Lu Yunfei and Li Yechen stood at the end of the forest path, staring at the suddenly appearing building before them.
It was a two-story ancient house with deep brown walls, weathered and worn, and a blood-red roof that stood out starkly against the dim sky. The stone steps in front of the door were scattered with a few dried leaves, and the iron door handle was covered in rust, yet it seemed to possess an eerie allure. The surrounding area was dense with forest, and the house seemed to have grown out of nowhere, with no signs of human activity.
"Logically, this should be the kind of place a lost hunter might seek refuge in. Maybe it's an ancient house left behind by some noble family," Lu Yunfei said, looking up with alertness in his voice.
"It's too clean, doesn't seem like no one lives here," Li Yechen looked around and pointed at the clean marks on the doorframe. "Look, there's not even a spider web."
Lu Yunfei nodded. He stepped forward and used his door card to gently tap the old house's door. The card slid silently through the air, as if it sensed something. "Should we go in?" he asked quietly, a hint of hesitation in his eyes.
"No other choice," Li Yechen tugged at his collar, clenched his fist, and stood to the side.
The door opened.
They stepped inside, and the warm air greeted them. The interior of the ancient house stood in stark contrast to its exterior.
A beautiful crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, illuminating the spacious hall. The floor was made of finely polished hardwood, creaking softly underfoot. Flames flickered in the fireplace, casting an orange glow across the room.
The walls were lined with oil paintings. The themes of the paintings varied, but each one carried a sense of oppression. One depicted a woman in a dark robe, her face adorned with a vague smile; another showed a group of people in old-fashioned formal attire sitting around a dinner table, their eyes fixed on something just outside the frame…
Li Yechen furrowed his brow. "This place… feels uncomfortable."
"It might have been empty for a while," Lu Yunfei added, walking up to one of the paintings and touching it. There was a thin layer of dust on the frame.
Lu Yunfei turned and glanced at the staircase, the redwood handrails curving in a smooth line toward the second floor. "Shall we go up and take a look?" he asked.
Li Yechen was still observing the furnishings in the hall but followed him upstairs.
The hallway on the second floor felt even more oppressive. The dim light couldn't reach the end, and several doors were tightly shut, each with intricate carvings on the frames. Lu Yunfei approached the nearest door and tried the handle.
The door opened, but it was empty inside.
"This room… has nothing?" Li Yechen stood behind him, his tone laced with confusion.
"No furniture, not even dust, like no one has ever stepped inside," Lu Yunfei glanced around, then stepped back and closed the door.
They continued down the hallway until they stopped in front of a red door at the end. A plaque on the door read "Cheng Haoran."
"Who is Cheng Haoran?" Lu Yunfei whispered, his eyes sharp with suspicion.
"I don't know. But since there's a name, it's probably the person who lives here," Li Yechen stared at the plaque, his brow furrowed. He reached out and knocked on the door, but there was no response.
Lu Yunfei took a deep breath and swiped his door card again. The door opened with a soft click, releasing a damp smell.
"This…" Both of them exchanged a look and entered the room.
The room was dimly lit, and the floor was scattered with broken glass bottles. A pungent odor filled the air. In the corner, a person was curled up, facing away from them, clutching something in his hands and mumbling quietly.
"Are you Cheng Haoran?" Lu Yunfei asked tentatively, his voice tinged with nervousness.
The person slowly turned his head, revealing a pale and twisted face. His eyes were vacant, and his lips trembled as he muttered, "You're all fake… you're all fake."
Li Yechen frowned and stepped forward. "Cheng Haoran? What's wrong with you?"
"Hahaha…" Cheng Haoran suddenly laughed, his voice uneven like a broken string. He abruptly stood up, pointing at the two of them and shouting, "You don't even exist! You don't exist!"
"What is this place?" Lu Yunfei stared at Cheng Haoran, who was huddled in the corner.
Cheng Haoran's shoulders twitched slightly, as if he had heard an extremely funny joke. He raised his head, a twisted smile spreading across his face, then suddenly burst into loud laughter.
"Hahahaha—What place?" His voice echoed through the room, the laughter growing sharp and piercing. "This is hell! This is an eternal prison you can never escape! This is the abyss! The place where even death can't release you!"
Lu Yunfei furrowed his brow, instinctively stepping back. His gaze shifted toward Li Yechen. Li Yechen's face had turned cold, his body tensing as if preparing for something unexpected.
Cheng Haoran's laughter abruptly stopped. He raised his hand and violently scratched at his face, his nails tearing through the skin, blood running down his cheek. He murmured in a low voice, "Can't escape… no one can escape…"
"Calm down!" Lu Yunfei couldn't help but speak up, trying to approach. "Don't hurt yourself, just tell us what's going on!"
Before he could finish, Cheng Haoran suddenly looked up, his eyes gleaming with a mad light. He charged at them with a speed that took them completely by surprise.
"Retreat!" Li Yechen grabbed Lu Yunfei's arm and yanked him out of the room.
Bang!
The moment the door slammed shut, Cheng Haoran threw himself at it, crashing against it with a loud thud. He screamed, pounding on the door with force, his voice mixed with screeches and curses, "You'll be just like me! Just like me!"
Lu Yunfei was pulled outside, gasping for air, his eyes still locked on the closed door. He turned to Li Yechen. "Are we just leaving him in there?"
"He's a madman," Li Yechen said quietly, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Letting him out will only bring us more trouble."
The banging on the door gradually softened, eventually fading into silence. The entire hallway returned to an eerie quiet.
Li Yechen's gaze remained warily fixed on the door, as if waiting to confirm that Cheng Haoran wouldn't burst out again. He spoke softly, "It seems like we won't find the answers we're looking for here."
Lu Yunfei didn't argue, his gaze heavy as he nodded. He subconsciously looked at the door card in his hand, his feelings growing more complex. "Then let's leave."
The two didn't linger any longer and continued down the hallway, the red-topped old house gradually disappearing into the darkness behind them.