"What's wrong with you guys?"
"Did we say something taboo?"
Liu Chengfeng felt puzzled by the sudden change in their attitude, as if he had said something he shouldn't have.
Tian Xun's expression shifted, and after a long pause, he exhaled heavily.
"You guys... are really unlucky!"
The two exchanged a glance, and Ning Qiushui frowned, asking:
"What do you mean?"
Tian Xun began to explain the terrifying world mechanism behind the Blood Door:
"There are two types of ghosts inside the Blood Door... One is born locally, these ghosts are all Earthbound Spirits. No matter how powerful or resentful they are, once we complete the task and leave the Blood Door, our grudges with them end."
"And the other type... is quite special."
"Although they are also bound by the rules of the Blood Door, they aren't confined to one area. After slaughtering all the local NPCs, they move on to cause chaos elsewhere."
"These ghosts... their resentment is ridiculously immense!"
"Usually, if you encounter them in one Blood Door, the next Blood Door will be related to their story!"
"And the stories of these ghosts' Blood Doors are more terrifying than ordinary ones, with a higher mortality rate!"
Tian Xun's tone carried an indescribable sympathy.
"I don't know what sin you committed... to encounter such a ghost in your first Blood Door. No wonder only two of you survived."
"But I guess you can only make it this far, I'm not cursing you... go back and write your will, settle your affairs!"
"Say goodbye to your family and friends."
Tian Xun sighed deeply, collected their dishes, and took them to the kitchen.
Only then did they understand why their attitude had changed so drastically.
Because in their eyes, the two of them were already dead!
"Seriously, they look down on us like this?"
"If we survived that ghost the first time, we can do it a second, third time!"
"They think we won't survive the next Blood Door, so we'll live to prove them wrong!"
Liu Chengfeng cursed under his breath, trying to appear indifferent, but Ning Qiushui could hear the subtle tremor in his voice.
After washing the dishes, Tian Xun led them to their room in the Eerie House.
Surprisingly, the group didn't live in the villa.
Instead, they stayed in the garden's bungalow behind the courtyard.
The environment here was beautiful, though cold and quiet, it was indeed much better than the dark villa.
Tian Xun handed them the keys, gave them some instructions, and then went inside the villa to watch TV.
Although their room also had a TV, the screen in the villa was much larger.
Since Ning Qiushui and Liu Chengfeng had things on their minds, they didn't take the bus back to the original world, wanting to wait for the Lodge Master Liang Yan to return and ask about the next Red Door.
But even by nightfall, they hadn't seen anyone return to the villa.
Helpless, they decided to wait another day.
In the middle of the night, Ning Qiushui couldn't sleep, so he went to the courtyard to clear his mind, only to hear whispers coming from the villa.
Raising an eyebrow, he went to the back door to eavesdrop.
Inside, he heard the voices of a woman and a calm man.
The man's voice was familiar to Ning Qiushui; it was Meng Jun.
As for the woman... he had never heard her before.
It should belong to Bai Xiaoxiao.
"Bai Xiaoxiao... are you sure you didn't make a mistake?"
"What, don't believe me?"
"You know the relationship between Yan and Mang, right? If he finds out Mang's death was man-made, Yan won't let it go!"
Bai Xiaoxiao was about to say something when she suddenly turned her head, looking coldly in Ning Qiushui's direction:
"Who's there?"
"Come out!"
Ning Qiushui stepped out from the shadows.
Seeing it was a newcomer from their Eerie House, the coldness on Bai Xiaoxiao's delicate face slightly receded.
Her lips were painted red.
Very red.
"Why aren't you asleep at this hour?"
Ning Qiushui didn't mind her hostility, simply saying:
"Aren't you two also awake?"
He casually sat on the sofa, looking at the fire pit in the center.
With his presence, the two suddenly stopped their conversation.
"What's your name?"
Finally, Bai Xiaoxiao spoke first.
"Ning Qiushui."
"How was the first Blood Door?"
Ning Qiushui opened an unopened bottle of cold beer on the table, taking a sip.
"To be honest, not great."
"Almost died."
Bai Xiaoxiao absentmindedly responded with an 'mm', offering a very perfunctory comfort:
"The world behind the Blood Door is like that, a moment's carelessness can cost you your life. But after the first one, the others will be somewhat better..."
Before she could finish, Meng Jun coldly interjected:
"There are no other doors."
Bai Xiaoxiao snapped back to attention, surprised:
"Meng Jun, what do you mean?"
Meng Jun stood up.
"Ask him yourself, I'm going to sleep."
With that, he left without looking back.
Bai Xiaoxiao turned to Ning Qiushui, who then detailed the story of the first Blood Door to her.
Of course, Ning Qiushui omitted certain facts.
Specifically, the mysterious anonymous letter.
He only mentioned their accidental discovery of the death rules.
