The World Below Surface

The young police officer being questioned appeared anxious, "No, Sister Zhao, the situation is bizarre, and we can't explain it clearly for now. You should come and take a look in person."

As they spoke, they entered the elevator and pressed the button. The elevator slowly descended to the basement level of the building where the morgue was located. The elevator doors opened, and a blast of cold air rushed out, sending shivers down their spines.

The forensic examiner was waiting for them at the door. He didn't waste any time and led them directly to the scene. "A total of twenty-four bodies were here, all laid out nicely. We went to have lunch, and when we returned in the afternoon, they were all gone," he said as he pointed to one of the cabinet walls. Twenty-four drawers were pulled open, but they were all empty.

"Did you check the surveillance cameras? Who opened the drawers?" Officer Zhao asked.

"I opened them and was planning to continue working on them later. But when I opened one, I found nothing inside. I opened another one, and there was still nothing. I don't know why, but they just disappeared. We checked the surveillance cameras, but there was nothing unusual," the examiner explained.

"Are you sure there were no anomalies?"

"None."

"How long did you take for lunch?"

"Less than twenty minutes. I was thinking about this and didn't waste much time," the examiner replied.

The situation was too bizarre to ignore; just thinking about it was enough to send shivers down one's spine. Officer Zhao asked more questions but still got no answers. But in just twenty minutes, where could twenty-four bodies have gone? Even if it was just a skeleton, the volume was still there. No matter how it was broken down or hidden, it didn't seem possible in such a short amount of time.

The information that had just been sent out flashed through her mind, and Officer Zhao pursed her lips, lost in thought.

For a long time, she had heard about the Legend of the Yin—Ming Road, where strange murders occurred almost yearly. Despite this, the authorities never closed off the area, opting to keep the information suppressed. The truth remained a secret amongst the older generation in the department.

Her predecessor had gone missing the year before after insisting on exploring Yin—Ming Road, and there had been no news.

"I'll take care of this matter. You guys go do something else," said Officrt Zhao, determined. She quickly left with her subordinates.

Back in the school, in the teacher's office, Mr Li looked serious as he asked, "Playing hide-and-seek in Yin—Ming Road? Wen Qing, who initiated this? Do you know who else has decided to go?"

Wen Qing was relieved to see her teacher's severe expression and responded, "I heard from my classmates that they all knew about it. Someone posted on the forum, asking people to accompany her to play there. As long as they go, they'll get paid. Several of them said they would go." She named each person one by one. "But, teacher, Yin—Ming Road is very dangerous. We can't let them go there to play."

"Okay, I got it. I'll make sure to handle this matter," Mr Li promised.

When Wen Qing left, Mr Li rubbed his forehead, muttering, "These little brats are nothing but trouble, going out and risking their lives. By the way, should we inform the grade leader?"

However, his usually chatty colleagues exchanged hidden looks, none supporting his suggestion.

Confused, Mr Li asked, "What's going on?"

"Little Li, it's better if you don't get involved. Let them go," a senior teacher in the office smiled.

"How can you just ignore this?" Teacher Li asked, puzzled. "Going to a ghostly place in the middle of the night and giving money before going must be a scam, right? What if they really get kidnapped?"

The two teachers beside him exchanged a knowing look and slightly pursed their lips. "I'm just reminding you out of goodwill," one said. "Just pretend you don't know anything related to that place. It's better for you that way."

[Hey, somebody copy pasted my translations on another site! Please show some love by liking my work on https://puukkiss.wixsite.com/inkydragon. Without it, I may think that nobody is reading my work and consider abandoning it, which means you won't be able to find it anywhere else.]

Teacher Li became even more confused. "What do you mean?" he asked, but no one would talk to him. They seemed afraid of getting into trouble. Finally, he seemed to understand and changed his tone. "I see," he said. "If the students want to go and see for themselves, as a teacher, I should respect their personal wishes as long as it doesn't affect their studies."

The office returned to its former harmonious state. Wen Qing returned to the classroom in a calm mood. The bell rang in time, and she hurried back to her seat to prepare for class. After a long math class, the homeroom meeting began. Wen Qing looked forward to her homeroom teacher, Teacher Li, saying something about the issue, and Teacher Li did not disappoint her. He started talking about safety issues, such as winter heating, electric and fire prevention, and preventing food poisoning. Finally, he got to the point of reminding them to be careful when going home at night.

