapidly.

Its skin grew paler, its face, hair, and body shifting, the hair growing longer and thicker. It was becoming more… feminine. No, not feminine. Bloated, decaying, mirroring the stench in the room… a female corpse!

Lao Gao instinctively touched his own face. It felt wet and soft, as if it were transforming along with his reflection.

He trembled. He could see ghosts, but he had never seen one so terrifying, so malevolent that it could transform him into a corpse! The flashlight slipped from his shaking hand, hitting the switch and turning off. He fumbled for it, and as he did, he glanced at the mirror—he was back to normal?

He turned the flashlight on. His reflection began to morph into the female corpse. He turned it off. He was normal again.

Lao Gao stood in the bathroom, clutching the flashlight, a wave of exhilaration washing over him. He had encountered three ghosts in one day and survived! He burst out laughing. “So that’s the trick!”

He understood. The flashlight was a trap. The ghosts had deliberately provided them with flashlights, making them think they were safe as long as they had light. Nonsense! He had seen ghosts in broad daylight. They weren’t afraid of the light. The flashlight was the problem. Shining it on himself attracted the ghosts!

Whether from overexcitement or a complete breakdown of his mental defenses, Lao Gao threw the flashlight aside and stumbled into the shower.

He needed to wash, to cleanse himself of the stench and filth!

He would survive. He would see through all their tricks and survive!

Behind him, the reflection in the mirror moved its head, slowly turning to reveal a pale, bloated face.

…

…

The second day of the Night of Sacrifice dawned bright and hot.

Zhu Ming woke up early, surprised to find the living room empty.

Something wasn’t right.

She hurried through the hallway towards the staircase on the left and noticed that the door to 2001 was ajar. The room was empty. Unoccupied rooms locked automatically. No one but the guest could open the door.

Unless something had happened.

Entering 2001, she went to the window, pulled back the curtains, and looked down at the source of the commotion.

The other participants were gathered by the trash-filled pool, their faces grim and fearful, staring at something in the water.

A familiar body floated on the surface.

It was Lao Gao. Lao Gao was dead.

No one knew when he had died, but they could all see the contorted expression on his face, his eyes wide with terror and disbelief.

He had died silently in the night.

“It’s the pool…” Xiao Song whimpered, his face pale. “It must be because he went into the pool. He broke a taboo and was taken by the water ghost!”

Lao Gao’s body floated motionless, his slightly plump form making the pool seem even more crowded.

While they hadn’t known him well, his sudden death was a stark reminder of their own mortality. Xiao Cheng glanced at the distraught Xiao Song, muttering, “He has the nerve to say that…”

Upstairs, Zhu Ming leaned against the windowsill, sighing. She turned away from the grim scene.

The air in her room was thick with the same sour, decaying smell. She scanned the room as she walked.

Ten bottles of water, one pack of biscuits. The invitation lay on the nightstand, unchanged. There were no signs of a struggle. She entered the bathroom.

She ran her hand over the countertop. It was dry. She checked the toilet, the showerhead, the floor, the drain.

…The bathroom was dry?

She knelt down, touching the drain stopper. It was dry.

She turned and saw the flashlight lying on the floor in the corner under the sink.

…

Having viewed the body, the others trooped into 2001, surprised to find Zhu Ming already there.

They examined the room, finding the flashlight.

Old Xu picked it up and switched it on. It was dead. His expression was grave. “Strange. What happened? Lao Gao must have used the flashlight to defend himself. It seems the ghost here is more powerful than I thought, able to drain the battery completely.” Though, he thought, the flashlights hadn’t seemed very powerful to begin with.

“He’s gone. Those of us who are still alive need to focus on the mission. Let’s divide the water,” Xiao Cheng suggested. “There are eight of us left, ten bottles of water, and one pack of biscuits. What should we do with the extra?”

Xiao Xue offered gently, “Why don’t we leave them here for now? We can give them to whoever contributes the most or provides the most useful information.”

Everyone agreed.

Old Xu sighed. “Lao Gao’s death is suspicious. Now that we’re all here, let’s be honest and share any clues we have, so we don’t lose anyone else.”

Xiao Cheng raised his hand. “I’ll go first!”

He recounted the skewer, the bloodstains by the grill, and his theory. “Since the body wasn’t dumped in the pool, it must be buried in the garden or hidden somewhere in the villa! If it were outside, a hiker might find it. There have been cases where animals dug up bodies. I think we should search in that direction.”

Old Xu smacked him on the head. “That’s useless. No contribution. Next.”

Teng Ge spoke up. “While you were trying to get the key yesterday, I checked the electrical system. The wiring behind the breaker box is completely destroyed, including the underground lines outside. It would be difficult to repair, and we don’t have any tools or materials.”

That meant the flashlights were their only source of light at night.

