11:00 a.m. We walked into the town, with roughly 31 hours left to clear the scenario. The city was just as jubilant as when we first entered it.
"Gege!" Lianhua said, tugging on my overcoat. I looked down at her.
"This angry gege said he wouldn't come with us. Why is he tagging along now?" she asked, her eyes shifting behind us, prompting me to glance back as well.
I looked at Yihong, but he just kept walking, his expression as unreadable as ever.
"Young man! Young man!" A voice called out, cutting through the lively bustle of the town. I looked around, trying to find the source of the call.
"Over here," the voice beckoned again, quieter but still distinct. My eyes finally settled on an old woman seated beneath a canopy of red silk.
She looked like a tarot reader. Her hair was a snowy white, coiled into a neat bun, with a few loose strands framing her weathered face. Despite her age, there was a sharpness in her eyes, a deep, knowing gaze that seemed to see right through me. She wore a long, flowing robe of deep violet, embroidered with patterns that shimmered in the light, with symbols of fortune and fate.
In front of her was a small, lacquered table cluttered with worn cards, ancient coins, and delicate jade trinkets. The faint scent of burning incense lingered in the air, soothing my mind with it's smell.
I gestured for Lianhua to take Mei Lin for a walk, noticing how the other survivors—participants in this cruel scenario—scattered, clearly uneasy under the weight of Han Yihong's intimidating gaze.
I turned to find Yihong leaning against a pole, arms crossed, his gaze fixed on me. I gestured for him to come over, and he approached silently, his expression inscrutable.
"Please, take a seat," the old woman said, her voice warm yet authoritative. We settled in front of her, the creaky wooden chairs seeming to groan under the due to our anticipation. She chuckled softly, "I noticed you two leaving the inn," she began, her eyes narrowing slightly as she looked at me. Her hands, lined with age, patted mine gently, her touch surprisingly firm.
"Tonight is the full moon," she said, her tone shifting to one of grave seriousness. "It's crucial you don't venture out alone, whether outside or even within the inn. Especially avoid the area near the locked room on the third floor. And make sure to extinguish all lights by 6:00 p.m. She will be on the rampage."
[ it's a warning! She is warning you and perhaps giving you a hint about what is going to happen next. Ask her who is this ' she']
"She? Who?" I asked on momo's request, trying to make sense of her cryptic warnings.
"She," the old woman said, trembling visibly. "Someone whose name we dare not speak. If you do, she will hunt us all."
Before I could ask more, she abruptly changed the topic. "Would you like a tarot reading?"
Yihong, his patience wearing thin, unsheathed his sword with a sharp, metallic ring. He pointed it directly at her neck, pressing the blade against her skin. "Spill it!" he demanded, his voice cold and authoritative.
"I don't know much!" the old woman stammered, her voice quivering with fear. "I was just told to warn you!"
"Who told you?" Yihong pressed, the edge of his sword drawing a thin line of blood from her neck.
The old woman remained silent, her eyes wide with terror. Yihong, growing increasingly impatient, pinched her skin with the sword, causing her to bleed more.
"Tell us!" Yihong's voice was harsh, the threat in his tone unmistakable.
The old woman's face was pale, her breaths coming in rapid, shallow gasps.
"Go easy! Go easy on her!" I shouted, grabbing Yihong's arm to pull the sword away. The old lady sighed in visible relief as the pressure eased.
"It was Shaman Mo Xiang," she finally managed to say, her voice barely more than a whisper.
[Brat, I forgot to mention—you're also allowed to use Discreet Insight on people inside the dungeon. This means you can gather information about Shaman Mo Xiang as well.]
I activated Discreet Insight, and the details came up:
Name: Mo Xiang
Occupation: Shaman
Mo Xiang is a dark and malevolent shaman with a sinister reputation. She is known for practicing dark rituals and committing terrible acts. One of her most infamous deeds occurred in the very inn we're in. During her younger sister's wedding, Mo Xiang performed a dreadful sorcery that led to a bloody massacre of many guests. The inn, once a place of joy, was transformed into a scene of horror.
Mo Xiang also sealed a door on the third floor, claiming that an ancient, vengeful spirit was locked behind it. She did this not just as a physical barrier but to ensure the spirit's wrath remained bound to the inn, tormenting anyone who dared to uncover the truth.
"Let's find this Shaman Mo Xiang," I said, adjusting my clothes.
"Not interested," Yihong replied, turning and walking away.
[Given his attitude, I suspect he'll seek out Shaman Mo Xiang on his own. He's still upset that you saved that little girl.]
" Whatever! I will go with him!"
---------
After nearly five hours of searching, we had no leads. Every inquiry about Mo Xiang was met with fear or outright hostility, and her whereabouts remained a mystery. Frustrated, we returned to the inn, only to find a new wave of chaos.
