Volume 1 Chapter 1 (1/2)

As August caerine sun shone, it's scorching war forth an overflow of sweat excreted from the very pores of the skin The thunder shower that had occurred at noon had not di mist had actually caused the air to catch on a clammy sort of sultriness

”Fresh” The uncle standing in the guardhouse had a head of grey scruffy hair and wore a pair of Mike Arthur sunglasses; pulling open the littleof the glass wall, he put on a sour face and spit at the hothead that had disturbed his break

”What?” Feng Ping Lan1 startled His hand held onto aice cube that had fallen from his frozen treat onto his sandals He raised his head to look behind the guardhouse at the student dor a pitch black, clearly showing that that there was absolutely nobodyabout in there He was not convinced ”But the notice letter said that the date was 24th August!”

”Why don't you verify it again?” The adlass of iced lemon tea and drank a mouthful He i will escape!”

”Oh, alright” Feng Ping Lan held the frozen treat in histo start searching through it

He poured everything fro out And there was suddenly a mountain of snacks on the floor There were all sorts of snacks there, sweet ones, salty ones, hot and cold An ice box emitted a chilly white sarlicky and rance

The ad on a hike? Or are you part of a disaster relief?”

”I thought today was the day the freshht snacks to share withwhile could not see for and shook his head, ”That's weird… Where did it disappear to… ah!”

He suddenly reoes on the train earlier, he had used the notice letter to wipe his hands and to dispose of the o skin

”You lost it?” The administrator took in another mouthful of iced tea, and asked irritably

”Yeah But I'ust, I' Lan licked at the frozen treat that was about to ht for a bit, ”M date, and I'm the only one who came on the correct day, hahaha”

The administrator did not smile

”It's just a day early anyway, so if you have to be super strict about it, there's only six hours left until it's 25th August Can't you bend the rules a bit and letyou!” Feng Ping Lan clasped his two palether at his forehead, a sincere look on his face

The ad Lan, ”The dorht duty aren't here yet, and they're the ones who have the key You can't go in without that” He snorted impatiently, ”I'm also not supposed to simply let any students in Before there o damn kids who cas, then what happened? Those two ended up having intercourse in their rooms, and even took videos of it to put online The school had to interfere, and I ended up getting involved!” The ad a few ice cubes in his mouth

”That's really just too tragic,” Feng Ping Lan nodded e to sell his trustworthiness ”But don't worry! I'm just one person, I definitely will not be able to do that sort of thing, if you still can't trust , attach a piece a sandpaper tothat can be considered a tool to do anything lewd,” he solemnly vowed

The adusted expression, ”Whether or not you can get yourself in trouble is not the question, the point is that I don't want to cause trouble for myself, so I won't let you in”

”Is that so…” Feng Ping Lan despaired a little

”Don't you have a few relatives close by?”

”I don't have any”

”Find a hotel to stay a night in then”

”That's a good suggestion, but there's a proble Lan scratched his face, and spoke distressedly, ”I'm a bit short of money, and I won't be able to afford a hotel”

”You ca any money with you?”

”I had quite a lot of hed hollowly

This was the first ti on his own He had excitedly si necessities that 'looked like he needed it' and things food that 'would be eaten one day', and also a second-hand bicycle that had looked appropriate to buy on a shopping trip If he spent any more on a hotel fee, his allowance this month would already equal zero

The administrator looked at the junk food piled up in front of hihed, ”From which class are you? What's your name? I'll make a call towards the school affairs director, he'll contact your homeroom teacher, who'll help you handle this matter”

”Oh oh! You don't need to!” To create a bad impression on the hoood thing! ”Oh, I suddenly rereat uncle that lives near here, I'll go find them”

”Oh, is that so?” The administrator nodded his head, and picked out the le them in his s”

Feng Ping Lan breathed out a sigh of relief, and squatted down to put all his snacks back into his bag

The ad Lan's back, and lazily said, ”Be careful on your way out”

”Oh, thanks”

”I heard that recently there's a drunkard that's been creating problems in the park nearby”

”Oh, alright, I'll keep that in mind”

