Chapter One: Mount Mengzi

"Xiaoxiao, hurry up!" Zhang Bo waved his arms and shouted to those behind him.

Despite the scholarly air of his name, Zhang Bo was a burly man with broad shoulders and a sturdy frame, a veritable giant among men. Yet, he harbored an unexpectedly gentle and artistic side. It was his idea to invite his college roommates to his hometown, Zichuan, for a trip during the long October holiday.

Now, they were climbing Mengzi Mountain.

Mengzi Mountain was dotted with scenic spots and steeped in history. According to inscriptions on the mountain, "The halls and pavilions atop the mountain are grand and stately, with rows of chambers, towers, corridors, and halls stretching continuously..." and, "Two wings in the southern hall, an annex, and two storerooms..." as well as, "The open space before the temple was transformed into a great hall, adorned with seats and portraits arrayed as in other halls, enhancing the atmosphere of solemn reverence." In days past, the incense never ceased on Mengzi Mountain, and worshippers came in droves, making the scene lively and bustling.

Though Mengzi Mountain no longer enjoyed its former glory, on holidays, one could still catch glimpses of its old splendor.

Trailing behind, a young man gazed expressionlessly at Zhang Bo, his sharp eyes boring into him until Zhang Bo’s exaggerated grin began to twitch awkwardly. At last, the young man spoke slowly, "My name is Xiao Xiao! With a rising tone!"

"Isn’t that just 'Xiaoxiao'?" Zhang Bo muttered, his voice so loud that it echoed off the quiet mountain path.

"Alright, alright, Third, you know the boss—he’s the very picture of brawn over brains, so don’t take it to heart," Zhuge Yun said with a brotherly air, draping an arm over Xiao Xiao’s shoulder and waggling his eyebrows.

Xiao Xiao felt a throb at his temple and, without hesitation, shrugged off Zhuge Yun’s arm. With a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, he said, "Second, call me 'Third' or use my name!"

"Then don’t call me 'Second' either!"

"Who started it?"

...

"Sigh~" The youngest, Zhao Lüzhen, watched the childish antics of the others and sighed with a hint of melancholy. He glanced around: the mountain path was rugged, the trees so thick they blotted out the sun, letting only scattered rays through. The air was cool and damp. Under the hot weather, this should have felt comfortable, but the excessive silence gave rise to an uneasy feeling.

"Enough, you all. Boss, where are we? Do you still know the way?" Zhao Lüzhen quickened his pace to catch up with Zhang Bo.

They had come to Mengzi Mountain to sightsee, but the crowds were overwhelming. Unwilling to jostle with the masses and reassured by Zhang Bo’s boasts—claiming this was his turf, that he knew every inch—they had sought out the quieter paths, which eventually led them to this remote spot.

"Yeah, why is it so deserted here?" Zhuge Yun pushed his glasses up his nose, puzzled. They had tried to avoid the crowds, but surely there shouldn’t be a place in the park with no one at all.

"Hmm?" Zhang Bo, though a local, was not a true mountaineer and couldn’t distinguish every trail in the mountain. This place was unfamiliar even to him, and he scratched his head. "How about we head back? We’ll find our way out eventually."

The other three rolled their eyes at him—what an unreliable guy.

Zhang Bo grinned sheepishly, a bit embarrassed. "Let’s go, let’s go. I’ll treat you all to a feast when we get back."

A look at their watches showed it was nearly eleven. They’d arrived at Mengzi Mountain at eight; almost three hours had slipped by, and their stomachs were beginning to rumble.

Xiao Xiao fell to the back, a sense of unease nagging at him. He couldn’t pinpoint the reason, so he simply shook his head, trying to ignore the strangeness within.

"Third, keep up!"

"Coming."

...

Their intentions had been good, but reality proved harsh.

After walking for some time, they realized they were completely lost.

It was hard enough to find one’s bearings in the mountains—the scenery was all the same, trees upon trees, and they couldn’t remember which way they’d come.

Now, even Xiao Xiao and the others were starting to feel anxious.

This was a mountain, after all, and there was little to no cell signal. If they really got stuck here, it wouldn’t be a joke.

"Boss, you’ve really done us in this time. Some local you are," Zhuge Yun complained, rubbing his sore legs. After hiking all morning, and with nerves fraying, the fatigue felt even heavier.

