Hong Yue didn’t refute, she decisively pressed pause and rewound the footage. The screen went back two seconds, and Bai Lixin pressed the pause button.
The screen froze on one frame.
In the picture, there was a blurry black shadow at the location of the staircase.
If one didn’t look carefully, they might think it was a resolution issue.
Hong Yue squinted for a while before saying uncertainly, “Is that a snake?”
Bai Lixin replied, “It might be something similar to the black snakes from yesterday.”
In addition to capturing this black shadow, the camera also recorded the clock hanging inside the hall. The time shown in the footage was exactly noon.
Hong Yue also noticed the time on the clock.
“The sacrifices disappeared at noon, and the time the black shadow appeared was also at noon. This can’t be a coincidence, right? Could it be that the sacrifices didn’t disappear into thin air but were taken away by this black shadow, and the black shadow moves so fast that we can’t see it?”
Bai Lixin furrowed his brows slightly, “Play it again, but in slow motion. Use the slowest setting.”
Hong Yue said, “Okay,” and rewound a few seconds before pressing the slow-motion button.
The footage played again, this time becoming a series of still frames like a slideshow.
Hong Yue and Bai Lixin kept their eyes fixed on the screen. They stopped at the roadside, staring at it without blinking, afraid to miss any detail.
Soon, a black shadow suddenly appeared and disappeared just as quickly.
The blurry black shadow only appeared for less than one frame.
Hong Yue was surprised, “So fast, wasn’t that a few nanoseconds?”
Bai Lixin took the camera back from Hong Yue and rewound it several times before continuing to play it at normal speed.
Hong Yue asked, “What did you notice this time?”
Bai Lixin replied, “It’s not because it was fast, it seems like there was a spatial distortion.”
He pressed pause again and pointed to the blurry line in the same spot in the frames before and after, “Look here, although it’s just a few nanoseconds difference, the lines on the wall are slightly blurred.”
Hongyue felt a bit bewildered, “What does that mean?”
Bai Lixin explained, “It means that the missing people didn’t simply enter the golden room but went into another space. If I want to find Jia’er, I’ll have to actively find this thing and capture it. I really hope that Emil chose me as the sacrifice last night.”
Hongyue: “…”
She had seen people looking for food, but this was the first time she saw someone looking for death.
Bai Lixin continued, “Do you remember those bodies hanging on the walls?”
Hongyue said, “Yes, why?”
Bai Lixin’s face showed a subtle expression, “I think when Mr. Nick and the others go back to the room to change clothes, their expressions should be quite wonderful.”
Hongyue paused, “Are you saying that the bodies of the three people eaten last night will reappear in the room? Weren’t they swallowed directly by the black snakes?”
Bai Lixin said, “The black snakes should only be a medium, shuttling people back and forth between the two spaces.”
“The director wished for fame and sacrificed the actress, the youngest daughter wishes to escape death and the eldest daughter wished for delicious food.”
“It’s getting late; let’s continue walking forward.”
Hongyue held the camera, looking at Bai Lixin’s back in confusion, “If the black snakes aren’t the killer, then who is?”
Bai Lixin’s voice remained calm and gentle, “Think about it, hasn’t there been someone who never appeared from the beginning to the end? He has always been highly present, almost omnipresent, but has never shown himself.”
Hongyue pondered for a few seconds before saying uncertainly, “The owner of the resort?”
Bai Lixin replied, “It’s very likely.”
The trees ahead became denser, they had been walking for over an hour, yet they couldn’t see the end of the long road or the so-called landslide barrier.
Hongyue was now completely certain that the so-called landslide was just an excuse the tour guide used to trap people in the resort.
From start to finish, there was never any landslide. The resort staff didn’t go out to seek help, and they probably didn’t want anyone to leave here alive.
The tour guide’s cryptic remark at the beginning, “unfortunately, no one can take away the treasures,” was now gradually proving to be true.
Hongyue turned on the camera and opened the last piece of footage.
As the footage played, quarreling voices quickly emerged.
The camera had been in a backpack, which was on the director’s back. The footage was shaky, mostly showing the chests of the others, and also their faces occasionally.
Director: “Who was the one who said we should gather in an hour? Bah, primitive ape who thinks with his lower body, do you not realize it’s already dark because of your half-hour delay?”
