Provoking Fire [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 46

The comedian, Zhang Xin’an, was always laughing and joking around. With his easygoing nature and natural talent for variety shows, he was a walking punchline. When Chu Xiyue assigned him to her team, he was thrilled.

“Viewers, it won’t be long before Xiao Chu realizes how lucky she is to have chosen me!” Zhang Xin’an declared, puffing out his chest. “After all, the Iron Tank of the Secret Chamber isn’t just a nickname!”

The others, who knew his true nature, exchanged knowing glances.

During a previous episode, the MCs had faced a punishment task: escaping a terrifying secret chamber. Zhang Xin’an had volunteered to lead the way, only to immediately block the door with his weight, refusing to let anyone in—ghosts or otherwise.

Even the NPC delivering the mission instructions was locked out. Zhang Xin’an went full “hear no evil, see no evil” mode, his face contorted in terror as his screams far outstripped those of any guest.

That day, it took them a full five hours to escape the secret chamber. Since then, no one had dared to play escape rooms with him again.

The others, unaware of his true nature, heard Zhang Xin’an’s words, and Chu Xiyue even felt her decision had been quite wise. She offered a slightly puzzled smile, only to notice the others stifling laughter beside her.

Chu Xiyue immediately felt a sense of unease.

She grabbed Su Yan’s hand. “Quick, let’s go inside! We need to dig out whatever’s hidden here first. Didn’t we say we were looking for that Western clock?”

“Right, right! We need to find the timer first. Otherwise, we won’t even know when danger’s coming,” Shi Yan nodded in agreement.

The group entered through the main gate.

This was an artificial ancient town, similar to a film set, but the location was remarkably well-chosen. A natural spring flowed through the area, and the builders had cleverly incorporated local materials into their design, creating a place that drew tourists from far and wide.

I wonder how much the production team paid to rent such a massive space, and even convince people to let them modify it, Chu Xiyue mused inwardly.

Each of them had simple roles for the day, gradually unraveling the mystery as time passed. Chu Xiyue played a Miss from a noble family, a role that was the exact opposite of her and Su Yan’s characters in the film.

Dong, dong, dong. Three drumbeats echoed through the air as dusk deepened into night. The transition from twilight to darkness always seemed to happen so quickly. As the sky grew darker, the entire town became shrouded in a somber, oppressive atmosphere, drawing everyone into their roles.

The mist that billowed forth was tainted by something, turning it a deep, ashen gray that made everyone squint to adjust to the sudden drop in light. The further they ventured into the town, the more uneasy they felt. Chu Xiyue suddenly noticed a hanging lantern that seemed to glow with an unusual, pale orange-red hue. She took two quick steps toward it.

“There’s a small box inside the lantern!” Bei Yaoyao’s sharp eyes spotted it too. This was clearly a clue, but when Chu Xiyue reached for it, she realized she couldn’t reach it, even when jumping. Zhang Xin’an, the only boy present, was only about as tall as Su Yan. He clicked his tongue in annoyance.

“Why’d they hang it so high? Are they trying to make life impossible for us little people?”

“It’s a bit too high,” Bei Yaoyao said, gesturing at the lantern. “Even Brother Shi Yan would have trouble reaching it, right? How about one of us lifts another?”

Zhang Xin’an immediately struck a pose, ready to lift someone, but the other three girls showed no interest in his help.

Chu Xiyue mentally calculated. Su Yan was the tallest among them, with long arms and legs, making it easy for her to reach the lantern. Moreover, Chu Xiyue was confident she could lift Su Yan for a short time.

“Teacher Su,” Chu Xiyue called out, signaling Su Yan to step forward. Though Bei Yaoyao was much smaller than Su Yan, she secretly smiled and stepped back, giving the two girls space.

Chu Xiyue gripped Su Yan’s waist and hoisted her upward.

Despite Su Yan’s weight, Chu Xiyue effortlessly lifted her, allowing Su Yan to reach the lantern. She pulled it down, tore off the outer paper shell, and discovered a small box inside.

“Quick, look! Quick, look!”

Bei Yaoyao, impatient, had already started dismantling the box herself. As the saying goes, diligence pays off. Inside was a small, exquisitely crafted flashlight shaped like a lotus flower. The stem served as a handle, while the lotus petals were intricately carved with swirling patterns, making it exceptionally beautiful.

The flashlight emitted a bright, wide beam that illuminated a large area ahead, finally freeing them from groping around in the dark.

“Let’s go find the next clue!” Chu Xiyue declared, her confidence soaring after their initial success.

