The World Below Surface

In the heart of the forbidden grounds, Lin Chu found a spot amidst the eerie quietude. She dared not venture too close to the cluster of graves, an unsettling cold coursing through her. Her cautious movements ensured she didn't accidentally brush against the ominous tombstones.

Yet, despite the chill that seemed to linger in her very bones, Lin Chu harbored no regret. According to her fellow mission-goers, the curse plaguing her would dissipate once she completed her task - as long as she didn't meet an untimely demise in this sinister world.

The real quandary lay in her current, ghostly appearance. How could she return to the village, ready to partake in the ancestral rites, without triggering a panic among the villagers that might very well result in her death?

Lin Chu reclined for a spell, basking in the sun's faint warmth, her thoughts unfurling like tendrils of smoke. From her waist pouch, she retrieved a compressed biscuit, nibbling on it with measured contemplation.

Lu Yan had offered assurances that he'd do his best to delay the village's guardian spirits and send her a message. Yet, time ticked on, and silence from him gnawed at her like a persistent phantom.

Two possibilities seemed plausible: either he was now just another lost soul, ensnared in the clutches of the supernatural, unable to communicate like her teammates? Or was there something else at play here?

Summoning resolve, Lin Chu drew a steadying breath, raising herself upright and casting her gaze upon the message she had dispatched into the digital void. Not a peep from anyone, including Yu Xian Guang.

Could it be that this place concealed an even darker secret?

A pang of concern for Yu Xian Guang crossed her mind. When she returned, she had little doubt that he'd be overwhelmed with relief, likely on the verge of tears.

With uncertainty cloaking her like a shroud, Lin Chu pondered her next move.

In the heart of this forbidden expanse, the sheer vastness of it all was overwhelming. By night, the limited visibility masked its true enormity, but come daylight, one found themselves amidst endless rows of tombstones, bleached bone-white like skeletal sentinels, spanning nearly a thousand square meters. It was almost too easy to lose oneself in this macabre landscape, to become a spectral revenant adrift among the funerary monoliths.

From her elevated perch, she gazed downward, a strange melancholy inexplicably welling up from the depths of her heart. Lin Chu attempted to shake off this excess emotion with a brisk shake of her head.

Sentimentality was never her forte, and this emotional tide wasn't of her own making. Drawing a deep breath, Lin Chu cast aside this unwanted melancholy once more, setting forth on her solitary path, tracing the circumference of her current position.

Her purpose was clear: she intended to circumnavigate and explore.

Beneath this land was a tomb and the hole in the ground was for tomb-robbing. Yet, did this chamber possess a formal entry point, and to whom did it belong?

Only as she continued to circle and measure her strides did she grasp the true extent of this forbidden territory. Despite her presence within the innermost circle, she had been walking for a good twenty minutes without encountering its end. The surroundings remained eerily static, as though she were trapped in a perpetual loop. Were it not for her occasional glances at the inscriptions on the tombstones, she might have indeed believed herself to be ensnared in an endless spiral.

*

*

Meanwhile, anxiety consumed those in the village.

Old Lady Li's demise bore the sinister mark of suspicion, casting shadows of dread that she might return as a revenant. In haste, they transported her for burial, conducting a minimalistic funeral. An ancestral hall went unprepared; instead, modest adjustments were made to the village head's residence for last night's wake.

The conundrum lay in the fact that Old Lady Li had always enjoyed robust health. She had never deemed it pressing to have posthumous photographs taken. Now, her sudden departure left the village in a quandary, for the sole photographic studio couldn't take pictures of the deceased.

"Can't we draw her? It's more fitting," Lu Yan suggested, taking the lead in the discussion, claiming his ability to draw, arguing that sketching wasn't all that different from taking photos. The rest of the group met this idea with skepticism, but their doubts quickly dissipated when they witnessed him casually sketch a few portraits.

Inside the funeral parlor, he sat with unwavering focus, painstakingly sketching the occupant of the coffin.

Li Li squatted in the courtyard, her head nestled against her knees, her gaze frosty as she observed the artist's progress.

