Paintings of Terror

Because daytime at the Lantern Inn was short, everyone had to split into groups and act separately.

“I promised Lu Heng to carry his coffin. Let’s just have us old friends from the photography group send him off.” Mai Peng said as he rubbed his aching head. “I believe Lu Heng would understand; after all, the most important thing now is to find the signature.”

Du Lingyu glanced at Ke Xun, who replied, “I’ll go too in a moment. Dong Zi and Radish can stay to prepare the projector. There are still a lot of photos we haven’t had the chance to go through last night.”

Wei Dong and Luo Bu nodded, and Koharu followed suit.

“While the lantern-lighter hasn’t arrived, I think we should recheck our luggage,” Shao Ling said, “There are many things that we overlooked in our luggage, and they could hold important information.”

This statement made sense. The mystery surrounding the ebony box in Lu Heng’s luggage was now an unsolved mystery. But everyone was convinced that the Lu Heng, who existed in the same timeline as them, couldn’t have known the secret of the ebony box. His death was entirely out of his control.

Everyone took out their luggage and laid them out on the table without hesitation.

Mai Peng and Mu Yiran exchanged a glance after Mai Peng took out his bag. He quickly went to get the film developing tank from the communal cabinet: “I’ll develop the photo I took at the stairs when we first arrived. That photo could be very important.”

“And the film from Xi Shengnan’s camera that we cut out yesterday,” Mu Yiran helped out on the side, “I have a basic understanding of the process of film development. Later, you can go carry the coffin, and I’ll take care of the rest.”

If any amateur said such a thing, Mai Peng would have flatly rejected it. But at this moment, Mu Yiran made people trust him involuntarily: “I have prepared the developing and fixing solutions. Brother Mu, you just add them at the right time. Other things are not too complicated either.”

Mu Yiran nodded: “Rest assured.”

Mai Peng and Mu Yiran prepared to develop the film, while the others checked the luggage and items on the table.

Compared to others, Fang Fei’s belongings were the simplest, containing only a snow-white mask and nothing else.

The others also took out their more peculiar items, such as Shao Ling’s Xun, Wei Dong’s hand-drawn “Light Inn Wei’s Art Collection”, Du Lingyu’s diamond-shaped mirror, Ke Xun and Mu Yiran’s identical wooden ducks, and….

Du Lingyu was flipping through the rest of her luggage, saying, “I also have several collections of spice formulas here. I saw them when we first arrived, but never had a chance to look through them. The days here are too short.”

“Spices formula?” Qin Ci, who was studying two small medicine boxes from his package, asked, “Are they related to our goods? Or…”

“I am personally interested in perfume blending,” Du Lingyu said while scanning through spice formulas in her hand, checking for any missing pages. “In the real world, it’s mixing perfume. Here, it seems to have evolved into something related to aromatic spices and incense.”

“I find it strange that you all have books, but Sister Xi’s luggage doesn’t have her own novel. That Xiayu should be closely related with this world.” said Luo Bu. There were many dried meat snacks in a small bag of his. It also had a special note that said, “Koharu’s Energy Supply”.

Luo Bu fed a piece of dried meat to Koharu who bounced around happily, its tail spinning like a little top.

Cao Youning seemed to recall something, “I do have an impression of what you’re talking about. Sister Xi often brought a book with her in the bag she carried, although I don’t know what book it was.”

Du Lingyu also seemed to remember something and opened Xi Shengnan’s bag, taking out the items one by one, “Yes, Sister Xi always carried that book with her! I remember the night before we went to the art gallery, she was flipping through that book in the hotel! She must have had it in her backpack, so why is it missing?”

Du Lingyu’s words caught everyone’s attention. Shao Ling asked, “Are you talking about the novel with Xiayu? Can you briefly tell us the summary, and if there’s anything special about the book? For example, the narrative structure, the main themes, even the publishing house, editors, preface, and book design: anything that you can think of, just tell us!”

Du Lingyu tried to calm herself down and began, “I’m very sorry, I’ve been so stressed these days that I completely forgot about this book.”

“No worries, Xi Shengnan herself never mentioned this to anyone either,” Shao Ling gave Du Lingyu an encouraging look.

Du Lingyu continued, “The book’s title is Flaws and Brilliance of Jade. and it’s about the growth of a girl. The time period is somewhat vague, and the narrative language is entirely in an ancient style. However, the content leans more towards the modern era. Yet, the novel avoids descriptions of modern things. There are no cars, phones, and the like. The protagonist is a girl who needs to go out to work and changes her fate through her own efforts, finding love and happiness. In the end, she remains with the male lead forever.”

“Forever?” Shao Ling didn’t think this was a beautiful vocabulary used in fairy tales like Cinderella or Snow White.

“The female lead finds the door to eternal life,” Du Lingyu said, “this part sounds a bit ridiculous and doesn’t quite match the overall style of the story. As a result, because of this ‘door to eternal life’ ending, the readers on the novel website heavily criticized the book.”

Everyone listened and agreed that the content of the novel was somewhat unreasonable.

“I don’t quite understand, why does she always carry her own book with her?” Wei Dong couldn’t help but ask.

Wei Dong: I’m really embarrassed to say the word self-love directly…

Du Lingyu said: “Brother Shao just mentioned the publishing house, but in fact, that book has not been officially published: it is not so much a book, but rather a self-made book she bound. Sister Xi printed it herself and included some of her own photography works. Only that one has not been shared with anyone.”

“Actually, Sister Xi had been revising that book, and often wrote some new ideas in the book with colored pens. It is not so much a book as it is an alternative type of journal.”