”The mountain area's public order would be a better place That place has a beautiful field, yet there's no one living there, what a waste of resources” The adless words to him

”Oh, alright, I'll keep that inPing Lan picked up his bag and stood up ”Right, this is for you” He took out two popsicles and gave it to the ad on his wrist he took out bit of chicken cutlet and a bottle of soda, putting it on the desk ”And these, I can't eat them all by myself”

”Mehts

”Bye, see you to Lan waved at the ad across a weird pink ladies’ bicycle, and went off

Feng Ping Lan rode on the bicycle, loitering around the streets

It was currently eight at night, the sky transitioning froe to a deep purple

The bicycle's basket had a bag of local chocolate beans, and he ate some while he rode on it

Luckily his luggage would only be sent over ton the delivery He thought optimistically

”Where should I go?”

His bicycle turned into a sh the public park

”To the park?”

No, the park was not a good place to stay There were drunkards there, and he didn't want to beco with their alcohol

Continuing with his journey, he looked afar, and realized that the road connecting to the end of the alley was an up slope He could see the ht sky

”The uy had told hiood option

Feng Ping Lan rode uphill while eating his chocolates, thenon his salted chicken pastries

The shops nearby began to lessen, and when he realized it, he had arrived at the border of the outskirts, at the foot of the mountain

Feng Ping Lan breathed heavily, his shi+rt stained with sweat and his ears a deep red

”It's so hot…”

The nightly breeze blew past, but it could not help cool hi air, the bicycle ride for more than two hours, plus the fried foods that he had consumed, all contributed to the body heat that accu Lan His ears throbbed, and his blood rushed through his veins as if they were about to explode

God, would he die right here?

He slowly rode upwards with his fever-ridden body There were no shops on either side of the road, the residences beco only about ten meters away

Ah… Will I be forced to sleep in the open now? God, at least give me a sheltered roof to hide from the rain, why don't you…

Just when the thought crossed his ht his attention

It was a beautiful European-style building, but the front courtyard's weeds and the gloo seeht The second floor had a fes that were still open, and the glass had cobwebs on theht

A huge uninhabited residence that had been abandoned by its owner

”Oh oh! This isn't bad at all! I choose you!”

Feng Ping Lan happily jumped off his bicycle and walked up to the steel fence The tall entrance gates had been locked shut, and he took great effort in cli towards the residence

He did not notice, that this residence was located halfway up the mountain, especially further away from the other residences, as if it had been purposefully avoided, existing all by itself on its own

He also did not notice, other than the front courtyard's overgroeeds, this 'abandoned' residence was kept in perfect condition, and there were no signs of anyone daring to trespass and vandalize the building

He further rey walls were plastered full of seals that were n that said—

”Danger! Danger! Do not enter!”

”Ghosts! There are ghosts!”

”There are evil spirits here! Leave immediately!”

Feng Ping Lan crossed the weed-filled courtyard, and walked towards the e layer of dust on it, realizing that it was locked To be sure, he pressed the doorbell But there wasn't a sound and nobody answered

”Hm, maybe there's another entrance…”

He walked around the house's colass

It seemed like he would just have to find himself a way in

”Please excuseLan bowed at the , and picked up a stone in the colass

Bang! An ear-piercing sound cut through the silent night

In the silent space of the residence, an undetected hidden presence faintly started to wake

There's someone…

A lowly despicable intruder…

Who is it this time?

No matter what, let's entertain him nicely, hehe…

Soundless whispers echoed throughout the house, only to be heard by the ones concealed by darkness

Feng Ping Lan as currently outside stared at thein front of hilass he realized that the as too narrow, and although it could fit hi it and he would definitely get cut by them

Feng Ping Lan scratched his head, helplessly walking around the co that there wasn't any more ways in from the first floor

What should he do now? Build a makeshi+ft bed on the floor? But there were s nearby…

Just when Feng Ping Lan distressedly circled the house, he suddenly realized that the door that had been locked earlier was now unlocked, the snohite door facing inwards, revealing a dark crack as if it was inviting him him

Are you brave enough to come in? Human…

If you're scared, leave this place im—

”Oh yeah! Lucky!” Feng Ping Lan shouted loudly, pushi+ng open the door and walking in to look about

Very good Even though he did not knohy, but his luck was incredibly good! The old residence had been abandoned for years, and anything could happen, so maybe he had broken the lock when he pushed at the door, hahaha!

