Forbidden Zone of Deception

Chapter 220 Living in the Water

Huikong and Ning Caichen returned to the monks' quarters, slammed the wooden door shut, locked it securely, and then moved a low table to block the door.

"Master Huikong, thank you," Ning Caichen tried to lie down, only to find that the bed here was smaller than his own, and he had to curl up his legs. "Do you usually live alone?"

Huikong nodded, then took out a black cloth and covered the small mirror on the wall—this had become his nightly ritual.

He roughly summarized a pattern: as long as one stays in the temple for no more than seven days, it seems that one does not need to abide by the temple rules, but after that time, the temple rules must be strictly followed.

Then, Huikong sat on the edge of the bed, his fingers unconsciously twirling the prayer beads: "Benefactor Ning, I... I'll tell you everything I've been through. After you've heard it all, then you can decide whether you want to stay in the temple."

From the eerie zither music heard upon first arriving at Lanruo Temple, to the mysterious death of Brother Huizhen after his nighttime visit; from the conversation of the "reincarnated ones" heard in the meditation room, to the cry for help that disappeared in the ancient well.

Huikong's voice grew softer and softer as he spoke, as if he was afraid of being overheard by something he shouldn't be listening to.

“The scariest thing is…” Huikong swallowed hard, “I suspect that Senior Brother Huizhen saw ‘Nie Xiaoqian’ before he died.”

Ning Caichen suddenly sat up straight: "Nie Xiaoqian?"

“The first rule of the temple mentions this name, saying that if someone claims to be Nie Xiaoqian, they must immediately recite the Diamond Sutra. You told me that you saw Brother Huizhen reciting the Diamond Sutra with his eyes closed, which perfectly matches the first rule.”

"But I didn't see any girl with him at the time."

“I’m afraid…not everyone can see that so-called 'Nie Xiaoqian'.” Huikong nervously rubbed his hands. “But I’ve asked everyone in the entire temple, and they all say that Lanruo Temple has never had anyone with that name. Isn’t this just like protesting too much? If there’s no such person, why would the temple rules include this woman’s name?”

Ning Caichen fell into deep thought, tapping his fingers lightly on the bed board: "Master Huikong, have you ever considered that these might not be hallucinations? There have always been stories about ghosts and gods in Hong Kong. I heard a lot about them when I was a child."

In fact, Huikong had this idea for a long time. People on Hong Kong Island are generally more superstitious than people on the mainland.

“I mean,” Ning Caichen’s voice suddenly became unusually calm, “maybe Senior Brother Huizhen really is possessed by an evil spirit, maybe that Nie Xiaoqian is… something that shouldn’t exist.”

A sudden draft blew into the monks' quarters, causing the oil lamp flames to flicker violently and nearly go out.

Huikong trembled, and the Buddhist beads in his hand fell to the ground with a clatter.

He clearly closed the window, so how did the wind get in?

"You, Benefactor Ning...aren't you afraid?" When Huikong bent down to pick up the prayer beads, she noticed a faint smile on Ning Caichen's lips.

Ning Caichen pushed up his glasses: "Scared? No, I feel this temple is becoming more and more attractive to me, especially that Nie Xiaoqian. I don't know why, but just hearing that name makes me very concerned... I want to find her."

This……

Is this guy crazy? Didn't he say he was here to study?

However, he now understands why this person failed the exam so many times. Perhaps he really has something wrong with his head?

Enough already, I've already told him everything, but he still insists on staying.

As midnight approached, Huikong went to bed, while Ning Caichen made a makeshift bed on the floor.

However, Huikong could not fall asleep easily. Every now and then, she would open her eyes and check the position of the mirror.

But at that moment, when Huikong looked over, he was surprised to find that... the black cloth covering the mirror was slowly sliding down!
"The cloth...the cloth fell!" Huikong's voice trembled with fright!
Having experienced so many bizarre things, he no longer dares to underestimate any rule!
Ning Caichen stood up and said, "Master Huikong, I'll go cover him up with the cloth!"

He strode toward the mirror and reached for the teetering black cloth.

Just as he was about to touch the cloth, the black cloth completely fell off and floated lightly to the ground.

The light from the oil lamp shone on the mirror, reflecting Ning Caichen's image.

But then Ning Caichen saw that what was reflected in the mirror was not just his own face—in the shadow behind Huikong's bedside, there was clearly a mummified corpse dressed in a monk's robe!