Old Xu nodded. “Good. Anything else?”

Yun Zouchuan said, “The ghost can see inside the rooms through the peepholes. And it made multiple passes.” Meaning they couldn’t let their guard down even after the knocking ghost had left.

Xiao Xue added, “There’s a staircase to the roof, hidden behind some potted plants on the second-floor terrace. There are tables, chairs, flowers, and a large urn with water lilies. The water is clean, and the view is nice.”

Xiao Song shuddered. “We can’t go in the pool. The water ghost will get us. That’s how Lao Gao died!”

Everyone rolled their eyes. They had just seen Lao Gao’s body in the pool. That wasn’t exactly a revelation.

Miss Zhao, still pale and silent, was skipped over. All eyes turned to Zhu Ming.

Zhu Ming shrugged. “The water is contaminated. The water in the kitchen, the bathroom, and the guest rooms all have the same strange smell, similar to the pool.”

A wave of nausea swept over the group. Even if they hadn’t touched the pool water, they had all used the other water sources in the sweltering heat.

Zhu Ming smiled at their reactions. “One more thing. Last night—or rather, the night before last—there was a party here.”

Chapter 7 Night of Sacrifice (3)

The rope tightened. Those on shore stared in horror at what was behind Lao Gao.

Something was wrong!

Lao Gao’s heart leaped into his throat. He broke the surface, paddling frantically towards the edge. With the rope, he should have been able to reach safety quickly, but a powerful force wrapped around his legs and torso, pulling him back.

He glanced back and nearly lost control of his bladder. Thick strands of black hair, like animate seaweed, rose from the depths, coiling around him.

Even worse, two pale, swollen arms emerged from the swirling mass of hair. The memory of their cold, slimy touch against his neck made his skin crawl.

“That key must be important!” Xiao Song exclaimed, his eyes gleaming. “Throw it to us!”

Lao Gao wasn’t stupid. “Save me first, or I’ll throw the key back in! Pull harder! Hurry!”

Xiao Cheng and Old Xu, flanking the skinny Xiao Song, heaved on the rope, engaged in a tug-of-war with the unseen entity in the pool. The force pulling against them was terrifyingly strong. Lao Gao, despite being close to the edge, couldn’t be pulled any further. He began to sink, slowly, inch by inch.

The bloated arms in the water rose higher, and a horrifying figure seemed to be taking shape within the swirling black hair.

Seeing the terror on Lao Gao’s face, his hand reaching out desperately, Xiao Song made a ruthless decision. He snatched the key from Lao Gao’s grasp. Wet and slippery, the key easily slipped from Lao Gao’s hand.

Focused on securing the key, Xiao Song released the rope. Lao Gao screamed, his eyes filled with hatred. “You’ll die a horrible death!”

Xiao Cheng and Old Xu, still pulling on the now-slack rope, tumbled backward.

Lao Gao was filled with despair. He couldn’t fight the force dragging him down. He was going to drown!

Suddenly, a tanned hand reached out, gripping his wrist. A powerful force pulled him back towards the surface. Tears streamed down Lao Gao’s face, relief washing over him. Through blurry eyes, he saw his rescuer: the short girl with the thick braid!

Yun Zouchuan, half-kneeling, half-crouching at the edge of the pool, held his wrist with one hand and gripped the pool steps with the other, her face strained with effort.

“A little higher!” Zhu Ming called, holding the metal skewer. Yun Zouchuan pulled Lao Gao up a bit further.

The ghastly white, bloated arms, like rotting flesh, reached the surface, tightening around Lao Gao’s waist, nearly crushing him. Zhu Ming’s hand moved swiftly, plunging the skewer deep into one of the pale arms.

Like a hot knife through butter, the skewer met no resistance. The arm jerked, and the mass of black hair, spreading across the pool, began to churn violently.

The dark hair swirled with the murky water, churning up debris and decaying clothes. A shocking red, like blood, flickered beneath the surface.

A pair of malevolent eyes appeared amidst the hair, fixing on Zhu Ming with pure hatred.

Zhu Ming tilted her head, aiming the skewer at the eyes. The creature, with its enviable volume of hair, recoiled and retreated.

Lao Gao felt the pressure release. In the next second, he was hauled onto the deck. Yun Zouchuan let go of him, shaking her hand, and walked away.

Zhu Ming held up the skewer. The tip was wet and black, not like blood. A foul-smelling, murky liquid dripped from it.

Having swallowed a considerable amount of pool water, Lao Gao coughed and retched, then turned on Xiao Song, his eyes blazing. “You bastard! You son of a bitch!”

Pinned beneath Lao Gao, Xiao Song protested, “It was an accident! My hand slipped! It slipped!”

“Bullshit! You weren’t even trying! You were afraid I’d drag you down with me!”

