Escape Filming Location - Chapter 10 - A New Target

[Li Chenxi insists he didn’t move the Death Ritual Stele!]

[Things are getting stranger. No matter how we question him, even after throwing his furniture outside, he still insists he didn’t bring the Death Ritual Stele back or hide it anywhere.]

[In the past, I would have believed him, but after our previous conversation, I have serious doubts. I think Li Chenxi might do anything for immortality, even lie to me.]

[I don’t know if Li Chenxi will achieve immortality after the Death Ritual, but I do know Yuxi Village will not find peace.]

[Even when we threatened him with force, Li Chenxi still claimed he hadn’t moved it, even swearing on it.]

[I suddenly had a feeling he might not be lying, so we asked him to take us to the clearing on the Back Mountain.]

[The result was the same. He pointed to the center of the clearing, saying the Death Ritual Stele was placed there by him.]

[Nothing! Everyone said they couldn’t see it!]

[We searched the clearing, dug holes, searched the village, but found nothing.]

[The Death Ritual Stele was nowhere to be found in Yuxi Village.]

[At night, the Dark Shadows appeared again. Some villagers tried to leave under the cover of darkness. Although the mountains are dangerous, at least there’s a chance to survive.]

[However, one villager returned, saying there was no way out.]

[The rest of the villagers didn’t believe it and headed to the village entrance. I didn’t stop them. After half an hour, they all returned to Yuxi Village.]

[We are trapped in Yuxi Village.]

[The Death Ritual is ongoing, and the Dark Shadows are everywhere.]

[I have never heard of the Death Ritual or the Death Ritual Stele. The only thing I can do is have the villagers hide indoors and hope to last until tomorrow.]

[Now, I write this diary in the hope it will help you.]

[Wei Guangyuan, written on the night of June 11.]

Qian Cang Yi took a deep breath after reading, closing the dark blue notebook.

The contents of the notebook replayed in his mind, and he filtered out the key points.

Li Chenxi, Death Ritual Stele, Death Ritual.

These four elements could be connected by a single line. Although the origin of the Death Ritual Stele is unknown, and why Li Chenxi knows how to perform the Death Ritual is unclear, the Death Ritual is undoubtedly linked to Li Chenxi.

Back Mountain, clearing, Death Ritual Stele.

These three elements are connected. From the notebook, it’s evident that the last known location of the Death Ritual Stele was the clearing on the Back Mountain of Yuxi Village.

Although Wei Guangyuan didn’t find the Death Ritual Stele on the Back Mountain, it doesn’t negate this as a crucial lead.

Death Ritual, immortality, Dark Shadows.

Qian Cang Yi was certain these were related, but the connection was not tight; there were missing links.

By connecting these lines, a new web was formed.

Though many things remained unclear, much more was known than at the start.

The only regret was that Wei Guangyuan’s diary indicated they couldn’t leave Yuxi Village. Similarly, Bian Zhe and Zhang Zian might also be unable to leave.

Qian Cang Yi exhaled, turning to look at Hawkeye, handing over the notebook.

“Tell me what we should do next,” Hawkeye said as he opened the notebook.

Qian Cang Yi mimicked Hawkeye, scanning the surroundings warily for any lurking Dark Shadows, while saying, “We go to the Back Mountain of Yuxi Village. Whether it’s the Death Ritual Stele or Li Chenxi’s home, they’re near the Back Mountain.”

“So, we must head to the Back Mountain.”

Hawkeye didn’t reply, engrossed in Wei Guangyuan’s notes.

Qian Cang Yi didn’t disturb him, waiting for Hawkeye to finish.

Soon, Hawkeye closed the dark blue notebook, returning it to Qian Cang Yi, saying, “Let’s hurry.”

With that, Hawkeye headed for the courtyard gate.

Qian Cang Yi nodded, following closely behind. Suddenly, a strong sensation of being watched crept up his spine.

Both turned simultaneously to look at the living room door.

On the mottled wall, Dark Shadows appeared, not just one, but five in total from left to right.

Compared to the previous Dark Shadows, these new ones were no longer distorted, almost identical to normal humans, with no jagged edges.

Qian Cang Yi swallowed hard, involuntarily stepping back. A chill ran through him, as if a venomous snake had him in its sights.

These Dark Shadows were more terrifying than any snake!

However, the Dark Shadows didn’t pursue them; instead, they smiled.

The lower half of their faces formed a crescent-like sinister grin, chilling the air around them.

Qian Cang Yi was terrified of the imminent attack from the Dark Shadows.

Five Dark Shadows-if they charged together, there would be no escape.

Neither the Dark Shadows nor Qian Cang Yi moved, as if locked in a standoff.

Suddenly, the clouds parted, revealing a sliver of sunlight that poured into the courtyard.

The Dark Shadows began to tremble slightly.

“I’ll count to two, get ready to run,” Hawkeye whispered.

“Okay.” Under the threat of the Dark Shadows, Qian Cang Yi didn’t dare to nod.

“One, two!” As soon as Hawkeye shouted, he sprinted off, heading deeper into Yuxi Village, towards the Back Mountain.

Qian Cang Yi also took off running, adrenaline surging, every cell in his body activated.

At this crucial moment, the script for the Fifth Act, the final act, appeared in his mind.

Why did the script come now?

Qian Cang Yi wanted to complain about Hell Movie’s timing, but the situation was too dire for complaints.

After running about 200 meters, Qian Cang Yi finally slowed down, glancing back.

The Dark Shadows weren’t following.

Qian Cang Yi gasped for air. Though he occasionally exercised, his fitness was only slightly better than a couch potato’s.

To conserve energy, he slowed his pace and began reviewing the Fifth Act script.

[Fifth Act]

[Close to 5 PM, on the path leading to the Back Mountain from Yuxi Village.]

[Bian Zhe stopped, looking up at the sun once again hidden behind clouds, feeling heavy-hearted.]

[Bian Zhe: Zhang Zian, should we leave Yuxi Village? If we stay, we might end up dead here.]

[Zhang Zian: Can we really leave now? Wei Guangyuan’s notebook made it clear.]

[Bian Zhe: We have to try. We’re not like the villagers; we only arrived today, and the sun hasn’t set yet.]

[Zhang Zian thought for a moment, then nodded.]

[The mystery of Yuxi Village remained unsolved, but with nightfall approaching, Bian Zhe and Zhang Zian decided not to linger and chose to leave.]

[The two ran towards the entrance of Yuxi Village.]

[The wooden sign at the village entrance stood as always, and they took a shortcut.]

[The way home seemed longer than usual, yet even after sunset, they were still wandering in the mountains.]