Escape Filming Location - Chapter 15 - The Special Item

Impending death consumed Qian Cangyi’s thoughts, gradually pulling him away from his usual composure.

Everyone fears death, and he was no exception.

Hawkeye maintained his steady pace, rain dripping down his face, splitting at the bridge of his sharp nose before sliding to the corner of his mouth.

“Do we even have a choice?”

“You’re new to this, but when it comes to what’s happening in Yuxi Village, you and I know almost the same amount.”

“If you’ve got a better idea, spit it out.”

“Do you?”

As he spoke, Hawkeye glanced back-not at Qian Cangyi, but at the Dark Shadows trailing them.

The rain hadn’t slowed the Shadows down in the slightest. Instead, they spread out, slipping into the trees on either side of the path.

Qian Cangyi remained silent. Hawkeye was right.

At such a critical moment, raising questions wouldn’t help. What they needed now was a solution.

Even if they didn’t fully understand the mechanics behind it, solving the problem was the only way to survive.

The biggest difference between the world of movies and reality was the presence of a visible endpoint.

Rain pelted their shoulders, and the muddy path beneath their feet grew heavier with resistance. Fortunately, the Shadows didn’t close in further.

The two of them finally reached the shelter of Li Ling’s house, standing under the eaves as rainwater cascaded down like a curtain.

“Wait, the door…” Qian Cangyi suddenly recalled the scene when they had left earlier.

They’d been in such a rush that they hadn’t bothered to shut the door. But now, Li Ling’s door was firmly closed.

Hawkeye turned to look at Qian Cangyi, nodding slightly before pointing inside with his right index finger.

“Let’s go in together. Keep an eye out for anything unusual.”

His voice was low, but Qian Cangyi heard him clearly.

He nodded back, stepping up beside Hawkeye.

As soon as Hawkeye pushed the door open, they would rush in together, seizing this rare opportunity.

Hawkeye gripped the door with both hands and shoved it open with force, charging inside. Qian Cangyi followed closely behind.

The door slammed against the wall with a loud bang. Inside, the room was empty.

“What is this…”

Qian Cangyi’s gaze fell to the floor of the living room.

A pattern had formed on the ground, traced by rainwater dripping from the leaky roof.

The design was a circle.

At its center was a wet spot, with two lines extending outward-one from the top and one from the bottom. The rest of the floor was dotted with scattered droplets.

“The clearing-it’s the shape of the clearing!”

Qian Cangyi instinctively connected the pattern to the clearing in the Back Mountain.

He couldn’t fathom how the villagers of Yuxi Village had managed this, but one thing was certain: without external intervention, this pattern couldn’t exist.

The rainwater from the roof had already soaked the entire floor. The pattern could only last for two seconds before disappearing.

The design on the living room floor was undoubtedly a crucial clue!

“The Death Ritual Stele must be at the clearing!”

Qian Cangyi couldn’t contain his excitement. A grin spread across his face.

Suddenly, a strange feeling washed over him-his breathing quickened, his heart raced, and adrenaline surged through his veins. It was the unmistakable sensation of danger.

As he turned, Hawkeye had already spun around, staring at something behind him.

Outside Li Chenxi’s house, countless Dark Shadows were gathering, inching closer.

The Shadows had blocked every possible escape route.

Qian Cangyi took a step back, his mind blank with panic.

Hawkeye grabbed his arm with his left hand and said, “This is our last chance. We have to find the Death Ritual Stele, or we’re done for.”

“Get ready. Run.”

Qian Cangyi hesitated for a moment before asking, “How are we supposed to run out of here?”

He glanced outside, his eyes filled with terror.

The horrifying Shadows were tightening their circle, their crescent-shaped smiles like grim reapers’ seals.

Suddenly, Qian Cangyi remembered something Hawkeye had mentioned before-the rewards for surviving the movie: Special Items.

Hawkeye was about to speak when Qian Cangyi interrupted him.

“Special Item?” Qian Cangyi turned to Hawkeye, his eyes wide with hope. At this point, relying solely on their own strength seemed impossible.

Hawkeye nodded solemnly and explained, “This Special Item is called Rolling Grass Sand. It reduces our presence.”

“The enemy will mistake us for rolling grass. It’s effective against foes that rely on perception but not so much against those with high intelligence.”

As he spoke, Hawkeye reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of golden sand. Without hesitation, he tossed it into the air.

The golden grains floated down, covering them both. The sand that landed on the ground vanished entirely, as if it had never existed.

“Move carefully. If we’re too fast, we’ll expose ourselves,” Hawkeye warned before stepping toward the door.

Qian Cangyi glanced at his hand. The golden grains were sparsely scattered across his arm, leaving him doubtful about their effectiveness.

Then he looked outside. For some reason, the advancing Shadows had stopped, seemingly unable to detect their presence.

Hawkeye released his grip on Qian Cangyi’s arm, raising his hand and bending his wrist to point outside with his index finger.

Leading the way, he stepped out lightly, pausing after each step.

The Shadows surrounding the house began to disperse, wandering aimlessly through Yuxi Village.

Qian Cangyi mimicked Hawkeye’s movements, following two meters behind him.

Slowly, they made their way toward the clearing in the Back Mountain.

Though the exact location of the Death Ritual Stele remained uncertain, all clues pointed to the clearing as the most likely spot.

Even if they wanted to search elsewhere, there was no chance.

Their only shot at survival was to find the Death Ritual Stele in the clearing and destroy it.

Qian Cangyi glanced at the horizon, where only a faint sliver of light remained. His eyes were filled with worry.

The rain had darkened the sky further, but the sun had yet to set completely.

The warmth of daylight was reduced to its final rays.

The two of them pressed on, walking briskly until they reached the clearing again.

Qian Cangyi scanned the area, his eyes darting around. Suddenly, a figure flashed in the distance.

Rain dripped through the figure’s dark gray coat, falling to the ground.

Qian Cangyi blinked, and the figure was gone.

“Did you see that? There was someone in the clearing just now,” Qian Cangyi asked Hawkeye.

“I saw it. But that’s not a good sign. It might mean we’ve already been transformed by the Death Ritual,” Hawkeye replied grimly.

They stopped in their tracks, letting the rain soak them.

The circular clearing was empty except for candles, burnt paper money, an iron shovel, a hammer, and a dug-out pit.

There was no sign of the Death Ritual Stele anywhere.