The mummy's facial skin clung tightly to the skull, its eye sockets were sunken, its lips had shriveled to reveal stark white teeth, and it was slowly raising a skeletal hand...

"Benefactor Ning! Quickly cover it with a cloth!" Huikong huddled in the corner of the bed, his voice hoarse.

Ning Caichen bent down to pick up the black cloth and put it back over the mirror. He seemed to deliberately look at the image in the mirror a few more times, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

"Alright." Ning Caichen clapped his hands and sat back down. "It's covered up."

Huikong, panting heavily, asked, "Did you see anything unusual in the mirror...?"

Ning Caichen shook his head: "Nothing's wrong."

"Why did the cloth fall down for no reason?"

Ning Caichen's tone was very calm: "It's probably just the wind, don't overthink it."

Huikong stared intently at Ning Caichen's profile, a chill creeping up her spine from the soles of her feet.

Something's off about this guy—he's too calm. After hearing so many of my terrifying experiences, isn't he scared at all?

"Go to sleep." Ning Caichen lay down with his back to Huikong. "I have to get up early to study tomorrow."

Huikong curled up on the bed, but dared not close her eyes.

Whenever he was about to fall asleep, he always felt like there was a third person breathing in the room...

At that moment, under the same moon, Yan Chixia stood alone by the ancient well.

The hunting rifle in his hand gleamed coldly in the moonlight, and the runes engraved on the barrel glowed slightly red.

Suddenly, a dark figure emerged from behind the ancient locust tree; it was Xiahou the swordsman.

He placed his left hand on his right arm, and then seemingly out of nowhere produced a handful of glutinous rice, which he then scattered at the wellhead. The rice grains turned black instantly upon contact with the water surface and sank into the water with a hissing sound.

Then, Yan Chixia and Xiahou's expressions both became serious.

Inside Master Mingxin's meditation room, the rhythmic sound of the wooden fish drum was like a heartbeat.

Suddenly, the sound of the wooden fish stopped.

“Since you’re here, why hide?” Master Mingxin said without looking up.

The air distorted, and two men appeared out of thin air in the center of the meditation room.

The leader was a lean man in his early thirties, wielding two knives and with a fierce look in his eyes; the other was younger and looked nervous.

"Old monk, you've got some skills," the lean man sneered. "My name is Mu Qing, and this is Li Feng. We ask, you answer, understand?"

Master Mingxin slowly opened his eyes, his gaze calm as still water: "What brings you two benefactors here in the dead of night with knives?"

"Stop pretending!" Mu Qing stepped forward, the tip of his knife almost touching Master Mingxin's nose. "Tell us what's really going on with 'Nie Xiaoqian' and 'Grandma,' and whether they are these two people?"

He took out two photos, and these two photos were of Nie Xiaoqian, played by Joey Wong, and Grandma, played by Lau Siu-ming.

"If you don't speak..."

He made a throat-slitting motion.

Young Li Feng tugged at his companion's sleeve: "Mu Qing, is it really necessary to resort to violence right away? Commander Feng said—"

"Don't try to boss me around, you're just a newly promoted LV2 priest!" Mu Qing shook off his hand. "If you can't handle things properly, go find Commander Feng! We have to finish the mission before Nirvana, and we can't let Yu Tianlun get the credit!"

Master Mingxin sighed softly: "I roughly know what you two benefactors are planning to do."

His withered fingers twirled the prayer beads: "You will never leave Lanruo Temple. In the past, there have been 'reincarnators' like you who came in and showed me this photo, but I don't recognize the two benefactors in the photo."

Mu Qing nodded and said, "I know, you're talking about the first batch of reincarnators from the Black Sparrow Pavilion who were in charge of reconnaissance, right? We're different from them; we came fully prepared. We're not..."

“I know this place is like the deepest hell, and you are all destined to perish here.” Master Mingxin interrupted him, his voice suddenly becoming unusually loud. “I have lived long enough and do not care about seeing Buddha sooner or later. If you want to take my life, then come and do so.”

“Abbot,” Li Feng said in a more moderate tone, “you really haven’t seen the person in this photo?”

“Amitabha, monks do not lie, and this old monk has indeed never seen it. Of course, I know that you two benefactors will not believe my words.”

Li Feng suddenly pressed his temple: "Mu Qing...did you hear that?"

A burst of piano music came from somewhere, the melody was mournful and lingering, yet it carried an indescribable eeriness.

"This music..." Mu Qing had barely uttered those words when his face turned deathly pale: "Oh no! We—"

Master Mingxin suddenly raised his voice: "Two benefactors, you have violated the rules."

