Chapter 39

The disappearance of Lu Jiangfei, Yuan Lu, Song Wei, and the other six streamers on Wawa Island had caused quite a stir, with the island’s legends being mentioned countless times. Those who watched the live stream back then still shuddered at the thought.

The police had formed a special task force, and the Special Unit had even sent people to investigate. A few Taoists had also gone to the island, but there had been no news. Most people speculated that Lu Jiangfei, Yuan Lu, and the others were likely doomed. The 72-hour golden rescue window had passed, and the chances of survival were slim.

Moreover, ten days had already gone by, and even the Search and Rescue Team was about to give up. If it weren’t for the ongoing public attention, the police might have already abandoned the search, as hope was dwindling.

Now, netizens were discussing what might have happened to Lu Jiangfei and the others, with all sorts of theories emerging. Some brave souls had watched the footage of their disappearance multiple times, while the more timid ones were too scared to sleep at night.

“Sigh, if I had known this would happen, I wouldn’t have encouraged the streamers to go to Wawa Island. I hope they’re all okay, or else… I’ll never watch horror live streams again.”

“No one wanted this to happen. The most important thing now is to find them. Honestly, I suspect there are many things in this world we don’t know about. My friend lives in City B, near the port. They said that when the police went there the next morning, they saw a few Taoists with them. You think the police are there to find people, but what are the Taoists there for?”

“Taoists? No way! Does that mean there really are supernatural events on Wawa Island, and the streamers encountered ghosts…?”

“Ghosts? There’s no such thing as ghosts! I went to Wawa Island a few months ago. There are just a lot of Dolls hanging around, which look a bit creepy, but there’s nothing supernatural. I suspect the streamers ran into some criminal gang and got kidnapped.”

“Whoa! On my hundredth viewing of the incident video, I finally noticed something off. Look at when the streamers are resting, doesn’t it seem like there’s someone sitting on Lu Jiangfei’s lap? It looks like a Doll’s shadow??? I’m freaked out!”

“…Really? Let me check. Damn, there really is something!”

The incident happened at night, but during the day, the streamers were still broadcasting normally. Initially, all six were together, but after discovering that Wawa Island was just filled with Dolls, some missing limbs due to the weather, they split into pairs. The group consisted of four men and two women: Lu Jiangfei, Yuan Lu, Song Wei, Tian Lang, Ke Minmin, and Yu Yandan. Lu Jiangfei and Yuan Lu paired up, Song Wei was with Ke Minmin, and Tian Lang teamed with Yu Yandan. They planned to return to the guesthouse before sunset after their individual broadcasts, have dinner, and then go out again at night for more streaming.

The night promised a more intense and thrilling atmosphere, perfect for attracting viewers and creating buzz.

Lu Jiangfei and Yuan Lu walked along a mountain path, surrounded by tall, dense trees with Dolls hanging from the branches. Some Dolls were even painted with red paint for a scarier effect, covered in dust, looking old yet with lively eyes, hanging there as if watching them.

Yuan Lu asked, “Did the villagers hang these Dolls?”

Lu Jiangfei replied, “According to the legend, most of them are. A few might have been hung by that legendary sister.”

“Which ones?”

“How would I know? Maybe it’s all made up to attract adventurers. It’s a good source of income for the island’s residents.”

“Ugh, I’m tired. Let’s rest on this rock.”

Yuan Lu plopped down on a large rock, surrounded by moss but clean on top, suggesting many adventurers had rested there before. Lu Jiangfei sat beside him, holding his phone to interact with viewers, announcing they’d stop streaming for now and resume at eight in the evening.

This seemingly insignificant scene was now being scrutinized, with claims that a small Doll was sitting on Lu Jiangfei’s lap!

The news spread, and with screenshots for comparison, the internet was in an uproar.

“Whoa, there really is something! No, I must be seeing things!”

“It could be a trick of the light. Don’t be fooled. How could there be ghosts? If there are ghosts, does that mean there are gods too?”

“But I really saw it! There was a Doll on Lu Jiangfei’s lap, and it seemed to know we were watching, smiling at the screen. I heard Taoists went to the island too. It’s terrifying… I’m so scared!”

“Right, remember? I think Ke Minmin mentioned seeing someone, but when she called out, no one answered. Song Wei said she was mistaken. Do you think Ke Minmin really saw someone?”