Mr. Nick: “Who asked you to wait for me? Didn’t I say if you didn’t want to wait, you could leave first? Since you waited, then shut your mouth and continue walking.”
Elizabeth: “It’s so cold, don’t you all feel it’s unusually cold?”
Two clothes suddenly appeared behind Elizabeth. She hesitated for a moment before taking one of the slightly smaller jackets and put it on, saying, “Thank you, Mr. Nick.”
The male actor’s expression was a bit bitter as he took the jacket back in the end, “It’s always colder at night than during the day. You’ll warm up once you walk for a bit. After all, there’s no sun at night. If you’re still cold, you can have my clothes too.”
Elizabeth didn’t respond to him.
“But isn’t it too cold?” Richard looked around, “Did you hear something?”
Suddenly, the voices stopped, and the footage only captured the sound of their breathing, footsteps, and the rustling of leaves around them.
“Don’t scare yourself.” Mr. Nick said, “Richard, you really are a scaredy-cat.”
The director added, “That’s right, with so many of us, what do we have to fear if there’s really something out there?”
The sky outside had long turned dark, and all the light in the footage came from the flashlights the people were holding.
“Damn it, why have we been walking for so long and still haven’t seen the landslide barrier?” Mr. Nick spoke again, his voice already panting, “The resort is indeed problematic. There’s no landslide at all, it’s all lies, lies from the very beginning.”
“Exactly, thank goodness Father is smart and we left just in time,” the younger daughter chimed in, “Father, you’re really wise.”
The eldest daughter scoffed, “Hmph, can you stop being so disgusting? Even if you say nice things, you’re not Father’s real daughter. I am still Father’s most beloved.”
Mr. Nick said, “Okay, okay, you’re both precious to me. Although you’re not my biological daughter, I’ve raised you for so many years, and I do have feelings for you. Since both of your husbands are missing, I’ll find new husbands for you when we go back. What kind of husbands do you want?”
The eldest daughter said, “I want a handsome one!”
The youngest daughter’s voice was timid, “Father, I don’t want to get married yet. I want to stay by your side and take care of you.”
Mr. Nick: “Whatever, it’s up to you.”
Suddenly, a short, sharp scream rang out, interrupting the conversation. Mr. Nick looked somewhat unhappy, “Who screamed just now? What happened?”
“It’s…it’s me.” Mrs. Aisli covered her stomach and whispered with embarrassment, “Sorry, it was me.”
The director asked, “Did you see something, Mrs. Aisli?”
Mrs. Aisli’s speech was stuttered, “No, no it’s nothing. It’s just that the baby in my belly kicked me just now.”
Outside the screen, both Hongyue and Bai Lixin were stunned.
Hongyue: “Well, although I have never given birth…but how can the baby be so well-formed and kicking already?”
Bai Lixin stared at the delighted Mrs. Aisli on the screen and asked, “Is it possible that she is not carrying a normal human child?”
Hongyue: “…”
‘You’re right.’
Mr. Nick: “Oh my, Mrs. Aisli, so you were already pregnant when you came. We had no idea, congratulations. This way, Mr. Aisli can rest in peace, even though he’s missing, you have given him an heir.”
Director: “Yes, congratulations.”
Mrs. Aisli forced a polite smile and accepted all the congratulations.
Only she knew how this child came to be.
————————–
In the live broadcast room.
[The Importance Of Biology.]
[Mr. Aisli: Thank you.]
[For real, like father like son.]
[Mrs. Aisli is the real werewolf.]
—————————-
The next conversation had little substance, so Hongyue fast-forwarded through it.
Amidst the conversation, a sudden scream rang out.
She quickly released her grip and rewound the footage by two seconds.
This time, Elizabeth was the one who screamed.
She pointed at the dense forest, her expression terrified.
The male actor rushed forward immediately, embracing Elizabeth, “What’s wrong? Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”
Elizabeth pointed ahead with trembling hands, her voice also trembling, “A snake, there’s a snake, I saw a very large snake just now.”
Initially, the group had shivers down their spines due to Elizabeth’s scream. Upon hearing her, Mr. Nick was the first to laugh, “Just a snake, what’s there to be afraid of? Women are women, no courage at all. With so many of us big men, we can kill a snake easily.”
