Chapter Two: The Night of the Thunderstorm

Everyone entered the house, their eyes gradually adjusting to the dim light until they could finally make out their surroundings. As Xiu Ming had said, no one had lived here for a long time. A thin layer of dust covered the tables and chairs, and judging by the style of the furniture, it seemed to date back to the Ming or Qing dynasties. No one present, however, was an expert in antiques.

"Heh, this chair must be worth at least a hundred thousand, don't you think? Looks like rosewood to me," Gao Yi said, weighing a chair in his hands, a gleam in his eyes.

"What's this?" Cui Kaixuan picked up a few yellow slips from the floor.

"These are... talisman papers?" He stared blankly at them, then glanced toward the back of the door.

There, a few talisman papers remained stuck to the door.

Guo Zhengxiang chuckled, "Before the economic reforms, it was common to stick these around. The old lady who lived across from us used to hang protective charms by her door."

"But talisman papers are supposed to go behind the door, not like this," Xiu Ming said, puzzled.

"Well, customs differ. Let’s see if there are any rooms. We’re only staying one night anyway," said Guo Zhengxiang, leading the group to look around.

Xiu Ming turned his attention to the large oil painting on the hall wall—a depiction of the Madonna and angels in a heavenly scene. Perhaps due to the lighting or the passage of time, the colors had faded to a muted gray.

"What are you looking at?" Fei Xin came over. "Come on, let's check the other rooms, see if any are suitable."

"Alright." Since Guo Zhengxiang’s group had gone left, Xiu Ming and Fei Xin headed right. Both sides were lined with corridors, each with a row of windows. The area behind the main hall was too dark for anyone to venture there.

Cui Kaixuan frowned, set the talisman papers back on the floor, and went left.

Xiu Ming and Fei Xin—he handsome, she beautiful, and both excellent students—naturally gave off an air of distance, but among peers, that vanished. They seemed attuned to each other, often understanding without words.

Wang Qian was neither beautiful nor plain, but her engaging personality made her well-liked.

Guo Zhengxiang came from a good family and was easygoing. Tao Tao, petite and graceful with perfect features and figure, though from a modest background, was universally acknowledged as his girlfriend.

Cui Kaixuan and Gao Yi were both single and spent their days gazing longingly at the girls, but lacking any special qualities, could only sigh inwardly.

When Xiu Ming and Fei Xin finished exploring the right side and returned to the hall, Guo Zhengxiang’s group had already gathered.

"There are fifteen rooms on the left, a few of them locked. The corridor ends there," Guo Zhengxiang reported.

The right side was the same—fifteen rooms, all locked. After Xiu Ming explained, Guo Zhengxiang nodded. "In that case, we'll have to sleep on the left. Let’s get our things from the car, and some cleaning supplies—the rooms are a bit dusty."

With their lodging settled, the group cheerfully went out to fetch their belongings—snacks, power banks, and so forth.

By the time they finished cleaning, dusk had fallen.

The seven of them took up residence in the seven rooms at the end of the left corridor.

Under Guo Zhengxiang’s arrangement, the four boys took the outer rooms, the three girls the inner ones. Gao Yi, being the sturdiest, took the outermost room.

"I’ll take care of it. If anything happens, I’ll give the alarm immediately," Gao Yi said without hesitation.

So, from outermost to innermost: Gao Yi, Cui Kaixuan, Guo Zhengxiang, Xiu Ming, Fei Xin, Tao Tao, and Wang Qian.

On the long table in the main hall, two rows of food were set out. With no electricity, they lit the candles in the chandelier, of uncertain age.

Guo Zhengxiang handed Tao Tao a duck leg and said, "I wonder how many days the landslide will keep the road closed. There are two weeks until the semester starts."

"There should be enough time. If the road’s still closed tomorrow, we can take another route—it’ll just take a day longer, but we can still enjoy ourselves," Tao Tao replied, showing Guo Zhengxiang her phone’s navigation.

A mouse, drawn by the aroma of food, paused in a corner.

"So dirty," the girls murmured, clearly unwelcoming of such a guest.

Rain suddenly lashed the windows.

"What a downpour," Cui Kaixuan remarked, looking outside at the swaying, rain-beaten trees.

Thunder crashed, one bolt after another. Flashes of lightning cast the swinging shadows of the chandelier across the table, but as adults, no one was frightened.

Wind howled through the hall, making an unpleasant hissing sound.

The wall’s mural flickered in and out of sight. The Madonna and angels still smiled serenely, but Xiu Ming felt the painting looked subtly different from when they’d arrived.

"I’m going to the bathroom," Gao Yi announced, heading to the main door.

"Huh? It won’t open?" He tugged hard, but the door didn’t budge. "Is it stuck?"

The others glanced at him. Guo Zhengxiang said, "Don’t worry. If we can’t open it, neither can a robber. We’ll deal with it together in the morning."

Gao Yi nodded, returning to the table.

"Too bad there’s no way to shower here, and who knows where the bathroom is."

"Just pick a corner—plenty of space."

"Once we find an inn tomorrow, we can shower. Let’s bear it for now."

By now, everyone had finished eating.

"Alright, you can decide who to room with, but don’t wander around at night," Guo Zhengxiang advised. "There may be weasels, large rats, or night cats in an abandoned house, and being scratched or bitten out here, far from a proper hospital, could be dangerous."

"Heh, in an old mansion like this, who knows what unclean things might be lurking!" Gao Yi raised his eyebrows at the girls.

The girls’ faces betrayed their obvious fear.

Cui Kaixuan nodded gravely. "The bigger the house, the more sinister it feels, especially when it’s been empty so long. The yin energy must be thick."

"Oh no—what should I do? Maybe I’ll just stay in your room," Wang Qian said, fearfully glancing at Cui Kaixuan and Gao Yi.

Gao Yi’s eyes lit up. "Great idea!"

"Idiot. I’m going to bed," Wang Qian retorted, turning on her heel and leaving.

"Heh," Gao Yi chuckled, glancing at Cui Kaixuan. "Nice teamwork."

But Cui Kaixuan was serious. He shook his head. "I’m heading to bed too."

The others, tired after a long day, had little desire for more conversation and retired to their rooms.

Xiu Ming returned to his, closing the door behind him. The key was nowhere to be found, but there was a security latch inside—once engaged, the solid door was nearly impossible to open from outside.

As for bedding, there were no blankets, but everyone had brought a sleeping bag, so there was no problem.

He glanced at his phone: nine o’clock.

Though usually wide awake at this hour, the day’s journey had worn Xiu Ming out, and he soon drifted off.

In the empty hall, only the Madonna and angels in the mural kept smiling through the storm, their expressions unchanged in the flicker of lightning.