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

"Because it wants me to go and die." Zhou Lang stopped in his tracks. "There's more than one basement level."

He pointed to another door in the corner.

There was no lock on the door, but there was a yellow talisman pasted on it.

Zhou Lang walked over and reached out to tear off the talisman.

"Wait!" Han Yingying grabbed him. "This talisman is for sealing. Tearing it up might release something."

"I know," Zhou Lang said, "but if I don't tear it open, I can't get in."

He tore off the talisman.

Instantly, the temperature in the entire basement plummeted.

The iron chains on the wall began to sway on their own, making a rattling sound.

The thing in the iron cage pounded against the bars frantically, emitting sharp laughter.

"You're finished...you're finished..."

Zhou Lang pushed open the door.

Behind the door was a deeper staircase that stretched into the unseen darkness.

The three of them went down the stairs, which were even longer this time, and it took them more than ten minutes to reach the bottom.

What appeared before me was a laboratory.

Various glasswares were placed on the table, containing unidentified liquids and organs. Anatomical diagrams, depicting human anatomy, hung on the wall.

On the operating table in the very center, lay a corpse.

No, it's not a corpse.

The thing suddenly opened its eyes.

"A new test subject has arrived." It sat up, its neck cracking. "Very good, very good..."

Zhou Lang raised the oil lamp.

The green light shone on the thing, and it immediately let out a scream, its body beginning to smoke.

"This lamp...this lamp..." it murmured, covering its face. "How did you get this..."

"I found it," Zhou Lang said. "Now tell me, where's the second lock?"

"I don't know... I don't know..."

Zhou Lang moved the lamp closer.

"Ah—!" the thing screamed, "Under the operating table! Under the operating table!"

Zhou Lang walked to the operating table and lifted the white sheet.

Sure enough, there was a safe down there.

He took out the scissors and aimed them at the keyhole of the safe.

Click.

The second lock is broken.

Open the safe; inside was a key and a note.

The note read: "The third lock is in the manor owner's room."

Zhou Lang put the key away.

"Walk."

The three returned the way they came. The thing in the iron cage had fallen silent, but was staring at them with resentful eyes.

Back on the first floor, there were even more ghosts in the hallway.

They were packed together so tightly that they blocked the entire corridor.

Zhou Lang walked forward holding the oil lamp, and the ghosts automatically made way, but the distance between them kept getting closer and closer.

"They're testing the waters," Han Yingying said. "The oil lamp's effect is waning."

"I know." Zhou Lang quickened his pace. "Let's go."

The three rushed up to the second floor, with the ghosts following closely behind.

Zhou Lang led the two to a door at the end of the corridor.

A sign hung on the door: The Manor Owner's Room.

He unlocked the door with his key, the three of them rushed in, and slammed the door shut.

The ghosts banged against the door, making dull thuds.

The room was very quiet.

This is a luxurious bedroom, with oil paintings on the walls and thick carpets on the floor.

On the innermost wall, there hangs a huge portrait.

The painting depicts a handsome man in a tuxedo, but with cold eyes.

"Is this the manor owner?" Zhao Qiang asked.

Zhou Lang didn't answer; he searched the room.

I searched the desk, the wardrobe, and under the bed, but couldn't find the third lock.

"Could it be behind the painting?" Han Yingying asked.

Zhou Lang walked up to the portrait and reached out to take it down.

The man in the painting suddenly moved.

Its eyes turned to Zhou Lang, and a strange smile curved its lips.

"You've finally arrived," a voice came from the painting. "I've been waiting for you for so long."

Zhou Lang remained expressionless. "Where is the third lock?"

"You really think you can leave just by opening three locks?" The man in the painting laughed. "How naive."

"Stop talking nonsense."

"The lock is on me," the man said, "but you can't get it."

Why?

"Because you have to answer three questions for me first," the man said. "If you answer correctly, I'll give you the lock. If you answer incorrectly..."

It paused.

"All three of you will stay here, forever."

Zhou Lang remained silent for a few seconds.

"Ask away."

"The first question," the man said, "is, in this manor, who is the true owner?"

"you."

"Wrong." The man shook his head. "It's you."

Zhou Lang frowned.

"Everyone who enters here is the master of this manor," the man said. "Because this place is the embodiment of your inner fears. Whatever you fear, that will appear here."

"So those ghosts..."

"You all created this yourselves," the man said. "Second question. Why did you leave?"

Zhou Lang did not answer immediately.

He thought of his sister, and of the news of her disappearance.

"Because I need to find someone."

"Who should I look for?"

"My sister."

The man stared at Zhou Lang, his gaze becoming complicated.

"Your sister..." it said, "she's been here too."

Zhou Lang's heart skipped a beat.

Where is she?

"I don't know," the man said. "She passed the test and left. But she left something behind."

It stretched out its hand, and a pendant appeared in its palm.

That was a birthday gift Zhou Lang gave to his sister.

"She said to give this to anyone who comes looking for her," the man said. "Now, the third question."

Its voice became serious.

"What price are you willing to pay to uncover the truth?"

Zhou Lang took the pendant and held it in his hand.

"At any cost."

The man smiled.

"Very good," it said. "Then, welcome to the real game."

As soon as he finished speaking, the whole room began to shake.

The walls cracked, the floor collapsed, and the ceiling fell down.

Zhou Lang grabbed Han Yingying and Zhao Qiang, and the three of them fell into the darkness together.

When Zhou Lang opened his eyes, he found himself lying on a bed.

The familiar ceiling, the familiar room.

He sat up and looked around.

This is his bedroom.

Outside the window is the city's night view, with flashing neon lights and a constant flow of traffic.

"You're back?"

Zhou Lang got out of bed and walked to the window.

The streets were bustling with people, and everything seemed normal.

He took out his phone, and the screen displayed the date and time.

Three days have passed since I entered the game.

"Brother Lang!"

The door was pushed open, and Zhao Qiang rushed in.

"You're awake! That's great!"

"You're back too?" Zhou Lang asked.

"Yes, we're all back," Zhao Qiang said. "Han Yingying is here too; she's waiting for you in the living room."

Zhou Lang walked out of the room and saw Han Yingying sitting on the sofa.

She looked a little tired, but her spirits were good.

"Are you alright?" Zhou Lang asked.

"It's alright," Han Yingying said, "but it feels a little unreal."

"What do you mean?"

"I always feel..." she hesitated, "...are we really back?"

Zhou Lang remained silent.

He felt the same way.

Everything went too smoothly.

Unlock three locks, answer three questions, and then return to reality.

too easy.

"I'll go check," Zhou Lang said.

He turned on his computer and logged into a news website.