Lost in the Otherworld

“Weren’t we going for a test?” Gao Yang asked again.

“There’s no rule against bringing backup, is there?” Officer Huang cast a meaningful glance at Gao Yang in the rearview mirror. “Wu Dahai secretly approached me, told me to bring more people. He said this time it’s no joke, it could... it could cost lives.”

Gao Yang's heart sank. The White Rabbit had said the same thing. It seemed this test was truly perilous, though what exactly they would face remained unknown. While Wang Zikai and Pang Jun might be unstable elements, one was a fighter, the other a healer. Overall, bringing them along was more advantageous than not.

After about half an hour, the police car arrived at the southwest side of Lishan.

Lishan, located within Li City, straddled the Shanqing and Dongyu districts, officially belonging to Shanqing. It was a famous tourist attraction, rising over 300 meters above sea level, covering an area of 5,000 square meters. The mountain boasted a wide variety of flora, its scenery breathtaking. At its peak stood an observatory from which one could gaze across the entire expanse of Li City. Every morning and evening, throngs of visitors would climb Lishan, crowding its southern and northern gates.

It was clear that Officer Huang hadn’t brought this group for a leisurely hike, as there were no paths up the mountain from its southwestern side. They parked the car on a narrow country road and, after disembarking, followed Officer Huang through fields and into a small grove.

“Where are we going?” Qing Ling asked, leading the way.

“Almost there, just ahead,” replied Officer Huang from the front.

“Is the door here?” Gao Yang asked.

“Yes.” Officer Huang continued leading them. “The brass key that White Rabbit gave you both looks like it belongs to an old manor. There aren’t many places like that left in Shanqing District. One possibility is the antique pedestrian street, though those buildings all have modern locks now. Another is Lotus Alley, but all the old houses there were demolished last year...”

Officer Huang stopped, taking a breath, habitually pulling out his pistol to check the bullets, then continued forward. “After thinking it over, the only place left in Shanqing District that would still require a key like this is...”

“Could it be... Gujia Village?” Pang Jun, who was out of breath and lagging behind due to his size, shuddered as he uttered the name. He hurried to catch up, first walking beside Gao Yang, then, feeling uneasy, hastened to join Qing Ling, the strongest in the group.

“Oh?” Officer Huang raised an eyebrow, surprised. “You actually know about it? If I remember correctly, this year marks the thirtieth anniversary.”

“My high school classmate’s father was a reporter. He did a special feature on the place. It’s creepy as hell. My classmate used to tell us about it like it was a ghost story,” Pang Jun said, his eyes darting nervously.

“What’s the story? Stop being so mysterious,” Wang Zikai asked, intrigued.

“It started with a massacre. There was a family of five in Gujia Village, all slaughtered in a single night. Their bodies were dismembered and scattered across the village.” Officer Huang explained. “The detective who took on the case was my mentor. I remember him mentioning it.”

“Was the case solved?” Gao Yang inquired.

Officer Huang shook his head. “No.”

“Why not?”

“Less than half a month after the murders, all fifty-three residents of Gujia Village disappeared.”

“Disappeared?”

“Yes, vanished into thin air. My mentor nearly dug up the entire village, but still found no clues. He retired without ever cracking the case.”

Silence fell over the group as they awaited more.

As dusk deepened, the forest grew darker, and a chilly wind rustled the leaves, heightening the ominous atmosphere.

Officer Huang pulled out the brass key, his voice low and grave: “The door this key unlocks... is in Gujia Village.”