However, Wen Qing's expectant eyes were disappointed as Teacher Li looked away and started talking about the class's academic performance. Wen Qing couldn't help but wonder why Teacher Li wasn't addressing the issue. Was there another plan? She waited suspiciously, but her doubts were not resolved until after school that afternoon. Teacher Li had made up his mind not to care.

Wen Qing went to the office after school to look for her homeroom teacher, but he wasn't there. The other teachers were all busy with their work and said they didn't know anything about it. She told the homeroom teacher of the next class about this, but the other party responded with a vague "uh-huh," which seemed like a brush-off.

Wen Qing was engulfed by intense anxiety, feeling as though she was trapped in an inferno. Despite her overwhelming distress, the teacher next door remained indifferent, advising her against interfering. A student who attempted to skip the evening self-study was publicly reprimanded and warned to be cautious. But safety was a scarce commodity in that place.

Undeterred, Wen Qing chased the person she was after.

A group in an office observed in silence as Wen Qing's figure dwindled in the distance.

In an off-road vehicle near Yin-Ming Road, a man and a woman conversed.

"Are you certain this approach will work?" the man asked.

"It should. I merely posted a message on a nearby high school forum. The tuition fees aren't exorbitant, and many students come from modest families and are motivated by the opportunity to earn money," replied the woman.

After a thorough discussion, they turned their attention to the unconscious Chu Xiu in the back seat, writhing in agony.

"What about him?" Nie Yun Zhen gestured towards Chu Xiu.

"Shall we conceal him?" Shi Yan's last vestige of compassion went into those words.

This way, when those students come searching, they won't mistake him for a hide-and-seek player. However, if he faced any danger in his unconscious state, they would be powerless to help.

Nie Yun Zhen gazed outside at the sky, witnessing the sunset and the sky changing into a yellow hue. He gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, let's proceed together."

Since they needed to pick up the students earlier, they arrived at Yin-Ming Road ahead of schedule. Hearing the man's words, she started the car and headed deep into the forest.

"I don't know what happened here after we left yesterday. I hope it's not..." The woman's voice trailed off, grief evident on her face. She tightly gripped the steering wheel, causing her fingers to turn white.

Nie Yun Zhen remained silent, pondering their situation. "We can't be so unlucky that none of us can accomplish the mission, can we?"

Nervously driving, Shi Yan and Nie Yun Zhen arrived at the crossroad without incident. However, their attention was drawn to a yellow seal wrapped around a nearby tree a few hundred meters away. A notice on the tree warned that a severe car accident had occurred here the previous night and that unauthorized personnel were not allowed to enter.

"Car accident?" Shi Yan and Nie Yun Zhen exchanged a worried look, both realizing the gravity of the situation.

Could this be the same accident...?

After parking the car, they carefully examined the area before helping Chu Xiu, unconscious, onto Nie Yun Zhen's back. Although he appeared thin, he was carrying an abnormally heavy burden. Shi Yan assisted him on the side to prevent Chu Xiu from falling, and the two of them made their way towards the forest's depths.

At the municipal police station, journalists swarmed the building upon hearing the news of the accident. When they learned about a major news story, they raced to the scene like wolves drawn to the scent of meat.

"Excuse me, is it true that a major car accident occurred on Yin—Ming Road?" asked one journalist. "The public is very sceptical about the truth of the case. Can someone in charge provide answers?"

"I heard that there were no survivors at the scene. Why did the police rule it as a suicide? Did the people in the three cars commit suicide together?" asked another.

Outside the station, Zhao's police car was surrounded by people as she attempted to leave. It wasn't because they knew her but because the sight of a police car stirred their curiosity, and they hoped to uncover some news.

Feeling annoyed in the car, Zhao wondered what she could say. She knew there were doubts about the case, but could she disclose that to the public? Admit that there were ghosts in the world? Hahaha, that was absurd.

She couldn't say anything. The test results of the corpse were supposed to be compared with the missing persons in the city to identify the deceased. However, with the body missing and the results stolen, she didn't even know who had died. What could she say?

As she glanced at her mobile phone, a multimedia message from an unknown sender caught her attention. As she viewed the news, a sense of anger brewed within her. "What kind of depraved individual would encourage students to play hide and seek in such a place?!" she muttered, her eyebrows furrowed in frustration.

Returning to the police courtyard, she swiftly reported the message to the local school authorities. The security guards immediately intervened, halting the group of journalists, while Officer Zhao began her investigation by logging into the anonymous forum from which the screenshot was sent.