This statement is like a verdict.

According to the rules, they cannot tell others that they heard the music! Master Mingxin clasped his hands together and said, "Amitabha, the Buddha is merciful..."

The oil lamp suddenly went out.

From the darkness came Mu Qing's roar and Li Feng's scream, followed by the dull thud of bodies falling to the ground.

When the lights came back on, only Master Mingxin remained in the meditation room.

The old monk began striking the wooden fish again and chanting the Rebirth Mantra.

He suddenly coughed halfway through his recitation, staining the cuff of his monk's robe with a dark red stain.

"Time is running out..." Master Mingxin wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and looked out the window.

Meanwhile, outside the door...

Li Ping held his breath and pressed himself against the wooden door of Master Mingxin's meditation room.

He is one of the best stealth characters in the Temple team, following the shamanic path and skilled at using spells and shadows to conceal his presence.

But at this moment, his forehead was covered in cold sweat.

Through the crack in the door, he had just witnessed a sight he would never forget—

At this moment, the old monk calmly tapped the wooden fish, his lips moving as he chanted the Rebirth Mantra, as if what he was seeing was not the complete annihilation of two living people, but merely the salvation of two ants.

At this moment, Master Mingxin suddenly turned his head and stared straight at the crack in the door!
Li Ping was so frightened that he fled in a panic!

Li Ping ran wildly along the corridor, his heart pounding in his chest.

Although I had anticipated that the newly appeared Lanruo Temple instance in Qingtan Community would be extremely dangerous, seeing LV2 Reincarnators die like ants was still beyond my psychological limits.

All he wants now is to get out of this damned temple immediately!
As Li Ping turned a corner, he unexpectedly bumped into someone.

The two staggered a few steps at the same time, and Li Ping subconsciously reached for his Reincarnator watch—

"Hmm? Commander Yu? Mr. Jiang?"

Li Ping looked at Jiang Jin, who was holding a hunting rifle, and Yu Tianlun, who was carrying a sword.
“I think I vaguely remember you… I saw you during the rescue of the Rock Group building.” Jiang Jin’s dark eyes looked at Li Ping and said, “You’re from the Temple team, right?”

Li Ping nodded and said, "Are you two... entering role-playing mode in this horror-themed instance?"

Yu Tianlun frowned slightly: "This is a matter for our Nirvana team, you don't need to ask any more questions."

"Gentlemen, it's like this," Li Ping said, feeling much more at ease upon seeing Yu Tianlun and Jiang Jin. "My name is Li Ping. I'm from the Xuan Ce branch of the Holy Temple, directly under Commander Xiao Tian Ce. I came in with Commander Feng this time."

Upon hearing "Commander Feng," Jiang Jin knew it must refer to Feng Ya. Jiang Jin had a good impression of Feng Ya from that rescue mission.

"Minister Long hopes to revive Commander Ye. We hope to find a way to bring Commander Ye back to life here."

Jiang Jin and Yu Tianlun exchanged a glance.

Li Ping noticed that Yu Tianlun's left hand was always on the scabbard, clearly ready to activate his skill at any moment.

“This isn’t the place to talk.” Jiang Jin glanced at the way they came. “Come with us.”

The three of them quietly sneaked into an abandoned meditation room.

Jiang Jin took out three yellow talismans from his pocket and stuck them on the doors and windows. The runes glowed faintly and then disappeared—clearly, they were barrier talismans that could isolate sound and energy fluctuations.

Since wiping out the two Bloody factions and obtaining a bunch of Bloody Keys, the Nirvana team has become quite wealthy, possessing all sorts of items.

"You two really acted so convincingly..." Li Ping couldn't help but exclaim, "I was completely stunned while watching."

Jiang Jin had no interest in discussing this issue with him and went straight to the point: "I want to exchange information with you. How many people have entered your temple? What intelligence have you obtained so far?"

"We have twelve people in, divided into three groups. Commander Feng will lead the main force to provide support outside the temple, while our group of four will be responsible for infiltrating for reconnaissance and providing support."

He paused, lowered his voice, and then recounted the tragic deaths of Mu Qing and Li Feng in the meditation room.

Yu Tianlun and Jiang Jin exchanged glances again. Finally, Jiang Jin spoke: "Have you found any clues about Nie Xiaoqian?"

Li Ping replied, "The old monk looked at the photos of Joey Wong and Lau Siu-ming in the original movie and said he had never seen them before."

