Chapter 2

After Xi Yu said that strange sentence, Luo Xi gave him an even more nuanced look.

The blood rain continued to pour, and the sound of water echoed all around in an unsettling way.

Xi Yu put his mask back on and looked away. “I don’t know what I’m saying either. I clearly don’t remember anything, but I just feel like I should already be dead.”

Luo Xi asked, “You don’t remember anything? Then how did you say earlier that you caught a cold?”

Xi Yu was caught off guard, seemingly unable to clearly answer that question—after all, he had cognitive awareness but no memories.

“In neurology, memory is already considered separate from cognition.” Luo Xi seemed to see right through his thoughts and shrugged casually. “I’d advise you not to dwell on that. What you should be worried about now is how to get out of here.”

That wasn’t untrue. Xi Yu watched him stride off to look for more painting fragments, took a deep breath, suppressed all the strange thoughts, and decided to focus on dealing with this damp escape room first.

Twelve people wasn’t too many, but it wasn’t too few either. After working together for a while, they managed to tidy up the dreary, gloomy hall.

All the collapsed and broken furniture was put back in place, the small items they could find were placed on the table, and most of the scattered xuan paper fragments had been collected.

The men began exchanging uncertain looks, while a few meticulous girls still stood carefully piecing the scroll together.

By the time the blood rain had pooled above their ankles, a nearly complete battlefield image had emerged.

Xi Yu joined the others as they gathered around and saw that the picture depicted two groups of samurai—one black, one white—fighting each other in a grand estate. The brushwork was fine and realistic, and the blood and carnage seemed to leap right off the scroll.

Mr. Fang Hao adjusted his glasses and examined it carefully, saying seriously, “Judging from the clothing and styling of the people in the painting, this should be set during the Edo period. But unfortunately, I’m not familiar with those few hundred years of history, so I don’t know what this scene is about. What do you all think?”

Xi Yu silently observed and noticed that the fallen black and white flags in the painting each bore animal totems. But the totems were too blurred to identify, so he said nothing.

At that moment, Tang Yanyan, the girl who had been crouching to assemble the puzzle, stood up in a rush and wiped the sweat from her doll-like face, shouting, “Two pieces are still missing—are there really no more fragments?”

The others exchanged glances and got up again to help search, but unfortunately, every inch of the hall had already been thoroughly searched. It was hard to find anything that had been overlooked.

The narrow sky outside had completely darkened, and the sound of the rain was cold enough to chill the bones. Inside the room, the dark red water kept rising.

Xi Yu personally checked inside all the cabinets and confirmed they had indeed been emptied out before he returned and said, “Aside from this painting, there isn’t even any extra paper, books, or writing tools in the room. If the missing pieces aren’t just hidden too well, then…”

Wu Zhi, holding a candle with a weak flame, grumbled, “Could someone have hidden the puzzle pieces?”

“What’s there to hide? Is someone actually hoping to stay in this haunted place?” the beauty Yao Chenna said impatiently, tugging on her boyfriend. “Huasheng, let’s not stick around with these idiots doing dumb stuff! This has to be some kind of prank! It’s already dark—who knows what might happen if we don’t leave now!”The handsome young man being shaken looked helpless. “If it weren’t for that snake, I’d definitely think it was just a prank too. But—”

“Did anyone actually get a good look at the snake? Maybe it was just some kind of hologram or something, taking advantage of our nerves so we didn’t dare look closely.” Yao Chenna picked up a broken chair leg and, without hesitation, waded through the water toward the main door.

Her boyfriend, Huasheng, quickly chased after her. “Nana, don’t be reckless!”

Yao Chenna furrowed her pretty brows. “I hate being messed with. I want to see for myself what kind of snake or whatever is out there!”

Huasheng seemed to be used to going along with his girlfriend’s decisions. Right now, besides looking helpless, all he could do was grab her arm and try to stop her.

The floodwater was rising faster and faster, and in just a short while it had already reached their knees.

Soaked and frustrated, Yao Chenna angrily shook off her boyfriend. “If you’re not helping, fine! Just don’t get in my way!”

With that, she struggled her way to the door and began pushing hard against the heavy wooden latch.

Huasheng sighed and in the end, could only join her in pushing it with all his strength.

Their reckless actions made the others even more uneasy, but Luo Xi just watched the whole thing like a show, squatting on the table with a mocking laugh.

Xi Yu met his sharp gaze for a moment, then turned to ask Tang Yanyan, “Where are the missing pieces?”

To protect the scroll from getting wet, Tang Yanyan was lifting it up with the help of two other girls and quickly answered, “Bottom right corner, gege, please go look again! If not, at least hold the painting for me!”

Xi Yu looked over. Judging by the other details of the painting, that area with the red pigment had been painted to resemble red flower petals—though from the context, it clearly represented a pool of blood.

In just that moment, Yao Chenna and Huasheng had already opened the wobbly wooden door. A rush of cold wind and bloody water surged in, and apart from the splashes caused by the heavy rain, unsettling ripples began spreading across the water.

The couple’s faces showed their anxiety—they clearly didn’t dare take another step forward.

“Damn it!” Wu Zhi shouted in a panic while backing away with the candlestick. “It’s a snake! A snake swam in! Close the door!”

Even as he yelled, he was so frightened that he slipped and fell, snuffing out another of the few remaining flames.

Sure enough, in the very next second, a huge snake head rose from the crimson water—so terrifying it made everyone’s blood run cold—and lunged straight toward the two by the door!

Yao Chenna screamed, dragging Huasheng in a frantic attempt to flee. The others were thrown into chaos and panic.

Luo Xi clicked his tongue, then rushed over in big strides to help shut the door.Huasheng snapped out of his fear, struggled free from his girlfriend’s arm, and tried to push the wooden door—just recently opened—back shut.