The results of the inquiry shook her to her core. The post was genuine, with roughly thirty responses expressing the desire to play the game.

Damn it ......

Among the group of journalists, a stoic and striking man stood out. He also possessed a press pass around his neck, but unlike the others, he calmly retrieved his phone, sent a message, and stowed it away without pushing or shoving.

Meanwhile, at a high school on the opposite side of the city, a group of students embarked on a bus, which was not part of their usual routine. They were all from the same school and wore matching uniforms. Despite some being strangers, they quickly exchanged names and got acquainted with each other.

The driver became curious, suspecting an event taking place that day, but the students remained tight-lipped and evaded his queries.

After exiting the school gates, they boarded a bus, disembarked three stops before their final destination, and transferred to another bus to reach their ultimate goal.

Initially, they were all reserved, but their excitement grew as they changed buses. The young students conversed loudly, unconcerned whether they knew each other, sharing ghost stories that sent shivers down some of the girls' spines.

"By the way, who's going to play the ghost?" asked one of the students.

"It should be fine if we lose, right? But it's so exhilarating; I've only ever slept on a grave before," replied another, grinning with anticipation.

"As a child, while living in the countryside, my mother once took me to the edge of the cemetery. Naive and ignorant, I saw a girl combing her hair while crying inside. I wanted to investigate, but my mother hastily took me away without allowing me to say a word. However, after returning home, I fell ill and remained sick for several days before eventually recovering."

As another person shared their ghost story, the bus ride proved unusually lively, despite only the driver remaining. Before exiting, the passengers said their goodbyes to the driver, who gave them a strange grin and invited them to return soon. His smile seemed to suggest that he hoped to see them alive.

Upon disembarking, the students were met with a desolate and eerie scene.

"Is this the road to the underworld?" one said.

"How barren! Even the trees are stripped of leaves."

"And this place gives me a creepy feeling," yet another stated.

Despite their unease, the group of eleven found comfort in their company, so they smiled and continued forward.

"By the way, where is the person who invited us to play hide-and-seek together? The one who posted the message?" someone asked.

"He instructed us to continue until we found a sign for the road to the underworld and that a car would be waiting for us there," another replied.

The group walked and chatted until they came across an off-road vehicle. The people inside, a man and a woman, appeared to have noticed them from the rearview mirror and exited the car.

"Hello, did you come here after reading the post?" the woman asked with a smile. She was petite and approachable, and she put the students at ease, and they continued chatting with her.

"Yes, we came after reading the post. Are you looking for someone?"

The woman's voice was melodic as she spoke, "Indeed, we've come to partake in an adventure game. My name is Shi Yan, but feel free to call me Yan Yan. It would be lovely if we could introduce ourselves first."

The man, observing silently until now, flashed a smile, "I am Nie Yun Zhen."

"My name is Fang Nan, and I couldn't help but wonder about the reward you mentioned for the game..." Fang Nan trailed off, feeling apprehensive about discussing money with strangers.

Shi Yan grinned sheepishly again, "No need to worry; everyone will receive their fair share." She retrieved a stack of cash from her bag and handed each person a bill. Despite some of them feeling embarrassed and refusing to accept it, she insisted, "It's merely a deposit. But please do not leave before it's time to go, alright? We're both rather timid. We'll leave together later, and I'll give everyone the remainder of the money. Is that acceptable?"

Their last shred of concern vanished with the deposit now in their hands. They were all unfamiliar students with no intention of breaking any laws in the wilderness. They dutifully divulged their names and showcased their school badges to verify their identities in case anyone doubted them.

Shi Yan and Nie Yun Zhen silently tallied the number of individuals present. There were eleven students altogether:

Three girls: Yun Qian, Ling Wei Wei, and Zhang Dan.

Eight boys: Tian Le, Fang Nan, Liang Qiucheng, Sun Hao, Xie Yu, Zhang Zhi Jie, Huang Yuan Wang, and Liu Chengliang.

"Alright, let's discuss the game's rules now." Shi Yan clapped her hands together, "The game is known as hide-and-seek. We'll begin once it's past midnight and everyone is acquainted with the rules, right? After midnight, we'll pull playing cards to randomly designate one person as the ghost. The ghost will stay near the car while everyone else hides for ten minutes. After ten minutes, we'll begin pursuing one another. The game will last for half an hour, after which we'll all reconvene at the car."

The students had watched and could keep track of time.