Elizabeth frantically waved her hands, “No, it’s not like that. Not that kind of snake, it was a very big snake, a really, really big one.”
Clearly frightened, she gestured with her arms, demonstrating how big the snake was.
The director laughed heartily and walked straight toward where Elizabeth had pointed.
As he left, the camera only captured the backs of the rest.
Elizabeth’s face turned pale as she tried to stop the director, but he casually said, “Even the Banded Krait wouldn’t be as big as you’re gesturing. Moreover, Banded Kraits are found in tropical rainforests; this small hill doesn’t even have pythons, let alone such a huge snake. I’ll show you, it’s probably just an optical illusion caused by the reflection of the moon above your head.”
Because the director kept his back to the camera, only his voice could be heard.
With rhythmic bumps, the camera finally stopped.
Then, the camera tilted slightly, as if the director had bent over.
But in the next second, a scream suddenly erupted from the footage. At the same time, everyone’s faces displayed uniform expressions of terror.
Without hesitation, they all turned around and ran.
The camera quickly did a 180-degree turn, and in the dim and bumpy footage, a pair of blood-red eyes appeared.
Those eyes almost seemed to leap out of the screen, and within the fog, there was even a severed arm between the fangs hidden among fog.
Hongyue: “…”
‘Fuck, that scared me.’
———————
In the live broadcast room.
[…Damn, that scared me even though I was mentally prepared.]
[So, what kind of horror movie are we watching now?]
[Um, copy -> Movie -> Video, the third-hand?]
[Who knows, I’m actually watching a movie within a live broadcast.]
————————
Hongyue held her breath and watched as the late-night exploration turned into parkour.
Just as she was getting into it, the screen showed a white line followed by a blackout, and the whole world fell silent.
“…” Hongyue muttered, “Out of battery.”
Just as I was getting into it!
She raised her head somewhat disappointedly and realized that she had unknowingly followed Bai Lixin into the forest.
“Why did we come this way, Bai Lixin?”
Bai Lixin pointed ahead, “I saw something sparkling over there just now. Look, isn’t that a suitcase?”
Hongyue followed Bai Lixin’s gaze and focused on the shining object in the distance, shimmering with bright white light.
“It looks like a suitcase with a reflective handle,” she closed the camera and held it in her hand, “Let’s go and check it out.”
The small forest wasn’t difficult to navigate. There were trees and silence all around.
There were no small animals running around, nor birds chirping on the trees.
It was eerily quiet, but in the context of a supernatural event, it seemed normal.
Hongyue didn’t think much about it, moving deftly through the jungle. She soon arrived at the vicinity of the sparkling object together with Bai Lixin.
As they approached, she also got a clear view of the object, “It really is a suitcase, but how did it end up here?”
As she looked at the surroundings, her voice suddenly stopped.
Behind the suitcase was a dense and sprawling graveyard.
Many suitcases were haphazardly placed next to the tombstones, giving the area the appearance of a tombstone mountain when viewed from a distance.
Hongyue: “…”
Bai Lixin: “…”
—————————
In the live broadcast room.
[…Damn, what is this? I’m in shock.]
[No wonder the demon crow said there’s a lot of death energy around here. I believe it now, I really do.]
[…Sigh, I have a bold guess. Are the attendants and the tour guide in the resort all ghosts? Maybe this is some kind of tomb, specifically designed to lure people in and drain their vitality? Aren’t there many plots like this in supernatural novels?]
[Fuck, forget about supernatural novels, with all these tombstones appearing, the suspense is off the charts. My scalp is tingling.]
[Hmph, little cowards, I know you are using the barrage to block the scene.]
————————
Hongyue changed her previous casual expression. She stood in front of the tombstone solemnly, staring at the suitcase in front of her, “This is Elizabeth’s suitcase.”
After checking it, she pointed at several suitcases near the tombstones, “That one is Mr. Nick’s, the youngest daughter’s, the eldest daughter’s, and Mr. Aisli’s…”
She meticulously identified each suitcase, “Besides these, there are many suitcases we haven’t seen before.”
Hongyue finished speaking and suddenly grinned, revealing a very impactful and fierce smile, “This is indeed a great place, isn’t it, Bai Lixin?”
