Chapter 006: The Unknown Dark Shadow

Act Three

Late afternoon, nearly four o’clock, inside Yu Xi Village.

In front of Li Ling’s house, sunlight streams through the window and falls on the floor.

Bian Zhe and Zhang Zi’an are searching the rooms, each taking one as before.

In the left bedroom, Bian Zhe is rifling through the desk drawers.

Bian Zhe thought, “This must be Li Ling’s desk. His textbooks are here, but where could the diary be?”

The drawer on the right side of the desk slides open, revealing a black-covered notebook lying inside.

A faint smile crosses Bian Zhe’s face as he picks up the notebook and begins flipping through its pages.

The last entry is dated four days ago, the day before Li Ling stopped attending school.

The diary contains crucial clues, related to the mysterious disappearances of the villagers in Yu Xi.

Bian Zhe reads intently. The diary mentions only a few strange details about the village, so he finishes quickly.

Bian Zhe mutters, “Death ritual? What is a death ritual?”

Suddenly, a shadowy black figure begins to materialize on the bedroom wall, pressed flat against it. The shadow slowly slides downward, moving silently toward Bian Zhe.

When the shadow reaches his feet, Bian Zhe loosens his grip and leans on the desk, then glances back.

Bian Zhe asks, “What is that?”

Upon being noticed, the shadow swiftly retreats, sliding along the wall to the window and slipping out through the crack.

Bian Zhe calls out, “Zhang Zi’an, I found something!”

He dashes toward the living room but stumbles after only a couple of steps, his legs suddenly weak as if about to collapse.

Bian Zhe wonders aloud, “What’s happening? Why do I feel so powerless? Was that shadow attacking me?”

Zhang Zi’an asks, “What did you find?”

Bian Zhe replies, “Hurry outside! I just saw a black shadow clinging to the wall. It must be connected to the villagers’ disappearance.”

Zhang Zi’an quickly runs outdoors, scanning the area. Bian Zhe takes a deep breath, steadies himself, grips the doorframe with his right hand, and follows.

End of Act Three.

Qian Cang Yi pauses his actions.

This scene grabs his attention; compared to the previous two acts, it has clearly changed.

His character, Bian Zhe, is attacked by an unknown shadow. Although not life-threatening, it drains his strength.

This is concerning.

However, there is a gain as well: Li Ling’s diary records the villagers’ situation before their disappearance, though it lacks detailed description. Only by reading it can the specifics be known.

“Your script seems to include a different discovery. Tell me about it,” Eagle Eye suddenly speaks.

“Yes,” Qian Cang Yi nods, recounting the script’s content.

“Shadow?” Eagle Eye ponders.

“Yes. Should we continue searching separately?” Qian Cang Yi takes a deep breath and asks the question he’s been holding back.

“Since there’s a lead, no need to split up. Let’s directly check the room you searched,” Eagle Eye changes his prior decision.

Hearing this, Qian Cang Yi feels relieved.

He hasn’t forgotten the earlier “suggestion.”

If Eagle Eye were inflexible, he could be more dangerous than the threats within the movie world.

Given this, Qian Cang Yi decides to remain vigilant and, if necessary, act alone.

The two proceed to the left bedroom.

Upon entering, Qian Cang Yi quickly approaches the desk and pulls open the right drawer, retrieving Li Ling’s black diary.

The diary uses A5-sized paper, loosely bound, with faint yellowing.

More than half the diary is filled with daily notes, mostly trivial matters.

Qian Cang Yi flips to the last page, the day before Li Ling stopped attending school.

June 11, Tuesday.

“Today’s homework wasn’t hard; I finished quickly. The teacher will definitely praise me tomorrow!”

“Last night, I was very scared because I felt something watching me, but I couldn’t see it.”

“That thing seemed to be everywhere; even when I covered myself with the blanket, I could still feel it.”

“Today, I told my parents about it. Surprisingly, they feel the same.”

“They said it’s nothing and not to worry, but I can tell they’re scared too.”

“Just now, when I went to find them, I overheard them talking about something called a death ritual. I didn’t understand.”

“When I asked what a death ritual was, they said it was nothing and that the village chief was handling it, so it would be fine.”

“I hope the village chief can solve it. Those things are really frightening!”

“That’s all for today. Time to sleep.”

After some blank lines, more notes follow, but the handwriting is much messier, as if Li Ling was in a hurry.

“I woke up scared at night. Those things must be in the house, but I can’t see them. I’m very afraid.”

“I looked for my parents just now, but they weren’t home. They didn’t answer when I called. Could it be that those things have taken them...?”

“My parents mentioned the death ritual. I don’t know what it is, but whatever is watching me must be related.”

“I hope my parents are safe. I plan to go out and check. The village chief surely knows what happened.”

The notes end here.

The previous diary entries also hint at the villagers’ odd behavior before their disappearance, but nothing particularly noteworthy.

While Qian Cang Yi reads, Eagle Eye scans the surroundings—the prearranged safety protocol.

According to the script, Bian Zhe is attacked by the shadow while reading the diary. If warned in advance, they can avoid it.

“I’m done reading,” Qian Cang Yi whispers.

“No shadow appeared,” Eagle Eye says, eyes fixed on the diary.

Qian Cang Yi quickly understands and hands over the diary.

Eagle Eye reaches out to take it.

Suddenly, Qian Cang Yi notices a black shadow materializing on the wall behind Eagle Eye—the same shadow from the script.

It is a distorted humanoid shape, wavering with trembling edges.

The shadow slides down the wall, reaches the floor, and moves forward.

Qian Cang Yi’s eyes widen as he opens his mouth to warn Eagle Eye, but Eagle Eye bends his knees and leaps up.

What?

The shadow swiftly slides beneath Eagle Eye’s feet and charges at Qian Cang Yi.

Oh no!

Qian Cang Yi quickly lets go, leaning sideways against the desk, then tucks his legs tightly.

After passing over his feet, the shadow turns and slides toward the desktop.