They grappled and yelled, a chaotic tangle of limbs. Xiao Cheng tried to intervene, but Old Xu held him back. “Let them settle their scores.”

While the situation had been dire, Xiao Song’s actions were reprehensible.

Miss Zhao watched the fight with a grim expression, silent and furious.

Zhu Ming, splashed with pool water, turned away from the brawl, disgusted. She tossed the dirty skewer aside and returned to the table to play with the ants.

Xiao Cheng, no longer attempting to break up the fight, wandered over to Zhu Ming. He was curious about the skewer.

He had examined the skewers earlier. They were ordinary, incapable of harming ghosts. And everyone’s abilities were suppressed, including Zhu Ming’s. So it couldn’t have been her power.

Then how had she done it?

He squatted beside her. “What’s your name? I wanted to ask how you did that just now.”

“Zhu Ming.” Having flipped an ant onto its back, Zhu Ming looked up, satisfied, and held out her hand. “Tuition fee.”

Xiao Cheng patted his empty pockets. “Could I ask what your mission is?”

“Descend the mountain.”

Xiao Cheng’s eyes lit up. “Since we have the same mission, why don’t we cooperate? Miss Zhu, is this your first time in an instance? You might not know this, but the missions are usually related to hidden clues within the instance. The mission is to descend the mountain, but we’re trapped by a barrier. We need to figure out why the barrier is here and how to break it. There will definitely be ghost attacks along the way. If you know how to harm them, wouldn’t it be better to share that information?”

Zhu Ming raised an eyebrow. “What’s your ability?”

It was a personal question, but given the suppression of abilities and the lack of player-versus-player combat in this instance, Xiao Cheng answered, “My ability is simple. It’s similar to what we’re facing now: barriers.”

“Sounds somewhat useful,” Zhu Ming assessed coldly. “How about this? I’ll tell you what I know, and you’ll owe me a favor. You also have to tell me what you know.”

“Nothing illegal or immoral,” Xiao Cheng stipulated.

Zhu Ming: “…”

Xiao Cheng: “?? Why are you silent?”

Zhu Ming pointed the skewer at the patch of weeds and ants between the tiles. “Pay attention to this.”

Xiao Cheng, his eyesight weakened from too many late-night gaming sessions, squinted. Just as he was about to lean closer, someone else beat him to it.

Xiao Xue knelt down, rubbing her fingertip against the dark stain and sniffing it. “It’s blood.”

Xiao Cheng’s face paled. He now noticed that the stains on several nearby tiles were darker than the others. Even the wooden deck had some dark, unremovable marks. And there were so many ants… drawn to the blood.

Zhu Ming smiled, satisfied. She wouldn’t have to explain.

Xiao Xue glanced at the clean skewer, her eyes flickering. “Something happened here.” She just didn’t know how serious it was.

Xiao Cheng gasped. “I get it! A ghost was stabbed with a skewer, then dumped in the pool. A skewer stained with her blood would be seen as the murder weapon. Many ghosts are afraid of the weapon that killed them, so that’s why it worked. That’s why Old Xu and I couldn’t find any signs of a body or blood in the garden.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he noticed Zhu Ming and Xiao Xue looking at him with the same expression… the look one gives an idiot.

“Am I wrong? Dumping the body in the pool would make it look like an accidental drowning, and the killer would get away with it!”

Zhu Ming stood up, tossing the skewer back into the container. “We should check the basement. There are still some things we need to figure out. As for the skewer…”

She chuckled darkly. “I used a few other methods. That’s a secret for now.”

The heat intensified, and everyone was drenched in sweat. Zhu Ming felt herself starting to wilt. She couldn’t take it anymore. She needed a shower!

Xiao Cheng stared at the bloodstains, finally understanding.

The amount of blood wasn’t enough to cause death by blood loss in an adult. The skewer was thin and long, meaning it must have struck a vital point. To fake a drowning, the killer would have had to remove the skewer, and with the body so fresh, there would have been more blood. Also, a fatal wound, even a small one, would be noticeable upon examination.

So the idea of staging a drowning after a stabbing at the barbecue grill didn’t hold up.

A sense of relief washed over Xiao Cheng, quickly replaced by another question.

Zhu Ming had said she used other methods on the skewer. But everyone’s abilities were suppressed. What methods had she used?

…

By the pool.

Xiao Song finally broke free from Lao Gao’s grip. “You’re not dead, so what’s the big deal? It’s almost dark. Are we going to the basement or not?”

“I see your true colors now. I’m lucky to be alive. If this keeps up, you’ll get us all killed!” Lao Gao’s hand trembled as he pointed at Xiao Song. “Bastard!”

Xiao Song’s eyes flickered, but he didn’t respond.

The key was important, and they needed to investigate the basement. Lao Gao reluctantly agreed, still grumbling. “My pants are almost ripped, and my watch is waterlogged! That cost me 20,000 yuan!”