If only he had no longer any use...

She clenched her teeth in vexation.

Lu Yan occupied a spot near the casket's edge, gradually breathing life into his sketch. After some time, Li Li rose, shaking off her weariness, and ventured closer to inspect his work. Yet, upon viewing the drawing, her brows furrowed.

"Why did you skip the eyes?" She gestured toward the vacant eye sockets, her hair seeming to stand on end.

Lu Yan responded candidly, "I feared that if I did, she might see me."

Li Li seethed with anger.

Nevertheless, confined by the established rules, she couldn't refute his logic. After pacing restlessly in irritation for a moment, she reluctantly halted the artist with an annoyed expression.

"I've completed the sketch. Could you fill in the eyes?" Lu Yan left the sketch on the chair, evidently intending to withdraw.

Handling human debts was already a daunting task, but when it came to those 'ghostly debts,' it was an entirely different level of challenge. After all, he had accepted protection, and if you delved deeper into this peculiar debt, it could easily metamorphose into a sinister, life-threatening curse.

Li Li found herself without much choice in the matter. Having recently taken a life, she couldn't engage in any further action so hastily. She could only stand there, a silent observer, as the other figure rose, prepared to depart.

"Wait, hold on."

Lu Yan halted.

"Where's Luo Ying?"

Lu Yan shook his head. "I don't know." He really didn't. Although he had his suspicions, Luo Ying hadn't confided in him, so he couldn't take those guesses seriously.

"What about Lin Chu?"

Lu Yan echoed his previous response, his brows furrowing. "I'm clueless."

Before leaving, Lin Chu had still been in the forbidden area, but now, he had no idea where she might have gone.

Upon hearing this, Li Li finally felt satisfied and revealed a malicious smile.

"I know," she announced, her smile brimming with anticipation. "I know she's trespassed into forbidden territory, and you've crossed paths with her. I'm fairly certain she hasn't departed yet. Convince her to return and catch me two fish, and I'll let bygones be bygones," Li Li chimed, her voice as carefree as a child's. "Now, you can reach out to her."

This level of kindness from a ghost was utterly implausible!

Lu Yan's initial response was one of skepticism. He was all too familiar with these entities. Even if they temporarily reverted to their original appearances due to the intrusion of outsiders, it couldn't erase their eerie nature.

Yet, he found himself in dire need of Lin Chu's audacity at this moment...

The young girl in the crimson dress positively radiated enthusiasm, as if she anticipated his refusal. "Hurry up, or it'll be you..."

Without hesitation, Lu Yan reached for his phone and dialed Lin Chu's number.

*

*

Meanwhile, Lin Chu pressed forward, her perseverance finally yielding results. The outer path before her gently curved at an angle of about fifty to sixty degrees, leading towards an unknown destination.

A breakthrough at last!

Her heart danced with elation. She snapped a few photos and uploaded them to the cloud, jotting down notes and a rough sketch. As she continued her journey, an incoming call disrupted her thoughts.

Strange, can I use my phone here?

Glancing at the caller ID, she discovered it was Lu Yan.

Suspicion laced her voice as she answered.

"Lin Chu?"

"It's me," Lin Chu replied.

"Return immediately."

The transmission was marred by poor signal, causing Lu Yan's voice to crackle as if electrified. "I'll rendezvous with you at the village entrance. I've got a plan." There was a faint cough from his end. "Hurry, I can only wait until 6 PM," he coughed once more, his voice conveying a sense of cold.

There were still seven hours left until 6 PM.

"If you're not here by the eighth hour, I won't wait any longer. Everyone's deeply concerned about you, especially Lin Xue Yuan," another cough, "She's really worried about you..."

*

*

Lin Chu had been listening attentively, her eyes widening with each cough from the other side, each cough marking the end of a sentence and the start of a new one. The message was clear: "You're in forbidden territory, and she's found out!"

Chills raced down her spine. Who was this ominous "She"? Lin Chu wondered, debating whether to retreat.

