A bizarre and terrifying experience; I messed up the dungeon world.

Zhou Lang felt a sudden lightness in his body, and then everything went black.

When he opened his eyes again, he was back in the manor's main hall.

Zhao Qiang and Han Yingying were also there, both looking bewildered.

"We...are we back?" Zhao Qiang touched his face. "Was what happened just now real?"

"It's true," Zhou Lang said, "but it's over now."

He looked at Zhao Qianshan, who was standing in the center of the hall, smiling at him.

"Remember your promise," Zhao Qianshan said. "Starting tomorrow, you will begin my training."

After saying that, he turned and left the villa.

Zhou Lang watched his retreating figure, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He didn't know if his decision was right or wrong, but at least he was one step closer to finding his sister.

Chapter Nine: The First Meeting Between Master and Disciple

The sky outside the villa was beginning to lighten with the first hint of dawn.

Zhou Lang stood at the door, looking in the direction where Zhao Qianshan had disappeared, his mind a jumble of thoughts.

"Are you really going to take him as your master?" Zhao Qiang walked over and lowered his voice. "I always felt that old man was unreliable."

"I had no choice," Zhou Lang said.

Han Yingying also came over, hesitated for a moment before speaking, "What he said about your sister...do you believe it?"

Zhou Lang didn't answer, but turned and walked into the villa.

In the hall, the butler was standing at the top of the stairs, his stitched-up face expressionless.

"Congratulations on surviving the second day." It tapped its cane. "Work will proceed as usual today."

Zhou Lang glanced at it and suddenly asked, "Do you know Zhao Qianshan?"

The action of killing the butler paused for a moment.

Have you seen him?

"I was in the basement just now."

"Then you're in luck," the butler said. "He's one of the few strong players in this game. If you can get his guidance, your chances of survival will greatly increase."

"But be careful," it added. "That old man has a bad temper and never does things the way things should."

Zhou Lang nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

Back in the room, the bandaged man had recovered considerably, and the bloodstains on his body had lessened significantly.

"You're still alive?" its voice was filled with surprise. "I thought you would die in the forest."

"Almost." Zhou Lang sat down on the edge of the bed. "Thanks to you."

"Hmph." The bandaged man snorted. "Remember what you promised me, find me some clean bandages."

"I remember," Zhou Lang said, "but now there's a more important issue."

"What?"

"Zhao Qianshan said he can help me find my sister. Do you think that's believable?"

The bandaged man remained silent for a moment.

"I've heard of Zhao Qianshan," it said. "He was already a master before the Age of Terror arrived, and it's said he possesses some kind of special power."

"But he's a very mysterious person; nobody knows his true purpose."

Some say he's looking for something, while others say he's grooming a successor.

"In short, following him won't be too safe, but it won't be too dangerous either."

After listening, Zhou Lang felt more confident.

"Then I'll take a gamble."

It was nine o'clock quickly, and Zhou Lang arrived at room number 4 on time.

This time, the bandaged man didn't make things difficult for him; he simply asked him to help change into a clean set of bandages.

Zhou Lang took out the bandages he had bought from the security guard ghost from his inventory and carefully helped the bandaged man put them on.

"Much better," the bandaged man said with satisfaction. "You may be reckless, but you're still a man of your word."

"That's right." Zhou Lang smiled. "By the way, do you know what other secrets the manor holds?"

"A secret?" The bandaged man thought for a moment. "You mean that thing in the basement?"

"right."

"I don't know much about that thing either," the bandaged man said. "I only know that it's locked in the deepest part, and even the butler doesn't dare to approach it easily."

"It is said that it survived the fire, but turned into a monster."

"The butler brings it food every day, but no one has ever seen its true face."

Zhou Lang frowned: "So what exactly does it want to do?"

"I don't know," the bandaged man said, "but I guess it might be waiting for something."

"Waiting for a chance to be revived."

As Zhou Lang recalled the contents of the diary, he felt increasingly uneasy.

What would happen if that thing really came back to life?

He dared not think.

After finishing his work, Zhou Lang received 500 yuan.

Including what he had before, he now has 1700 yuan in his hands.

"You did well today." The butler rarely praised him. "Keep it up."

Zhou Lang nodded and turned to leave.

"Wait a minute," the butler called out to him, "Starting tomorrow, your work will be adjusted."

"What adjustments?"

"You need to go to the basement," the butler said. "They need a new caretaker there."

Zhou Lang's heart sank.

"Why me?"

"Because you are qualified," the butler said. "Not many people can come out of the forest alive, and you are one of them."

"Moreover, that person specifically requested that you go."

"That one?"

"You'll find out." The butler didn't say much more. "Be at the basement at nine o'clock sharp tomorrow."

Zhou Lang returned to his room, his mind filled with thoughts of killing the butler.

The basement manager?

The monster specifically asked for him?

What exactly happened?

He lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

The sound of wind came from outside the window, mixed with a faint sobbing.

Zhou Lang got up and walked to the window to look outside.

Under the moonlight, a figure stood on the open ground outside the villa.

It's Zhao Qianshan.

The old man was facing away from the villa, seemingly looking at something.

Zhou Lang hesitated for a moment, then pushed open the door and went out.

The corridor was quiet; the ghosts had all disappeared.

He went downstairs, walked out of the villa, and came to Zhao Qianshan's side.

"Can't sleep?" Zhao Qianshan asked without turning his head.

"Hmm," Zhou Lang said, "There are some things I can't figure out."

"What is it?"

"The butler said he wants me to work as the basement supervisor tomorrow," Zhou Lang said. "Did you arrange this?"

"No," Zhao Qianshan shook his head, "but I know about it."

"That thing specifically requested you to go."

Why?

"Because you have what it needs." Zhao Qianshan turned around and looked at Zhou Lang. "Your skill is special; it can scare ghosts."

"And that thing was a ghost."

"A demon more powerful than all other demons."

Zhou Lang gasped.

"What does it want to do?"

"I don't know," Zhao Qianshan said, "but I guess it might want to use your skills to complete some kind of ritual."

"What ceremony?"

"A resurrection ritual," Zhao Qianshan said. "It wants to use your fear to regain life."

Zhou Lang's expression changed.

"Then am I doomed?"

"Not necessarily." Zhao Qianshan smiled. "If you can kill it before the ritual begins, you can survive."

"How do we kill him?"

"This is what I'm going to teach you," Zhao Qianshan said. "Starting tomorrow, you'll come to see me every night."

"I'll teach you how to deal with that thing."

"But the condition is that you must listen to me completely."

Zhou Lang gritted his teeth.

"it is good."

"Very good." Zhao Qianshan nodded in satisfaction. "Then go back and rest now. There's a tough battle to fight tomorrow."

Zhou Lang turned and walked towards the villa, but stopped after a few steps.

Do you really know where my sister is?