He tugged at his wrinkled clothes, lamenting his disheveled appearance.

They headed towards the basement, Lao Gao clutching the key he had risked his life for. Passing the grill, each person grabbed a skewer for protection, mimicking Zhu Ming’s method, even though they didn’t understand how it worked.

Miss Zhao, ever observant, noticed Xiao Cheng’s earlier conversation with Zhu Ming and hung back to ask him about it.

Zhu Ming, freshly showered and changed, her hair still damp, caught up with them. Yun Zouchuan, who had disappeared at some point, reappeared as well.

Lao Gao’s attitude towards them had softened considerably. He managed a weak smile and thanked them.

Zhu Ming looked him over. “I suggest you take a shower, preferably before nightfall.”

Lao Gao hesitated, unsure whether to prioritize showering or the basement.

Zhu Ming didn’t press the issue. His choices and their consequences were his own.

But before they reached the basement door, they watched in disbelief as the sun began to set at an alarmingly rapid pace. At this rate, it would be completely dark in three minutes!

“Damn it! Everyone back to your rooms!” Old Xu yelled, sprinting towards the villa. “Night is the realm of ghosts. Our rooms are relatively safe. We need to hide!”

Those on the first floor reached their rooms quickly. Miss Zhao, in room 1004, stood just inside her doorway. Xiao Song, still outside, pleaded, “Let me stay with you! It’s safer with two people.”

Miss Zhao’s lips tightened, her stiff posture betraying her reluctance. “We don’t know what will happen if we switch rooms. Please don’t be childish.” She slammed the door shut.

The rapid sunset had panicked everyone. Zhu Ming and Yun Zouchuan headed for their rooms, 2004 and 2005, next door to each other. Zhu Ming tried Yun Zouchuan’s door. It was locked. Hers opened easily.

Before entering, Yun Zouchuan said, “Someone was watching me.” She had slipped away earlier to try and pinpoint the source of the unsettling gaze she had felt.

Zhu Ming was surprised. “Weren’t they watching me?”

All day, she had felt the strange sensation of being watched. She had assumed Yun Zouchuan’s earlier departure was a display of unspoken teamwork, that she had gone to find the peeper.

But Yun Zouchuan had been looking for her own watcher.

They stared at each other, each thinking the other was overly self-important, and then entered their respective rooms.

Chapter 6 Night of Sacrifice (2)

Lao Gao finished washing his face, dried it, and left.

Zhu Ming cupped some water in her hand, sniffing it. It had a strange, indefinable odor. At first glance, it looked like ordinary tap water, but closer inspection revealed faint impurities floating within.

She flicked the water away and began examining the kitchen, opening cupboards and drawers. At first glance, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

Passing through the living room, her gaze lingered on the trash can. A section of the reddish-brown carpet beneath the sofa and coffee table was slightly darker than the rest.

She dabbed it with a tissue, which came away damp and light brown, slightly sticky.

“There’s a basement under the right staircase. It’s locked,” Yun Zouchuan reported, having explored other areas.

Unlike modern, luxurious vacation villas, this one felt cramped and somewhat dated.

The second floor had seven rooms and a large terrace. A wall had been built to block off part of the terrace, concealing room 2007 along with it. The villa’s layout was symmetrical, with the two rooms on the left and room 2007 and the terrace on the right curving towards the back, rather than being arranged in a straight line.

On the first floor, the four locked rooms were the housekeeper’s room, the storage room, and two guest rooms. There was also a kitchen, living room, common bathroom, game room, and small dining area.

The dining area, kitchen, and game room were open and empty. The two guest rooms were on the right side of the first floor, while the housekeeper’s room and storage room were on the left, flanking the staircases.

There were nine guest rooms in total, matching the number of players. Except for the basement, all the locked rooms had four-digit numbers on their doors, from 1001 to 1004 on the first floor and 2001 to 2007 on the second floor. Outside, there was a large swimming pool, a row of outdoor tables, and a barbecue grill.

Curious about the housekeeper’s room and storage room, Zhu Ming tried to peek inside from the windows, but they were windowless, like coffins. One of the guest rooms had its curtains drawn, while the other was identical to the rest. It seemed the instance treated everyone equally.

The last place she checked was the common bathroom. The floor was clean, the air slightly damp. The faucet, old and rusty, dripped steadily.

Drip, drip, drip… The sound sent a chill up her spine.

The bathroom was small, with three stalls, a sink, a mop sink, and a large mirror embedded in the wall. The stall doors were open, revealing clean interiors. The area under the sink was empty.

Perhaps it was the dim lighting, but she felt a sense of unease, as if something lurked in the shadows.

A thin layer of dirty water stood in the mop sink.