This suggestion sent chills down everyone’s spine.

If Ke Minmin wasn’t mistaken, had they been watched from the start?

“It’s been ten days. I fear the worst for Lu Jiangfei and the others.”

“Praying for the streamers’ safety. It’s too scary. I was planning to explore a sealed village, but now I’m too scared…”

“Me too, I don’t even dare to go to haunted houses!”

“The haunted house at the Amusement Park in City A is scarier. I went half a month ago, and I’m still having nightmares!”

…

Ma Ao, who had been closely monitoring online information about Lu Jiangfei, was shocked when he saw the viral photo. He immediately showed it to Master Gu: “Master Gu, look at this photo. It’s a screenshot from netizens. They say there’s a blurry figure, like a Doll… Do you see it?”

Gu Feiyin looked at the photo for a long time, expressionless. Ma Ao couldn’t tell what her expression meant, only that she seemed a bit eerie. He said, “Could it be a mistake by the netizens? I looked closely and didn’t see any figure. It might be an angle issue.”

Gu Feiyin glanced at him, pointed at the photo, and said, “There are clearly six little ones here. How can you say there’s only one?”

Ma Ao initially thought the photo was just a joke by some netizens. He had looked at it for a long time, only seeing a vague outline thanks to the red lines drawn by netizens. He thought Master Gu hesitated because she couldn’t see anything, but it turned out she saw more than one!

He felt a chill down his spine, utterly creeped out. “There are six little ones?”

She nodded, pointing at the figures in the photo one by one: “One, two, three, four, five, six. There are six.” These four little ones surrounded Lu Jiangfei, staring wide-eyed at the camera, their eyes dark and unblinking, their faces pale as if soaked in water for too long.

Ma Ao saw her finger point around Lu Jiangfei, but it seemed she included Lu Jiangfei and Yuan Lu, meaning besides them, there were four more ghosts in the photo!

Ma Ao’s mouth went dry, and he swallowed hard. He almost slapped himself for forgetting to show the video to Master Gu! The sudden departure left no time to watch it on the way, and he planned to review it on the plane with Master Gu. Who knew they’d encounter the Face Ghost hijacking incident, causing a night of chaos and near-death, making him forget until now.

But he had watched the video several times. After arriving on the island, Lu Jiangfei and the others settled in a guesthouse, streaming around the area. Everything seemed normal, with no suspicious events. It was said they returned to the guesthouse before dark, had dinner, rested, and then went out.

They left just after eight, with no streetlights in the mountains, only darkness. Each carried a flashlight as they set off. Lu Jiangfei was still with Yuan Lu, heading north, streaming as they walked. Everything was fine until about an hour later when Yuan Lu said he needed to relieve himself and asked Lu Jiangfei to hold his phone. But in the blink of an eye, Yuan Lu vanished.

Lu Jiangfei initially thought Yuan Lu was playing a prank for the stream. But after searching for about ten minutes with no sign, even the viewers sensed something was wrong. Lu Jiangfei realized it too, calling out as he headed down the mountain. The viewers were on edge, and then, out of nowhere, Lu Jiangfei let out a scream and started running frantically. He tripped in his haste, dropping his phone. The stream only captured his cries for help and the flashlight beam growing distant until it went dark, losing signal, and the stream ended.

The viewers were in a frenzy. Yuan Lu’s audience flooded Lu Jiangfei’s stream for updates, only to find him missing too. They then checked Song Wei, Ke Minmin, Tian Lang, and Yu Yandan…

They were horrified to discover the streamers seemed to have genuinely disappeared, prompting an immediate police report.

The incident caused a massive uproar, and even now, viewers demanded an official explanation. With the new photo surfacing, panic spread even further.

Ma Ao asked nervously, “So many, Master, can you handle it?”

Gu Feiyin replied, “I don’t know. I can’t gauge their power from a photo. We’ll only know once we’re there.”

Ma Ao felt even more uneasy. He should have brought more ghost-hunting Taoists. There’s strength in numbers!

And if there really were ghosts on the island, what hope was there for Lu Jiangfei and the others?