Bai Lixin: “…”
Hong Yue didn’t refute, she decisively pressed pause and rewound the footage. The screen went back two seconds, and Bai Lixin pressed the pause button.
The screen froze on one frame.
In the picture, there was a blurry black shadow at the location of the staircase.
If one didn’t look carefully, they might think it was a resolution issue.
Hong Yue squinted for a while before saying uncertainly, “Is that a snake?”
Bai Lixin replied, “It might be something similar to the black snakes from yesterday.”
In addition to capturing this black shadow, the camera also recorded the clock hanging inside the hall. The time shown in the footage was exactly noon.
Hong Yue also noticed the time on the clock.
“The sacrifices disappeared at noon, and the time the black shadow appeared was also at noon. This can’t be a coincidence, right? Could it be that the sacrifices didn’t disappear into thin air but were taken away by this black shadow, and the black shadow moves so fast that we can’t see it?”
Bai Lixin furrowed his brows slightly, “Play it again, but in slow motion. Use the slowest setting.”
Hong Yue said, “Okay,” and rewound a few seconds before pressing the slow-motion button.
The footage played again, this time becoming a series of still frames like a slideshow.
Hong Yue and Bai Lixin kept their eyes fixed on the screen. They stopped at the roadside, staring at it without blinking, afraid to miss any detail.
Soon, a black shadow suddenly appeared and disappeared just as quickly.
The blurry black shadow only appeared for less than one frame.
Hong Yue was surprised, “So fast, wasn’t that a few nanoseconds?”
Bai Lixin took the camera back from Hong Yue and rewound it several times before continuing to play it at normal speed.
Hong Yue asked, “What did you notice this time?”
Bai Lixin replied, “It’s not because it was fast, it seems like there was a spatial distortion.”
He pressed pause again and pointed to the blurry line in the same spot in the frames before and after, “Look here, although it’s just a few nanoseconds difference, the lines on the wall are slightly blurred.”
Hongyue felt a bit bewildered, “What does that mean?”
Bai Lixin explained, “It means that the missing people didn’t simply enter the golden room but went into another space. If I want to find Jia’er, I’ll have to actively find this thing and capture it. I really hope that Emil chose me as the sacrifice last night.”
Hongyue: “…”
She had seen people looking for food, but this was the first time she saw someone looking for death.
Bai Lixin continued, “Do you remember those bodies hanging on the walls?”
Hongyue said, “Yes, why?”
Bai Lixin’s face showed a subtle expression, “I think when Mr. Nick and the others go back to the room to change clothes, their expressions should be quite wonderful.”
Hongyue paused, “Are you saying that the bodies of the three people eaten last night will reappear in the room? Weren’t they swallowed directly by the black snakes?”
Bai Lixin said, “The black snakes should only be a medium, shuttling people back and forth between the two spaces.”
“The director wished for fame and sacrificed the actress, the youngest daughter wishes to escape death and the eldest daughter wished for delicious food.”
“It’s getting late; let’s continue walking forward.”
Hongyue held the camera, looking at Bai Lixin’s back in confusion, “If the black snakes aren’t the killer, then who is?”
Bai Lixin’s voice remained calm and gentle, “Think about it, hasn’t there been someone who never appeared from the beginning to the end? He has always been highly present, almost omnipresent, but has never shown himself.”
Hongyue pondered for a few seconds before saying uncertainly, “The owner of the resort?”
Bai Lixin replied, “It’s very likely.”
The trees ahead became denser, they had been walking for over an hour, yet they couldn’t see the end of the long road or the so-called landslide barrier.
Hongyue was now completely certain that the so-called landslide was just an excuse the tour guide used to trap people in the resort.
From start to finish, there was never any landslide. The resort staff didn’t go out to seek help, and they probably didn’t want anyone to leave here alive.
The tour guide’s cryptic remark at the beginning, “unfortunately, no one can take away the treasures,” was now gradually proving to be true.
Hongyue turned on the camera and opened the last piece of footage.
As the footage played, quarreling voices quickly emerged.
The camera had been in a backpack, which was on the director’s back. The footage was shaky, mostly showing the chests of the others, and also their faces occasionally.
Director: “Who was the one who said we should gather in an hour? Bah, primitive ape who thinks with his lower body, do you not realize it’s already dark because of your half-hour delay?”