"What now, Boss?" Zhao Lüzhen leaned against a tree, a note of agitation creeping into his voice.

"Let me think, let me think," Zhang Bo was even more tormented inside—everyone had trusted him, and now they were in this predicament. Besides, having grown up here, he should be the one most likely to find a way out.

"Don’t stress, Boss," Xiao Xiao patted him on the shoulder. "Let’s take a break first."

Xiao Xiao, who was a bit of a neat freak, didn’t lean against a tree, but stood quietly, trying to steady his breath.

Suddenly, he lifted his head, cocked his ear, and began to pace around.

"Third, what are you doing?" Zhuge Yun asked, puzzled by Xiao Xiao’s odd behavior. The others also looked at him with questions in their eyes.

Xiao Xiao ignored them, circling a few times before finally speaking. "I’ve felt something odd all along, but couldn’t put my finger on it. Now I know."

"Hmm, something odd?"

"What is it?"

"What’s so strange?"

"Don’t you all find it too quiet here?" Xiao Xiao didn’t keep them guessing and spoke his mind directly.

"Oh, I thought it was something serious. Isn’t it normal for the mountains to be quiet?" Zhuge Yun said with a hint of disappointment; he’d been expecting some wild tale, only to be let down.

"True, quiet is normal in the mountains, but listen—there’s not even the sound of birds, not a single noise. Doesn’t that strike you as strange?" Xiao Xiao frowned. In a place like this, even if there were no dangerous animals due to it being a tourist spot, there should at least be wild birds, right?

But after listening closely, he realized—not only were there no bird calls, there weren’t even insects singing. The forest was so silent it felt eerie.

"Uh..." After Xiao Xiao pointed it out, the others began to notice too.

Yes, they hadn’t paid attention before, but now they realized their heavy breathing was the only sound.

A chill crept down their spines.

"Heh, maybe all the birds were hunted out?" Zhuge Yun offered a dry laugh.

No one responded.

The atmosphere grew tense.

"Let’s go," Xiao Xiao took the lead. Waiting around would do them no good. Perhaps he was just being paranoid, and if they kept walking, they might stumble upon other tourists.

"Yeah," the others hurried to catch up. Better to keep moving than to stay put and spook themselves; maybe there was a way out just ahead.

...

All along the way, the only sounds were the dull thud of their own footsteps on the muddy ground and the occasional rustle of leaves underfoot. The trees blocked out the sky, casting deep shadows, and it felt as if the woods might swallow them whole.

Unconsciously, their pace quickened, and their faces grew pale.

"Wait a second." The sudden voice nearly made the others stumble in fright.

"Third, are you trying to scare us to death?"

"My heart almost stopped!"

"You know people can scare each other to death, right?"

Facing their united complaints, Xiao Xiao was speechless. Seriously? Especially the boss—how could someone so big be so easily startled?

"Sorry, I didn’t realize you were all so timid." Seeing the trio about to explode, Xiao Xiao hurried to get to the point. "Look over there—I think there’s a water source."

While the others had been plowing ahead, Xiao Xiao had kept an eye on their surroundings.

Naturally, he noticed a glint of light out of the corner of his eye. With the trees in the way, he couldn’t quite make out what it was, but it probably meant water.

"Really? Let’s check it out."

"Hope it’s a river."

Anyone lost in the woods knows that if you find a river, following it downstream is often the best hope of survival.

With that, Zhang Bo and the others broke into a run, pushing through the undergrowth. Their excitement, however, turned to disappointment the moment they saw what lay ahead.

"It’s just a lake?"

"All that excitement for nothing."

Xiao Xiao soon caught up and saw that it was indeed a vast lake.

The water was perfectly still, clear and deep, mirroring the sky and clouds above.

"Wow, the water’s so clear. But why aren’t there any fish?"

"Yeah, is it dead water?"

"But there’s no strange smell."

Zhang Bo and the others chattered away. Though they were disappointed not to have found a river, after all that endless forest, the sudden sight of a shimmering lake was still a relief, easing some of their tension.

"Hmm? Aren’t there fish?" The clean scent of the water refreshed Xiao Xiao, and as he looked down, he spotted dark shapes weaving through the depths—so distinct, they caught his attention at once. He couldn’t help but wonder aloud.