Chapter 1: The Forbidden Zone
Jiang Shan opened the red-covered booklet in her hands. It was thin, only three or so pages. The receptionist had given her this booklet along with her room key when she checked in, but many people hadn't paid much attention, assuming it was just a travel brochure. Some had even tossed it straight into the trash.
Jiang Shan opened the first page, where the header boldly stated: Hotel Stay Instructions.
1. No going outside after 5 p.m. Guests are only allowed to move around within the hotel premises.
Instinctively, Jiang Shan glanced at the old-fashioned clock on the wall; it was just past five, now precisely 5:01 p.m.
Meanwhile, the tour guide was still enthusiastically explaining: "Everyone, look! The pits in the cave walls are naturally oxidized formations, dating back at least a thousand years… until last century, when a mysterious tycoon purchased the place and transformed it into a cave hotel."
For many people, it was their first time seeing a cave hotel, and they excitedly raised their cameras to capture it. As camera shutters clicked, someone reached out to touch the hollows in the wall and found that the surface inside was incredibly smooth, like polished pebbles.
People marveled, saying that if it took thousands of years for water to carve out stone, then this cave must indeed be ancient.
This was the last stop on their month-long adventure tour. They had driven through deserts, skydived from ten thousand meters, surfed the ocean, and bungee jumped off mountains. And now, this unique cave hotel seemed the perfect finale.
The tour guide, Xiao Chen, noticed everyone's eager expressions and, with a mischievous glint in his eye, said, "Did you all hear about what happened to the last tour group?"
Everyone turned to look at him, except for Jiang Shan, who was still reading the booklet.
"The last tour group?" someone asked.
Xiao Chen blinked slyly. "I heard this from the previous tour guide. Someone in their group secretly left at night and climbed the mountain behind the hotel. They only returned the next morning, right before the flight. The person looked completely out of it."
Someone glanced out the artificial windows cut into the cave and saw the rolling hills outside.
"Why? Is there a monster on the mountain?" someone joked.
Xiao Chen paused dramatically, building suspense. "Who knows? But not long after returning, that person came into a huge fortune."
Everyone's mouths dropped open.
Xiao Chen smirked. Ordinary ghost stories no longer attract people's interest; he needed a hook like this to reel them in.
"People guessed that he must have found some kind of valuable antique or treasure up there and sold it."
A few people sniffed in disbelief. "Seriously?"
Xiao Chen continued in a mysterious tone, "If you don't believe me, ask anyone from the last tour group. You'll find out if I'm telling the truth."
At this point, a hesitant voice spoke up: "Didn't the hotel staff mention earlier that the back mountain is off-limits?"
When they arrived, they had noticed the hotel was surrounded by a fence.
This remark sparked an amused reaction from the other travelers.
Xiao Chen chuckled. "I heard that the cave hotel was only half-completed when the wealthy buyer suddenly ordered a halt to construction and fenced off the mountain, prohibiting entry."
The story intrigued everyone even more. It's often the mysterious tales, rather than the scenery, that draw travelers in.
"Are you saying there's really something buried up there?" Gold? Antiques? Treasure?
Jiang Shan frowned as she reached the second rule in the booklet: The mountain behind the hotel is a forbidden zone; guests are not allowed to visit.
Yet, several people were already getting curious.
Xiao Chen continued, "Nobody knows for sure. After all, nobody's seen it with their own eyes."
Since this trip was designed for thrill-seekers, the itinerary was packed with exciting activities. A few people looked at Xiao Chen, nudging him, "Why don't we go check it out?"
Xiao Chen raised an eyebrow, feigning indifference.
"Yeah! Why don't we just take a look?" someone chimed in. "We're here to have fun, anyway. If there's something up there, great! And if not, no harm done."
Seeing that the bait had been taken, Xiao Chen dangled a final lure: "Are you sure you want to go? It's getting dark, and if there aren't enough people, we'll have to call it off…"
Someone immediately raised their hand, "I'm in!"
More voices followed, each one eager not to miss the chance.
Xiao Chen's eyes sparkled, though he coughed lightly, saying, "Those who want to go, come and sign up