Chapter 011: Death Comes Calling

The mountains were remarkably quiet; walking slowly, one could even hear their own heartbeat. A creeping sense of unease gradually spread.

“Bian Zhe: What’s going on here?”

“Zhang Zi’an: Could it be that we really can’t get out?”

“Bian Zhe: How could this be...?”

“Zhang Zi’an: There’s no other way. We have to go back to Yu Creek Village.”

“Bian Zhe: Yeah.”

The two turned and headed back toward Yu Creek Village.

The setting sun dipped below the horizon, and for the third time, the entrance to Yu Creek Village appeared before them.

Unlike the previous times, this time many villagers stood at the entrance, as if waiting for their return.

Bian Zhe, Zhang Zi’an—dead.

Act Five ended.

The script was over.

Bian Zhe and Zhang Zi’an’s journey concluded in death.

Is that the end? Just like that?

Qian Cangyi felt their deaths were abrupt, even utterly without resistance.

Though from the perspective of horror films or ghost stories, their deaths seemed typical, it still deeply unsettled Qian Cangyi.

He was currently playing as Bian Zhe, and the script’s fate for Bian Zhe might well be his own ending.

If he followed the script to the letter, he was bound to die.

Thankfully, Eagle Eye had warned him in advance; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Qian Cangyi quickened his pace.

Ahead, Eagle Eye's figure emerged gradually—he hadn’t gone far.

“Zhang Zi’an, let’s keep investigating!” Qian Cangyi shouted, clenching his right fist.

To hell with the script!

He no longer cared about character ratings; survival mattered above all.

Now he finally understood why Eagle Eye didn’t take the script seriously.

A script where the character inevitably dies—even if one merely plays the role—felt deeply uncomfortable.

Moreover, the deaths of Bian Zhe and Zhang Zi’an served no purpose; they were like humanoid, self-moving cameras, merely spectators to Yu Creek Village’s bizarre events.

Eagle Eye glanced back, his gaze deep. Then, nodding slightly toward Qian Cangyi, he took off running.

Qian Cangyi took a deep breath and followed.

On the way, he recalled the ending of Act Five.

The villagers of Yu Creek Village appeared at the gate, seemingly waiting for them.

Yet based on earlier investigations, the villagers should have been missing—but the script suggested they were still inside the village.

This sparked a sudden recollection of previously inexplicable phenomena.

Whether it was the moved teacups in the Li Ling household or the strange noises in Wei Guangyuan’s home—signs pointed to the presence of someone.

A thought suddenly struck Qian Cangyi, and he called out excitedly to Eagle Eye:

“I think I know where the villagers of Yu Creek Village went!”

Eagle Eye slowed, turned, and looked at him with a skeptical expression.

Qian Cangyi’s excitement grew as he continued:

“Do you remember what Wei Guangyuan’s diary said about immortality? Li Chenxi held the death ritual to attain immortality. I think he succeeded.”

“Not just him—all the villagers have somehow transformed and live forever within Yu Creek Village.”

“Though they’re ‘alive,’ we can’t meet them, can’t even clearly hear their voices, let alone touch them.”

“That’s where the villagers went. They didn’t leave the village; instead, the death ritual changed them into a unique state—probably souls? In any case, like us, they’re still inside Yu Creek Village, living in a special way.”

The thrill of unraveling the mystery filled Qian Cangyi with joy. Yet, his theory remained just that—a theory lacking sufficient evidence.

Besides, even if correct, it didn’t solve their immediate predicament.

How could they survive?

That was the crucial question.

Eagle Eye’s face showed little reaction, as if Qian Cangyi’s discovery changed nothing. After a moment’s thought, he asked:

“How do we communicate with the villagers? Write on the walls?”

“And what about the shadows?”

The two questions felt like a cold splash of water to Qian Cangyi.

“That... we don’t know yet,” he said softly, scratching his neck with his right index finger.

“Speed up. Don’t waste time,” Eagle Eye said, falling silent.

Qian Cangyi sighed and caught up.

Time slipped away, the light dimming. Though the sun had yet to set, their time was running out.

Usually, at work, Qian Cangyi wished for the sun to set quickly; now he wished it would never set, an endless day.

Soon, a strange house appeared ahead. It wasn’t so much the house itself as the yard in front that was odd.

All kinds of furniture were tossed outside, scattered haphazardly. Tables, chairs, wardrobes—nothing had been spared.

Qian Cangyi knew this wasn’t a move. The furniture was outside because this was Li Chenxi’s home.

Li Chenxi’s house was one of their destinations.

Eagle Eye quickened his pace; Qian Cangyi did the same.

They arrived at the living room door. Li Chenxi’s house was small—only three rooms—so there was no need to split up.

Qian Cangyi gently pushed the door open.

The living room’s interior was fully visible since all the furniture had been thrown outside.

He took a deep breath and stepped inside.

He glanced around the living room but found nothing, then moved into the bedroom on the right.

The bedroom contained only a bed—saving them search time.

Surprisingly, despite the bare room, there was still something to uncover.

Beside the pillow lay a red-covered notebook that caught their attention.

Eagle Eye walked over and picked up the notebook.

“Let’s go outside and look,” he said, stepping out with the red notebook in hand.

Their earlier choice had saved their lives.

Had they immediately looked through the notebook while at Wei Guangyuan’s house, they might have already been surrounded by shadows after finishing.

Now, they needed to guard against a repeat.

Qian Cangyi followed Eagle Eye outside but took one last glance at the room on the left—it was the kitchen—and didn’t linger.

Considering the furniture blocking the entrance, their view remained obstructed, and shadows could still lurk, approaching stealthily.

So they kept moving until they reached a more open area before opening the notebook.

“Watch the perimeter,” Eagle Eye instructed calmly.

Qian Cangyi nodded and began alertly scanning their surroundings.

After about a minute, Eagle Eye handed the notebook to Qian Cangyi, murmuring:

“The death ritual monument really seems to have vanished.”

A grim discovery, yet somehow expected.

Qian Cangyi said nothing, placing the notebook in his left hand and preparing to turn the page with his right.

But before he could even see a single word, Eagle Eye suddenly grabbed his arm and took off running.