"Should we show him the versions starring Liu Yifei and Barbie Hsu?" Jiang Jin suddenly had a whimsical idea. "Oh, if I remember correctly, Yang Mi also played Nie Xiaoqian."

“I don’t think so,” Li Ping glanced at Yu Tianlun and said, “Commander Yu, the character you played, Xiahou Swordsman, is a unique character only found in Tsui Hark’s version of A Chinese Ghost Story. So, this instance should be generated after the Wang Zuxian version of A Chinese Ghost Story was contaminated by memes. Hmm… but it’s hard to say right now, after all, this is a newly appeared instance, and there is no strategy information available.”

The Black Sparrow Pavilion may have some intelligence, but they are likely to keep it to themselves and not easily leak it.

"Meme contamination is truly terrifying," Jiang Jin couldn't help but exclaim. "This instance has been modified far too much..."

“There’s still a group of reincarnators waiting outside the temple.” Li Ping decided to do them another favor, “Why don’t you come out first and join us?”

Jiang Jin's eyes flashed: "You're in contact with them now, aren't you?"

"Yes, we can establish an encrypted mental link."

“Very good.” Jiang Jin showed his first smile of the night. “Pass on a message for me: Let’s meet at the back mountain tomorrow night, exchange information and discuss how to cooperate.”

Li Ping remained silent. Finally, he nodded emphatically: "I will deliver the message. But I cannot guarantee whether Commander Feng will participate."

“That’s enough.” Jiang Jin patted his shoulder. “If we follow the plot of Tsui Hark’s version of ‘A Chinese Ghost Story,’ then there might be a part of Grandma under the locust tree. If Nie Xiaoqian is active in the temple… and Master Mingxin said he’s never seen Joey Wong’s version of Nie Xiaoqian…”

Yu Tianlun replied, "In the movie, Grandma is a tree spirit, but here she is clearly a more complex, deeply evil spirit corrupted by memes. 'Nie Xiaoqian'... is probably not the beautiful female ghost with humanity left in the original movie either."

All three agreed on this point.

The original film appears to be a horror movie, but it's actually about love. However, due to meme contamination, there's no longer any tender romance, only absolute horror and death!

Afterwards, the three parted ways and went their separate ways.

However, Jiang Jin had only taken a few steps when he suddenly stopped!

The sound of a piano floated into my ears!

The music was melodious and poignant, piercing straight to the depths of the soul!

Jiang Jin firmly remembered the first rule of the temple!
Following the sound of the zither, Jiang Jin walked through layers of corridors.

Under the moonlight, Lanruo Temple resembled a giant maze, where familiar paths became strange.

When he passed the same old locust tree for the third time, he finally realized something was wrong—he was going in circles!

"Being trapped in a maze..."

We have entered the Lost Layer...

Jiang Jin walked for a while longer, and when the SAN value on his watch dropped below 55%, he arrived at what should have been the temple's vegetable garden, which had now... transformed into a wide lake!

In the middle of the lake stands an exquisite pavilion with white lanterns hanging from its eaves, but the pavilion is completely empty.

The sound of the zither came from inside the pavilion.

Jiang Jin continued to approach the lake.

When he reached the lake, he raised his left hand, and the number on his wristwatch screen had stopped at 52%!

"As expected, neither the lake nor the pavilion exists in the material layer, nor even in the mysterious layer," Jiang Jin muttered to himself.

A plaque hangs under the eaves of the pavilion, bearing three very elegant characters: "Dwelling in the Water".

"It looks almost identical to the original movie!"

Jiang Jin was very interested in Hong Kong movies as a child and had watched quite a few. He wouldn't miss such a classic film. After watching it, he was deeply impressed by Leslie Cheung's portrayal of Ning Caichen and Joey Wong's portrayal of Nie Xiaoqian; Joey Wong is even one of Jiang Jin's favorite Hong Kong style goddesses to this day. Later, he also watched the second and third parts.

The music suddenly rose in pitch, becoming shrill and piercing. Jiang Jin glanced at his watch; the numbers on the screen began to slowly decrease: 51%... 50%...

Without hesitation, Jiang Jin raised the Mourning Shotgun in his hand.

"Whether you're Nie Xiaoqian or Grandma..." Jiang Jin aimed his scope at the pavilion, "Take this shot first!"

The sound of the piano stopped suddenly.

In the utter silence, Jiang Jin pulled the trigger!
(End of this chapter)