After hearing Ning Qiushui's account, Bai Xiaoxiao's expression changed multiple times.
There was admiration, sympathy... even a hint of regret.
"Meng Jun and Tian Xun weren't wrong, the red-clothed woman behind your first Blood Door is indeed not an ordinary Earthbound Spirit, but a particularly troublesome vengeful ghost... Fortunately, this was your first instance, so her abilities and killing rules were heavily restricted by the Blood Door. Plus, you two were bold and meticulous, finding the way out in time, otherwise, you definitely wouldn't have made it back alive!"
"Moreover, the story behind your next Blood Door should be related to this female ghost."
"If you can handle it properly, you might bring back a Ghost Artifact from that Blood Door."
Ning Qiushui was taken aback.
"Ghost Artifact?"
Bai Xiaoxiao flipped her palm, revealing a blood-stained wooden comb in her fair, petite hand.
"Like this."
"Generally, items inside the Blood Door can't be brought out, but in some high-difficulty Blood Doors, there are powerful tools, extremely precious, each with different functions."
"For example, my comb, just one stroke through the hair, and the ghost can't lock onto the person being combed for a minute."
"These Ghost Artifacts can greatly enhance our survival rate behind the Blood Door!"
Ning Qiushui recalled the Blood Jade he brought out from the first Blood Door, pondering.
Items from the Blood Door can't be taken outside.
Except for Ghost Artifacts.
It seems... that Blood Jade is also a Ghost Artifact.
Seeing Ning Qiushui's expression, Bai Xiaoxiao assumed he was scared by the next Blood Door, hesitated for a moment, and said:
"Forget it, our Eerie House doesn't have many people left, the recent batches of newcomers have been of such poor quality, all wiped out in the first three doors..."
"Next week, when you enter the second Blood Door, I'll take you through it for free."
"Besides... you do have potential worth nurturing."
After Bai Xiaoxiao finished speaking, Ning Qiushui suddenly remembered that Tian Xun had told them before that Bai Xiaoxiao took newcomers through the Blood Door outside.
"This thing... can be taken?"
Ning Qiushui was somewhat surprised.
Bai Xiaoxiao nodded.
"For a newcomer's first six Blood Doors, they can be accompanied by an elder."
"There are even dedicated 'workshops' for this."
"But this elder-guided approach usually requires a hefty fee, after all, everyone is human, and even with experience, entering a low-difficulty Blood Door carries the risk of failure..."
Since it's about risking one's life for money, charging more is normal.
After all, money is external, and compared to life, it seems less important.
Having clarified these matters, Ning Qiushui rested in the Eerie House for a night, then took the bus back to the world outside the Mist.
Upon arriving home, he turned on his computer.
A friend named 'Mole' had sent him a message.
The message was brief—
[Can't find it, the anonymous letter has no record at the post office]
[The post office told me that the anonymous letter I'm looking for is... a non-existent letter]
[But don't worry, I'll keep an eye out for you]
Ning Qiushui squinted his eyes.
Mole was his friend.
A person... very skilled at finding things.
"Even you can't find it..."
Ning Qiushui murmured to himself.
Ding dong—
Just as he was lost in thought, the doorbell suddenly rang.
Ning Qiushui was startled by the sound, he got up and went to the door, opening it.
It was his neighbor, a plump aunt in her fifties named Mu Cui.
She wore a floral shirt, as if she had just returned from shopping, with a bit of sweat on her forehead, smiling as she handed Ning Qiushui a letter.
"Qiushui, your letter."
Ning Qiushui took the letter, his expression changing abruptly.
"Aunt Mu, where did you get this letter?"
Mu Cui took out her key to open her door, replying nonchalantly:
"From the mailbox downstairs..."
"You kids are always so careless, remember to check your mailbox every time you come home..."
With that, she opened her door and went inside.
Ning Qiushui held the letter, closing his door as well.
He sat down on the sofa in the living room, looking at the letter on the coffee table, his breathing becoming rapid.
The second letter.
He opened it.
As expected, it was anonymous again.
But this time, there were no hints, just a photograph.
And this photograph left Ning Qiushui stunned!
It was... a photo of Bai Xiaoxiao!
Similarly old and yellowed, as if it had some years on it.
Yet the Bai Xiaoxiao in the photo was clearly the same age as the one he had seen!
Her smile was vivid, her red lips untouched by the passage of time, so vibrant.
"Damn..."
This time, even the usually calm Ning Qiushui couldn't help but curse.
This... was just too eerie!
He slowly turned the photo over.
His fingers trembled slightly.
On the back of the photo, there was also a sentence—
[She cannot die in your second door]
"Just as I thought..."
Ning Qiushui felt a chill down his spine.
The person sending these letters... was watching him from somewhere!
But...
Why did he have these photos, and why was he giving him hints?
What exactly... was he trying to do?