After a thoughtful pause, no clear plan of action emerged. She stared at the tombstones ahead, their edges sharp as daggers, and with determination, she decided to press forward. She could navigate her way back later.

No matter the identity of "She," Lin Chu reckoned that it probably couldn't breach the forbidden area. If it could, it would have already come for her. Why resort to threatening Lu Yan and coercing him into summoning her back?

*

*

Lu Yan disconnected the call and coughed twice, his complexion still bearing traces of fatigue, as though sleep had eluded him. He stood in the hallway, dressed lightly, letting the chilly breeze wash over him, an image of fragility.

Li Li's face was even paler than his, and as she stood beside the paper-mache figure next to the coffin, it was challenging to discern which of them resembled a white paper doll more. After a lingering moment, a wicked grin spread across her face, revealing teeth as sharp and pointed as daggers. "You can leave now," she declared.

Having said that, she approached the ornate incense burner that stood before the spirit hall. Her fingers grasped a handful of incense ash, which she then scattered gently onto the ground. Without a word, she followed him out, ensuring the courtyard gate closed behind them.

A deathly stillness settled upon the courtyard, like the hushed anticipation before a kill.

Gradually, soft, rustling noises pierced the silence, akin to the cautious steps of an elderly soul, punctuated by occasional sighs and faint coughs.

Amongst the scattered ashes, obscure footprints began to manifest, their presence slowly leading away from their point of origin.

It was a considerable span of time before, at the prompting of Li Li, the villagers cautiously swung open the courtyard gate and witnessed the telltale footprints etched into the ground. Their jubilation erupted.

Old Lady Li had returned!

Just as they had done the previous night, they hastily organized a procession, shouldering the coffin once more. Initially assigned to carry the coffin in the front, Lu Yan's countenance had grown pallid and feeble, wracked by intense coughing fits. It was evident to all that he risked being crushed by the weight of the coffin. Consequently, he was reassigned to a different task: scattering paper money.

Being a newcomer to this place, he lacked proper attire. Yan Guang Yao graciously loaned him a rough hemp robe to drape over his clothes. After fastening a somber black ribbon around his arm, he shouldered a basket and headed outdoors.

Winter's chill had already descended, and the sunlight offered little solace from the cold. The procession marched towards the open expanse outside, the ranks appearing somewhat disheveled. At the forefront, an individual carried a monochromatic portrait. The elderly lady depicted within wore a gentle smile, yet her eyes held an eerie, unnatural quality.

Upon reaching the threshold of the village, Lu Yan's keen eyes discerned Zhang Hui Xuan within the gathered crowd. He appeared even more feeble, as though a gust of frigid wind might whisk him away. His gaze remained fixed on a distant point, but he never ventured beyond the village gate.

Lu Yan mulled over Zhang Bo's words.

So, it appears Zhang Hui Xuan is trapped within this accursed village.

But why?

Recollections surged. Li Li's cryptic mention of her "aunt" flitted through his mind.

Amidst the villagers, Zhang Hui Xuan seemed to stand as the least courteous toward Li Li. While others showered her with reverence, he chose harsh words and wielded his father's authority.

The funeral procession played out in a discordant symphony of noise and silence. The suona blared, and cymbals clashed, yielding sharp, metallic notes, yet not a single soul mourned.

Old Ladies Li offspring remained conspicuously absent by her side, leaving her to endure solitude in her final days. Fortunately, the villagers rallied to her aid in arranging the funerary rites.

Among the mourners marching solemnly, everyone was present except for Lin Xue Yuan. She remained in the village, due to accusations of excessive "yin energy."

An Xing Yu had made several attempts to engage Lu Yan in conversation, yet an eerie hush shrouded the procession. Words remained unspoken, and he could only watch in silence as the figure ahead pressed on.

A graceful gesture sent yellow and white circular paper money aloft, carried away by a brisk gust.

Unbeknownst to all, a woman trailed closely behind the procession, no more than a hundred meters distant.

This woman was none other than Luo Ying, the very person Li Li had relentlessly sought. Her whereabouts during her absence remained a mystery, her appearance slightly disheveled. However, her visage now radiated with an unsettling excitement.