He really hoped that the bathroo for a cold shower His skin was clammy, and the heat was unable to escape fro to die from a heatwave

…He entered…

…Make hio away!

In the tightly-shut chaust of wind appeared with no reason at all, sweeping through Feng Ping Lan's pathway The strong wind brushed past, filling the room with cool air, a deadly silent wind that increased the pressure in the atmosphere

Leave, in the direction of this wind, get away from he—

”Mroan, as if he was being released from a heavy load

Because he had eaten a lot of chocolates and fatty foods which had made his body heat shoot up, the chilly as extremely enjoyable, and cooled him down a lot

…He's still there…

…Why is he …

Is he sick?

Very interesting, hehehe…

Feng Ping Lan continued to walk through the hallway The hallway had a few portraits on the walls as decorations which see Lan as he moved about

Feng Ping Lan walked a few steps, feeling so and stopped his movements, in front of a certain portrait

It looked to be a family portrait, its size smaller than any other portraits in the hallway It carried a dark and old-fashi+oned feel to it, seven people sitting in it, every person having features that transcended any nor's; the male that sat in the middle had a face that was faded and distorted, as if someone had used a thumb to rub away his features before the photo had dried

The seven people sat in a gorgeous roolazed as if their souls had left them

Feng Ping Lan stared at the picture, sainst each and every face

”With these …”

He pulled back, and turned away to continue walking through dark house

He was not scared He was used to being in the dark, and was used to being by himself It wasn't because he was especially brave, but rather than ghosts, he had fears that were greater than them…

Pa dong! dong! kaka— A sound ca destroyed, then the sound of wood snapping under the feet of someone

Pa dong! dong! dong—

Feng Ping Lan raised his head to look above, frowning then quickly turning back to leave the room

He's gone…

I’ll count him as smart…

Three minutes later, the same silhouette arrived once more

The deeply secluded residents felt shocked and confused

He came back?

Just why…

Feng Ping Lan had co an electric pot, on his ar stuffed full of junk food As soon as he stepped in, the air was instantly filled with the strong sarlic

”Bringing it in would be safer” Feng Ping Lan looked at the snacks in his hands with a relieved gaze

Listening the the earlier sounds res outside, and if he put the food outside it would probably be stolen The house would ata few peanuts would do the job

He's co closer…

The presences hidden away in the dark started to panic

Don't let him!

Feng Ping Lan's shadow started to elongate, rising above the ground to stand upright The twisted and unstable shadow raised two constantly warping hands towards Feng Ping Lan's neck

”Ah!” Feng Ping Lan gasped, and lowered his head

Just at this h e body, and as a last act transfor to the darkness

Feng Ping Lan stared at his own clothes, where a large amount of blood stained it

The scent of blood…

The hidden presences were confused

Is it your doing?

No…

Then why…

The blood continued to drip, and Feng Ping Lan raised his hand to wipe his face, realizing a hint of wetness beneath his nose Fresh red blood leaked from his nose The heat that had accumulated in his body entered and expanded his blood vessels, rushi+ng to his nose and breaking through theshelter with the open air

”Ah, this is bad this is bad!” Feng Ping Lan used his hand to cover his nose He didn't have any tissue paper, and the only piece of paper he had had already been used to wrap theonto the ground

What should he do? There should be soe house…He'll find the toilet first!

He continued his footsteps, into the innermost part of the house

A pair of doors blocked his way, the two doors had no handle, and beautiful golden patternsLan unconsciously pushed open the doors

The instant those blood-stained hands touched the doors, the air quaked faintly, a protective screen appearing on the rupture, instantly disintegrating

He's here—

He's come in—

Pushi+ng open the doors revealed a wide and high-ceiling hall, only containing six large sculptures