Xiao Xue, using chopsticks she had taken from the kitchen, dislodged the drain stopper. As she pulled it out, the stagnant water gurgled down the drain, releasing a foul odor. Tangled around the stopper was a clump of long, black hair.

She laid the hair on the floor, spreading it out. “It looks like a woman’s hair.”

Zhu Ming stared at it for a moment, then frowned. “Oh no, A-Zou, we have a problem.”

Yun Zouchuan: “Really? I don’t believe you.”

Zhu Ming: “There’s not even a mop. How am I supposed to clean this up? Such a hassle.”

Yun Zouchuan rolled her eyes, throwing a few air punches at Zhu Ming’s retreating back. The evil capitalist never missed an opportunity to exploit her hardworking employee. This was the true nature of bosses.

“I’ll hang you from a lamppost one day…”

Having surveyed the first floor without finding anything else of note, Zhu Ming was about to investigate the electrical system when she heard loud arguing from the backyard.

Beyond the glass doors was a wooden deck with tables, a barbecue grill, and a large rectangular swimming pool.

The argument was between the seemingly good-natured Lao Gao and a muscular man, Teng Ge. Lao Gao, soaked from head to toe, had apparently just climbed out of the pool.

Xiao Song was adding fuel to the fire. “Stop arguing. That key is obviously important. Retrieving it would benefit everyone. Why won’t you contribute to the group? I can’t swim, otherwise I’d go down there myself.”

Teng Ge glared. “Anyone who wants to can go. I’m not going. Why don’t you send your girlfriend down there?”

It turned out Xiao Song had spotted an old-fashioned key at the bottom of the pool, matching the lock on the basement door. They had tried to retrieve it with tools, but the key was small and slippery, difficult to grasp in the water. Someone would have to go in.

But frankly, no one wanted to enter that pool.

The water was relatively clear, but the surface was covered in trash: beer bottles, soda cans, snack wrappers, disposable chopsticks… a disgusting mess. There were even a few articles of clothing tangled amongst the debris, casting large, murky shadows.

Knowing this world was haunted made the murky depths of the pool even more unsettling.

Fortunately, the key was near the edge, in a relatively clear area, seemingly easy to reach.

No one wanted to be the one to force a girl to do such a dirty job, especially with the enigmatic Zhu Ming present. But there were plenty of men, and each wanted someone else to do it.

Old Xu and Xiao Cheng were inspecting the garden, looking for clues. One was old, the other young, and both were experienced instance runners. Teng Ge didn’t dare provoke them, so he targeted Xiao Song and Lao Gao.

Xiao Song claimed he couldn’t swim, leaving only Lao Gao and himself. Acting quickly, before Xiao Song could suggest they both go in, Teng Ge kicked Lao Gao into the pool.

Lao Gao scrambled out, panicked, forgetting all about the key. While he hadn’t encountered any danger, the experience had enraged him.

The two began to argue.

“No way! Why should I be the only one to risk my life?!” Lao Gao yelled. “Are you even a man? If we’re going in, we’re going in together!”

Teng Ge, confident in his size and strength, sneered at the chubby, middle-aged man. “Do whatever you want. The mission is everyone’s responsibility.”

He headed back towards the villa, glancing at Zhu Ming as he passed. The strange woman was leaning against the doorframe, watching the spectacle with amusement, as if she were enjoying a show.

She was so weird. Not only was she dressed all in black in the sweltering heat, but it was long sleeves and pants. The temperature here was bizarre. Standing in the sun for a few minutes was enough to break a sweat. He couldn’t understand how she tolerated it.

By the pool, Lao Gao complained to Xiao Song, “These street thugs have no manners!”

Xiao Song drawled, “Yeah, I don’t think he’s very easy to get along with. Oh well, better to avoid trouble. Look, you went in earlier and nothing happened. Your clothes are already wet. Why not go in again? You’re a grown man. You can’t expect a girl to do it, can you?”

Lao Gao looked down at his wet clothes, hesitant. “But what if something happens?”

Xiao Song goaded him, “What danger could there be in a stupid pool? It’s broad daylight. We haven’t seen any ghosts yet, which means they don’t come out during the day. Why are you so scared? We can tie a rope around you and pull you out if anything happens.”

Lao Gao felt ashamed. “Easy for you to say. You’re not the one going in.”

But after a bit more persuasion, he agreed to try again. After all, nothing had happened earlier. Perhaps the pool wasn’t as dangerous as he imagined.

He had one condition: they had to tie a rope around him, just in case.

They searched the villa, but tools were scarce. Old Xu and Xiao Cheng were using long metal skewers from the barbecue grill to probe the ground in the garden. Xiao Song and the others went to find them, planning to tie their belts together to make a rope.

Having had her fill of entertainment, Zhu Ming strolled out from under the shade of the awning. She circled the tables and grill, counting slowly, and picked up a metal skewer.