…

Gu Feiyin and Ma Ao settled in a guesthouse, reportedly the same one Lu Jiangfei and the others stayed at. Ma Ao went out to gather information, learning that the Search and Rescue Team hadn’t given up. Several Taoists were frequently seen in the mountains, but there was still no news of Lu Jiangfei and the others, though their phones and backpacks were found.

“Sigh, I told them it was dangerous to go out at night, but they didn’t listen. Now look what happened!” the owner said. “Because of this, we haven’t had a single tourist in days, and the rooms are empty.”

Ma Ao asked, “Have there been many strange occurrences on this island?”

“There have been, but it’s usually those adventurers who don’t listen and go out at night that get into trouble. If there really were ghosts, would we residents still be here? And those Taoists have been here for days without catching any ghosts. It’s probably just paranoia.”

If it weren’t for Master Gu claiming to see ghosts in the photo, Ma Ao might have believed the innkeeper’s words. But now, he didn’t trust a single thing. He knew the locals were wary of outsiders, so he doubted he’d get any useful information from them. He decided not to press further and returned to find Master Gu.

He wanted to know how they planned to find Lu Jiangfei and the others.

How to find them? “Of course, we have to search the mountains,” she replied. If the ghosts wouldn’t come to her, she’d have to go to them. After all, she didn’t have a dog’s nose to sniff them out from afar.

Ma Ao felt a bit scared but nodded. “Alright, I’ll go prepare.”

He had actually ordered a batch of peachwood swords and talismans for protection and peace online. Today, he planned to wear them all. He even considered sticking amulets for peace on the soles of his feet. While waiting for the ferry at noon, he bought a rooster and collected its blood in a small bottle, leaving the meat behind. He also grabbed a handful of rice, distributing it among his bags. If he could, he’d even carry the Three Pure Ones and the Buddha on his back…

Gu Feiyin nodded. “Go ahead, I need to prepare too.”

Ma Ao said seriously, “Then let’s head out soon!”

Gu Feiyin went to prepare. She borrowed a needle and thread from the innkeeper and carefully sewed her bank card, with two million on it, into the inner pocket of her coat. She had been uneasy the whole journey, fearing it might get lost. Such a small thing could easily be taken by a pickpocket, and with her luck, she’d have no one to cry to if it disappeared.

Sewing it securely meant it wouldn’t fall out even if she walked on her head or rolled around. Unless someone stole her coat, it was safe. This gave her much peace of mind.

When Ma Ao was ready and came over, he was momentarily stunned to see Master Gu looking so relaxed and empty-handed. “Are you all set?”

She glanced at the peachwood sword in his hand and subtly distanced herself. “Ready, let’s go.”

Ma Ao: “…Oh.”

…

Ma Ao hired a local to lead them to the spot where Lu Jiangfei and the others disappeared. As the initial scene of the incident, it should hold the most clues.

Their guide was a lean man in his fifties, not very talkative, answering only when asked and not providing much useful information. At least, Ma Ao didn’t glean anything significant from him.

Wawa Island lived up to its name. Along the way, they saw dolls hanging from the trees, some even missing heads, swaying eerily and unsettlingly. Knowing there were actual doll ghosts on the island made Ma Ao even more anxious.

Sometimes, as he walked, he’d step on something in the grass and find it was a doll’s severed limb, making him jump three feet high in fright.

He stuck close behind Master Gu, not daring to fall behind. “Master, did you see anything?”

Gu Feiyin shook her head.

After about twenty minutes, they could no longer see the village at the foot of the mountain. The lean man pointed to a tree with a “Do Not Approach” tape around it. “I heard the police found a phone under that tree, but no sign of anyone.”

The tree wasn’t large, but its branches were lush, with several dolls hanging from them, covered in dust and with tattered clothes. Ma Ao moved closer to inspect the ground but couldn’t help glancing at the dolls. For some reason, he felt one of the doll’s eyes moved, as if watching him…?

Ma Ao stepped back in shock. “That doll is looking at me!”

The lean man chuckled. “Don’t joke around. These dolls are fake; how could they look at you? You’re just seeing things because you’re nervous.”

Ma Ao hesitated. “…I don’t know, I just feel really uncomfortable.”

Gu Feiyin wanted to take a closer look. As she walked a few steps, she stepped on something. Looking down, she saw it was a broken arm, tattered and missing its clothes. She picked it up and walked over to Ma Ao. “Which one?”