This time, a group of people was gathered around another room, their faces pale with horror. As we pushed through the crowd, the grisly scene unfolded before us: three more victims had been brutally killed, their bodies displayed in the same horrifying manner as the first.
Lianhua clung tightly to Mei Lin, her eyes wide with fear as they surveyed the scene. The once bustling inn had become a place of dread. Out of the original 30 participants, only 13 remained.
It was startling that, despite three people being killed, no one had heard a single sound—no cries for help or struggles. It was as if the murders had happened in complete silence. Even more alarming was the small bloodstain on Lianhua's sleeve, which had slipped past everyone's notice. Given how frightened she was and her reluctance to even approach the corpses, it was deeply unsettling. Why would there be blood on her? It raised uncomfortable questions about what might be going on and whether there was something sinister that everyone was missing.
I activated Discreet Insight, but it failed to work on Lianhua, leaving me puzzled. I pulled Yihong into a quiet corner, trying to keep my voice steady despite my frustration.
"Why did you suspect her earlier? You didn't provide a valid reason—just attacked her like a lunatic," I said, trying to keep my tone controlled.
Yihong's eyes were as cold as ever. "I saw her coming from the locked room at night. She might have been the one to open it. There's definitely something sinister about that place."
"Is that all?" I shot back. "You're just jumping to conclusions without proof"
Yihong's gaze remained "You're too quick to defend her. I don't need more reasons to doubt her; my instincts are enough."
I could see he was sulking, a rare sight for someone usually so cold.
Yihong's expression didn't soften. "In situations like this, suspicion is survival. If you want to protect everyone, including her, then prove she's innocent."
I struggled with my doubts about Lianhua. The idea of misjudging a child felt impossible, but the lack of information left me uneasy. Even though I found myself agreeing with Yihong's caution, I decided to keep a close, unobtrusive watch on her.
As dusk fell, a somber quiet enveloped the town. At precisely 6:00 p.m., all lights were extinguished, including the lamp in our room. Mei Lin and Xiao Lianhua took refuge in our room, settling quietly on the bed. Yihong and I took our places in the chairs beside each other, vigilant and watchful.
I found my exhaustion overwhelming. My eyes grew heavy, and my head slowly leaned against Yihong's shoulder. To my surprise, he didn't push me away. Instead, he simply muttered, "Fool," in a gruff tone.
The room was dim, the only light coming from the faint glow of the moon through the curtains.
The silence of the room was thick, only broken by the faint clacking of jewelry that seemed to echo from the walls. The sound grew louder, more insistent, as if it were crawling closer. A chill ran down my spine, and I forced my eyes open, my breath catching in my throat.
Xiao Lianhua stood by the bed, her tiny form bathed in darkness. Her eyes—once bright and innocent—were now bloodshot, glowing with an eerie crimson hue. She didn't blink, didn't move, just stared at me, her gaze piercing through the darkness.
"Yu gege," she whispered, her voice distorted, as though something far older and darker was speaking through her. "Can you help me? I can't take it any longer."
Her lips curled into a twisted grin, a laugh bubbling up from her throat that was anything but childlike. It was a sound that belonged to something ancient, something malevolent.
My heart raced as Lianhua's laughter twisted into a desperate cry for help. Her eyes, once wide and red, seemed to flicker back to their usual dark color. Her voice was no longer eerie; it was filled with genuine fear.
"Yu gege, please help me. I can't take it anymore," she pleaded, her voice trembling.
I nudged Han Yihong again, my panic rising as he remained unresponsive. "This fool! Why is he sleeping at such a moment?" I muttered, trying to keep my voice steady. My hands shook as I gripped his arm, hoping to wake him.
Lianhua's tiny hand reached out, grasping the edge of my overcoat. Her grip was weak, trembling. "It hurts," she whispered, tears welling up in her eyes.
Lianhua's expression twisted again, the innocent fear in her eyes vanishing as they turned an unnatural shade of red. Her voice dropped into a dark, mocking tone, sending chills down my spine.
"If you want to save her," she sneered, her voice laced with mallice, "come with me. Otherwise, these two girls will be the last sacrifice."
Before I could react, Mei Lin stood up as if in a trance. Her eyes were vacant, devoid of any life, and without a word, she began to walk toward the door. The sinister force that had taken hold of Lianhua had now spread to Mei Lin, pulling her outside into the darkness.
My breath caught in my throat. I knew that if I didn't act quickly, I might lose both of them. But the malevolent force controlling Lianhua and Mei Lin felt overwhelming, and I was alone to face it.
I glanced at Yihong, still slumped in his chair, unresponsive. Whatever spell had him in its grip kept him from waking, leaving me to face this nightmare on my own.
" Momo, what should I do?" I asked through mindlink.
Momo did not reply. A deep sense of unease settled in my chest. Was this entity truly powerful enough to influence someone as formidable as Han Yihong and also sever my connection with Momo? The thought was chilling.