In the past, prior expeditions had been dispatched, but the entities guarding the Village of the Heavenly Immortals were no laughing matter. Regardless of how many ventured forth, none ever returned, their fates entwined with the village's ominous secret. Eventually, the organization wisened up, adopting a more discreet approach - sending lone operatives, who would infiltrate the community under the guise of villagers, gathering fragments of insight amidst the chilling silence of the village.

As the year drew to a close, the mountain-dwelling entities behind the village began to stir with a newfound restlessness. The handful of fake immortals guarding the hamlet found themselves overwhelmed, and for some mysterious reason, their supernatural prowess was waning. It presented an opportunity.

Lurking within the shadowy woods, Luo Ying resembled a specter in the night. Her mission was clear: secure the means to subdue the revenants before venturing into the forbidden heart of the village.

But she couldn't do it alone. Upon her arrival in the village, she deliberately provoked the locals, ensuring she wouldn't receive the protective aura of the "Guardian Immortals."

This tactical move made her elusive to their detection, yet she suffered the price of being an outcast in the village.

For her plan to succeed, she relied on Lu Yan to take action.

Unbeknownst to her, a little girl, clad in crimson raiment, lurked in the shadows not far behind. She watched Luo Ying with an unsettling stillness, her lips curling into a wicked grin, revealing a mouthful of razor-sharp, gleaming teeth.

Just as the last scrap of paper money in Lu Yan's basket fluttered away, they finally stood on the precipice of the forbidden land.

*

*

Meanwhile, Lin Chu was stealthily retracing her steps from the opposite direction.

Walking along the elevated terrain, Lin Chu's gaze penetrated the layers of tombstones and the forest beyond, where the emerald leaves danced to the tune of the wind. A crimson river snaked its way through this scenery.

Lu Yan or An Xing Yu would have found this place familiar, but Lin Chu was a stranger to it. Her typically keen mind could only grasp a vague sense of recognition, as if she might have read about it somewhere. After etching it into her mind, she pressed forward.

Amid the whispers of the wind, she discerned a mournful melody, funeral music. Had someone else died?

Lin Chu's heart quickened, and she hastened her pace. Utilizing her elevated vantage point, she remained concealed from prying eyes as she hurried onward. Given the proximity of the sound, it couldn't be far, especially with her energies mostly restored. Besides a bit of extra fur and a peculiar glint in her eyes, she appeared outwardly normal.

Lin Chu soon reached her destination, another sharp bend formed by the tombstones' arrangement, eerily similar to the one she'd encountered earlier. She retraced her steps in her mind, feeling a strange blend of emotions.

Why did it feel somewhat like... an eye?

It also bore a resemblance to the hollow shape within the Pisces jade pendant she'd acquired earlier.

As she rounded the corner, her expectations were met. In the distance, a long line of people moved like a column of ants.

Crouching amidst the tombstones, she leaned forward, striving to peer through the layers of grave markers without attracting attention. Soon, familiar figures emerged from the crowd.

Lu Yan, An Xing Yu, Yu Huan, and Xie Zi Qing, they were all there.

Notably absent was any trace of women in the queue, indicating that Lin Xue Yuan must be within the village.

But... where was little Yu?

Where had Yu Xian Guang gone?

Lin Chu's heart leaped in her chest, her pulse quickening. Startled, she snapped to attention, fully aware of the unsettling predicament at hand. She instinctively sought refuge behind the ancient tombstone, her fragile form shivering uncontrollably in the eerie silence.

Lin Chu had always been familiar with Yu Xian Guang. He was the textbook definition of a scaredy-cat, a perpetual bundle of nerves who seemed to have a knack for tears and a penchant for dragging others into his misadventures. Solitude was his greatest nemesis.

The question loomed: would he really brave the Village of the Heavenly Immortals alone?

Initially, Lin Chu had entertained the notion of becoming a permanent resident in this forbidden enclave, where every twist and turn held secrets begging to be unraveled. To her, the pursuit of discovery and the pursuit of knowledge were the holiest of callings. But now...