Ma Ao pointed to the one with a lot of red paint on its face.

She nodded, stared at it for a moment, and poked it with the severed arm. No reaction.

Ma Ao saw the severed arm in Master Gu’s hand: “?!”

The lean man was also startled. Though he claimed there were no ghosts, that was what the village chief instructed them to say. They had to, because if word got out that ten people disappeared on Wawa Island, no tourists would come for a while, and they’d lose their income.

Since the incident, the island’s residents were wary of going up the mountain during the day, especially fearing the dolls. Seeing this long-haired woman casually holding the arm, cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

Gu Feiyin poked around for a bit, then said regretfully, “Nothing here.”

Ma Ao: “…”

The lean man: “…”

…

They circled the mountain but found no useful clues. Gu Feiyin didn’t smell anything appetizing either. Her nose wasn’t always that sharp; like the ghost hiding in Tao Lizhi’s jade, she hadn’t noticed it initially. It was only when the ghost couldn’t resist and emerged that she caught it.

As dusk approached, the lean man said, “We have to head back. The police said no one should be on the mountain at night. We can’t go any further.”

With no choice, they had to return. Searching blindly like this was like finding a needle in a haystack. Without clues, it was hard to find anything.

Ma Ao sighed, hanging his head. He wondered if Lu Jiangfei and the others were still alive. They had to hold on…

He looked at the dolls hanging by the road. “Have you ever thought about taking these dolls down and getting rid of them?”

The lean man stared at Ma Ao. “Why would we do that?”

“Don’t you think they’re too eerie? With so many incidents, they shouldn’t even be here.”

“Even if something happened, what does it have to do with our dolls? It’s you thrill-seekers who don’t listen and climb the mountain in the dead of night. If something happens, you only have yourselves to blame!”

Ma Ao was momentarily speechless. “We do bear some responsibility, but this island is too strange. Aren’t you afraid of raising something that might turn on you?”

The lean man was furious, glaring at Ma Ao. “Pay up! Follow this path down to the village. You can find your way back.”

Ma Ao had no choice but to hand over a hundred yuan, which the lean man snatched before quickly leaving.

Gu Feiyin was a bit envious. She hadn’t expected that just leading the way could earn a hundred yuan. She almost wanted to offer her services.

Ma Ao said, “Did I say something wrong? Master, this island is so strange. Aren’t the villagers afraid?”

Just as he finished speaking, Miss Long Hair’s voice turned cold. “I don’t know if they’re afraid, but your words might have been overheard. You should be careful.”

…What?! Ma Ao broke out in goosebumps, his legs almost giving way as he stumbled. No, he didn’t trip because he was scared; he stepped on something.

Looking back, he saw a dirty doll lying on the ground, its round eyes staring at him, with red liquid like blood flowing from its eye sockets, as if it were fearful and resentful of his words!

Ma Ao felt his hair stand on end, gripping his peachwood sword tightly. What should he do?

As he panicked, the doll was picked up by a hand. Following the doll’s movement, he looked up to see Miss Long Hair, Master Gu, holding the dirty doll in one hand and staring at him with eyes darker than the doll’s. “Watch your step. Let’s head back.”

Ma Ao: “…”

She added, “I’m hungry. Let’s eat first.”

Ma Ao: “…………”

He followed Master Gu with shaky legs, finally understanding why the doll seemed to be crying blood. Someone had painted red on its face, making it look like it was weeping.

“Master, are we taking this thing back?”

“Since I’ve picked it up, let’s bring it along.”

“…” Isn’t that bad???

…

News of a long-haired woman carrying a dirty doll into the village spread quickly. Even the Daoists resting nearby came to take a look. Especially when they saw her holding a doll in one hand and a severed arm in the other, their expressions were hard to describe, clearly disapproving.

“Miss, this doll is very eerie. I advise you to leave it outside. Bringing it home might invite unclean things.”

“Yes, for your safety, it’s best not to touch these things.”

“There are still many mysteries on the island. Bringing such things back hastily could lead to trouble.”

Even the innkeeper looked constipated, insisting the doll couldn’t be brought inside. Gu Feiyin glanced at the yellow-robed Daoists. They were even less capable than Zhang Daoist, though their Thunder Strike Wood was intimidating. She then looked at the innkeeper, casually tossing the doll at the entrance. The doll landed face down awkwardly. “I won’t bring it in. Is it okay to leave it here?”