She then walked over to the grill by the back door and exchanged her skewer for a newer, sharper one.

Crouching at the edge of the wooden deck, one step away from the tiled ground, she poked at the weeds growing between the tiles with the skewer, completely absorbed in her task.

The afternoon air grew heavier, the sunlight less intense than at midday but still bright, casting a small shadow behind Zhu Ming.

“What are you doing?” Xiao Xue asked curiously, standing behind her.

Zhu Ming ignored her.

Yun Zouchuan approached, whispering, “Boss!”

“Holy crap!” Zhu Ming jumped, instinctively jabbing her elbow backward. Yun Zouchuan dodged expertly. “What?! You scared me half to death!”

Yun Zouchuan shrugged, explaining to Xiao Xue, “She’s hard of hearing. You have to speak up for her to hear you. Try yelling next time.”

Xiao Xue: “…” Hard of hearing at such a young age? She felt a strange mix of pity and amusement.

Zhu Ming glared. “Insulting your boss to her face? Your punishment is doubled! No bonus this month!”

Yun Zouchuan sighed. “Can’t you come up with a different threat?” Of course not.

The commotion attracted the attention of the others. Xiao Song and Miss Zhao were busy tying their makeshift rope around Lao Gao’s waist, testing its strength. Zhu Ming glanced up, noticing Xiao Song looking at them curiously, wondering what she was doing.

Yun Zouchuan and Xiao Xue were also curious. Zhu Ming had nothing to hide. She held up the skewer, the metal glinting in the sunlight, highlighting a dark stain near the tip and a struggling ant.

“Look, so many ants!” she said cheerfully, trying to skewer a line of them.

Xiao Xue was taken aback by her childishness, unsure what to make of her.

“It looks like they’re about to go in,” Zhu Ming said. “Let’s go watch… I mean, let’s go help.”

Given the limited equipment—a single, poorly constructed rope tied around Lao Gao’s waist—there wasn’t much they could do to help.

As they approached, Xiao Song and Miss Zhao looked apprehensive. “What are you doing?” Xiao Song eyed the sharp skewer in Zhu Ming’s hand, wondering if she still held a grudge from their earlier accusations.

Zhu Ming squatted by the edge of the pool. “This is women’s business. Little men shouldn’t interfere.”

Xiao Song sputtered, “You—!”

Zhu Ming gave him a cool look.

Despite the heat of the sun, Xiao Song shivered.

Zhu Ming had already lost interest in him, her gaze fixed on the water.

Having more important matters to attend to, Xiao Song swallowed his anger and urged Lao Gao, “Hurry up. Let’s get this over with while it’s still light.”

Lao Gao’s commotion had drawn everyone except Teng Ge. He didn’t expect them to join him in the pool, but he hoped they would pull him out if anything happened.

And something did happen.

Lao Gao cautiously entered the water, retrieved the key, and started swimming back. Just as he was about to reach the edge, he felt something cold and slimy brush against his neck.

Chapter 5 Night of Sacrifice (1)

As night fell, Yun Zouchuan sat at her desk, quietly reciting vocabulary words. Two greeting cards lay beside her, and she occasionally glanced at them, checking for any changes.

The clock ticked steadily. It was 10:30 p.m.

Footsteps approached. Zhu Ming emerged from the training room, covered in sweat and sand.

“Nothing unusual?”

“Nope.” Yun Zouchuan noticed the trail of sand behind her. “Did you burst the punching bag again?”

Zhu Ming pretended not to hear.

At 11:30 p.m., showered and changed, Zhu Ming sat on the sofa, methodically wrapping her right hand with gauze. Her crowbar lay beside her, the greeting card on the coffee table.

Yun Zouchuan had fallen asleep on the other end of the sofa. The studio was silent as Zhu Ming waited for something to happen. The invitation had said “tonight,” and it was almost midnight. Something should be happening soon.

Tick-tock.

The moment the second, minute, and hour hands aligned at zero, a sudden wave of exhaustion washed over Zhu Ming. Startled, she tried to stand, to shake it off, but the drowsiness overwhelmed her before she could rise.

…

She opened her eyes to darkness.

Zhu Ming sat up in bed, pressing on the mattress beneath her. It wasn’t her bed. For a moment, she had felt herself pulled into a thick darkness, through a strange, constricting space, and then deposited here.

It was quiet, devoid of the usual hum of machinery that permeated modern life. There were no insects chirping, no birds singing.

She checked herself. She was still wearing her own clothes, the gauze on her hand still in place, but her crowbar was gone. The room, initially pitch black, was dimly lit now that the lamp was on.

What was going on?

The room looked like a standard hotel room: a double bed, a wall-mounted TV, a private bathroom, a row of hooks for clothes. On the nightstand were several bottles of water, two packs of biscuits, and the familiar invitation.