"Will there be any rewards or penalties for winning or losing?" one of the students queried spontaneously.

Shi Yan hesitated initially; her initial instinct was to refuse the proposal. However, the thought of the potential loss of lives made her reconsider. She weighed the consequences of denying the request and ultimately gave in, thinking it less possibility of someone turning into a ghost and less trouble it would bring. "While there won't be any punishment for the losers, those who manage to avoid getting caught can add another two hundred yuan to their reward. And don't forget, we'll come looking for you next time," she added firmly.

The students were thrilled to hear this and eagerly accepted the terms. Shi Yan looked up at the sky with a hint of concern. "I didn't expect so many people to come. Unfortunately, we don't have enough cars to take everyone at once. We'll have to make two trips, which will take some time. Are you all okay with waiting here a bit longer?" she added, "but are you guys afraid?"

The students nodded in agreement. "We'll wait here for as long as it takes," they said.

Yun Qian, eager for the reward, forced herself to speak up. "I'm not afraid," she said, though her voice trembled slightly.

After explaining the rules, the first group to drive there settled down and began chatting casually. Shi Yan even produced a small tablecloth from the car and placed it under a light while some boys gathered kindling and started a bonfire.

Ignoring the eerie and foreboding environment, it looked almost like an ordinary outdoor barbecue.

The temperature plummeted as the night wore on, and the wind picked up, howling like a beast in the dark. Shi Yan distributed food from the car, and the students shared it while studying in the warmth of the bonfire. Gradually, the chatter died, and an eerie silence filled the air.

What seemed like an easy job earlier became a gruelling test of endurance. Many students began to regret participating, but they couldn't just leave without completing the game. They gritted their teeth and pushed on, waiting for midnight to arrive.

When the witching hour finally came, a bone-chilling gust of wind swept through the area, causing everyone to shudder in fear. They quickly bundled up in their coats, believing it was just a product of the rapidly dropping temperature.

"Alright, everyone can draw a card now." Shi Yan produced a deck of sealed cards and drew the joker card. She pulled one card from each suit, ranging from A to 3, and combined them with the joker to create thirteen cards.

"The person who draws the joker card will become the ghost, and catching someone means taking their playing card as evidence. Does that sound good to everyone?" Shi Yan clarified.

Tian Le inquired, "What if the other party refuses to surrender it?"

Shi Yan arched her head and proposed, "Let's agree on three conditions. Once the ghost catches you, remember, it must seize, not just spot you; even if you make contact, the captive must willingly hand over the playing cards and proceed back to the car. We'll keep the fire, and the car headlights will remain on, making it apparent."

No one voiced objections to this.

Each person stretched out their hand to draw a card.

"Okay, now expose your cards."

To everyone's amazement, the timid one in their midst, Yun Qian, pulled the joker card.

"Huh? It's me...," Yun Qian faltered. She had just struck an agreement with Ling Wei Wei to hide together. Now, she had to capture someone single-handedly as the ghost, terror visibly etched on her face.

"It's alright; it's just a game. We're merely fooling around. You don't have to capture anyone," Shi Yan consoled. She hoped Yun Qian wouldn't apprehend anyone. Shi Yan could perceive at a glance that Yun Qian was the least courageous among the group, so she discreetly manipulated things and handed her the ghost card.

"Okay, okay, I'll do my best," Yun Qian responded, clutching the joker card while her classmates comforted her.

With all the roles filled, there was no need to delay further. Shi Yan promptly organized everything, and everyone dispersed. Yun Qian was left alone, reclining in the backseat of the car.

She adhered to the rules and didn't peek around indiscriminately, intermittently glancing at her wristwatch and silently calculating the time.

Deep within the dense woods, beneath a slope, a man suddenly opened his eyes and began to pant heavily.

He glanced at the sky, withdrew his phone to verify the time, and his countenance instantly transformed.

It was beyond midnight, and the game of hide-and-seek had begun!

Chu Xiu had escaped punishment for not playing. His phone beeped with a message from Shi Yan. The message provided detailed information on what had happened while he was unconscious and ended with a statement that Shi Yan and Nie Yun Zhen had done all they could and that it was now up to Chu Xiu.

Despite the ordeal, Chu Xiu was grateful they had not abandoned him. He stood up, brushed off the dust, and surveyed his surroundings. In the pitch-black darkness, he could not see anything, so he decided to wait where he was.