Everyone: “…”

Ma Ao: “…”

Dinner was at the inn. They ordered braised pork ribs with potatoes, spicy eggplant, twice-cooked pork, stir-fried cabbage, and a seaweed egg soup.

Gu Feiyin had never tried braised pork ribs with potatoes before. The potatoes and ribs had been stewed for over an hour, making the ribs tender and melt-in-your-mouth, with the spices fully absorbed. The ribs still had cartilage, which crunched delightfully when bitten, incredibly tasty!

Ma Ao, exhausted from the day, devoured two bowls of rice with the rib sauce.

Gu Feiyin tasted the twice-cooked pork. The meat was crispy and thinly sliced, with plenty of seasoning, bright red in color, rich but not greasy. Combined with white rice, she could eat three big bowls.

Ma Ao asked, “Do you think touching the doll might attract those things?”

Gu Feiyin nodded. Probably.

Ma Ao said fearfully, “…So, will they really come looking because of the doll?”

Gu Feiyin was puzzled. “Isn’t that good? Then you can ask them where your friends are.”

…But seeking out ghosts and being sought by ghosts are two different things. How is that good?

…

Lu Jiangfei deeply regretted his decision. If he had known things would turn out like this, he would never have set foot on Wawa Island.

The stories about Wawa Island had been circulating since his college days. He remembered hearing about a senior from his department who had gone to explore the island during summer break. The senior had left early one morning, and when the Boss Lady of the local farmhouse asked where he was headed, he said he was going to watch the sunrise. That was the last anyone saw of him. Ten days later, his body was discovered in a ravine.

Back then, Wawa Island had already gained a reputation as a mysterious and terrifying place among the students. Lu Jiangfei, always one for adventure, had wanted to visit, but as a broke student, he couldn’t afford it. After graduating, he became a host for a Horror Live Stream channel and still dreamed of going to Wawa Island, though the opportunity never arose.

One day, while chatting with a few fellow streamers in a group chat, someone brought up Wawa Island. Everyone expressed interest in going, and before long, they had set a date for the trip.

Wawa Island, with its eerie allure, was the perfect setting for a Horror Live Stream. The platform was so excited about their plans that it even ran two promotional campaigns for the event. The audience was equally thrilled, eagerly anticipating the adventure. Joining them were two rookie streamers, who gained a surge in popularity just from being part of the buzz.

Lu Jiangfei had invited Ma Ao to join them, but Ma Ao, still traumatized from a haunted house experience, refused outright. Not only did he decline, but he also tried to dissuade Lu Jiangfei, warning him that places as ominous as Wawa Island might actually harbor something unclean. “If you run into something like that,” Ma Ao had said, “it won’t end well.”

Lu Jiangfei had laughed at him. “When did you become so superstitious, Ma Ao? Scared of ghosts now? Come on, there’s no such thing as ghosts.”

As someone who made a living off Horror Live Streams, Lu Jiangfei had visited countless haunted houses, remote villages, and even camped in dense forests. He’d ventured out into the woods at night for the sake of his streams. Every time, he’d come out unscathed. “There are no ghosts,” he’d said confidently. “What’s scary is the human mind.”

Unable to convince him otherwise, Ma Ao had stuffed five, six-no, seven or eight talismans into Lu Jiangfei’s hands, insisting he take them. Lu Jiangfei had reluctantly accepted them, not wanting to hurt his friend’s feelings, and casually shoved them into his pocket.

Little did he know, those talismans would save his life.

…

That night, they went up the mountain to stream. Yuan Lu had been standing just a few steps away, but then, without a sound, he vanished. One moment he was there, and the next, he was gone. Lu Jiangfei couldn’t understand it. Even if Yuan Lu had been playing a prank, wouldn’t there have been some noise? On a mountain trail like this, every step would crunch on twigs or rustle through grass. It was impossible to disappear silently.

Suddenly, Ma Ao’s words came back to him: “There are ghosts in this world.” He had dismissed it at the time, but now, in the eerie silence of the mountain, he couldn’t shake the memory of Ma Ao’s serious expression.