Mr. Nick: “Who asked you to wait for me? Didn’t I say if you didn’t want to wait, you could leave first? Since you waited, then shut your mouth and continue walking.”
Elizabeth: “It’s so cold, don’t you all feel it’s unusually cold?”
Two clothes suddenly appeared behind Elizabeth. She hesitated for a moment before taking one of the slightly smaller jackets and put it on, saying, “Thank you, Mr. Nick.”
The male actor’s expression was a bit bitter as he took the jacket back in the end, “It’s always colder at night than during the day. You’ll warm up once you walk for a bit. After all, there’s no sun at night. If you’re still cold, you can have my clothes too.”
Elizabeth didn’t respond to him.
“But isn’t it too cold?” Richard looked around, “Did you hear something?”
Suddenly, the voices stopped, and the footage only captured the sound of their breathing, footsteps, and the rustling of leaves around them.
“Don’t scare yourself.” Mr. Nick said, “Richard, you really are a scaredy-cat.”
The director added, “That’s right, with so many of us, what do we have to fear if there’s really something out there?”
The sky outside had long turned dark, and all the light in the footage came from the flashlights the people were holding.
“Damn it, why have we been walking for so long and still haven’t seen the landslide barrier?” Mr. Nick spoke again, his voice already panting, “The resort is indeed problematic. There’s no landslide at all, it’s all lies, lies from the very beginning.”
“Exactly, thank goodness Father is smart and we left just in time,” the younger daughter chimed in, “Father, you’re really wise.”
The eldest daughter scoffed, “Hmph, can you stop being so disgusting? Even if you say nice things, you’re not Father’s real daughter. I am still Father’s most beloved.”
Mr. Nick said, “Okay, okay, you’re both precious to me. Although you’re not my biological daughter, I’ve raised you for so many years, and I do have feelings for you. Since both of your husbands are missing, I’ll find new husbands for you when we go back. What kind of husbands do you want?”
The eldest daughter said, “I want a handsome one!”
The youngest daughter’s voice was timid, “Father, I don’t want to get married yet. I want to stay by your side and take care of you.”
Mr. Nick: “Whatever, it’s up to you.”
Suddenly, a short, sharp scream rang out, interrupting the conversation. Mr. Nick looked somewhat unhappy, “Who screamed just now? What happened?”
“It’s…it’s me.” Mrs. Aisli covered her stomach and whispered with embarrassment, “Sorry, it was me.”
The director asked, “Did you see something, Mrs. Aisli?”
Mrs. Aisli’s speech was stuttered, “No, no it’s nothing. It’s just that the baby in my belly kicked me just now.”
Outside the screen, both Hongyue and Bai Lixin were stunned.
Hongyue: “Well, although I have never given birth…but how can the baby be so well-formed and kicking already?”
Bai Lixin stared at the delighted Mrs. Aisli on the screen and asked, “Is it possible that she is not carrying a normal human child?”
Hongyue: “…”
‘You’re right.’
Mr. Nick: “Oh my, Mrs. Aisli, so you were already pregnant when you came. We had no idea, congratulations. This way, Mr. Aisli can rest in peace, even though he’s missing, you have given him an heir.”
Director: “Yes, congratulations.”
Mrs. Aisli forced a polite smile and accepted all the congratulations.
Only she knew how this child came to be.
————————–
In the live broadcast room.
[The Importance Of Biology.]
[Mr. Aisli: Thank you.]
[For real, like father like son.]
[Mrs. Aisli is the real werewolf.]
—————————-
The next conversation had little substance, so Hongyue fast-forwarded through it.
Amidst the conversation, a sudden scream rang out.
She quickly released her grip and rewound the footage by two seconds.
This time, Elizabeth was the one who screamed.
She pointed at the dense forest, her expression terrified.
The male actor rushed forward immediately, embracing Elizabeth, “What’s wrong? Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”
Elizabeth pointed ahead with trembling hands, her voice also trembling, “A snake, there’s a snake, I saw a very large snake just now.”
Initially, the group had shivers down their spines due to Elizabeth’s scream. Upon hearing her, Mr. Nick was the first to laugh, “Just a snake, what’s there to be afraid of? Women are women, no courage at all. With so many of us big men, we can kill a snake easily.”
