Chapter 3: Act One

Hawkeye quietly observed Qian Cangyi without continuing to speak, seemingly uninterested in explaining the basic rules to the newcomer.

After waiting for half a minute and realizing Hawkeye had no intention of elaborating, Qian Cangyi broke the silence.

“I want to know if this is some sort of reality show—”

Before he could finish, Hawkeye interrupted.

“—It’s not.”

Qian swallowed nervously and pressed on.

“What exactly is this ‘Hell Movie’? Can I quit?”

Hawkeye leaned back against the sofa, arms crossed, and replied,

“I don’t know what the Hell Movie is. It might be something unknown, or perhaps... a god.”

“The only thing certain is that you have been chosen by the Hell Movie.”

“Our identities are actors in the Hell Movie. We must participate in some... bizarre and suspenseful films.”

“The one common thread in these films is this: if we don’t do something, we will definitely die in the end.”

“As for quitting?”

“I wish someone could tell me the answer.”

“By the way, here’s something else.”

“After each film concludes, you will receive payment and reputation points as rewards.”

“Payment can be exchanged for special items, and reputation points can raise your actor level.”

“There are other details I won’t go into now. You’ll understand if you survive.”

“That’s the end of the question session.”

“If you have other questions, you can ask others—provided you survive.”

After finishing, Hawkeye reached into the inner pocket of his trench coat, took out a pair of sunglasses, and put them on.

Qian Cangyi knew Hawkeye disliked discussing the matter further, but for him, gaining more information might help unravel many mysteries.

Weighing the pros and cons, he decided to try, since it was rare to find someone willing to answer his questions.

He spoke up.

“Actors should know how to act, but I don’t know how to act at all. Is that okay?”

“Also, is it just the two of us?”

After asking, he awaited Hawkeye’s response.

Hawkeye remained motionless, ignoring him completely.

Feeling helpless, Qian leaned back against the sofa and sifted through everything that had happened from last night until now.

Why was I chosen?

Could it be because I prefer brain-teasing horror games?

But Hawkeye didn’t seem like that kind of person.

A myriad of questions flooded Qian’s mind, but none could be verified.

After some time, the black bus gradually slowed until it stopped.

The door opened ahead.

“Let’s go,” Hawkeye stood and headed toward the door.

“Oh,” Qian stood and followed.

Outside the door was pitch darkness, wrapped in black mist, obscuring everything.

Hawkeye paid no mind to the mist and stepped out directly.

Qian hesitated for two seconds before following.

Once his feet touched the ground, Qian searched for Hawkeye’s figure but couldn’t find him, so he pressed on.

The scent of earth mixed with a faint floral fragrance filled Qian’s nose, soothing his mind.

As he continued forward, the black mist gradually thinned and eventually vanished.

Looking down, Qian realized he was standing on a country lane.

The path wound along the valley like a pale ribbon encircling emerald mountains.

Turning his head, Qian saw Hawkeye standing to his right.

Both had changed clothes.

Hawkeye wore a white shirt under a black jacket, paired with slim sky-blue jeans and black sneakers.

Qian wore a white shirt under a blue jacket, loose light-blue jeans, and white sneakers.

The sun in the sky was glaring; Hawkeye took sunglasses from his jacket pocket and put them on.

Qian searched his pockets but found no sunglasses of his own.

Huh? Why don’t I have any?

He checked again—definitely none.

At that moment, memories surfaced—memories of the role he was playing, along with the script for the first act of “Dead Sacrifice.”

The script appeared in his mind like pages of a book. With a bit of focus, he could clearly read the contents without needing to memorize it. Since there were no requirements for tone or speed, errors were unlikely.

Qian’s character was named Bian Zhe, while Hawkeye’s character was Zhang Zi’an.

Their relationship was colleagues; both were rural teachers.

They were planning to visit Yu Creek Village, a remote mountain village.

Inside Yu Creek Village was one of their students, Li Ling, who hadn’t attended class for three days without leave, so they decided to go check on him together.

Qian began reading the script in his mind.

[Act One]

[Under a bright sky, branches sway; the mountain village is silent, as if deserted.]

[At 3 p.m., the entrance of Yu Creek Village.]

[Two young men slowly approach from nearby and stop at the village entrance.]

[Bian Zhe: “Up ahead is Yu Creek Village. We’re almost there, but something feels off. It seems like no one is here. Although the village is small, with both old and young residents, the entire population wouldn’t just leave suddenly—unless something unusual happened.”]

[Zhang Zi’an: “Indeed. Let’s go in and take a look, then decide what to do. It’s getting late; we need to hurry.”]

[Bian Zhe: “Yeah, it’s unsafe in the mountains. We must return before sunset. Still, I have a bad feeling—maybe I’m just worrying too much.”]

[Zhang Zi’an: “A bad feeling? Can you be more specific? Are you suggesting there’s a plague? Or wild beasts?”]

[Bian Zhe (shakes head): “No, it’s not that. I can’t explain it. Forget I said anything.”]

[The two walk toward Yu Creek Village; their shadows suddenly twitch strangely behind them.]

[Bian Zhe (looking back): “That’s strange. I felt like something was watching my back just now.”]

[Zhang Zi’an: “Something watching you? Maybe you’ve watched too many ghost movies and are imagining things.”]

[Bian Zhe: “That might be true. Let’s go.”]

[End of Act One]

Qian quickly finished reading the script and looked at Hawkeye.

As a newcomer, he naturally wanted to see how Hawkeye would act before deciding.

Hawkeye calmly said,

“Keep moving.”

“If you want to leave, you can choose to go back, but I don’t know where that leads or what will happen. I don’t recommend it.”

Qian shook his head.

“I’ll follow you.”

The two walked along the path in silence.

After about ten minutes, they turned a bend, and ahead lay a village nestled among green mountains.

This village was undoubtedly the destination of Bian Zhe and Zhang Zi’an—Yu Creek Village.