Cao Youning also said: “No wonder that book seemed so strange…”

Shao Ling asked Du Lingyu, “Have you read that book?”

“I read the electronic version on the novel site, but as for the physical book, I just flipped through it and didn’t have a chance to look closely,” Du Lingyu carefully recalled. “So, there is nothing special about the publishing house or the book design, as Brother Shao mentioned. However, speaking of the appearance of that book… I remember there was a beautiful page at the end with three words written on it: ‘Dedicated to Yu.'”

“That book is dedicated to you?” Luo Bu asked in confusion.

“No no, it’s not the Yu in my name, but Yu as in ‘yuyan’. I also feel it must be someone’s name.” Du Lingyu felt uncomfortable about revealing so many of Xi Shengnan’s secrets after her death, but she had to do it to find the signature. “I asked her before about who this Yu was, but every time she just smiled faintly and didn’t answer me.”

Suddenly, Mai Peng paused his film developing and looked up. “Did you say it was the Yu in ‘yuyan’? Yu with the ‘yan’ radical?”

Du Lingyu nodded, “Yes, that’s the one.”

Mai Peng said, “The painter Bi Di’s original name was Bi Xiaoyu. I believe this shouldn’t be just a coincidence.”

Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent, as if they had glimpsed some secrets of this world.

“Could Sister Xi have known Bi Di in the past? There’s a big difference in their age, how could they have known each other?” Cao Youning was puzzled.

“I don’t think they knew each other. When Bi Di passed away, Sister Xi was only a few years old,” Du Lingyu carefully speculated about Xi Shengnan’s thoughts from a female viewpoint. “I think it’s more of an admiration. Sister Xi always appreciated Bi Di’s photography works very much. She was the one that suggested this visit to the art gallery and listed it as a must-visit place on our itinerary.”

Upon hearing this, Cao Youning’s expression became a bit complicated: “Right, she also said it would definitely make us feel the trip was worthwhile…”

Mu Yiran quickly washed his hands and also walked over. The film in the developing tank was slowly undergoing changes invisible to the naked eye. His task was to agitate the liquid inside and open the tank at the right time.

“If the ‘Yu’ in the book indeed refers to Bi Di, then it’s not hard to explain everything here,” Mu Yiran felt like all the puzzles were slowly being unraveled one by one. “In all the artworks we have experienced, the items we brought with us were never intended to be offered to the painting or the painter. In my view, the act of writing words dedicated to the painter in the book itself is a form of sacrifice. This book will be integrated into the painting in a special way, for the painter to use.”

Everyone listened to these words, slowly digesting them, their expressions filled with a sense of melancholy.

“But Xiayu died as soon as we entered the painting!” Luo Bu was very puzzled. “Didn’t she find the door to eternal life in the book? Why did she die before experiencing the world inside the painting? And… she was killed by the person who created her.”

This part left them feeling ironic and absurd.

“Perhaps in another timeline, the outcome was different. In there, Xiayu might have been the last one to die,” Mu Yiran’s eyes flickered with light. “If that’s the case, Xiayu might have had some interactions with us before. That would explain why her belongings appeared in our rooms, in Xi Shengnan’s bag, and why Xie Shengnan even wore those jewelry pieces openly: if Xi Shengnan truly had ulterior motives towards Xiayu, she would never display those jewelry to others.”

“Brother-in-law, it’s getting too confusing, my head is about to explode…” Luo Bu innocently hugged Koharu. “Aren’t these games supposed to have thirteen players? Why did it become fifteen players this time?”

Koharu nodded, considering itself part of the team as well.

“There’s something wrong with my book!” Du Lingyu suddenly said, and showed everyone one of the spice formula collections, “The latter half of this book isn’t a spice formula, it’s…I don’t quite understand what’s written on it: The Earth’s core is nurtured by the soil. Within it lies time. In the beginning, the heavenly light creates water. Within the water, white fish emerge. Their breath turns into Qi and surrounds the inns as a ring…”

Everyone gathered around to look at the book, only to discover that it was two books sewn together. At first glance, it seemed like a collection of spice formulas, but the latter part contained a booklet of different content.

Du Lingyu found where the two books were stitched together and saw words at the bottom right corner of the second book’s cover: Code of Shamans.

Wei Dong: “I think this must be Fang Fei’s belongings.”

Fang Fei took the book to look and felt it should be a Shaman’s book.

Du Lingyu was very puzzled, “How did this book end up with me, and why was it hidden in this way?”

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and the voice of the lantern-lighter came from outside, “The crystal coffin is ready. The deceased can be placed inside now.”

Everyone quickly packed their belongings, and Ke Xun went to open the door.

Outside the door, there was a familiar crystal coffin, exactly the same as the one that held Xi Shengnan yesterday. 𝘣𝘦𝑑𝘯𝘰𝘷𝑒𝘭．𝑛𝘦𝘵

Mai Peng and others placed Lu Heng’s body into the coffin together and carried the coffin forward. Their steps were slightly unsteady as if they were heavy-headed.

Du Lingyu couldn’t help but ask, “Are you alright? Don’t force yourself.”

Mai Peng replied, “I promised Lu Heng last night. I believe in this world, those about to die are able to sense their impending death.”

“Maybe that’s the case. But only I receive some hints after someone else dies. Too difficult. This world is too difficult.” Du Lingyu’s brows frowned tightly. “I hope that book can be of use. Fang Fei’s identity is different from ordinary people. I hope she can understand the content of that book.”