She pulled back the curtains. Outside was a dense, dark forest. In the distance, she could just make out the silhouette of a mountain. It seemed she was in the middle of nowhere.

Zhu Ming picked up the invitation. The contents had changed.

The totem was still on the cover, but the text now read:

[You are cordially invited to our world: Night of Sacrifice.

Mission: Descend the mountain.

Hints: 1. There are 9 participants in this world.
2. Protection period countdown: 5:51
3. This mission will last for seven days.
4. Failure to complete the mission will have consequences.
5. Please discover other rules on your own.

Note: After completing the mission, tear the invitation to leave this world.]

The second hint on the card was still changing. It was just an ordinary piece of paper, yet it possessed these strange properties. A sense of unease settled over her.

Zhu Ming tried to tear the invitation, but it wouldn’t rip. Perhaps due to the “protection period,” the doors and windows were also locked shut.

In the silent night, she could only hear her own heartbeat and breathing. It felt as if she were the only person in the world.

No, there were nine participants. That meant there were others besides herself. A-Zou was likely here too, with the same invitation.

Zhu Ming was aware of her own strength, but she felt an irresistible force constraining her, nullifying her abilities.

She concluded that the power that had brought her here and controlled this space was far beyond her current capabilities.

Since a mission had been given, she would eventually be allowed to leave and complete it. She had been up all night the previous night and then stayed up late waiting for the invitation. Exhaustion overwhelmed her, and she crawled back into bed, falling into a deep, restful sleep.

…

She woke up close to noon, the sunlight bright. The heat had roused her.

Groggy, she washed her face and drank some water from the nightstand before venturing out in search of food.

The door, which had been stubbornly locked earlier, now opened easily. Zhu Ming stood at the doorway, quickly scanning her surroundings.

Railings, stairs, open space, pendant lights…

She was in a small, two-story vacation villa. From the second floor, she could see the main hall below.

Her room was in the center, with other rooms branching off on either side.

Downstairs, gathered on the sofas and chairs in the hall, were three women and five men. Yun Zouchuan was among them, and apart from her, everyone else looked uneasy.

The sound of Zhu Ming’s approach startled them. They looked up, their expressions shifting. Several of them looked as if they had seen a ghost.

“You finally came out! My god, I thought you were dead!” It was a tall, thin young man who spoke.

Zhu Ming raised an eyebrow, descending the stairs. “Me?”

The young man looked about A-Zou’s age, probably a student, with a scattering of acne across his face. He seemed energetic. “Yeah! We all came out as soon as it was light. You were the only one left.”

“Alright, Xiao Cheng,” a man in a white tank top interrupted with a smile. “Now that she’s here, why don’t you explain the situation?”

“Wait,” a girl with a ponytail interjected. “Before we explain anything, shouldn’t she explain why she came out so late?”

The girl with the ponytail addressed the group, her calm gaze and reasoned argument compelling. “Whether it’s your first time in a place like this or you’ve been here multiple times, you’re always conscious at the beginning. The invitation is right there on the nightstand, and with these supernatural rules, everyone should be paying attention to the hints, right? Most people explored the place as soon as it was light. Even those who felt uneasy came out when they realized there were others outside. Only she stayed inside until now.”

She looked at Zhu Ming intently, a hint of fear in her voice. “We couldn’t open your door. At first, we thought you were just sleeping, but we knocked, and there was no response. We thought you were dead, but then you came out. I’m saying this again: this place is haunted. Everyone here is Awakened. We all know how serious this is. This place is full of hidden rules. One wrong move, and you could die.”

Her logic was sound, her reasoning thorough. If she hadn’t been questioning Zhu Ming, Zhu Ming would have applauded her.

Unfortunately, Zhu Ming had simply slept soundly until morning, oblivious to any knocking. Wait… she vaguely remembered being disturbed and almost waking up, but she had just pulled the covers over her head and gone back to sleep.

Feeling no guilt whatsoever, Zhu Ming grabbed an orange from the fruit bowl on the coffee table. “A-Zou.”

Yun Zouchuan responded, “She’s my boss. We came in together.”

“What if she’s a ghost in disguise? How can we be sure?” While the ponytail girl had voiced the suspicion first, others shared the same thought, including the young man standing beside her, who seemed close to her.

Zhu Ming chuckled. “If a witness isn’t enough, then how do you suggest I prove myself?”

Silence fell over the group.

A scoff broke the stillness. Zhu Ming said, “How about this? Assume I am a ghost. What are you going to do about it?”

They exchanged glances. It seemed… there wasn’t much they could do.

Under the constraints of the rules, during the mission period, their abilities against supernatural entities were practically useless. If she were a ghost, attacking her would be pointless and might even provoke her.