As he waited, he messaged Shi Yan to inquire about the game of hide-and-seek. Shi Yan and Nie Yun Zhen had run east together, knowing exactly where to hide. Their impressive physical fitness allowed them to cover a significant distance in ten minutes.

Shi Yan had set her phone to silent, and when she checked it after ten minutes, she was overjoyed to find that Chu Xiu had awoken.

"Chu Xiu woke up," she whispered to Nie Yun Zhen, who expressed genuine relief upon hearing the news.

Meanwhile, Chu Xiu was shocked to receive a message indicating that among the students they had found to play with were none other than Yun Qian, who was a real ghost. He had changed history, allowing them to evade Yun Qian and Wen Qing in the first game, so naturally, they had no idea what had transpired with the two girls.

Chu Xiu took a deep breath, feeling helpless against his fate. He promptly messaged Shi Yan and Nie Yun Zhen.

[If the student you found to be the ghost is really named Yun Qian, all I can say is, run! Run fast! Don't let her catch you.]

[Because she really is a ghost!]

Shi Yan and Nie Yun Zhen were initially puzzled by the first message but were sent into a cold sweat upon receiving the second.

At this moment, ten minutes had passed.

The Hunt Begins.

A pale hand opened the car door, and a girl in a school uniform stepped out. She glanced towards the dark and barren woods ahead, her destination to meet her good friends.

She strode forward leisurely, passing the smouldering bonfire, which abruptly extinguished as she left.

Little did the other students know, but the hunt—not the game, had begun. The brave boys dared not to hide alone, so they clumped together in groups of two or three. Yet, one timid boy named Zhang Zhi Jie stood apart from the others. After running around for a few laps, he sauntered toward the parking lot.

Zhang Zhi Jie found it effortless to play hide-and-seek, knowing he would receive a reward merely for appearing. Even if he lost, there would be no punishment. It was better to be caught early and take a break in the car, where he could also read some books.

His plan was astutely devised. He strolled along the main road and spied Yun Qian approaching. He greeted her with a smile and an outstretched hand, saying, "Come on, catch me, and you'll get some achievements."

It was too dark at night to see clearly, but as he got closer to Yun Qian, he realized something was wrong with her pale face.

"What's wrong with you? Why do you look so pale?" Zhang Zhi Jie waved his hand before her eyes. "Are you dazed?"

The next moment, the dazed one became him.

Yun Qian opened her mouth but did not speak. Her mouth stretched wider and wider as if her jawbone had become dislocated, and her skin had unlimited elasticity until it reached her waist.

"You...you are..." He gasped. A genuine ghost!

Yun Qian was a real ghost!

Sadly, he could not convey these words or warn his classmates.

A male student's scream reverberated through the night sky. Soon after, a playing card fluttered to the ground.

The hand that picked it up was hoarse and cold. "First one found," it declared.

"First sacrifice has been made," a voice echoed through the darkness. The three figures responsible for the deed knew the implications all too well and hastily fled, their legs pumping with all the strength they could muster.

Now, the whereabouts of the ghost remains unknown. If it possessed any additional abilities, such as the power to conjure illusions or multiply itself, dealing with it would be even more daunting.

The blood-curdling scream had not gone unnoticed by other students. Its intensity was impossible to feign, and their hearts were racing in response.

"What's happening? That sounded like Zhang Zhi Jie's voice."

"What's wrong with Zhang Zhi Jie?"

Almost every student carried a phone, courtesy of which they were aware of the forum's activity. Even the most financially challenged student, Tian Le, had a phone thanks to Fang Nan's generosity. Scratching his head, Fang Nan posed the question to their group.

Within seconds, someone responded.

[What?! Did you guys actually go out to play? That's insane!]

[Hold on a minute, did you just say you heard Zhang Zhi Jie scream? Who's the ghost now?]

Fang Nan replied, [It's Yun Qian, didn't I tell you that earlier?]

However, the ensuing replies in the group chat sent shivers down his spine.

[Yun Qian? But she died in an accident five days ago. Don't joke around.]

Realization dawned on Fang Nan as memories flooded his mind. Yun Qian...she had indeed passed away. The one playing hide-and-seek with them now was none other than a real ghost!

"Run!"

The scene shifted to a hotel located at the heart of the city.

Seated in the room, a comely man pored over some documents while a newspaper lay on his desk with a headline displayed in bold letters, reporting a colossal tragedy.

In the black and white photograph, the countenance of Yun Qian featured prominently.

Besides her face, there were over a dozen immaculate photographs of young high school students.

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