Escape Filming Location - Chapter 4 - The Deserted Village

Above Yuxi Village, the clouds gradually gathered, darkening the sky and casting shadows over the village nestled between the mountains, adding to its mysterious aura.

Hawkeye slowed his pace and turned to Qian Cang Yi, saying:

“The script is just a reference because, typically, characters in the script tend to die. So, we don’t necessarily have to follow it exactly but rather adapt based on the actual situation.”

“Remember one thing: dying in the movie world means real death. There are no retakes in a Hell Movie; surviving is the only criterion.”

“Whether your acting is good or bad only affects the rewards you get. However, once you die in the movie world, that’s it. There’s nothing left.”

“Though we are actors, we are quite different from those in the real world; there’s no need to network since you won’t meet the director from the start to the end of the movie.”

“Instead, you should focus all your energy on one thing: surviving until the end of the movie. As long as you survive, all injuries will be healed, even if you’re left with just a head.”

Hawkeye spoke calmly, seemingly accustomed to such situations.

Qian Cang Yi swallowed hard and looked into Hawkeye’s eyes, finding the man before him increasingly enigmatic.

At that moment, Qian Cang Yi recalled his earlier speculations.

While considering who might be chosen for a Hell Movie, he had thought about their professions.

From every angle, Hawkeye’s real-world profession was extraordinary, though it was possible that this was only after entering the Hell Movie.

Both possibilities existed, but Qian Cang Yi was more inclined to believe the former; that Hawkeye’s profession was extraordinary from the start.

Hawkeye pointed towards Yuxi Village with his right index finger and continued:

“After we go there, acting according to the script might increase our character ratings.”

“Character ratings are important as they affect the rewards you receive after the movie ends, which can be beneficial for your next movie.”

“And remember…”

Hawkeye removed his sunglasses, his expression serious and his gaze as sharp as a knife:

“Keep your cautious attitude, and don’t mess things up, or I won’t hesitate to break your neck.”

“I’m not saying this to threaten you, but rather… to give you advice.”

Qian Cang Yi furrowed his brow and instinctively stepped back.

Although Hawkeye hadn’t grabbed him by the collar, Qian Cang Yi had no doubt about the truth in his words; this man could kill him in three seconds if necessary, perhaps even less.

“I understand what you mean, but… how do you define messing up? What counts as not messing up?” Qian Cang Yi asked bravely.

Hawkeye put his sunglasses back into his jacket pocket and answered:

“There’s no clear standard. You don’t need to think about finding logical loopholes. I’m not particularly interested in killing; just don’t deliberately oppose me when I give you a warning.”

Qian Cang Yi nodded and asked no further.

They continued towards the entrance of Yuxi Village.

A wooden sign reading “Yuxi Village” stood by the roadside.

Following their prior agreement, Qian Cang Yi recited Bian Zhe’s lines:

“Ahead is Yuxi Village. We’re almost there, but something feels off. It’s as if the village is empty. Though it’s small, there are old and young here. They couldn’t all have moved suddenly unless something unusual happened.”

Initially, he thought he would be nervous reciting his lines, but as he spoke, he realized his voice was steady.

It seemed he was gradually getting used to it.

“Zhang Zian: Indeed. Let’s go in and take a look, then decide based on what we find. It’s getting late; we should hurry.” Hawkeye surveyed the surroundings, looking for any unusual movements.

After exchanging a few more scripted lines, they entered Yuxi Village.

According to the script, their shadows should have trembled eerily behind them, and Bian Zhe, played by Qian Cang Yi, would have turned around.

However, Hawkeye ignored the script’s directions, continuously watching his own shadow.

Qian Cang Yi didn’t follow Hawkeye’s example but waited for the scripted sensation to occur.

When the houses of Yuxi Village came into view, a feeling of being watched crept up from behind.

Qian Cang Yi turned sharply; his shadow showed no change.

“There’s no change,” Hawkeye remarked.

No change? Could it be that Hawkeye hadn’t seen it? How was that possible?

Qian Cang Yi, skeptical, expressed his doubt.

“Indeed, there’s nothing. Let’s go,” Hawkeye offered no explanation.

Although there were a few more lines in the script, with Hawkeye not continuing, Qian Cang Yi couldn’t proceed alone and chose to follow Hawkeye’s lead.

Before moving on, he glanced back once more. Indeed, there was nothing unusual about his shadow, yet something felt amiss.

Qian Cang Yi watched as Hawkeye moved further away, no longer paying attention to what was behind him.

Under the sunlight, Qian Cang Yi’s shadow suddenly twitched eerily.

…

The houses in Yuxi Village were typical rural mud-brick homes.

The roofs, covered with black tiles, appeared slightly worn, and the yellowish-brown walls seemed ready to peel off at any moment, each detail narrating the age of the buildings.

The structure of the mud-brick homes was simple: a living room in the center with bedrooms on either side; the bedroom on the right led to the kitchen, which had another door for exit and entry.

The toilet was located to the left of the left bedroom, though it wasn’t connected to the bedroom; one had to go outside to access the toilet.

Qian Cang Yi and Hawkeye stood at the entrance to the living room, the door left ajar.

At that moment, the pages in Qian Cang Yi’s mind turned to the next act in the script.

[Act Two]

Shortly after three, at the entrance of a house in Yuxi Village.

An old house with an open door, the villagers missing.

Bian Zhe and Zhang Zian stand at the doorway, seeing no one around.

Bian Zhe: Hello! Is anyone there?

No one responds to Bian Zhe’s call from inside the house.

Zhang Zian: Looks like there’s no one here. Let’s just go in and look around since the door is open.

Bian Zhe: Yeah, but let’s still be careful.

They enter the house.

Inside the living room, a handcrafted chair is placed haphazardly, a tea cup beside it, only tea leaves remaining. A long table against the wall holds a fruit bowl and snack plates, piled with sunflower seed shells at the corner.

Bian Zhe: Anyone here? If so, make a sound.

Zhang Zian: Stop calling out. You search the left side, I’ll search the right. If something happens, shout.

Bian Zhe: Okay.

End of Act Two

The script’s description seemed odd, as if the villagers had just left.

Qian Cang Yi was surprised.

The problem was, as they had walked through the village entrance earlier, they had seen no signs of any villagers leaving.

Qian Cang Yi shivered, recalling a ghost story he had once read about the mysterious disappearance of the Eskimo people.

Another case of a baffling mass disappearance.