“Xiao Cheng said we can’t fight ghosts right now. Boss, let me slap you. If you faint, it proves you’re not a ghost,” Yun Zouchuan suggested helpfully.

“…” Zhu Ming was speechless. “Forget it. Just assume I’m a ghost.”

Losing interest in the conversation, she turned her attention to her main objective: finding food.

The kitchen was easy to spot, dominated by a large refrigerator. The door opened effortlessly, but the contents were sparse.

Seven bottles of beer, some cupcakes, and snacks.

“Have you eaten?” Zhu Ming asked Yun Zouchuan, who had followed her.

“No,” Yun Zouchuan shook her head. “Xiao Cheng said we weren’t sure if the food was safe, so no one ate anything.”

So the refrigerator had always contained only these items.

Zhu Ming nodded. “What else did they say?”

Yun Zouchuan recounted everything. “The young man is Xiao Cheng, the old man calls himself Old Xu, and the ponytail girl is Miss Zhao. None of them are new to this. They said this place is mysterious and dangerous, controlled by powers beyond our understanding. Anyone who receives an invitation is brought here, and there will be a second time, a third time… They advised us not to resist. They also said that under the rules, the early stages of the mission are relatively safe, but it gets more dangerous later, so we should complete the mission quickly. Before you woke up, we checked outside the villa, but there’s a barrier. We can’t leave.”

So the mission was to descend the mountain, but they were trapped.

Zhu Ming picked out a few things she liked and grabbed a bottle of beer, which was still cold to the touch.

“Let’s eat. It’s fine,” she said, handing a cupcake to Yun Zouchuan.

There were fourteen bottles of water in her room, two per day for the seven-day mission. It seemed the water wouldn’t replenish itself. The same likely applied to the biscuits, which were few in number. The protection period guaranteed the safety of the provided food and water, which implied… the water outside might be contaminated, but they could find food elsewhere.

As they ate, a new female voice joined their conversation.

“Xiao Cheng also said that many Awakened call this place the Dark Realm, and the individual worlds are called instances, like in a game.”

“Aren’t you afraid I’m a ghost?” Zhu Ming asked, opening her beer.

“My intuition tells me you’re not,” the gentle voice replied. “And I came in alone. Everyone else out there is either in a couple or male. I feel safer with you two.”

“Alright.” Zhu Ming picked up a bag of ice cream from the freezer, only to find it half-melted. “Quick, eat this before it melts completely!” she urged, handing it to Yun Zouchuan and the newcomer.

The heat was oppressive, and the power outage meant no air conditioning. Even the refrigerator wouldn’t last long.

Despite its size, the refrigerator wasn’t well-stocked. It wouldn’t be enough for everyone, but luckily, the others were still wary of Zhu Ming and kept their distance.

The three of them quickly finished off the perishables. Zhu Ming finally got a good look at the girl who had joined them.

She was plain, almost nondescript, the type who easily blended into a crowd. Zhu Ming hadn’t even noticed her earlier in the living room.

“I’m Xiao Xue,” the girl said, licking melted cream from her lips. “Xiao Cheng said it’s best not to reveal your real name in case you make enemies in the instances.”

Following suit—

“I’m A-Zou.”

“I’m Zhu Ming,” Zhu Ming said. “Feel free to seek revenge.”

Soon, the others, presumably hungry, ventured into the kitchen, having observed that Zhu Ming and her companions suffered no ill effects from eating.

Miss Zhao, her boyfriend Xiao Song, and a sleepy-looking, middle-aged man approached.

Miss Zhao addressed Zhu Ming. “We questioned you earlier because we have to be careful. But after you left, we discussed it and decided we shouldn’t be so quick to suspect each other. After all, there are only nine of us here.”

The sleepy-looking man, who introduced himself as Lao Gao, rubbed his paunch. “Exactly. It’s just the beginning. We shouldn’t be fighting amongst ourselves. Ugh, I’m so unlucky. I can see ghosts, but I have no other abilities. Why did I get an invitation?… It’s so hot.”

He grabbed an ice cream bar and started eating.

The heat was unbearable for Lao Gao, accustomed to the comfort of his office. The ice cream provided some relief, though it was melting quickly, making his hands sticky.

He turned on the kitchen faucet to wash his hands, and that’s when it happened. A gush of red liquid spurted out, making him yell and jump back.

Everyone stared at the sink. After the initial burst of red, the water slowly returned to its normal color.

Xiao Song scoffed. “It’s just rust. Look at you, scaredy-cat.”

He gave Lao Gao a disdainful look and proceeded to wash his hands and face. Lao Gao, good-natured, just smiled and waited his turn. Seeing how refreshing it was for Xiao Song, he decided to wash his face and neck as well.

Mid-wash, he paused, wiping his face. “This water quality is terrible.”