Unfortunately, the black snake was incredibly fast. Just as a crack was still left in the door, it burst right through the wood and forced its way in.

Screams erupted instantly, and the scene descended into chaos.

At that point, searching for the missing puzzle piece was out of the question. Xi Yu frowned. “Don’t be afraid. Hold it steady.”

With that, he bit his finger hard, then smeared the fresh blood directly onto the backing of the scroll.

Since most of the painting had already been assembled, filling in the red petals to match the rest of the scroll wasn’t too difficult—just not perfectly seamless.

Xi Yu didn’t know if this would actually work, but in that moment, what other choice was there?

While the giant snake was rampaging around the hall, he hurried to complete the scroll, then stood up, tense and on edge.

Tang Yanyan, Zhu Ge, and a plain-looking young girl were all holding up the scroll, trembling with fear.

To everyone’s surprise, the rain outside stopped in the blink of an eye.

As the rain ceased, the furious snake also calmed down. The blood-red floodwater stilled, and the creature silently left the collapsing old house.

From chaos to calm, from storm to starry skies—it all happened in a matter of seconds.

If not for the fact that everyone was still soaked and standing where they had been, it would have seemed like nothing had ever happened at all.

Tang Yanyan and Zhu Ge exchanged a glance, stammering, “This, this…”

There was no need to guess anymore—the current situation said it all. Xi Yu held onto their cold hands. “This isn’t the real world.”

Wu Zhi was on the verge of tears. “Then where is this? Are we in hell or something? Did I die?!”

Xi Yu stayed silent.

Fang Hao, who had been rolling on the ground trying to escape just moments ago, finally got up. Angrily, he ran over to Yao Chenna and shouted, “What the hell were you thinking?! You nearly got us all killed!”

Yao Chenna, still shaken and knowing she was in the wrong, grabbed onto Huasheng’s arm.

Two male students from the sports university, who had been helping the whole time, came over. The more muscular one said, “Whatever it was, the rain’s stopped, and the snake’s gone. We should probably go outside and see what’s really going on, right?”Everyone exchanged glances, clearly showing signs of agreement.

Unfortunately, fate didn’t give them a chance. Just as the boy who made the suggestion was about to take a step, a strong aroma of food suddenly wafted in from the doorway. In the blink of an eye, two groups of oddly dressed maids entered carrying lavish dishes. Odd because they looked exactly like Japanese Hinamatsuri dolls—pale white faces, pitch-black eyes, traditional princess hairstyles. Though they moved naturally, their skin had a plastic sheen, and their expressions were wooden and emotionless, giving off an eerie feeling.

Wu Zhi saw them placing food on the table and mustered the courage to rush over and question, “Hey! What is this place? Who are you? Why are you keeping us locked up here?!”

But these creepy doll-like figures ignored him, circled around to place the food on the table, bowed in unison, and then retreated neatly without a word.

At that moment, the door and windows were still open, but there was no sign of mist anymore, and the brief glimpse of stars and moonlight from earlier had vanished. Outside, there was only pitch-black darkness like thick ink—so dark that no one dared to chase after them for answers.

Fang Hao steadied himself and tried to speak in a calm voice: “Everyone, don’t panic. In any case, there must be a reason and a purpose behind all of this. Since we can’t figure it out now, we might as well rest and conserve our strength.”

“Conserve what strength?” Yao Chenna, who clearly disliked this teacher, snapped back. “You planning to sleep here? Or eat this sketchy food?”

“What else then? Better than your yelling, don’t you think?” Tang Yanyan couldn’t help chiming in, frustrated. “Sis, if you’re not happy, no one’s stopping you from going out and checking things. But judging from that snake—and the weather outside—it’s not something a projection could fake.”

With that, the little girl sat down, looking tired.

After the chaos, everyone’s energy was drained. Realizing it would be reckless to explore further, they quietly found places to rest in small groups.

Only the delicate, art-like food on the table remained untouched.

Yao Chenna stood there awkwardly, unsure whether to move forward or back. Her round eyes slowly turned red, looking deeply wronged.

Huasheng patted her back and tried to comfort her. “Nana, calm down, okay?”

“How am I not calm?” Yao Chenna flung his hand off, stepped down the platform, and sat sulking in the corner.

Huasheng gave everyone an apologetic smile, then followed her.

Just as he finally settled into his seat, the previously quiet room suddenly echoed with a shrill laugh: “You lost little scoundrels, don’t insult the lady’s hospitality. Fine wine and fine food—if you don’t eat now, there won’t be any left!”

“Who’s there?!” Wu Zhi jumped up nervously, darting glances left and right with his doll-like face.

At last, the thirteenth voice had appeared in the room. Naturally, everyone felt a mix of fear and curiosity—everyone except Luo Xi, who kept her eyes down and casually started eating and drinking like it didn’t concern her.

Xi Yu stole a glance and sniffed the wine cup in his hand, puzzled by the strange man’s calmness.

At that moment, the mysterious voice gathered again from the corners of the room: “Who I am doesn’t matter. What matters is—do you know who you are?”This question was utterly baffling.

Wu Zhi replied, “Of course I know!”

The shrill laughter rang out again, stabbing everyone’s eardrums.

Fang Hao called out loudly, “Who exactly are you? Since you're asking us like that, you must know the answer—would you mind telling us?”

“Hmph, at least one of you knows some manners.” The sharp voice swept across the ceiling beams and eerily chuckled, “This is the Qingming Hall of the General’s Manor. Since you’ve all forgotten everything, why not take a proper look at the battle painting you destroyed and then pieced back together?”

As the voice finished, the tattered battle diagram hanging behind the main platform began to emit a faint glow. The tiny figures on it began moving one by one, like an animated film.

Xi Yu widened his bright eyes and began to calmly observe.