A gnawing unease clawed at her from deep within, its origin eluding her grasp. It was an emotion she couldn't quite rationalize, a disconcerting hunch that Yu Xian Guang might have stumbled into unforeseen peril. Regret surged within her, an emotion she couldn't ignore.

Unbidden, Lin Chu noticed her own hands quivering, trembling like fragile leaves in the wind.

Behind her sanctuary of stone, she stood in silent vigil, allowing the biting chill of the night air to seep into her very bones. It was only after the group of workers had completed their solemn task and departed that she ventured forward, her descent marked by a deliberate slowness.

Her mind, which had moments ago felt as frozen as the grave itself, began to stir into action.

They had just committed a burial.

According to tradition, before the final interment, a body lay in repose for a period, awaiting an auspicious day for its eternal rest. If two souls had recently departed from the mortal coil, there was no taboo in their simultaneous burial. Moreover, the deceased from the previous day had undergone a curious transformation, necessitating an immediate interment.

So, it stood to reason that this latest arrival... also had "it"?

Lin Chu's eyes seemed to pierce the layers of earth that entombed the casket, revealing the glimmer of a jade pendant nestled within.

Lu Yan had taken the Pisces jade pendant; its return to the village remained uncertain. Yet, one certainty lingered: that pendant had saved her life. Devoid of it, she might have met her demise right then and there.

If she dared to delve into the grave's depths once more, she required more jade pendants or something akin in potency.

Lin Chu's eyes grazed the tombstone once again, unwittingly tracing a line of graves behind Old Lady Li. A flood of memories, Yu Xian Guang at its core, surged within her. Suppressing her emotions, she pulled her hoodie's hood over her head and embarked on a slow return.

The clock's hands still pointed two hours shy of six in the evening.

In keeping with his word, Lu Yan stood at the village's entrance. Lin Xue Yuan and An Xing Yu, too, awaited her arrival. Meanwhile, the other pair of men had left to eat. When Lin Chu strolled back into view, disbelief flickered across Lin Xue Yuan's face. She made to rush forward but was restrained by An Xing Yu, his countenance grave, head shaking in stern caution.

The reason was quite plain: Li Li had appeared at the village's threshold.

She bore the pungent aroma of blood, yet her expression seemed anything but content; rather, it wore an even darker shroud of gloom. Lin Xue Yuan swiftly averted her gaze, surmising that Li Li's recent hunt had met with failure.

The red hues of the young girl's dress appeared even more vivid, their intensity suggesting that crimson liquid might drip forth at any instant. Her gaze, fixated upon Lin Chu, brimmed with unabashed malice.

"You, come here and catch some fish for me," Li Li commanded.

Her tone held a facade of satisfaction, but beneath that veneer, a far-from-friendly demeanor lurked.

Lin Chu had, by now, discerned the unspoken rules of this place. So long as she abided by the village's dictates and acceded to Li Li's requests, her life retained a precarious lease. Sensing Li Li's evident discontent and her intent to toy with her, Lin Chu refrained from inquiring about Yu Xian Guang's fate. She exchanged a nod with Lu Yan and proceeded toward Li Li.

"Y'all, come over here," Li Li beckoned, her finger pointing ahead. "And get those other two folks too."

Lu Yan and An Xing Yu exchanged a glance. Before they could respond, Li Li's impatience got worse and she urged on. Lin Xue Yuan hastily dialed them, instructing them to meet at the reservoir without delay.

Together, they ventured toward the reservoir.

Li Li's mood appeared to brighten with every step, and she hummed an eerie tune, her twin pigtails swaying with the rhythm.

If you paid close attention to the song, its lyrics sent shivers down your spine.

"Daddy's 'bout to die, so let sister take his place..."

"Sister cries every day, crying 'cause she's too cold..."

The chilling words made Lin Chu shudder. A wave of coldness swept over her, prompting her to retreat a couple of steps, letting the childlike melody fade away from her ears. Lu Yan, having also caught the unsettling lyrics, couldn't help but recall Li Li's mention of her "aunt."

