You made all the streamers on the internet kneel before you when you were asked to make a game.

Professor Chen did not answer, but instead strode towards the center of the village.

There stands a huge, ancient stage built of bluestone.

The stage was empty; there was nothing on it.

Only at the very back of the stage, directly facing the village entrance, are five simple and elegant armchairs with intricate carvings.

Professor Chen looked at the five chairs and speculated.

"They lured the ghosts here... just to watch a show."

"But this play isn't for those kids."

"It's for them to see."

Professor Chen pointed to the five empty armchairs.

"It's also for...the people above to see."

above?

Following Professor Chen's finger, everyone subconsciously looked up at the sky.

The sky was overcast and there was nothing there.

But a heavy shadow fell over everyone's hearts.

Just then, the experienced driver suddenly cried out in surprise.

"Holy crap! Where's the road?!"

Everyone turned around at the sound.

The path they had taken to the village entrance had vanished without a trace.

Instead, a high wall made of perfectly fitted blue bricks was erected.

They were trapped.

"Don't panic!" Lancet's voice rang out calmly.

"Let's split up and search to see if there are any other exits in the village."

Everyone nodded and immediately began to act.

They tried to cross the village and leave in another direction.

But in the end, no matter which way they went, no matter which alley they chose.

Ultimately, after going around in circles, they would all inexplicably return to the stage in the center of the village.

"it's useless……"

Professor Chen shook his head as he looked at the group of people who had been running around in vain.

"This entire village is a giant magic circle."

"The stage is the heart of the formation."

"If we don't break the formation, none of us will get out."

Just when everyone was at a loss.

it's dark.

One second, it was a gloomy daytime.

The next second, the last glimmer of light was completely swallowed up by the boundless darkness.

It was as if someone had flipped the switch that turned on the world's lights.

The entire Fenghun Village was instantly plunged into a deathly silence and darkness.

Followed by.

"Clatter".

"Clatter".

"Clatter".

In the village, the human skin lanterns hanging at the door of every household lit up automatically at the same time.

But the light was not a warm red or yellow, but a ghastly green.

The eerie green light cast an eerie glow over the entire village, making it appear as if it were a ghost town.

Under the green light, everyone's face looked sinister and eerie.

[System notification: The current time flow rate is abnormal; we have entered "yin time".]

[WARNING: Regional rules have been activated. All players must strictly abide by them, or they will be responsible for the consequences.]

A cold, impersonal system notification popped up in everyone's field of vision.

Meanwhile, on that enormous stage...

A sheet of white Xuan paper appeared out of thin air, slowly drifted down, and finally stuck firmly to the pillar in the center of the stage.

Above, several lines of crooked, large characters were written in blood.

【Soul Sealing Village Rules】

[1. After dark, no one may linger outside; everyone must return indoors immediately.]

2. If you hear a knock on the door, do not answer. Unless, of course, it calls you by your full name.

[Third, a light must be left on inside the house. The person is alive as long as the light is on; the person dies when the light goes out.]

[IV. Tonight at midnight, a grand opera will begin on the stage. At that time, the sound of gongs and drums will signal the start. All audience members must be seated on time and may not be absent or leave early.]

5. The audience seating must be full.

Five rules.

Five death warrants.

As everyone looked at the blood-stained notice, their hearts sank to the bottom.

These five rules seem simple, but in reality they are full of contradictions and pitfalls.

First, let them into the house.

The fourth rule was that they should come out to watch the play at midnight.

This is already a logical conflict.

Should we go inside first and wait for the gongs and drums to sound before coming out?

Or are they simply not qualified to enter the house?

The most chilling one is the last one.

The audience seats must be full.

Everyone turned around and looked at the empty audience area below the stage, which could hold hundreds of people.

How could a few of them possibly fill the seats?

unless……

Unless, something else will come to watch the show with them.

"Let's find a house first!" Lancet decided immediately.

"Regardless of the fourth and fifth rules, the first three are the survival rules we must immediately follow!"

"You can't go out after dark, and we're still standing outside, which already violates rule number one!"

As if waking from a dream, everyone immediately ran towards the nearest house.

It was a two-story building that looked fairly intact.

They pushed open the door, rushed inside, and immediately slammed the wooden door shut and bolted it in place.

The room was pitch black; you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.

"Light...light..." Brother Long hugged the ghost bride in fear.

"Rule number three: There must be a light inside!"

"Where the hell are the lights?!"

Everyone's hearts were in their throats again.

The group groped around and found an old, dusty kerosene lamp in the corner.

Lancet picked up the kerosene lamp and shook it.

Inside, there was still a small half-full pot of lamp oil.

Professor Chen, meanwhile, found a box of matches wrapped in oil paper in the stove next to him.

"Sizzle—"

A match was struck and lit.

A dim, yellowish light shone in the darkness.

Professor Chen used a match to light the wick of the kerosene lamp.

A warm, orange-yellow halo instantly enveloped the entire woodshed.

Everyone breathed a long sigh of relief, feeling as if they had just escaped death.

The light came on.

They are safe for now.

The group sat around the small kerosene lamp, on the ground, and no one spoke.

Outside the window, there was a deathly silence.

Only the pale green light of the lanterns shone through the cracks in the windows, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

I don't know how much time has passed.

"Thump...thump thump..."

There was a knock on the door.

Everyone's body tensed up instantly.

[The classic door-knocking moment!]

Rule Two: Do ​​not answer if you hear a knock on the door. Unless, of course, it calls you by your full name.

**Don't make a sound!**

The viewers in the live stream were even more nervous than those at the venue.

The knocking continued.

"Thump...thump thump..."

"Thump...thump thump..."

He was unhurried and patient.

It was as if the thing outside the door knew that someone was inside.

They knew the people inside were afraid to open the door.

It is enjoying this cat-and-mouse game.

"Is anyone there...?"

A hoarse voice drifted from outside the door.

"Open the door..."

"I...I'm here to deliver lamp oil..."