Panic began to creep in. He reached for his phone, only to find there was no signal-not even enough to call 911. The sight of dolls hanging from the trees didn’t help. Their lifeless eyes seemed to follow him, sending chills down his spine. He forced himself to focus, telling himself to find help quickly. After all, the stream was still live.

But then, his foot landed on something soft. Looking down, he saw a doll lying on the ground. Before he could react, the doll’s eyes rolled, its mouth twisted into a sinister smile, and it sat up, wrapping its tiny hands around his leg.

Every hair on his body stood on end. He kicked the doll away and ran as fast as he could, not even stopping when his phone fell to the ground.

No matter how far he ran, though, the doll was always ahead of him, staring at him with its unblinking eyes. It was as if he were trapped in a nightmare. He could see the village at the foot of the mountain, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t get any closer.

He remembered the villagers warning them not to go out at night. They had laughed it off at the time, thinking it was just superstition.

The last thing he saw before losing consciousness was the doll’s eerie smile and its unrelenting gaze.

He didn’t know what had happened to Song Wei, Tian Lang, or the others. Had they heard his cries for help? Did they realize something was wrong? Would they find a Taoist to save them?

When he woke up, he found himself in a dimly lit forest. Towering trees surrounded him, their branches heavy with dolls that seemed to be watching him. A thick fog hung in the air. Around him lay several people-Yuan Lu, Song Wei, Tian Lang, Ke Minmin, and Yu Yandan, along with four strangers.

He quickly shook them awake. “Get up! Wake up! Do you know what’s going on?”

Yuan Lu’s eyes were wide with fear. Song Wei and Tian Lang looked pale, while Ke Minmin and Yu Yandan burst into tears. The two couples among the strangers, however, weren’t crying together. Instead, they were glaring at each other.

“You said you loved me more than life itself, but you left me behind!” one woman accused.

“I was trying to find help!” the man protested.

“Shut up, you liar!”

“…”

Lu Jiangfei had no time for their drama. His only concern was figuring out how to escape. As much as he believed in science, he couldn’t deny that something was very wrong here. Whatever had brought them to this place was beyond human comprehension. The realization filled him with despair. How could they fight something so powerful?

Before anyone could say more, a chilling giggle echoed from above. Everyone froze, looking up to see a little girl in a white dress perched on a branch. She held a doll in her arms, its eyes rolling unnaturally as it stared at them. The girl spoke, her voice sweet yet menacing: “I’m bored. Let’s play a game. I want to play a game.”

One of the men, the one who had been called a liar, shouted, “What game? Who wants to play your stupid game? Who are you? Why did you bring us here? Stop pretending to be a ghost! I know you’re just a person. Is this some kind of prank show? Let me go, or I’ll sue you!”

The girl’s eyes narrowed. “If you don’t want to play, then go water my flowers.”

“Water flowers?” The man’s face lit up, thinking it was an easy task. But before he could relax, the girl tossed the doll in her arms at him. The doll moved with terrifying speed, grabbing his clothes and flinging him into the air. He landed on a sharp tree stump, impaled. Blood trickled down the wood, pooling on the ground. It was then that he noticed the earth was littered with bones.

Only in his final moments did he understand: watering the flowers meant feeding them with his blood.

“Ahhhhhh!”

The man’s girlfriend screamed and fainted.

The rest of the group was paralyzed with fear. Any thoughts of escape vanished as they saw the field of tree stumps, each surrounded by human remains. The ground itself was stained black, reeking of decay.

The girl clapped her hands, her expression brightening. “Let’s play hide-and-seek! I love hide-and-seek. If I catch you, you’ll water my flowers.”

Lu Jiangfei swallowed hard, glancing at Yuan Lu and Tian Lang. Ke Minmin covered her mouth, stifling her sobs, while Yu Yandan whispered through clenched teeth, “What do we do? What do we do? Are we going to die here?”

Yuan Lu muttered, “Are we… really dealing with a ghost?”

Tian Lang buried his face in his hands, sobbing. “I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die!”

Lu Jiangfei frowned. “Stay calm. We have to hold on.”

Hold on. Find a way to survive. Or hope someone comes to save them.

But as time dragged on, the girl’s games continued. She was unpredictable and cruel, demanding everyone’s participation. And with each game, someone was sent to “water the flowers.”

Her garden was a macabre display of human bones. The stench of death was overwhelming, making it impossible to forget the fate that awaited them.