Escape Filming Location - Chapter 8 - Uncertain Path Ahead

Hawkeye’s words still echoed in his mind.

Qian Cang Yi took a deep breath, gradually accepting concepts he once found unbelievable.

Whether it was the blood-red writing on the whites of his eyes, the forced control over his body, or the pitch-black bus… all of it was undeniably real.

Given that these bizarre occurrences had already happened, accepting long-existing concepts like the intuition of danger and the soul became less challenging.

Qian Cang Yi was a materialist, albeit not a staunch one.

He always approached the unknown with caution, believing that scientific theories have their limitations.

Clearly, since the emergence of the Hell Movie, science could no longer rationally explain everything he encountered, unless one resorted to the all-encompassing illusion that left no room for doubt.

Was it all an illusion? Were Hawkeye and Yuxi Village mere fabrications?

Qian Cang Yi didn’t believe so. If it were all an illusion, he’d rather believe it was real, for everything he felt was intensely genuine.

Bit by bit, Qian Cang Yi was gradually adapting to his role as an actor in the Hell Movie.

“Since it’s the Village Head, would the house be better than the others?” Qian Cang Yi broke the silence.

“Not necessarily,” Hawkeye shook his head.

“True, but…” Qian Cang Yi’s eyes suddenly lit up as a house appeared around the corner, catching his attention.

The newly appeared house was larger than the previous ones, with more rooms and a fenced yard.

In every aspect, the house around the corner matched Qian Cang Yi’s perception of the Village Head’s residence.

“Looks like it’s just ahead,” Hawkeye started running.

Qian Cang Yi hurried to keep up, but the distance between them continued to widen.

So fast! How is he so fast?

Qian Cang Yi tried to keep pace with Hawkeye but found that even speeding up didn’t help. He decided to conserve energy and slowed down a bit.

The sun gradually descended, elongating their shadows.

A clean yard appeared ahead.

Hawkeye was already waiting at the yard’s entrance.

Qian Cang Yi reached Hawkeye, slightly out of breath, sweat covering his forehead.

Hawkeye turned to Qian Cang Yi, placing his right index finger to his lips, signaling silence.

Qian Cang Yi controlled his breathing, slowed his steps, and listened closely.

A faint sound emanated from the living room, not the chirping of insects or the calls of birds, but human voices, as if someone was chatting inside.

The only issue was that whether approaching or moving away, the sound remained very faint, requiring careful listening to discern.

Such a small sound made it impossible to understand the conversation.

When Qian Cang Yi reached Hawkeye’s side, Hawkeye turned to him, pointing his left index finger down to the ground, then gestured to himself and towards the living room door with his right index finger.

Qian Cang Yi nodded, understanding the gesture. Hawkeye wanted him to stay put while he checked the living room.

Then, Hawkeye crouched and moved towards the living room door, his steps light, barely making a sound.

He reached the eaves, pressed his back against the wall, and slowly moved to the living room door.

At this point, Hawkeye’s movements slowed even more. He placed his ear against the light gray wooden door, peering through the crack.

Qian Cang Yi held his breath, even slightly lowering his heart rate.

A few seconds later, Qian Cang Yi noticed something amiss-the sound had vanished.

Yet, Hawkeye standing outside the living room door showed no sign of it.

Hawkeye maintained his original posture.

About ten seconds later, Hawkeye straightened up, turned to Qian Cang Yi, his expression puzzled.

Qian Cang Yi spread his hands, showing the same expression.

What happened?

Qian Cang Yi couldn’t figure out what was going on.

Hawkeye approached, speaking softly:

“There’s no one in the living room, not a single person.”

Qian Cang Yi’s mouth slightly opened, blinking, he asked:

“No one?”

“No one,” Hawkeye confirmed.

Qian Cang Yi frowned. He had definitely heard the sound, and Hawkeye had too. It couldn’t be auditory hallucination.

“But-” Qian Cang Yi was still skeptical.

“-go see for yourself,” Hawkeye gestured with his right thumb behind him, no longer trying to convince.

Qian Cang Yi stopped talking, walked at a normal pace to the living room door.

The light gray door carried a sense of mystery, as if it concealed a monumental secret.

Above the door frame hung a Bagua¹ Mirror, slightly tilted, reflecting the entrance.

Qian Cang Yi placed his hands on the door, then leaned towards the crack, pressing his right eye against it.

The living room scene was clear, furniture arranged against the walls, very quiet.

As Hawkeye said, there was no one inside, nor were there any cats, dogs, or chickens.

Qian Cang Yi couldn’t believe it, his brows furrowed, still staring through the crack.

Seconds passed, and nothing changed.

Qian Cang Yi ran to the bedroom window, looked inside, and similarly found no sign of anyone.

“What’s going on? I definitely heard a sound.”

Qian Cang Yi looked down at the ground, unable to comprehend the situation.

“Let’s go in and check,” Hawkeye walked to the living room door, pushing it open with both hands.

Simultaneously, a new script appeared in Qian Cang Yi’s mind.

Qian Cang Yi quickly read it, eager to understand the reason.

[Act Four]

[Around four-thirty in the afternoon, at the Village Head’s house in Yuxi Village.]

[Zhang Zian stands at the door, Bian Zhe at the bedroom window, the two exchange glances.]

[Bian Zhe: Zhang Zian, what do you think is going on? I’m sure we didn’t both hear things.]

[Zhang Zian: The fact is, there’s no one inside. I’ve already checked, and you saw me approach the living room. Even if someone noticed me, they wouldn’t have had time to escape.]

[Bian Zhe: Do you think Yuxi Village is haunted? I can’t figure out what’s happening here, or what the Death Ritual is.]

[Zhang Zian: Bian Zhe, I think we should start considering our personal safety.]

[Zhang Zian: Whether it’s really haunted or something else, the villagers are missing now. Just the two of us, even if we find the truth, we probably can’t save them and might end up risking ourselves.]

[Bian Zhe: What do you think we should do?]

[Zhang Zian: Head back, report the situation, and bring others.]

[Bian Zhe: Yes, judging by the clouds, it’s likely to rain. We should return soon, but first, let’s investigate this house.]

[Zhang Zian: Then let’s hurry, still follow the previous plan, search separately.]

[Bian Zhe: Okay, call me if anything happens.]

[End of Act Four]

Qian Cang Yi quickly skimmed through.

Footnote:

1. Bagua(八卦):The Bagua consists of eight fundamental symbols in ancient Chinese philosophy and divination systems, with each symbol representing different natural phenomena or elements. The arrangement of the Bagua can form an octagonal pattern, symbolizing the interaction of natural forces.