No one mourned the death of Ming Buchang; in fact, most considered it a good thing.
The bald man and the lanky one teamed up for courage, sneaking into Ming Buchang’s room in search of a travel guide. With that guide, they’d fare better than wandering aimlessly like headless flies.
Just as they reached the second floor, they ran into Gu Moleng passing by.
Gu Moleng paused and asked, "It’s so late. Aren’t you afraid of danger, wandering around like this?"
The two men exchanged nervous glances before stammering out an excuse: "We’re just… too scared. We wanted to talk to you."
Gu Moleng replied coldly, "I’m looking for someone. Whatever it is, we’ll discuss it tomorrow."
Once he was gone, the bald man and the lanky one let out a sigh of relief.
"Who’s he looking for at this hour?" the bald man muttered.
The lanky one shrugged. "You don’t know? Gu Moleng had a fight with his fiancée. She hasn’t come back yet."
The bald man clicked his tongue. "His fiancée’s so beautiful. What’s there to argue about?"
But that wasn’t the point. The point was the travel guide.
They rummaged through Ming Buchang’s room but found nothing. Exchanging a look, the lanky one groaned, "Damn it. Did he take that important thing into his coffin?"
It was almost ten o’clock, and they didn’t dare stay out much longer. Swallowing their frustration, they hurried back toward their rooms.
At the end of the hallway, a girl’s figure flickered in and out of sight.
She wore a red dress, cradling a potted flower as if basking in the moonlight. Her ghostly presence sent chills down their spines.
Both men instantly recalled the rule:
Never lock eyes with a flower-carrying girl for more than three seconds.
The girl muttered something in the shadows, scratching her head in agitation—until her "head" plopped into the flowerpot. She lifted her neck, and the large red bloom in the pot rose with it.
Only then did they realize: her head was just an illusion. The flower was her real head.
"By the riverside, beneath the dark mountains… beneath the dark mountains…"
She slowly turned, her petals parting to reveal rows of jagged teeth. "What comes after 'beneath the dark mountains' again?"
"AHHH—!"
The two men bolted, stumbling down the stairs in panic until they reached the lobby—where another shadow loomed.
A boy crouched on the floor, clawing at his scalp. "What do I do… I can’t remember… What if I fail tomorrow’s exam? My brain’s too stupid! I need a new one—yes, I need a new brain!"
He spun toward them, his body twisting—limbs elongating, wolf ears and tail sprouting as he dropped to all fours. With a snarl, he threw back his head and howled.
—If a black-furred creature stares at you, don’t panic. Offer it meat, and it won’t attack.
"Meat! Quick, give it meat!" the bald man yelped.
The lanky one fumbled in his pocket and tossed out dried meat—but the beast ignored it, lunging forward.
"I want fresh meat!"
Shoving the bald man aside, the lanky one dashed for the exit. Behind him, the sounds of tearing flesh and screams made him run faster, not daring to look back.
A drop of water hit his face. Raindrops soon followed, pattering down in a steady rhythm.
—If it rains, stay indoors.
From the puddles came movement.
Two boys crouched in the water, unfazed by the filth. One had a crocodile-like tail, scales glinting coldly as he slapped the surface, his tattered textbook in hand. "I still can’t remember!"
The other boy’s body erupted with writhing tentacles, flailing wildly as he clutched his head and shrieked, "Why do humans even have exams?!"
In unison, they hissed, "Humans… should just die!"
Their heads snapped toward him.
The lanky one’s body moved before his brain could react—he scrambled backward, only to trip and fall.
The thing that tripped him rolled into view: a lifelike wooden doll.
Its eyes snapped open, voice stiff and mechanical. "Hello. Will you study with us?"
The lanky one’s scream tore through the rainy night.
Hearing the shriek, Wen Sisi shuddered, hugging herself tighter.
Darkness pressed in from all sides, the inn alive with eerie noises. She hid inside a storage closet beneath the stairs, too afraid to step out.
Earlier, she’d stormed off in anger—but not far. She’d waited for Gu Moleng to chase after her, like he always did when she threw a tantrum. But this time, he never came.
Wen Sisi knew the dangers outside, so she’d sneaked back before nightfall. Yet pride—or perhaps spite—kept her hidden, hoping Gu Moleng would worry.
But he didn’t.
She couldn’t understand how the man who once adored her could change so suddenly. She was furious—at everyone, at herself, but most of all at Gu Moleng.
"Qi… yi… wu…"
A boy’s voice droned outside, practicing phonetic tones. Wen Sisi couldn’t take it anymore. She shoved the door open and snapped, "It’s q-iū, 'autumn'! How are you not in first grade and still can’t read pinyin?!"
Fang Xiaogui, crouched on the floor, flushed red. "I know how! I just… forgot for a second! What, you think you’re so great?!"
Feeling like a failure, Wen Sisi latched onto this chance to feel superior. Snatching his textbook, she cleared her throat. "Listen carefully!"
As she flawlessly recited each phonetic syllable, Fang Xiaogui gaped.
Apart from the demoness teacher, he’d never met someone so… educated.
Wen Sisi eyed the scrawny boy. Pitiful, really—malnourished, trapped in this nightmare world, yet still clinging to the will to learn.
She pursed her lips and said, "Let me teach you how to read. Come inside."
Fang Xiaogui decisively crawled into the storage cabinet.
In the shadows, the young man sat on the stairs, resting his chin on one hand as he listened to the sounds of phonetic readings. He let out a helpless sigh.
He had originally intended to dispose of this human, but it seemed he would have to let it go this time.