Could this song be connected to Zhang Hui Xuan and her sister?

Lin Chu wasn't certain, and she remained clueless about what Li Li meant by "fishing for fish." Nevertheless, she followed Li Li. As they reached a decrepit bridge, a pungent, offensive odor assailed her senses.

However, since her three companions showed no sign of distress, Lin Chu stifled her questions and continued across the deteriorating bridge with Li Li leading the way.

She peered downward and finally identified the source of the putrid stench. She had to endure it, summoning all her strength to avoid retching.

"Quick, fish for me. Remember, it must be two fish, or you'll be the one down there becoming my catch."

Lin Chu released a slow breath, and in that moment, the meaning of "fishing for fish" became clear.

Li Li hadn't called the others for help. She sat by the bridge, her chin propped up, eyes gleaming with interest as she watched the eerie scene unfold. The others, perplexed, found themselves with no choice but to join her, drawn by the strange allure of the spectacle.

Unperturbed, Lin Chu mirrored Li Li's posture, squatting down beside her and reaching for the nearby bait bucket. Inside, an eerie collection lay: two eyeballs and ten fingers, all grotesquely swollen from their prolonged soak.

Though Lin Chu couldn't conceal her initial revulsion, she resolutely set it aside and began threading the gruesome bait onto the hook.

As the sharp implement pierced through the bloated finger, Li Li's laughter grew more macabre. She clapped her hands eagerly, her voice urging Lin Chu, "Quickly! Lucky's hungry."

With a flick of her fishing rod, the hook plunged beneath the murky surface.

Instantly, the placid waters convulsed. One by one, pallid, bloated corpses emerged, akin to a school of ravenous fish swarming fresh prey, frenzied and releasing an even more noxious odor into the air.

The float bobbed violently, the fishing line snapping taut.

Lin Chu had something on the line!

Without delay, she began to reel it in, exerting a powerful upward pull.

Her experience fishing alongside Yu Xian Guang proved invaluable. Confronting the macabre "fish" before her, she knew that conventional methods would be futile, leading to nothing but exhaustion.

Bearing down with unwavering determination, Lin Chu held her breath, using the bridge's railing as a point of leverage. With each turn of the reel, she drew the line closer, inch by suspenseful inch.

Soon, the identity of her catch became apparent.

Separated by the railing, a familiar pair of eyes stared back.

Lin Chu stood frozen in her tracks, a chill racing down her spine. She blinked, not trusting her own eyes, and in that brief flutter of her eyelids, two tears welled up, betraying the turmoil within her.

For a fleeting moment, a surge of anger coursed through Lin Chu, an urge to wield her fishing rod as a deadly weapon, to rid the world of Li Li. She yearned to extinguish this girl, to cast her into the dark depths of the water. Yet, a voice named "reason" tightly restrained her impulses. Cursed self-control, it only tightened its grip as her tears fell.

The sound of shattering water reverberated, and a grotesque corpse was yanked from the depths, crashing onto the bridge with a resounding thud before lying motionless.

Li Li, at last, beheld the macabre spectacle she had so eagerly awaited and hopped off the railing, clapping her hands in unrestrained delight. "Finally, one's caught! You're incredible!"

She tilted her head, an almost dainty appearance marred only by the presence of those menacing fangs.

Lin Chu gritted her teeth, maintaining her silence.

The others, too, recognized the wretched identity of the corpse. Lin Xue Yuan turned away, unable to bear the sight, only to be met with Li Li's ominous declaration.

"Turn around! Look closely!" With that, she bellowed, "Lucky! Lucky, come out, quickly!"

A foul, putrid gust of wind swept through, and a monstrous hound, part bone, part flesh, darted forth from the forest, halting before Li Li.

"Feast, swiftly," Li Li cooed, her hand reaching out to caress Lucky's head, tilting her chin.

"You..." Lin Chu's nails bore into her palm, a searing pain slicing through her.

Just as Lin Chu summoned the will to speak, Li Li laughed and inquired, "What do you want to say?"

Lucky wagged his tail and set out to devour his meal.