They searched the surrounding area thoroughly, discovering that the lotus lantern had been the easiest clue to obtain. The remaining clues proved far more challenging, requiring them to solve riddles, decipher lantern riddles, and even perform calculations.

Most celebrities in the entertainment industry don’t have high levels of education, and years of constant travel and hectic schedules had caused them to forget much of what they had learned in their youth. Bei Yaoyao and Zhang Xin’an had never been strong students to begin with, while Chu Xiyue was merely average. While she could handle basic reasoning, the lantern riddles were written in classical Chinese, perfectly recreating the atmosphere of the ancient town.

In the end, it all came down to Su Yan. She was swamped with accounting and solving lantern riddles, working herself to the bone. But the rewards were substantial. Though they hadn’t found the timer yet, they had already acquired useful items like the Entangling Waterweed and Immobilization Talisman, giving them a greater sense of security as they moved through this place.

As the group walked along the path, the crisp, ethereal chime of wind chimes drifted through the silent darkness, particularly distinct in the stillness. Chu Xiyue felt a vague sense that something was watching them from the shadows. Despite the lantern’s light, a cold shiver ran down her spine.

“Ah!”

Suddenly, Bei Yaoyao screamed, startling Zhang Xin’an so badly he nearly collapsed to his knees. After recovering, she waved apologetically.

“Look at that lotus pond over there. Why do I feel like something’s in it?”

Bei Yaoyao pointed to the distant, dark pond. Only a few half-withered lotus flowers remained along the edge. Given that it was winter—and the game’s setting mirrored real-world seasons—the sight felt inexplicably eerie.

Following Su Yan’s words, Chu Xiyue took a few steps forward and peered into the pond. Suddenly, she spotted a crumpled piece of clothing floating on the water’s surface.

Su Yan joined her, and the two women leaned in close, scrutinizing the small pond with meticulous care. Bei Yaoyao waited behind them, clinging tightly to Zhang Xin’an, terrified that something might suddenly leap out of the darkness and snatch her away.

“It looks like a corpse,” Su Yan quickly concluded. Without a phone, they had to rely on their naked eyes, but even from this distance, they could discern the fine craftsmanship of the clothing. Above the wrinkled, bark-like hand, a slender wrist emerged from the water. The body was bloated, with faint traces of claw marks visible.

The disturbingly realistic scene terrified Bei Yaoyao so much that she dared not open her eyes fully, only peeking through her fingers at the gruesome sight.

Clang—

Just then, the crisp, metallic sound reverberated through the area once more, like a soul-summoning bell that shattered the uneasy silence. Simultaneously, an icy voice seemed to whisper right past their ears, sending a bone-chilling draft across their backs:

“Help me… save me…”

The voice was as hoarse as tearing cloth, sounding ancient and frail, instantly conjuring images of the wrinkled, bark-like hand from the pond.

Even Zhang Xin’an felt a chill, let alone Bei Yaoyao. Chu Xiyue, however, remained unfazed. Knowing it was all fake, she had never been afraid, but rather intrigued:

“Hey? Is that voice coming from the pond? Did we find a clue this quickly?”

“Save me…”

The voice repeated, this time unmistakably originating from the pond. The pond contained nothing but withered lotus flowers on the verge of decay and an elderly corpse. Bei Yaoyao’s face paled.

“He’s asking us to save him? What does that mean? Is he still alive?”

The surroundings were eerie and sinister, with only a faint light illuminating the pond’s edge, barely visible through the thick gray mist. Even those peering cautiously from behind felt a prickle of fear:

“I bet this thing has some kind of sinister plot!”

“Yeah, I think so too.”

Though she agreed with the others, Chu Xiyue lowered her head and began searching the ground. After some rummaging, she found a suitable wooden stick and picked it up. The group huddled together, scouring the area. They spotted a small, rickety rowboat that looked on the verge of collapse, making them worry it might start leaking the moment someone stepped aboard. This was likely the simple tool meant to rescue the old man.

But no matter how they looked at it, the boat seemed only capable of holding two people. To reach the old man in the center of the lake, someone would have to go alone. As a horror story enthusiast, Chu Xiyue was well-versed in the tropes of such situations. She waved the others back and strode confidently onto the boat.

The rowboat wobbled precariously as she stepped in, water seeping through the bottom. The deck felt unstable, as if it might give way at any moment. Chu Xiyue crouched down, lowering her center of gravity to steady the craft.

After confirming it wouldn’t sink immediately, she signaled to the shore to release her. Chu Xiyue planned to row to the lake’s center alone, without any companions or equipment.

Of course, she refused to part with the thick, sturdy wooden stick in her hand.