Elizabeth frantically waved her hands, “No, it’s not like that. Not that kind of snake, it was a very big snake, a really, really big one.”
Clearly frightened, she gestured with her arms, demonstrating how big the snake was.
The director laughed heartily and walked straight toward where Elizabeth had pointed.
As he left, the camera only captured the backs of the rest.
Elizabeth’s face turned pale as she tried to stop the director, but he casually said, “Even the Banded Krait wouldn’t be as big as you’re gesturing. Moreover, Banded Kraits are found in tropical rainforests; this small hill doesn’t even have pythons, let alone such a huge snake. I’ll show you, it’s probably just an optical illusion caused by the reflection of the moon above your head.”
Because the director kept his back to the camera, only his voice could be heard.
With rhythmic bumps, the camera finally stopped.
Then, the camera tilted slightly, as if the director had bent over.
But in the next second, a scream suddenly erupted from the footage. At the same time, everyone’s faces displayed uniform expressions of terror.
Without hesitation, they all turned around and ran.
The camera quickly did a 180-degree turn, and in the dim and bumpy footage, a pair of blood-red eyes appeared.
Those eyes almost seemed to leap out of the screen, and within the fog, there was even a severed arm between the fangs hidden among fog.
Hongyue: “…”
‘Fuck, that scared me.’
———————
In the live broadcast room.
[…Damn, that scared me even though I was mentally prepared.]
[So, what kind of horror movie are we watching now?]
[Um, copy -> Movie -> Video, the third-hand?]
[Who knows, I’m actually watching a movie within a live broadcast.]
————————
Hongyue held her breath and watched as the late-night exploration turned into parkour.
Just as she was getting into it, the screen showed a white line followed by a blackout, and the whole world fell silent.
“…” Hongyue muttered, “Out of battery.”
Just as I was getting into it!
She raised her head somewhat disappointedly and realized that she had unknowingly followed Bai Lixin into the forest.
“Why did we come this way, Bai Lixin?”
Bai Lixin pointed ahead, “I saw something sparkling over there just now. Look, isn’t that a suitcase?”
Hongyue followed Bai Lixin’s gaze and focused on the shining object in the distance, shimmering with bright white light.
“It looks like a suitcase with a reflective handle,” she closed the camera and held it in her hand, “Let’s go and check it out.”
The small forest wasn’t difficult to navigate. There were trees and silence all around.
There were no small animals running around, nor birds chirping on the trees.
It was eerily quiet, but in the context of a supernatural event, it seemed normal.
Hongyue didn’t think much about it, moving deftly through the jungle. She soon arrived at the vicinity of the sparkling object together with Bai Lixin.
As they approached, she also got a clear view of the object, “It really is a suitcase, but how did it end up here?”
As she looked at the surroundings, her voice suddenly stopped.
Behind the suitcase was a dense and sprawling graveyard.
Many suitcases were haphazardly placed next to the tombstones, giving the area the appearance of a tombstone mountain when viewed from a distance.
Hongyue: “…”
Bai Lixin: “…”
—————————
In the live broadcast room.
[…Damn, what is this? I’m in shock.]
[No wonder the demon crow said there’s a lot of death energy around here. I believe it now, I really do.]
[…Sigh, I have a bold guess. Are the attendants and the tour guide in the resort all ghosts? Maybe this is some kind of tomb, specifically designed to lure people in and drain their vitality? Aren’t there many plots like this in supernatural novels?]
[Fuck, forget about supernatural novels, with all these tombstones appearing, the suspense is off the charts. My scalp is tingling.]
[Hmph, little cowards, I know you are using the barrage to block the scene.]
————————
Hongyue changed her previous casual expression. She stood in front of the tombstone solemnly, staring at the suitcase in front of her, “This is Elizabeth’s suitcase.”
After checking it, she pointed at several suitcases near the tombstones, “That one is Mr. Nick’s, the youngest daughter’s, the eldest daughter’s, and Mr. Aisli’s…”
She meticulously identified each suitcase, “Besides these, there are many suitcases we haven’t seen before.”
Hongyue finished speaking and suddenly grinned, revealing a very impactful and fierce smile, “This is indeed a great place, isn’t it, Bai Lixin?”
Bai Lixin: “…”
