Escape Filming Location - Chapter 11 - Death Approaches

The mountain was eerily quiet, so much so that if you walked slowly, you could hear your own heartbeat. Anxious unease spread through the air.

Bian Zhe: What’s happening?

Zhang Zian: Are we really unable to get out?

Bian Zhe: How could this be…

Zhang Zian: There’s no other way. We have to return to Yuxi Village.

Bian Zhe: Alright.

The two turned and headed back towards Yuxi Village.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the entrance to Yuxi Village appeared before them for the third time.

Unlike the previous two times, this time, many villagers stood at the entrance, as if waiting for their return.

Bian Zhe, Zhang Zian, death.

End of Act Five.

The script ended.

Bian Zhe and Zhang Zian’s journey concluded with their deaths.

End? Just like that?

Qian Cangyi felt that the deaths of the two characters in the script were abrupt, even lacking any resistance.

From the perspective of a horror movie or story, their deaths seemed quite normal, yet it still left Qian Cangyi feeling uneasy.

Because he was currently playing the role of Bian Zhe, the death of Bian Zhe in the script might also signify his own end.

If he acted according to the script, he would surely die.

Fortunately, Hawkeye had given a heads-up, otherwise, the situation could have been disastrous.

Qian Cangyi quickened his pace.

Ahead, Hawkeye’s figure gradually came into view; he hadn’t run too far.

“Zhang Zian, let’s keep investigating!” Qian Cangyi shouted, clenching his right fist.

To hell with the script!

Qian Cangyi no longer cared about the Character Rating; surviving was more important than anything else.

Now he finally understood why Hawkeye didn’t take the script seriously.

A script where the character you play is destined to die is unsettling, even if you’re just playing a role.

Moreover, the deaths of Bian Zhe and Zhang Zian held no value; they were merely like human cameras, mere onlookers of the bizarre events in Yuxi Village.

Hawkeye turned his head, his gaze deep, then nodded slightly at Qian Cangyi before running off again.

Qian Cangyi took a deep breath and followed Hawkeye.

On the way, Qian Cangyi recalled the ending of the Fifth Act.

The villagers of Yuxi Village appeared at the entrance, seemingly waiting for the two.

However, from the previous investigations, the villagers of Yuxi Village were supposed to be missing, yet according to the script, they seemed to still be in the village.

Thinking of this, Qian Cangyi suddenly recalled the inexplicable events earlier.

Whether it was the moved teacup at Li Ling’s house or the strange noises at Wei Guangyuan’s house, there was a sense of presence.

Suddenly, a thought struck Qian Cangyi, and he shouted to Hawkeye:

“I think I know where the villagers of Yuxi Village went!”

Hawkeye, hearing this, slowed down and looked at Qian Cangyi with a puzzled expression.

Qian Cangyi, excited, continued:

“Do you remember what Wei Guangyuan’s diary said about Eternal Life? Li Chenxi held the Death Ritual to achieve it, and I think he succeeded.”

“Not just him, all the villagers of Yuxi Village live forever in a unique way within the village.”

“Though they ‘live,’ we can’t see them, can’t hear their voices clearly, let alone touch them.”

“That’s where the villagers went. They didn’t leave Yuxi Village; they were transformed by the Death Ritual into a unique state, possibly… souls? Anyway, like us, they still exist in Yuxi Village, living in a special way.”

The excitement of solving the mystery thrilled Qian Cangyi, but his theory was still just a theory, lacking sufficient evidence.

Moreover, even if the theory was correct, it didn’t solve their immediate predicament.

How could they survive?

That was the most crucial question.

Hawkeye’s face showed little reaction, as if Qian Cangyi’s discovery was of no consequence. He thought for a moment and asked:

“How do we communicate with the villagers of Yuxi Village? Write on the walls?”

“What is the Dark Shadow?”

The two questions felt like a bucket of cold water on Qian Cangyi.

“This… I don’t know yet.” Qian Cangyi scratched his neck with his right index finger, his voice much softer.

“Speed up, don’t waste time,” Hawkeye said no more.

Qian Cangyi sighed and followed Hawkeye.

Time ticked by, the light dimming. The sun hadn’t set yet, but time was running out for them.

During work, Qian Cangyi often wished the sun would set quickly, but now he hoped it would hang in the sky forever, a sun that never sets.

Soon, a strange house appeared ahead. Rather than the house being strange, it was the yard in front that was peculiar.

All sorts of furniture were thrown outside, scattered haphazardly, from tables and chairs to wardrobes, nothing was spared.

Qian Cangyi knew this wasn’t a move; the furniture was outside because this was Li Chenxi’s home.

Li Chenxi’s home was one of their destinations.

Hawkeye sped up, and Qian Cangyi followed suit.

They reached the entrance of the living room. Li Chenxi’s house wasn’t large, with only three rooms, not even needing to split up to search.

Qian Cangyi approached the door and gently pushed it open.

The living room was bare, as all the furniture had been tossed outside.

Qian Cangyi took a deep breath and stepped inside.

He circled the living room without finding anything, then moved to the bedroom on the right.

The bedroom had only a bed, saving them time on searching.

Surprisingly, even with just a bed, there was a clue.

A red-covered notebook by the pillow caught their attention.

Hawkeye walked over and picked up the notebook.

“Let’s look outside,” Hawkeye said, holding the red notebook as he headed out.

Their previous choice had saved their lives.

If they had stayed to read the notebook at Wei Guangyuan’s house, they might have been surrounded by the Dark Shadow by the time they finished.

They needed to avoid a repeat of that situation.

Qian Cangyi followed Hawkeye out, but before leaving, he glanced at the left room, saw it was a kitchen, and didn’t linger.

Considering the furniture at the door still blocked their view, the Dark Shadow could still approach stealthily through the furniture.

So they continued until they reached a more open area before opening the notebook.

“Keep watch,” Hawkeye instructed Qian Cangyi, his tone calm.

Qian Cangyi nodded, staying alert to their surroundings.

About a minute later, Hawkeye handed the notebook to Qian Cangyi, saying:

“It seems the Death Ritual Stele has truly disappeared.”

A rather ominous discovery, yet it seemed more normal.

Qian Cangyi didn’t say much, holding the notebook in his left hand, his right hand ready to open it. However, before he could act, before he could even read a word, Hawkeye grabbed his arm and started running.